What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unsound Mind
When Lina finds herself imprisoned in an asylum, she slips into a hazy existence where the real and surreal tangle together. As Lina begins to wonder if her life is at risk, she must cling to her last remaining bits of sanity to determine who she can trust, what is true and if it's ever really possible to be free from the demons that haunt an unsound mind.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2023
4 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 18, 2023
If you want to talk about letting out the breath you didn’t know you were holding…damn, this book. I was mentally on the edge of my seat and curled up in a corner all at once. This story was so powerful and compelling. I couldn’t put it down. I NEEDED to know what happened next. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster.
The mental health representation in this story is so well done it fells as if this is MY journey and not just one I read about. It’s worth noting, this is not a light read by any stretch of the imagination: if the title, cover, and blurb aren’t indication enough of the heavy themes addressed on page. But, know this, this is an important story, one I encourage everyone to read. A window into the unsound mind, providing realistic accounts and rays of hope in equal parts.
I am so proud of Brandi for her artful and authentic debut novel and I can’t wait to see what she’ll contribute to the literary world next!
The mental health representation in this story is so well done it fells as if this is MY journey and not just one I read about. It’s worth noting, this is not a light read by any stretch of the imagination: if the title, cover, and blurb aren’t indication enough of the heavy themes addressed on page. But, know this, this is an important story, one I encourage everyone to read. A window into the unsound mind, providing realistic accounts and rays of hope in equal parts.
I am so proud of Brandi for her artful and authentic debut novel and I can’t wait to see what she’ll contribute to the literary world next!
September 28, 2023
What a fantastic debut novel! I can’t wait to read more from this author! Although the book was definitely stressing me out.
Lina is sent to an asylum (maybe this was the 1920’s? I can’t remember). Her mild psychotic episodes are nothing compared to the horrors that await her inside the madhouse. I was dying to get through the intensity and find out how it would end.
It’s so crazy to me when I read about how mental illnesses used to be treated. We have come such a long way.
Lina is sent to an asylum (maybe this was the 1920’s? I can’t remember). Her mild psychotic episodes are nothing compared to the horrors that await her inside the madhouse. I was dying to get through the intensity and find out how it would end.
It’s so crazy to me when I read about how mental illnesses used to be treated. We have come such a long way.
June 24, 2023
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author and I am very appreciative of the chance that I had to read it and give my honest review.
First of all, this book is a self-published debut novel. For that, I am deeply impressed. It is obvious that the author put her heart and soul into this work and I do believe that she probably has a bright future in writing.
I have read many books where the MC has been committed to some sort of asylum. This book was quite different though than anything else I have read, in that the main character was actually honestly and truly suffering from some sort of psychotic break. She actually was mentally ill and going through the pains of realizing this. It was fascinating to be inside the mind of someone who recognizes they are ill and feels the pain of it. I feel like most often the main characters are wrongly hospitalized. I felt so much pain and anguish for Lina, the main character. My heart hurt for her.
I followed along on IG with Brandi's process of writing this book and she was very clear that some of the things she was putting her character through in the pages of this book were going to be painful and hard so I was prepared, but maybe not as prepared as I should have been. This was not an easy story to read. Lina is not only mentally ill but she suffers at the hands of those who should be caring for her throughout almost her whole life and it is not a happy thing to read about. I will be honest and say that I hate reading stories or watching movies of torture...so there were parts in this where I just wanted to close the book. I couldn't take the pain of what she was going through anymore. So I guess that's what made it good...I really felt her pain.
Poor, poor Lina.
Like I said, this isn't a happy story but it has happy moments and a cast of characters I won't soon forget. I am proud of Brandi for putting this story out into the world and giving us a chance to think about mental health and the strides we have made in the proper care of it.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Like many self-published novels, I think it could have benefited from an experienced editor but I think she did a great job on her first novel, putting Lina's story into writing. Also, the dedication at the beginning is one of my favorites I've read.
First of all, this book is a self-published debut novel. For that, I am deeply impressed. It is obvious that the author put her heart and soul into this work and I do believe that she probably has a bright future in writing.
