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Twisting Minds
For fans of The Hunger Games, Black Mirror, and Divergent comes a twisted love story you won't want to put down.
A glitch in her reality. A threat that’s either real or imagined. Can she save the guy she loves when she can’t even trust her mind?
Seventeen-year-old Claire Harper lives in a future where poverty makes her expendable. After the death of her mother traps her in an endless cycle of work, insomnia, and court-ordered-visits with a psychiatrist, she’s on the brink of mental collapse. But when she meets a handsome young stranger named Darren, life takes on new hope…and new dangers.
Although love is a liberty rarely allowed to those in her caste, she can’t help falling for Darren. But as an unsettling shift alters the fabric of her reality, it’s impossible to trust anyone—least of all herself. Now Darren’s life is on the line, and the only way to save him is to prove she hasn’t lost her mind…but has she?
In a race to separate fact from fiction, can she uncover the truth before it’s too late?
One part futuristic thriller, one part dystopian romance, Twisting Minds is a gripping standalone tale that will leave you questioning the power of love, technology, and the human mind. If you like mind-bending stories and suspenseful twists, then you’ll devour Tessonja Odette’s psychological thrill ride.
Buy TWISTING MINDS to shake up your reality today!
A glitch in her reality. A threat that’s either real or imagined. Can she save the guy she loves when she can’t even trust her mind?
Seventeen-year-old Claire Harper lives in a future where poverty makes her expendable. After the death of her mother traps her in an endless cycle of work, insomnia, and court-ordered-visits with a psychiatrist, she’s on the brink of mental collapse. But when she meets a handsome young stranger named Darren, life takes on new hope…and new dangers.
Although love is a liberty rarely allowed to those in her caste, she can’t help falling for Darren. But as an unsettling shift alters the fabric of her reality, it’s impossible to trust anyone—least of all herself. Now Darren’s life is on the line, and the only way to save him is to prove she hasn’t lost her mind…but has she?
In a race to separate fact from fiction, can she uncover the truth before it’s too late?
One part futuristic thriller, one part dystopian romance, Twisting Minds is a gripping standalone tale that will leave you questioning the power of love, technology, and the human mind. If you like mind-bending stories and suspenseful twists, then you’ll devour Tessonja Odette’s psychological thrill ride.
Buy TWISTING MINDS to shake up your reality today!
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Published January 31, 2020
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About the author
Tessonja Odette
32 books3,601 followersTessonja Odette is a Seattle-based author of fantasy romance, epic romantasy, and fairytale retellings. Her different series range from cozy fae romcoms to dark and twisty fantasy. In her books you’ll find witty banter, sizzling romance, and breathtaking magic. When she isn’t writing, she’s watching anime, squeezing her pets, or dancing to the music only she can hear.
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February 11, 2024Author's note: Twisting Minds has a brand new cover in 2024, including for the first time HARDCOVER!
2024 UPDATE - new cover: Twisting Minds is officially my oldest published title. Since its 2020 release it's had some gorgeous covers and I've been obsessed with every one. But for the last several months, I've been imagining an illustrated version that I wanted to debut with a hardcover edition, and I wanted to illustrate it myself. I finally got around to executing my idea, and I love how it turned out! I also updated the print interior with a few pretty extras, and the book itself got a light edit/proofread (because I can't help. It's my oldest book! I want to make sure it's up to par.)
I hope you love the new cover! Retailers should update with the new paperback + the hardcover sales pages throughout February 2024.
More about Twisting Minds:
Twisting Minds is my weirdest book, for many reasons. It’s my only dystopian, it was born from a literal dream (I'm not kidding when I say I experienced this story as the main character, it's was wild), it’s a standalone, and is a genre mashup of dystopian/psychological thriller. If you like the dystopian setting of Divergent and the dark twists of Black Mirror, this might be for you. It's a bite-sized complete story, which makes it a great palate cleanser in between epic series. I'd love for this book to find its ideal readers, even if it's not the genre I normally write!
2024 UPDATE - new cover: Twisting Minds is officially my oldest published title. Since its 2020 release it's had some gorgeous covers and I've been obsessed with every one. But for the last several months, I've been imagining an illustrated version that I wanted to debut with a hardcover edition, and I wanted to illustrate it myself. I finally got around to executing my idea, and I love how it turned out! I also updated the print interior with a few pretty extras, and the book itself got a light edit/proofread (because I can't help. It's my oldest book! I want to make sure it's up to par.)
I hope you love the new cover! Retailers should update with the new paperback + the hardcover sales pages throughout February 2024.
More about Twisting Minds:
Twisting Minds is my weirdest book, for many reasons. It’s my only dystopian, it was born from a literal dream (I'm not kidding when I say I experienced this story as the main character, it's was wild), it’s a standalone, and is a genre mashup of dystopian/psychological thriller. If you like the dystopian setting of Divergent and the dark twists of Black Mirror, this might be for you. It's a bite-sized complete story, which makes it a great palate cleanser in between epic series. I'd love for this book to find its ideal readers, even if it's not the genre I normally write!
November 26, 2022
Twisting Minds is set in a dystopian Seattle after World War III, where society is divided into classes.
Recently orphaned 17-year-old Claire Harper finds herself on probation until she pays her debts, which means she is at the end of the food chain, having basically no rights as a citizen. Grieving and lonely, when she finds a boy who sees her amidst the dull and gloom, she can't help falling in love.
I won't say any more for fear of spoiling the psychological thriller part for you, but the synopsis calls this story one part futuristic thriller, one part dystopian romance for good reason.
This is a capitalist (dys)topia: debt to income ratio determines if you can have good jobs; therefore the more money you have, the more money you qualify to make. Debt rules your life, even if you qualify for a better job, the system traps you in this corrosive cycle. Amorality and lack of empathy are not only very present, but encouraged.
