I’m the first one to admit that I don’t read much, if any, sci-fi but when Mindwalker came out…I devoured it and couldn’t wait to see what Dylan would come up with next! So of course I HAD to pick up Mindbreaker ASAP! This is set in the same world as Mindwalker and we do get to see some familiar faces as a result, which I was very excited about! BUT we also get new characters as well!

First of all, the narrator for this book is EXCELLENT! They really bring the characters to life and make it so engaging to listen to so that even during the lulls in action you’re still eager to hear what’s going to happen next!

Second, I have to be honest, I didn’t love this one quite as much as the previous book. I loved getting to go back to the world of Mindwalker, and this one still explores a lot of the same themes regarding the tech and how it’s being used. It genuinely continues to terrify me with how plausible it all is as well which just makes the issues ones that I could realistically see springing up because I just KNOW that the tech would be used in questionable ways like it is in the book, if it really existed!

We’re also once again treated to the smooth, slick writing and excellently written fight scenes as well as gasp inducing twists. I do really appreciate that Dylan includes a lot of awesome tech in these books, without making the descriptions and explanations for how it all works overly complicated, it’s all very easy to understand and yet while the writing is quite concise, Dylan still creates a certain atmosphere with her words and it’s not at the expense of the world building.

While I do think you can read this without having read Mindwalker, I think Mindbreaker is even better if you already have the pre-existing knowledge of the world and certain characters from Mindwalker, like this delves into the world even deeper and adds some extra layers to it!

Our main character is Indra and much like with Sil, I could really empathise with her and root for her right from the start, though I did find her to be a little frustrating sometimes when she would act recklessly. HOWEVER, I do fully acknowledge that some of that probably stems from me already knowing and being familiar with Sil and co, and thus their intentions, whereas Indra is probably right to distrust them but…come on, blowing up the place?! I wanted to scream!

I loved her platonic friendship with Nyx, and I absolutely ADORED her romance with Tian! Not only is it sapphic, but it’s wonderfully slowburn too and I feel like both Indra and Tian had journeys to go on within this book regarding their beliefs etc. I also loved that Dylan didn’t just copy and paste her characters from Mindwalker, like Indra is very different from Sil and I appreciated that as I feel like it let you come at the world from a different angle and see it all through a different lens!

As much as I enjoyed Mindbreaker, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I enjoyed Mindwalker. I think this is partially because of the frustrations I had with Indra a few times, and as much as I loved the cast I felt like there could have been a bit more depth to them as well! While I did find Mindbreaker every bit as gripping as Mindwalker, it has a different vibe to it, in my mind! Don’t get me wrong, terrible things happened to Sil, but I feel like Indra really went through the wringer and it was a bit more heart wrenching and brutal at times. Because of this and the journey Indra goes on, I feel like there was more focus on social commentary in this and it was a lot more overt than in Mindwalker, which I felt slowed down the pace just a touch!

All in all though, it was another intriguing and gripping read with plenty of twists and memorable characters, and this is coming from someone who very rarely reads sci-fi! I find Dylan’s writing to be much more accessible and engaging than many other sci-fi titles I’ve tried in the past and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next!

The second instalment in the world of tech giants and robot soldiers. I thoroughly enjoyed this follow up to Mindwalker and eagerly await more (I hope there are more!)

“Tina hasn’t stopped talking since she exploded into my life the day I woke up looking like the worlds most terrifying deathbot”

This story centres around Indra, living with her religious cult invoked family, who are anti-tech. When Indra becomes terminally ill, the options are death or sign her life over to Glindell (one of Synex rivals). As the story unfolds, in a similar manner to Mindwalker, memory gaps and inconsistencies start to appear. Could it be that a big tech company have secrets and hidden agendas? Full of action, suspense and some recurring characters from book 1, I devoured Mindbreaker!

Very similar vibe to Mindbreaker. Cyberpunk, Deus Ex and Total recall, with a bit self exploration that before. Another recommended read for sci-fans. Thanks to Netgalley and Hodderscape for the audio arc.