I have read many books where the MC has been committed to some sort of asylum. This book was quite different though than anything else I have read, in that the main character was actually honestly and truly suffering from some sort of psychotic break. She actually was mentally ill and going through the pains of realizing this. It was fascinating to be inside the mind of someone who recognizes they are ill and feels the pain of it. I feel like most often the main characters are wrongly hospitalized. I felt so much pain and anguish for Lina, the main character. My heart hurt for her.
I followed along on IG with Brandi's process of writing this book and she was very clear that some of the things she was putting her character through in the pages of this book were going to be painful and hard so I was prepared, but maybe not as prepared as I should have been. This was not an easy story to read. Lina is not only mentally ill but she suffers at the hands of those who should be caring for her throughout almost her whole life and it is not a happy thing to read about. I will be honest and say that I hate reading stories or watching movies of torture...so there were parts in this where I just wanted to close the book. I couldn't take the pain of what she was going through anymore. So I guess that's what made it good...I really felt her pain.
Poor, poor Lina.
Like I said, this isn't a happy story but it has happy moments and a cast of characters I won't soon forget. I am proud of Brandi for putting this story out into the world and giving us a chance to think about mental health and the strides we have made in the proper care of it.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Like many self-published novels, I think it could have benefited from an experienced editor but I think she did a great job on her first novel, putting Lina's story into writing. Also, the dedication at the beginning is one of my favorites I've read.
June 26, 2023
“The Unsound Mind” by Brandi Webb is a gripping and haunting tale that delves into the depths of mental illness, the struggle for sanity, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination. Set within the confines of a 1940s asylum, Webb weaves a captivating narrative filled with malevolent doctors, mysterious occurrences, and a resilient lead protagonist who battles her inner demons.
This book is a powerful exploration of the human psyche, skillfully portraying the complexities of mental illness and the challenges faced by those trapped within an unforgiving system. Webb’s portrayal of the lead protagonist is both raw and authentic, allowing readers to intimately connect with her emotional journey as she grapples with her own perceptions and battles to distinguish between what is real and what is merely a product of her mind.
The asylum itself becomes a character of its own, a foreboding and claustrophobic backdrop that intensifies the atmosphere of uncertainty and unease. As the story unfolds, the author masterfully blends suspense and psychological elements, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate the labyrinthine corridors of the asylum alongside the protagonist.
This book is a powerful exploration of the human psyche, skillfully portraying the complexities of mental illness and the challenges faced by those trapped within an unforgiving system. Webb’s portrayal of the lead protagonist is both raw and authentic, allowing readers to intimately connect with her emotional journey as she grapples with her own perceptions and battles to distinguish between what is real and what is merely a product of her mind.
The asylum itself becomes a character of its own, a foreboding and claustrophobic backdrop that intensifies the atmosphere of uncertainty and unease. As the story unfolds, the author masterfully blends suspense and psychological elements, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate the labyrinthine corridors of the asylum alongside the protagonist.
August 22, 2023
I really really liked this book. Brandi did a wonderful job of creating lovable characters. I was able to connect with the main character, Lina, and cry when she cried, laugh when she laughed, and fear when she felt scared. Lina’s story is gut-wrenching, she has to experience some really ugly things. But Lina keeps her heart and doesn’t let the bad things that happen determine her happiness.
The book is self-published, and could have used some professional editing, but otherwise, I have no complaints. I recommend this book to anyone that believes there are still mostly good people in this world.
The book is self-published, and could have used some professional editing, but otherwise, I have no complaints. I recommend this book to anyone that believes there are still mostly good people in this world.
June 26, 2023
Cried so many happy and sad tears!! The author does an incredible job of showing the insights to mental illness that the average person doesn’t know or understand. The transition into each “episode” is so subtle and well done that you don’t realize you’re in it until much later. I was on edge the whole time and couldn’t put it down! Finished in 24 hours- it was that good.
June 8, 2023
This book was amazing! I couldn't set it down. Be ready for emotions. The author does such a great job describing Lina's feelings and hardships. I definitely shed a few tears!
June 26, 2023
This book only took a few days to read as I couldn’t put it down. It made me cry and at times I even cringed. But I loved it anyway. I highly recommend 🖤
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews