This was out much quicker than I expected, so that was good because it meant Mindwalker was pretty fresh in my head still. What I liked about this though was that it could be read as a standalone.

Character wise, they were mostly believable and likeable. I was worried at one point we were going down the romance route, but I'm pleased to say that was more of a side line. The ideas were interesting, not all original, but well done, if a little underdeveloped in places. I liked the sound of the bot wars and this was pretty rushed, I kind of felt like it was thrown in because they could really, it didn't really add much. If this was a duology or trilogy, I think this could have been massively expanded.

There were a couple twists and turns along the way. Nothing groundbreaking but they kept things going and the overall pace was good. I don't know which I prefer, book 1 or 2 as they are both different, but if there's another, I'd happily give that a go too

picking up after Mindwalker, Mindbreaker is an excellent follow-up that at least equals Kate Dylan’s first book in the series. indra, glindell, and a whole new tech are introduced here which takes place in the same universe as MindWalker but without sil and syntex. this book is for people who wish to dabble in cyberpunk scifi while keeping their attention on the plot and the characters. similar to mindwalker, this installment makes me yearn to travel to a planet full of human adaptability and perseverance despite being desolate and hanging on by a thread. although i believe you could read this without having read Mindwalker, it's recommended diving in for the world context and the larger narrative elements before taking this up!

thank you to the author and netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

picking up after Mindwalker, Mindbreaker is an excellent follow-up that at least equals Kate Dylan’s first book in the series. indra, glindell, and a whole new tech are introduced here which takes place in the same universe as MindWalker but without sil and syntex. this book is for people who wish to dabble in science fiction while keeping their attention on the plot and the characters. similar to mindwalker, this installment makes me yearn to travel to a planet full of human adaptability and perseverance despite being desolate and hanging on by a thread. although i believe you could read this without having read Mindwalker, it's recommended diving in for the world context and the larger narrative elements before taking this up!

thank you to the author and netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton; and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of Mindbreaker.

I am a massive fan of Mindwalker and so Mindbreaker was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023 and boy did Kate Dylan deliver.

I was drawn in by the story and characters straightaway - actually much quicker even than Mindwalker. Every time I set my kindle down I felt compelled to keep reading which is a sure sign for me that I’m loving something. Mindwalker was great but Kate Dylan took things up a level with the second novel set in the Mindwalker world. The pacing was spectacular, the characters were great and the overall plot was very enjoyable and felt in no way derivative of Mindwalker. Extra points to Kate Dylan for some of that dialogue too which was a punch to the heart in some places.

Kate Dylan is fast becoming an auto-buy author for me and I will definitely be picking this up again.

I was a huge fan of Mindbreaker, so when I saw there was going to be another book in the same universe with a queer protagonist I knew I had to read it.

Mindbreaker is as entertaining as Mindwalker was. It's action-packed and the characters have so many layers, there are some connections obviously with Mindwalker but it can be totally be read as a standalone. The evil corporation in this case is Glindell and not Syntex. In this book there is a cult , cybots, fights and a lot of evil technology. The romance is on the super light side but I enjoyed the connection between Tian and Indra. Indra our protagonist goes through the ringer and has to deal with a lot of internal conflict, due to her upbringing and the situation she is currently in ( being turned into a cybot) . I found her to be a very powerful character , the way she kept fighting for the truth and for the people she loved was admirable. I loved the rebellion plot and how it tied up with the previous book also ( analog army * wink wink* ) . Tian grew on me the more I read, I was impressed with her growth and with how after she found out what Glindell was doing , was determined to stop them. Special mention to Nyx because he was a true friend to Indra and gave a little bit of comic relief!

I found the writing to be amazing, I liked the way the friendships and the relationships in general between the various characters were written.

Thank you so much to netgalley and Hodderscape for allowing me to read this early in exchange of an honest review!

The second book of this this sci-fi universe, the first book is Mindwalker, This book follows the story of Indra, Tian and Nyx. Is a sequel but this book can be read alone and you won’t have a trouble. But I recommend you read first the book 1 since is a good book and you may enjoy know more about this universe.
Big shout out to NetGalley and Hodder Stoughton for the chance to read this ARC. This book is a YA but I do think that readers who like to read other genders can enjoy it lots. Is well written, slow pace at the beginning but take a good pace as the story continue. The book touch a interesting subject as is the unethical practise of tech companies what I find really interesting. This book is officially out the 14 of September so please preorder if you have the chance that always support the authors.

I loved jumping back in to this world! This story had me hooked just like the first, I love the new characters and that we get some back from the previous books. The world building and the insight into the Indra’s mind were perfection, it was so easy to visualise and fully immerse in this world!

I got an advance copy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher @hodderscape and the author @thekatedylan and I’m so grateful, I’ve been waiting (not so) patiently for this second book to the series and I can’t wait to get a copy on my shelf!

I will just (not so) quietly be waiting here for a third one!🫣💜

Mindbreaker is set in the same world as Mindwalker but, instead of following one of Syntex’s Mindwalkers, it follows a girl from a religious anti-tech cult whose become the latest project of Syntex’s rival company, Glindell.

