Hunted, shot, and without her memory, eighteen-year-old Ann Baker wakes in shallow water on a deserted Pacific Northwest island. She is soon approached by two young men claiming to be her friends. Something isn’t right, but when gunshots sound, Ann is left with little choice but to allow Devon and Archer to help her escape. Soon she finds herself in their North Bend mountain compound, where the … the higher evolved humans claim to be mind-readers. While Ann heals, she realizes they believe her to be one of the last and most powerful of all – The Lost One.
She’s welcomed by most with opened arms, but not everyone is happy about her arrival. A jealous adversary has plans for Ann, which spirals the entire Reader community into chaos.
As lies, murder, and betrayal threaten to rip apart the once harmonious mountain dwellers, Ann is thrust into making a decision that could save or devastate not only The Readers, but all of mankind. But there’s just one glitch: by doing so it may require her to make the ultimate sacrifice.
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MK Harkins forays into unexpected territory with The Reader, a Young Adult Paranormal Romance. But it’s more than just a romance. In fact, I’d say it’s equal amounts romance and suspense. While I do read in the genre from time to time, YA/PNR is not my usual go-to book category, but the mystery of The Reader piqued my interest from page one when Ann, the young, female protagonist, wakes up on a beach with a bullet hole and no memory of how it got there or who she even is.
Two young men about her age, Devon and Archer, find and rescue her by taking Ann to their mountain compound, where Ann meets people she never dreamed existed. Turns out, there’s a lot to learn about this new group of friends and how Ann fits into their unique society, not to mention the great risk they’re all under, especially with Ann now in their midst.
Harkins does an outstanding job of creating the extraordinary world of The Readers and their arch nemeses, The Jacks, two opposing groups with highly-evolved supernatural talents, without becoming bogged down in overblown details. In fact, while The Readers are definitely superhuman with their psychic abilities, they don’t feel other-worldly, which, to me, is a plus. I like characters who are flawed and feel real, and Harkins pulls it off perfectly.
For the romance lovers, there’s an ongoing push-and-pull between Ann, Devon, and Archer, but it’s not a typical love triangle. It’s more of a “who-is-my-destiny” sort of thing, with the chemistry from both suitors being off the chart. But all is not as it seems, which is where the suspense comes in. There’s no way of telling anymore without giving too much away.
You’ll love the characters, especially Ann, who is smart, feisty, and curious. All the characters feel real and down-to-earth; no too-far-fetched, whiny teenagers to make you roll your eyes. And while the story is engaging, it’s not too long or at all overwritten with silly, romantic platitudes. It’s sweet and clean and captivating all at once, with enough suspense and drama to keep you intrigued and turning pages late into the night. You definitely will not be putting this one down, not until the very satisfying end!
This book is amazing! I just finished it. I don’t often put my life on hold to read a book, but I’m about to do it again immediately for her second one (as soon as I finish leaving glowing reviews everywhere!). The world building is spectacular, and the characters… I could go on for days! Wonderful writing; doesn’t distract from the story at all. I LOVE the story! Very original and captivating. I joined her newsletter so I don’t lose track of her, because I want to read everything she writes!
I’m not your average YA reader, but I know a great story when I read one and I LOVED this story!
I believe The Reader is listed as Paranormal Romance for Young Adults but it’s so much more than that. It’s not overly sexy but there’s plenty of love and loads of discovery. MK Harkins combined this discovery well with action and adventure to make this book perfect for everyone. She hooked me right away and pulled me further in with each page.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Reader and the world she created.
I immediately fell in love with Ann’s wit and quirky attitude. I had her pictured in my mind long before her description had been made clear, that’s how well MK wrote her character. All of the characters are equally flushed out and well-drawn. Ann and her two potential love interests aren’t your average teenagers, but even with their supernatural abilities, they come across as normal people. They act, and feel, and love just like the rest of us, which makes this story even stronger. I grew attached, and in turn, felt invested in their stories rather quickly. MK also did a wonderful job of keeping me guessing without overly drawing out the triangle.
