Minder Review

Title: Minder
Author: Kate Kaynak
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Published: June 18, 2010
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi
Pages: 264
Source: Author

Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place.

Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. A stray thought can burn a building to the ground.

And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New Jersey. Especially once she meets the man of her dreams...

Maddie Dunn has enough to deal with without adding special powers to the list, but she doesn’t have a choice. When a dangerous situation leaves three people inexplicably dead and Maddie in desperate need of answers and support, she’s shuttled off to Ganzfield. Designed as a special school for those with gifts like herself, Maddie must learn to harness her newfound powers before something bad happens to the people she cares about. Ganzfield is a great place, and Maddie might have just found the guy of her dreams in the midst of all the chaos around her, but there’s something dark after them, and when a single stray thought can kill, Maddie needs stability…now.

I’ve seen reviews for Minder for a long time now. The concept is one that I love, albeit, perhaps not the most original. A touch X-Men with a hint of Supernatural thrown into the mix, Minder is a story of superhuman powers in otherwise ordinary citizens and their struggle for survival and a normal life. Kate Kaynak has, however, managed to create a new and endearing heroine that has you rooting for her from page one. With a fast-paced plot and plenty of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat, Minder is great for those who love superheroes and the idea that they live among us.

Despite a few flaws, I was impressed with Minder. The idea was put together well, and the story flowed nicely. There were no real plot lags, and I enjoyed the characters, though I found that (at times) Maddie could be a bit too introspective. I don’t always need to read her thoughts to understand what she’s thinking or feeling. I also think that a few parts of the plot could have been fleshed out more. While I appreciated how fast the story got moving, I would have enjoyed a chance to get to know Maddie right off. That said, Kaynak managed to weave character development through the ever-moving plot, which isn’t an easy thing to do.

I think Minder is a great start to the Ganzfield series, and I’m excited to read where the rest of the story takes Maddie and her new friends. I give Minder a 4 out of 5, and I’ll definitely be looking for book two in the series, Adversary. I would recommend Minder to those who enjoy YA, especially those who enjoy science-fiction stories with a touch of romance. This is also great for fans of shows like The Cape, Smallville and X-Men.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.