I can't believe the theory I came up with at chapter 2 was right! I could not stop reading, took me 3 days to finish the book! And for those who ask, "Didn't being right take your enjoyment away?", I'll answer "Absolutely not! It's about the journey, not the end." I had this dust bunny of an idea floating, but I couldn't know how it would unfold or who Claire could trust. It was like standing in a nest of vipers, knowing something bad is going to happen, but not when, how or, frankly, which viper(s) is/are going to bite you!! And where!
That end was chilling, yet satisfying. I haven't felt satisfied like this after finishing a book in a while! Finally the reading muses smile at me! I feel like Tessonja Odette could freshen up this genre, it makes me crave for more thrillers from her, especially psychological thrillers, my favourite in the genre (hello, mindf*, my old friend, it's time to come and play again). I can see this book being adapted into a film!
The writing, like I've come to expect from Odette, is accessible and fluid. In this book particularly, it was able to impress in me a sense of the tension felt by the mc.
To end this, I would like to quote a passage that perfectly translates how I feel about reaching for memories: Those memories are like a cloud in the sky shaped like something so uncannily familiar, until it begins to shift and transform into nothing more than a white blur. Pure perfection.
I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Recently orphaned 17-year-old Claire Harper finds herself on probation until she pays her debts, which means she is at the end of the food chain, having basically no rights as a citizen. Grieving and lonely, when she finds a boy who sees her amidst the dull and gloom, she can't help falling in love.
I won't say any more for fear of spoiling the psychological thriller part for you, but the synopsis calls this story one part futuristic thriller, one part dystopian romance for good reason.
This is a capitalist (dys)topia: debt to income ratio determines if you can have good jobs; therefore the more money you have, the more money you qualify to make. Debt rules your life, even if you qualify for a better job, the system traps you in this corrosive cycle. Amorality and lack of empathy are not only very present, but encouraged.
I can't believe the theory I came up with at chapter 2 was right! I could not stop reading, took me 3 days to finish the book! And for those who ask, "Didn't being right take your enjoyment away?", I'll answer "Absolutely not! It's about the journey, not the end." I had this dust bunny of an idea floating, but I couldn't know how it would unfold or who Claire could trust. It was like standing in a nest of vipers, knowing something bad is going to happen, but not when, how or, frankly, which viper(s) is/are going to bite you!! And where!
That end was chilling, yet satisfying. I haven't felt satisfied like this after finishing a book in a while! Finally the reading muses smile at me! I feel like Tessonja Odette could freshen up this genre, it makes me crave for more thrillers from her, especially psychological thrillers, my favourite in the genre (hello, mindf*, my old friend, it's time to come and play again). I can see this book being adapted into a film!
The writing, like I've come to expect from Odette, is accessible and fluid. In this book particularly, it was able to impress in me a sense of the tension felt by the mc.
To end this, I would like to quote a passage that perfectly translates how I feel about reaching for memories: Those memories are like a cloud in the sky shaped like something so uncannily familiar, until it begins to shift and transform into nothing more than a white blur. Pure perfection.
I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2020
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Playing on a mental illness in a dystopian story line is genius! As soon as the main character can't tell what is PTSD and what is real neither can the audience. Any one else get "Last Christmas" vibes wondering If Darren was even real?
When i first started reading this, the premise hooked me straight away, within the first few pages as I started to see the world build, my curiosity was starting to peak, it was everything it had promised to be. Then we are introduced to Darren and the story becomes very much about their relationship, which if I am being honest felt a little to fake and rushed too me......and then Darren disappears, and all this time passes where we have this complete controlled environment and Claire appears to be getting better...........and then like all good dystopian novels, everything you thought was real or true turns out to be a lie!
I struggled to push through a little bit in the middle of this during the romance building but once I started to put some things in place I now am very much looking forward to reading book 2......there is a book 2 right?
Playing on a mental illness in a dystopian story line is genius! As soon as the main character can't tell what is PTSD and what is real neither can the audience. Any one else get "Last Christmas" vibes wondering If Darren was even real?
When i first started reading this, the premise hooked me straight away, within the first few pages as I started to see the world build, my curiosity was starting to peak, it was everything it had promised to be. Then we are introduced to Darren and the story becomes very much about their relationship, which if I am being honest felt a little to fake and rushed too me......and then Darren disappears, and all this time passes where we have this complete controlled environment and Claire appears to be getting better...........and then like all good dystopian novels, everything you thought was real or true turns out to be a lie!
I struggled to push through a little bit in the middle of this during the romance building but once I started to put some things in place I now am very much looking forward to reading book 2......there is a book 2 right?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2020
I don't read many psychological thrillers, but this was quite the ride! It's such a cool concept and keeps you guessing right until the end. Definitely recommend! Tessonja Odette is a fantastic writer!
February 4, 2020
Wow......ok. First, I have to say this book was a slow starter for me. It took me a while to get interested...I was maybe 33% through before it grabbed me. I think. Which I don't even care about now that I've finished. I was practically attached to my kindle and may have tried to climb inside at some point. I couldn't pull myself away. IT WAS CRAZY!! I'm wondering if maybe I was somehow part of the experiment. I didn't know what to believe or who to be mad at or if Darren was real....but thankfully all was made clear by the end and it was EPIC!! I immensely enjoyed this book!
February 28, 2023
Have you had reason to question the nature of of your memories?
I couldn't help the less than subtle reference to Westworld ok? In some ways this reminds me of the experimental psycho-therapy happening to some of the characters in season 3 right now.
Then again its all some form of brainwashing right?
I felt almost physically sick at the end when the nature of Claire's reality is revealed. Without spoilers (that would definitely change how you view what's happening) suffice to say it reinforced certain paranoias I have about medication and therapy.
