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Mindwalker #2
Mindbreaker
They saved her life. But at what cost?
Born into a religious, anti-tech cult, seventeen-year-old Indra lives a simple, mod-free existence on the fringe of society. But when an illicit trip to the city leaves her with a debilitating - and terminal - condition, Indra must make a die faithful, or betray her Order and accept the cure Glindell Technologies is offering.
Forced to sign over full ownership of her life, Indra is horrified to learn how Glindell chose to save her mind and body. On the outside, she still looks the same. On the inside, Indra's not so sure. She's missing time, for one thing, and more than once, she finds herself in places she really shouldn't be, with no memory of how she got there and abilities she can't explain. So when news breaks of a vicious attack against Glindell's biggest rival, Indra begins to suspect the worst about her new master.
With help from her one friend at the company, Tian - a research assistant with a genius IQ and a smile that won't quit - Indra manages to escape the lab. Then together with the anti-corp faction she and Tian turn to for help, Indra must uncover the truth behind the procedure that saved her life, before Glindell can use it to change the face of technology - and what it means to be human - forever.
Born into a religious, anti-tech cult, seventeen-year-old Indra lives a simple, mod-free existence on the fringe of society. But when an illicit trip to the city leaves her with a debilitating - and terminal - condition, Indra must make a die faithful, or betray her Order and accept the cure Glindell Technologies is offering.
Forced to sign over full ownership of her life, Indra is horrified to learn how Glindell chose to save her mind and body. On the outside, she still looks the same. On the inside, Indra's not so sure. She's missing time, for one thing, and more than once, she finds herself in places she really shouldn't be, with no memory of how she got there and abilities she can't explain. So when news breaks of a vicious attack against Glindell's biggest rival, Indra begins to suspect the worst about her new master.
With help from her one friend at the company, Tian - a research assistant with a genius IQ and a smile that won't quit - Indra manages to escape the lab. Then together with the anti-corp faction she and Tian turn to for help, Indra must uncover the truth behind the procedure that saved her life, before Glindell can use it to change the face of technology - and what it means to be human - forever.
305 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2023
10 people are currently reading
1273 people want to read
About the author
Kate Dylan
6 books225 followersKate is a video editor by day, science fiction and fantasy author by night. Her love for creating new worlds is fuelled by a steady diet of coffee, books, and Marvel movies, and when she's not telling stories, you can find her haunting London cafes like an over-caffeinated ghost.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
December 13, 2022
I survived writing book 2! And yes, my opinion of it is biased, but I think it turned out pretty great.
Like Mindwalker, it's essentially a Marvel movie re-imagined as a YA novel—but this time, it leans all the way in to the ghost in the shell/westworld vibes. It's mindjacking, but ramped up to 11 ;)
For those who like their YA with a side of romance, this book also features an enemies-to-lovers romance (sunshine/grump style), except this time, the main ship is sapphic.
I had an absolute blast writing it and (hopefully!) it’s just as much fun to read!
I hope you give it a try!
And with that, I shall once again yeet myself out of this place :)
Like Mindwalker, it's essentially a Marvel movie re-imagined as a YA novel—but this time, it leans all the way in to the ghost in the shell/westworld vibes. It's mindjacking, but ramped up to 11 ;)
For those who like their YA with a side of romance, this book also features an enemies-to-lovers romance (sunshine/grump style), except this time, the main ship is sapphic.
I had an absolute blast writing it and (hopefully!) it’s just as much fun to read!
I hope you give it a try!
And with that, I shall once again yeet myself out of this place :)
September 1, 2023
A great sequel to
Mindwalker
that can also be enjoyed as a standalone. Witty dialogue, compelling themes, tense action, a determined protagonist – Kate Dylan has taken all of these, soaked them in neon, and shaken them into a dystopian thriller that fizzes with energy and rebellion.
Note: I received a free Advance Reading Copy from the publisher.
Note: I received a free Advance Reading Copy from the publisher.
September 2, 2023
Five stars for a book that is a quite far from my comfort zone. So I’m happy and surprised I requested this book after reading the blurb, because I enjoyed it immensely. To me the blurb looked like something I read (many times) before, because I’ve an avid SF reader for over 50 years now. And I mean SF, not Fantasy. Here is an interesting link: Mind uploading in fiction - Wikipedia.
Need I say here that I didn’t read Mindwalker first? Well, I didn’t but I had no trouble at all connecting to the world the author created. A scary world, but luckily there are many people left who are trying to rebuild it – into something better, not the world that was destroyed in almost all ways.
What I liked the most about this story is the fact that it is clear from the onset that Indra is no superhuman. Not in her old life, and not as soon as she’s uploaded in another form. Yes, she may have superpowers, but inside she’s no Robocop. The Glindell corporation is as bad as they come, and I wager there are many companies who would just love to find out how to explore human beings in another form.
A great book for young (and much older) people who are interested in future technology, not only how it will be developed, but especially the impact technology has on humanity.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy.
Need I say here that I didn’t read Mindwalker first? Well, I didn’t but I had no trouble at all connecting to the world the author created. A scary world, but luckily there are many people left who are trying to rebuild it – into something better, not the world that was destroyed in almost all ways.
What I liked the most about this story is the fact that it is clear from the onset that Indra is no superhuman. Not in her old life, and not as soon as she’s uploaded in another form. Yes, she may have superpowers, but inside she’s no Robocop. The Glindell corporation is as bad as they come, and I wager there are many companies who would just love to find out how to explore human beings in another form.
A great book for young (and much older) people who are interested in future technology, not only how it will be developed, but especially the impact technology has on humanity.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy.
March 12, 2025
They hate to see a girlbot winning
September 14, 2023
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence, injury, medical trauma/content, death, terminal illness, mass murder, religious bigotry, gaslighting, grief
--
This is a companion sequel to Mindwalker and you bet I enjoyed this new adventure just as much!
Mindbreaker has us returning to the wholly immersive, post-apocalyptic cyber punk type world that Kate Dylan has imagined this time following Indra, a young girl who grew up in a religious anti-tech cult who in order to save her life has turned to Glindell Technologies for a cure and has thus been expelled from her order.
However, she finds that the deal she made was to have her mind uploaded and housed in a new robot body and though she may look the same she begins to wonder how much of her actual self remains. And when she begins to discover something is up with her memories it poses the question of whether Glindell really had her best interests in mind or if there is something else going on.
Dylan’s writing seamlessly folds you back into this fascinating yet somewhat horrifying universe with a story exploring themes of autonomy and denouncing corporate greed that is just as action packed as you’d expect.
Indra is such a compelling protagonist to follow. Equal in determination to Sil from Mindwalker though a tad more naïve and a hell of a lot more impulsive with her act first think later demeanour. She is again a character you want to immediately root for and her journey in particular was all the more interesting to follow as there was a bigger focus on her inner conflicts.
Due to this I found that the overarching plot was a little less clear until the second half of the book but I liked the more personal and introspective nature of the narrative. This allowed for a great balance of Indra coming to terms with her own self and seeing how those around her have shaped her into who she is and is still becoming.
The supporting characters are absolutely brilliant too! There is a wholesome platonic friendship as well as a slow-burn romance that will pull on your heartstrings just as much! Plus to add a cherry on top of the cake there are some cameos to look forward to also and the interactions all around are gold!
