Alien Minds

Dimension Drift #3

by Christina Bauer

On my seventeenth birthday, I wake up in the hospital to find I just survived a sketchy-but-terrible accident. My perfect-looking parents say I live an ideal life inside the Boston dome. And although my swoon-worthy guard, Thorne, looks totally familiar, he says we don’t have a history.

What a bunch of crap.

I don’t remember anything—not even my real name—but I can still tell when someone’s lying. From what I figure out, my dystopian overlords wiped my memory, leaving only my super science skills behind. Now, instead of expecting me to scream for revenge, the government demands that I build new tech that will launch an apocalypse against anyone who isn’t perfect.

So I nod. Say yes. And scheme to blow the whole thing up.

My memory may be gone, but my sass remains intact. I round up a team of teenage scientists to take down the nasty-ass government without getting ourselves killed. Only trouble is, I must accomplish all this while avoiding my growing attraction to Thorne, who may or may not be an alien. Something tells me that protecting my heart from my hottie guard might be the most dangerous adventure of all …

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopia, Young Adult, Aliens, Amazon, Mystery

350 pages, ebook

First published April 23, 2019

About the author

Christina Bauer thinks that fantasy books are like bacon: they just make life better. All of which is why she writes young adult romance novels that feature demons, dragons, wizards, witches, elves, elementals, and a bunch of random stuff that she brainstorms while riding the Boston T. Oh, and she includes lots of humor and kick-ass chicks, too. Christina lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby. She loves to connect with her fans at ChristinaBauerAuthor.com.

ANGELBOUND ORIGINS
About a quasi (part demon and part human) girl who loves kicking butt in Purgatory's Arena
1. Angel bound
2. Scala
3. Acca
4. Thrax
5. The Dark Lands
6. The Brutal Time
7. Armageddon
8. Quasi Redux
9. Clockwork Igni
10. Lady Reaper
11. Reaper Games
12. Angry Gods

ANGELBOUND OFFSPRING
The next generation takes on Heaven, Hell, and everything in between
1. Maxon
2. Portia
3. Zinnia
4. Rhodes
5. Kaps
6. Mack
7. Huntress
8. Gage
*This is a finished series

ANGELBOUND LINCOLN
Events of Angelbound from Lincoln's POV
1. Duty Bound
2. Lincoln
3. Trickster
4. Baculum
5. Angelfire

ANGELBOUND XAVIER TRILOGY
The story of the Archangel Xavier
1. Archenemy
2. Archnemesis
3. Archangel

FAIRY TALES OF THE MAGICORUM
Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance
1. Wolves And Roses

2. Moonlight And Midtown

3. Slippers And Thieves

4. Shifters And Glyphs

5. Bandits And Ball Gowns

6. Fire And Cinder

7. Fairies And Frosting

8. Towers And Tithes
9. Mirrors And Mysteries
10. Rapunzels And Powers

DIMENSION DRIFT
Dystopian adventures with science, snark, and hot aliens
1. Scythe
2. Umbra
3. Alien Minds
4. ECHO Academy
*This is a completed series

PIXIELAND DIARIES
The story of sassy pixie, Calla, and her elf crush, Dare
1. Pixieland Diaries
2. Calla
3. Dare
*This is a completed series

BEHOLDER
Where a medieval farm girl discovers necromancy and true love
1. Cursed
2. Concealed
3. Cherished
4. Crowned
5. Cradled
*This is a completed series

VAMPIRES OF THE DAEMONVERSE
Adult fantasy written under my pen name, CEE BEE
1. Violins and Vampires
2. Veils and Vampires
3. Vixens and Vampires
4. Valor and Vampires

Reviews

[T.H. Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally dove into Christina Bauer’s sci-fi/fantasy adventure series with ALIEN MINDS. While this is book 1 in the Dimension Drift series, the characters and worlds are well-established from other, connected, series. That is evident from the opening chapter. Though I’m new to this world, Bauer does a great job of balancing the plot with world building so that even a newbie like me can grasp the nuances of the setting without being bogged down by details that detract from the story. When 17-year-old Meimi awakes with no memories, she knows something is off about the story she’s been told. She may not remember who she is or anything about her past, but she’s sure the doctor standing in front of her is evil. Just as she’s sure the tall, brooding guard, Thorne, assigned to her means something to her. She just isn’t sure what. When the doctor slates millions of people for execution for being “undesirable” and demands Meimi help him accomplish his goals, she’s determined to thwart him while pretending to go along with his plan. This sets up a wicked game of deception that rivals some of the best heist movies I’ve seen.

