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Mindwalker #1
Mindwalker
At seventeen, Lain Fisher has already aced the Institute's elite training program for Mindwalkers, therapists who use a direct neural link to erase a patient's traumatic memories. A prodigy and the daughter of a renowned scientist-whose unexplained death left her alone in the world-Lain is driven by the need to save others.
When Steven, a troubled classmate, asks her to wipe a horrific childhood experience from his mind, Lain's superiors warn her to stay away. Steven's scars are too deep, they say; the risk too great. Yet the more time Lain spends with him, the more she begins to question everything about her society. As she defies the warnings and explores Steven's memories, it becomes clear that he's connected to something much bigger…something the Institute doesn't want the world to discover.
Lain never expected to be a rule breaker. She certainly didn't plan on falling in love with a boy she's been forbidden to help. But then, she never expected to stumble into a conspiracy that could ignite a revolution.
When Steven, a troubled classmate, asks her to wipe a horrific childhood experience from his mind, Lain's superiors warn her to stay away. Steven's scars are too deep, they say; the risk too great. Yet the more time Lain spends with him, the more she begins to question everything about her society. As she defies the warnings and explores Steven's memories, it becomes clear that he's connected to something much bigger…something the Institute doesn't want the world to discover.
Lain never expected to be a rule breaker. She certainly didn't plan on falling in love with a boy she's been forbidden to help. But then, she never expected to stumble into a conspiracy that could ignite a revolution.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2015
27 people are currently reading
3724 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Steiger
6 books165 followersA. J. Steiger graduated from Columbia College in Chicago, where she majored in fiction writing. She has lived her whole life in the Chicago suburbs, though she enjoys regular visits to other galaxies and dimensions in her mind. She's a freelance writer and transcriptionist with an enthusiasm for anime and pancake houses.
Mindwalker is her first book for young adults.
Mindwalker is her first book for young adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
June 22, 2015
Mindwalker by A. J. Steiger has many elements of dystopian and non-dystopian novels I have read before and yet it kept me interested until the very last page.
In a world run by shrinks , Lain is a mindwalker who helps people erase traumatic memories. Her relationship with Steven a.k.a the bad gorgeous guy is not very memorable , though. I wouldn't say the romantic part of the book is its most relevant feature, I found Steven bland to say the least. Their love affair failed to attract me but I do understand the behaviour of that character ,given the horrible experience he went through as a child.
What will make your continue reading is the original ideas developed by the author. A. J. Steiger depicts a society in which citizens are classified according to their mental health.Type Ones are healthy enough to be members of the government or to have a relevant role . Type Fives , however, are bound to have all their memories deleted to prevent them from committing crimes. People are constantly scanned and checked and the slightest offence can make anybody lose his or her citizen's rights . If you think you are not strong enough to take this pressure , there is even a legal drug that can help you pass away painlessly. The moment you get the prescription you are officially considered dead whether you take it or not.
I think that the book reflects how we tend to classify people one way or another , unfairly most of the time and how difficult it is to escape from prejudices.
Mindstormer, the second novel , will probably show us the way the characters finally overcome this oppressive society.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
In a world run by shrinks , Lain is a mindwalker who helps people erase traumatic memories. Her relationship with Steven a.k.a the bad gorgeous guy is not very memorable , though. I wouldn't say the romantic part of the book is its most relevant feature, I found Steven bland to say the least. Their love affair failed to attract me but I do understand the behaviour of that character ,given the horrible experience he went through as a child.
What will make your continue reading is the original ideas developed by the author. A. J. Steiger depicts a society in which citizens are classified according to their mental health.Type Ones are healthy enough to be members of the government or to have a relevant role . Type Fives , however, are bound to have all their memories deleted to prevent them from committing crimes. People are constantly scanned and checked and the slightest offence can make anybody lose his or her citizen's rights . If you think you are not strong enough to take this pressure , there is even a legal drug that can help you pass away painlessly. The moment you get the prescription you are officially considered dead whether you take it or not.
I think that the book reflects how we tend to classify people one way or another , unfairly most of the time and how difficult it is to escape from prejudices.
Mindstormer, the second novel , will probably show us the way the characters finally overcome this oppressive society.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
November 23, 2015
This was bloody brilliant.......too bad I have to wait until 2017 for the sequel! :( So fast-paced!
June 19, 2015
4.25/5
I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Mindwalker. I didn’t actually know too much about it before I started reading so I was a bit hesitant, but it ended surpassing my expectations. I have read so many dystopian books at this point that I really didn’t think anything could impress me anymore - but Mindwalker did! It’s a slightly different approach to the genre that I haven’t seen in many books (if I had to compare it to something, maybe a cross between Minority Report and Psycho Pass?) and I am looking forward to continuing this series!
Lain was a very interesting heroine. She was almost the opposite of heroines you would usually see in dystopians, like Katniss or Tris. She wasn’t a strong fighter, she wasn’t necessarily brave in the face of danger/pain. She wasn’t an excellent strategist. But she was a great character all the same - and this is what I want, guys. Female characters don’t need to kick down doors and throw knives (though that’s pretty awesome too) in order to be strong leading characters. Lain was complex; she was compassionate and sincerely wanted to help people - to the point where it was almost like an addiction. She was also loyal but not stupid, and questioned things when she thought something was wrong. I really enjoyed reading about her, and though we didn’t necessarily agree on everything (how on earth did she think bringing Steven to the party was a good idea?!), I could understand her decisions and motives behind them. The way she was able to deal with experiencing other people’s terrible memories as well, to see and feel everything they did in order to know which memories to erase - I don’t think I could have done that. It seemed so horrible and yet she did it for client after client because she really thought that erasing those memories would help them. And even though she was so empathetic and caring, she wasn’t a pushover. She dealt with things rationally (well, most of the time) and calmly. She was good at calming Steven down and in one scene I liked that she didn’t just agree to his suggestion of sharing memories in order to get him to trust her. She waited until she was ready to share them, until she actually wanted him to trust her fully.
Steven was another fascinating character. He wanted Lain to illegally erase his memories because he could no longer go down the legal path, and he just couldn’t live with them anymore. He had suffered terrible abuse at a young age and he wanted to forget those memories so he could lead a normal life. He didn’t trust people but you could tell he wanted to trust Lain. And I liked that his problems weren’t magically solved by meeting her, you know like in those books where the moral of the story is basically “if you find someone to love you, all your problems will go away and any broken part of you will be fixed!”. Yeah, that didn’t happen here, because this book actually went down a more realistic path. Without the Mindwalking procedure, Steven would always suffer from the trauma of what happened to him. He may learn ways to cope and deal with it so that he may lead a regular life - but it would never go away, especially not just because of a girl he met. Steven knew this, Lain knew this. No-one expected anyone to change just because they had feelings for each other. Lain actually cared about Steven, where no-one had ever cared before. She took the time to know him and I like the slow way their relationship developed. I also liked how they put their feelings aside when they had to in order to accomplish their goals. The romance didn’t interfere with the actual plot, there were no overdramatic miscommunications that slowed things down and dragged things out, which I really appreciated.
Plot-wise, the pacing was practically perfect. The way things developed over time, the way the characters started to realise something wasn’t right…I loved it. Some things were predictable (surrounding Lain’s father and Steven’s true memories) but then again, I’ve read so many dystopians that I would be expected to be familiar with the format. And this book was definitely quite dark, and sometimes disturbing. It explores some serious themes, mostly focussing on mental illness and suicide and the morality behind government intervention (or lack thereof). You sort of have to be in the right frame of mind to read it. I was also very intrigued by certain things that weren’t wrapped up in this book, which is why I’m excited for the sequel. The consequences of the ending, for starters. And also, Ian. He was a curious character. I think he had feelings for Lain but he wouldn’t admit it - and yet he did so much for her. I don’t really want a love triangle, but I would like to see more of him.