I couldn't wait to jump back into the dystopian Sci-Fi world of Kate Dylan's Mindwalker and Mindbreaker did not disappoint.
Themes of religion, control, ethics and technology and how they impact the nature of our existence are seamlessly weaved throughout this engaging sequel.
The narrator did a fantastic job portraying the characters and I adored Indra's character. She is completely different to Sil, her cult background and how it's deep programming affects her and her journey make for a really interesting perspective.
I throughly enjoyed this sequel and would love to return to this world again as it has so much to offer.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughten Audio, Hodderscape via NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE this universe - we are literally encased in a dystopian/sci-fi bubble with all the representation and I am solidly here for it! I think the world building in this series is on-point and we are faced with compelling themes. Kate Dylan is a page weaver, the words just weave through those pages like they test you to read them!

I could read about this world and its people all the time, its never tiresome and I just think the detail and thought that goes into it and the wit and enthusiasm each character embraces is golden. Mindwalker was a favourite of mine and Mindbreaker walks the same waves.

I audioed alongside the physical and I can confirm that the audio is narrated in a way that just oozes character feels, it was paced well and I felt the words spoken as if the characters were saying them - great job! Immersive experience.

I love Kate Dylan's style of writing so much. I love the imagination that's put into her world, what's different from ours, what's the same, what's changed during the time that they had the apocalypse. I think I've said this in my review of Mindwalker, but it's just so nice to see someone imagining something after we burn our world to the ground that isn't some desperate scramble to survive.

I found Indra's cult really interesting. There is a line between the tech that they need to survive and what they can do without and it was good to see the character pointing out the hypercritical nature of it all. I also liked that it gave Indra a very different character to Sil from the previous book. It was a very different outlook and especially early on it was interesting to see how deep the programming in her ran.

This book is really about what it means to be human and it was touched upon multiple times during the book. Indra doesn't feel human anymore because of the tech that makes up her body and it's fascinating to see her journey to accept her new circumstances.

The narration was really good. I could really hear Indra's voice through it and I liked some of the other voices that were done for the other characters (especially Tien). I read the first book quite a while ago though and so even though it was the same narrator for each character, it didn't jar me. I don't know how it would be if you read them closer together.

With rebellion, evil tech companies and a great deal of heart, both this book and Mindwalker are well worth picking up!

Set in the same world as Mindwalker, this book explores a different side of tech conglomorates running the world which is even more sinister, more ethically dubious (and that is saying something).

When I read Mindwalker, I thought the storyline had ended and when I saw another book set in the same universe I couldn't wait to jump back in. I was absolutely right in thinking this book may be even better than the first - I gave the first one 5 stars which I cannot outdo of course, but I have to say that in terms of characters, pacing and general storyline I think I preferred this one slightly! Themes of religion, control, ethics and the nature of existence were not strictly things I thought we'd be dealing with but I was so pleasantly surprised when they were touched on throughout the book. I think Indra made for a really compelling protagonist, and the cast of side-characters helped progress the plot.

Though you do meet people from Mindwalker, and it is set after the events of the first, you could technically read it as a standalone in the same world - but I would strongly recommend reading Mindwalker first for the context of the situation and characters. Again, not necessary, just my recommendation.

There is an LGBT dynamic (I shan't spoil anything!) but I have to say this is the one side of the book I wish had been fleshed out even further than it was. Though it felt complete, I wanted to learn more, follow them more and connect with that side a bit earlier. Regardless, I really did love that part, it just took me slightly by surprise.

The narrator did a fantastic job of portraying the characters and I definitely feel, due to the different personality of the characters between the two books, gave a more naturally-sounding delivery (again, I really do believe the mechanical nature was intentional in the first and part of the second too).

A genuinely fun read, I really struggled to stop listening and found myself looking forward to when I could turn it back on, so would highly recommend!!

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook courtesy of Hodder & Stoughton Audio, Hodderscape via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review which I provide voluntarily. Opinions have not been affected.

An absolutely spectacular sequel!

I was a bit nervous when I realised that this book followed a completely different main character, but wow was I wrong. The new characters fit beautifully into the world and plot that was developed in the first book, but added a whole different dimension, and it was such a treat when places/characters from the first book turned up and I recognised them!

The story itself was really interesting and twisty, turny, and I loved seeing more of this world and the way that the companies in charge consistently share the same (immoral) morals.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Mindbreaker and will definitely read more from this series in the future.