Plot
The story revolves around Memi’s plans to prevent the destruction of innocent human lives while remaining alive herself. Told in dual points of view from Memi’s and Thorne’s perspectives, we see flashes of Meimi’s life before her mind wipe through Thorne, and insights into how she thinks through hers. Despite her memory loss, she is who she is, and her spunk and intelligence shine through. Teaming up with people from Meimi’s past, they plan the ultimate act of defiance and bravery to save the world. Strong subplots include Meimi’s battle to regain who she is and Thorne’s battle to win back her feelings for him.

Characters
Meimi is a strong protagonist who inherently knows right from wrong and will risk everything to do what is right. Thorne is a tortured soul with a secret – he’s an alien, and oh yeah, son of the ruler of the omniverse. These two shouldn’t work, yet they are linked in a way that is more than just mutual attraction. Meimi is witty, sarcastic, and driven. Thorne is dark and brooding. Both are well-developed and a joy to read. The evil Dr. Godwin is more of a cartoonish character, though. Evil for the sake of evil. While he makes for a good bad guy, he’s not as developed as he could have been. Supporting characters, twins Zoe and Chloe, Fritz, and the others are more complex and nicely round out the cast.

World Building
This is where the story really shines. The alien world, dystopian Boston, alternate dimensions, and the technology are extraordinarily well constructed, and the writer’s ability to paint vibrant pictures with her words brings this amazing omniverse to life.

What I Enjoyed About ALIEN MINDS
1. World Building. Some of the best world building I’ve read in a long time.

2. Meimi. Her sarcastic wit is a blast to read.

3. Tech. The technology that populates this world is as engaging as the characters.

4. Sticking it to the Man. Their goal of beating Godwin at his own game is something we all can root for.

5. Thorne. His devotion to Meimi is both sweet and swoony.

Bottom Line
A fun, action-packed adventure with amazing world-building and fun characters.

Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica Belmont · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alien Minds is the first in the Dimension Drift series, and you can be sure I’ll be reading the rest! I do wish I’d read the prequels first, but that just means I’m going read the prequels and then re-read Alien Minds to continue on! I never say “no” to re-reading a fantastic book!

This book is full of everything you’d want in a Sci-Fi. Action packed, kick-butt characters, a unique world, and riveting romance! It was a book I couldn’t put down and I am so looking forward to reading more.

Christina Bauer has written a solid YA Sci-Fi. I’m really impressed with Alien Minds. It has definitely made it to my list of favorite reads of 2019. I can’t wait for more! Check this one out!

*I received a copy of this book for a blog tour with Xpresso Book Tours. All opinions are my own.*

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Dystopian
*Rating* 3.0

*Thoughts*

Alien Minds is the first installment in author Christina Bauer's Dimension Drift series. Let me set the scene for this series. First, this is not the first book in the series. There are two prequels called Scythe and Umbra. Scythe is the story of Meimi Archer one of the most intelligent young scientists in this world who created something that led to being discovered by the wrong people. Umbra follows the second main character, Thorne, who is from Umbra an Omniverse where his father is Emperor. Thorne meets Meimi after making good on one of his father's promises. I suggest that you read Scythe first so that you know who the characters in this new trilogy are, and what happened to bring us to this point.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has got to be my new favorite series, or maybe I should say that I am adding it to my faves list for sure.

To being with, I do highly recommend starting with the 2 little prequels. I tend to read those after, but this time I did in the right order and I am so happy I did so. IMHO it makes it so so so much better and clearer.



It is my opinion/suggestion, you are under no obligation, but have I ever steered you wrong?

I have already said that I loved it, and I cannot wait for more. It all boiled down to the characters Thorne and Meimi. You know me and my never ending love for strong female leads and boy do we get one here!

I am not going to go into too much details, but I can tell you that this git my heart racing and out such a huge smile on my face, that we can safely say that Christina has done an epic job!

I truly enjoyed the intro to the Omniverse, it was a first for me; but I still internally debating on how it is comparable to the multiverses commonly referred to our superheroes on the big and small screen. I think I will need to read more, before I can give you all a proper determination, I just love that this was new to me!

Was there any mention of omniverses before and I did not know?

But back to business, I am considering this a hit and I cannot wait for the next book. I am curious though, how many books to be in the series? Will we get them fast enough or do I have to be prepared to suffer long waits? (Please say it isn’t so!)…

I am going to very highly recommend Alien Minds and I hope you love it as much as I did. Don’t forget to grab the prequels you will thank me later.

