Imagine that you were a teenager living with foster parents, not knowing who you are or where you come from. Then imagine being whisked away from the only world you’ve ever known to a place filled with magic that threatens your very existence. This is Kayla’s life in a nutshell and let me tell you that this story will blow your mind. Every twist and turn that E.J. Bennett throws at you will have you begging to find out what happens next.
All aboard! Let’s get down to the review:
The author has a wonderful grasp on developing characters and putting them in situations where you both love and hate them at the same time. I found myself both rooting for Kayla to succeed and cringing at all of the bad decisions that she’s made hoping that she would finally learn her lesson. Despite it all, Kayla is a very likeable protagonist and it is lovely to watch her character develop.
I have to mention that my least favorite character is the Grandmother. Not because the author wrote the character in a way that made me dislike her, but because the author elluded to the Grandmother as being an important character without developing her at all. I wish she would’ve played a bigger role or had more contact with Kayla in the story but it kind of felt like this character was more of a prop towards the middle and end of the book, which is not how she was portrayed in the beginning. Also, I’m a little puzzled as to why she is at first described as cold and later at the end of the book she actually seems nice. We never really know how or what has caused this sudden change in character because we never experience this. However, if more detail did go into this relationship it might’ve wound up being just a distraction from the storyline which already great.
On another note, I’m rather suspicious of Amelia who keeps popping up. It’s rather strange that she comes to help Kayla get ready for a date that isn’t even her son. I don’t know why she keeps popping up, she seems nice, but it’s almost as if it’s too convenient. That’s all I can say on that note, maybe the author is foreshadowing something sinister here?
Chris Michael is by far my favorite character because he seems to be a product of good magic, but with a potential for darkness. Of course I would love the prospect of this, right? Not only that, he is a complex character with a strong sense of duty who would sacrifice his own desires for others. This makes him by far the most noble of all the characters in the novel despite his prickly exterior. I personally enjoyed the progression of the story, especially of the development of Chris and Kayla. The adventures that they experience together is thrilling to read and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.
As for the writing, I have to be honest. I wasn’t a huge fan of the first person POV at first. I found it a bit hard to read, but as the plot grew it became easier to overlook this and soon was immersed in the story. I am not stickler for typos, but if you are definitely don’t let this get in the way. But aside from that, the author has some pretty memorable things that her characters say that just make you smile! One of them I just love and I have to quote it here, her character says “You’re right, when I see someone that pretty stare, I smile, then I get bored and put the mirror down.” This made me laugh just as hard as it did the main characters which was delightful! The story development is very intriguing and right when you think everything is revealing itself the author throws in a plot twist that will make you groan with delight.
Secrets of The Mind is a tantalizing story that will leave you wanting more!
Star Rating Report Card:
4.13 Stars out of 5
1) Were the characters believable?
★★★★★ – 5 stars
2) Did you like the characters?
★★★★★ – 5 stars
3) Does the story move at a good pace?
★★★★★ – 5 stars
4) Are there holes in the plot?
★★ – 2 stars
5) Is there conflict?
★★★★★ – 5 stars
6) Is the point-of-view consistent?
★★★ – 3 stars
7) Did you enjoy the story overall?
★★★★★ – 5 stars
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