Book Review #54: Crimson Minds by Patrick D. Kaiser

Hello Dear Reader!

Look at me! Posting another review two weekends after my previous one… which is what’s supposed to happen, but hey! As long as I post a review at this point, I’m fine with a bit of inconsistency.

ANYWAY! This book review is on an indie read, called Crimson Minds by Patrick D. Kaiser. It’s a verse thriller, the first one I’ve ever read actually, and it was a brand-new experience that I recommend! With the story taking place in the streets of Chicago and powers based on the strength of one’s mind, it’s a fast-paced story that pulls you in. But, before I get into that, here’s the back-cover summary (from Goodreads):

It's said humans use only 10% of our minds. But what if there are some who can use more? In modern day Chicago three gangs of psychic youth vie for power. Led by their Kings, each one seeking to control the city. Unfortunately for them, Daniel Cavanough has no interest in such matters. His only concern is to find the truth of his father and sister's murder. With The Black Dog sniffing around, and the mysterious Rose throwing her own hat in the ring, it may not be the wind blowing things about.

Is it possible to change Crimson Minds?

Now, on to the review!

Crimson Minds is narrated poetically by main character and protagonist Daniel Cavanough, a high-schooler who’s got the special powers of a Mind, an individual who can use more than 10% of their brain power. Daniel brings us on his personal journey of balancing his pursuit of getting revenge and keeping the peace in Chicago as the mysterious Rose wreaks havoc on its streets and the gangs of the Kings with the assistance of her loyal petals. 

Though young, Daniel is a mature guy who’s able to remain level-headed enough in stressful situations to come up with strategies to defeat his enemies or at the very least get out alive. Still, there are times when emotions overcome his rationality, which is very normal for anyone, especially someone experiencing the amount of grief he’s feeling at the very beginning of the book. He’s a solid and likeable main character who’s well thought out and full of depth!

With a solid main character comes some solid side characters, such as the determined yet kind Rachel, big bark with an even bigger heart Sue, a rather psychotic enemy Mind named Cerberus, and a talking black cat named Marcone. And said kitty is full of mystery, secrets, and sarcasm.

From what I gathered, the world of Crimson Minds takes place in the future of our current world, as the main setting is Chicago, and quite a few books that have been published were mentioned in this one. For example, Daniel has confessed to have read Twilight, which makes this the second book I’ve read that have referenced it!

Anyway, the streets of Chicago are run by gangs of Minds, with their leaders called Kings, the most powerful among them. Daniel is their Black Dog, and he is also of King-level power. There are also different types of Minds, such as Searchers and Breakers. Beyond that, I don’t know much more about the world of the Minds and the lore behind their existence, and it’s mainly due to the format of the story.

With the entire story written in verse rather than prose, it gives a fast-paced, bare-bones story that focuses solely on the plot with little to no room for fluff. It serves as a really refreshing quick read, especially after a long book (or in my case, a huge reading slump), but it comes with its downsides, such as the lack of detail in the world-building and building of relationships between characters. Just from what I’ve gathered reading this verse thriller, the world and the lore behind the Minds is vast, and its format only gives a peephole’s look into it. Despite this, I really enjoyed this story and how easy it was to read it because of the verse format. Also, it opened me up to a brand-new world that I’m looking forward to exploring more in the future.

So, Crimson Minds rating:

4/5 and I recommend if you’ve ever wanted to give a verse thriller a shot. It’s an exciting story that’s a breeze to read, so it also serves as a nice refresher after a longer novel.

Thanks for reading!