Adversary (Ganzfield, #2)

Jul 11, 2012 Khushboo rated it 2 of 5 stars

Ok, the first book, I loved. But by the end of this book, Maddie came off as an over-smart and extra-ordinary character on annoying levels. It seems like no one can over-power her, the only guy who could was considered evil. if making someone kiss you against their will is evil, what do u think about taking someone else's voice away temporarily without their consent without any provocation. It should go both ways. And by the end, the only other person that could be counted as positive and better...more

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Dec 07, 2010 Ellz Readz rated it 4 of 5 stars

My thoughts...Book two in the Ganzfield series, Adversary, picks up where Minder left off. This second installment takes readers deeper into Kate Kaynak's world and shows readers the darker side of her writing.

Without giving away any significant events, I will say parts of the book were hard to read. Not that the writing was less than perfect, but the characters deal with some very trying situations. The heroine Maddie really steps up to the plate and takes her place as the leader of her group....more

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Sep 04, 2010 Lady Rogue rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. After the events in Minder, Maddie and her friends had been training hard. With the Sons of Adam constantly trying to kidnap or kill them, they needed to learn to work together, control thier powers, and to protect themselves. But nothing could have prepared them, for what was about to happen. Loved ones were hurt, missing, kidnapped or lost. Their lives were changed forever.

The author stayed true to her characters, because, after everything that happened, I still believed them to be teenagers....more After the events in Minder, Maddie and her friends had been training hard. With the Sons of Adam constantly trying to kidnap or kill them, they needed to learn to work together, control thier powers, and to protect themselves. But nothing could have prepared them, for what was about to happen. Loved ones were hurt, missing, kidnapped or lost. Their lives were changed forever.

The author stayed true to her characters, because, after everything that happened, I still believed them to be teenagers. They didn't have a miraculous growth in confidence or insight. They didn't become indestructable and more focused. Instead, they still had their insecurities and confusions. Thier concentration was often interrupted with thier own sexual desires and they were far from being indestructable, but worked hard on strengthening thier weaknesses.

Maddie had always been a leader, but she always had Dr. Williamson, to help guide her and make the final decisions for her. Now, she was thrusted into the position, of making the final decisions and was often second guessing herself. Fortunately, she had Trevor and her freinds to support her. I loved that Maddie and Trevor had a deep connection and that thier relationship was something more intimate, than that of physical sex. But more important, I believed it. Maddie's mother did too. I thought it was very clever of the author, to use Maddie's telepathy, as a way for the reader, to experience the various perspectives, of the surrounding characters. It helped me related to Maddie's mother and her inner struggle, to protect her daughter or support her daughter. I also loved that the mother was a little quirky for being a therapist. Her showing love by food, getting pissed off at Trevor for cooking in her kitchen, then relaxing when she realized, he was feeding her daughter. That was just too cute. I also thought, the new and powerful G-positive, Zack added an interesting dynamic to the group. He happened to be a charm, who could persuade most minders and was incrediable at blocking them. He liked Maddie, but in his determination to impress her, he alienated her, and spark an anger in Trevor. Also, we meet Dr. Williamson's lawyer and alumni G-postive, Nick Coleman. I hope to see more of them in Legacy.

The world that the Kate Kaynak created, was very believable and the plot frighteningly crediable. I absolutely love the author's ability to use irony. The idea ,that one of the most powerful G-positives leading an occult bent on eliminating all G-positives, wasn't lost on me. I also thought it was interesting, that in trying to kill Isaiah, a friend betrayed Maddie and almost killed the one person, who could actually kill Isaiah.

