I received an advanced copy through NetGalley. Interesting premise for the book. Language choices made some parts confusing.

One thing that I don't like about a lot of paranormal romance kind of books I've read is the controlling behaviors of a lot of male characters.

Thank you to netgalley I received this as an ARC. I enjoyed it very much was good solid read. Solid 4 Stars for me!

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very different from anything else that I've ever read. It's a somewhat complicated story of the war going on between angels and demons after they've revealed their existence to humans in the very far future. The world is a very different place; cities are ruled by either angels or demon lords and humans seem to be their pawns. Perhaps the most infamous demon lord, Haymen, creates Guardians out of humans, who are killed and later reborn contracted to host specific demons that come through when needed. It's kind of like having a whole bunch of very cool superpowers at the snap of your fingers.
Vivian, our main character, one of Haymen's favourite's, and current suspected angel murderer, finds herself embroiled in an ancient personal conflict between Haymen, her boss, and War Angel, Gabe. We get to see snippets of Vivian's past, mull over what is in fact trying to kill her in her dreams, and wait no pins and needles for the sparks to fly with either Haymen or Gabe. Enough teasing already!
This kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the world building, the intrigue, the politics, and the characters. IT ended far too early for my liking and I NEED to read the second installment now!

#TheShadowMindsJournal #NetGalley

A battle between light and darkest with an impressive quality of descriptions.

I really didn't get into it that well not finding the characters as attractive to the book. Just not really for me.

First that drew me in = cover
Second thing that drew me in = blurb

And let me make this clear, this isn't a YA book!

And then by 12% I was a bit confused. I had to go back and flip through the chapters as I was sure if read a bit the same before. It was like groundhog day.......and Haymen initially reminded me of a dirty old perv version of Charlie off of Charlie's Angels!

But never a quitter, I read on. And I am so glad I did! 40% and I was very interested and totally hooked!

The hate Gabe had for Vi was delish and that ending. *insert jaw drop*

I'm trying so hard to get in to this book, but I'm not a fan of being in this characters mind. I like the premise of it though but I'm not a fit for this book , unfortunately.

There is no rest for Vivian, as we readers swiftly learn.
Carrington-Russell keeps us teetering on edge as Haymen, the sordid Lord of the Underworld, keeps tight, unrelenting control over our lead, Vivian. Finding balance between good and evil, angel and demon, and accepting the outcome was a common theme throughout
“The Shadow Minds Journal”.
Vivian uses her sharp wit to navigate her ever-changing circumstances, the ever-watchful eye of Haymen and the mysteriously conflicted Angel Boy, Gabe.
Plagued by vivid, painful dreams, Vivian is left to record and decipher these dreams while she is thrust into servitude. These dreams added yet another layer to the supernatural entities, keeping us further on edge.
Gabe, our Angel Boy, gives us the mystery of “will he/won’t he”, be an ally.
I enjoyed his point of view and, was pleased with his addition to the story.
Throughout the book I found there were a few moments of exposition that became frustrating, making some scenes feel slightly drawn out.
However, that did not take away from the overall intrigue and lack of predictability.
Carrington-Russell’s “The Shadow Minds Journal” is a graphic thriller that delves into new and murky corners of supernatural politics. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys supernatural/psychological thrillers.

Thank you Crystal Publishing and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy.

Please note that The Shadow Minds Journal is a Dark Fantasy, and is in no way shape or form, a Young Adult novel. 

I was attracted to this novel because of the cover. It's been a while since I've seen a newly published book that looked like, or is similar to the cover for The Shadow Minds Journal. the synopsis was interesting as well, (INLCUDE WHY YOU THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING)

When I started reading the novel I didn't really know what to expect because The Shadow Minds Journal isn't a YA novel. There are no mentions of teenagers in this novel. Off-hand for a minute here, I find that because there are literal no mentions of teenagers in this book, it's a little odd, seeing as how there are teenagers everywhere. Everywhere.