I promise to dig in deeper with the next book, I do not want to spoil it for you guys so I suggest you start reading stat!!!!

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 5 out of 5]

I not going to say that you should have reads the prequels first, but I just saying. The prequels give you so much more insight to the two rich and wonderful characters that you fall in love with. The awareness of this young woman upon waking up and not recognizing her surroundings. She's there but not really there. She was determined, smart, strong, and I would even call it a bit intuitive.
I found that the dynamic between Thorne and Meimi was still there even if she really didn't understand why. She could feel that connection and it was not exactly comforting to her but in a way it was. Thorne was determined to be there for her not matter what. He was there but at a distance. I fell for him even more. He knew what she needed but was not forcing it on her.

Come take this journey with with Meimi and Thorne as they battle the course of actions taken to set them on the path of which they find themselves. Christina Bauer has brought to me another thrilling adventure. The layers of the dimension created pulls you in and lures you in to go further. I look forward to more for both Meimi and Thorne. I want more. I want to be taking on the drift.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has good world building and the plot is engaging. I feel that the characters need more development. The MC Meimi wakes in a hospital with no memories of what happened to her or how she arrived their. She soon learns this is a world is ruled by a government that eliminates you when you are no longer useful to them or pose a threat. She works to gain trust so she can undermine them so I guess they can't wipe everything because Meimi knows what she does not wants to be in or support the governments regime.

This is an easy to read with an interesting multiverse and I enjoyed the science fiction vibe and slow burn romance.

I love that she instinctively does not trust her doctor who is an evil government scientist and even not having memories does not remove the ingrained feelings that all is not right with what she is being told. She has no doubt that something is up, and she knows her abilities are special and that they wish to control her. They also wish her to develop a weapon of mass destruction that will kill millions of people. I do struggle with the premise of Meimi having no memory but somehow remains a brilliant scientist with special talents she is aware of. The writing and overall plot development is not deep so this leaves the story-line a bit lacking. However, this book has excellent potential and if you overlook the obvious flaws it is an enjoyable read. I have decided because the story is entertaining and has potential to not grade it to critically on the lack of character and plot development.

I did not read the other two novels before this one so I feel that I did miss portions of important information as the plot and story-line have moments that don't line up for me. I did still really like the book. I would read more of the series because even with the flaws it is entertaining.

I received this book from NetGalley and Monster House Books for an honest review.
#AlienMinds
#NetGalley

[Anie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received from Xpresso Book Tours

Wow, this was one hell of a book. :) I just finished it and my thoughts are nowhere coherent. I knew from reading prequel that it will be amazing & was super hyped about it, but the story just blew my mind. :)

Wisteria wakes up in a hospital bed and the creepy doctor explains how she lost all her memories because of the accident and has to work for him on his super evil plan. She is guarded by Thorne who seems very familiar and goes for hot to cold all the time. Seeing the evilness of doctors plan she agrees to help him and forms a little side plan herself. She assembles a team, but it's not all smooth sailing. They are hardly a team at first, the doctor keeps interfering, crazy emperors are lurking, and there is always a chance from the plan to fail. No to spoil anything, but the ending is epic. :)

There is lots of sciency stuff (my favorite), loads of scheming, secret plan, plans within plan... so many plans 😁(another favorite thing), non-stop action and so many twists and turns, and romance... ahhh... 💚

One of the best books I've read this year ... 💚💚💚

Highly recommend it!

[Jamie Pauline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read: March 2019

Rating: 1 star out of 5

*Thank you to Edelweiss+ for the free digital ARC.*

Honestly, I expected little from Christina Bauer’s Alien Minds - and this book lived up to my expectations. I plowed through Alien Minds quickly, simply because it was tedious and jejune and I wanted to be done with it.

Alien Minds plays host to a plethora of flaws, least of which is the sloppy editing. Although the writing is legible, Bauer’s strong suit clearly does not lie in grammar and spelling conventions, nor does her editor’s strength lie in noticing and correcting them. Several words are missing letters, have their letters transposed, or contain letters that transform them into different words altogether. Take, for example, Meimi yammering into her “smart witch” (smart watch) and explaining her “thughts” (thoughts) to the reader, and Thorne’s name being spelled “Throne” at one point in the book. Errors like that, while obvious, are easy enough to parse out, but missing or jumbling words in sentences are more difficult to deal with.