I'm not sure I'd necessarily classify the ending/culmination happy - Claire gets answers and overcomes her demons (so to speak), but no one skips off into the jewel colored sunset nor does the severely broken but uncannily possible society get any sort of revolution.
Its not that kind of book. Through her own choices Claire works the system against itself, but the end result is maybe the best she could have hoped for in such a mercenary world.
Odette's writing is on key and after some narrative slowness at the beginning, picks up speed. The trauma that Claire is reliving, and in some ways deepening, can be felt as she struggles to piece together her fragmented mind. The story sweeps you into a near future where empathy is played for views and manipulating a person's mind on camera is family viewing.
I couldn't help the less than subtle reference to Westworld ok? In some ways this reminds me of the experimental psycho-therapy happening to some of the characters in season 3 right now.
Then again its all some form of brainwashing right?
I felt almost physically sick at the end when the nature of Claire's reality is revealed. Without spoilers (that would definitely change how you view what's happening) suffice to say it reinforced certain paranoias I have about medication and therapy.
I'm not sure I'd necessarily classify the ending/culmination happy - Claire gets answers and overcomes her demons (so to speak), but no one skips off into the jewel colored sunset nor does the severely broken but uncannily possible society get any sort of revolution.
Its not that kind of book. Through her own choices Claire works the system against itself, but the end result is maybe the best she could have hoped for in such a mercenary world.
Odette's writing is on key and after some narrative slowness at the beginning, picks up speed. The trauma that Claire is reliving, and in some ways deepening, can be felt as she struggles to piece together her fragmented mind. The story sweeps you into a near future where empathy is played for views and manipulating a person's mind on camera is family viewing.
March 14, 2021
In a world rigidly run according to wealth, Claire finds herself stripped of her rights in the lowest rung, following her mother's death. Forced to undertake sessions with a psychiatrist and be part of a reality broadcast, her life only turns around when she's saved from death by the elusive Darren. But what is truly happening in her wounded mind?
Odette's extraordinary and intelligent narrative is part dystopic thriller and mind bending drama, managing to touch on multiple themes such as prejudice, greed, moral depravity, the nature of grief and love.
Claire's point of view is always compelling and the romance touching, but it was the constant questions and unfolding themes that kept me turning pages.
Odette's extraordinary and intelligent narrative is part dystopic thriller and mind bending drama, managing to touch on multiple themes such as prejudice, greed, moral depravity, the nature of grief and love.
Claire's point of view is always compelling and the romance touching, but it was the constant questions and unfolding themes that kept me turning pages.
May 5, 2020
After reading Odette's Lela Trilogy, I was excited to read her debut science fiction title, and i was not disappointed.
This was a great read, and I loved every minute
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a great read, and I loved every minute
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 12, 2020
What a fun dystopian adventure with plenty of twists and turns! You will not be able to put this book down there is a thrill on every page!
August 25, 2021
This psychological thriller really pulled me in. I don't read much in this genre and the author is new to me, however, I became engrossed in the story and could not put it down. There were a few mild swear words that I could have done without. Even though it ended on a positive note, I felt unsettled when I finished it. But isn't that the point of a good story? One that stays with you even after you finish it? This one did.
April 17, 2025
Absolute INSANITY
November 9, 2024
Very engaging story! Psychological thrills. Recommend.
January 27, 2020
This book had me doubting my own mind as I read. It was great. Definitely an author to keep an eye on!
February 3, 2020
This book was so cool! It's a dystopian world combined with a thriller plot. I RARELY fall for it when a book wants me to think a certain thing, but this book legit had me questioning my sanity.
I absolutely loved the characters! I loved the world building and the set up. Everything came together so perfectly in the end. Such a great read. :)
I absolutely loved the characters! I loved the world building and the set up. Everything came together so perfectly in the end. Such a great read. :)
November 7, 2024
I read Shadows of Lela by this author and then found this book by same author. I received an ARC copy of the book from Booksprout.
The overall feeling of the book was futuristic and somewhat dystopian with a bit of romance and suspense. The book wasn't predictable and had twists and surprises- just as you thought maybe you were predicting something, it turns out not what you thought. There is a good explanation about how this world works and the story is easy to follow with how it is written. Pace is fantastic, there's no slow spots and in fact I could barely stand to put it down. This genre is my typical style and yet I haven't read anything just like this before. I think the fact that I read a book of hers in the more fantasy romance genre just before this one helped me to appreciate even more what an amazing author this is. She can really create amazing main characters as well as their world's they live in. I really enjoyed spending my time reading this book and feel very satisfied afterwards that everything made sense and no plot holes, etc.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The overall feeling of the book was futuristic and somewhat dystopian with a bit of romance and suspense. The book wasn't predictable and had twists and surprises- just as you thought maybe you were predicting something, it turns out not what you thought. There is a good explanation about how this world works and the story is easy to follow with how it is written. Pace is fantastic, there's no slow spots and in fact I could barely stand to put it down. This genre is my typical style and yet I haven't read anything just like this before. I think the fact that I read a book of hers in the more fantasy romance genre just before this one helped me to appreciate even more what an amazing author this is. She can really create amazing main characters as well as their world's they live in. I really enjoyed spending my time reading this book and feel very satisfied afterwards that everything made sense and no plot holes, etc.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 19, 2025
Definitely aimed for a teen audience, but this is an interesting twist on a dystopian/post apocalyptic theme.
The story takes place in Seattle after WW3. Rumors claim that, at best, each state had one city that managed to survive the war for the people to gather in. Those in Seattle are now subjected to a class system based on wealth. The rungs of the societal ladder can be climbed, but it is so easy to fall as well.
