Broken Wide

Mindjack: Zeph #3

by Susan Kaye Quinn

All he wanted was peace; all he had was hope.
Zeph had spent half his life hiding what he was—keeping his mindjack powers away from dangerous men and running away from everyone he loved to keep them safe. Now that his life is finally coming together—his mom and sister are safe; the girl he loves in his arms—the world is falling apart. The mindreader backlash against jackers is growing daily. Jacker-bigot politicians are stoking fear and gaining power. And jackers on the Fronter’s Purity list are winding up dead on the streets outside Jackertown.

Even the Jacker Freedom Alliance is tearing itself apart.

All Zeph wants is a chance to build a life with Tessa—but even she is losing faith. If there’s no peace between jackers and readers, what future could they have? Then a protest goes terribly wrong, the president starts talk of a Jackertown siege, and a MINDWARE CEO races to develop a dangerous mind-blasting technology. It seems foolish to even hope for peace, but one thing becomes very clear—the only way to put the world back together is to bring down the powerful people breaking it apart.

The conclusion to the bestselling Mindjack: Zeph series, where daring to hope for peace could be the most radical—and dangerous—move of all.

MINDJACK SERIES READING ORDER
Open Minds (Book 1)
Closed Hearts (Book 2)
Free Souls (Book 3)
Locked Tight (Book 4)
Cracked Open (Book 5)
Broken Wide (Book 6)
Mindjack Short Story Collection (Book 7)

Unknown Binding

About the author

CLICK HERE for a FREE STORY

Susan Kaye Quinn has designed aircraft engines and researched global warming, but now she uses her PhD to invent cool stuff in books. Her works range from hopeful climate fiction to gritty cyberpunk. Sue believes being gentle and healing is radical and disruptive. Her short fiction can be found in Grist, Solarpunk Magazine, Reckoning, and all her novels and short stories can be found on her website. She is the host of the Bright Green Futures podcast.

SOLARPUNK
collections
Bright Green Futures: 2024 (edited by SKQ)
Halfway to Better

novels
Nothing is Promised series
When You Had Power
You Knew The Price
Of Kindness and Kilowatts
Yet You Cry When It Hurts

short stories
A Moon Goddess to Watch Over Me (Luna Station Quarterly) (hopepunk)
It's in the Blood (Reckoning 8)
Once and Future Kilowatts (Solarpunk Magazine)
Rewilding Indiana (Little Blue Marble)
Seven Sisters (Grist)
The Joy Fund (DreamForge Magazine)

SCI-FI
Singularity Novel Series
The Legacy Human
The Duality Bridge
The Illusory Prophet
The Last Mystic

Stories of Singularity
Restore
Containment
Augment
Awakening
Harvest
Defiance
Resistance

YA SF
Mindjack Series
Open Minds
Closed Hearts
Free Souls
Locked Tight
Cracked Open
Broken Wide
Mindjack Short Story Collection

WATCH the award-winning live-action Mindjack Book Trailer!

STEAMPUNK ROMANCE
Royals of Dharia
Third Daughter
Second Daughter
First Daughter

CYBERPUNK
Debt Collector
LIRIUM (Season One)
WRAITH (Season Two)

WATCH the Debt Collector Book Trailer

ANTHOLOGIES
Synchronic
Telepath Chronicles
AI Chronicles
Dark Beyond The Stars
Future Chronicles
Cyborg Chronicles
CLONES: The Anthology

MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY
Faery Swap

WATCH the Faery Swap Book Trailer

CONTACT SUSAN
Susan's Website | Sue on Bluesky | Sue on Mastodon
Susan's Email: sue@twistedspacepub.com

Reviews

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sixth book in the MindJack series where humans have evolved the ability to broadcast their thoughts–but the new wrinkle is mindreaders who can hijack your brain. These “mindjackers” are a super powerful minority, being hunted for experimentation and extermination. And Zeph, a “locksmith” mindjacker who can lock and unlock the toughest minds, will do whatever it takes to keep himself and his family safe.