Overall, I loved this book. Personally, I didn't think, it was possible, to like it better than the Minder. It is a rare occasion, when I am at a lost for words. As I finished the last page and closed the book, my mind was racing. I had felt a wide range of emotions, that I couldn't even begin to express. My mind was too busy, reflecting on all that happened throughout the book, and all the possibilites of what would happen in the next. The author did it again! Adversary had taken hold of me, and didn't let go, even after the book was closed. If I was asked, "What Young Adult series would I recommend?", The Ganzfeild Novels would be it. I look forward to the next installment, Legacy.
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Oct 29, 2011 Serena rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fantasy

After reading all the glowing reviews out there, I started reading Adversary with great expectations... This book left me with mixed feeling. Kate Kaynak did an great job of drawing her readers into the world of Maddie, the protagonist, and her skill of painting scenes so vividly had me hooked onto the book, especially the massacre scene. The whole picture of Maddie's fellow classmates and teachers lying lifeless on the snowy ground... it was just so overwhelming. Although the story-line was jus...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Franny (Mind Reader) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow... Things seem to develop better and better.
I can say this was sort of a tragic book. There's a lot of drama and I've felt anxious throughout the whole book.
The kids find themselves in a middle of a war-plan and prepare for battle. Maddie & Trevor's relationship grows stronger, they lose a few people along the way and we get to meet a new character (which I truly hope not to see again as this is someone I totally dislike - note my explicit intention of NOT mentioning this character's gen...more

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Mar 11, 2011 Kristen My Bookish Fairy Tale rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ok so If I thought Minder was amazing I had no idea that Kate could make it any better, but sure enough she did. Kate takes the story to a whole different level with Advesary. Absolutely brilliantly written and extremely captivating. Kate has no problem keeping me hooked onto every word.

Maddie, Trevor,Drew, Rachel and Hannah embark on a terrifying task when they discover a devastating tragedy has hit Ganzfield the place that everyone has come to know as home. The danger from Isaiah is still thr...more

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Oct 18, 2010 Vicki (The Wolf's Den) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal, scifi, young-adult, own, romance, girl-power, the-wolfs-den-reviewed

For Maddie, life probably couldn't be any stranger.

As a minder (mind-reader), she hears the thoughts and feels the emotions of everyone around her. Her boyfriend, (well, more accurately, her soulmate) Trevor, can lift things in the air and stop bullets without even moving a muscle. Her other friends can start, stop, and control fires, locate people or objects just by thinking about them, heal others in seconds, and force people to do anything they ask.

But that's Ganzfield for you. If something i...more

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May 20, 2011 Stella rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, for-review, ya, paranormal

I give Adversary 3.5 stars!

Adversary is the second book in the Ganzfield series and after how much I enjoyed the mindblowing adventure of Minder I was excited to see how Kate Kaynak would up the pace of the first book, and I have to say she triumphed! Adversary is an even more thrilling story where the breakneck speed of action keeps you glued to your chair, turning the pages as if in a trance.

(I am sorry if some parts of my review will be a comparison between Minder and Adversary, but after th...more I give Adversary 3.5 stars!

Adversary is the second book in the Ganzfield series and after how much I enjoyed the mindblowing adventure of Minder I was excited to see how Kate Kaynak would up the pace of the first book, and I have to say she triumphed! Adversary is an even more thrilling story where the breakneck speed of action keeps you glued to your chair, turning the pages as if in a trance.

(I am sorry if some parts of my review will be a comparison between Minder and Adversary, but after the intense reading experience of Minder, I was expecting the same elation and want to tell you how Adversary fared.)

So much happens in Adversary that you feel like you are in the middle of a whirlwind. Action after action propel the plot forward and you feel like you're speeding down the highway at breakneck speed. The emotional intensity of the terrors the characters go through was palpable and will move you.

Just like Minder, Adversary gripped me from start to finish. What I missed the most compared to the first book (which I loved), was that in Minder besides the fast paced, action packed plot there was an emotional journey and discovery of Maddie. Here in Adversary I felt that due to the high speed of everything happening at once this aspect was relegated to the background and when the emotional parts got the center stage I found them repetitive. Maddie and Trevor are comfortable in their warm and intense love for each other, and Kate Kaynak conveyed that wonderfully both in Minder and Adversary. They share such deep understanding of each other that it is a more solid foundation for a relationship than most have. However I found the repetitions of Maddie's internal gushing a bit tiring since they added no new aspect to their relationship, and this brought the novel down a bit for me.