Those who need monetary assistance must take The Tithe, a form of financial support, but if you wind up taking more than you can possibly ever pay back you are left asking for Forgiveness. Forgiveness may lower the debt, but it also removes your status as a member of society. Instead of having rights, you are now a Probationary citizen and must accept whatever the government decides for you to pay off your debt.
This is where we find Claire- a 17-year old orphan who is drowning under the debt that accumulated from her mother’s cancer. Over $2M is dropped to $250K through the Forgiveness. She is given a bare bones closet of a room in a housing slum. She agrees to take on multiple jobs to try and pay the debt faster as well as have miniature cameras recording her every move. If her livestream goes viral then the proceeds will pay off her debts all the faster, though the likelihood of that happening is remote.
The last part of her arrangement is that she must see a psychiatrist on a weekly basis and follow whatever she prescribes.
So Claire is overworked, not sleeping, and running on empty the night she meets Darren. Rushing home as curfew is fast approaching, Claire swears she sees her dead mother across the street and calling to her. Stepping out onto the road, Claire is almost hit by a bus, but this young man pulls her to safety.
Darren, also alone and in a similar situation due to family debt, and Claire become close to one another, although Claire debates with herself on just what label to give this blooming romance. And then one morning he’s gone.
Was he taken? Did he run away?
No one will giver her answers, so it is up to Claire to try and find out what happened and where Darren might be. But how can she find the boy she loves when everyone around her insists he never existed at all?
I really enjoyed the world that was built, though I would have enjoyed it if we could have explored it more. Honestly, this city could have been set anywhere as we aren’t given a lot of geography or landmarks to say “oh yeah, that really is Seattle”. No talk about Puget Sound or the iconic landmarks. Considering before the death of her parents that Claire lived in a wealthier area you’d think we’d hear more about the nicer (and more recognizable) parts of town, but that’s just me.
We are told no one can really exist outside of town past the farms that feed everyone due to the toxic landscape, but I wanted more. I mean did Claire and Darren’s families grow up in Seattle or did they make their way to the city during or after the war? I don’t believe we are even told how long ago the war was, but it was probably quite some time ago as this new world order system seems to be deeply ingrained into the residents.
This psychological thriller for teens is well thought out and the pacing is great… until you reach the end. Unfortunately, the last 10% or so of the book is a rush to wrap everything up in a pretty little package so the reader can be satisfied that Claire gets a warped happily ever after.
As a teenager I would have loved the end. As a middle-aged adult… not so much. It’s a fairytale ending that brings no resolution, no comfort that the system will be overthrown for something better and there are characters that definitely do not get what they deserve, but we are expected to overlook that because, hey, Claire and Darren are together and will never be apart again… even if they both are insane?
It’s a great attempt at something new for the author, but she didn’t quite stick the landing for me… but then I am not her target audience, am I?
Teen me says four stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Middle-age me gives it three ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The story takes place in Seattle after WW3. Rumors claim that, at best, each state had one city that managed to survive the war for the people to gather in. Those in Seattle are now subjected to a class system based on wealth. The rungs of the societal ladder can be climbed, but it is so easy to fall as well.
Those who need monetary assistance must take The Tithe, a form of financial support, but if you wind up taking more than you can possibly ever pay back you are left asking for Forgiveness. Forgiveness may lower the debt, but it also removes your status as a member of society. Instead of having rights, you are now a Probationary citizen and must accept whatever the government decides for you to pay off your debt.
This is where we find Claire- a 17-year old orphan who is drowning under the debt that accumulated from her mother’s cancer. Over $2M is dropped to $250K through the Forgiveness. She is given a bare bones closet of a room in a housing slum. She agrees to take on multiple jobs to try and pay the debt faster as well as have miniature cameras recording her every move. If her livestream goes viral then the proceeds will pay off her debts all the faster, though the likelihood of that happening is remote.
The last part of her arrangement is that she must see a psychiatrist on a weekly basis and follow whatever she prescribes.
So Claire is overworked, not sleeping, and running on empty the night she meets Darren. Rushing home as curfew is fast approaching, Claire swears she sees her dead mother across the street and calling to her. Stepping out onto the road, Claire is almost hit by a bus, but this young man pulls her to safety.
Darren, also alone and in a similar situation due to family debt, and Claire become close to one another, although Claire debates with herself on just what label to give this blooming romance. And then one morning he’s gone.
Was he taken? Did he run away?
No one will giver her answers, so it is up to Claire to try and find out what happened and where Darren might be. But how can she find the boy she loves when everyone around her insists he never existed at all?
I really enjoyed the world that was built, though I would have enjoyed it if we could have explored it more. Honestly, this city could have been set anywhere as we aren’t given a lot of geography or landmarks to say “oh yeah, that really is Seattle”. No talk about Puget Sound or the iconic landmarks. Considering before the death of her parents that Claire lived in a wealthier area you’d think we’d hear more about the nicer (and more recognizable) parts of town, but that’s just me.
We are told no one can really exist outside of town past the farms that feed everyone due to the toxic landscape, but I wanted more. I mean did Claire and Darren’s families grow up in Seattle or did they make their way to the city during or after the war? I don’t believe we are even told how long ago the war was, but it was probably quite some time ago as this new world order system seems to be deeply ingrained into the residents.
This psychological thriller for teens is well thought out and the pacing is great… until you reach the end. Unfortunately, the last 10% or so of the book is a rush to wrap everything up in a pretty little package so the reader can be satisfied that Claire gets a warped happily ever after.
As a teenager I would have loved the end. As a middle-aged adult… not so much. It’s a fairytale ending that brings no resolution, no comfort that the system will be overthrown for something better and there are characters that definitely do not get what they deserve, but we are expected to overlook that because, hey, Claire and Darren are together and will never be apart again… even if they both are insane?