Bauer also has a penchant for doling out the wrong amount of detail for the wrong subjects. Lush imagery and meticulously crafted lore are well and good, but it seems to me that Bauer gives more thorough descriptions of trivialities like clothing and appearances than of more important aspects of her story, particularly background information. Yes, I know Meimi is suffering from amnesia. Yes, I understand that some things will be left out as a result. That said, Bauer frequently just dumps readers into a scene, blathers about the sartorial choices of nearby characters or what color the walls are, decides, “Fuck it!” and then careens onward through her haphazardly assembled plot. To make matters worse, she tends to gracelessly insert information, frequently at inappropriate points in a scene. These interruptions compound with negligible buildup to events, adversely affecting the flow of the story overall. (Side note: In a futuristic science fantasy novel, never use the word “modern” when describing architecture. No one knows what “modern” means in the context of two-and-a-half centuries in the future.)

The characters themselves have little appeal. Characterization is anemic from the start, and there’s little character development to remedy that. Meimi is purportedly an adroit scientist, but readers don’t really get to experience her problem-solving - they just see the results. She’s portrayed as a perfect girl, a state of being established less by actions and events and more by statements about Meimi. Furthermore, Meimi is the queen of patent observations. More than several times she notes something completely obvious in the stupidest way possible. Thorne, her extraterrestrial love interest, isn’t a huge improvement. The son of an alien emperor, Thorne’s character centers around being in love with Meimi and dealing with his daddy issues, but mostly around being in love with Meimi. In fact, Thorne’s callow, near-constant exultation of Meimi is a major irritant. Thorne also has a creepy habit of smelling Meimi. Not catching a whiff of her scent in passing and remarking that she smells nice, but legit purposefully sniffing her. And when you sleep next door to someone, even if you’re concerned about their safety, it’s definitely obsessive to sleep on the floor directly in front of the door, not to mention imprudent. What if Meimi tries to run from danger and she opens his door and trips over him? Just sayin’. Their instalove romance is dull and moves way too fast. In one scene, while Meimi is still suffering from amnesia, Thorne purchases undergarments for her. Slow the fuck down, dude, she only kinda remembers you. Thorne is also overprotective of Meimi and, much to my vexation, calls her “my girl” about one million times throughout the book; Meimi, meanwhile, repeatedly chooses the term “yummy” to describe Thorne. This romance is so contrived that it would be fitting for Thorne to forgo the rose bouquet and instead gift Meimi an entire fucking bushel of corn.

So much of the story focuses on instalove that the supporting characters are glossed over, and the antagonists aren’t well-constructed either. Zoe and Chloe Fine are useful but only superficially entertaining; the Hollow’s backstory is glossed over. Vargas, a Merciless soldier charged with marking society outcasts for execution - often with the unwilling aid of his poor Pokemon, Marro - is little more than a death-hungry lech with muscles and a pea brain. Dr. Godwin is basically the alternate-dimension Dr. Doofenshmirtz: he’s genuinely evil but completely cheesy and absolutely not subtle.

When all is said and done, I wouldn’t read this book again, nor would I recommend it. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have read it in the first place if it hadn’t been free. It’s definitely not my cup of tea, but if Alien Minds is yours, by all means, please read it.

You can also read this review on my website: https://thebookishhawk.home.blog/

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an easy to read, fun adventure for fans of multiverses, science fiction and a dash of romance.

Meimi wakes up to find herself in a hospital. Her memory is gone, especially of the couple who stares down at her, claiming to be her sponsor parents. But worse, her doctor is the evil government scientist that even her missing memory can't erase from her mind. She has no doubt that something is up, and it no doubt involves her special talents. When she again wakes to find herself in an almost prison-like room, the man finally tells her the secret plans. She is to develop a weapon, which might not even be possible to create, and that in 2 months. Not only that, but the weapon will wipe out several million undesirables, including her own mother. Meimi starts to come up with a plan to stop the madness, but it's almost an impossible task. Especially when there's a hulk of a guard who won't let her out of his sights and he appears to have secrets of his own.

I read the two prequels of this series before hitting this novel, and I highly recommend other readers to do the same, since the backstory is necessary to fully dive in and enjoy this book.

Action sits front and center in these pages, keeping descriptions short and excitement high. Meimi is a wonderful heroine. She has a heart of gold, is willing to do about anything for what she thinks is right, doesn't put herself first, and is a super amazing scientist. It's refreshing to see a kick-butt heroine who can be qualified as such thanks to her mind. And this doesn't kill her spunk or sass by any means. While the scenes are packed full of action and tension, humor flows right along with it. It's easy to notice that the author had fun writing this tale.