Back on topic though, there are 3 points of view in this novel: Vivian, who we mostly read from for the majority of the book, Gabe; who we read the second most of, and lastly we read from Haymen. A quick blurb about all the characters: Vivian is more than what meets the eye in every encounter. People know what to expect from her, but that doesn't stop her opponents from trying their best. Gabe, born an angel seems to have that stereotypical hero-superiority complex to him. And lastly, Haymen whom is the Demon Lord and frankly the Worst Piece of Shit Ever. Like, that title is tame to what he actually is. 

The Shadow Minds Journal takes place far in the future. So far that living alongside literal demons and angels is the norm and no one questions it. The year that The Shadow Minds Journal takes place in is 2986 -- a little under a thousand years from now. It's kinda wild knowing what year this story takes place in, honestly. A few minutes of reading the first chapter is when I found out that yes, this story takes place a long, long time from now, and then I had an "Ohhhhh, ok" moment.

Throughout this book, we keep finding that Vivian is in the middle of something, but she nor we, find out what that is. There always seems to be this game going on--this tug of war / possession of Vivian's body + life that genuinely pissed me off. It also pissed of Vivian, for good measure, since it's her life 'n' all. 

I knew that I would end up liking this book because Vivian herself says that what's happening is paranormal in her world. So that was like, a paranormal-ception, since this book is fantasy/paranormal itself. 

Nearing the end of this book, I was actually surprised at the Angel-Demon almost-romance that went on. You'll know what I'm talking about if you read the book. I can't say it was a romance, because what happened between Vivian and Gabe was most definitely not a romance story---but then again, this book takes place almost a thousand years in the future. 

Overall though, I really enjoyed reading The Shadow Minds Journal. I went into reading this book with half-a-mind to expect to not like Vivian and Co's story. However, I ended up really enjoying it. The story isn't a typical Evil vs Good. The line between the two is blurred, and while there are Rules that Demons and Angels alike must follow, that doesn't stop people from doing what they do best: breaking those rules. 

The story moves incredibly quickly: one of the things that I enjoyed immensely and why I finished the book. We aren't overpowered the world's history since technically, this story does take place in our world. I also like how easily swept up in the story I was. I ended up reading The Shadow Minds in two sittings, which is great. 

Another thing that I really enjoyed was the action. I do love a good fight sequence in the stories I read and The Shadow Minds Journal did not disappoint. I also loved how seamlessly Vivian shifted between her demon counterparts. 

With how The Shadow Minds Journal ended, I'm genuinely looking forward to the next book. 

TL;DR: I started The Shadow Minds Journal not expecting to like it at all, ended up liking it more than I should have. A Dark Fantasy filled with lots of action, the story is not overly gory, I ended up reading The Shadow Minds Journal faster than anticipated. Definitely recommend this book if you're looking for a Non-YA Dark Fantasy. 

I give The Shadow Minds Journal, 4 stars. 

I am most definitely looking forward to the next book.

At first, I was confused and found the story a little bit slow to build. Once I learned more about Vivian, Haymen, Gabe, and the shadow demons, I became engrossed in the plot and characters. Vivian is one of Haymen's girls who hunts and destroys demons. Haymen is the King/ruler of the demons. Gabe is the Angel of War. When an angel is murdered in cold blood, the killer made it look like Vivian killed him. As Vivian works to uncover who had set her up and why, Haymen and Gabe also race to keep their secrets hidden as well as uncover the secrets of each other. Will another war loom before Vivian catches the killer? I highly enjoyed this story. The characters are well written, and the plot keeps you guessing and in suspense. I look forward to finding out what happens next. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to receive this ARC, and this was my honest review.

This is definitely a fascinating novel. It's a bit darker than I usually read...quite a bit darker, actually. However, the author does an excellent job at painting a riveting scene and deeply complex characters, resulting in me quite enjoying this engrossing fantasy.

