The Eye of Minds

Honestly I thought I was going to rip this book apart but nope it was pretty cool.

The Eye of Minds follows Michael a true gamer at heart. He lives in a world where gaming simulators are so realistic they can transport your mind into a virtual world (known in the book as the VirtNet) and basically simulate a SIMS life but you actually get to feel it and play some other cool games too. This Michael kid has the best simulator his parents could buy and hops in any chance he gets, in fact he has never even met his best friends in real life because they're always on the VirtNet.

His online world is suddenly threatened by the presence of a evil genius known as Kaine who threatens to kill minds inside the game so that their physical body will show more remain in a vegetative state with no mind controlling it. The online version of the CIA recruits Michael and his friends Bryson and Sarah to help them capture Kaine and put an end to his plan. But along the way, there are a few things that Michael discovers about the VirtNet and Kaine that would change his life (online and offline) forever.

I LUV James Dashner, I really enjoyed The Maze Runner series so if you haven't read those books run and go get them now and read them all even the prequel....ANYWAYS, so I liked this book.

The gaming world is near and dear to me because I have brothers who spend a good chunk of their days glued to the screen watching/playing/interacting with the darned games kids play these days. Although I'm not into the computer I do love me some Wii and Xbox time. For me, the world that Dashner created reminded me a lot of the world in that third Spy Kids movie with the Toy Maker and Carmen being lost...Oh god I feel old. If you don't know that movie, basically it's a world where kid's minds are placed into the game but the simulation is real to them. In the movie the Toy Maker threatened to imprison the minds of those kids in the game but in the novel Kaine threatened to kill the minds of the players in the game and with some tinkering that could lead to the brain death of a person in real life.

The book had an interesting start with Michael having his first encounter with a Kaine victim who threatens suicide just to escape his mind games but I felt something was missing in the middle when Michael and his friends start their adventure. It was like they gave in too easily to taking on the task of bringing Kaine down. Not a single question was asked like "why were you approached Micheal? and not one of us?" or "are you even sure it was an agent for the VirtNet security? What if it was Kaine who was secretly recruiting you because he want you to find him on purpose?". But worry not the adventure takes them to places only a handful of gamers had ever been before.

I personally liked Sarah the best, Michael wasn't really that relateable a character for me but once I reached the end it all clicked for me and now I have a new light for him...if that makes any sense which doesn't until you read the book *hint hint* there is plenty of action and for the soft at heart there are also hints of romance but not too much to distract from the bigger picture. And the final twist at the end....I'm still mad at myself for not figuring it out long before my two seconds before it was revealed.

It's a compelling start to a new series, Dashner didn't disappoint in this one and I'm strongly hoping he's learned from his finale to The Maze Runner series and doesn't make the same mistake with The Death Cure. show less

It has been a very long time since a book has caught me by surprise. I won't put in any spoilers, but only to say that I had a sense something was going on in the book that I couldn't quite put my finger on and it kept me reading till the reveal at the end. Then, I palmed my forehead and said "OH! That's it, why didn't I see it coming?
I don't usually get into books that center on computer gaming and virtual reality, but The Eye of Minds sucked me in and kept me reading into the wee hours. Well written. My only criticism would be that the violence is very intense in places. You have to keep telling yourself it's all in the game, It's not real. It's all in the game, It's not real . . .

This is a great new young adult book in which three teenaged "gamers" are asked to enter a virtual reality game to try to help destroy an evil entity named Kaine who is reeking havoc on players. I am an old coot and a book of this nature would almost almost always leave me flat as I am a "gamer" in no sense of the word. The writing is so clear and the plot so well developed that I was drawn right in. I loved the book and the ending totally took me off guard in a positive way.. I think this series is really going to take and this should be a must read for any young person who enjoys video games.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: Me



Hi, my name is Diayll…and I have a confession (again). So, I’ve heard a tremendous amount of praise for this James Dashner fellow, his charming personality, thought-provoking stories, and overall incredible writing. Yes, I must admit my dear bookworms; even with my eclectic reading habits, I somehow MISSED the Dashner bandwagon. However, don’t take back my geek card just yet. I’ve come to rectify the situation and let it be known, that I too am now a Dashner fanatic!