That being said you can definitely go into Mindbreaker not having read Mindwalker but honestly when you have two fantastically written and thrilling sci-fi books to entertain yourself with why only read one?
Whatever Kate Dylan writes next, I will be there 🫡
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence, injury, medical trauma/content, death, terminal illness, mass murder, religious bigotry, gaslighting, grief
--
This is a companion sequel to Mindwalker and you bet I enjoyed this new adventure just as much!
Mindbreaker has us returning to the wholly immersive, post-apocalyptic cyber punk type world that Kate Dylan has imagined this time following Indra, a young girl who grew up in a religious anti-tech cult who in order to save her life has turned to Glindell Technologies for a cure and has thus been expelled from her order.
However, she finds that the deal she made was to have her mind uploaded and housed in a new robot body and though she may look the same she begins to wonder how much of her actual self remains. And when she begins to discover something is up with her memories it poses the question of whether Glindell really had her best interests in mind or if there is something else going on.
Dylan’s writing seamlessly folds you back into this fascinating yet somewhat horrifying universe with a story exploring themes of autonomy and denouncing corporate greed that is just as action packed as you’d expect.
Indra is such a compelling protagonist to follow. Equal in determination to Sil from Mindwalker though a tad more naïve and a hell of a lot more impulsive with her act first think later demeanour. She is again a character you want to immediately root for and her journey in particular was all the more interesting to follow as there was a bigger focus on her inner conflicts.
Due to this I found that the overarching plot was a little less clear until the second half of the book but I liked the more personal and introspective nature of the narrative. This allowed for a great balance of Indra coming to terms with her own self and seeing how those around her have shaped her into who she is and is still becoming.
The supporting characters are absolutely brilliant too! There is a wholesome platonic friendship as well as a slow-burn romance that will pull on your heartstrings just as much! Plus to add a cherry on top of the cake there are some cameos to look forward to also and the interactions all around are gold!
That being said you can definitely go into Mindbreaker not having read Mindwalker but honestly when you have two fantastically written and thrilling sci-fi books to entertain yourself with why only read one?
Whatever Kate Dylan writes next, I will be there 🫡
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
May 3, 2023
1st May 2023: WHY DO I READ ARCS FOR BOOK IM ANTICIPATING MONTHS BEFORE THEYRE RELEASED???
I loved this so much but now I don’t have anyone to talk about it with :(
4th May 2023:
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Holy christ-that-was (yes I'm starting this review how I started my Mindwalker review). This book is everything I could have hoped for and more. After reading Mindwalker, I wanted to know more about this tech-centred world and what other advanced tech is floating around. So, when Kate announced there would be another book, to say I was over the moon is an understatement.
In Mindwalker, we followed the story of Sil Sarrah and Syntex. In Mindbreaker, we follow Indra Dyer and Glindell. In a tech-filled world, Indra was born into a cult who are very much anti-tech, however, she likes to occasionally play around with the tech the world has on offer. One day, Indra takes a trip into the city which ends with Indra developing a debilitating and terminal condition. Glindell Technologies offers a cure and she has to make the choice to either betray her Order and get the curse or die a faithful. Barely eighteen, Indra signs over full ownership of her life to Glindell and is shocked that they are not in fact saving her life, her mind is being uploaded to a MindDrive housed in a fully robotic shell. Indra continuously finds herself in places she shouldn't be with no memory of how she got there. When news breaks about an attack against Glindell's biggest rival, Indra suspects the worst and goes on the run.
When I tell you that I devoured this book, I absolutely devoured it. I could not put it down. Like Mindwalker, I was hooked from start to finish. We meet some old friends in this book and the squeal that left my mouth had heads turning my way haha.
Indra was absolutely amazing, and Nyx, omg I loved him so much. His friendship with Indra was to die for. Tian, although I hated her at first, I grew to absolutely adore her. Let's just say that Indra and Tian go on a journey of their own and I loved it.
There was not one thing I disliked about this book. I defo need to find and read more books with cyber-punk vibes to fill the void Mindbreaker has left.
I'm sad that this is the last book planned in this world but I cannot wait for what Kate writes next.
I loved this so much but now I don’t have anyone to talk about it with :(
4th May 2023:
Thank you to Hodderscape and NetGalley for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Holy christ-that-was (yes I'm starting this review how I started my Mindwalker review). This book is everything I could have hoped for and more. After reading Mindwalker, I wanted to know more about this tech-centred world and what other advanced tech is floating around. So, when Kate announced there would be another book, to say I was over the moon is an understatement.
In Mindwalker, we followed the story of Sil Sarrah and Syntex. In Mindbreaker, we follow Indra Dyer and Glindell. In a tech-filled world, Indra was born into a cult who are very much anti-tech, however, she likes to occasionally play around with the tech the world has on offer. One day, Indra takes a trip into the city which ends with Indra developing a debilitating and terminal condition. Glindell Technologies offers a cure and she has to make the choice to either betray her Order and get the curse or die a faithful. Barely eighteen, Indra signs over full ownership of her life to Glindell and is shocked that they are not in fact saving her life, her mind is being uploaded to a MindDrive housed in a fully robotic shell. Indra continuously finds herself in places she shouldn't be with no memory of how she got there. When news breaks about an attack against Glindell's biggest rival, Indra suspects the worst and goes on the run.
When I tell you that I devoured this book, I absolutely devoured it. I could not put it down. Like Mindwalker, I was hooked from start to finish. We meet some old friends in this book and the squeal that left my mouth had heads turning my way haha.
Indra was absolutely amazing, and Nyx, omg I loved him so much. His friendship with Indra was to die for. Tian, although I hated her at first, I grew to absolutely adore her. Let's just say that Indra and Tian go on a journey of their own and I loved it.
There was not one thing I disliked about this book. I defo need to find and read more books with cyber-punk vibes to fill the void Mindbreaker has left.
I'm sad that this is the last book planned in this world but I cannot wait for what Kate writes next.
July 24, 2023
Today's the day my parents decide whether to sell me or let me die.
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for providing an arc in exchange for a review.
Indra is near death when a profiling tech company offers to take her from her anti-tech religious cult and upload her mind into an artificial drive, a MindDrive housed in a fully titanium shell.
But there’s parts of her memories missing and she’s having vivid dreams of death. But that can’t be right. She’s been in the facility and accounted for at all times.
She escapes to seek aid from her hacker friend and they fall in with a rebel group seeking to reveal the darker side of tech corps.
If I do agree to them, I'll become proprietary IP. Glindell will save my life, but they'll also own it.
Disclaimer: I read this without first having read Mindwalker as my kindle downloaded them in the wrong order and I fully didn’t realise until I came to write my review.
So this book can definitely be read as a stand-alone! There are mentions of Sil and Riley (characters from book one) - the rebels who Indra and Nyx fall in with, but honestly, the only reason I really remember their names is because I read the blurb for book one.
I liked that even though this wrote about indoctrinated and religion, it never felt like a blatant attack against religion itself. More of the lack of choice and free will in decisions and lifestyles. Then, having this compared to a tyrannical tech corp or capitalism… pretty smart.
Bookstagram
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for providing an arc in exchange for a review.
Indra is near death when a profiling tech company offers to take her from her anti-tech religious cult and upload her mind into an artificial drive, a MindDrive housed in a fully titanium shell.
