Mind Games (The Disillusionists, #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Mar 29, 2010 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it

Carolyn Crane has taken the Urban fantasy genre and given it a shake with this creative trilogy debut.
Mind Games gathers a cast of psychically gifted neurotics who, under the leadership of the mysterious Packard disillusion their targets in order to remake them into better people. None of Crane's characters are black and white, they all have an ambivelence in motivation and behaviour that is intriguing.
Justine Jones is a hypochondriac, convinced she will die of a burst anneurysm as her mother d ...more

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Feb 10, 2011 Steph rated it really liked it

Shelves: series-book1, recommended-2-me, author-웃, series-ended, year-read-2011, series-completed, author-first-time-read

Mind Games is the first novel in the Disillusionists Trilogy. It introduces us to Justine Jones who suffers with serious hypochondria. Her mother died of a brain aneurysm, so she's convinced she will too.

While out to dinner with her boyfriend, Cubby, she is approached by a man who says he can help her, take away her fears and make it so she can use them to take down those that cause harm to others. She's not convinced, but eventually gives in and decides she'll hear him out. He explains that he ...more

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May 22, 2010 Laura Lulu rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, i-own

I had a hard time deciding what rating to give this book. There are some things I loved about it and others I wasn't crazy about. But I'm gonna throw it a bone and give it 4 stars instead of 3 just based on the premise--it was a breath of fresh air to read a new idea in urban fantasy. Sometimes it felt goofy, until you embrace the comic book, dark crime fighter aspect. Code names for the criminals (Silver Widow, the Alchemist, the Engineer, etc), lots of the word "nemesis", and a dark crime ridd ...more

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Jul 13, 2011 A book away from an episode of hoarders rated it really liked it

Shelves: pnr-uf-fantasy, first-in-series, read-in-2012, book-boyfriends

Oh my...

First of all I adored this book. I loved all of the neurotic characters. It really felt like I was IN the book, rather than just reading it. I could actually feel the tension.

I like the idea of disillusioning criminals so that they reform on their own. Its clever and original, especially in the dense forest of Urban Fantasy/PNR plots.

I never did care for Cubby but I think it was because Justine didn't really care about Cubby either. I love LOVE Packard. Even if, or especially because, h ...more

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Oct 04, 2010 Crissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2011, favorites

This book was so, so good! I read it in a day while also putting in my 9 hrs at the hospital...it was that good! I've been keeping these books to the side because I know the next book doesn't come out until later in the year and HATE waiting for my favorite books! I am not someone who thrives on that anticipation...I'm a instant gratification kind of girl. My nook is my best friend. However, this series just seemed so different from typical UF that I just couldn't stop myself from reading it rig ...more

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Sep 30, 2010 Katyana rated it really liked it

Shelves: uf, fantasy

I thought this was surprisingly fun. It was an interesting world, with interesting powers and rules. I thought the story was fast-paced and not entirely predictable, and I liked the cast of characters. Looking forward to the next one!

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Jun 23, 2011 D rated it really liked it

A solid idea, a solid execution...but there is something missing in characterization. Where Packard is concerned, I feel like the problem might be telling, not showing.

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