I was also sad to see that the wonderful secondary characters didn't get nearly enough 'screen time'. Sure they were introduced in Minder, but the whole supporting cast is made of such great characters that I would have liked to read more about them. In Adversary Kate Kaynak introduced a new character: Zach, who I have to say I liked a lot and was sorry to see leave the group so soon (I felt that taking him out of the equation of Maddie-Trevor-and himself was too easy and simple, would have liked to see him stir things up a bit within the group and between Maddie and Trevor in a better way). I hope he will return and that the cast will absolve him.

I applaud Kate Kaynak for not shying away from talking about sex and intimacy in a YA novel. She expressed Maddie and Trevor's urges extremely well, while still maintaining it to be a responsible, mature decision about two people coming together because of their love and not to quench some hormonal urges.

Adversary took things even further than Minder: the danger got more serious, the confrontations grew bloodier, Kate Kaynak was not afraid to kill off some main secondary characters and bringing grief to the characters, and thus making the story darker, everything here made seem the conflict of Minder rather like a child play in comparison.

Verdict: Adversary is a very fast, gripping read, one that you won't be able to put down until you have finished it. Kate Kaynak is the queen of cliffhangers and she certainly knows how to weave a thrilling story with continuous loops of action. In Adversary everything escalates: the danger, the heartache, the thrill, the violence. It seems the series is maturing and Kate Kaynak is not afraid to bring the story and her characters to darker places. All in all Adversary is a great second instalment of the Ganzfield series and I can't wait to read more!

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Oct 02, 2010 Brandi Kosiner rated it 5 of 5 stars

Minder left me breathless-- and Adversary did not disappoint. I get nervous with second books-- but this one is NOT filler in any way, the action starts quickly and doesn't let go. It answers some questions and then left me with more.
It is beyond belief what happens in the first chapters but I did not see it coming at all. I almost had to wonder if it was really necessary, but it just shows how dangerous and single minded the enemy is. I can't really say more except I felt the pain that chara...more Minder left me breathless-- and Adversary did not disappoint. I get nervous with second books-- but this one is NOT filler in any way, the action starts quickly and doesn't let go. It answers some questions and then left me with more.
It is beyond belief what happens in the first chapters but I did not see it coming at all. I almost had to wonder if it was really necessary, but it just shows how dangerous and single minded the enemy is. I can't really say more except I felt the pain that characters felt, and it was hard to get through.
Maddie is a dynamic character, and she keeps her strong leadership and sense of injustice at bullying and manipulation of people. Her and Trevor's relationship is taken to new levels, and they learn to love and protect each other in new ways. Kate has a way of writing their scenes making me wish that I could soulmate, and feeling like I am the one with telepathy, peeking into their hot and intimate moments. (It is all appropriate, nothing vulgar or obscene, similar to Minder with their energies being the main focus in the writing, but it is enough to make me jealous!
We meet a new character, Zack and I am still not sure what to feel about him. He is a charm who took things a little too far, and then felt regret after, but I am still wondering what sort of role he will play in the future of the series. He does serve to teach Maddie more about g-positives, but I can't really say much more.
Isaiah plays a bigger role in this one, and I hate him even more. He is even more powerful, and I am curious as to his weaknesses.
There is a teaser chapter for Legacy, and it is ridiculously foreshadowing and made me want to know what was going on, and if it was indeed what it looked like, and if so... what that means for Maddie and the series.
This is another amazing book, and Kate writes with beauty and fluidity. Her characters are real to me, and the way she writes them, I laugh with them, mourn with them, and am joyful with them. I recommend to read Minder if you haven't already and pick this one up!!(less)

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Mar 09, 2011 Inga rated it 4 of 5 stars