But there’s parts of her memories missing and she’s having vivid dreams of death. But that can’t be right. She’s been in the facility and accounted for at all times.
She escapes to seek aid from her hacker friend and they fall in with a rebel group seeking to reveal the darker side of tech corps.
If I do agree to them, I'll become proprietary IP. Glindell will save my life, but they'll also own it.
Disclaimer: I read this without first having read Mindwalker as my kindle downloaded them in the wrong order and I fully didn’t realise until I came to write my review.
So this book can definitely be read as a stand-alone! There are mentions of Sil and Riley (characters from book one) - the rebels who Indra and Nyx fall in with, but honestly, the only reason I really remember their names is because I read the blurb for book one.
I liked that even though this wrote about indoctrinated and religion, it never felt like a blatant attack against religion itself. More of the lack of choice and free will in decisions and lifestyles. Then, having this compared to a tyrannical tech corp or capitalism… pretty smart.
Bookstagram
Want to read
January 22, 2023Dd 22/01/2023 Methinks this is gonna be hoot!
Can't wait.
Keeping my fingers crossed so that I don't jinx it or anything...
Can't wait.
Keeping my fingers crossed so that I don't jinx it or anything...
September 27, 2023
Mindbreaker is a nuanced and electric YA sci-fi novel exploring humanity and agency soaked in cool tech and brimming with rebellion.
It’s hard for me to talk about this book without also talking about Mindwalker, one of my favourite books of the last year and possibly all time! Mindbreaker is somewhat of a companion novel, set in the world readers know and love from the first book, but following a new core cast. Overall, I simply loved getting to revisit the world Kate Dylan has created through a new perspective.
What makes Mindbreaker truly unique is Kate Dylan’s signature blend of tech-fuelled action extravaganza and nuanced exploration of identity and bodily autonomy. These are themes and concepts I’ll never get tired of exploring in fiction and Kate Dylan does it extraordinarily well!
In many ways, Mindbreaker cracks open the bones of this world to dive deeper, explore new perspectives and ultimately, create a much more nuanced experience for readers who’ve read both books.
Indra is, in many ways, a fish out of water. While she is in no way the innocent cult girl Glindell believes her to be, she is ultimately still navigating a world that is largely unfamiliar to her. Subsequently, she is a lot more wary of technology, an internal battle that follows her throughout the book. In my opinion, this personal journey and Indra’s relationship too technology (and her own humanity or lack thereof) is the strongest part of this book and the heart of what makes it stand out.
At times, I think Mindbreaker would’ve benefitted from a stronger focus on character rather than plot. Mostly, because I know that Kate Dylan can do both, something she proves with Indra’s development throughout the book. Ultimately, I just wish we had gotten to know all the other characters on a deeper level, too.
As excited as I was to meet some familiar faces from Mindwalker again, I was ultimately a little disappointed. A lot of the secondary characters felt less complex and nuanced than I expected, something that was particularly jarring when it came to characters I knew from Mindwalker.
Lastly, I cannot talk about the characters without also talking about the delightful sapphic romance in Mindbreaker! I will always root for the gays and, without giving anything away, the development of this relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing the themes and internal conflicts Indra struggles with being reflected in and worked through within a personal relationship. I think this is how all romances should be done, honestly. Sweet and nuanced and yet so incredibly thematically aligned? I love to see it!
What would a Kate Dylan sci-fi book be without pondering the nature and boundaries of humanity, right? Indra’s existence and identity relies on a computer, her brain is pure code, her body has been replaced by non-organic parts. It begs the question if she’s even a person anymore. Where does a person end and the code begin?
Mindbreaker also explores themes of consent and bodily autonomy as Indra gets used to her new body and reclaims her agency in how she chooses to use it.
A thread that’s woven throughout the plot and that I found particularly fascinating is a discussion around emotions, pain and limitations as a necessary part of being human. As a bot, Indra can turn off her senses. She can choose to not feel pain (or anything, for that matter), which allows her to make her body achieve impossible feats. However, leaning into this non-human side of her identity comes at a price and the threat of losing her humanity in substantial and permanent ways.
I cannot stress enough how much I love Kate Dylan’s handling of these themes. She draws us in with cool tech and characters with superhuman powers but never avoids the hard questions about the cost of those powers. For all the shiny cyberpunk technology, Mindbreaker is fundamentally and delightfully human.
It’s hard for me to talk about this book without also talking about Mindwalker, one of my favourite books of the last year and possibly all time! Mindbreaker is somewhat of a companion novel, set in the world readers know and love from the first book, but following a new core cast. Overall, I simply loved getting to revisit the world Kate Dylan has created through a new perspective.
What makes Mindbreaker truly unique is Kate Dylan’s signature blend of tech-fuelled action extravaganza and nuanced exploration of identity and bodily autonomy. These are themes and concepts I’ll never get tired of exploring in fiction and Kate Dylan does it extraordinarily well!
In many ways, Mindbreaker cracks open the bones of this world to dive deeper, explore new perspectives and ultimately, create a much more nuanced experience for readers who’ve read both books.
Indra is, in many ways, a fish out of water. While she is in no way the innocent cult girl Glindell believes her to be, she is ultimately still navigating a world that is largely unfamiliar to her. Subsequently, she is a lot more wary of technology, an internal battle that follows her throughout the book. In my opinion, this personal journey and Indra’s relationship too technology (and her own humanity or lack thereof) is the strongest part of this book and the heart of what makes it stand out.
At times, I think Mindbreaker would’ve benefitted from a stronger focus on character rather than plot. Mostly, because I know that Kate Dylan can do both, something she proves with Indra’s development throughout the book. Ultimately, I just wish we had gotten to know all the other characters on a deeper level, too.
As excited as I was to meet some familiar faces from Mindwalker again, I was ultimately a little disappointed. A lot of the secondary characters felt less complex and nuanced than I expected, something that was particularly jarring when it came to characters I knew from Mindwalker.
Lastly, I cannot talk about the characters without also talking about the delightful sapphic romance in Mindbreaker! I will always root for the gays and, without giving anything away, the development of this relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing the themes and internal conflicts Indra struggles with being reflected in and worked through within a personal relationship. I think this is how all romances should be done, honestly. Sweet and nuanced and yet so incredibly thematically aligned? I love to see it!
What would a Kate Dylan sci-fi book be without pondering the nature and boundaries of humanity, right? Indra’s existence and identity relies on a computer, her brain is pure code, her body has been replaced by non-organic parts. It begs the question if she’s even a person anymore. Where does a person end and the code begin?
Mindbreaker also explores themes of consent and bodily autonomy as Indra gets used to her new body and reclaims her agency in how she chooses to use it.
A thread that’s woven throughout the plot and that I found particularly fascinating is a discussion around emotions, pain and limitations as a necessary part of being human. As a bot, Indra can turn off her senses. She can choose to not feel pain (or anything, for that matter), which allows her to make her body achieve impossible feats. However, leaning into this non-human side of her identity comes at a price and the threat of losing her humanity in substantial and permanent ways.
I cannot stress enough how much I love Kate Dylan’s handling of these themes. She draws us in with cool tech and characters with superhuman powers but never avoids the hard questions about the cost of those powers. For all the shiny cyberpunk technology, Mindbreaker is fundamentally and delightfully human.