As we all know, hope is a force that wins hearts, minds and battles. Hope is the foundation of BROKEN WIDE.

Fundamentally, the MindJack series is about discrimination, and surviving intact after the powerful have sought to crush you. It’s a timely allegory to the current political climate where discrimination by the government (of any marginalized community) is lauded by people who have fear or prejudice ruling their emotions. For readers, it’s a chilling journey into discovering what the experience might be for a marginalized population. The government has ideologically decided that jackers are Public Enemy Number One, and need to be studied and eradicated. And yet, throughout, it’s a humanizing story. One of hope and desperation, and succeeding against all odds against your most feared, armed, bully.

BROKEN WIDE is a terrifying ride. He’s desperate to save the people he loves, but soon realizes the plan to eradicate all jackers will lead to more broken families and dead teens–murdered by the purity-minded Readers First Front and sanctioned by the government. Terrified families are listing their jacker members in chat rooms based on the paranoia the government keeps propagating. Despite the danger, Zeph heads back into the chilling Tiller mansion, masquerading as a reader while helping Juliette Tiller find as much evidence as she can on her father–while also gaining intel on the planned attack on JackerTown and the technology Tiller’s company has built to find weaknesses that Jacker’s can exploit.

Dr. Wright, an unwilling associate of Tiller’s, won't out Zeph as a jacker, if Zeph agrees to make mind-blasted super jackers Wright calls “Obedient” for an army that she alone can control with her mind. It’s a sick bargain, but it’s the only way to stay alive in the Tiller home. Not that they can stay for lone. Tiller’s plans for Zeph and Juliette are straight out of a nightmare and their need to remain intact soon overcomes the need for intel. And, they leave not a moment too soon. Jackertown, a safe zone for jackers buried within the metro area of what was once Chicago, is under siege. If they are lucky, Zeph might save a few of them with his mindlocking gift.

This isn’t the end of the road, however. No. Zeph’s determined to turn the anti-jacker hysteria with a hefty dose of truth. His surreal experiences take him to the highest levels of power, and he looks true evil in the face. Even as he promised to make more Obedient for the government, he knows he’s going to honor his vow to restore jackers to equal standing–fellow humans with what can be new and helpful gifts. Connecting with the Jacker Freedom Alliance and the mindreading Free Thinkers helps Zeph get the truth out at exactly the right time. Not that anything goes to plan. Still, Zeph’s never thought of himself as a hero–he only acts like one every day, and all the time. Even as hes’ making the difficult decisions, it’s all in the hope that he’ll save the most vulnerable. It's an amazing adventure!

PS--I tried to keep this spoiler free, but you REALLY need to have read LOCKED TIGHT and CRACKED OPEN before you read BROKEN WIDE.

[Sandy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars--

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 16, 2018

All he wanted was peace; all he had was hope.
Zeph had spent half his life hiding what he was—keeping his mindjack powers away from dangerous men and running away from everyone he loved to keep them safe. Now that his life is finally coming together—his mom and sister are safe; the girl he loves in his arms—the world is falling apart. The mindreader backlash against jackers is growing daily. Jacker-bigot politicians are stoking fear and gaining power. And jackers on the Fronter’s Purity list are winding up dead on the streets outside Jackertown.

Even the Jacker Freedom Alliance is tearing itself apart.

All Zeph wants is a chance to build a life with Tessa—but even she is losing faith. If there’s no peace between jackers and readers, what future could they have? Then a protest goes terribly wrong, the president starts talk of a Jackertown siege, and a MINDWARE CEO races to develop a dangerous mind-blasting technology. It seems foolish to even hope for peace, but one thing becomes very clear—the only way to put the world back together is to bring down the powerful people breaking it apart.

The conclusion to the bestselling Mindjack: Zeph series, where daring to hope for peace could be the most radical—and dangerous—move of all.

•••••••••••

4.5 stars--BROKEN WIDE is the sixth full-length instalment in Susan Kaye Quinn’s young adult (YA) MINDJACK urban fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian series, and the third and final instalment focusing on Zephyr ‘Zeph’ MacCay-a young man with the ability to lock down, lock out, unlock and scramble the human mind.

