Review: Open Minds (Mindjack #1) by Susan Kaye Quinn

Title: Open Minds

Series: Mindjack #1

Author: Susan Kaye Quinn

Genre: YA, sci-fi, dystopian

Publication date: November 2011

Published by: Susan Kaye Quinn

Source: Amazon freebie

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Synopsis: When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I loved the premise of this book—it was such an intriguing concept that I was enthralled right from the start. In this world, there is literally ZERO talking. All the talking happens in the mind. Once you hit puberty or so, that’s when you start developing these mind reading powers. Like, they can connect to devices via their minds! That’s how advanced the tech in this future is! It’s so insane! Anyway, a Zero is someone who can’t read minds and whose mind cannot be read in return, which is what our main character Kira is... or thought she was 😉

Kira’s abilities were really cool! So it turns out that Kira was not a Zero at all—she’s what’s called a Jacker! But the more she learns about her powers, the more she realizes that maybe she’s not like other Jackers?

So basically people first went through a change where they developed these mind reading abilities. But then there was another change where certain people developed Jacker powers. BUT THEN, there’s another change to whatever it is that Kira can do. So the reason why she is different is because it is inferred that the “Jacker” gene is carried on the x chromosome, and Kira has Jacker family on BOTH sides of her family. She pretty much got a double dose and that’s why her abilities are different, even from regular Jackers. It’s so crazy, but it makes sense!

I really liked Kira! She was very sassy. And then her with her best friend Raf? They were so freaking cute! I loved their banter and just their relationship in general. But one character I did NOT like was Simon. He was very iffy from the start. He wasn’t the nicest to Kira when he thought she was a zero, but once things started changing for her THEN he’s suddenly interested?? I don’t think so, pal 😒 His way of thinking in general was just not great. He thought he was so above everyone else and I hated that!

Oh, but not only that, because this book decided to have a love triangle...

I hate love triangles! I shipped Raf and Kira right from the start, but nooOOOooo. And then this relationship moved WAY too fast and I was totally not into it. Love triangles and instalove??? NO! Luckily, this was mostly on his part and not Kira’s—thank god! And he was super touchy-feely with her, which, no thanks. And I understand why she couldn’t tell Raf about what was going on with her, I really do. But they could’ve found a way around it! Rafe would’ve understood—he’s always been there for Kira. It was just so frustrating! Especially because she turned down sweet Raf for this dick Simon. Ugh!

But enough of that. Another relationship I really liked was the one between Kira and her brother Seamus. He wasn’t around much because he was away in college, but those couple of interactions they did have were great!

So the first half of this book was mostly Kira finding out about her abilities and learning to control them, which was all very intriguing, but then the second half... Whoa. Things take an insane turn and Kira has to choose between two sides... neither which is great. But it was so interesting seeing Kira in this new situation and her just trying to get out of it as unscathed as possible. And then the last third of the book was amazing! She talks things out with Rafe and maybe things happen 😉 But also, like a badass, she goes and saves some kids! It was SO intense! And there was so much action! And not to mention all the interesting revelations. This was just a really cool world with a very interesting concept. And after that crazy ending, I’m really looking forward to seeing what will happen next. Hopefully more Kira and Rafe 😉

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! 😊