April 30, 2023
Another lightning speed romp through through this post nuke war NYC and I loved all 21600 seconds it took to devour it!
Science light, fiction heavy; this is a book for those wanting to dip their toes into sci-fi whilst maintaining focus on plot and people.
Like Mindwalker, this installment has me wishing to visit a world that, despite being bleak and clinging to shreds of life, is full of human adaption and resilience.
I feel you could read this without having ready Mindwalker but for context of the world and the wider plot aspects, it's worth getting stuck in before picking this up!
Thanks to Hodderscape and NetGalley for allowing me an advance read ✌️
Science light, fiction heavy; this is a book for those wanting to dip their toes into sci-fi whilst maintaining focus on plot and people.
Like Mindwalker, this installment has me wishing to visit a world that, despite being bleak and clinging to shreds of life, is full of human adaption and resilience.
I feel you could read this without having ready Mindwalker but for context of the world and the wider plot aspects, it's worth getting stuck in before picking this up!
Thanks to Hodderscape and NetGalley for allowing me an advance read ✌️
Read
October 8, 2023Super good. If you’re wondering whether you can read this first without reading Mindwalker, as a test subject I can say definitely. But then you’ll want to read Mindwalker anyway to meet some side characters properly. 😉
July 28, 2023
Just damn. Kate has done it again and created a sci-fi technology universe you can’t put down until you finish the very last chapter, or in my case until you realise it’s 2 am and you probably should go to bed because you have work to do in the morning.
I didn’t think that this book could be any better than the first, but damn was I wrong, Kate has developed her writing even more, which I didn’t think was physically possible, to be even more amazing; creating a world that you fall in to and follow each electrical pulse along the adventure’s twists and turns so much I ended up messaging Kate several times with comments like ‘what the fuck’.
Although I am not the biggest fan of sci-fi, as you can probably see from the little amount of sci-fy I read…this is definitely one book that even if you are not a sci-fi fan you must read. I loved it from beginning to end and you can see the work and love that the author has put into every single chapter and character. I cannot wait for everyone to read this book, not only that, but I am insisting now that Kate must create more books because I need her writing in my life permanently permanently.
A massive thank you to Kate for letting me read this early and having every emotion under the Sun escape for me while reading it. I hope that the special edition I have designed lives up to this amazing story.
I didn’t think that this book could be any better than the first, but damn was I wrong, Kate has developed her writing even more, which I didn’t think was physically possible, to be even more amazing; creating a world that you fall in to and follow each electrical pulse along the adventure’s twists and turns so much I ended up messaging Kate several times with comments like ‘what the fuck’.
Although I am not the biggest fan of sci-fi, as you can probably see from the little amount of sci-fy I read…this is definitely one book that even if you are not a sci-fi fan you must read. I loved it from beginning to end and you can see the work and love that the author has put into every single chapter and character. I cannot wait for everyone to read this book, not only that, but I am insisting now that Kate must create more books because I need her writing in my life permanently permanently.
A massive thank you to Kate for letting me read this early and having every emotion under the Sun escape for me while reading it. I hope that the special edition I have designed lives up to this amazing story.
August 26, 2024
This was so fun! Dylan's books are just so dynamic and action-packed, such a joy to read. I especially loved the commentary on religion in this one, and how well realised her characters are for world dependent on tech. Such interesting discussions.
Of course, it was also fantastic being reunited with Sil and the gang!
Of course, it was also fantastic being reunited with Sil and the gang!
July 2, 2023
An exciting, original YA sci-fi novel, even though I found the pace faltering in the middle. I loved the world-building, the way Dylan blends ethics and technology, and I can totally see this happening in the future, even the religious cult. Indra was somewhat annoying, especially her tendency to make terrible decisions with great skill and accuracy, but the cast of characters around her were intriguing. I liked how queer characters were front and centre without it being a big deal.
This is book two in the series, but works just fine as a standalone. That said, I’m off to source part one.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
This is book two in the series, but works just fine as a standalone. That said, I’m off to source part one.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
January 6, 2024
This was close to being a four star read except for the many, many plot twists. After a while it go fairly boring despite the interesting plot and characters. I feel like it could have accomplished more if it slimmed down the tension to a reasonable amount and gave the story space to breathe.
September 24, 2023
Updated 9/24/2023 (audiobook): Stephanie Cannon returns to narrate, and while sometimes, I keep thinking she’s Sil, the protagonist from the first book, she’s able to give Indra’s narration her own distinct voice. Awesome narrator and I’ll look into her narrations in the future.
After reading Mindwalker, Kate Dylan’s debut YA cyberpunk Sci-Fi, injected full of fast pacing, vivid world building, solid themes involving our technological world, and fleshed out characters, I knew I had to pick up the follow up companion book, Mindbreaker, and dive back in this world. And I got to indulge in it before release, and it delivered as much as I expected to, with much of the same, world expansion, but fresh enough to keep me engaged from start to finish.
This one has Ghost in the Shell and Battle Angel Alita vibes, considering that our protagonist, Indra Dyer, was converted into a “cybot” in order to save her life after nearly dying from a rare condition. She’s interested in technology to her almost death, despite her religious cult arguing against technology, but overall, she’s exploring who she is with her new status, and through a lot of revelations, she’s questioning aspects of herself, especially since saving her life required her to betray the basic tenants of her life. And some haunting realistic dreams she’s having as of late. She’s quite a mess, but a determined mess.
I really enjoyed Indra’s interactions with Nyx. It’s rare in YA to see a boy/girl relationship not turn romantic (both are gay), and it was so refreshing to see the two rub off each other in a platonic sense, the hacker boy and the good god girl. I also like how Indra interacted with Tian, her handler turned love interest, and how Tian herself grows as she realizes the truth about her company. The other characters, new and old, were interesting and fleshed out, with a few surprises that I will not spoil. I love the bonding of the cast as well, through all that they go through.
Once again, the pacing was brilliant, things were happening every chapter and none of it was filler, all of it exploring another aspect of Indra’s new status as a “cybot” with a hard drive for a brain instead of flesh and bone. There’s plenty of action sequences and they were all done well, feeling like an action thriller movie. Yet it has enough scenes to really get to know the characters and their situations. I couldn’t wait to see what kind of trouble she would get into next. Again, the prose is super smooth.
I love the world building of this cyberpunk world, and even if you read book 1, there’s plenty more to explore with new technology and the consequences of book 1’s events. The post apocalyptic world of cyberpunk New York is still interesting and I still want more of it. Even if sci-fi usually isn’t your thing, it’s not too heavy on the technology, and fairly easy to follow along, as most concepts are explained in the story itself.
The themes were fleshed out well, with the exploration of faith, finding your own path, rebellion, tech company control, and what makes someone human when you’re all metal. Made me think about the possibilities of the future, both good and bad, considering if we can even trust technology sometimes. No more quiet rebellions is practically an arc word for this book. I was really happy that religion wasn’t vilified; while the cult Indra was in wasn’t exactly a great place, religion wasn’t seen as evil by the protagonist, despite the rest of the world having moved on from it after the world ended centuries ago, believing that any god would have not allowed this to happen, with some of the creative swears.