The Eye of Minds is everything a Science Fiction and Cyberpunk loving bookworm could want. When I was first given the novel, I really had no idea what to show more expect. However, I knew two things: it was about virtual gaming and it was by this well-known author I never got around to reading (*how sad…how sad*). Needless to say, I was eager and hungry for a taste of the VirtNet. Gaming is one of my favorite pastimes and books about gaming are even sweeter. It’s akin to smothering caramel drizzle on top of my favorite white chocolate mocha coffee. Yummy…and so very satisfying.

The Eye of Minds begins with our protagonist Michael wandering through one of the various virtual games inside VirtNet when he happens across a young woman attempting suicide. Now, at first glance neither Michael nor the reader can decipher if this girl is for real or if she’s a part of the game. But as the deranged conversation unravels, we discover the young woman is in fact trying to kill herself not only in the game but also in real life. Our main character tries to do the right thing however, even the best attempts can fail and for Michael his failed attempt thrusts him to a world deeper within the VirtNet. A world where death can be permanent and come in many different forms if you fail to play by the rules or if you are caught, and lose. With the help of fellow gamers and virtual best friends, Bryson and Sarah, Michael must uncover who is behind the new rules of VirtNet before they become casualties of the game themselves. From here on out, we plunge head first into a world of secrets, scary computer viruses, and stakes so high even death looks pretty tame.

The world building in The Eye of Minds is a glorious work of art. It’s worth marveling over and daydreaming about. It’s an intricately woven masterpiece constantly stuck in the back of your mind when you’re sitting in your car or on the bus stuck in traffic and you wish you could just escape reality for five minutes. Who wouldn’t want to live in a world where anything is possible? If you could be anyone you wanted, create your own Avatar and wander around different locations, killing zombies one minute or hanging out with virtual buddies and grabbing a pizza the next. It’s crazy insane and so well written I could picture the entire VirtNet as if it was in front of me and I was playing along. Now, don’t get me wrong. Dashner’s world may be full of awesome, but it also comes with some hefty prices. For instance, “the coffin” or Nerve Box, would terrify me (read the novel, you’ll see why). And a virtual reality mastermind and cyber-terrorist, Kaine, who our little-known heroes must defeat might be a bit of a challenge for some of you who aren’t familiar with gaming. Even so, I am still impressed with Dashner’s ability to make me want to overlook my own fears so that I can live in the amazing world he crafted. *le sigh* A gamers paradise.


Overall, The Eye of Minds is a fast-paced well-oiled machine and one hell-of-a book. Mixed with smart, funny dialogue, light romance and enough in-your-face-action to keep you on your toes, the novel is sure to please anyone looking to explore more of the Science Fiction/Fantasy/Cyberpunk genres. If you enjoy novels that automatically transport you places as soon as you open the book, then I HIGHLY recommend The Eye of Minds. Think The Matrix meets TRON with a sprinkle of Surrogates. show less

I wasn't sure what to expect from James Dashner's The Eye of Minds. After all, I liked The Maze Runner well enough after listening to it on audio, but I was hazy on the details and never felt especially compelled to read the next two books in the trilogy. Now, after getting sucked into and genuinely enjoying this first book in The Morality Doctrine, I'm wondering if his first trilogy doesn't deserve another try.

The Eye of Minds is set primarily in a virtual world called VirtNet, a world much preferred over the boring reality of most peoples' normal, everyday lives. Daily, people slog through their necessary jobs and responsibilities with the promise of slipping into their virtual lives at the end of the day. The main character, Michael, show more is one of these people. He's one of the best, a talented hacker, and determined to make it the next coveted level in the game. Michael's normal, laid-back life of exploring and having fun in VirtNet with is best friends, Bryson and Sarah, is thrown off-kilter when Michael witnesses a suicide within the game - a true suicide, not a simple thrown-back-into-reality-to-begin-again death, a normal occurrence. Reports of suicide and other malfunctions are becoming more and more common and the cause of it all seems to be a mysterious and deadly hacker named Kaine. After witnessing the suicide, Michael and his friends are recruited to track down Kaine, before he's able to strike again. The stakes are high and the lines between the game and reality are becoming dangerously blurred.

The Eye of Minds starts with a bang and never truly slows. From one thrilling situation to the next, the pressure is on for Michael, Bryson, and Sarah and, when I reached the final chapter, I was a bit in awe of how much happened in just over 300 pages. If readers appreciated the action in The Maze Runner, they'll be happy to see that Dashner doesn't drop the ball in this new trilogy - in fact, he stepped it up.