The writing isn't deep but allows the story to simply come across in all of its adventure and fun. There is just enough character depth to draw in, but this isn't a book about deep thoughts and emotions. Although...there are definite sparks flying, at times. The romance is there, and while it's a bit of love-at-first-sight, this doesn't quite describe it either. There's enough tension and surprises on this end to keep those pages turning as well. More secrets unravel as the problems increase, and while some things are wrapped up by the end, enough new troubles arise to guarantee that this series won't fall into the trap of becoming a bore. In other words, I can't wait to see where this series goes next.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed this adventure quite a bit. So, I'm leaving my honest opinion.

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

Meimi wakes up to find she has no memories of who she is or what is going on, but she does not trust the weasel little doctor who tries to feed her lies of her past. All she knows for certain is that she refuses to fall into the doctor's plan and be a good little minion to destroy mankind- and that she needs her own plan to escape, and if she just so happens to sabotage a plan to kill millions of "undesireables", so be it. Thorne only wants to help save his Transcendent Meimi and he is willing to pretend to be anyone and do anything he can to get the job done- and hopefully she will remember who he is along the way.

I highly recommend picking up the two prequel books, Dimension Drift and Scythe before jumping into Alien Minds because the needed back story that leads up to Alien Minds. Trust me, you might be missing info and you would be really sad to miss out on the complex, detailed world (world?) building that Christina has already started.

Godwin’s button eyes narrow to slits. “I hate you.”
“Good.” I narrow-eye right back at him. “I hate you more.”
Hypothesis: that’s the least mature conversation between two scientists, ever.

I was not sure who's perspective this book was going to be written from since there have been two prequel novellas, one from Meimi and one from Thorne so imagine my excitement when I discovered that Alien Minds was narrated from both the characters. Alternating at chapters, we get to see everything that is going on! I love books with multiple perspectives since I never want to be left out and Christina delivers that to me in this book. I love seeing what each one is plotting, because let me tell you, there is A LOT of plotting, scheming and mischief to be had by both characters in this book.

I enjoy Thorne's brothers and I would love to see books in the series set from their points of view (hint hint Christina!)- I can only imagine the level of interesting that lives inside the mind of quiet Slate and really Justice is dreamy with his cowboy swagger and calm disposition.

The ending sets up the next book in the series and hints at a ton more action to come and I can't wait to see what will lie in wait for Meimi and her gang next!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alien Minds is the first full-length novel in this series. I highly recommend reading the two prequel books, Dimension Drift and Scythe before starting Alien Minds because the needed back story is pretty essential to understanding where Alien Minds begins. However, the author does put quite a few explanatory highlights from the prequels as possible without dragging down the story. At the beginning of Alien Minds Meimi, our heroine, wakes up in a hospital with no memories of who she is or what is going on, but she is absolutely certain that she doesn't trust the shifty doctor who seems to lie to her constantly about her past and recent accident. When she discovers the doctor's evil plan to mass murder undesirables she refuses to blindly follow orders and instead concocts her own plan to sabotage the project and escape. Umbran Prince Thorne's only mission is to save his Transcendent soulmate, Meimi, from her enslavement to her evil government and he will do anything he has to including becoming her personal guard under the guise of being a government soldier. After having transferred Meimi's memories through a kiss in the previous book, Thorne is hopeful that she will remember who he is eventually, but her lack of memory does cause some complications. With the help of his princely brothers, Thorne attempts to protect Meimi from both her government and his own psychotically delusional father who is determined to destroy any transcendents who threaten his absolute authority. This book has tons of action and lots of science fiction storylines that you will immediately get sucked into and be desperate to know what happens next. You won't want to miss this series so I highly recommend jumping right in.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lelia Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

After this series’ prequels, Scythe and Umbra, I was pretty sure the first full-length novel would be a wild ride and so it is. Alien Minds delivers a punch on all levels—action, intrigue, and nefarious government activities—and it’s all at the core of masterful worldbuilding I’ve come to expect from Ms. Bauer.

There’s romance, of course, between Meimi and Thorne, and I can’t say I was thrilled with that part but such things seem to be de rigueur in young adult fiction so I just go with the flow these days. Actually, neither of these two is in my list of 5 favorite characters but that’s okay because I really connected with their story if not them.