It’s a great attempt at something new for the author, but she didn’t quite stick the landing for me… but then I am not her target audience, am I?
Teen me says four stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Middle-age me gives it three ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2020
Think Before I Go to Sleep for a YA audience, set in a sci-fi future that's more like the Victorian workhouse than egalitarian gleaming spires. The narration had me hooked from page one, even if the flash-forward chapter one was a tad confusing without context. It's a subtle and cleverly written YA psychological thriller that's easy to read and even easier to get lost in.
In this dystopian future, people are ranked by their wealth, their social status and opportunities curtailed if they aren't worth enough. Debt is a crime, and debt is what Claire Harper finds herself in upon the death of her sick mother. Relegated down to the lowes rung of society inside segregated Seattle, she's allowed to live as a Probationary Public citizen - she can own nothing not provided by the city's "charity" and must work to pay off very credit she accrues as she also works off her inherited debt. It's a hard life, and that's before adding in her extra assigned societal dues - acting as a Reality TV lab rat and participating in a psychological study. She's alone and miserable until she meets Darren. He's the best thing to ever happen to her... Until events make her question everything she knows.
I loved it. There is tension even in the parts not meant to be tense purely because you know things aren't as good as they seem. It's a slow-burn of a book in a way, but being a relatively short read it's easy to blaze through it.
The central relationship is so well written, which is such a rarity in YA. Showing! Not telling! She doesn't even sniff him or name his muscle groups to indicate attraction. Hallelujah! It could be misconstrued as insta-love, but it's better than that. The characters do have that instant connection, but it feels realistic, if a bit Hollywood. Like some kind of dystopian meet-cute moment, it keeps rolling even as the story deals with Claire's poor mental health and all the little slightly sickening details about the world she lives in now.
The world-building is great. There could be more, but for a YA/lite sci-fi, it is the perfect amount to not overwhelm. How society has separated off into tiers based on wealth and social security being conditional sounds Victorian, but has taken root in a highly technological world setting that's unsettlingly believable.
And the pscyho-drama in on point. It'll keep you guessing just who knows what and why things are happening until the very end. It's actually pretty twisted stuff.
Looking for an easy sci-fi lite dystopian romance to mess with your head? You couldn't do much better than this.
In this dystopian future, people are ranked by their wealth, their social status and opportunities curtailed if they aren't worth enough. Debt is a crime, and debt is what Claire Harper finds herself in upon the death of her sick mother. Relegated down to the lowes rung of society inside segregated Seattle, she's allowed to live as a Probationary Public citizen - she can own nothing not provided by the city's "charity" and must work to pay off very credit she accrues as she also works off her inherited debt. It's a hard life, and that's before adding in her extra assigned societal dues - acting as a Reality TV lab rat and participating in a psychological study. She's alone and miserable until she meets Darren. He's the best thing to ever happen to her... Until events make her question everything she knows.
I loved it. There is tension even in the parts not meant to be tense purely because you know things aren't as good as they seem. It's a slow-burn of a book in a way, but being a relatively short read it's easy to blaze through it.
The central relationship is so well written, which is such a rarity in YA. Showing! Not telling! She doesn't even sniff him or name his muscle groups to indicate attraction. Hallelujah! It could be misconstrued as insta-love, but it's better than that. The characters do have that instant connection, but it feels realistic, if a bit Hollywood. Like some kind of dystopian meet-cute moment, it keeps rolling even as the story deals with Claire's poor mental health and all the little slightly sickening details about the world she lives in now.
The world-building is great. There could be more, but for a YA/lite sci-fi, it is the perfect amount to not overwhelm. How society has separated off into tiers based on wealth and social security being conditional sounds Victorian, but has taken root in a highly technological world setting that's unsettlingly believable.
And the pscyho-drama in on point. It'll keep you guessing just who knows what and why things are happening until the very end. It's actually pretty twisted stuff.
Looking for an easy sci-fi lite dystopian romance to mess with your head? You couldn't do much better than this.
January 18, 2020
While this one does start out with a familiar feel to many other dystopian novels, it definitely branches off in a refreshing direction quickly.
After WWIII, Seattle has turned into a society with very clear social levels, but these levels can change for any individual according to their efforts or failures. The main character's parents were able to make it all the way up to the lower level elites, which meant she had a life of privilege...for awhile. An accident at work takes away her father, and her mother dies of a disease. In order to pay for medical attention, the mother takes out a tithe, which leaves the main character owing the amount back to society after her mother's death. But paying back debt is not an easy thing.
The writing flows nicely in this story, making it simple and engaging to read. And still, the author effortlessly drops in grabbing, meaningful phrases along the way and leads the reader to thought without sliding into the atmosphere of being 'literary'. It's a laid back and still, gripping style.
There is a sense of familiarity during the first chapter, but it's exactly this which allows the reader to settle into the world without much trouble. As the main character works hard to help her situation, the tension builds little by little. It's as if something evil is there but not close enough to understand what it might be. The ending, though, hits hard and unexpected, throwing this into a thriller category.
Romance touches as a light of hope and adds the needed warmth and emotion. It's a bit of love-at-first-sight but not from the main character's side. She's dealing with quite a bit, and allows the romance to build bit by bit. And this fits horribly well into the rest of the plot as the entire thing molds together in the last pages.
If you like psychological thrillers with romance and a dystopian setting, this is definitely a great read to pick up. It's an intriguing twist, which I can't wait to see more of.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed it quite a bit. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.
After WWIII, Seattle has turned into a society with very clear social levels, but these levels can change for any individual according to their efforts or failures. The main character's parents were able to make it all the way up to the lower level elites, which meant she had a life of privilege...for awhile. An accident at work takes away her father, and her mother dies of a disease. In order to pay for medical attention, the mother takes out a tithe, which leaves the main character owing the amount back to society after her mother's death. But paying back debt is not an easy thing.
