Book Review: Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn

Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn
Pages: 342
Ages: Young Adult
Buy It: Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback | Barnes & Noble
Publishers Summary:

When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.

Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all. As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who
hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.

A revolution is beginning. As much as Kira would like to forget the last year of her life and begin anew she can’t, because everywhere she turns people recognize her. Kira, the one who began the revolution. Even with a new name and a new place to call home she can’t escape what she’s done by sharing the news of jackers in society. What’s worse than not being able escape her past though is how it may affect those she loves, her mindreader boyfriend Raf most of all.

Reading a sequel in a series is often difficult for me, because no matter how good the writing or the characters the second book never seems to live up to the connection with the first book. In fact that’s why I tend to avoid book series as much as possible. Of course, after reading Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn I couldn’t resist reading Closed Hearts, the second book in the Mindjack Trilogy. And now…there is absolutely no way I can resist reading the third book, Free Souls, when it is released. Closed Hearts completely tore through my expectations of sequels and is now my favorite book in the series to date.

From the start a big concern I have with sequels is the lack of information from the previous book or the never ending rehashing of all the events you’ve already read about. That was simply not the case with Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn. Again, in Closed Hearts Quinn has proven that she knows how to write and that she’s an author worth reading. If I hadn’t read Open Minds I have no doubt I would have enjoyed Closed Hearts just as much as I did reading it through this time. Quinn’s characters are so beautifully crafted with a range of emotions and characteristics that each individual character stands out, making them memorable beyond the pages of the story. Beyond the characters it was the blending of past information with what was to come including some fantastic action and adventure that made the pacing perfect and had me flipping page after page.

In Closed Hearts Kira is back but with a variety of names and working new jobs with her Dad who is also a jacker. At first I was surprised that the story started in such a different place than where the previous one had, but as the story progressed I found I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of the new setting with the past creeping back in around the characters. One of the other aspects that I loved that also surprised me in a very good way was the introduction of such a large number of new characters. The vast majority of the new characters were mindjackers like Kira, but there was also the introduction of a big new bad guy, Vellus, who I’m certain isn’t done with Kira just yet. I was also thrilled to see Raf back in the story, Kira’s boyfriend from the previous book, but I’m also intrigued by new guy, Julian. All of these pieces fit together so nicely, from the new setting to the new characters, making this a story I couldn’t put down.

In a stunning turn of events, Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn has proven to me that a sequel can be every bit as good as the first book in a series and potentially even better than it’s predecessor. With Open Minds I was completely shocked by how it exceeded my expectations of what I’ve come to expect from self-published novels. Now with Closed Hearts I’ve been entirely blown out of the water with it’s rich cast of characters and action packed situations. The Mindjacker trilogy is one to put on your to-read lists, now; a series to wait for with bated breathe as Quinn crafts next and final book, and is certainly one sci-fi dystopian fans should have already read. Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn begins with the rumblings of a mindjacker revolution, takes you through an action packed invasion and breaks your heart. Do not miss this series that is now on my “Top Reads” list for the indefinite future.

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages 13 and up. A brilliant new addition to the Mindjacker trilogy that new readers could easily pick up and be enthralled with! Some violence and an action packed adventure await readers who love great writing.

Find Closed Hearts by Susan Kaye Quinn at the following spots:
Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Be sure to visit Armchair BEA where Susan has graciously signed on to be a Sponsor and is offering five (5) copies of the first book in this series, Open Minds! It’s incredible! If you don’t believe me just read my review, this is one sci-fi dystopian YA you do not want to miss out on!

Thank you so much to the author, Susan Kaye Quinn, for providing a copy of this book for review! Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook!
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