There are callbacks, references, and characters from the first book, Mindwalker. While there’s enough information in this book to stand on it’s own, you will be spoiled for Mindwalker if you haven’t read it, so I highly suggest reading Mindwalker first. Also, there’s plenty of swearing, some graphic violence and some sensual content (nothing spicy), so be advised.
I’m really sad to find out that a third book in the Mindwalker world is unlikely (for now), but I’m really hoping for more stories in this universe, especially with a small ending hook. I will be on the lookout in what Kate Dylan has for us next.
*I received an ARC from Hodderscape and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.*
After reading Mindwalker, Kate Dylan’s debut YA cyberpunk Sci-Fi, injected full of fast pacing, vivid world building, solid themes involving our technological world, and fleshed out characters, I knew I had to pick up the follow up companion book, Mindbreaker, and dive back in this world. And I got to indulge in it before release, and it delivered as much as I expected to, with much of the same, world expansion, but fresh enough to keep me engaged from start to finish.
This one has Ghost in the Shell and Battle Angel Alita vibes, considering that our protagonist, Indra Dyer, was converted into a “cybot” in order to save her life after nearly dying from a rare condition. She’s interested in technology to her almost death, despite her religious cult arguing against technology, but overall, she’s exploring who she is with her new status, and through a lot of revelations, she’s questioning aspects of herself, especially since saving her life required her to betray the basic tenants of her life. And some haunting realistic dreams she’s having as of late. She’s quite a mess, but a determined mess.
I really enjoyed Indra’s interactions with Nyx. It’s rare in YA to see a boy/girl relationship not turn romantic (both are gay), and it was so refreshing to see the two rub off each other in a platonic sense, the hacker boy and the good god girl. I also like how Indra interacted with Tian, her handler turned love interest, and how Tian herself grows as she realizes the truth about her company. The other characters, new and old, were interesting and fleshed out, with a few surprises that I will not spoil. I love the bonding of the cast as well, through all that they go through.
Once again, the pacing was brilliant, things were happening every chapter and none of it was filler, all of it exploring another aspect of Indra’s new status as a “cybot” with a hard drive for a brain instead of flesh and bone. There’s plenty of action sequences and they were all done well, feeling like an action thriller movie. Yet it has enough scenes to really get to know the characters and their situations. I couldn’t wait to see what kind of trouble she would get into next. Again, the prose is super smooth.
I love the world building of this cyberpunk world, and even if you read book 1, there’s plenty more to explore with new technology and the consequences of book 1’s events. The post apocalyptic world of cyberpunk New York is still interesting and I still want more of it. Even if sci-fi usually isn’t your thing, it’s not too heavy on the technology, and fairly easy to follow along, as most concepts are explained in the story itself.
The themes were fleshed out well, with the exploration of faith, finding your own path, rebellion, tech company control, and what makes someone human when you’re all metal. Made me think about the possibilities of the future, both good and bad, considering if we can even trust technology sometimes. No more quiet rebellions is practically an arc word for this book. I was really happy that religion wasn’t vilified; while the cult Indra was in wasn’t exactly a great place, religion wasn’t seen as evil by the protagonist, despite the rest of the world having moved on from it after the world ended centuries ago, believing that any god would have not allowed this to happen, with some of the creative swears.
There are callbacks, references, and characters from the first book, Mindwalker. While there’s enough information in this book to stand on it’s own, you will be spoiled for Mindwalker if you haven’t read it, so I highly suggest reading Mindwalker first. Also, there’s plenty of swearing, some graphic violence and some sensual content (nothing spicy), so be advised.
I’m really sad to find out that a third book in the Mindwalker world is unlikely (for now), but I’m really hoping for more stories in this universe, especially with a small ending hook. I will be on the lookout in what Kate Dylan has for us next.
*I received an ARC from Hodderscape and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.*
September 7, 2023
"I'm the end, I guess we're all just doing our best for the people we care about. Even if our actions aren't always rational."
Once again Dylan manages to create a Sci fi world filled with the cultural and political discourse we all know too well. This time religion is on the stage.
This time big tech corporations have managed neural transcendence aka, moving ones consciousness into a new body - a cybot. Religion is at the forefront of the debate as the main character has been raised in a religious (anti tech) cult where God is their leader and not technology. It's filled with the main character battling her faith as she's forced to be a part of this tech world
Whilst it is a standalone book, I do recommend reading Mindwalker first as it gives you a lot of context that make the read a little less confusing. Despite this, it is once again a fast paced, action packed read that will leave you thinking about our future in technology
Once again Dylan manages to create a Sci fi world filled with the cultural and political discourse we all know too well. This time religion is on the stage.
This time big tech corporations have managed neural transcendence aka, moving ones consciousness into a new body - a cybot. Religion is at the forefront of the debate as the main character has been raised in a religious (anti tech) cult where God is their leader and not technology. It's filled with the main character battling her faith as she's forced to be a part of this tech world
Whilst it is a standalone book, I do recommend reading Mindwalker first as it gives you a lot of context that make the read a little less confusing. Despite this, it is once again a fast paced, action packed read that will leave you thinking about our future in technology
July 27, 2023
Come with me if you want to love.
Indra Dyer is dying, and the second-largest tech corporation in the United American State offers to save her life, totally for free, with just one minor catch: she’ll become their wholly-owned intellectual property. Raised in a church that shuns technology, she becomes the ultimate blasphemy. Instead of saving her body, they download her mind into a identical android copy.
Is she still Indra? Mostly. Will her family still accept her? Unlikely. Is there a good explanation for her missing stretches of time, and the nagging feeling that she’s done some really bad things along the way? Let’s be honest, it’s a cyberpunk book, almost certainly not.
This is the second book by Kate Dylan in this YA setting, the first being Mindwalker which I liked a lot earlier in the year. While the main characters are different, and it’s still a self-contained story, it is more of a sequel than I was expecting, which was a pleasant surprise. You’ll certainly get more out of it if you have read the first book, however it’s not strictly required.
I very much enjoyed this one too, it has a good mix of sci-fi action and intrigue with a welcome sprinkling of romance on the top. I really hope we’ll see more of all these characters again in the future.
Thank you to Hodder Books for the advance copy.
Indra Dyer is dying, and the second-largest tech corporation in the United American State offers to save her life, totally for free, with just one minor catch: she’ll become their wholly-owned intellectual property. Raised in a church that shuns technology, she becomes the ultimate blasphemy. Instead of saving her body, they download her mind into a identical android copy.
Is she still Indra? Mostly. Will her family still accept her? Unlikely. Is there a good explanation for her missing stretches of time, and the nagging feeling that she’s done some really bad things along the way? Let’s be honest, it’s a cyberpunk book, almost certainly not.
This is the second book by Kate Dylan in this YA setting, the first being Mindwalker which I liked a lot earlier in the year. While the main characters are different, and it’s still a self-contained story, it is more of a sequel than I was expecting, which was a pleasant surprise. You’ll certainly get more out of it if you have read the first book, however it’s not strictly required.
I very much enjoyed this one too, it has a good mix of sci-fi action and intrigue with a welcome sprinkling of romance on the top. I really hope we’ll see more of all these characters again in the future.
Thank you to Hodder Books for the advance copy.
August 26, 2023
Now if you know me, chances are I've probably pushed MindWalker onto you at somepoint since I read it last year.