The writing flows nicely in this story, making it simple and engaging to read. And still, the author effortlessly drops in grabbing, meaningful phrases along the way and leads the reader to thought without sliding into the atmosphere of being 'literary'. It's a laid back and still, gripping style.
There is a sense of familiarity during the first chapter, but it's exactly this which allows the reader to settle into the world without much trouble. As the main character works hard to help her situation, the tension builds little by little. It's as if something evil is there but not close enough to understand what it might be. The ending, though, hits hard and unexpected, throwing this into a thriller category.
Romance touches as a light of hope and adds the needed warmth and emotion. It's a bit of love-at-first-sight but not from the main character's side. She's dealing with quite a bit, and allows the romance to build bit by bit. And this fits horribly well into the rest of the plot as the entire thing molds together in the last pages.
If you like psychological thrillers with romance and a dystopian setting, this is definitely a great read to pick up. It's an intriguing twist, which I can't wait to see more of.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed it quite a bit. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.
March 17, 2020
I stumbled upon Tessonja when she was writing her fantasy trilogy and read them as she released them. I quite enjoyed the Lela trilogy and so figured I'd stick around and see what she pursued next. Boy am I glad I did! This was one hum-dinger of a story!
It was a short little novel, but it packed quite a punch. The story was suspenseful and full of tension. I found myself glued to the pages and struggling to put the book down. The story kept up a fairly quick pace and certainly drew me in. I was fascinated by the world, but Claire's plight got more and more interesting the deeper into the story we got.
The story is set in a post WWIII society in what used to be Seattle. The people are broken into a caste system and treated very well, just okay, or very poorly based on their status. Their level of debt or wealth is what sorts them into their respective categories. This, I thought, was a really interesting concept and though the caste system was heavily dependent upon it--the types of jobs people could get, curfews, food, reputability with the law enforcement, etc.--I was kind of curious and hoping to dive into this debt/wealth concept deeper. I mean, it set the stage perfectly for the story, so it did it's job, but I'm always kind of fascinated with world development and we saw little of the governmental structure outside of the caste divisions, which were still intriguing in their own right and well fleshed out.
We had a few central characters that we sort of rotated between and a few side characters that peppered the story. Our MC Claire has had it rough for the last few years and, having recently lost her mother, incurred quite a bit of debt. And in this society, that's basically a death sentence. Claire is demoted to less than a citizen and put in a program to work off her debt with the vague hope of moving up the societal ladder. Meanwhile, she bumps into Darren, a fellow probationary working in this mundane world to "pay off his debt and move up the ladder." Throw in a dash of the puzzling Sheila and the closed-off Dr. Grand, whom I very much liked--and you've got the makings of a very twisted tale. Darren and Claire set out on a journey together and face the dank dystopian world they've been born into. And I'll leave the rest to you! But I'll tell you this, as the mystery unfolded, I found myself more and more deeply invested and questioning many elements in this psycho-thriller. And that ending! Guys, it did not disappoint!
There weren't really any loose ends, so to speak, but I was curious and wish we'd seen more of the outlands and the rest of the nation. And, like I mentioned earlier, I do wish we'd seen more of the governmental structure higher up. And I wondered whatever happened to Molly. And the Mitchell plot line left me with some questions about how far he was involved, but I mean, everything had an answer regarding the plot. It was all tied up in the end. I just wanted to dig in a little deeper and explore a little more. That said! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it, with some qualifications, of course.
Content: There are a handful of foul words spread throughout the book, but Tessonja doesn't use them as a crutch for poor dialogue. They're exclamations of surprise or anger and there were less than ten of them throughout the story if I remember correctly. There isn't any graphic violence, though there are characters who deal with loss, grief, and trauma. Plus, the story takes place in a society that systematically discriminates and mistreats its citizens based on their caste. There is romance in the story, a few kisses, and one fade to black sex scene. The scene is referenced a few times, but it was not explicit. I'd probably recommend to 17+.
Note: I won a paperback giveaway from the author. The above are my own thoughts and feelings on the book.
It was a short little novel, but it packed quite a punch. The story was suspenseful and full of tension. I found myself glued to the pages and struggling to put the book down. The story kept up a fairly quick pace and certainly drew me in. I was fascinated by the world, but Claire's plight got more and more interesting the deeper into the story we got.
The story is set in a post WWIII society in what used to be Seattle. The people are broken into a caste system and treated very well, just okay, or very poorly based on their status. Their level of debt or wealth is what sorts them into their respective categories. This, I thought, was a really interesting concept and though the caste system was heavily dependent upon it--the types of jobs people could get, curfews, food, reputability with the law enforcement, etc.--I was kind of curious and hoping to dive into this debt/wealth concept deeper. I mean, it set the stage perfectly for the story, so it did it's job, but I'm always kind of fascinated with world development and we saw little of the governmental structure outside of the caste divisions, which were still intriguing in their own right and well fleshed out.
We had a few central characters that we sort of rotated between and a few side characters that peppered the story. Our MC Claire has had it rough for the last few years and, having recently lost her mother, incurred quite a bit of debt. And in this society, that's basically a death sentence. Claire is demoted to less than a citizen and put in a program to work off her debt with the vague hope of moving up the societal ladder. Meanwhile, she bumps into Darren, a fellow probationary working in this mundane world to "pay off his debt and move up the ladder." Throw in a dash of the puzzling Sheila and the closed-off Dr. Grand, whom I very much liked--and you've got the makings of a very twisted tale. Darren and Claire set out on a journey together and face the dank dystopian world they've been born into. And I'll leave the rest to you! But I'll tell you this, as the mystery unfolded, I found myself more and more deeply invested and questioning many elements in this psycho-thriller. And that ending! Guys, it did not disappoint!