Sometimes paranormal books can be so heavy with overly described worlds that are too hard to keep track of, sometimes even just plain exhausting to read. That’s not the case with The Reader. MK had a great blended balance with her created world and the real world. It was easy to follow yet still very interesting. The charter building, world building, and plot flowed together seamlessly throughout the book so well that I got lost in the pages and couldn’t stop reading.
With a great beginning, a well-paced middle, and an extremely satisfying ending, you can’t go wrong with THE READER. It’s another winner from MK Harkins! I highly recommend this book regardless of your age. There’s plenty to enjoy for everyone!
This book got me captivated from the very first page. I enjoyed the characters and the twists and turns within the book. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Fun dystopian read about a hidden society of mind readers. The development of the relationship between the four main characters was fun. It was a very quick read.
This was a quick and easy read. I think there are more in the series, but the book stands on its own.
As someone who likes good characters and a plot that isn’t easy to guess what is coming next, I feel like this book really did it for me. The characters are developed really well considering the short length of the book. I have a few problems with some of the cliché characters but felt that some of these aspects came from the main character’s perception and we are all flawed in that way. I think we could have seen a bit more complexity in each character, but again the short book and main character perception can limit this. The “bad guy” was a surprise to me and I feel like there could have been more foreshadowing, but then we would have lost the element of surprise. Considering the length, it covered so much and I didn’t spot any plot holes or inconsistencies.
I don’t think there was anything about this book that I didn’t like, but I did notice that information was held from the main character both by the people around her and amnesia…. I wonder why this is such a common plot device in YA novels? As an emerging adult people have enough knowledge and experience to feel ready for full autonomy, but perhaps there is still a feeling of being held back. I find it interesting, but don’t fully relate to it and as I get older I find it mildly annoying.
This is an original type of story. If you like fantasy and are ok with it not having elves, and trolls and the like then you will enjoy this book. Figuring out the mystery of what was going on along with Ann was well worth the time to read. It was very enjoyable.
WOW. I have read a lot of paranormal romance books, but they usually follow the same cliché predictable plots. Normally I don’t mind, if it aint broke don’t fix it, right? Well every now and again a book comes along and reminds me that sometimes you should improve what isn’t broken. That’s what The Reader by MK Harkins has done.
This book has great notes of love triangles, quasi-dystopian, action, mystery, and romance all rolled into one fast paced, non stop, cant put it down novel.
I just finished and I’ve already purchased the second book! Can’t wait to see what else MK Harkins writes!
*review copy provided by author*
Easy read
This is the 1st book I’ve read written by MK Harkins; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved the idea of this book. I feel like its still under developed. The gift of the reader wasn’t as utilized as I hoped it would be and even though there was a good story with some twists and turn it was just kind of lacking for me. I just wanted more depth to it. It felt kind of one dimensional.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed reading The Reader, it was a quick read with a few unexpected plot twists. One thing I really had a connection with was the fact that Ann loved to read.
I will be reading the next book as soon as I can
My full review is on my blog https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com/2020/07/21/the-reader-1/
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
„The Reader“ by M.K. Harkins, an UF/Paranormal story with some dystopian tropes thrown in the mix, follows the main character, Ann Baker, as she wakes up on a deserted island without not memory whatsoever of how she ended there in the first place, or the two guys (Devon and Archer) that claim to be her friends. Even with a sense of foreboding, she has not other chance as to follow the guys to their dwelling. Once there she is welcomed with mixed feelings. The group claim to be Readers, a high evolved group of humans who are mind-readers, who are fighting the Jacks (who can hijack other persons bodies) and believe Ann to be a special Reader that can indeed read the minds of the readers and have the power to end the conflict between Readers and Jacks. The Readers know who she is, and what has happened to her, and they facilitate the information easily, but Ann still has to find out by herself, what has happened before making the decision that it expected of her and could cost her a lot more that her own existence.