Again, what a start to the book! I am again amazed how well the author is captivating the reader from page one.
When the first book – Minder is finished, Dr. Williamson has created a small team to prepare them to fight against the enemy – Sons of Adam. Sons of Adam see Ganzfield students as abominations, as monsters and the Ganzfield team needs to learn how to fight back. The team consists of Maddie who is a minder, Trevor who is telekinetic, Rachel who is remote reviewer, Hannah who is a healer...more Again, what a start to the book! I am again amazed how well the author is captivating the reader from page one.
When the first book – Minder is finished, Dr. Williamson has created a small team to prepare them to fight against the enemy – Sons of Adam. Sons of Adam see Ganzfield students as abominations, as monsters and the Ganzfield team needs to learn how to fight back. The team consists of Maddie who is a minder, Trevor who is telekinetic, Rachel who is remote reviewer, Hannah who is a healer and a new guy Zach. Zach is a charmer who is also minder, who can shield his thoughts. Complicated, huh?!!
During the final tests, where their abilities are to be tested, the team headed by Maddie has to leave Ganzfield and when they return an awful horror is waiting for them - their friends and co-students have been cruelly slaughtered. What happened? Maddie gets a suspicion that Sons of Adam together with Isaiah is behind it. Rachel finds other Ganzfield survivors not very far from the training facility. When they arrive, they hear a gruesome story. They also realize that two of the healers have been imprisoned and that Dr. Williamson is disappeared as well.
Maddie, Trevor and the rest of the team is determined to get the healers out of the imprisonment. And then the action starts again!!
Summary from Goodreads:
I liked the second book of Kate Kaynak much better! As with the first book, it was easy to read and the story plot kept me very interested.
Maddie was much more likable to me, especially because she was the one who hold the whole team together. I liked her High-and-Mighty-Princess attitude in this book. She was resourceful, brave, and curious to expand her abilities. She took control when needed and backed off when needed.
I liked Zach in the beginning. When he was brought in to Ganzfield I was thinking that maybe author is going to challenge Maddie’s and Trevor’s relationship with Zach, but that didn’t happen. I think Zach’s abilities are so far the most interesting ones and I would like to see him also in next book.

Generally speaking, it was very good reading!
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Jul 17, 2011 Cyp rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: C.C. Hunter (Shadow Falls series) fans

Shelves: ya, 2011-reads, 4-star, urban-fantasy, mind-psi-abilities

I'm not gonna say much in this review cause then i'll just repeat what i'd said for Minders. But there are a few things that i must say have improved that i thought this book deserves a good 4.5 stars.

(I may get some facts wrong because it's been awhile since i put down the book. Forgive me^^")

Here are the main points in the book:
1) Maddie&co(her, trevor, Rachel, Hannah, and latest recruit and charm, Grace) starts stimulated trainings around camp together as a team, preparing themselves to g...more

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Feb 20, 2011 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Adversary is the second book in the Ganzfield series and it follows Maddie and Trevor along with all the rest of the people of Ganzfield through a harrowing journey. Ganzfield feels safe for the kids and adults who live there. Maddie and Trevor have been training their Team for missions. When Dr. Williamson sends them into the city on a mission, they are excited for the chance to be involved. But while they are away from Ganzfield, the compound is attacked and many of their friends and classmate...more

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Jan 10, 2011 Siobhan (Totally Bookalicious) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Adversary is the second installement in the outstanding series, Ganzfield. This story takes place shortly after book one ended. From start to finish the reader is on a thrilling rollcoaster ride of excitement.

Kate has developed her characters even more than the first novel and with that the reader will grow to love them even more. As well as that we have some new characters introduced such as Zack. It is very clear he has a thing for our main character Maddie and that leads to him behaving badly...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Sheri Boston rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, reviewed, paranormal, romance, supernatural, young-adult, fantasy, 2013-reading-challenge

Originally posted on my blog!! :) :)

This second book in the series picks right up where the first one left off. And once again we're pulled into this exciting world of people with extraordinary abilities. This book though, in my opinion, has just a slight bit more of a darker feel to it. There's more danger, more tragedy and more loss.