SOME BACKGROUND: In a world where mindreading is the norm (due to decades of contaminated or purposely poisoned water) there are those with more powerful abilities than most. These are their stories of discrimination, betrayal, retribution and control. Throughout the years the human population has developed various forms of mind-reading, mind altering and mind controlling abilities due to environmental toxins. And to complicate matters those without the ability to mindjack are purposely setting out to bring war between the have and the have-nots fearing for their own peace of mind.

Told from first person point of view (Zeph) BROKEN WIDE continues to focus on Zeph, and his underground group of mind ‘readers’, and mind ‘jackers’ as they struggle to prevent anti-jacker technology destroying them all. Zephyr MacCay, blessed with powerful abilities beyond anyone’s comprehension finds himself imprisoned by warring government factions whose primary goal is to eradicate the mind jackers, and everyone they love. From the proverbial frying pan into the fire Zephyr must ‘sell’ himself to the man in charge but not before placing a plan into motion to reveal the truth about what happened and what is about to go down.

BROKEN WIDE is an infinitely detailed, well-written, extensive look at discrimination at the highest levels. From ‘fake news’ to autocratic and authoritarian government leaders BROKEN WIDE reveals the fight for power and the destruction of the mind as greed, authority and the right to control are at the center of a decades old scientific disaster that has led to the bigotry, hatred and injustice for all. Susan Kaye Quinn pulls the reader into a potential future marred by secrets, lies and inexcusable experiments resulting in a world determined to destroy itself one mind at a time.


Copy supplied for review

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily review it.

Broken Wide is the third and last book of Zeph's story in the Mindjack universe. I always enjoy this author's work so I was excited to dive into the story. Unfortunately I've been in this weird reading mood and I felt like it wasn't quite what I was in the mood for to read and the book fell a bit flat for me. Although I do think it's still a solid read and a great ending to this series, it mostly was my mood that made me enjoy it less, instead of the book itself.

In Broken Wide things go from bad to worse. The jacker hate is going strong and there is a new president who is all about preserving the mindreader way of life and controlling or subduing the mindjackers. This book continues the story of Zeph in much of the same style as the previous books. We have jackertown and the JFA movement, Zeph's undercover job at Julliette and how he's forced to work for DARPA again. At the one hand it felt a bit like more of the same, but every part was important for bring things to the final conclusion.

It did get a bit political at times, which I didn't fully care for. It also get a bit dark at times, with some pretty gruesome and violent things happening to Jackers. It just felt a bit much or maybe I just have a hard time believing people would be that cruel. I also would've liked to see a bit more of how the JFA fought back with words and speeches to the jacker hate, but as Zeph isn't present there at the time we see little of that sadly. The change at the end felt a bit abrupt and I wouldn't minded a bit more slow build up/ move to change.

There also are a few plot twists that change things up a bit. One of the plot twists reminded me a bit about a twist in one of this author's other series. And the second big plot twist somehow lacked a bit of impact as with what we already knew what was happening now. I also felt like Zeph was a bit of a special snowflake at times as he gets a few extra abilities again in this book, although it does now sort of make sense why he can do all of those things, so it was nice there was a reason for it.

I do like how we see Zeph change over the course of the series, while he still stays the same person as well. He is now fully committed to making peace for jackers and readers. But his family and girlfriend still come first. And he's put in some difficult situations again like in the previous books were he has to do things he doesn't want to and just hopes he can fix things later.

I also liked the last chapter when we get that glimpse of the future and how things are going now. And while it might be a little bit too perfect, I like my epilogues a bit on the too perfect and happy side, so that totally worked for me. And it's just so nice to see how they are carving out their lives now that things are settled.

