Loved it. Even more than the first book. Where I thought that one was a little sedate, especially in the beginning, this one did not have that problem. It was still heartwarming, cute, and caring, but there were also serious problems to overcome.

I did think the medical professionals, both in the hospital and the supervisor at the university, were out of line. I don't understand why the medical profession has such an obsession with exhausting their residents, but not to allow for the severe medical condition that Jahir has is ridiculous. To then push him to endanger himself when they don't even understand what they are asking from him is criminal. To scoff at him having been endangered when he's just collapsed, just because he did it in a hospital that could have helped him, is callous. I don't care what motivated it, this was not good medical ethics. And the supervisor had no right to play with them as she did. It was disrespectful.

But I loved Vasiht'h standing up for Jahir. I loved the mindline, the care of Jahir's therapists and some of his colleagues. I also liked the student cases and the more leisurely pacing of the second half of the book.
I would say that story-wise, maybe this is not a 5 star book. The story is relatively simple and I've definitely read books that are way more intricate, with better world building as well. But the world building is still good, and the simple story doesn't detract from its enjoyment. Perhaps it adds to it. In any case, this book is so positive, warm, and caring, and so good at what it is, that I'm ending up with 5 stars anyway. ( )

Well, I thought I'd already written this review, but I suppose I haven't. I really ought to, before the next book in the series comes out and I become even further behind. And besides, it's the sequel to the book that really got my teeth sunk into this author's work, so why shouldn't I pay it some mind?

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[b:Mindline|19493243|Mindline (The Dreamhealers)|M.C.A. Hogarth|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1387171990s/19493243.jpg|27585306] is an amazing follow-up to [b:Mindtouch|18107842|Mindtouch|M.C.A. Hogarth|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1371823136s/18107842.jpg|25429640], the first of the duology. We continue to follow two of my favorite of [a:M.C.A. Hogarth|65211|M.C.A. Hogarth|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1294085991p2/65211.jpg]'s characters, the Eldritch Jahir Seni Galare and the Glaseah Vasiht'h, as they continue to find their way not only in the world they are growing into, but also their expanding relationship. Mindtouch left off with a horrific cliffhanger as the two split company in a heartbreaking manner (which I have only forgiven Micah for by the glory that is this book), but needless to say, Mindline sees them back together again, and Jahir into his residency at one of the most prestigious hospitals he could work at.

While I haven't had a chance to really look in-depth yet at the amount of research and effort Hogarth put into the book, it shows in how seamless the transition is—both in clarity for the reader and jaggedness for the characters. Jahir is entirely unprepared for the physicality of the world, the strain the residency places on him, the unnerving emptiness being apart from his friend leaves in his heart. Vasiht'h doesn't know what he's doing, really, but he knows that he can't do it sitting back at school with Jahir a world away. He dives head-first into a world he hadn't expected to enter, and finds himself required to hold not only his own, but a portion of his friend's as well. And through it all, the two find themselves closer and closer bound, until finally there is a choice to be made...and it may alter the course of their lives forever.

While I have often commended Hogarth on her writing, and could type out words of praise for an entirely unnecessary amount of time, there is a scene in this book that truly shows her shining at her brightest. I won't give the details, as it comes near the end of the book and gives a rather major point of the conclusion away, but it is a wonderful balance of anticipation and panic. Jahir is faced with an abrupt shift in his future, and can feel the floor give out beneath him—and that is a feeling that was absolutely replicated in me. Very few times have I ever been so moved by a book, but as he walked through those moments, I felt my heart sink and my stomach twist. I knew it couldn't be—Micah wouldn't have done that to us, to them—but I couldn't bring that to mind then, and couldn't think of anything that could be different even if I had been able to. I was lost in the despair Jahir felt, the absolutely and utter defeat...which meant when the floor suddenly came back and straightened us out again, I exclaimed out loud at my Nook and pointed fingers and confused everyone at my place of employ greatly. It was the longest page or two of a book I have ever read, and the some of the most fulfilling moments in my reading experience.

There are portions of this book that make me bounce with glee, and parts that make my heart stop in fear, and parts that shred my heart into bits and force tears to my eyes. Yet again, Hogarth's characters are real enough to walk around your room and force you to know their world just as well as they do, and these two in particular are champions at stealing away hearts and doing as they will with them. We are all just lucky that Jahir and Vasiht'h are as compassionate and caring as they are, and that they are just as likely to apologize for the pain and offer as much consolation as they are able, as they are to do anything. And for that, I will continue to be grateful. ( )

