Review: Perfect Lies by Kiersten White

Perfect Lies by Kiersten White

Series: Mind Games #2

Published: February 18th, 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

232 pages (eARC)

Genre: Young adult science fiction/psychological thriller

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Warning: Will likely contain spoilers if you haven’t read Mind Games

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{Read my review of Mind Games}

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

 

Perfect Lies is a fantastic sequel to Mind Games. While original and fast-paced, Mind Games was very random and chaotic, and I had trouble getting past the fact that it was basically one long stream of conscious with not much character development or actual plot. While Perfect Lies still had an element of chaos, it seemed easier to follow, and the story felt like it had more of a purpose.

As far as everyone at the Keane Foundation knows, Annie is dead. Their whole lives, Fia and Annie have basically lived for each other - to protect each other, take care of each other, and make sure the other doesn’t get hurt. Being apart was hard for both of them, but it was interesting to see how they learned to survive and grow without each other. Annie wanted to prove she was stronger than people gave her credit for, and didn’t need to be taken care of. Annie felt very one-dimensional in Mind Games, but we got to know her more in Perfect Lies, and I really liked her.

Fia…well, Fia was still a big ball of jumbled thoughts. She needed for people to think Annie was dead so she could protect her, even though she didn’t know where she was or if she’d ever see her again. James was the only thing that felt right in her life, and their plans for the future were the only thing keeping her relatively sane. I appreciated her growth in this book, too. She remained strong and fierce, even when it would have been easier to give in or give up. Her relationship with James never quite sat right with me, but he did help with her growth in some ways.

There were other great side characters in Perfect Minds. Pixie - a new Keane employee - was a great addition to the story, and I enjoyed the scenes with her and Fia. Some of them were heavy, but a lot of them added much-needed levity to the story. Cole was another great character. I liked that with many of the characters, you weren’t really sure who you could trust. A lot of times, the people who seemed suspicious were actually the good guys and the ones you thought were trustworthy ended up being backstabbers. I liked that element of suspense, and it kept me guessing through the course of the book.

Fast-paced with lots of action and suspense, Perfect Lies kept me engaged from beginning to end. While I was iffy on Mind Games, I’d have no problem recommending Perfect Lies to fans of science fiction and/or psychological thrillers.

 

  

{My review of Paranormalcy || My review of Supernaturally || My review of Endlessly}

 

Have you read Mind Games or Perfect Lies? What did you think? If you haven't read these books, are they on your TBR?

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