Indra’s secret hobby of leaving her compound and experimenting with tech winds up with her in critical condition and, when Glindell offers her family a chance to save her, her father is unable to refuse. But, instead of saving Indra, they place her brain inside a mechanical copy of herself, the first in a new breed of AI. But Indra never wanted this and the more she discovers about Glindell’s secrets and what they plan to use her for, the more desperate she becomes to escape. So begins a fast-paced thrill ride of a story that follows Indra as she goes from a mild-mannered church girl to a dangerous AI hellbent on revenge. Although this follows a completely different cast of characters at first, it does follow directly after Mindwalker and I was excited to see that the characters from book one definitely do make an appearance.

Mindwalker was one of my favourite books of last year so, when I heard about Mindbreaker, I was SO excited and, honestly, it did not disappoint at all! Indra is a an incredible protagonist, and I adored the way that the author showed her emotional struggle as she adapted to her new life, as well as using her new AI abilities to fill in any gaps. I loved Tian as well, and Nyx, and found myself deeply invested in the whole cast of characters and the mission that they found themselves on. The world-building as well was incredibly well done and I found myself once again absorbed in this terrifyingly realistic dystopian world.

The storyline is fast-paced and completely unique from book one, and I found myself fully engrossed and unable to put this down. Although Mindwalker was one of my favourite books of last year, Kate Dylan has truly outdone herself with Mindbreaker and I know I’ll be eagerly awaiting whatever she releases next. This is a contender for my favourite book of the year for sure and I would recommend to literally anyone who likes page-turning YA.

What a great continuation of this sci-fi series; and like Mindwalker, I was hooked from start to finish. This sequel does feature Sil, Ryder and the AA team; but is fundamentally the story of Indra, Tian and Nyx. Mindbreaker can be read as a standalone, but book 1 is so good I would suggest starting there. I love Kate Dylan's writing style, which has delivered another fast-paced, action-packed, easy to understand story; with likeable, relatable characters, and set in the same future dystopian, tech-centred world.


Although this story is down as YA, I would say it has a much wider appeal. This book was one of my most anticipated 2023 reads, so I am thankful to NetGalley and Hodder Stoughton for allowing me to get an early copy of the book and I am also thankful that this has lived up to expectations - I would absolutely love a book 3…

🦾Mindbreaker🦾

By Kate Dylan @thekatedylan

Description:

Born into a religious cult on the fringe of society, Indra Dyer lives a simple, tech-free existence. But when an illicit trip to the city leaves her with a debilitating - and terminal - condition, Indra must make a choice: die faithful or betray her Order and accept the cure Glindell Technologies is offering.

Forced to sign over full ownership of her life, Indra is horrified to learn the true nature of Glindell's plans. Instead of saving her body, they upload her mind to a first-of-its-kind MindDrive, housed in a fully robotic shell.

On the outside, Indra still looks the same; on the inside, she's not so sure. She keeps finding herself in places she really shouldn't be, with no memory of how she got there, and dangerous abilities she can't explain. So when news breaks of an attack against Glindell's biggest rival, Indra suspects the worst.

With the help of Tian - a research assistant with questionable morals and a smile that won't quit - Indra must uncover the truth behind the procedure that saved her life, before Glindell can use it to change the face of technology, and what it means to be human, forever . . .

🦾🦿🦾🦿🦾🦿🦾🦿

I really enjoyed Kate Dylan’s debut, Mindwalker, last year, so I was excited to get my hands on this spin-off set in the same world.

The story features an escalation in the unethical practises of the all powerful tech companies.

I love the cyberpunk feel and it was really interesting this time getting to see more of the world - the group that the MC comes from shows another aspect to this post apocalyptic dystopia.

The F/F romance is really nice, but doesn’t detract at all from the main plot. I also really enjoyed seeing the characters from Mindwalker showing up!

Thanks to @netgalley and @hodderscape for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mindbreaker is out on the 14th of September.

Firstly, a huge thank you to NetGalley, the author (Kate Dylan), and the publisher for the e-copy of the advanced reader's copy of "Mindbreaker".

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As the second book in a series, I was apprehensive about this book initially, but it really does shine as a standalone (although, I will be going back and reading the first book in this series as I enjoyed it that much!). This book has everything you want in a dystopian sci-fi; robots and AI, post-apocalyptic events in terms of nuclear fallout, a whole new world structure with technology at the forefront of all businesses. I found the world thoroughly entertaining and futuristic.

The writing itself is engaging, making the book very quick to read - only taking a few days. At times gripping and thoroughly entertaining, I can honestly say this is one of the best sci-fi novels I have read in a long time. I enjoyed the LGBTQ+ aspects as they were not overdone/did not play to cliches/stereotypes and felt very natural in an unnatural world.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in dystopian sci-fi literature, and anyone who wants to explore post-apocalyptic worlds with a huge technology/science focus.