I really liked Michael, Bryson, and Sarah as a team. In my opinion, there aren't enough examples of true, supportive friendships in YA literature, especially between guys and girls. While I could see some type of romantic relationship developing later in the series, there was nothing to hint at it in this first book and I really appreciated that. I liked that the three were just friends with similar interests who trusted and relied upon one another. The banter between them felt genuine and I quickly became invested in their friendship.

I'm by no means a gamer, but I soon became immersed in the world and concept of VirtNet. I could definitely understand how a person could feel the urge to spend large amounts of time in something like VirtNet, where they could look any way they wanted and experience virtually anything. For kids like Michael, who are skilled hackers, it'd be even harder to stay away. Imagine a world you can change in substantial ways at your whim. Being able to eat anything you want and never gaining a pound. Doing crazy and dangerous stunts without any fear of dying. That kind of experience could be addicting and drawing the line between what's real and not could become increasingly difficult.

This first installment of The Mortality Doctrine is delightfully twisty. I was never sure what would happen next because the characters were never sure. Normal rules don't apply within VirtNet, so Dashner was able to throw some crazy twists and turns in and all I could do was try to brace myself for the next surprise.

I'll definitely be reading the next Mortality Doctrine book, especially after the cliffhanger of an ending in The Eye of Minds. The last few pages of the book left me spinning and anxious to know what happens next. show less

*Spoiler Alert!*

The Eye of Minds, by James Dashner, is a very intriguing book which involves Michael (a gamer), his two friends, Sarah and Bryson, Kaine (a mysterious hacker who traps people inside the game), and the Vitrinet (the gaming system itself). The Vitrinet is Michael's whole world. Inside it, you can experience adventures that only superheroes can, or just hang out with your friends. The story opens up where Michael, for experience points that move him to the next level, is trying to talk a girl out of committing suicide so that Kaine cannot get to her her any longer. Despite his efforts, he actually makes the girl want to do it more, and she rips out her core, a chip inside her brain, that makes deaths in the Vitrinet not show more real. A few days later, Michael is "kidnapped" by the Vitrinet security and told that he and his two friends are to help track and capture Kaine. Michael seeks information and discovers that there is a hidden portal in the game Devils of Destruction which will lead him to the path; it is dangerous yet the only way to find Kaine. They try to enter the game but figure out that it is rated AO - Adults Only. Michael, being who he is, hacks and forces his way in… and eventually finds the portal. After the long and hard fought travel on the path, Michael is the only survivor. He tries to defeat Kaine, but Kaine reveals his power of taking the brain-dead victims and giving the bodies to tangents, computer programs which act like people. Suddenly, Michael wakes up and realizes that he is not himself. -- he was and always had been a tangent. The worst part is that Kaine is still alive and is not yet finished with his work.

The Eye of Minds is a lightning-fast novel. It took me less than two days to read it. It was indeed a little too violent for my taste. Nevertheless, it was a very riveting book. It had a healthy dose of action mixed in with suspense. I suppose there will be a sequel because of the way it ended. I am now interested in reading another of the author's books, The Maze Runner. show less

Le iba a poner tres estrellas, pero ese final ha hecho que me decida por las cuatro.
No es una maravilla de libro, pero sí es muy entretenido y me ha enganchado cosa mala, así que me alegro de que no me haya decepcionado (me esperaba un desastre por todos los comentarios que leí).
Está tan bien descrito el juego que me parece que una serie de animación le vendría perfecta al libro/saga. Me encantó el momento "remolino a su alrededor", entre otros.

Sigo con la boca abierta. Mira que iba advertida sobre "ESE FINAL" y aun así he flipado en colorines. Muy contenta con esto, me gusta que los libros me sorprendan.

Llevaba muchos años detrás de este libro sin saber cuál era, porque lo vi en unos puestecitos en el día del libro hace show more aaaaños, pero no llevaba dinero suficiente y cuando lo quise buscar ya había olvidado el título porque no era nada especial (ni la sinopsis tampoco). Creo que lo encontré de nuevo tras leer la saga de El corredor del laberinto (muy tarde) y mirar el resto de libros del autor. De cualquier forma, me alegro de haberlo encontrado de nuevo. No es en absoluto tan malo como la gente dice. show less