Overall, I really enjoyed Mindwalker. If you are looking for a new kind of dystopian, or if you’re a fan of things like Psycho Pass (a great anime, watch it), then I highly recommend this book.
I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Mindwalker. I didn’t actually know too much about it before I started reading so I was a bit hesitant, but it ended surpassing my expectations. I have read so many dystopian books at this point that I really didn’t think anything could impress me anymore - but Mindwalker did! It’s a slightly different approach to the genre that I haven’t seen in many books (if I had to compare it to something, maybe a cross between Minority Report and Psycho Pass?) and I am looking forward to continuing this series!
Lain was a very interesting heroine. She was almost the opposite of heroines you would usually see in dystopians, like Katniss or Tris. She wasn’t a strong fighter, she wasn’t necessarily brave in the face of danger/pain. She wasn’t an excellent strategist. But she was a great character all the same - and this is what I want, guys. Female characters don’t need to kick down doors and throw knives (though that’s pretty awesome too) in order to be strong leading characters. Lain was complex; she was compassionate and sincerely wanted to help people - to the point where it was almost like an addiction. She was also loyal but not stupid, and questioned things when she thought something was wrong. I really enjoyed reading about her, and though we didn’t necessarily agree on everything (how on earth did she think bringing Steven to the party was a good idea?!), I could understand her decisions and motives behind them. The way she was able to deal with experiencing other people’s terrible memories as well, to see and feel everything they did in order to know which memories to erase - I don’t think I could have done that. It seemed so horrible and yet she did it for client after client because she really thought that erasing those memories would help them. And even though she was so empathetic and caring, she wasn’t a pushover. She dealt with things rationally (well, most of the time) and calmly. She was good at calming Steven down and in one scene I liked that she didn’t just agree to his suggestion of sharing memories in order to get him to trust her. She waited until she was ready to share them, until she actually wanted him to trust her fully.
Steven was another fascinating character. He wanted Lain to illegally erase his memories because he could no longer go down the legal path, and he just couldn’t live with them anymore. He had suffered terrible abuse at a young age and he wanted to forget those memories so he could lead a normal life. He didn’t trust people but you could tell he wanted to trust Lain. And I liked that his problems weren’t magically solved by meeting her, you know like in those books where the moral of the story is basically “if you find someone to love you, all your problems will go away and any broken part of you will be fixed!”. Yeah, that didn’t happen here, because this book actually went down a more realistic path. Without the Mindwalking procedure, Steven would always suffer from the trauma of what happened to him. He may learn ways to cope and deal with it so that he may lead a regular life - but it would never go away, especially not just because of a girl he met. Steven knew this, Lain knew this. No-one expected anyone to change just because they had feelings for each other. Lain actually cared about Steven, where no-one had ever cared before. She took the time to know him and I like the slow way their relationship developed. I also liked how they put their feelings aside when they had to in order to accomplish their goals. The romance didn’t interfere with the actual plot, there were no overdramatic miscommunications that slowed things down and dragged things out, which I really appreciated.
Plot-wise, the pacing was practically perfect. The way things developed over time, the way the characters started to realise something wasn’t right…I loved it. Some things were predictable (surrounding Lain’s father and Steven’s true memories) but then again, I’ve read so many dystopians that I would be expected to be familiar with the format. And this book was definitely quite dark, and sometimes disturbing. It explores some serious themes, mostly focussing on mental illness and suicide and the morality behind government intervention (or lack thereof). You sort of have to be in the right frame of mind to read it. I was also very intrigued by certain things that weren’t wrapped up in this book, which is why I’m excited for the sequel. The consequences of the ending, for starters. And also, Ian. He was a curious character. I think he had feelings for Lain but he wouldn’t admit it - and yet he did so much for her. I don’t really want a love triangle, but I would like to see more of him.
Overall, I really enjoyed Mindwalker. If you are looking for a new kind of dystopian, or if you’re a fan of things like Psycho Pass (a great anime, watch it), then I highly recommend this book.
June 3, 2015
This book is just one big stereotypical Dystopian YA novel (there will be a sequel). I received an ARC.
The main character is a strong female character who is a Mindwalker. A Mindwalker can go into peoples' memories and wipe them away for the better. Well she runs into this boy and he has some bad memories, but he is a type 4 delinquent, so she should stay away from him, but she's intrigued.
This book was so disappointing to me. Strong female character who realizes the government is doing something wrong, so she rebels with the help of a male sidekick who is also her love interest. There's so many books that are like this and it wasn't interesting at all. A book is coming out this month that is supposed to be almost like it.
The writing was pretty good and all, but I don't think the book was worth it. There's supposed to be a sequel, but I don't think I will even read it. It didn't even leave off on a cliff hanger.
The main character is a strong female character who is a Mindwalker. A Mindwalker can go into peoples' memories and wipe them away for the better. Well she runs into this boy and he has some bad memories, but he is a type 4 delinquent, so she should stay away from him, but she's intrigued.
This book was so disappointing to me. Strong female character who realizes the government is doing something wrong, so she rebels with the help of a male sidekick who is also her love interest. There's so many books that are like this and it wasn't interesting at all. A book is coming out this month that is supposed to be almost like it.
The writing was pretty good and all, but I don't think the book was worth it. There's supposed to be a sequel, but I don't think I will even read it. It didn't even leave off on a cliff hanger.
June 28, 2015
3.5/5
The concept behind the book was really cool and the romance was sweet. It's definitely not unique for a dystopian book, but I liked how it was executed.
Review to come
The concept behind the book was really cool and the romance was sweet. It's definitely not unique for a dystopian book, but I liked how it was executed.
Review to come
June 3, 2015
When I first heard of Mindwalker it had yet to be picked up by a UK publisher so when I realised it was being published in the UK I as beyond happy.
Lain lives in a world where there is no violence, where people are categorized into numbers, Ones have the best jobs, the best homes, and the better opportunities. Your number is changed according to your threat against society, some even being collared so that if you threaten to harm others you are injected with a sedative to calm you down. Lain has a talent for being a Mindwalker, meaning she can go into other peoples minds to help them forget a traumatic past. like abuse, losing family members, etc.
Mindwalker was an interesting read. I did initially struggle with reading this one, I thought it had a slow start, but as the story progressed things got a whole lot more interesting, and dangerous. Lain was a character who I had mixed feelings about. To begin with, for me she was too perfect, to prim and proper and I did find it hard to relate to her. But as the story continues we get to see her break out from her perfect shell as she goes against the rules to help a class friend, Steven. Steven is the bad boy, the boy no-one wants to be near, he is also collared. but he reaches out to Lain to gain her help in forgetting his very traumatic past.
As the plot for Mindwalker got more dangerous I was hooked. I had to know what would Lain do, by helping Steven she is risking her own job, her own number, and her reputation. By ignoring him she is sentencing him to death, abandoning him when he needs her the most. What follows from their meetings is a game of cat and mouse, of the past being revealed, and secrets that were meant to be left buried are beginning to surface.
