Mindcracker

by Brandon Gray, Braden Bell

At sixteen, Molly is already the best bloody thought-snatcher in Victorian London, picking people’s minds and selling their secrets.

When her growing talent captures the attention of a brutal criminal, Molly flees. Her escape is unexpectedly aided by a mysterious figure who promises to protect Molly—if she will break into the only unbreakable mind in London: Sir Edward Carlton, lockbox for Her Majesty’s Government.

Desperate to escape, Molly agrees, gaining entry to Sir Edward’s house, mind, and his mysterious, haunting memories. Sneaking into his thoughts each night is easy—at first. But before long, Molly suspects she’s being manipulated and finds herself trapped in a tangled web, unable to tell friends from enemies who blackmail, kidnap, and murder with ease.

Soon, Molly must choose between her life and the lives of those she loves—or use her wits and growing psychic powers to change the rules of a game she barely understands.

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2021

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well. My mind has been cracked wide open. I have read a great deal of Speculative Fiction (Fantasy) and this belongs right up there with the best of them. The world building was amazing, the characterization skillful, the research thorough, the story complex. I wanted to sit and read it all in one day but it is a lot. There are so many layers and I had to put it down once in awhile to process things. The analogy to human trafficking of the sort we deal with in today's world was clear, but that is where today's world ends and this rip-roaring stunner of a fantasy world begins. The protagonist is adorable, the villains vile, and they battle one another in a fascinating story that keeps you turning the pages. My husband read it far more quickly than I and positively INSISTS it become a major motion picture. I am excited for more stories set in this fascinating world.

[Stephfafahh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I largely pushed through 3/4 of the story in one sitting because I needed to know what trouble Molly would get into next.

I would love to see some more of Arminia in the future - she had a lot of complexity and strength.

Many thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have reviewed for this author before so I was very happy to review for him again.

This book was no suprize in the full of excitement and fun filled story.

This was full of intrigue and mystery I had no clue what was going to happen next in this novel.

The beginning starts a lil slowly but once it gets going you cant put it down.

Molly is this wonderful amazing character that just struggles in life in general and hasn't really had a way to hone her powers or explore them until she gets put into a forced situation with Edward and his cousin who help her hone her skills somewhat.

Edward oh my he is such a droolworthy characters.

I wont add spoilers but I didn't expect at all who her parents were and what would happen between her ad Edward. Such a surprising page turner this was.

I was in such tears at the end of the book with her St. Teddy and Edward. So emotional and heart wrenching.

4 stars

[Wynter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just spent the better part of a day devouring this book, taking advantage of a day off and feeling like I was 14 again, curled up with a hot beverage and a compelling story that I couldn’t put down. The author has woven together a tale that is both easy to follow and filled with just enough descriptions that I was able to bring the characters and locations to life in my mind. I won’t give any spoilers, but there are just enough twists that you might be able to figure out a couple things that are going on, but there are definitely some surprises in there. I never felt any part of the story dragging, and I was always eager to turn the page to see what would happen next. There’s also some lovely little life lessons hidden as gems within the text. But I’ll leave those for you to find :-)

(PS: I want more from these characters! It seems there’re some stories left to be told!)

Also, for those for whom this might be important: I have a bit of a feminist streak in me, but certainly get annoyed when it is pushed upon me that it is a female who is the hero of the story when it might have as easily been a boy. It didn’t even occur to me until the very, very end of the book that the main character was female, and that just made it all the more perfect for me; it felt completely natural. There is a tiny bit of cursing in the book (like, very minor) but I think it’s a good read for anyone from 12 or 13 on up into adulthood.

[Natalie Jessop · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique story with just the right amount of details and depth for a YA read.