Genre
Audience
14 & Up
Author’s Worldview
Catholic
Year Published
2019
Themes
Reviewed by
M.S. Ocampo
The Academy Saga is a suspenseful contemporary romance. In the small town of Clovis, New Mexico, Katie Connelley is just trying to get by. She balances going to school, taking care of her family farm, and waiting tables at a diner on the weekends. Her younger brother, Andrew is being scouted by the Elite International Academy (EIA). Cadet Pete Davenport has been assigned to mentor him. However, as charming as Cadet Davenport is, and as prestigious as the Academy seems to be, there’s something Katie feels suspicious about. The last thing that Katie wants is to let her younger brother be in the care of strangers. The problem is that she’s not sure if her intuition is right, or if she’s being paranoid like her mother, who passed away.
Cadet Pete Davenport is a very attractive frenemy who falls for Katie’s girl-next-door style. Although the novel is mostly in Katie’s point-of-view, there are some scenes from Pete’s perspective. There’s definitely some truth to Katie’s fears in regards to the EIA, but it’s not certain as to what the Academy’s purpose is. Their business is to recruit the best and brightest, kids with special abilities, and place them in positions of prominence (almost like a junior level CIA).
While this novel is a great suspenseful read, there are some issues that might make readers uncomfortable. Katie’s father is verbally abusive and frequently absent from the story. There are also instances of gaslighting, as Pete is actively making sure that Katie doesn’t interfere with the Academy’s agenda. One other minor nitpick is that I find it hard to believe that Katie, who refuses to say the Lord’s name in vain, would willingly listen to gangsta rap.
Overall, this novel does a great job of telling a suspenseful, thrilling story that’s hard to put down. On top of that, the romance between Katie and Pete is very believable, with a lot of chemistry and tension. I would recommend this novel to fans of James Patterson’s novels or One of Us Is Lying. It’s a great read for a general audience, as there aren’t any overt Catholic themes aside from Katie’s own faith and adherence to a modest lifestyle.
Join Here for FREE to Never Miss a Deal
Find new favorites & Support Catholic Authors
In Pieces by Rhonda Ortiz
Is a marriage without love the only way to save Molly Chase’s reputation?
Stay with Me by Carolyn Astfalk
Can Rebecca get out from under her domineering father and find love with the forbidden Catholic boy determined to win her heart?
A Very Jurassic Christmas by Corinna Turner
Christmas with Jurassic dinosaurs is often wild!
The Bishop of 12th Avenue by Ray Lucit
A street kid gets ordained a Bishop in a post apocalyptic world. Talk about a shakeup in the priesthood.
Finnian and the Seven Mountains (Vol.2) By, Philip Kosloski and Michael Lavoy
Can one map be the key to stopping the Viking Invasion?
Good to the Last Drop by Declan Finn
Marco thought his problems were over when he took on the vampire council, until he gets bit by a werewolf. Will this ruin things with his vampire girlfriend?
Voice in the Storm By: Eric Thomas Ruthford
Four young teens find their voice in the storm while navigating the humorous social complexities of summer camp.
The Lion’s Heart by Dena Hunt
A deep, honest story of emotional struggle, temptation, and sacrifice.
Shadows: Visible and Invisible By Catholic Teens Books
Bringing the holy back to All Hallows, these short stories entertain & remind us of the mercy we all rely upon.
Unclaimed, Nameless, & Vanished by Erin McCole Cupp
Jane Eyre re-imaginged in a world where cloning, and genetic manipulation have returned us to a class system.
The Needle of Avocation by G.M. Baker
A match no one wants, except perhaps the groom. A mystery that could destroy everything.
Saint Magnus: The Last Viking by Susan Peek
A young Viking Prince evades a warlord while finding his own harrowing path to sainthood.
Someday by Corinna Turner
Ordinary schoolgirls face a terrible fate: abuse, forced marriages, and even death at the hands of Islamic extremists.
Saint Michael: Above the 38th Parallel by Shanti Guy
The true story of St. Michael, the original punch-communism-in-the-face superhero
Servant of the Suffering: Rose Hawthorne by Voyage Comics
The great-great-great-granddaughter of a Salem witch trial judge is on her way to Catholic sainthood.
Champion of Valdeor by Sandralena Hanley
Fed up with modern 1st person, present tense narratives bursting with ‘hip’ characters? Look no further!
Lance and the Veil by Kevin Rush
She was Christ’s comforter, he, his executioner. Can the two find love in each other’s arms?
Comet Dust by C.D. Verhoff
A Catholic end-of days inspired by the private revelations of the saints.
If Wishes Were Dragons By Karina Fabian
What happens when LARPing becomes a lot more real than a group of D&D players can handle?
Saving the Statue of Liberty By Andrea Jo Rodgers
Can John save the Statue of Liberty and keep from getting kicked off the team and out of the Academy?