I was worried, as I always am, when a first book in a series grabs ahold of me like Minder did, that the second book would quite hold up to the first. You know ho...more

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Dec 09, 2010 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

After having absolutely loved the first book, Minder, I couldn’t wait to delve into Adversary. I expected it to be just as amazing as Minder and I was not disappointed.
Adversary starts off with action and just keeps going and going until the very end. I don’t normally like books like that but with Adversary there was just something about it that had me hooked. I just kept reading because I had to know what was going to happen next.
Adversary had parts that made me laugh but it also had its seriou...more

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Jan 09, 2011 Larissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-review

Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Minder and was really excited about reading Adversary. The way things ended in Minder, there was a LOT of potential for Maddie’s story and I was glad to finally read what came next.

Against all odds I am really enjoying this series. Maddie is a great leading lady, loyal, brave and not afraid to speak her mind. One of the things I love about this series is that she has found her...more Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Minder and was really excited about reading Adversary. The way things ended in Minder, there was a LOT of potential for Maddie’s story and I was glad to finally read what came next.

Against all odds I am really enjoying this series. Maddie is a great leading lady, loyal, brave and not afraid to speak her mind. One of the things I love about this series is that she has found her soulmate in Trevor and that is that. They might find some obstacles, some people might try to separate them, but they have found the person they are meant to be with in each other. I can enjoy the “will-they-wont-they” dance or even a nicely created triangle but there is something to be said about a couple that is just meant to be, gets together and from then on we get to enjoy their adventures as a couple… I simply LOVE that!

Kate Kaynak has really surprised me in Adversary by not being afraid of getting bloody and not underestimating her audience. No, this is not the Hunger Games and we don’t get nearly as much action, but Kate is not afraid of getting dirty and blurring the lines between honorable and unethical at times. People do die in this series and not just filler people either, which is well played since Maddie and her friends have inadvertently awaken a war that had been asleep for years.

Another thing that I really enjoyed was that Kate is not afraid to approach the sexuality of her characters. She doesn’t pretend teenagers don’t have sex or that they don’t have urges, she also doesn’t use it to teach her readers a lesson. She simply deals with the issue in a form that I feel is completely realistic.

The Ganzfield is first and foremost a character driven series in my opinion. There is some action and danger to be dealt with, but the internal and emotional issues do take center stage. So if you’re looking for some non-stop action, this might not be the series for you. But Kate has created very interesting and lovable characters that you can’t help but want to know more about.

Adversary is a great addition to this series and I really want to read more of it! (less)

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Feb 26, 2011 Edna Lyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, paranormal, science-fiction, first-reads, signed, won, 2011

In the aftermath of the Eden Imaging break-in, Maddie and her team of G-positives continue to train and try to find some fluidity with each other. Stakes raise as they're put to the test as an unexpected nightmare occurs at Ganzfield. Maddie takes the lead and soon they're on their own against Isaiah and the Sons of Adam.

I enjoyed this installment of the Ganzfield series. The pacing was great and there were quite a few interesting developments with Maddie. I liked the darker feel of the book wit...more

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Nov 27, 2010 For The Love of YA rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'll be honest....I usually get a little nervous with second books. There just have been a few in the past that just did NOT appeal to me at all. That was NOT the case with this book. This book, just like Minder, sucked me in and I had to keep going. The action is almost non-stop from the very beginning...which I really liked. The first few chapters ALONE are in my opinion beyond belief! AMAZING!

I'm still a little lukewarm on Maddie and Trevor's relationship. But I think that it's starting to de...more

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Aug 27, 2010 Montanamarynotmartha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, paranormal-fantasy, young-adult

Kate Kaynak's sequel to Minder, Adversary detailed the battle of the Ganzfield superpowers against their most evil, powerful and relentless adversary - Isaiah Lerner. The battles in the book were so intense and fascinating with all the superpowers it literally made me grip the book and fear for the characters. Kate Kaynak's imagery is so strong I felt like I was in the room and at the same time seeing things happening with other characters. Once again, she managed to mix an intense action/parano...more

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Jan 05, 2011 Erika Trenas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, signed