I love the idea behind Mindwalker, of being able to forget traumatic experiences, or being able to help others through it. But it also comes with its disadvantages. People in power wanting to control the population, keeping them on a tight lease in order to achieve a perfect township. I think that the powers that be took it too far in thier need to control, and by the end of the book I had a lot of respect for Lain and Steven for fighting for what they believe in.
Final Verdict
Although Mindwalker was a slow start, it did pick up a keep me interested in what was going on. After the dramatic ending I am looking forward to seeing what comes next for this unlikely duo.
Lain lives in a world where there is no violence, where people are categorized into numbers, Ones have the best jobs, the best homes, and the better opportunities. Your number is changed according to your threat against society, some even being collared so that if you threaten to harm others you are injected with a sedative to calm you down. Lain has a talent for being a Mindwalker, meaning she can go into other peoples minds to help them forget a traumatic past. like abuse, losing family members, etc.
Mindwalker was an interesting read. I did initially struggle with reading this one, I thought it had a slow start, but as the story progressed things got a whole lot more interesting, and dangerous. Lain was a character who I had mixed feelings about. To begin with, for me she was too perfect, to prim and proper and I did find it hard to relate to her. But as the story continues we get to see her break out from her perfect shell as she goes against the rules to help a class friend, Steven. Steven is the bad boy, the boy no-one wants to be near, he is also collared. but he reaches out to Lain to gain her help in forgetting his very traumatic past.
As the plot for Mindwalker got more dangerous I was hooked. I had to know what would Lain do, by helping Steven she is risking her own job, her own number, and her reputation. By ignoring him she is sentencing him to death, abandoning him when he needs her the most. What follows from their meetings is a game of cat and mouse, of the past being revealed, and secrets that were meant to be left buried are beginning to surface.
I love the idea behind Mindwalker, of being able to forget traumatic experiences, or being able to help others through it. But it also comes with its disadvantages. People in power wanting to control the population, keeping them on a tight lease in order to achieve a perfect township. I think that the powers that be took it too far in thier need to control, and by the end of the book I had a lot of respect for Lain and Steven for fighting for what they believe in.
Final Verdict
Although Mindwalker was a slow start, it did pick up a keep me interested in what was going on. After the dramatic ending I am looking forward to seeing what comes next for this unlikely duo.
May 5, 2022
Cred că v-a trecut și vouă vreodată prin minte că ați fi iubit mai mult o carte dacă nu ați fi citit deja altele cu aceleași elemente. Povestea mea cu acest roman... Totuși, cred că e cel mai "dark" din subgenul său.
Romanul explorează tema sănătății mintale 🧠 și ca TW aș zice că cele mai multe dintre personaje au trecut prin diverse abuzuri și prin experiențe traumatice, suferă de afecțiuni precum anxietate, depresie etc. Era important de menționat în caz că sunteți sensibili la genul acesta de lucruri, totuși v-o recomand mult deoarece e foarte interesantă! ❤️
" 'I get tired of all these rich people in white coats pretending they understand my pain.'
'But that's what they're trained for. To understand.' "
Lain are 17 ani și se antrenează pentru a fi Mindwalker, o persoană care intră în amintirile unui pacient, pe care le trăiește, apoi șterge experiențele traumatice. Motivația ei e că ajută și salvează oamenii (popularitatea Somnazolului e în floare, un drog legal care le induce oamenilor somnul etern), eu nu o puteam înțelege, prin această meserie ajungi să te distrugi singur. 😟 Dar e o ucenică de excepție a IFEN, o instituție importantă din Republica Unită a Americii.
Când Steven îi cere să-l vindece, Lain acceptă, chiar dacă află că e o victimă a unui incident tragic și bolnav. Viața ei începe să se complice odată cu niște suspiciuni și chiar și Ian — prietenul și colegul ei de la IFEN — are propriii demoni.
"Memories fade and crumble. This moment is a reality. Forever is an illusion."
Romanul are și minusuri, dar mi-a plăcut cum scrie autoarea. În prima parte a cărții pacing-ul e mai lent, dar așa povestea are timp să evolueze. De personaje când îmi plăcea, când nu. Steven mă enerva uneori, alteori avea glumele la el 🤪 și pentru asta l-am apreciat, iar părerea mea despre Ian s-ar rezuma în cuvântul "depinde".
Mai presus de toate, aceștia trei sunt doar adolescenți și sunt prezentați puțin mai realist decât în alte cărți. Asta într-un sens bun! 😊 Spre sfârșit, vorbele antagonistului au ajuns la mine și, chiar dacă nu ai cum să nu-l suporți pentru ce-a făcut, nu spunea lucruri greșite.
Romanul explorează tema sănătății mintale 🧠 și ca TW aș zice că cele mai multe dintre personaje au trecut prin diverse abuzuri și prin experiențe traumatice, suferă de afecțiuni precum anxietate, depresie etc. Era important de menționat în caz că sunteți sensibili la genul acesta de lucruri, totuși v-o recomand mult deoarece e foarte interesantă! ❤️
" 'I get tired of all these rich people in white coats pretending they understand my pain.'
'But that's what they're trained for. To understand.' "
Lain are 17 ani și se antrenează pentru a fi Mindwalker, o persoană care intră în amintirile unui pacient, pe care le trăiește, apoi șterge experiențele traumatice. Motivația ei e că ajută și salvează oamenii (popularitatea Somnazolului e în floare, un drog legal care le induce oamenilor somnul etern), eu nu o puteam înțelege, prin această meserie ajungi să te distrugi singur. 😟 Dar e o ucenică de excepție a IFEN, o instituție importantă din Republica Unită a Americii.
Când Steven îi cere să-l vindece, Lain acceptă, chiar dacă află că e o victimă a unui incident tragic și bolnav. Viața ei începe să se complice odată cu niște suspiciuni și chiar și Ian — prietenul și colegul ei de la IFEN — are propriii demoni.
"Memories fade and crumble. This moment is a reality. Forever is an illusion."
Romanul are și minusuri, dar mi-a plăcut cum scrie autoarea. În prima parte a cărții pacing-ul e mai lent, dar așa povestea are timp să evolueze. De personaje când îmi plăcea, când nu. Steven mă enerva uneori, alteori avea glumele la el 🤪 și pentru asta l-am apreciat, iar părerea mea despre Ian s-ar rezuma în cuvântul "depinde".
Mai presus de toate, aceștia trei sunt doar adolescenți și sunt prezentați puțin mai realist decât în alte cărți. Asta într-un sens bun! 😊 Spre sfârșit, vorbele antagonistului au ajuns la mine și, chiar dacă nu ai cum să nu-l suporți pentru ce-a făcut, nu spunea lucruri greșite.
April 28, 2018
It was really good! The idea was very different to any other book I have read and I really liked the characters. There was a lot of action towards the end of the book which was really good, and at the start of the book you really got to know the main character :). But... I literally got so angry that the main character, a 17 YEAR OLD, slept with flipping SOFT TOYS.
July 11, 2015
Review to come
July 27, 2015
Review on Reading Teen
October 25, 2017
WHY DID I PUT MYSELF THROUGH THIS BOOK.
June 9, 2017
2.5 stars. review to come on the blog.
September 13, 2016
REVIEW BY JACK - YEAR 11
Mindwalker is a somewhat typical modern dystopian novel set in the USA. The government has changed out of all recognition in response to widespread terrorism and violence in the past. The new Institute For Ethics in Neurotechnology runs a desperate and controversial programme that has rapidly become embedded in society, ranking all citizens from type one to four, depending on their mental state. On page one, Lain Fisher is a type one with absolute faith in the government, training to alter people’s traumatic memories at the IFEN.