This was an engrossing read that left me wanting more. Riveting and down right entertaining. A great dark fantasy novel that is sure to fascinate your imagination.
The world building is top-notch and the characters are believable. You feel empathetic and passion towards them.
The story is full of twists and turns; betrayal and triumph.
I am very much looking forward to the next volume.

I had to give up on this book after a few chapters. It contained way too many typos, clunky dialogue, incorrect grammar, and incorrect word usage (descent used instead of decent, Champaign instead of Champagne, etc).

I received an ARC from NetGalley with the promise of a truthful review.

In a world of rebirth, a fragile peace between Angels and Demons, and complex politics between supernatural races, THE SHADOW MINDS JOURNAL takes urban fantasy to a new level. Set in the year 2986, this futuristic paranormal novel is tension packed, with a side of strong sensuality. Fans of the paranormal fantasy about Angels and Demons won't be disappointed!

Full of twists and subplots, the plotline seemed scattered yet fast paced. Fans of Sherrilyn Kenon's Dark Hunter series and the Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward would enjoy THE SHADOW MINDS JOURNAL immensely.

I'm not a fan of the Angels and Demons trope, but can see that anyone who loves it would give this five stars.

DNF. While I applaud every author for actually writing a complete work, this was not ready for public consumption. The beginning felt so disorganized that I struggled to understand what was going on. Even in a mystery, or when the narrator doesn't know what is happening, there needs to be something to follow along with. I felt like the author/narrator just assumed I knew some basics, when in reality, being dropped in a foreign world, I knew only what I was shown/told. Beyond that the writing itself left a lot to be desired. Every sentence needs to make sense on its own. Grammar, punctuation and sentence structure all need to be addressed. Also the dialogue felt stilted and off. While the premise sounds great, a good editor is needed to help both with the mechanics of writing and flow. Unfortunately this was a miss for me.

Thank you to Bookbuzz for the arc of this book!
I loved it, from start to the omg you can’t leave me hanging end!!
So glad this is going to be a series, such a refreshing take on demons and angels, well written and entertaining, now the wait begins for the next book.

Thank you for letting me read this book because I loved it so much!

Honestly at the beginning I was a bit lost. I didn't understand what was happening or in what world I was. But then when I got some answers to my questions, that was it, I was in the story and nothing could have stopped me from reading.

What was insane though was the fact that when I was reading the last sentences I wasn't aware that they were the last sentences. Honestly, I was so involved in the story that I was absolutely ready for more. I need more!

The main character Vivian is a reborn girl who became one of Haymen's Guardians, her master, a demon. She was contracted by demons who reside within her. All the Guardians can shift into them to use their abilities to kill another kind of demon that lure in their nightmares. But one day, Vivian will be accused of murdering an angel. And Gabe, Angel of ware, want her to pay for it.

I loved Vivian and how arrogant and confident she was. And how she got caught in something she doesn't even understand. Between Haymen, her master, her weird/unexpected connection with Gabe, the Angel of the war and the demon that lures in her nightmares, she doesn't have any time off.

It was a really nice surprise. The plot was intriguing but I wasn't expected that...

Thank you again!

Wow...wow and wow again. I loved it.
We have angels and demons. and than we have a hero...she is nobody’s hero but still...
As the story goes we start to get to know the main characters, mainly Vivian. She is a Guardian, her job is killing demons. And that she does.
I have read lots of books about demons and angels but this one is definately one of my favourites. I enjoyd it very much. Couldn’t put it down. I had to find out what will happen to Vivian and Angel Boy.
Can’t wait for the next book.
Thank you very much for giving me the oppurtunity to read this book.

An enthralling and atmospheric book. I really like the style of writing, the world building, and the way the characters were developed.
It was an interesting trip into a fantastic world I really appreciated.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Crystal Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC

I liked the idea behind this book but the the first few chapters failed to deliver for me, and the rest of the book just didn't ring true. Initially I felt it had potential and would be willing to read more from this author in another few years. Thank you for giving me a chance with this book and I wish the Author all the best.