Book Review: Mind Games by Teri Terry

Teri Terry, we finally meet again. I really need to finish the Slated Trilogy.

In a future world, life is tightly controlled by the all-powerful PareCo. Standing out from the crowd is dangerous so misfit Luna hides her secrets carefully, not realising her own power. Unlike her friends and family, Luna has never been able to plug into Realtime, PareCo's virtual world, where almost everyone now lives their lives. So how do PareCo know about Luna, and why do they want her for their elite think tank?

The truth is hidden in a web of shining silver secrets, and the corrupt authorities would do anything to keep it that way. Can Luna find a way to use her own hidden powers and bring the truth to light before it's too late?

This is another Dystopia from author of Slated (a trilogy that I have still not finished despite really liking it). There is actually a weird reference to it in this book which is fun thing to think about it.

I found this world interesting, if not completely logical. There are hackers in this world that are tattooed, in black clothing and everyone else happily wears the exact the same as everyone else for some reason. Also at the start of the novel, Luna customises her clothes so must have some interest but that little tad bit never comes into play except for slight plot.

The ending while satisfying was, well lacking a bit of emotional. Whilst having this special ability, Luna also seems not to get upset at all. This is a Dystopia so its not really a spoiler to say that terrible things happen in this book and changes in emotional would be expected. Sure, a lot is happening, but it like she never takes it in. It's like "I lost my mum and now I will never feel again". That happen before the book started so not a spoiler.

Though, maybe I'm one lacking emotional as I feel no attachments to characters. They have their parts to play, my favourite is Blood who must have had a very lonely existent because who the hell would want to hang around him and he has the worst hacker ability. I don't care that much about the characters as this is a good plot book and despite what I said there is something to be lost.

Overall, I gave this book 4/5 stars for Swirl Tattoos. I'm petty sure this is a standalone, but I'm not sure because with YA you never know what's going to happen. There could be more with this world and character but it doesn't need another novel. It's interesting addition to books involving virtual world and people hacking it.

I got this book for Review off NetGalley and is being publish by Orchard Books on 5th March 2015 (Tomorrow).

Book Review: Slated by Teri Terry

So I'm going to start doing written Book Reviews. For those who like my Saturday ramblings, don't worry these reviews won't count towards that (unless I'm really being Lazy).

So Slated by Teri Terry (Yes, I can't get over that name either) is set in 40 years in future Britain after rebels and revolution has changed the government dramatically. The protagonist is girl called Kyla who has been Slated, meaning she had her memory wiped by the Government. You are Slated if you have committed a serious crime and are between the ages of 12 and 16.  So she only has memory of the past nine month of her life. She doesn't even know why she was Slated. However, she keeps having nightmares, indicating that she hasn't forgot everything. If you're slated you wear a Levo on wrist which monitors your mood levels. Ten meaning your extremely happy and if you get angry or depressed it lowers and if goes below three you be knocked out. If two you're die.  Kyla due to her nightmares keeps going dangerously low.

As well as her nightmares, Kyla is adopted into a new family and is not certain she can trust her parents. With people disappearing from her new school, she begins to question the government.

I gave 4/5 stars to Slated as while there nothing wrong with the book, there was just something missing. The plot was well structured and all the characters had purpose. I always hate when there just random characters for no reason. There was few things that bugged me about Slated, but honestly these are probably just my pet peeves. I found it rather unsettling that Autism had been cured. That all that stated, it doesn't really play into the story really either. Not said how and as someone who has Autistic traits it stuck with me and started me questioning it: did they do something to the brains of the Autistic or did they wiped out the genetics for it which would make me very uncomfortable if that ever happen. Also I never think British would ever have chocolate chiped pancakes for breakfast. That very much a treat, not a meal. BBC Three showing the weather seems wrong in so many ways.

It also passes the planned sequel test. The main events of the novel have a satisfying end, but you're left with plenty of questions which make you want to read the next book.

I did enjoy reading Slated, I recommended to any YA dystopia lovers and I am looking forward to the next in the Trilogy, Fractured (April 2013).


 P.S. Hopefully, my reviews will get better with the more I write/film. I did do a video review as well.