My favourite character is the reliable and (in Lain’s own words) “solid” Ian. I like him because he seems to have a perfect success story, completely falls apart and then comes back into the story near the end as an absolute hero. The best part is the middle of the book, when the action suddenly and dramatically picks up.
The main flaw to this incredibly immersive tale is how long it takes to reach that point. The long and slightly depressing opening merely covers an isolated, nerdy 16-year-old girl struggling to cope as she begins to lose the few things she has ever been certain of in her life. To be honest, this slightly dreary start nearly turned me off. I am glad I read on though, because the action is fantastic and so absorbing once it starts.
Some interesting questions are left open at the end of the book, and for that reason I would love to read the sequel, though I hope the action begins more swiftly there. I would recommend this book to my friends who are interested in dystopian fiction, but because of the slow start I can only give it 3 out of 5 stars.
Mindwalker is a somewhat typical modern dystopian novel set in the USA. The government has changed out of all recognition in response to widespread terrorism and violence in the past. The new Institute For Ethics in Neurotechnology runs a desperate and controversial programme that has rapidly become embedded in society, ranking all citizens from type one to four, depending on their mental state. On page one, Lain Fisher is a type one with absolute faith in the government, training to alter people’s traumatic memories at the IFEN.
My favourite character is the reliable and (in Lain’s own words) “solid” Ian. I like him because he seems to have a perfect success story, completely falls apart and then comes back into the story near the end as an absolute hero. The best part is the middle of the book, when the action suddenly and dramatically picks up.
The main flaw to this incredibly immersive tale is how long it takes to reach that point. The long and slightly depressing opening merely covers an isolated, nerdy 16-year-old girl struggling to cope as she begins to lose the few things she has ever been certain of in her life. To be honest, this slightly dreary start nearly turned me off. I am glad I read on though, because the action is fantastic and so absorbing once it starts.
Some interesting questions are left open at the end of the book, and for that reason I would love to read the sequel, though I hope the action begins more swiftly there. I would recommend this book to my friends who are interested in dystopian fiction, but because of the slow start I can only give it 3 out of 5 stars.
July 26, 2015
I haven't heard much about this book so I went into it with an open mind, I wasn't expecting it to blow my mind.
In this story we have the main character Lain, a 17 year old Mindwalker.
A Mindwalker is a person who can take away memories from people that they want to forget, like an old love or a traumatic experience. She is very smart 17 year old who is one of the youngest mindwalkers as most people don't make it past the first year as when they do the procedure the mindwalker also goes through the memory as the person and feels all the emotions.
Then we meet Steven, he wants Lain to take away his memory of something that happened to him when he was younger, but when she starts the procedure to find the memory, she finds out more than she was expecting and something wrong is happening with the people she thought she trusted.
This story is like a test for Lain, she wants to be the best, to help people but instead she has to work against them to find the truth. I really liked Lains character, she was able to stick up for herself, and the character development was really good and I cannot wait to see how much more she grows in the second book.
I really liked the story-line as it was a bit different from some dystopian reads I have read so that made it more interesting for me.
I was just gripped from the very first page and read it in one sitting. The writing was fantastic and I think that's what got me hooked.
A.J. is a brilliant author and I cannot wait to see where this series goes.
In this story we have the main character Lain, a 17 year old Mindwalker.
A Mindwalker is a person who can take away memories from people that they want to forget, like an old love or a traumatic experience. She is very smart 17 year old who is one of the youngest mindwalkers as most people don't make it past the first year as when they do the procedure the mindwalker also goes through the memory as the person and feels all the emotions.
Then we meet Steven, he wants Lain to take away his memory of something that happened to him when he was younger, but when she starts the procedure to find the memory, she finds out more than she was expecting and something wrong is happening with the people she thought she trusted.
This story is like a test for Lain, she wants to be the best, to help people but instead she has to work against them to find the truth. I really liked Lains character, she was able to stick up for herself, and the character development was really good and I cannot wait to see how much more she grows in the second book.
I really liked the story-line as it was a bit different from some dystopian reads I have read so that made it more interesting for me.
I was just gripped from the very first page and read it in one sitting. The writing was fantastic and I think that's what got me hooked.
A.J. is a brilliant author and I cannot wait to see where this series goes.
July 7, 2015
I want part two :( :(
Review:
Now Mindwalker is the opposite story. This is a dystopian tale about Lain, who is a mind walker. This means that she can access people's memories, live them and then remove them so traumatised people can be "normal" again. It's way more complicated than that, but eventually Lain gets caught up with a boy who wants help, but she has to do this illegally. This sets the whole plot into motion and basically we find out that everything in Lain's life is not what it seems.
I wasn't super excited for this book based on the summary, but I wanted to give it a go. And I absolutely fell in love with this story. The mindwalker aspect was really cool, Lain is such a relatable and likeable character and there were so many twists and turns that you never knew how this book was going to end. Honestly, this book is SO SO SO good!! It's five out of five stars for me and I highly encourage everyone to read. And even better news - it's clearly part of a series, so we don't have to say goodbye to these amazing characters after just one book! I personally can't wait for part two!
Review:
Now Mindwalker is the opposite story. This is a dystopian tale about Lain, who is a mind walker. This means that she can access people's memories, live them and then remove them so traumatised people can be "normal" again. It's way more complicated than that, but eventually Lain gets caught up with a boy who wants help, but she has to do this illegally. This sets the whole plot into motion and basically we find out that everything in Lain's life is not what it seems.
I wasn't super excited for this book based on the summary, but I wanted to give it a go. And I absolutely fell in love with this story. The mindwalker aspect was really cool, Lain is such a relatable and likeable character and there were so many twists and turns that you never knew how this book was going to end. Honestly, this book is SO SO SO good!! It's five out of five stars for me and I highly encourage everyone to read. And even better news - it's clearly part of a series, so we don't have to say goodbye to these amazing characters after just one book! I personally can't wait for part two!
July 19, 2014
In a futuristic world, Lain is training to be a mindwalker, a kind of hyped up psychiatrist who can erase bad memories from clients. Steven Bent, ok - terrible name, a troubled loner boy asks for help. Steven & Lain go off the grid, sorta, as she tries to take away his childhood trauma, even though he's not an official case. In the process, they discover dark secrets about their society & Lain's dead father. Hits all the high points of YA dystopian/adventure/romance - highly recommended!
August 25, 2015
LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK!!
CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL, MINDSTORMER!!!!!
Full Review to come!
CANNOT WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL, MINDSTORMER!!!!!
Full Review to come!
August 13, 2021
That was a scary book.
And weird.
And not bad.
WHAT I LIKED
~The heroine
The heroine is a girl that has lived her whole life in a lie, trusting people she should consider enemies and loathing people that should be her allies. I liked her way of thinking and that doubt was always in her mind. It felt natural, to hear about the war inside her head about what is right and what's not. Truth be told, it wasn't the best representation of that inner war but it was enough for me.
I liked her selflessness and her kindness. I like it when we have heroine we can look up to and not feel weird about it. I mean, most of the heroines in books are murderers and criminals but this one was diving deep in the ethical delimmas.
~The hero
So, not the greatest this author can write (Her book with the autistic girl has an amazing hero) but he was fine. I mean, at some points I was like, okay... but then he would say something and I would like him more. He had an interesting personality even though I didn't feel we dove relly deep into his character. We were consumed by his trauma that we forgot about the everyday interaction with him.