Just about as good as Mindtouch. Jahir is at his new residency...except that the planet he's on is even heavier than the university one, and he's in serious physical trouble. And then something bigger shows up, and he's the only one with a - not a handle on it, but a way in; everyone else is completely baffled, he's slightly less than completely baffled but it (literally) nearly kills him to use it. Fortunately Vasiht'h shows up _before_ Jahir manages to kill himself...The reaction of the hospital to Vasiht'h is really amusing, which is good because there isn't much else that's amusing in the book. Very very rich, and deep, and scary. And then the book goes on to a completely different story, back on the university planet - ok, not completely different, it's the next step and flows from what happened at Mercy, but it's a very different flavor of things (much more similar to Mindtouch). It's more about the two of them working together at their own level/speed/style, rather than the over-accelerated matter of the first section. I enjoyed it, watching them learn. It's interesting seeing the limitations of the mindline - how they _don't_ always know what the other will think or feel about something. I do love these two. I couldn't resist and went on to the next book immediately (third of four-and-a-half - four books and a novella. The fourth book isn't out yet, as of early 2018). ( )

I really enjoyed Mindtouch and was thrilled when I saw that Mindline had been released. In Mindtouch, Jahir was given a choice between remaining near Vasiht'h and developing their budding mindline, or leaving his new friends and the mindline behind and accepting a residency at Mercy Hospital on Selnor. He chose to go to Selnor. Mindline picks up where Mindtouch left off. Vasiht'h has decided it was a mistake to send Jahir off on his own and has arranged to finish up as much of his education as possible through distance learning on Selnor. While he is traveling to Jahir as quickly as his limited funds allow, Jahir, unaware that his friend is coming after him, is rapidly running himself ragged. Not only is the residency program extremely difficult, Selnor's higher gravity is making every day feel like a grueling marathon. Things only get worse when a large number of mysteriously comatose patients start showing up at Mercy.

I love Jahir and Vasiht'h. A lot. But it occurred to me, while I was reading this book, that they might be a bit too wonderful and nice for some readers. I think Vasiht'h's only failing in Mindline was that, when his temper finally exploded, which it only rarely did, it was hard for him to rein it in. Jahir had two main failings: he was so pretty that all humans fell a little in love with him (the stuff with Levine seemed unnecessary and repetitive after the minor incident with Berquist in the previous book), and he cared so much about others' well-being that he tended to neglect his own. I really wish the portion of the book in which Jahir was killing himself hadn't dragged on for so long – it made for painful reading.

Everyone around Jahir and Vasiht'h liked them or learned to like them. That didn't bug me, because I liked them too – sometimes I found myself reading with an involuntary smile on my face. What got to me was other characters' comments about their education/professional development. Jahir literally almost killed himself trying to save patients, even after it became clear that they could not be saved. I'd have thought he'd be censured for not recognizing his own physical limitations and for running the risk of turning himself into another patient in need of care or, worse, a corpse. Instead, he was later praised for his dedication.

When Jahir and Vasiht'h scheduled therapy sessions on their own after their faculty oversight canceled all their official appointments, I expected they'd be censured for doing something that could have potentially been dangerous or unethical (they were only student therapists, after all). And yet the same thing happened to them that happened to Jahir on Selnor: they were praised, told that there was no more they could be taught, and sent on their way. I would love to get a medical professional's perspective on this book, because this all seemed pretty dodgy to me.

Jahir and Vasiht'h were wonderful, nice people, a solid (asexual) couple, and students who were praised by every single teacher and patient they encountered. So, yes, they were more than a bit perfect. I can recognize that. But I loved them anyway, when I didn't want to throttle them for trying to kill themselves for the benefit of others. Mindline had fewer lovely, intimate moments than Mindtouch, but there were still some good ones. I enjoyed the hair cutting scene, and their negotiations over the details of owning their first apartment together. Their mindline added a new dimension to their relationship, allowing them to share memories and tastes.

The other characters in the book were, unfortunately, not quite as vivid as Jahir and Vasiht'h. I kept getting several of them mixed up. Paga, a Naysha (aquatic Pelted) and one of Jahir's physical therapists, was the most memorable of the bunch.

The structure of this book was odd. The first two thirds were a medical mystery of sorts, while the last third was quieter and, like Mindtouch, more focused on Jahir and Vasiht'h finishing up their schooling and trying to figure out what they were going to do with their lives. I had assumed that the epidemic of comatose patients would take up the entire book. Moving from the first two thirds into the last third was jarring, like stumbling from one story into another. I think, if that transition had been smoothed out, I'd have enjoyed the book even more than I did.

Overall, I liked this book. Jahir and Vasiht'h are, so far, my absolute favorite of Hogarth's creations, and, as usual, I enjoyed how alien culture was worked into the story. It's too bad this is a duology – I'd love a third book focused on the early days of setting up their own practice.

Extras:

At the beginning of the book, there's a brief glossary. At the end of the book, there's a recipe for Almond Saucer cookies.

(Original review, with read-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.) ( )