Ms. Bauer has added in just the right amount of snide humor to make me chuckle in all the right places but, make no mistake, her core theme is one to beware of. It’s bad enough to be doing things at the government’s behest that don’t exactly sit well but how much worse is it to not remember enough of your past to understand how you came to be in such a situation? Meimi has misgivings almost from the moment she wakes up and is confronted with a man and woman purporting to be her parents and telling her she’s going to the ECHO Academy; once she gets there, all does not become clear and there’s this hunky guy, Thorne, telling her a simple kiss will bring back her memories. When she’s assigned to a special project, she bargains to have a few friends help her and, with her team, embarks upon a plan to escape…and do some damage while they’re at it.

There are a few hiccups along the way but, all in all, Christina Bauer still has my attention and I’ll be waiting for the next Dimension Drift story.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will start this review saying that in my opinion, it is best to read both prequels before starting Alien Minds
You get so much insight into how both Meimi and Thorne were before the start of Alien Minds.
So if you haven't already, go check them out!

That being said, I liked the story! I find the plot to be fun and very versatile. Though sci-fi isn't my normal cup of tea, I had no issues with this at all. Think more along the lines of 'alternate universe' and not as much 'spacey'.

World building was good, we mostly stayed within the lab, only occasionally venturing outside. But all descriptions were clear and well written.

Character development was good, though not as I was used to from the author. Having read her other books, I felt that Meimi and Thorne fell a little bit short of my expectations.
Of course, we need to keep in mind that they were in a lab most of the time and not exactly alone... so yeah, stands to reason not much can happen.

Pacing and flow were very good, with a great balance between action (and excitement) and conversations.

The book itself was well written with no (noticeable) errors and there is no sex described (if that is important to you).

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book and I thought it to be a smooth and enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next installment with a bit more depth to the characters. And a lot more female shenanigans :D

[Mikkayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alien Minds is Book 3 of The Dimension Drift series. It is from the perspectives of both Meimi and Throne alternating. I really loved that the author wrote it this way. Meimi is Thornes transcendent, meaning they are linked throughout every reality. They are soulmates. But super cool soulmates that can hear each others thoughts and whatnot.

Throughout the book, the author beautifully constructed the relationship between the two. They are not whole without the other. The author wrote the story so that they both had their own goals to achieve, but only when they work together does there seem to be progress. I loved that!

The plot was always exciting and I had no problem reading the book cover to cover. I did feel that there was something missing though. I felt this with the other two books as well, but each book seemed to compensate for the others plot holes and it worked.
This book, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone wanting a fun, entertaining, dystopian read, but I did at times feel some of the plot could have been stronger. For this reason, I give 4 stars instead of 5.

I hope book 4 gives a bit more of a background on the planet Umbra and what it is like there! We learn a little bit more about its environment and society in Alien Minds. Looking forward to the next book!!

Thank you NetGalley and Monster House Books for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mikkayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alien Minds is Book 3 of The Dimension Drift series. It is from the perspectives of both Meimi and Throne alternating. I really loved that the author wrote it this way. Meimi is Thornes transcendent, meaning they are linked throughout every reality. They are soulmates. But super cool soulmates that can hear each others thoughts and whatnot.

Throughout the book, the author beautifully constructed the relationship between the two. They are not whole without the other. The author wrote the story so that they both had their own goals to achieve, but only when they work together does there seem to be progress. I loved that!

The plot was always exciting and I had no problem reading the book cover to cover. I did feel that there was something missing though. I felt this with the other two books as well, but each book seemed to compensate for the others plot holes and it worked.
This book, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone wanting a fun, entertaining, dystopian read, but I did at times feel some of the plot could have been stronger. For this reason, I give 4 stars instead of 5.

I hope book 4 gives a bit more of a background on the planet Umbra and what it is like there! We learn a little bit more about its environment and society in Alien Minds. Looking forward to the next book!!

Thank you NetGalley and Monster House Books for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jess (oracle_of_madness) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meimi wakes up with no memory, and worse, she has to deal with Luci and Josiah without even knowing who they really are. She thinks her name is Wisteria Roberts, Meimi's old alias. However, she is still okay enough to know that this situation is sketchy and she doesn't like the Authority and definitely does not want to help Godwin. Meanwhile, Thorne is still protecting Meimi by working for Godwin as her personal guard. He is also secretly meeting his brothers , Justice and Slate, to not only keep them updated but to also receive their help. Meimi and Thorne do have something in common, besides being transcendents, and that is unstable parents. Meimi has a mom that has slowly been becoming more and more mentally unstable but has at least always tried to protect her daughter. Thorne's dad, however, has a father who goes between being a loving dad and a psycho emperor willing to kill his sons to keep his throne. Another thing Meimi and Thorne have in common? They both handle their situations incredibly well. There is so much going on in this book and it is so much fun to read about. Godwin has his maniacal evil plans, not to mention an awesome cat-snake with bat wings, and... of course, the ROMANCE!!! I recommend this to readers who are ready to have a good time! A fun quick read that will kept me cracking up and also on the edge of my seat!

