Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White

Title: Perfect Lies
Series: Mind Games #2
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 18th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 232 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

What I Liked

• The sibling bond. Family love is such a strong value that I do not always encounter in YA, so when I do I typically really enjoy it.  The love between the sisters, Fia and Annie is a driving force.  While there is romance in the story, the love is this story is between the siblings.  
• Awesome powers.  The girls in the story have awesome yet terribly dangerous powers.  
• The friendships.  Fia and Pixie were a great sarcastic and witty pair.  While on the other side of the story you have Eden and Annie that have such a heartfelt and comforting friendship.  Both sisters have friendships that play key roles in the story but are unique in their ways.  
• The romance.  Even though Fia and James are together the romance was still a back seat to the overall story.  This highlighted the the complicated supernatural, crazy unpredictable plot.  

What I Didn't

• Hard to remember.  I definitely needed a refresher.  Perfect Lies jumps right back into the crazy lives of Fia and Annie.  I highly recommend reading the two books back to back.  It would help with getting used to the story telling format. 
• The non-linear story telling format.  Unlike the first book, this time the non-linear, jumpy story telling combined with the alternating POVs confused me and detracted me from the story instead of improving the story.  I would try to remember all the little things from book one while being mentally tossed around by the format.  

Bottom Line

Perfect Lies was a pretty good ending to a crazy story.  There were definitely aspects that could have been a bit stronger but overall I enjoyed the duo-logy.  Though if you take anything away from this review... it should be: read them back to back!  (I really think it would improve the experience)
  

REVIEW #68: Mind Games (Mind Games #1) by Kiersten White

Title: Mind Games
Series: Mind Games #1
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: February 19th 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 237 pages
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

So Mind Games is not the easiest book to summarize since the plot is far from linear. The chapters switch around between Fia and Annie’s perspective. The chapters also vary in time, so some chapters are in the present while others are a couple months ago or even two years ago. I actually really enjoyed the structure of the story but can see why others may not. It kept me on my toes and kept the suspense high while still building up some of the history.

I have perfect instincts. And my sister can see the future. And my boss's secretary can read minds. And my ex roommate can feel other people's emotions.

The basic storyline surrounds the lives of two sisters, Fia and Annie. Annie is blind but can see glimpses of the future and her sister Sofia has perfect instincts. These special talents landed the girls in a school for the gifted; the school is run by a power hungry man who abuses the talents of the various girls. Fia and Annie have to escape and leave the school but that proves to be hard task when others can read their mind.

So Paranormalcy was not my favorite read so I was a bit hesitant to read Mind Games but I am so glad I did! I really enjoyed it! As mentioned, I enjoyed the structure of the plot; it was full of action and suspense with slight hints of romance. There was no-insta love but instead a bit of a love triangle. I hope for a bit more on Fia’s relationships in the next book. The relationship and importance of family was a refreshing element of the story; the love between the sisters is so strong and believable.  White also blends a bit of science and DNA into the story to possibly explain the special powers.

Annie was not my favorite character; she sometimes seemed a little whiney and helpless. On the other hand Fia was an awesome main character; she was sarcastic, fierce, and pretty kick ass. She had some great lines too!

Instead, I think about everything in the whole entire world that makes me angry-there is a lot, oh there is a lot-and I start singing Justin Bieber at the top of my lungs.
I can do this

Overall, Mind Games was a fast pace suspense building, crazy ride of a book. It was easily a 4 star read and I eagerly await the next book!It is hard to pinpoint what exactly did not make it a 5 star read, there was nothing I really disliked, there was just not the INEEDTOBUYTHISRIGHTNOW moment. It is a quick fun read!