So when I say I was excited for MindBreaker... that is an understatement. So when I seen this on NetGalley and was approved (thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for this) I may or may not have jumped right in (sorry tbr, I'll get to you all eventually)
Now to the story. MindBreaker is set in the same World as MindWalker but instead of Sil and Syntex we have Indra and Glindell and a new type of tech.
Indra is part of an anti tech cult but loves to dapple with tech... when an excursion for this leads to her being terminally ill, Glindell offer her a deal, give over ownership of her life for the chance at a new one... not much of a choice when death is the alternative. Even when this choice will cause her cult, and her family, to shun her.
Left with no other option, Indra submits, but after the process, Indra becomes suspicious of lost time and glitches in her memories so she seeks help from Tian, a research assistant on the programme. Can Indra trust anyone within the company fully, no matter how nice they seem?
Weighing up her options, Indra realises escape is the best option, but whats a former God Girl losing her grip on humanity to do when shes free in the world.... stay tuned to find out!
A whole new story with characters to fall in love with, set in a world we know and love... there might even be mention of a familiar AA from book one!
This bright scifi techy dystopian world has my heart and no pressure Kate but more books in this world would be a delight
Thank you to Net Galley and Hodder and Stoughton/Hodderscape for the chance to read and review this book early.
*update I have also just reread on audio and loved the book in this format as well, the narrator was great. Knowing the story did not hinder my enjoyment and thanks again to NetGalley and Hodder Audio for the early copy... if this is anything like book one... it won't be the last time I read either
So when I say I was excited for MindBreaker... that is an understatement. So when I seen this on NetGalley and was approved (thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for this) I may or may not have jumped right in (sorry tbr, I'll get to you all eventually)
Now to the story. MindBreaker is set in the same World as MindWalker but instead of Sil and Syntex we have Indra and Glindell and a new type of tech.
Indra is part of an anti tech cult but loves to dapple with tech... when an excursion for this leads to her being terminally ill, Glindell offer her a deal, give over ownership of her life for the chance at a new one... not much of a choice when death is the alternative. Even when this choice will cause her cult, and her family, to shun her.
Left with no other option, Indra submits, but after the process, Indra becomes suspicious of lost time and glitches in her memories so she seeks help from Tian, a research assistant on the programme. Can Indra trust anyone within the company fully, no matter how nice they seem?
Weighing up her options, Indra realises escape is the best option, but whats a former God Girl losing her grip on humanity to do when shes free in the world.... stay tuned to find out!
A whole new story with characters to fall in love with, set in a world we know and love... there might even be mention of a familiar AA from book one!
This bright scifi techy dystopian world has my heart and no pressure Kate but more books in this world would be a delight
Thank you to Net Galley and Hodder and Stoughton/Hodderscape for the chance to read and review this book early.
*update I have also just reread on audio and loved the book in this format as well, the narrator was great. Knowing the story did not hinder my enjoyment and thanks again to NetGalley and Hodder Audio for the early copy... if this is anything like book one... it won't be the last time I read either
December 18, 2023
A true deity would never have permitted the ugliness of this world to come to pass.
A sparkling world submerged in neon lights and undeniable corruption, a rocketing dystopian thriller, a real firecracker of a novel steeped in rebellion and angst - Mindbreaker is a total whirlwind of a story, an unstoppable thrill ride which flies by at a startling pace. Rather than reading like a true sequel to Mindwalker, this acts much more as a companion novel to its predecessor, making it something that can be read as a standalone. Here we're thrust back into Kate Dylan's horrifying dystopian hellscape where the super-villainous like corporations escalate things to new extremes.
Typically, I tend to avoid YA novels, there's normally something about them that I simply don't connect with. However, Mindbreaker has managed to retain all its intensity while also delivering a rather nuanced world, allowing for difficult and uncomfortable topics to be navigated with dignity and grace. Dylan treats us to an electrifying exploration of corporate greed, queer love, religious cults, and what it means to be human while recognizing our own limitations, while also delivering a wholly entertaining and action packed story.
Quite obviously, Mindbreaker is a dystopian sci-fi novel, there's all the glitz and glam you'd expect, there's plenty of high-stakes action and of course, a larger than life, cartoonishly evil corporation selling the lives of those who fall prey to it. It's a formula that's been done many, many times before, however here, it feels fresh and exciting. It's simply a really cool and fun novel allowing for long reading sessions where you can absolutely devour it. Despite how bleak and hopeless the world presented in Mindbreaker may feel, the story never quite loses how exciting it really is.
God gave us the tools to survive, Indra. But it's our duty to not abuse those tools and succumb to hedonism.
A sparkling world submerged in neon lights and undeniable corruption, a rocketing dystopian thriller, a real firecracker of a novel steeped in rebellion and angst - Mindbreaker is a total whirlwind of a story, an unstoppable thrill ride which flies by at a startling pace. Rather than reading like a true sequel to Mindwalker, this acts much more as a companion novel to its predecessor, making it something that can be read as a standalone. Here we're thrust back into Kate Dylan's horrifying dystopian hellscape where the super-villainous like corporations escalate things to new extremes.
Typically, I tend to avoid YA novels, there's normally something about them that I simply don't connect with. However, Mindbreaker has managed to retain all its intensity while also delivering a rather nuanced world, allowing for difficult and uncomfortable topics to be navigated with dignity and grace. Dylan treats us to an electrifying exploration of corporate greed, queer love, religious cults, and what it means to be human while recognizing our own limitations, while also delivering a wholly entertaining and action packed story.
"In the frozen moment that follows - with my desperate warning hanging heavy in the air between us - Mom finally looks up to meet my eyes. That's when I know that she does mourn the loss of me. The way her face crumples tells me she feels that loss more deeply than I could ever imagine. But that one moment is all we get. And then the world ceases to exist."
Quite obviously, Mindbreaker is a dystopian sci-fi novel, there's all the glitz and glam you'd expect, there's plenty of high-stakes action and of course, a larger than life, cartoonishly evil corporation selling the lives of those who fall prey to it. It's a formula that's been done many, many times before, however here, it feels fresh and exciting. It's simply a really cool and fun novel allowing for long reading sessions where you can absolutely devour it. Despite how bleak and hopeless the world presented in Mindbreaker may feel, the story never quite loses how exciting it really is.
God gave us the tools to survive, Indra. But it's our duty to not abuse those tools and succumb to hedonism.
September 27, 2023
First of all, I would like to say thank you for the review copy, which was provided to me by the publisher. This fact does not in any way affect my personal opinion of this book. This post contains advertising and the rights for the book belong to the publisher.
Of course, is this only my personal opinion of the book and just because I give this rating to the book doesn’t mean, that everyone will have that opinion.
To be honest, I think the synopsis of the book tells way too much. I did go into this book a bit more blind because I didn’t read the back of it, but after finishing, I would say that it should have been more vague.
Second of all, I don’t know how I thought that this book could be read without reading Mindwalker first. You definitely should read that one first so you understand certain aspects of the world better.
So let’s get started with the book!
I liked this one a bit less than the first book, but it’s still a nice Sci-Fi book in my opinion.
I enjoyed the characters and the whole „coming out of a tech-free cult and now I am a cyborg“ thing. Also, the critic of capitalism and tech firms? Love it.