Plot: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Impact: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Not long ago, Maddie Dunn was a normal teenage girl. Then one night, she was assaulted by a couple of her classmates and, in an attempt to save her life, Maddie discovered she could do things her peers couldn't, like read minds and literally think people to death. Armed with her new-found abilities, she discovered the world of Ganzfield- an institution for people like Maddie called G-positives- and even fell in love with t...more Plot: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Impact: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Not long ago, Maddie Dunn was a normal teenage girl. Then one night, she was assaulted by a couple of her classmates and, in an attempt to save her life, Maddie discovered she could do things her peers couldn't, like read minds and literally think people to death. Armed with her new-found abilities, she discovered the world of Ganzfield- an institution for people like Maddie called G-positives- and even fell in love with the perfect boy, Trevor. But now someone is set on destroying Ganzfield, and it's up to Maddie and her friends to go after him and defend their home, not to mention the entire race of G-positives. With not only their lives but also those of countless of others on the line, Maddie and her friends try to defeat Isiah and are thrown into a battle bigger and more dangerous than any of them could ever imagine.

I was impressed by the first Ganzfield novel, Minder, and the world it introduced to me, but I have to say Adversary totally kicked things up a notch. I'm an avid reader and I've read more than my share of series books, and I rarely like the second novels more than the first (the only exception I can think of right now is Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins). That being said, Adversary totally blew me away.

It builds on the first novel, and then some. The same characters are reintroduced and once again you're brought into Ganzfield, but this time, it's more action-packed and violent and terrifying. The characters constantly face life-and-death situations as the plot races on, and you can't help but be engaged.

The romance is another thing I preferred in this book over the first. In Minder, I didn't really like that things seemed to move too fast between Maddie and Trevor, but in Adversary, they've been together for a while, so things are a lot better. There were times that I thought that things were too perfect, but the connection between Maddie and Trevor is a central part of the series, so it's understandable. On the whole, Kaynak's approach in tackling teenage relationships in this novel is impressive. The way she handles the ideas of sex and the characters' mutual need for each other is fairly realistic, she could have been telling a true story- minus the superpowers and the evil villain, of course.

Packed with armloads of excitement to keep you turning its pages, Adversary is definitely an enjoyable read and a brilliant addition to one of the most underrated YA paranormal series I know of. I'm honestly surprised people aren't raving about this series, because it's honestly very good and it just seems to get better with every installment. Now my expectations of the forthcoming books have stepped up because of this great second installment, but I have a very good feeling they'll deliver, the way Adversary blew my mind.(less)

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Sep 13, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bottom Line – Though not everyone survives Adversary, Ganzfield is still a school I want to attend, Maddie is a girl, I want as my friend...Adversary is intense, and unique in a way that's tough to explain (obviously)...the concepts of what makes kids like Maddie and Trevor possible, could – in the wrong hands be hard to understand much less comprehend, but with Kate Kaynak behind the proverbial wheel, they become glaringly easy to not only understand but I also felt like, hey – could this reall...more

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Jan 19, 2011 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed by http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blo...

I honestly had no idea if I would like the Ganzfield series when I won ADVERSARY from Paranormal Haven. Kate Kaynak then offered me book one MINDER to review so I put it on my calendar to read them both back to back and I'm so glad I did. Just like MINDER I found ADVERSARY to be a super fast read, not long but full of information and plot. I loved the characters, I really like Maddie and Trevor's devotion and connection to each other. There is...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really like this series. Why? Minders are awesome! And being G-Positive on the meds - she might be 'brain damaged at the end' but she can still communicate becuase she has her skills. I mean, how many ppl are out there now that cannot communicate - they are stuck in their bodies and minds. This story has a happy ending to me because of Maddie's ability. I am lucky to have read these books really, my sister in law won them and my library doesn't have anything by kaynak! :) will have to discuss...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Stephanie Bibb rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. There are a few small spoilers here and there, so be forewarned.