To summarize: Broken Wide is a solid ending to this trilogy. My weird reading mood prevented me from enjoying this one as much as I would've liked. I had a few small issues with things, like how it could get a bit political and gruesome/ violent at times, but mostly I think this was a great way to end the series. I would've liked to see a bit more gradual change and what they were doing to change things before the big scene at the end. The big plot lines are wrapped up and the last chapter acts an epilogue, which I really liked as it was nice to see how they are living their lives now that the threat is gone. It was nice to see how Zeph changed throughout the course of this trilogy, but also how he is still the same guy as in the first book on same parts as well. If you enjoyed the first two books in this series you probably will enjoy this one as well.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Broken Wide
Author: Susan Kaye Quinn
Publisher: Susan Kaye Quinn
ISBN: B07B8N7SFF
Buy Link: http://susankayequinn.com/book/broken...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
Mindjack: Zeph book 3
All he wanted was peace; all he had was hope.
Zeph had spent half his life hiding what he was—keeping his mindjack powers away from dangerous men and running away from everyone he loved to keep them safe. Now that his life is finally coming together—his mom and sister are safe; the girl he loves in his arms—the world is falling apart. The mindreader backlash against jackers is growing daily. Jacker-bigot politicians are stoking fear and gaining power. And jackers on the Fronter’s Purity list are winding up dead on the streets outside Jackertown.

Even the Jacker Freedom Alliance is tearing itself apart.

All Zeph wants is a chance to build a life with Tessa—but even she is losing faith. If there’s no peace between jackers and readers, what future could they have? Then a protest goes terribly wrong, the president starts talk of a Jackertown siege, and a MINDWARE CEO races to develop a dangerous mind-blasting technology. It seems foolish to even hope for peace, but one thing becomes very clear—the only way to put the world back together is to bring down the powerful people breaking it apart.

The conclusion to the bestselling Mindjack: Zeph series, where daring to hope for peace could be the most radical—and dangerous—move of all.

Total Score: 5/5

Summary:
All Zeph ever wanted was to protect the people he loved, but in a world where anyone who had the mind Jack abilities was looked upon as the enemy by the government and most of society. In reality people were evil or good by their own choice. Many were forced into hiding, but the government is ramping up for their final goal to change or destroy all mind jackers in spite of the cost. Zeph and his friends, both jackers and readers, are determined to find a way to stop the Mindware company before they can release their technology, but the costs could be high. The final battle is set, but who will take the day is anyone's guess.

This was a fast paced intricate story that took on the reader on a journey into a world where mental abilities like mind reading was pitted against others who could get into a take over other peoples minds. It was sad how these differences were looked upon a deviant and unacceptable. The hatred that the readers had against the jackers was overwhelming not allowing them to see that there is good and bad in all people. The intricate relationship between the characters, both good and bad, brought the story to life. Zeph's love for his family and friends was the pivot point that drove him to take of the government who were determined to take down anyone who opposed them.Unreasonable hatred can lead to mob mentality leaving only grief and death in its wake. This was an incredible end to this series and I for one recommend it.

Received for an honest review.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeph’s story concludes in the final installment of the Mindjack series. As with all stories that have preceded it, this novel gives us even more insight into the Mindjacking world, how it came to be and what are the implications of all of that has happened thus far. In many ways mirroring many major themes at play in the world today, this story is gritty and shows you just how far the underbelly of the Mindjack world goes.
As we’ve seen in his previous stories, Zeph finds himself at the center of many moving parts, a position that he’s now become accustomed to. Zeph accepts the daunting position in which he finds himself and somehow manages to navigate through the chaos that surrounds him, as the reader following him along the path, we experience one curveball after another with Zeph, reeling as each layer that is peeled back uncovers something new, each discovery more explosive than the next.
Through it all, Zeph proves himself to be the hero we’ve always known that he could be, and with that we see his story come to a satisfying conclusion.
If you love the Mindjack world, then you’ll love this novel, and I recommend reading all the books in this series in order to ensure the best possible reader experience. Hold on and enjoy the ride!