Sometimes, I couldn’t understand everything to its fullest. I read an early draft of this so maybe some sentences will be edited for clarity, or maybe because English isn’t my mother language, I had some hiccups.
The plot and the plot twist are very cool. Some plot twists I guessed right away, but others surprised me.
The love story was also a nice touch but could have been a bit more teased early on for my taste.
Overall, I enjoyed my reading time, and Kate Dylan is an author I would read again!
Conclusion
A nice Sci-Fi book, which I enjoyed!
Of course, is this only my personal opinion of the book and just because I give this rating to the book doesn’t mean, that everyone will have that opinion.
To be honest, I think the synopsis of the book tells way too much. I did go into this book a bit more blind because I didn’t read the back of it, but after finishing, I would say that it should have been more vague.
Second of all, I don’t know how I thought that this book could be read without reading Mindwalker first. You definitely should read that one first so you understand certain aspects of the world better.
So let’s get started with the book!
I liked this one a bit less than the first book, but it’s still a nice Sci-Fi book in my opinion.
I enjoyed the characters and the whole „coming out of a tech-free cult and now I am a cyborg“ thing. Also, the critic of capitalism and tech firms? Love it.
Sometimes, I couldn’t understand everything to its fullest. I read an early draft of this so maybe some sentences will be edited for clarity, or maybe because English isn’t my mother language, I had some hiccups.
The plot and the plot twist are very cool. Some plot twists I guessed right away, but others surprised me.
The love story was also a nice touch but could have been a bit more teased early on for my taste.
Overall, I enjoyed my reading time, and Kate Dylan is an author I would read again!
Conclusion
A nice Sci-Fi book, which I enjoyed!
October 3, 2023
Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.
TW: murder, mass murder, abuse, violence
Indra lives in a tech-free cult, but when she catches a deadly disease she's forced to choose to live and accept what the Glindell Technologies are offering her. That means uploading her mind into a MindDrive into a robotic shell. Indra isn't sure she's really herself anymore, after finding herself in places she doesn't remember and with no memories and more abilities she thought she had. With help from friends, she's determined to understand what's happening to her and what they did, before Glindell hurt more people.
In this brilliant and snarky book, Kate Dylan explores what it means to be human and have your own indipendence, being truly yourself in a tech world. Indra fights constantly between her cult upbringing, her fondness for computers and what Glindell did to her body and autonomy. She's a brilliant and complex character, unsure of who she can trust, even of herself, fighting back to get her own indipendence and for the right thing.
Mindwalker is filled with action, a lovely sapphic sloooow burn, amazing friends like Nyx and an even more incredible tech! Not to spoiler anything, but I truly love the relationship between Indra and Tian and how slowly changes in the book.
I was so blown away by this story and I can't wait to hug my copies!
TW: murder, mass murder, abuse, violence
Indra lives in a tech-free cult, but when she catches a deadly disease she's forced to choose to live and accept what the Glindell Technologies are offering her. That means uploading her mind into a MindDrive into a robotic shell. Indra isn't sure she's really herself anymore, after finding herself in places she doesn't remember and with no memories and more abilities she thought she had. With help from friends, she's determined to understand what's happening to her and what they did, before Glindell hurt more people.
In this brilliant and snarky book, Kate Dylan explores what it means to be human and have your own indipendence, being truly yourself in a tech world. Indra fights constantly between her cult upbringing, her fondness for computers and what Glindell did to her body and autonomy. She's a brilliant and complex character, unsure of who she can trust, even of herself, fighting back to get her own indipendence and for the right thing.
Mindwalker is filled with action, a lovely sapphic sloooow burn, amazing friends like Nyx and an even more incredible tech! Not to spoiler anything, but I truly love the relationship between Indra and Tian and how slowly changes in the book.
I was so blown away by this story and I can't wait to hug my copies!
May 29, 2023
4.5 stars
I have always been of the opinion that we need more YA science fiction books. I have always been a fan of this genre and it's a shame that it's not popular. My love for the genre was what led me to discover Kate Dylan's Mindwalker last year. I loved it so much which is why when Mindbreaker was announced, I could not wait to read it. Just like the previous book, Mindbreaker is a thrilling book with moments that will leave your heart-racing. One thing that I really liked about this book is how different the protagonist is from Sil in the first book. Kate Dylan did a fantastic job creating a protagonist coming from a restricting religion (a cult, to be closer to the book) and who is faced with choices that go against everything she has ever known.
Mindbreaker is a thrilling ride from start to the finish. If you are a fan of YA sci-fi, then you should definitely read this!
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an e-ARC!
I have always been of the opinion that we need more YA science fiction books. I have always been a fan of this genre and it's a shame that it's not popular. My love for the genre was what led me to discover Kate Dylan's Mindwalker last year. I loved it so much which is why when Mindbreaker was announced, I could not wait to read it. Just like the previous book, Mindbreaker is a thrilling book with moments that will leave your heart-racing. One thing that I really liked about this book is how different the protagonist is from Sil in the first book. Kate Dylan did a fantastic job creating a protagonist coming from a restricting religion (a cult, to be closer to the book) and who is faced with choices that go against everything she has ever known.
Mindbreaker is a thrilling ride from start to the finish. If you are a fan of YA sci-fi, then you should definitely read this!
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an e-ARC!
December 29, 2023
I seriously loved Mindwalker, the futuristic, post-apocalyptic world Kate created was something that felt scarily possible, and Mindbreaker is of a similar nature and in the same world, though instead of our main character being a human with tech, it’s someone who is given no choice but to have her body destroyed and her mind uploaded into a ‘cybotic’ body.
Indra was a brilliant main character, a girl who has never really been allowed to be herself even before the evil tech corporation got their hands on her. And the two main side characters? Nyx is an absolutely adorable friend, you can tell he’d really do anything for Indra, and I loved Tian so much but I won’t say why in this review.
Both Mindwalker and Mindbreaker are full of brilliant twists, but Mindbreaker had even more moments within that tugged on your heartstrings. Sil’s journey was difficult and not without loss, but Indra… I honestly would just like to hug her after finishing this book.
And, if you also enjoyed Mindwalker… absolutely go grab this book right now because you’ll get to say hi to some of the cast 🥹
Indra was a brilliant main character, a girl who has never really been allowed to be herself even before the evil tech corporation got their hands on her. And the two main side characters? Nyx is an absolutely adorable friend, you can tell he’d really do anything for Indra, and I loved Tian so much but I won’t say why in this review.
Both Mindwalker and Mindbreaker are full of brilliant twists, but Mindbreaker had even more moments within that tugged on your heartstrings. Sil’s journey was difficult and not without loss, but Indra… I honestly would just like to hug her after finishing this book.
And, if you also enjoyed Mindwalker… absolutely go grab this book right now because you’ll get to say hi to some of the cast 🥹
September 15, 2023
Note: I was given access to an advance audio copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Mindbreaker is the second book in the Mindwalker universe — not exactly a sequel, because Mindwalker is a stand-alone, but a companion novel.
Mindwalker was one of the best science fiction novels I read in the past several years, so Mindbreaker had big shoes to fill!
When starting a new book, I try to go into it with a fresh, unbiased approach — but let’s face it, when reading a titled from a favorite author or one that comes after a beloved book in the same universe, it’s hard not to have high expectations.