It was definitely a fast read, which I enjoyed (stayed up late to start it, finished it the next morning). I also enjoyed seeing more of the powers, but I think I would have liked to see more of an explanation of how powers were crossing over/able to be accessed by multiple people (especially in relation to the Eden Imaging experiments). As it was, I wonder how Zach could charm Minders, and would have liked to see more of him. Perso...more

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Sep 02, 2011 Trisha Wolfe rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting a bunch of action, or even more in-depth character development from a second book in a series. Minder did such a phenomenal job, it truly stood alone. But most sequels, although they can be good, never blow my mind. Adversary started off with a bang, and didn’t hold back. There were quick recaps, but this novel honestly could stand on its own.

We are taken deeper into Ganzfield and the characters, given more meaning into their powers, and shown how their powers...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Characters: Maddie and Trevor are back again as the main focus of the story. They have grown closer after the events in book one. We also get to see an introduction to some new characters and Maddie's mother, who I adored.

Writing: The world that the author as built here is fun and dangerous. The characters have to go through Training Drills to make their powers stronger and learn how to work with each other. The drills and the events that happen are very dangerous and when the Doctor goes missi...more Characters: Maddie and Trevor are back again as the main focus of the story. They have grown closer after the events in book one. We also get to see an introduction to some new characters and Maddie's mother, who I adored.

Writing: The world that the author as built here is fun and dangerous. The characters have to go through Training Drills to make their powers stronger and learn how to work with each other. The drills and the events that happen are very dangerous and when the Doctor goes missing it becomes all out war and survival. Very fast paced, a lot of events and super powers lead to a intense and packed pages.

Plot: Ganzfield is attacked and several people die, some taken hostage. Maddie ends up taking the survivors on a visit to her mother's house while they try to determine the details of who attacked them and where the Doctor is. There are several deaths and dangerous situations that they must endure to survive, and not even Maddie herself is able to get away unharmed.

Originality: Like a comic book adventure put into novel form. There are several different abilities that the students of Ganzfield possess. From healing to mind readers and those that can stretch their mind power out to help or influence others. The students of Ganzfield do take a supplement pill that enhances their abilities and so they have to go through training drills and become target to outside organizations, others like themselves or want to have what they have.

Krista's Review: This series is becoming more intense with every book. It pretty much becomes all out war and nobody is safe. With the fast paced relationship that developed between Trevor and Maddie in book one, it becomes deeper in book 2. The author presents an alternative to sex with these characters with a soul connection that becomes more intense than just sex, and leads so some intense sexytime moments. I would recommend these books to those that like war stories, and a lot of all out battle scenes, with the addition of superhuman powers. (less)

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Jul 03, 2011 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, signed-books-arcs, 2011-release, 2011-100-book-challenge, mundie-moms-reviews

3.5 stars

Full of heart pounding moments, and surprising twists, Adversary is a fantastic sequel. I was really blown away at how much more I liked it than Minder, and I'll admit I was a little hesitant to pick it up for that reason. Kate really surprised me, and I love how more in depth her characters are and I really enjoyed her detailed world building. I not only enjoyed the story, but I felt like I connected with more.

I enjoyed all the twists and surprises that Kate threw into her story. It's...more 3.5 stars

Full of heart pounding moments, and surprising twists, Adversary is a fantastic sequel. I was really blown away at how much more I liked it than Minder, and I'll admit I was a little hesitant to pick it up for that reason. Kate really surprised me, and I love how more in depth her characters are and I really enjoyed her detailed world building. I not only enjoyed the story, but I felt like I connected with more.

I enjoyed all the twists and surprises that Kate threw into her story. It's definitely a darker story and one full of action. When Maddie and a group of students goes away for the night, the come back to find that Ganfield wasn't only attacked but many of their classmates have died. I'm not sure who was more shocked at this turn of events, me or Maddie and her friends. I'll admit I admire an author who's not afraid to kill off some of her characters. Kate totally surprised me by so. During this time she not only showed more emotion from her characters, but she allowed me to become emotionally connected to the story. Not saying that I'm emotionally connected when a character dies, but this is the first time I felt I was able to relate to her characters.