There weren't really any loose ends, so to speak, but I was curious and wish we'd seen more of the outlands and the rest of the nation. And, like I mentioned earlier, I do wish we'd seen more of the governmental structure higher up. And I wondered whatever happened to Molly. And the Mitchell plot line left me with some questions about how far he was involved, but I mean, everything had an answer regarding the plot. It was all tied up in the end. I just wanted to dig in a little deeper and explore a little more. That said! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it, with some qualifications, of course.
Content: There are a handful of foul words spread throughout the book, but Tessonja doesn't use them as a crutch for poor dialogue. They're exclamations of surprise or anger and there were less than ten of them throughout the story if I remember correctly. There isn't any graphic violence, though there are characters who deal with loss, grief, and trauma. Plus, the story takes place in a society that systematically discriminates and mistreats its citizens based on their caste. There is romance in the story, a few kisses, and one fade to black sex scene. The scene is referenced a few times, but it was not explicit. I'd probably recommend to 17+.
Note: I won a paperback giveaway from the author. The above are my own thoughts and feelings on the book.
January 27, 2020
I haven’t read much by this author but this will definitely not be my last book. Wow! What a ride! The story is set in the future, after WW III, where society is several disjointed cities that have no connection to each other. People live in a type of caste system based on one’s wealth. The main character, Claire Harper, lived at the highest level of society when she was a child but, now due to her father’s accidental death and her mom’s extended illness which incurred extensive debt she would be unable to pay off during her lifetime, she is now on the lowest rung, a probationary citizen with no rights. Claire is forced to repay the debts of her parents by doing jobs assigned to her by the governing body and has mandated psychiatrist visits. This story follows several months to a year or so of her life. During this time she meets and falls in love with Darren, only for him to completely disappear. She is then told that he never existed at all. I felt as though I was going through her life with her, including all of the trials, joys, confusion, and frustration. There are multiple plot twists, making it difficult to determine what was real and unreal, who was friend or foe, or if Claire is losing her mind. This story is definitely unique and twisted, as the title suggests. I did not want to put it down. The characters and plot were well developed and the story flowed well. I don’t want to give anything away but, if you are looking for a dystopian psychological thriller with some romance thrown in, this book will not disappoint. ****I was provided an ARC by the author for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 30, 2020
WOW! Just wow! I loved this book so much.
I have been following Tessonja since she was writing her YA Fantasy Trilogy. The first book was chosen as a read-along for a book group I’m in on FB, and I immediately got hooked. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of the third book, and now have been blessed with an ARC of this book, and I was not disappointed.
Each book Tessonja writes just gets better than the last one. I was hooked by the first chapter, and didn’t want to stop reading. This book is fast-paced, and full of suspense. I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.
This book is so well-written, that I had no idea what was real and what wasn’t, and the conclusion was mind blowing. This is just an amazing book. It definitely works as a standalone, but I wouldn’t be upset about more books in this world.
And Claire is a character that you root for, and feel for, and just want to finally have a happy ending.
I am so impressed with this book, and highly recommend.
I have been following Tessonja since she was writing her YA Fantasy Trilogy. The first book was chosen as a read-along for a book group I’m in on FB, and I immediately got hooked. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of the third book, and now have been blessed with an ARC of this book, and I was not disappointed.
Each book Tessonja writes just gets better than the last one. I was hooked by the first chapter, and didn’t want to stop reading. This book is fast-paced, and full of suspense. I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.
This book is so well-written, that I had no idea what was real and what wasn’t, and the conclusion was mind blowing. This is just an amazing book. It definitely works as a standalone, but I wouldn’t be upset about more books in this world.
And Claire is a character that you root for, and feel for, and just want to finally have a happy ending.
I am so impressed with this book, and highly recommend.
February 1, 2020
Twisting Minds is such great dystopian fiction! After WW III, society is divided into a caste system based on wealth (not too much of a stretch really). Claire used to be a part of high society but is now at the very bottom due to her family’s misfortune. She works at what the government assigns her in order to try to pay off her debt. She meets a boy named Darren and falls in love, but then tragedy strikes again and she no longer knows what to believe.
This story is so well written and the characters are excellent! It’s a scarily believable dystopian society which makes it all the more intriguing. This is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing as it twists and turns along the way. Highly recommended!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story is so well written and the characters are excellent! It’s a scarily believable dystopian society which makes it all the more intriguing. This is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing as it twists and turns along the way. Highly recommended!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 17, 2020
Edited: I originally reviewed this book as 4 stars - it is now a few days later and I am still thinking about the book and reliving it in my head. I have changed this to a 5 star rating.
"We can't get better jobs until we pay off our debts and rise in the rungs. We can't pay off our debt until we get better jobs... It's a cycle. It keeps is stuck. That's where they want us to be."
This was a blind read for me and I had no idea of genre or length or plot points. I wasn't sure what I was actually reading until, well honestly until the end. The beginning was a little slow. It had to be in order to set the ground work, I see that now.
I think this is a good YA, dystopian story. It reminded me of a few different stories I've read in the past yet has it's own unique spin.
I would recommend this story.
Tags: YA, dystopian, popsugar reading challenge (AI), quirky blind date with a book
"We can't get better jobs until we pay off our debts and rise in the rungs. We can't pay off our debt until we get better jobs... It's a cycle. It keeps is stuck. That's where they want us to be."
This was a blind read for me and I had no idea of genre or length or plot points. I wasn't sure what I was actually reading until, well honestly until the end. The beginning was a little slow. It had to be in order to set the ground work, I see that now.
I think this is a good YA, dystopian story. It reminded me of a few different stories I've read in the past yet has it's own unique spin.