The great news is: Mindbreaker is just as action-packed and filled with intriguing details and characters (some new, others familiar faces), with a good dose of mystery like the first one, as well as some social commentary — the latter perhaps not as subtle as in the first book, but still skillfully woven into the narrative and presented as a series of very good points and wise observations made by different characters in a way that felt fitting and apropos.
I have to be honest, I didn’t find the main character in this book as compelling as the one in Mindwalker, but her story was still gripping, emotionally charged, filled with twists and turns, and yet still easy to follow.
I also enjoyed the new side characters, though again, I didn’t find them quite as impactful as the ones in Mindwalker.
Still, that is an entirely personal preference and it’s very hard to duplicate perfection, so I’m giving this 4 STARS and recommending that you follow your read of Mindwalker with Mindbreaker for more excitement and great storytelling!
Mindbreaker is the second book in the Mindwalker universe — not exactly a sequel, because Mindwalker is a stand-alone, but a companion novel.
Mindwalker was one of the best science fiction novels I read in the past several years, so Mindbreaker had big shoes to fill!
When starting a new book, I try to go into it with a fresh, unbiased approach — but let’s face it, when reading a titled from a favorite author or one that comes after a beloved book in the same universe, it’s hard not to have high expectations.
The great news is: Mindbreaker is just as action-packed and filled with intriguing details and characters (some new, others familiar faces), with a good dose of mystery like the first one, as well as some social commentary — the latter perhaps not as subtle as in the first book, but still skillfully woven into the narrative and presented as a series of very good points and wise observations made by different characters in a way that felt fitting and apropos.
I have to be honest, I didn’t find the main character in this book as compelling as the one in Mindwalker, but her story was still gripping, emotionally charged, filled with twists and turns, and yet still easy to follow.
I also enjoyed the new side characters, though again, I didn’t find them quite as impactful as the ones in Mindwalker.
Still, that is an entirely personal preference and it’s very hard to duplicate perfection, so I’m giving this 4 STARS and recommending that you follow your read of Mindwalker with Mindbreaker for more excitement and great storytelling!
August 17, 2023
I really love it when second books are just as good as the first. Kate Dylan has delivered on the promise made by Mindwalker, with another action-packed stark warning of the dystopian future that lies ahead of us if we mindlessly careen into an AI future with the same carelessness of thought we give to appointing our political leaders.
It’s great to pick up with some of the previous cast, and good to see a way forward for the next book in what’s already a gripping series. If you enjoyed book one, you’re gonna love book two!
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and to NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC.
It’s great to pick up with some of the previous cast, and good to see a way forward for the next book in what’s already a gripping series. If you enjoyed book one, you’re gonna love book two!
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and to NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC.
November 9, 2023
4.5* Holy christ-that-was, Kate Dylan did not disappoint with this sequel.
Brimming with action, witty dialogue, high stakes and energy, Mindbreaker was just as tense, thrilling and addictive as its predecessor.
Kate Dylan has a real talent for breathing life into the worlds and characters she creates. They're vivid and vibrant and feel so real that I'm already desperate to be reunited. I don't know if there are any plans for a continuation of this series (I really hope so) but if not, I know it's one I will happily return to.
I had such a blast this with thrilling dystopian sci-fi and I am eagerly awaiting whatever Kate Dylan writes next.
Brimming with action, witty dialogue, high stakes and energy, Mindbreaker was just as tense, thrilling and addictive as its predecessor.
Kate Dylan has a real talent for breathing life into the worlds and characters she creates. They're vivid and vibrant and feel so real that I'm already desperate to be reunited. I don't know if there are any plans for a continuation of this series (I really hope so) but if not, I know it's one I will happily return to.
I had such a blast this with thrilling dystopian sci-fi and I am eagerly awaiting whatever Kate Dylan writes next.
May 5, 2023
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to Hodder&Stoughton and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.
I was really excited to read the sequel to Mindwalker, I loved the first book and the concept of a post-apocalyptic world and how humanity responded and developed.
This time we have a new MC and a new company being less than moral. I do think I liked Sil more as a MC-but maybe if Indra came first I would have preferred them.
I loved the writing style and world building, the premise is really interesting and engaging.
Thank you so much to Hodder&Stoughton and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.
I was really excited to read the sequel to Mindwalker, I loved the first book and the concept of a post-apocalyptic world and how humanity responded and developed.
This time we have a new MC and a new company being less than moral. I do think I liked Sil more as a MC-but maybe if Indra came first I would have preferred them.
I loved the writing style and world building, the premise is really interesting and engaging.
May 5, 2023
“No company deserves the right to trade in human lives.”
“Capitalism worships at the altar of crime.”
“People can be flawed and messy. Astound and disappoint you in unexpected ways.”
Kate Dylan has done it again: delivered a thrilling, punchy, feel-good feel-anxious script, packed full of action, verve, and characters you will love.
The narration is perfectly smooth, seating you in the heart of the action as you ride along with Indra, a girl who’s been transformed into a marvel of technology. But is she still… Indra?
Punctuated with sly, clever references, and sneaky Easter eggs for the observant, Dylan’s prose is a delight. She ramps up the tension and plays the speed skilfully, peppering the action with perfectly on-the-beat humour.
But it’s also thoughtful, probing at deeper questions we should be asking ourselves and society: when did we start valuing human lives in terms of money? How much can I change, and remain truly myself? Whom can we trust in an age of misinformation?
The answers are for us to find out: but there’s one thing we can be certain of:
“No more quiet rebellions.”
P.S. Someone make this into a film!!!
Featuring:
High speed chases!
Extremely dangerous stunts!
Heists going wrong!
A team coming together!
Cyborg angst!
Sapphic yearning!
Evil corporations!
Thrilling reveals!
and more…
“Capitalism worships at the altar of crime.”
“People can be flawed and messy. Astound and disappoint you in unexpected ways.”
Kate Dylan has done it again: delivered a thrilling, punchy, feel-good feel-anxious script, packed full of action, verve, and characters you will love.
The narration is perfectly smooth, seating you in the heart of the action as you ride along with Indra, a girl who’s been transformed into a marvel of technology. But is she still… Indra?
Punctuated with sly, clever references, and sneaky Easter eggs for the observant, Dylan’s prose is a delight. She ramps up the tension and plays the speed skilfully, peppering the action with perfectly on-the-beat humour.
But it’s also thoughtful, probing at deeper questions we should be asking ourselves and society: when did we start valuing human lives in terms of money? How much can I change, and remain truly myself? Whom can we trust in an age of misinformation?
The answers are for us to find out: but there’s one thing we can be certain of:
“No more quiet rebellions.”
P.S. Someone make this into a film!!!
Featuring:
High speed chases!
Extremely dangerous stunts!
Heists going wrong!
A team coming together!
Cyborg angst!
Sapphic yearning!
Evil corporations!
Thrilling reveals!
and more…
September 9, 2023
YA sci-fi is my absolute favorite, so I was thrilled when I got an advance copy of MINDBREAKER! I loved MINDWALKER, and this companion novel did not disappoint. The book is about a former religious cult member who is turned into a robot. It's full of action and has a nice slow-burn romance. Plus one of my favorite parts was the main character's critical thoughts of capitalist society, her family, the cult, and even herself. I definitely recommend it!
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