I didn't like it very much, I found it quite boring and I kept reading just to find out how it was going to end. I'm disappointed. Three and a half stars. ( )

I want more. I ship Fia and James. ( )

Perfect Lies would have been a 4-star read if I didn't spend the better part of the first third of the book confused as all hell. Shiz! It wasn't like it has been forever since I read Mind Games. I reviewed it before it came out, somewhere in September 2013. Kiersten White picks up Perfect Lies exactly where it left off, bringing us back to the very moment we were left at, and keeps going like the two books are just one giant novel. Maybe they should have been. There are no reminders about who's who, or subtle any recaps. Do not read this book if you have not yet read Mind Games.

After settling into the book I could finally enjoy the wonderful insights of sisters, Annie and Fia. The book is written from alternating points of view (POV) and the sisters did so much more than tell the story, we are privy to their deepest thoughts. That level of insight may be a distraction to some as thoughts are much more cluttered and chaotic than a speaking voice, but this is what made me feel like I knew every detail of these young women and their pain. It is an unexpected and beautiful thing really, considering the genre.

There are some interesting personality shifts. I loved saying "goodbye" to the pathetic Annie that I met in book one, and saying "hello" to the Annie who addresses her weaknesses and works to become something more. Fia is more of a basket case this time around. Wow! What a change! I wanted to take ahold of her and drop her off at the nearest therapist. How can such a badass chick like Fia (she really is a badass) be such a needy weeping willow when it comes to her man. Well it is realistic, because badass chicks can be stupid too. ( )

Perfect Lies is the sequel to Mind Games and continues right where Mind Games left off with more intrigue, awesome mind powers, and an amazing sisterly dynamic. I quite enjoyed Mind Games, though this series is clearly not for everyone. If you enjoy stream-of-consciousness narration, crazy timelines interweaving, and broken characters, you should definitely check out this series, but go read Mind Games since there will be spoilers below ;-). If you have already read Mind Games, you will probably enjoy Perfect Lies just about the same amount that you did Mind Games, it all depends on your preferences, haha.
Note: I received Perfect Lies through Edelweiss for an honest review. Some things may have changed in the final version.



Perfect Lies by Kiersten White (Mind Games #2)
Published by HarperTeen on Feb. 18th, 2014
Genres: Sci-fi, YA
Length: 232 pages
How I got my copy: Edelweiss

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

Strengths:
Omg the plot twists! I have come to expect awesome twistiness from this series because of the way the books are structured, but I was still surprised :D.
I still freaking love Annie and Fia in Perfect Lies. They are separate for most of Perfect Lies and their relationship has changed pretty significantly due to the events of Mind Games. I enjoyed finding out just what those changes meant for how they felt about each other and wow I kind of wish I had a sister now, haha.
Annie really shines in Perfect Lies. She is tough and determined to do what is right for her sister and the world. Her blindness was also handled really well I thought. There are moments where people treat her like she is a child or isn’t there and I really appreciated her reactions and when she calls people out on this behavior. She finds ways to help the best she can and work around her blindness while also demonstrating that people with a disability are treated really weirdly at times. I’ll definitely be more conscious of those behaviors in my life.
There are a couple of new characters that show up and I love them for their own reasons. Without spoiling anything, I adore Pixie for her complexity and a certain other secondary character because she breaks my heart and I just want to help her.

Weaknesses:
I followed Mind Games’ timelines pretty well, but Perfect Lies actually confused me at times. I feel like the timelines were even more confusing since everything had just come together at the end of Mind Games and now I was back to trying to place when things were happening again. There also seemed to be fewer signposts to help me keep everything straight, which I think was the big thing. I can’t just remember how many months ago each timeline was because I have a horrible memory for numbers, so I really need those signposts.
I enjoyed the time jumping in Mind Games, but felt like it got a bit stale in Perfect Lies since we already did it once ya know? I wanted a new trick to make the mystery interesting instead of the same technique over again.

Summary:
If you enjoyed Mind Games, you must pick up Perfect Lies. I really enjoyed this sequel and wish that it wasn’t the end of the series :(. I feel like I should say more, but what it really comes down to is that I love the stream-of-consciousness narration, broken characters, plot twists, and strong sister relationship in Perfect Lies and hope that if you like those things too, you will read it ;-). ( )

Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperTeen for allowing me access to this title.

This was a high intensity, action-packed read. But it also seemed a little lacking in something compared to White's other books. I did think it fit perfectly with the first book of the series, and I will be watching for the next installment. ( )