~The idea
The whole idea, of the world clean of crimes and clean of unstable minds was gripping. The way the author presents madness, the way she shows how unsure things are when we talk about someone's brain and his phycology was amazing. That thing that I really liked was that projection of how it is to be labeled as crazy, when your every thought turns against you, that whatever you do after that is considered a sign of your downfall, the way you are suddenly a burden. The way you doubt your own sanity only because someone planted the idea in your mind. I really liked the way the author used those themes.
~The ending
So, I consider this book to be able to be read as a standalone. It leaves off in a nice place so you don't feel rushed to read the next one. I don't feel there's more to be explained except from the enemy that must be destroyed. The characters were completed, the mystery was exposed and the only thing that remains is to find a solution.
~The action
If this author is good at something, is creating good action scenes. I was scared and I couldn't believe it. More scared than books that are considered to be horror. The action brings you to the edge, you don't know what to expect, what might happen. It was a thrill I hadn't felt for long. I had forgotten how it was to read a dystopian novel. NICE! Scary but nice.
~The romance
Not bad. Not great but not bad. There was depth and there were nice moments but with them always being on the run we didn't get the chance to stop for a minute and examine their reactions, their expressions, their details. I love details and this book didn't have them, to my dissapointment.
But a cute and deep romance.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
~The world building
So... I don't mean it was bad. You understand the world etc but I kept on wondering what about the goverment? What role will that play? Is that institute also the goverment? Sometimes I was losing the sense of space, where they were and what they were doing. I felt this world was a little bit rushed.
~Everything was rushed
She changed her ideas easily, she started doubting people she trusted her whole life in an instant, she would rebel without second thought when she had never rebelled again. The way the plot was unraveled was rushed, with her leaving behind beliefs easily. And the romance was a bit rushed too, with feelings making appearance early on.
In general it was good but nothing that I will remember or quote any time in the near future. I believe that it could be so much better and I say this because I have read this author's other book and I loved it.
January 18, 2024
4.3/5
i kind of wish i'd bought this book rather than borrowing it from the library. that is, i like this book quite much. it’s brilliant! so this went beyond my expectations. i literally sat there and binged this book like the biggest exams in my life aren’t a day away, not realizing 3 hours have passed. that might just be one of the best compliments any book could ever receive from me.
i kind of wish i'd bought this book rather than borrowing it from the library. that is, i like this book quite much. it’s brilliant! so this went beyond my expectations. i literally sat there and binged this book like the biggest exams in my life aren’t a day away, not realizing 3 hours have passed. that might just be one of the best compliments any book could ever receive from me.
it started off pretty typical, just as i’d expected, but then how it dug into the eugenics & government issue made me change my view on it. it’s not like a lot of books that shallowly state “the country doesnt really care about its people so we rebel”, instead it actually considers the upsides and downsides of it, and it illustrates the fmc’s struggles as a mindwalker who works for the government. her opinions on both sides are valid and, in fact, pretty convincing. it didn’t leave a lot of cracks for me to find fault in. i’d say i bought it.
the explanation the government has is decent imo—sacrifice is inevitable during establishing a better system, and to ensure the people’s safety, as bad as it sounds, sometimes there are things that gotta be brushed under the rug. what makes this persuasive is that the current system was indeed working, the sacrifice it made, unethical or not, was worth it if you take a more holistic view and this is simply reality. i'm really glad this book has made it clear.
on the other hand, people have the right to know what dirty stuff the government has done. they need to know because this world it creates might be great, flourishing, and safe, but making them live in lies is just too much. rebellion isn't the opposite of the government but more like a byproduct of people knowing the ugly truth.
i might be speaking with a little sterotype, but for a book published in '15, this one got visionary thinking, great insights, and a lot potential.
another thing i like about it is that the science stuff *mostly* makes sense. so, yeah, like i said, it really has some visionary thinking.
alright and now let's talk about the romance. yeah, like a good half of it is cringy teenage cliche—this whole book is a teenage cliche to some extent, but sometimes it's just the right thing you need, yk?—but the chemistry and the development... it's not a bad one.
also, i can sense a love triangle coming. i know a lot of people hate love triagles, but i dont hate so much as having mixed feelings about it. it's something i've always loved; there are just way too much books that have done it wrong. i don't expect much from this one, tho. that being said, i'm still excited to see how it goes.
btw, i love how the author brings out more controversy through the dialogues.
oh, one more thing, i accept the dead dad trope. many books kill the mc's parents bc no one wants to deal with them whilte writing thrilling adventures, but in this book we have a decent explanation and it supports the whether to rebel dilemma.
anyway, that's about all. i know no one reads my reviews whatsoever so ill just put this here so i can retrace my thoughts on it in the future, ha. i think i like this book most about it's thinking instead of the plot or the characters, which are also not bad btw. idk why i dwell on the controversy so much since it’s probably not even the point, but i guess it’s just refreshing to read this type of stuff, which i haven’t done in a while. most importantly, i had a wonderful time reading it, and that's what matters the most, no?
October 22, 2017
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
A.J. Steiger’s debut novel Mindwalker is a highly intriguing and enjoyable sci-fi tale that mixes dystopian elements with romance, danger and tangible character chemistry.
What if you could erase your past? Or your memories could be rewritten? These are questions seventeen year old Lain Fisher knows the answer to all too well as a Mindwalker, a specially trained therapist who is able to use advanced equipment to connect with a person’s mind and help erase traumatic events from their memories. Lain is one of the best at what she does and is on the fast-track to an exciting career as a Mindwalker until a troubled classmate by the name of Steven Bent approaches Lain and asks her for help in wiping a horrific experience from his mind. Helping Steven goes against all the rules Lain prides herself on following, yet as she gets to know Steven, Lain can’t help but wonder by all the irregularities she’s finding in his memories. Soon it becomes clear Steven is the link to secrets those in power will do anything to protect and Lain will need to question everything she thinks she knows about her society if they have any chance of outwitting those out to get them.
Heading into Mindwalker I wasn’t sure what kind of story I should anticipate so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself almost automatically invested and ingrained in the tale. With the story unfolding through the eyes of Lain, there was something so addictive about this novel that allowed author A.J. Steiger to quickly capture my attention and earn my respect.
Mindwalker has two important characters within the story; Lain our protagonist and Steven, the individual whose circumstances and request force her to begin questioning things. These two have a really great chemistry together and I found them really sweet. They were endearing and there’s a perfect amount of romance Steiger adds to the story as their relationship develops into something more than friendship.
Main character Lain was someone I genuinely liked; I thought she was intelligent, strong willed but also kind and clearly someone who wanted to help those around her. I enjoyed seeing Steiger open her eyes to the true workings of the world around her and begin Lain’s journey of growth and discovery. As Lain began to get to know Steven, he made her ask questions that she hadn’t previously pondered and take chances.
Steven, as the male lead and love interest of Lain, was a very broken individual, but I liked the underlying attitude and sarcastic nature he had. He’d been through so much, and was very close to giving up, but there was also a spark in him that shone through—something I really liked, especially when he and Lain were together. They brought out the best in one another and I loved that.
Mindwalker introduces readers to a futuristic world with fantastical technology. Being able to delve into someone’s mind the way in which Lain and other Mindwalkers can makes for some interesting possibilities and as Mindwalker comes to a thrilling close, I cannot wait to see what A.J. Steiger does next in the sequel. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for as soon as it releases!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
A.J. Steiger’s debut novel Mindwalker is a highly intriguing and enjoyable sci-fi tale that mixes dystopian elements with romance, danger and tangible character chemistry.