It is a fast-packed book, even at +250 pages, with in deep character description and various and defined characters, Devon, Archer, Lucy, Suzie and Doc, all play an important role in the story. There are some predictable developments, as the inevitable YA love triangle + girl jealousy, but even those have a precise place in the overall plot. Ann is a very interesting character, instantly relatable to reader, who can easily “walk into Ann shoes” as the world is described, and the story develops. Ann is naïve but strong, with an innate cleverness that allows her to navigate the situation she is thrown in and discern between what they want her to do and what should be done.
The story is well-written and easy to read, combining elements of romance, dystopia and urban fantasy to create a whole new world, fully credible and explained.
I was unable to retrieve an electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley but did eventually buy a copy. And I’m so glad I did – this was a quick read that grabs you early on and doesn’t let go till the final chapter. M. K. Harkins is an author I will add to my must-read category. She has several books out that look enticing.
The Reader takes place in Washington State, from the San Juan Islands through Seattle and into the Cascades. Good descriptive passages that bring alive that area, and protagonists who are solid and well rounded. Devon and Archer are enticing, Ann is a doll, though a little naive and the whole setup in the mountain is an interesting – no, awesome – and imaginative ‘safe place’. This world, created in the mind of M. K. Harkins, has possibilities.
MK Harkins is a new author that I look forward to reading more in the future. The character development and world building are above par. The plotline pulled me in from the first chapter, and the twist and turns kept me intrigued. The minute you think you have it all figured out, it changes, and you are forced to rethink everything.
A Gripping & Original 4.5 Star Read!!
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
This is a futuristic look at a race of people that evolved from humans, well 3 originally!! The Seerer’s, The Readers & the Jacks (Hijackers). The Seerer’s had the ability to see the future, the Readers could read minds & the strongest of them could also influence thoughts of others – both of these races were immortal. Then there were the 3rd Race, The Hijackers or Jacks. They lived mortal lives & no powers other than technical knowledge that could be used to steer the human race in what ever direction was best for them. All 3 races worked together for the betterment of mankind & lived & loved in harmony. Until the seerers to read a great war – the Jacks were going to wipe them out, leaving only the two races left!! Before it occurred they foretold of a List One that would hold the abilities of all 3 Races & whom that person sided with would win the final great war between the Jacks & the Readers!!
Ann washes ashore somewhere, feeling like she’s near death! She’s, thankfully soon rescued & transported to a mountain compound. They gradually, over days & weeks explain to her that believe she’s a reader like they are. They explain their millenniums long history & why the Jacks turned on both of the Races that they’d peacefully worked with for so long! They think her amnesia is trauma based from her parents deaths! She gradually settles in & makes a true friend in Lucy. She’s one of her rescuers younger sisters, Devon. He’s a grumpy bugger even though he’s gorgeous & his touch lights a fire inside her. He’s also infuriating & dismissive of her. Archer, her other rescuer, is his opposite. He’s blond – still gorgeous, but he’s lightness & carefree, affectionate & friendly!! She can’t hear his thoughts though, she can sometimes head Devons, She’s so confused
At a party she hears an outside broadcast – it changed everything & has her running from the Reader’s as she thinks they’ve lied to her! From this point on her life becomes more turbulent than ever before. She faces murder, betrayal, lies, great heart break & the ultimate sacrifice!!
This is an absolutely wonderful read. I loved every page & look forward to reading book #2
Debbie, 1970, UK
I got this book because the cover just kept showing up as a recommendation and tempted me, until I finally gave in and bought it. This is one of those books that you cannot put down once you start reading. From the first page to the last I was completely absorbed and entertained. The writing was excellent, the concept unique, and the characters were absolutely believable. The story is of a group of people that can read minds, and their adversaries that can usurp human bodies to carry their souls is unusual and intriguing. The centuries of battle between them is the premise of the book.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I cannot wait to read another book in this series. It can be read as a stand alone, which I liked. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
The Reader by M.K. Harkins is a mix of paranormal and fantasy. This is one book that is a true page turner from the beginning and keeps you hooked all the way to the end. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I loved it!!
