The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds, #1) in The Not-So Austen Bookclub

Dec 29, 2012 Kristen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Actual Rating 4.5 stars

The Darkest Minds was well written but hard to read due to just how realistic and horrible the experiences the main character, Ruby, endures. Bracken creates wonderful depth to her main cast of characters though the secondary characters aren't drawn nearly as clear.

read a more in depth review at my blog, My Friends Are Fictionblog ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Oct 09, 2012 Dayla rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, series, could-have-been-better, dystopian-sorta, i-want-to-be-the-next-great-series, weak-protagonist, dystopian-fiction, paranormal, meh

For a long time I've been hearing nothing but good things about The Darkest Minds and while I admit that it had its entertaining moments, this wasn't a hit with me.

Bracken's novel had a very intriguing premise and I will admit that I'm a huge fan of super powers, so this looked extra promising. I would probably still recommend this book to other readers because everyone is different and might enjoy it loads more than me.

I had several issues with this novel and while some are minor issues, othe For a long time I've been hearing nothing but good things about The Darkest Minds and while I admit that it had its entertaining moments, this wasn't a hit with me.

Bracken's novel had a very intriguing premise and I will admit that I'm a huge fan of super powers, so this looked extra promising. I would probably still recommend this book to other readers because everyone is different and might enjoy it loads more than me.

I had several issues with this novel and while some are minor issues, others are a bit more complex. For starters, the size of the book. I know that it's normal for dystopians or paranormal books to be lengthy, but this one was ridiculous. It was like reading a monster that never ended.

Another issue I had was the main character, Ruby. She was so whiny and there were moments where I actually yelled aloud, "You're so freaking stupid!" because, honestly? A lot of the problems she got into would have been so easily avoidable. She got herself into trouble and her wimpy self always cried woe is me, what have I done? For someone who is supposedly powerful and dangerous, she sure didn't show it most of the time. The amount of times that she is "strong" and "dangerous" can be counted on one hand, and even THAT's too many times. In an almost 500 page novel, that's kind of ridiculous.

A huge issue, in my opinion, is the unnecessary way that the novel concludes. RUBY got herself into that situation and what she did at the end is probably the smartest thing she's done throughout the whole book. Also, a certain someone getting hurt could have also been avoided many MANY times.

Now I turn to the love interest: Liam. Seriously, this guy is just...meh. I don't really have to say much about him because he was just so...cliche and sappy. Liam's been hardened by his past, yet he somehow finds a way to wax poetic in the direction of a girl who has knowingly put all of them in danger AND he's only known for a blink of the eye? It's just so hard to believe. I know that falling in love with characters like him is great and all, but I don't know if it's realistic.

I don't know. Maybe the sequel will be better and this one will be redeemed, but I don't really get the hype. It's got a cool concept, I'll give you that, but the rest was just, meh.

Happy reading! ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 03, 2018 Bror (Abrar) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Something is missing...

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 05, 2013 Maria rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reads

This year has been pretty weird for me when it came to book reading. Lots of books whose publications I was looking forward to like a child is free candy disappointed me. While many books I read just because I thought I had nothing better to read took me by surprise. This book was not like either of the prior options, I started this book because I wanted to take my mind off of a book which I'd been waiting for 7 months. But now that it was with me I'm scared to start it so I started The Darkest ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 05, 2014 Bree rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, covers-i-love, romance, paranormal, beautifully-brilliant

I could quite literally give this book about, oh I don't know...a 1000+ rating, but ya know....limits and all that, so lets just stick with five brilliant golden stars of pure awesome.

"The darkest minds tend to hide behind the most unlikeliest of faces."

This is one of those very rare, very unique and very special books. One out of many. Quotes and characters and themes really stick with you and that's a true sign of my favourite - and since there's no other way of putting it, really really real ...more

Like · see review

Nov 19, 2015 Figgy marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Note to self: This contains spoilers for Watership Down. Be sure to read that first!

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 01, 2017 Ashleigh rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-fantasy, young-adult, dystopia, out-2013

2.5 Stars (Very slight spoilers) - So The Darkest Minds started off really good. I liked how it took time to explain all the exposition plot, setting up the rest of the book and its tone. Nothing was particularly wrong with the book, but I wouldn't say it went right either. The story plot - mysterious illness wipe-outs children, leaves some with psychological powers, etc - in a dystopian world was fine (reminded me a lot of without the zombies actually) but it wasn't anything special or new to ...more

Like · see review