Reviewer Jennifer Andrew is Freelance Writer and Reviewer. Jennifer is an avid reader who loves to read every type of book, giving all of the fiction and non-fiction books a chance. Her favorite categories are fantasy, mystery drama, romance mystery, science fiction, philosophy, psychology, new age and selective self-help books. She enjoys promoting a good book when she reads one and hopes everyone feels the same joy that she did in reading it.
Mind Over Mind starts off right into the story, introducing the two main characters and where they are in relation to the scene. Karina L. Fabian gives the reader insight into their characteristics and gets right into the meat of the story by providing the reader with the problems that are faced by both of them.
Ydrel is a student patient at an institution because he is a cause of danger to himself and others. He has an uncanny ability to absorb the emotions of those around him. He hears voices in his head that make him collect important data and he doesn't know who or what is asking for the information. He believes it may be someone or something from another planet, which is the reason why he now lives in the institution.
Joshua is a school student
who has taken on the task of working in the institution to further
his career. He has been asked to befriend Ydrel in order to get
inside his head and help him understand his ability enough so the
doctor's can convince him that it's not real. Once Joshua does
become his friend, he starts to find out that Ydrel's condition may
not be all made up.
The reader experiences many conflicts through both the main characters. Ydrel is fighting his ability and feels more comfortable away from people, since he can sense what those around him are sensing. It overwhelms and overtakes him to the point where he acts out the emotion that is coursing through him. Joshua is conflicted from wanting to be Ydrel's friend and also trying to keep his professional relationship separate. When he begins to realize what Ydrel has is a true ability, he takes a different approach and helps Ydrel to understand who or what is communicating through his brain, even against the views of his fellow co-workers.
The setting is the mental
hospital and the relationships that build between the characters
happen within the confines of the building. Ydrel, Deryl
Stephen by birth, has made most of his home between the white walls
and doesn't care to live outside of it. Joshua is trying to
convince him to move on with his life so he can experience what it's
like, besides the life of the institution and its staff. Joshua
is trying to get him to learn to cope with his abilities instead of
trying to deny that Ydrel isn't a fake because clearly he is
possessed with a gift.
The reader feels for both characters – Ydrel since he doesn't know much about life outside the hospital and Joshua who is trying desperately to have his new friend experience more than a clinical lifestyle. You watch two young men grow into their own and build a strong friendship between them.
Mind Over Mind is an
entertaining fictional novel that is a delight to read and I would
recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy and science fiction.