What if you could erase your past? Or your memories could be rewritten? These are questions seventeen year old Lain Fisher knows the answer to all too well as a Mindwalker, a specially trained therapist who is able to use advanced equipment to connect with a person’s mind and help erase traumatic events from their memories. Lain is one of the best at what she does and is on the fast-track to an exciting career as a Mindwalker until a troubled classmate by the name of Steven Bent approaches Lain and asks her for help in wiping a horrific experience from his mind. Helping Steven goes against all the rules Lain prides herself on following, yet as she gets to know Steven, Lain can’t help but wonder by all the irregularities she’s finding in his memories. Soon it becomes clear Steven is the link to secrets those in power will do anything to protect and Lain will need to question everything she thinks she knows about her society if they have any chance of outwitting those out to get them.
Heading into Mindwalker I wasn’t sure what kind of story I should anticipate so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself almost automatically invested and ingrained in the tale. With the story unfolding through the eyes of Lain, there was something so addictive about this novel that allowed author A.J. Steiger to quickly capture my attention and earn my respect.
Mindwalker has two important characters within the story; Lain our protagonist and Steven, the individual whose circumstances and request force her to begin questioning things. These two have a really great chemistry together and I found them really sweet. They were endearing and there’s a perfect amount of romance Steiger adds to the story as their relationship develops into something more than friendship.
Main character Lain was someone I genuinely liked; I thought she was intelligent, strong willed but also kind and clearly someone who wanted to help those around her. I enjoyed seeing Steiger open her eyes to the true workings of the world around her and begin Lain’s journey of growth and discovery. As Lain began to get to know Steven, he made her ask questions that she hadn’t previously pondered and take chances.
Steven, as the male lead and love interest of Lain, was a very broken individual, but I liked the underlying attitude and sarcastic nature he had. He’d been through so much, and was very close to giving up, but there was also a spark in him that shone through—something I really liked, especially when he and Lain were together. They brought out the best in one another and I loved that.
Mindwalker introduces readers to a futuristic world with fantastical technology. Being able to delve into someone’s mind the way in which Lain and other Mindwalkers can makes for some interesting possibilities and as Mindwalker comes to a thrilling close, I cannot wait to see what A.J. Steiger does next in the sequel. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for as soon as it releases!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2019
(Sorry in advance for any spoilers)
So for my English class's book club, I chose to read the book Mindwalker.
I chose this book because I wanted to read something that is not fantasy or filled with dragons like the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini or Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland.
Starting with the book as a whole, I loved it because of the length, which was not too long nor short, and because even though it started a bit slow in my opinion as far as the plot goes, it quickly picked up the pace and grabbed my attention faster than many books I've read before.
A second reason I love the book is that I have read many books set in a futuristic dystopian world (Hunger Games and the Divergent series etc). As I said in the first part of the review, it is a change of pace from my usual reading material. The technology is very 'interesting', to say the least, and I wonder if it would ever be a possibility in the future (not necessarily for it to be a good thing).
Ok, to be more precise with the technology, I don't think it would be a bad idea because of how it became a thing (you'll have to read the book to find out :p ). The idea of technology, such as the 'Gates' that are used in Mindwalker, which gives someone the ability to see inside your head and become you through your memories to help erase traumatic experiences from your mind, sounds appealing but it can also be dangerous.
As it is said in the story, the more a Gate is used, the more hazardous it becomes for both the mindwalker and the patient. And while this isn't completely related to the book, the same can be said about drugs in real life.
Now, as for things I didn't particularly like, these are just a few little things like a specific part of the culture or part of the everyday life of the characters.
First off, if I was in the book, either as a character that plays a big role in the story or just some one-line nobody in the background, I wouldn't agree with the concept of how people's career choices are affected by their mental stability.
The way the society here works is everyone is classified and separated into groups called Types. Type 1's are the 'normal' people who are the most stable and are treated like gods compared to the others.
They are also the only Type that is allowed to become a mindwalker and family-wise, the only ones allowed to clone themselves to have a guaranteed Type 1 child, and as is implied by the word clone, exact copy of themselves.
The way the Type 2-5's are treated is horrific in some ways because not only are they given little to no choice for careers, they are also forcibly given therapy treatments to 'help cure' their mental issues. And one thing that is absolutely wrong is something that is advertised as an almost innocent over the counter pill you can get at any drug store or pharmacy. And that my friend is the little pink pill called somnazol, aka the suicide pill that people are technically being encouraged to take if they show signs of even the slightest mental problem an are told is the easiest 'way out'.
I will stop my review here because I fear I might have given away a little too much about the book xD.
So for my English class's book club, I chose to read the book Mindwalker.
I chose this book because I wanted to read something that is not fantasy or filled with dragons like the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini or Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland.
Starting with the book as a whole, I loved it because of the length, which was not too long nor short, and because even though it started a bit slow in my opinion as far as the plot goes, it quickly picked up the pace and grabbed my attention faster than many books I've read before.
A second reason I love the book is that I have read many books set in a futuristic dystopian world (Hunger Games and the Divergent series etc). As I said in the first part of the review, it is a change of pace from my usual reading material. The technology is very 'interesting', to say the least, and I wonder if it would ever be a possibility in the future (not necessarily for it to be a good thing).
Ok, to be more precise with the technology, I don't think it would be a bad idea because of how it became a thing (you'll have to read the book to find out :p ). The idea of technology, such as the 'Gates' that are used in Mindwalker, which gives someone the ability to see inside your head and become you through your memories to help erase traumatic experiences from your mind, sounds appealing but it can also be dangerous.
As it is said in the story, the more a Gate is used, the more hazardous it becomes for both the mindwalker and the patient. And while this isn't completely related to the book, the same can be said about drugs in real life.
Now, as for things I didn't particularly like, these are just a few little things like a specific part of the culture or part of the everyday life of the characters.
First off, if I was in the book, either as a character that plays a big role in the story or just some one-line nobody in the background, I wouldn't agree with the concept of how people's career choices are affected by their mental stability.
The way the society here works is everyone is classified and separated into groups called Types. Type 1's are the 'normal' people who are the most stable and are treated like gods compared to the others.
They are also the only Type that is allowed to become a mindwalker and family-wise, the only ones allowed to clone themselves to have a guaranteed Type 1 child, and as is implied by the word clone, exact copy of themselves.
The way the Type 2-5's are treated is horrific in some ways because not only are they given little to no choice for careers, they are also forcibly given therapy treatments to 'help cure' their mental issues. And one thing that is absolutely wrong is something that is advertised as an almost innocent over the counter pill you can get at any drug store or pharmacy. And that my friend is the little pink pill called somnazol, aka the suicide pill that people are technically being encouraged to take if they show signs of even the slightest mental problem an are told is the easiest 'way out'.
I will stop my review here because I fear I might have given away a little too much about the book xD.
