Five Minds

I had heard great things about this book and it certainly lived up to my expectations.

It is very cleverly-written with a hugely gripping and intensive plot. Pure entertainment from start to finish and I look forward to reading more of Guy's work.

A huge thank you to the publishers for the chance to read and review this great book. I will be recommending it to everyone!

Wow. Westworld meets Maze Runner meets The Running Man meets Seven Deaths splattered with murder and riddles to solve. Such an immersive experience.

This is such an intelligent novel and so expertly plotted. How did Guy even think this one up? I was all over the place trying to figure it all out. Also the world these characters live in is fascinating - there are so many tiny details that enrich the setting. And the concept? Oh my goodness. Imagine sharing your body with four others. I thought it about it all the time, which shift would I prefer and would it be better just to be a hedonist. I am still not sure!

Let's talk about the games at the Death Park. A place where you gamble time and your life. They were riveting and as they played along you were there with them. Sifting through all the evidence like you were a detective. Trying to figure out the clues yourself and deciding how to win. I adored those games. So inventive.

Then when you were finished you were right back to finding out who was attempting to kill you. Honestly it is like two books in one. The action never lets up. And the narrative is so compelling. You just have to find out what happens in the end.

And how does Guy ensure five characters - that live in the same body - have unique voices? His craft in doing so is astounding. I especially enjoyed hearing about their pasts and what happened before they arrived at the park. I would love to say more but can't for risk of spoilers. Suffice to say the narrative has a rich depth that is often lacking in such a genre. This isn't just about the thrills and spills it's about life and it's meaning. At times it is terrifying, exhilarating and thrilling. But it is also sad and poignant.

Such a mind blowing original book. I have no doubt this will be on cinema screens soon. You should buy it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Five Minds by Guy Morpuss is a dystopian type sci-fi novel where 5 minds inhabit one body.

When I first read the description of this book, I was intrigued about how it would work. Let me tell you - I LOVED THIS BOOK. It was such an interesting concept and I loved getting to know all the characters! It was very entertaining and I loved the 'games' as they were like a little side adventure!

Definitely recommend!

This is an incredible book. Planet Earth is overrun with humans, who are destroying the environment, so new rules have been made. At the age of 17, everyone must make a choice of how they will spend the rest of their lives. The protagonists decide to become schizos - five minds inside one body.

The idea is ingenious, and the author carries it off with great skill. Each character has their own distinct personality, and the different threads of the story come together seamlessly. Five Minds had me hooked right from the beginning, I couldn't put it down! And the ending didn't disappoint either!

This is a cleverly written novel with many layers, coupled with lots of action, twists, and intrigue. Highly recommend!

Before Five Minds was made available on NetGalley, the author created a personality test (you can find it on his website) that would let you know what you would be. You are faced with four choices: hedonist / commune / worker / android. I was designed as a commune. A rarity. I was quite pleased with it. Then I read more and wondered if the control freak I am would be happy sharing a body with four other minds, only getting four hours of freedom to do whatever I wanted. That quiz only made me even more curious about the novel and when finally the day arrived and I was able to open the novel on my Kindle, I thought I was ready.

I was not.

Imagine being 17 and being selected with four other people you don’t know to share a body. Sure, you’ll live longer than anyone, but you’ll only be able to control your body for four hours per day and not much to say about what others do. Kate, Mike, Sierra, Alex, and Ben are chosen to live together. Or to cohabit. What a gamble, on everyone’s side. What if you are paired with total nutjobs who spend their allocated time doing drugs or trying to kill others? And of course, there is no way back! 142 years with strangers. Of course, you get to know each other, having to live one after the other, but you can’t actually see or hear what happens when it’s not your turn. I was uneasy just reading one POV after the other. Uneasy in a very disturbed way as I simply felt that if I kept reading, I’d understand. Did I understand? Yes, and no. And that’s one of the reasons I enjoyed this novel so much. Guy Morpuss pushes you to the edge, literally. Five Minds read like a game. A deadly one. Mystery, mistrust, games you actually play, games you witness and games you have no idea about.

You are bound to take sides. But will you take the right side? Or is there a right side? This book is real entertainment with extraordinary consequences. Don’t worry, the flawless narration doesn’t leave room for confusion, and you always know who is in charge, for better or for worse! I was utterly captivated by how the author managed to turn his idea into a tangible and plausible world, so far from us and yet the foundations of humanity are always at the heart of the novel. What do we want? How do we get it? What is freedom? Those were some of the questions flinging back and forth in my head, in a tiny corner that subtly but firmly kept me connected to the characters.

Five people. One body… and a lot of intrigue, blood, mystery, lies. Guy Morpuss created a brilliant experience threaded with beautiful and dark layers of exquisite fiction.

Captivating, riveting, entertaining, Five Minds is twisty and twisted. Absolutely unique.