[Mrs. Kenyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meimi wakes up in a hospital with many of her memories missing. She is told she has been in an accident and that she lives an ideal life inside the dome. Even though she doesn’t remember much about her past, she does know she is being lied to … especially about her guard, Thorne. He looks familiar and she can’t shake the feeling that she isn’t being told everything. Meimi can’t remember her name, but she still has all her high-tech science skills. Now that is fishy. Why is the government demanding that she help build a tool that will annihilate anyone who isn’t perfect? What will Meimi and Thorne accomplish in this newest catastrophe?

Alien Minds is the first book in the Dimension Drift series … or is it. Technically it is the third book, but the first two books were shorter novellas that could be considered prequels. Although this book is listed in Goodreads as the first book, I am glad that I read the prequels first because it gave me more insight into these characters and let me enjoy the current story without trying to figure out what I was missing. This adventure is fun and serious at the same time. Bauer has developed a world within a world and the characters are as dynamic as the story. The next book, Echo Academy, was just released and readers will probably want to read all four books in short order.

[Teresa Kizzar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend reading the prequel’s Scythe and Umbra. They give you a lot of background information, but it is not necessary Alien Minds can stand alone. Alien Minds is the first book in the Dimension Drift Series.

I thought the prequel‘s were exciting but Alien Minds stepped it up a notch. You’ve got memory loss of a kick butt heroine. And the evil doctor working with so-called sponsor parents that supposedly care about Meimi. They are supposed to be sponsoring Meimi so she can attend Echo Academy. Thorne is undercover as Meimi’s bodyguard. He will do anything to Protect his Transendant. Unfortunately Meimi doesn’t remember him but is still falling for him.

Meimi is assigned to work on a project for an evil doctor. She finds out that the project is to kill millions of people. She insist that she needs more scientist to help her so comes along her two friends Chloe and Zoe. Of course they cause mischief between themselves. Major disasters could happen at any time and Their schemes could be found out.

I loved reading this book. I didn’t want to put it down every night. I really recommend reading this book if you are looking for something fun to read. I can’t wait for Echo Academy to come out!

[Esther Haddie's Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two things I was really excited about:
1) New Christina Bauer book; she has a fun and unique way of telling her stories.
2) A different take on leading heroines with good action pieces and suspenseful plots.

I had the privilege of reading the prequels before diving into Alien Minds. I am very glad that I did. I really enjoined Meimi's character. She has great spunk. She's a total bad-ass. She's extremely observant of her surroundings and I found that relatable to myself because I am exactly the same way.
From start to finish, it's hook-line-sink. I was glued to my seat and enjoyed every minute of it. The intrigue was amazing and when the climax came around, I was so shocked. I feel that the book is well executed and definitely leaves the reader wanting more. I can definitely agree that this book is for Divergent fans.

I have the most wonderful pleasure of participating in a blog tour for this book, hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. I received a complimentary copy of this book for that participation. This is my honest, voluntary review. The reception of the book does not influence my final opinion.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I made it past the first two titles, Scythe and Umbra, I was all in on knowing more about what would happen.

This title picks up after Meimi has been taken and had her memories swiped by the government. Thorne manages to get himself placed as the guard overseeing her.

Together they discover the mad scientist plans (including taking over the government) which they both vow to stop.

Although Meimi does not have her full memories, it is soon apparent that her subconscious knows a few things. Like the need to recruit the twin sisters from her high school to help in thwarting the plans for eradicating millions of 'undesireables.'

By the end of the novel, she has her memories reinstated. However, Cole (evil emperor of Umbra) steps in to separate her from Thorne.

Now to await the release of the next title and see where Ms. Bauer takes the story.

Note ~ I was provided with a digital copy via NetGalley. No promise of a review here was given and all opinions are my own.

[Brie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been anxiously waiting for this book to release since I read the two prequels - Scythe and Umbra and let me tell you, it was so worth that wait.