Things definitely heat up a bit with the introduction of a new character, Zach. I not only enjoyed meeting him, but I like how his character shook things up a bit between Maddie and Trevor. I was really surprised at how much I ended up liking Trevor. I felt like his character grew the most and I was able to understand him more. Even though his relationship with Maddie is deepening and heating up, I for whatever reason am still having a hard time with it, which may seem wrong to say since the series revolves around them. I think it's because I feel like I'm being told at how intense it is vs being shown. That doesn't mean I don't like reading about some of their moments together, because I do, I just feel like I missing something with their chemistry.

Overall I felt like this is a great sequel. There is a lot more action, a lot more suspense, and I loved the surprises Kate throws into this story. With it's more sensual context & mild violence, this is a book I'd recommend to older teens and to fans of Minder.(less)

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Dec 22, 2010 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

So if you read my review of Minder by Kate Kaynak, you’ll know that I am definitely a fan of hers, and I was extremely excited to read the second novel in this series. I have to say that I was not disappointed.

The story continues to follow Maddie, a mind-reader who only learned about her abilities in book one. I still adore the love-story between Maddie and Trevor, which just makes me feel like a teenager all over again. They’re sweet, romantic, protective – and Trevor, quite literally, is the m...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Katelyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

After all the excitement in the series opener I wasn't sure what to expect with the sequel. Kaynak really knows how to pack a punch for her readers, and that transferred over into this second installment. Maddie and the rest of Ganzfield is back with force, but now that they're more familiar with their enemy the stakes were of course raised.

While they might have thought by knowing the identity behind the latest bad guy that things would start to fall into place and perhaps a plan of action would...more

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Jan 22, 2011 Nikki (Wicked Awesome Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, series, read-in-2011, own

Kate Kaynak has done it again with Adversary, the second novel in the Ganzfield series. This one picks up right where Minder left off and the reader is instantly thrown into this world of charms, RVs, healers, sparks, a boy with telekinesis, and a minder who loves him. The book opens with the extremely helpful ‘previously at Ganzfield,’ so I felt nice and caught up with the story. From there, things begin happening at a rapid pace. Unlike the opener in the series, Adversary jumps right into the...more Kate Kaynak has done it again with Adversary, the second novel in the Ganzfield series. This one picks up right where Minder left off and the reader is instantly thrown into this world of charms, RVs, healers, sparks, a boy with telekinesis, and a minder who loves him. The book opens with the extremely helpful ‘previously at Ganzfield,’ so I felt nice and caught up with the story. From there, things begin happening at a rapid pace. Unlike the opener in the series, Adversary jumps right into the action and unavoidable skirmishes. I don’t want to give anything away, but let me just say that bad things happen, people get hurt, and quite a few people even die.

With a surprising shake up at Ganzfield, Maddie’s little supergroup of friends takes off to make a difference and come to a faceoff with Isaiah Lerner – the man who tried to vivisect Trevor. The guy is creepy, not only creepy, he’s terrifying. I never questioned the power he holds or the fear he brings out in people. Isaiah is more than willing to maim, torture, and kill.

The roadtrip brings out even more detail into the abilities that the G-positive people possess. Kaynak has developed an incredible way of describing all the thoughts that bombard Maddie and we get to see what she sees through images and vibrant colors. Characters like Rachel and Hannah get a more prominent role and Kaynak explores the world outside of Ganzfield. The addition of new guy Zack brings some much needed tension in Maddie’s and Trevor’s seemingly perfect relationship too.

Still, Maddie and Trevor are stronger than ever. Their soulmating gets quite steamy at times and through it they learn just how intense and unique what they have is. In the short amount of time that they’ve known each other, they’ve fallen in love and it feels real. It never seems rushed or contrived. Their relationship is what carries the story; even in the worst of times, they still have each other and as cheesy as that may seem – I love it.

With fun characters, interesting abilities, and enough surprises to keep me glued to the page, Adversary is a fast-paced installment in a series that I’m not likely to put down. The next book, Legacy is calling my name, begging me to read it and I hope you do too.

Opening line: Were we too late? ~ pg. 1

Favorite lines: Can’t stop. I think I’m addicted to you.
I grinned. The first step is admitting you have a problem. ~ pg. 18(less)

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Adversary (Ganzfield #2)

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