An exciting, original YA sci-fi novel, even though I found the pace faltering in the middle. I loved the world-building, the way Dylan blends ethics and technology, and I can totally see this happening in the future, even the religious cult. Indra was somewhat annoying, especially her tendency to make terrible decisions with great skill and accuracy, but the cast of characters around her were intriguing. I liked how queer characters were front and centre without it being a big deal.

This is book two in the series, but works just fine as a standalone. That said, I’m off to source part one.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

Mindbreaker by Kate Dylan is a sequel to Mindwalker but it is perfectly fine as a stand-alone too.

This book is about a cost of a life, and whether it should be preserved no matter what the price will be. It seems like a hard topic, but in Mindbreaker it is served carefully. The story is fastly paced, easy to read and the author's storytelling seems smooth. I love technological ideas and its possibility. Sometimes the tempo is a little bit rushed and characters did not have space to grow or show their personality. I like the non-violent connection with the first book. But I think that the author should give old characters a little more dialogue and introduction.

It is fair to say that this series is meant for younger readers. In some ways, it is a little bit naive and Mindbreaker is an excellent book for sci-fi newbies, not hard-core sci-fi fans.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodderscape for the eARC!

Thanks to Hodderbooks, Hodderpublicity and NatGalley for teh arc!

Was a little bit disapointed that this book had a different main character than Mindwalker, would´ve loved to read in-depth about Sil and Ryder but i did like Indra at the end of Mindbreaker.

I found the beginning of this book a little slow and hard to get into, but i would say at the 150-200 page mark that´s were it started to pick up.

Would´ve also loved the ending to be a bit longer. I mean what happened with Aiden?!? Alas maybe that´s content for a third book in this world? I would definitely read it.

I do feel like these books always end a little abruptly for me would prefer if we get a bit more of a glimpse of the future from these characters. Like a epilogue.

But nonetheless a good book!

Pub date september 14, 2023

Kate Dylan is a master! This was the science fiction of my dreams, with humour and intelligence and a gripping plot. I adored Mindwalker, and Mindbreaker more that matches it predecessor. Can't wait to see what Dylan cooks up next!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend

Wow Kate Dylan has done it again. If you want a sci-fi that reads like a futuristic black mirror episode look no further!! Set after Mindwalker it’s a brilliant look into the world where technology is key and big tech companies hold all the power. The new characters in this book were just as fantastic as the first and to see Syl and the gang come back was so much fun. I cannot wait to see what else comes from this author

This book was all about more. More of this world, of tech and dystopia, more characters we love and more of the characters we loved in the first book. Ok sure this is a stand alone in the sense it follows a different story but it's always nice when we get more of the quartet of characters from Mindwalker.

This story takes place about a year after we leave off from Mindwalker. On that note, it does answer some 'Where are they now' type questions. We know where they are, f**king sh*t up again. And I am here for it.

Now within this book's 320 pages is just...more. Like I said, it's more tech, more world, more characters. And honestly, for a book a little over 300 pages, it is absolutely packed. There is never a dull moment because the quieter moments are sort of like the valley before you're rocketed uphill again.

Like last time, the story leaves you with the question of what all the tech is worth and is it really better for everyone to live life with it. At the same time, as said in the blurb, it really does argue what it means to be human. That debate when you've changed and you have to wonder if it was good thing.
(*Mini spoiler* Though for most people this doesn't involve puddles of dissolved humans - it'll make sense later)

The first book had a lot of lighthearted moments, moments where you could cheer for everyone but the corps because things were doing well and people tried making good choices. This one was admittedly heavier, in a lot of ways and for a lot of reasons, but it was just as good and just as enjoyable to go through.

Do I want a third book in this world? I'm not sure my human, untech-enhanced heart could take it.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW!
I got this as an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I really appreciate that opportunity. I requested Mindbreaker as I had just read and loved Mindwalker also by Kate Dylan - and I was not let down! This is a sequel but you could enjoy it without having read the first book (read the first book though, it’s fab).
I feel I don’t have the words many people have to write great reviews. So to put it very simply: sci-fi set in a future America that has been completely destroyed along with the rest of the world. Rebuilding and repopulating is happening and advanced tech has helped people survive the toxic lands. But what happens when advanced tech is in greedy hands?
17 year old Indra grew up on the fringes of society and got a radiation illness that was slowly killing her. Her father tried to save her and sold her to big tech who offered to try to heal her. We have a well paced action packed story then that has lots of rebels and robots, risky escapes…
I love the characters… silver haired Nyx, the boy from the 6, is one of my favourites. Love the characters from the first book who we see too, it’s a nice crossover.
If you like a bit of sci-fi, futuristic planet earth, strong female characters, hacking, good versus evil story telling, any of the above, then Mindbreaker is definitely worth the read.

I requested Mindbreaker on a whim because it looked fun. And it's been too long since I've read a good Scifi. I didn't realize it was a sequel at the time. I'm not sure if that makes a difference, but I'm having difficulty getting into the story. I plan to seek out the first book before I continue with Mindbreaker.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodderscape for providing me with a review copy.