September 29, 2017
ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
well that was a lump of meh. i don't even know why i read it. I DON'T EVEN LIKE DYSTOPIAN ANYMORE (except very well done dystopian - and this was not it). it was a big ball of clichés and tropes that have existed in EVERY dystopian since this genre was introduced to ya.
it was about lain, the stereotypical "nice girl" main character, and i gave absolutley no fucks for her. she was unrealistic, clichéd, and blander than plain pasta. i'm sorry "nice girls", but i have no sympathy for people who describe THEMSELVES as "boring". there is surely a special skill or trait you have? and she sleeps with stuffed animals. THIS IS AN 17-YEAR-OLD, not a 5-year-old! this is lara jean all over again!
lain's special talent was "mindwalking", which is special therapy that is basically wiping your memories. that seems like bullshit (this is even explored later in the novel) but ok! she also has no parents as her father died, and that also seems like bullshit. she was ORPHANED at 13 and no one came to look after her, not even the aura social services - also what the hell is "aura"?? the captial city, or the latest pony on my little pony? or the latest disney princess? - never came to get her?
i haven't even got the plot yet! basically she goes into steven's memories and finds that his alleged early childhood - spent in a basement kidnapped by a serial killer (this reminded me of the creepypasta 1999 with caledon local 21 and mr bear - ring any bells?) is all a lie. and they have a crappy and totally forced romance, cause IT'S NOT YA WITHOUT KISSING.
it was almost a dnf. so why, you cry, did i give this clear bucket of gruel that should be used as a doorstop 2 stars? well, some bits did intrigue me. the creepypasta-style kidnappings, the experiments and government conspiracy elements all intrigued me enough to keep me going til the last page. yes, that combination was made real, along with the paranormal, in stranger things, which is why i love it so much. if those elements intrigue you too, i would recommend not buying the book and watching stranger things instead.
if you love dystopians, despite the fact that the genre has become a trash can for books, read this book. if you don't, and hope this will be the way back into the genre you spent so long loving in your misspent youth, this won't be it. go watch stranger things instead for all the best bits of this book combined with the supernatural and waffles.
well that was a lump of meh. i don't even know why i read it. I DON'T EVEN LIKE DYSTOPIAN ANYMORE (except very well done dystopian - and this was not it). it was a big ball of clichés and tropes that have existed in EVERY dystopian since this genre was introduced to ya.
it was about lain, the stereotypical "nice girl" main character, and i gave absolutley no fucks for her. she was unrealistic, clichéd, and blander than plain pasta. i'm sorry "nice girls", but i have no sympathy for people who describe THEMSELVES as "boring". there is surely a special skill or trait you have? and she sleeps with stuffed animals. THIS IS AN 17-YEAR-OLD, not a 5-year-old! this is lara jean all over again!
lain's special talent was "mindwalking", which is special therapy that is basically wiping your memories. that seems like bullshit (this is even explored later in the novel) but ok! she also has no parents as her father died, and that also seems like bullshit. she was ORPHANED at 13 and no one came to look after her, not even the aura social services - also what the hell is "aura"?? the captial city, or the latest pony on my little pony? or the latest disney princess? - never came to get her?
i haven't even got the plot yet! basically she goes into steven's memories and finds that his alleged early childhood - spent in a basement kidnapped by a serial killer (this reminded me of the creepypasta 1999 with caledon local 21 and mr bear - ring any bells?) is all a lie. and they have a crappy and totally forced romance, cause IT'S NOT YA WITHOUT KISSING.
it was almost a dnf. so why, you cry, did i give this clear bucket of gruel that should be used as a doorstop 2 stars? well, some bits did intrigue me. the creepypasta-style kidnappings, the experiments and government conspiracy elements all intrigued me enough to keep me going til the last page. yes, that combination was made real, along with the paranormal, in stranger things, which is why i love it so much. if those elements intrigue you too, i would recommend not buying the book and watching stranger things instead.
if you love dystopians, despite the fact that the genre has become a trash can for books, read this book. if you don't, and hope this will be the way back into the genre you spent so long loving in your misspent youth, this won't be it. go watch stranger things instead for all the best bits of this book combined with the supernatural and waffles.
November 23, 2020
I really wanted to like this book more than I actually did. This was the first YA dystopia that centers around psychiatric abuse that I'd ever heard of, so the premise drew me in right away. But in the end, I have a lot of mixed feelings and frustrations about it.
First of all, the absence of non-white characters is always bad, but especially in a YA dystopia about psychiatric abuse. People of color are disproportionately harmed by abuse of power in the psych system, and not even touching on psychiatry's long and ongoing history of racism in a book about a caste system based in psychiatry is a glaring omission.
On a lesser note, this would have been so much better without the romance between Lain and Steven. In general I think most books would be better without romance, but in this one especially it just felt obligatory. Like this is a YA novel so they have to end up together.
Lain was also an incredibly frustrating character and it actually wasn't until the second book (which I'll review later) that I my opinion of her finally cemented. But this is just a review of the first book, so I'll just say: a lot of things about her bother me. Her naivety at times seemed to cross the line into being willfully ignorant about how terrible IFEN. She's also just incredibly privileged and not really willing to examine it. She needs to be carefully guided to the idea that maybe mass violations of human rights are a bad thing. It's really frustrating. But by the end, she's gone through some decent character development and it seems like there's potential for more in the sequel.
Overall, it was a great setup. The premise was amazing and it was unique among dozens of YA dystopias that all have very similar settings to each other. It just could have been a lot better with a different main character, more diverse characters in general, and without the obligatory YA romantic plotline.
First of all, the absence of non-white characters is always bad, but especially in a YA dystopia about psychiatric abuse. People of color are disproportionately harmed by abuse of power in the psych system, and not even touching on psychiatry's long and ongoing history of racism in a book about a caste system based in psychiatry is a glaring omission.
On a lesser note, this would have been so much better without the romance between Lain and Steven. In general I think most books would be better without romance, but in this one especially it just felt obligatory. Like this is a YA novel so they have to end up together.
Lain was also an incredibly frustrating character and it actually wasn't until the second book (which I'll review later) that I my opinion of her finally cemented. But this is just a review of the first book, so I'll just say: a lot of things about her bother me. Her naivety at times seemed to cross the line into being willfully ignorant about how terrible IFEN. She's also just incredibly privileged and not really willing to examine it. She needs to be carefully guided to the idea that maybe mass violations of human rights are a bad thing. It's really frustrating. But by the end, she's gone through some decent character development and it seems like there's potential for more in the sequel.
Overall, it was a great setup. The premise was amazing and it was unique among dozens of YA dystopias that all have very similar settings to each other. It just could have been a lot better with a different main character, more diverse characters in general, and without the obligatory YA romantic plotline.
December 23, 2017
This is the first book in a YA science fiction series. I was assigned to review the second for School Library Journal, so I decided to get the first one from the library to give me some context for my review.
The premise is ridiculous. Society in a not-so-far-in-the-future America revolves around typing people based on their mental health. Type Ones are the most healthy and are therefore given the most trust and afforded the most regard. Lower types are more closely monitored and controlled and have fewer freedoms, and they are literally encouraged to kill themselves. Times are dark.
In this society that is totally focused in mental health, there have also been a lot of developments in neurology, including a process that can erase unpleasant memories. The kick is that only teenagers are able to go into other people's brains to erase their memory, for some convenient and absurd reason. Enter our main character, Lain, who is a rising star "Mindwalker" whose favorite extracurricular activity is strolling through her clients' worst memories in order to delete them forever.
Lain wholeheartedly believes in the good of her work and just wants to help people live happier lives, believing that memory modification is the key to that. When one of her classmates, a Type Four boy, asks her to erase his traumatic experiences, she knows she has to help him. But the bigwigs at [giant evil memory business place] say a Type Four isn't worth saving and Lain should walk away. Thus begins Lain's internal struggle with right and wrong and the nature of the system she has always blindly trusted.
Lots of melodrama, navel gazing, and teen swooning. Not my cup of tea, but I could see it appealing to some.
Strong language and some disturbing scenarios make this one a good choice for high school age and up.