This was a very good sequel to a great book, and it felt like it could have even worked as a stand alone. Would definitely recommend.
The plot was well written, the world well developed and I felt invested from beginning to end.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this title in exchange for this honest review.

This book just wasnt for me sadly. I tried to read it, but ended up skimming most of it, since i just wanted to be done with it. Probably more a case of it being me rather than the book.

“A robot soldier dressed in human skin.”

I loved Mindwalker—the set up, the story, the world. Mindbreaker, however, I liked a little less. I had a harder time connecting with Indra than with Sil. I think Mindbreaker would have benefitted from a stronger focus on character rather than plot. The main characters felt un-nuanced and the side-characters a little undercooked. Which is jarring in comparison to Mindwalker.

I was delighted, however, to see that Mindbreaker had a sapphic romance.

Overall, Mindbreaker was great, just not as great as its predecessor.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

After reading Mindwalker, Kate Dylan’s debut YA cyberpunk Sci-Fi, injected full of fast pacing, vivid world building, solid themes involving our technological world, and fleshed out characters, I knew I had to pick up the follow up companion book, Mindbreaker, and dive back in this world. And I got to indulge in it before release, and it delivered as much as I expected to, with much of the same, world expansion, but fresh enough to keep me engaged from start to finish.

This one has Ghost in the Shell and Battle Angel Alita vibes, considering that our protagonist, Indra Dyer, was converted into a “cybot” in order to save her life after nearly dying from a rare condition. She’s interested in technology to her almost death, despite her religious cult arguing against technology, but overall, she’s exploring who she is with her new status, and through a lot of revelations, she’s questioning aspects of herself, especially since saving her life required her to betray the basic tenants of her life. And some haunting realistic dreams she’s having as of late. She’s quite a mess, but a determined mess.

I really enjoyed Indra’s interactions with Nyx. It’s rare in YA to see a boy/girl relationship not turn romantic (both are gay), and it was so refreshing to see the two rub off each other in a platonic sense, the hacker boy and the good god girl. I also like how Indra interacted with Tian, her handler turned love interest, and how Tian herself grows as she realizes the truth about her company. The other characters, new and old, were interesting and fleshed out, with a few surprises that I will not spoil. I love the bonding of the cast as well, through all that they go through.

Once again, the pacing was brilliant, things were happening every chapter and none of it was filler, all of it exploring another aspect of Indra’s new status as a “cybot” with a hard drive for a brain instead of flesh and bone. There’s plenty of action sequences and they were all done well, feeling like an action thriller movie. Yet it has enough scenes to really get to know the characters and their situations. I couldn’t wait to see what kind of trouble she would get into next. Again, the prose is super smooth.

I love the world building of this cyberpunk world, and even if you read book 1, there’s plenty more to explore with new technology and the consequences of book 1’s events. The post apocalyptic world of cyberpunk New York is still interesting and I still want more of it. Even if sci-fi usually isn’t your thing, it’s not too heavy on the technology, and fairly easy to follow along, as most concepts are explained in the story itself.

The themes were fleshed out well, with the exploration of faith, finding your own path, rebellion, tech company control, and what makes someone human when you’re all metal. Made me think about the possibilities of the future, both good and bad, considering if we can even trust technology sometimes. No more quiet rebellions is practically an arc word for this book. I was really happy that religion wasn’t vilified; while the cult Indra was in wasn’t exactly a great place, religion wasn’t seen as evil by the protagonist, despite the rest of the world having moved on from it after the world ended centuries ago, believing that any god would have not allowed this to happen, with some of the creative swears.

There are callbacks, references, and characters from the first book, Mindwalker. While there’s enough information in this book to stand on it’s own, you will be spoiled for Mindwalker if you haven’t read it, so I highly suggest reading Mindwalker first. Also, there’s plenty of swearing, some graphic violence and some sensual content (nothing spicy), so be advised.

Stephanie Cannon returns to narrate, and while sometimes, I keep thinking she’s Sil, the protagonist from the first book, she’s able to give Indra’s narration her own distinct voice. Awesome narrator and I’ll look into her narrations in the future.

I’m really sad to find out that a third book in the Mindwalker world is unlikely (for now), but I’m really hoping for more stories in this universe, especially with a small ending hook. I will be on the lookout in what Kate Dylan has for us next.