The story has everything I've come to learn and love about author Christina Bauer. The world building and twists and turns had me flipping through the pages so fast, I'm pretty sure I developed an eye twitch because I just couldn't slow down. lol

I am borderline obsessed with this story. My mind is just whirling with the unknowns and possibilities that can happen within this world! Meimi, Chloe and Zoe are definitely my heroes. I mean, sure Thorne is bomb dot com, but who doesn't love when a story has a kick ass female as the main character?

I'm super excited to see where things may go with Justice and Slate as well. Like..rubbing my hands together, gears turning in my mind, smacking my lips together excited. Hahaha

[Myreadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Monster House Books and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book.

It features the main heroine who, at the age of 17, wakes up in hospital and learns that she has survived a banal but terrible accident. She has no memories, doesn't even know her name, she would have had her memory wiped, leaving her with a lot of science skills. The government is desperate for her to create a new technology that will bring the apocalypse to anyone who is not perfect.

So she's going to round up teenagers like her to try to overthrow the government by trying not to get herself killed.

A book read in one go, so much so that I found the story engaging, captivating, addictive, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters. Can't wait to read the whole series.

[Brandy Mulder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend reading the prequels first but it's not necessary. They will help fill in how Thorne becomes a guard and how Meimi ends up in the hospital, but you won't be lost if you don't read them. There is secrets, lies, espionage, danger, and lots of awesome tech. The tech gets more of an explanation in the prequel Scythe like how drift voids are a way to cross realities, but I don't think it's confusing as it's presented in this book. Meimi is out to take down the plans of an evil scientist who is willing to kill millions to take over the government. She only needs the help of her friends that she can't remember, and a possible alien who has a psychotic dad. It's fast paced fun with a little violence and no graphic content. I would recommend 14-15+ ages due to the science.

[Andrea Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's important to note straight off that while you don't have to have read the prequels, it's super helpful if you do! Context can be really important in these stories!

Amnesia? Check. Shady doctors with nefarious government plots for our feisty heroine? Check. A swoony hero and great friends? CHECK!

Meimi is a fun heroine to follow and it's always entertaining for me to follow a story where there's something shady going on and the characters have to figure out how to stay true to themselves, even if they don't really know why they are motivated in the way that they are. Thorne made me swoon and all the side characters fulfilled their purposes spectacularly!

Recommend this read!

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a good sci-fi read and this is definitely a good read!


I like Meimi, when we meet her she's just woken up with amnesia. It's cool how she still trusts her instincts and is very intelligent.

    And her guard Thorne, who is a gorgeous alien, is connected to her. Meimi is his transcendent. It's quite sweet.


It's written well, with something to keep you interested all the way through. There's no major gaps of boredom, which is a bonus. 


There is however a cliffhanger ending.....It's so mean! I can't wait for the next one....ha! I don't have to as there's 2 sequels!!! 


Perfect young adult read for a lazy weekend.

[Brandi Wolfertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of alien books, but this one, I'm so glad I read! The prequels should be read before, so you have a better understanding of what's going on. But I absolutely loved this book!! I feel in love with Meimi and Thorne almost instantly. And what they have to go through and ascribe seemed impossible. But they make it work, despite the odds being built against them. And then the ending? Blown away!! I thought the story and plot was well thought out and kept me engrossed even after I finished the last page. I can't wait for the next installment.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters and the world. Make sure you read the prequels or you will likely be lost.

My biggest issue with ALIEN MINDS was that there was just too much explanations about things that wasn't needed. It took me out of the flow of the story and made me want to skip ahead to the meat of things.

The romance aspect was well done and all of the characters were easy to navigate. I would read more.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Bertha Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alien Minds is the third book in the Dimension Drift series. Christina Bauer offers us one of her best books (and that is saying a lot, because they are all very good), with a story that engages the reader and makes this book one of those stories almost impossible to stop reading.
Despite the fact that the book is intended for YA and it is a SciFi story, any open-minded person can enjoy a very well-constructed plot, with a main character, Meimi Archer, who possesses the mind of a genius and the character of a fighter, very well developed secondary characters and a romance interwoven with science and just the right amount of action to spend an entertaining afternoon.

[Anna Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite authors. I love her world building, the plot and the characters. The MC is being held by a government that eliminates you when you are an undesirable. She develops a plot to undermine them while making seem like she is working for them.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. - Great Read!

[Bee Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure whether this book wants to be a romance, an alien novel or a dystopian; it mixes bits from all three, sadly not very successfully. Despite its being the third in a series I was able to follow well enough, but it just didn't make much internal sense, as far as I could tell. Not awful, but not great either.