“Michael spoke against the wind, to a girl named Tanya.”

From James Dashner’s The Mortality Doctrine: The Eye of Minds.

In a not-so-distant future, the creation of VirtNet and sensory “coffins” have taken virtual reality gaming to a completely new level.  One of the most popular and realistic games is “Lifeblood,” which allows users lead their avatar through a digital life to be anyone that they want to be.  The endless possibilities of the VirtNet are often made even more endless by hackers bending item programming to their will, and three friends are about to hack themselves into trouble.  When Michael, Sarah, and Bryson are contacted by VirtNet Security (VNS), they assume that they’re in trouble, but VNS instead hires them to find and help stop cyber-terrorist Kaine who has figured out a way to trap users in the VirtNet.  Michael and his friends agree to help, so VNS sends them into the VirtNet with the mission of finding out information on the program Kaine has inserted into the digital realm: the Mortality Doctrine.  The trio begins to hack their way after Kaine, but each step of the way is filled with programmed killer creatures known as KillSims, lies, deadly riddles, manipulated filler characters called Tangents, and talented gamers all seeking information on Kaine.  However, the closer that Michael gets to the rogue VirtNet AI that Kaine has become, the more unbelievable the truth he discovers.

This trilogy opener for Dashner’s sci-fi thriller is captivating from start to finish.  Some elements are familiar from other virtual-reality-based stories, but the genuine characters and fast-developing world keeps the book uniquely fresh.  The Eye of Minds will fascinate readers and leave them ready to jump into the next book.