The premise is ridiculous. Society in a not-so-far-in-the-future America revolves around typing people based on their mental health. Type Ones are the most healthy and are therefore given the most trust and afforded the most regard. Lower types are more closely monitored and controlled and have fewer freedoms, and they are literally encouraged to kill themselves. Times are dark.
In this society that is totally focused in mental health, there have also been a lot of developments in neurology, including a process that can erase unpleasant memories. The kick is that only teenagers are able to go into other people's brains to erase their memory, for some convenient and absurd reason. Enter our main character, Lain, who is a rising star "Mindwalker" whose favorite extracurricular activity is strolling through her clients' worst memories in order to delete them forever.
Lain wholeheartedly believes in the good of her work and just wants to help people live happier lives, believing that memory modification is the key to that. When one of her classmates, a Type Four boy, asks her to erase his traumatic experiences, she knows she has to help him. But the bigwigs at [giant evil memory business place] say a Type Four isn't worth saving and Lain should walk away. Thus begins Lain's internal struggle with right and wrong and the nature of the system she has always blindly trusted.
Lots of melodrama, navel gazing, and teen swooning. Not my cup of tea, but I could see it appealing to some.
Strong language and some disturbing scenarios make this one a good choice for high school age and up.
May 25, 2019
Summary:
Lain is a 17 year old Mindwalker, meaning she is a therapist that can go into other's memories and erase them. The whole society is about creating a safe world with no crime and no mental illness. It is the Mindwalker's job to remove bad memories that could cause mental illness or harmful behavior. She meets a boy who she is told is off limits. The boy, Steve, asks her to remove his traumatic memories that place him as a harmful member of society. Lain goes against the rules and starts to remove his traumatic memories. As she does this, she discovers that his memories might not be all that they seem. Together they discover secrets about her family, mindwalking, and their society.
My Thoughts:
This book definitely differs from other popular dystopian novels which makes it new and exciting. I loved how fast the plot moved and how you never could tell exactly what was going!to happen next. The writing style was easy to follow and easily allowed for you to escape within the story. This novel was very thought provoking on how our society views mental illness. It makes you think a lot about how mental illness plays a role in our society and what we can do to help those with mental illness. Reading with Lain as the protagonist was very enjoyable. Her compassion and struggles were easy to relate to. She isn't a fighter like most female dystopian protagonist, but she was able to fight with her knowledge which made her that much more realistic.
I definitely recommend this book! It is fast paced and constantly keeps you wanting to read just one more chapter.
Check out my other reviews and book blog at:
https://aashareads.blogspot.com/2019/...
Lain is a 17 year old Mindwalker, meaning she is a therapist that can go into other's memories and erase them. The whole society is about creating a safe world with no crime and no mental illness. It is the Mindwalker's job to remove bad memories that could cause mental illness or harmful behavior. She meets a boy who she is told is off limits. The boy, Steve, asks her to remove his traumatic memories that place him as a harmful member of society. Lain goes against the rules and starts to remove his traumatic memories. As she does this, she discovers that his memories might not be all that they seem. Together they discover secrets about her family, mindwalking, and their society.
My Thoughts:
This book definitely differs from other popular dystopian novels which makes it new and exciting. I loved how fast the plot moved and how you never could tell exactly what was going!to happen next. The writing style was easy to follow and easily allowed for you to escape within the story. This novel was very thought provoking on how our society views mental illness. It makes you think a lot about how mental illness plays a role in our society and what we can do to help those with mental illness. Reading with Lain as the protagonist was very enjoyable. Her compassion and struggles were easy to relate to. She isn't a fighter like most female dystopian protagonist, but she was able to fight with her knowledge which made her that much more realistic.
I definitely recommend this book! It is fast paced and constantly keeps you wanting to read just one more chapter.
Check out my other reviews and book blog at:
https://aashareads.blogspot.com/2019/...
October 19, 2018
In the beginning, I picked this book out thinking that it would be a quick and fun read, but it was so much better than that. YA books are so often unoriginal with a basic and predictable plot line, but thankfully this book was better. I believe that the plot wasn't exactly the greatest thing about the book because there were parts where it was very predictable, but it always left me wanting more each time I put down the book. My personal favorite part of the book was the characters. Even though the dystopian world was very unrealistic as it should be, the characters felt very real and raw, unlike most YA novels where characters feel almost animated. The character building in this book was very strong and the relationships between the characters felt like the kind of thing that I could actually relate to with my own friends and loved ones. Overall, this book made me smile, made me laugh, made me cry, and gave me a great amount of joy. I feel that this book is much better than the majority of popular YA novels and I will definitely be recommending it.
January 31, 2019
I couldn’t put this book down! I love the whole concept of the society and how it is structured by Types. I like the science part involved and how it is intertwined with other themes, grief, mental health, romance, abuse and lots more. I found it interesting, new and gripping. Read it in two days. I would of liked Steven and Lain’s relationship to have developed a bit as Steven’s character gave out mixed messages (came across as quite blunt sometimes) - however that is made up for by his troubled background. I think the ending could have been made a bit better - didn’t like how it was wrapped up neatly, maybe a better cliffhanger for the sequel? It was a bit rushed in the action I felt but that’s partly what kept me gripped!
An emotional rollercoaster especially when Lain is grieving and some very tense suspenseful scenes were very impactful!
Altogether I would recommend this book but am a bit disappointed with the ending!
An emotional rollercoaster especially when Lain is grieving and some very tense suspenseful scenes were very impactful!
Altogether I would recommend this book but am a bit disappointed with the ending!
July 7, 2018
This book was very well written. Every location, person, and thought in the book was described in immense detail. The plot line was interesting because it essentially took problems that the present day U.S.A. is facing, and fixed them. The way the characters dealt with their society and each other also made the book better.
However, the reason I took a star away is because as this book nears the end, it turns into a stereotypical book of the 21st century. Two people grow up in a society and then when they’re older, they realize how corrupt it is and they begin to disagree with their government and then eventually run away. Yes, it was well written, and an interesting read, but in the end, I think I was expecting more from this book and therefore was disappointed with how the author decided to conclude the book.
However, the reason I took a star away is because as this book nears the end, it turns into a stereotypical book of the 21st century. Two people grow up in a society and then when they’re older, they realize how corrupt it is and they begin to disagree with their government and then eventually run away. Yes, it was well written, and an interesting read, but in the end, I think I was expecting more from this book and therefore was disappointed with how the author decided to conclude the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2022
I really looked forward to reading this. Two chapters in, I had my heart set on Steven. But once the party scene came around, I realized how predictable and cliched this book was. I mean what the hell. She’s so plain and boring and has no distinct personality. Steven has it all, even though he’s kinda possessive (understandably so? Idk) and Ian, oh my God. I saw the twists and surprises from a million chapters away. The concept was interesting, I would’ve loved to see this as an adult thriller. Can you imagine?? It would be so awesome if they did that and also took away the Capitalized Terminology™️ which is in every generic YA dystopian. We don’t need more racism or classism, people. The writing style was also good, I had generally no problem with it. All in all, wouldn’t recommend unfortunately.
February 27, 2018
Pretty interesting book. I picked this one up because I actually received the second book in this series as an ARC. It is your typical dystopian young adult novel. It was fairly predictable at times but still entertaining. I like that is does address some issues that we are facing today in society such as mental illness and how some can turn to terrorism. It's pretty frightening to think that this might be possible someday. I think it would be good to be able to see a persons memories in order to help them heal but then to cross over into altering memories or controlling a person with implants is horrifying. I look forward to seeing how the story continues!
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