In The Reader the author introduces us, the reader, to a cast of unique characters and beings who are human but yet so much more so. The main character, Ann, wakes up on a beach with a nasty case of amnesia and a gunshot wound. She’s rescued by two young men and taken to a secret compound. My curiosity is immediately piqued as I’m eager to learn what has happened to Ann. She’s able to pick up on a few of one of the men’s thoughts. This, understandably, shocks her as a part of her thinks that he spoke out loud but he didn’t. The story goes on to build that Ann learns some pretty deep history concerning the people that she’s currently with and that they are called Readers. The deeper the story goes the more I want to know more.
I love how the author weaves the history of the Readers, Jackers, and Seers. Each of these groups is unique and interesting, but only one seems to be truly dangerous. There are some heartbreaking moments in this book, but it just made me enjoy this book even more. I could honestly see this book being played out in real-life.
There isn’t much that I don’t like about this book. I’m disappointed in Ann a few times, but I understand why those situations happened and played out. I am pleased to say that there are little to no editorial issues to be found in this book.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. This book is fantastic and a must read for those who enjoy a good mix of paranormal, fantasy, mystery and thriller because this book has it all. The romance, when it really develops to a level, does speed up, but it works, so I’m not complaining. I am eager to read the next book in this series, as I’m sure it’s bound to be as good as this one!
The Reader (The Immortal Series)
by M.K. Harkins
Rated 5 stars
Wow! What an amazing story! The world building was perfect. The characters drew me in and didnt want to let go. They were fun, serious, different and strong willed. I even chuckled and said “Oh!” A couple times. I loved the story of the readers, the jacks and the seers. Ann, Archer and Devon were Intriguing and I just kept turning pages until I knew all about them and all their secrets. I was amazed by Ann more than once. She might have no memory but those memory muscles….they work perfectly. Ha ha. Right Devon?? I loved the idea of “The Lost One”. Some of the history was tedious but it was needed as well to understand the future story. I enjoyed learning about where The Readers lived and how they made things work. Very smart!
If Ann is the Lost One she will need to soul bond with either Devon, Archer, Lucy Or Marcus. What happens if more than one feels the beginnings of the bond. Who will Ann choose?
This is not my first book by the author. I enjoy all of her stories. They are inventive and interesting. This one was no exception. There was action, action and more action. The wording flows nicely and the story catches my attention. I loved the world and the characters. I can not wait to read the next in this series….The Jack!
The Reader by M.K. Harkins
5 out of 5 stars
The Reader is the first book in the Immortal series written by M.K. Harkins and I have read a few of this author books and she is amazing. The characters are well written and amazing I loved the way they interacted with each other. The way this author described the scenery was incredible and I could picture myself there.
Ann Baker is an eighteen year old girl who is being hunted on top of this she was shot and has no memory when she wakes in shallow water on a deserted Pacific Northwest island. She is soon approached by two young men claiming to be her friends. Something isn’t right, but when gunshots sound, Ann is left with little choice but to allow Devon and Archer to help her escape. Soon she finds herself in their North Bend mountain compound, where the higher evolved humans claim to be mind-readers. While Ann heals, she realizes they believe her to be one of the last and most powerful of all – The Lost One.
She’s welcomed by most with opened arms, but not everyone is happy about her arrival. A jealous adversary has plans for Ann, which spirals the entire Reader community into chaos.
As lies, murder, and betrayal threaten to rip apart the once harmonious mountain dwellers, Ann is thrust into making a decision that could save or devastate not only The Readers, but all of mankind. But there’s just one glitch: by doing so it may require her to make the ultimate sacrifice can she make this sacrifice?
I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read the next book in this series…
Review by @tracym