I would recommend this story.
Tags: YA, dystopian, popsugar reading challenge (AI), quirky blind date with a book
May 8, 2022
Rating:
4
Review:
Can you trust your eyes? No, really, are you sure? Do you know what you’re seeing is in fact... reality?
Twisting Minds plays with this concept, forcing readers to confront the fact that we have no way to truly trust our senses, even if we think we can.
Set in a dystopian future reminiscent of the Selection and the Divergent era, there are societal rungs that individuals have to climb in order to get protection. Claire Harper, only seventeen years old, suddenly loses her position in society and falls to the lowest of the low. In order to climb back up, Claire finds herself in an environment she can’t really be sure is real.
When Claire meets Darren, he shows her what living really means, with comments on the hyper-capitalist society they live in. But is Darren quite what he seems?
I really liked this book. The premise was intriguing, and even though the setting felt extremely similar to other books in the same genre, the plot felt refreshingly new. I think the only thing that could have pushed this to a five star from me is if the last quarter of the book was 50 pages longer. It felt rushed, and things didn’t feel like they were paced properly towards that end. Other than that, though, this book was a ride, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants something fast-paced enough to read in one sitting with elements of a psychological thriller.
February 8, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐ and a half ♥️
Can Tessonja write anything that's not good? No, the answer is absolutely no.
I picked up Twisting Minds as a light read but it hooked me and caused me a sleepless night.
First i had a little hard to get into the story because my mind was already loud but Claire soon became someone to get attached to.
I was uncertain during the whole book about what's real and what's not but the final twists surpassed my "twisted" mind and OMG how Perfect it was!
The perfect amount of mystery, questioning and satisfaction!
It's cautiously balanced and lord I hope I will never have to live in a world like that!
it's Perfect for upper Y.A. and I compare it's gravity and the thoughts it raised in me to The Giver. One of my other favorite utopian societies Y.A
Can Tessonja write anything that's not good? No, the answer is absolutely no.
I picked up Twisting Minds as a light read but it hooked me and caused me a sleepless night.
First i had a little hard to get into the story because my mind was already loud but Claire soon became someone to get attached to.
I was uncertain during the whole book about what's real and what's not but the final twists surpassed my "twisted" mind and OMG how Perfect it was!
The perfect amount of mystery, questioning and satisfaction!
It's cautiously balanced and lord I hope I will never have to live in a world like that!
it's Perfect for upper Y.A. and I compare it's gravity and the thoughts it raised in me to The Giver. One of my other favorite utopian societies Y.A
January 18, 2020
I've been looking for a good dystopian for a few years now, one that would entice me as much as books like The Hunger Games did years ago. And may I say, I finally found one again! And I love this one's ending a bit more then any dystopian I've read, mainly because it's more than your typical dystopian. This book is AMAZING. I received this ARC yesterday and picked it up in the morning super casually just to skim the beginning and a few hours later I was done! I don't want to explain too much of the plot because it's better when you go into the story not knowing too much. Over all SO well written, with such a satisfying ending! Well done, this made it up to my top 3 favorite dystopians.
January 25, 2020
After reading this book, I wanted to write and post this review to share my honest experiences toward the story.
Wow, what an amazing read! The cover and the description first drew me in, but I really wasn’t expecting this wonderful and exciting novel! Part dystopia, part psychological thriller, the story gets you to question what is real and what isn’t, and keeps you hooked on the story, turning page after page, leaves you guessing and then twists everything upside down in a shocking but thrillingly-satisfying way. Honestly, I have nothing critical to say about it, I loved reading this, and I honestly cannot wait until the sequel.
Wow, what an amazing read! The cover and the description first drew me in, but I really wasn’t expecting this wonderful and exciting novel! Part dystopia, part psychological thriller, the story gets you to question what is real and what isn’t, and keeps you hooked on the story, turning page after page, leaves you guessing and then twists everything upside down in a shocking but thrillingly-satisfying way. Honestly, I have nothing critical to say about it, I loved reading this, and I honestly cannot wait until the sequel.
February 5, 2020
This is not my usual fare, but damn, am I glad I read it.
It was chilling to see what happened to Claire and how she was treated due to her citizenship status because it’s not that far from reality. I could wax poetic about how I related to Claire since I’m also receiving government aid, but at the end of the day, I really enjoyed reading about someone who struggled with poverty and was badly mistreated because of it.
If you’re a fan of YA dystopia but want something a little more psychological that’s off the beaten path, pick this up. The beginning is a bit slow, but once it picks up, it’s hard to put down.
It was chilling to see what happened to Claire and how she was treated due to her citizenship status because it’s not that far from reality. I could wax poetic about how I related to Claire since I’m also receiving government aid, but at the end of the day, I really enjoyed reading about someone who struggled with poverty and was badly mistreated because of it.
If you’re a fan of YA dystopia but want something a little more psychological that’s off the beaten path, pick this up. The beginning is a bit slow, but once it picks up, it’s hard to put down.
January 22, 2020
From the beginning it seems you are supposed to and do know the underlying scheme (see the setup), of course at it progresses there are surprises and layers uncovered. The wrap up at the end is just wonderful, though. I was grinning and giggling for the last 10 pages or so. I was pulled so completely into this dystopia, Tessonja created. I understood it, I felt it, I want more of it. All the feels, as they say. I truly hope she writes more from this world with new characters and stories.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 25, 2020
When I started reading, I knew that this book would be interesting. I could envision the things that Clair went through happening in our future. The book begins in a way that will keep you turning the pages and there are a few things that happened that had me wondering if Clair was really experiencing them or if they were illusions. All I can say to my fellow readers is get a copy. I don't think you will be disappointed. It's interesting and intriguing, not your typical dystopia novel.
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