[Diana Hurwitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series more than Divergent. In fact, I love all of Susan Kaye Quinn's books. She has well-crafted characters, fascinating story worlds, and plots that keep you on the edge of your seat. All six books in the Mindjack series, her Debt Collector series and her bollypunk Royals of Dharia were all devoured in one day, two at most. She has excellent story worlds, strong character, and plots that keep you turning pages. In Mindjack there is a world where everyone can read minds and communicate telephathically, but Kira is a zero, one who seemingly can't communicate, but she finds out she is something far more powerful - a mindjacker who can not only enter another person's mind, but control them. Wonderful dystopian novel. Read them all. Mind Jack 1 Open Minds, 2 Closed Hearts, and 3 Free Souls. Then move onto 4 Locked Tight, 5 Cracked Open, 6 Broken wide which follows Zeph, who can break open the toughest minds—or lock the weakest—which only means every Clan leader wants to own him. Buy them all and enjoy the binge. There are related Novellas as well.

[Smimo Do · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was für eine fabelhafte Story.
Menschen verwandelten sich zuerst in Leser. Sie werden gejagt oder weg gesperrt doch dann entwickeln sich manche in Jacker.

Die Ängste der Gejagten, die Intrigen und Verfolgungen durch die Regierung schießen einen das Adrenalin beim Lesen in den Körper. Was für eine wilde Fahrt.

Das einzige was ich etwas schade finde ist, dass die Geschichte sich meist nur in Chicago, NY abspielt. Wie ist es in der restlichen Welt abgelaufen? Welche Einrichtungen und Experimente wurden in anderen Städten, Ländern erschaffen?
Klar die Hauptprotagonisten können nicht überall auf der Welt sein aber gerade in diesem Teil der Geschichte, hätte ich mir noch mehr Infos aus anderen Regionen gewünscht.
Aber alles halb so wild, denn ich habe diese Reihe sehr gerne gelesen.

Die Begeisterung für diese Reihe stieg von Buch zu Buch. Ich kann immer noch nicht fassen, dass die rasante Geschichte nun zu Ende ist.

[Elaina Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story and finish to this series!

Some surprising twists and turns in this final book of Zeph’s story. An excellent blend of hope, struggle, risk and reward. The characters have depth and are believable. And, while Zeph struggles at times with how to deal with situations that come up (not just what to do, but also morally and ethically), it seems just the right amount of time is spent on this and not too much.

An excellent end to the story and series. I would love reading more in this world. Even if the main struggle is done, other situations could spin off a new series. :-)

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in the mindjack universe. A well written story with a twist here and there. Zeph and other favorites are back and trying to survive in this crazy future world. Once I started reading I was hooked to see what Zeph has to go through this time and what he will survive. I loved how all the bad guys get what they deserve and thought the ending was great. I love this series. Makes me think.

[Mother Overlord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series

Greatly enjoyed the whole series. I kept thinking the bad guys couldn't get any worse only to be wrong over and over again! The storyline was fascinating and the plots evolution was just right. I would happily read a spin-off on most of the series characters - they're that interesting. Wish the author would've dipped a little deeper into them during the books, but overall fantastic reads.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zeph has spent a good part of his life hiding what he was. Now his family is safe and he has the love of his life. Still no peace for him. Outstanding story as always in this series. Can’t get Enough .

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

I could hardly stop reading this book. It's been awhile since I completed the earlier books in this series, but it all came rushing back to me. I really enjoyed the ending.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! They just keep getting better and better. An absolute MUST read!

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF I want to love this book and finish reading it, but it feels like I'm reading the same book all over again

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending

What a great way to end a book with so much angst for two different races, we could learn much from doing the same in our world

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant ending to a fascinating series.
I can't believe it's all over! Wow. Having read all through the Mindjack books, I thought this was a great conclusion and tied things up well.
There are certainly enough twists and turns in this story, as in the preceding ones, that keep us wondering how it will all turn out. For those who have read the Kira books, as well as the Zeph ones, this should give a satisfied feeling by the end - not everything works out for everyone so it is not a daft conclusion, but it is a very well written and satisfying one.
The only problem - unless the author has plans to return to the Mindjack universe, where will we get our Mindjack fix?