Mindbreaker by Kate Dylan is a wonderful YA dystopian sci-fi looking at a future where tech is everything. And big tech rules. It brilliantly weaved in characters from the first book, while at the same time, giving Mindbreaker its own new protagonist. A protagonist who was easy to connect with.

This dystopian world was complex, with complex rules and complex factions living within it, but Kate Dylan created character motivations that were clear and well thought out.

The narrator had a soft lyrical voice which I thought was perfect for the protagonist and she brought it all to life.

Last year, I was lucky to get a physical proof of Mindwalker. This year, I got an audio ARC of Mindbreaker, and honestly? This series is so good. We follow a different character in this one dealing with a different tech company, but it was still such a good time. This book could possibly be read as a standalone, but as the characters from the first book do pop up in this one, I do suggest picking up Mindwalker first if you haven’t already.

Indra grew up in a tech-free cult until one day after sneaking out to play with tech, wound up on her deathbed. The only way she could survive was by agreeing to a cure offered by Glindell Technologies. With her mind transferred to a fully robotic shell, Indra has to grow used to her new life even as she grows suspicious of what Glindell might want her for. When an attack hits the news, Indra becomes suspicious, and now, with help from Tian, a research assistant with questionable morals who she can’t help being attracted to, the pair have to dig deeper into what’s going on.

I enjoyed this book a lot, but not quite as much as Mindwalker. I do think I preferred Indra and Tian as a couple though. I do love a queer romance, and the way their relationship grew was a lot of fun. Tian and Indra were both really interesting characters, and I adored Indra’s friend Nyx too. The three made for a fun trio, and I’d be happy to see more of them too.

That said, I do think that the plot was a little weaker. Though I think I did like the characters a little more, I guess things didn’t really feel as risky plot-wise. Like, There were still bombings and attacks and running away, but it didn’t feel like Indra could die as easily as Sil could. Yes, she could have possibly been shut down and was missing time, but it still didn’t feel as dire. I don’t know if I can put my finger on why, but it did make the book feel a little slower.

I did still really enjoy this book though. I’ll definitely still be grabbing a physical copy of this book, and I’ll be picking up whatever Kate Dylan brings out next.

A final note is that the audiobook of this was decent. It wasn’t anything particularly special, but it was an easy listen, and I was happy to have the audiobook of this. The amount of adventure did make this an ideal book to listen to in audio.

Mindbreaker is a nuanced and electric YA sci-fi novel exploring humanity and agency soaked in cool tech and brimming with rebellion.

What makes Mindbreaker truly unique is Kate Dylan’s signature blend of tech-fuelled action extravaganza and nuanced exploration of identity and bodily autonomy. These are themes and concepts I’ll never get tired of exploring in fiction and Kate Dylan does it extraordinarily well! In many ways, Mindbreaker cracks open the bones of this world to dive deeper, explore new perspectives and ultimately, create a much more nuanced experience for readers who’ve read both books.

Indra is, in many ways, a fish out of water. While she is in no way the innocent cult girl Glindell believes her to be, she is ultimately still navigating a world that is largely unfamiliar to her. Subsequently, she is a lot more wary of technology, an internal battle that follows her throughout the book. In my opinion, this personal journey and Indra’s relationship to technology (and her own humanity or lack thereof) is the strongest part of this book and the heart of what makes it stand out. Narrator Stephanie Cannon does a wonderful job of capturing Indra's personality, her performance was as dynamic, nuanced, and engaging as the story itself.

At times, I think Mindbreaker would’ve benefitted from a stronger focus on character rather than plot. Mostly, because I know that Kate Dylan can do both, something she proves with Indra’s development throughout the book. Ultimately, I just wish we had gotten to know all the other characters on a deeper level, too. This, however, is where the audiobook really helped me! Cannon's narration made it easier to connect with the characters and their emotional arcs than it would've been had I just read the book. I always appreciate when narrators bring this level of connection and emotional depth to a book and the Mindbreaker audiobook demonstrates this beautifully!

Lastly, I cannot talk about the characters without also talking about the delightful sapphic romance in Mindbreaker! I will always root for the gays and, without giving anything away, the development of this relationship was one of my favourite parts of the book. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing the themes and internal conflicts Indra struggles with being reflected in and worked through within a personal relationship. I think this is how all romances should be done, honestly. Sweet and nuanced and yet so incredibly thematically aligned? I love to see it!

