Mind Games

Disillusionists, Book 1

By: Carolyn Crane

Narrated by: Rebecca Wisocky

Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Justine knows she's going to die. Any second now.

Justine Jones has a secret. A hardcore hypochondriac, she’s convinced a blood vessel is about to burst in her brain. Then, out of the blue, a startlingly handsome man named Packard peers into Justine’s soul and invites her to join his private crime-fighting team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal.

With a little of Packard’s hands-on training, Justine can weaponize her neurosis, turning it outward on Midcity’s worst criminals, and finally get the freedom from fear she’s always craved. End of problem. Or is it?

In Midcity, a dashing police chief is fighting a unique breed of outlaw with more than human powers. And while Justine’s first missions, including one against a nymphomaniac husband-killer, are thrilling successes, there is more to Packard than meets the eye. Soon, while battling her attraction to two very different men, Justine is plunging deeper into a world of wizardry, eroticism, and cosmic secrets. With Packard’s help, Justine has freed herself from her madness - only to discover a reality more frightening than anyone’s worst fears.

Listen to more of the Disillusionists trilogy.

©2010 Carolyn Crane (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Mind Games is a violent U-Turn in a fresh direction, signaling the dynamic and welcome arrival of both Carolyn Crane and the most unique urban fantasy heroine I’ve seen on page in a long while, Justine Jones. And like Justine, Midcity is brightly imagined, beautifully dangerous, and perfectly flawed. Flashy and stylish, this is urban fantasy’s new shot-in-the-arm." (Vicki Pettersson, The New York Times)

Really original premise

This is a wonderful series with some really great writing. The narrator is good as well. Definitely recommend this whole series!

Can I smack the heroine?

The performance was excellent, the story constantly made me want to shake some sense into the heroine. The storyline (aside from the whiny twit who acts like a poor little rich girl though her character was supposed to have been brought up in poverty) wasn't bad. The Robin Hood like plot had possibilities. A lot of it was predictable - with some interesting twists.

Very unusual, but good.

I wasn't sure about a book with the main character as a hypochondriac. It didn't seem like it would be very entertaining. Well, it was. Just different. The characters were fascinating, as was the story.

Really enjoyed this!!

Very different, not any concept I’ve ever read before, fell in love with the characters and narration was awesome!!

Oh my!

This is definitely a different kind of storyline, and I like it. There are magical people in this world, and regular humans. Some of these humans are psychologically screwed up that they can actually transfer this darkness to others. The heroine in this story falls into the psychologically screwed up category, and many interesting revelations are made. I think she handles some extremely well and others, well you'll see. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants an action packed story that does not involve a lot of physical fighting. The narrative really brought this story to life.

Interesting urban fantasy (too graphic for me!)

Intriguing magic system used in a thought-provoking way--what are the moral implications of doing horrible things to bad people to try to make them into better people? Can two or three or ten wrong deeds turn a bad person good? Meanwhile, how are the inflictors of bad on the bad affected in return?

But... the sex scenes were too raw and too sordid for me, with too much vulgar language. They also seemed to be in the book to titillate the reader, not to add to the story. I like to read stories, not erotica...this pushes the edges...

I got this book on a $5 sale, so I don't regret spending the money, but I won't be reading the rest of the series.

Just OK

Unlike some other reviewers, I felt like the descriptions of crippling anxiety and hypochondria were pretty interesting. The story concept was also unique and interesting. I found the heroine of the story very tiresome as the narrative progressed. I really liked the first part of the book and then it went...where? Maybe it was just my lack of interest in the main character. I felt disappointed overall, but I did make it all the way through.

HOLY FLYING BRICKS!!!!

Loved it! Well wrote, well preformed! I need book 2 now!! Super original story. I will listen to this book again and again.

Great Start to New Series

Great narration. I like to list this first as it can make or break a story.

Just finished this series and highly recommend all 3 stories. But definitely read/listen in order.

I really enjoy it when readers with similar reading interests list their favourite authors and series. It really helps me find new authors too follow. Mine are Charlaine Harris, Jeaniene Frost, Jennifer Estep, Faith Hunter, Molly Harper, Ilona Andrews, Kresley Cole, Deborah Harkness, Nalini Singh, Coreene Callahan, Stacia Kane, Kelly Medding and Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Happy Reading

Urban Fantasy Vigilante

The cover art is misleading, advertising a gritty paranormal urban fantasy romance series. Instead, this has a comic super hero meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe, as Justine becomes a lippy and reluctant member of an odd-ball Justice League that takes down bad people by amping their neurosis to the point of lobotomy.

The comic tone includes talk of minions and hero/villain names like The Silver Widow, pretty decent Russian and Irish accents, and exaggerated sitcom style scenarios (like when, during an undercover segment, Justine has to pretend she has the hots for her brother). But, there’s also a dark and twisted, Black Mirror tone as Justine sees the horrifying effects of the group’s vigilante justice and the “ends justify the means” philosophy of their leader. The emphasis on neurosis also veers into horror porn that sometimes made my skin crawl.

The romance side is clumsily executed and the insta-heat didn’t feel credible to me. I felt neither romance nor sexual chemistry. The may have some to do with the narrator’s off rendition of Justine’s various male love interests- one is narrated in slow, almost Eyore-ish tones that had me envisioning meatloaf (as in bland, beefy, couch potato rather than boyfriend material), another has an Irish accent and comes off as kind of creepy, stalker-y, and another is very deep and smarmy. Then again, the writing is also kind of abrupt and cringe-worthy, both in the sex scenes and the plot progression (at one point, Justine goes from being molested and nearly killed by a serial killer, to catching one of her love interests post-sex with a twisted skank, to making out with yet another guy all within hours ... completely awk-weird storyline).

The evolution of a greater conspiracy mystery is satisfying. The building question of who are the good guys and who are the bad is entertaining. The magic system is unique and rather confusing, but ultimately morbidly fascinating. Book 1 was a good stand alone book... but in book 2, I went from liking to loving this story. The writing and narration only get better in the next books. Books 2 & 3 are really one book, but all three are free in Audible Plus, so I recommend the series.