Synopsis
With an agoraphobic mother and a barely-there father, Sang abhors the isolation keeping her in the shadows. The only thing Sang craves is a fresh start and to be accepted as ordinary by her peers, because for her being different meant being cast out alone.
When her family moves to a new school district, Sang infiltrates a group of boys nearly perfect in every way. Grateful for an influence outside of her parents’ negativity, she quickly bonds with the boys, hoping to blend in and learn from them what it means to have a natural relationship with friends.
Only the boys have secrets of their own and they’ll do anything to keep her safe from the knowledge of the mysterious Academy that they've sworn allegiance to. Bit by bit, Sang discovers that her friends are far from the normalcy she expected. Will her loyalty change when she's forced to remain in the dark, or will she accept that she's traded one house of secrets for another?
Meet Kota, Victor, Silas, Nathan, Gabriel, Luke and North in a story about differences and loyalty, truth and mystery, friendships and heart-throbbing intimacy.
The Academy, ever vigilant.
Review
Introductions is a reasonable start to what seems like an interesting series.
The only problem with this book is the plotline, there isn’t one. This book introduces us to Sang, her interesting family life and the boys who become her friends. To me reading Introductions didn’t feel like I was reading a full book and instead felt more like reading just the (admittedly detailed and well written) opening to a book. This style of writing, though unsatisfying, allows the characters to be well developed.
Each chapter introduces us to a new character and by the end
of the book each and every one feels like a friend you have known for years.
Sang’s perspective on the world is refreshing due to the somewhat unique way
she has been raised by her mother. Her life is interesting and I want to know
more about it and the boys also add their own element of mystery.
This series has so much potential. Whilst book 1 took its
title literally and did little other than introduce the story I am hopeful that
more action will happen in book 2. This book did grab me enough to make me buy the sequel immediately.*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, this has not affected my opinions or rating in any way.*
The Academy: First Days (The Academy #2)
Synopsis
Sang Sorenson used to be the invisible girl in class. As a new student to Ashley Waters High School, Sang hopes that her new friends will be the change she’s been craving and will make fitting in a breeze.
But Academy students aren’t there to take it easy. The high school is overcrowded and rife with violence. When fights begin, Sang will uncover the true reason the boys traded in their private school life for a public one.
This year, Sang will no longer be invisible. This year, Sang is a target.
The principal and vice principal are hot to take Sang down, and her own mother is determined to entrap Sang forever in her belief that the safest place to be is in the shadows. Despite this, Nathan, Luke, Kota, North, Silas, Victor, and Gabriel will discover Sang’s unyielding loyalty.
And they will sorely need it.
The Academy, supremely influential.
Review
First Days is definitely better than Introductions. More things actually happen in this book and the mystery is built further. The characters are still the best thing about the book. There are not one but NINE gorgeous guys and I’m not sure who I like the most. Probably either Kota or North, or maybe Blackbourne, or Luke :P Don’t worry though, this book isn’t some crazy giant love triangle and the focus is on friendship rather than romance.
This book answers some of the questions brought up in book
one but in a way that only creates more questions. If you don’t like spending a
good portion of a book not knowing what is going on, then this series probably
isn’t for you.
The revelations at the end made me even more eager to find
out more. I need to know exactly what the academy is and also what is going on
with Sang’s family. Luckily book 3 will apparently be released by the end of
August so I don’t have too long to wait.
Laura
Posts
LOVE these books ;) Can't wait until next week for book 3!!
ReplyDeleteMe too! I'm very happy that I won't have long to wait until the next book and it probably won't be long until the final one either :)
DeleteAbsolutely fell in love with this series! Can not wait for Drop of Doubt or even the second Academy series (Scarab!)
ReplyDelete