What would a Kate Dylan sci-fi book be without pondering the nature and boundaries of humanity, right? Indra’s existence and identity relies on a computer, her brain is pure code, her body has been replaced by non-organic parts. It begs the question if she’s even a person anymore. Where does a person end and the code begin?

A thread that’s woven throughout the plot and that I found particularly fascinating is a discussion around emotions, pain and limitations as a necessary part of being human. As a bot, Indra can turn off her senses. She can choose to not feel pain (or anything, for that matter), which allows her to make her body achieve impossible feats. However, leaning into this non-human side of her identity comes at a price and the threat of losing her humanity in substantial and permanent ways.

I cannot stress enough how much I love Kate Dylan’s handling of these themes. She draws us in with cool tech and characters with superhuman powers but never avoids the hard questions about the cost of those powers. For all the shiny cyberpunk technology, Mindbreaker is fundamentally and delightfully human.

the narrator is the same as the one who narrates Mindwalker but somehow it felt different. Probably because the personality of the main character is different too. But she still nailed it!

the story itself wasnt doing much for me

Mindbreaker offers a gripping journey into a dystopian sci-fi landscape set in a futuristic New York. The protagonist, Indra, grapples with the consequences of her cult upbringing, facing a series of daunting choices.

Indra's character is well written, portraying resilience in the face of a bleak future. Indra has a cute sapphic romance that was the heart of the story for me. I loved the whole cast of characters and the found family dynamic this book has.

While Mindbreaker can be enjoyed as a standalone, if you have previously read Mindwalker it might add some nice little nods and updates for past characters.

The audiobook narration by Stephanie Cannon was great and really added to book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAlley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Mindbreaker is the second book in the Mindwalker universe — not exactly a sequel, because Mindwalker is a stand-alone, but a companion novel.
Mindwalker was one of the best science fiction novels I read in the past several years, so Mindbreaker had big shoes to fill!
When starting a new book, I try to go into it with a fresh, unbiased approach — but let’s face it, when reading a titled from a favorite author or one that comes after a beloved book in the same universe, it’s hard not to have high expectations.

The great news is: Mindbreaker is just as action-packed and filled with intriguing details and characters (some new, others familiar faces), with a good dose of mystery like the first one, as well as some social commentary — the latter perhaps not as subtle as in the first book, but still skillfully woven into the narrative and presented as a series of very good points and wise observations made by different characters in a way that felt fitting and apropos.

I have to be honest, I didn’t find the main character in this book as compelling as the one in Mindwalker, but her story was still gripping, emotionally charged, filled with twists and turns, and yet still easy to follow.
I also enjoyed the new side characters, though again, I didn’t find them quite as impactful as the ones in Mindwalker.

Still, that is an entirely personal preference and it’s very hard to duplicate perfection, so I’m giving this 4 STARS and recommending that you follow your read of Mindwalker with Mindbreaker for more excitement and great storytelling!

Although this is book 2 in series it can be read as a standalone. I read mindwalker first but if you don't you wouldnt lose out or become fuses as each book focuses o different tech companies and ser main characters.

I liked that there is some big topics like how far is it to go for technology, whats write and wring, and morally questioning whats right or wrong. Then there is the religious cult that shunts technology dispite it being needed to survive in a toxic (nuclear) enviroment.

There is action, decpetion, challenging morales, struggles, change, grownth, techilogy is it good or bad debate and LGBTQ + Rep.

Can't wait to see what Kate Dylan beings out next.

Sequel to mindwalker but can be read as a standalone.

A great take on what a futuristic and dystopian world would look like. I thoroughly enjoyed our main character, Indra’s journey throughout with herself and beliefs but I did find her quite annoying at times but the surrounding characters to her story were so good and great additions. There was also Great world building, which can sometimes be hard to do in a SF and futuristic world!

The audiobook format kept my attention the whole time, I really enjoyed the narrator.

Overall a great SF, futuristic, dystopian read.

This is a fantastic follow up to Mindwalker. I loved it. Kate Dylan poses some very interesting questions about what a futuristic world would look like.

The main character is a bit naïve but the struggle for her between big tech and her religious upbringing was really well done. And some of the twists at the end were just *chefs kiss*.