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
Unlikely Witnesses by Leslea Wahl
When four boys glimpse a crime in their Colorado town they end up in an interrogation cell of the FBI.
Ornamental Graces by Carolyn Astfalk
A great romantic drama about how authentic love can restore life to two people who have been hurt in the past.
A Very Jurassic Christmas by Corinna Turner
Christmas with Jurassic dinosaurs is often wild!
Interview with Ashlee Cowles, of The Poppy & The Rose
A mystery novel aboard The Titanic.
The Silence of Bones by June Hur
A young slave girl in ancient Korea investigates a murder & meets real life Korean Catholic saints
Feel-Good Books For Pandemic Summer
Book Therapy to chase the blues away
The Wish Thief by C.D. Verhoff
Glory steals an unusual gem to save her family but winds up threatening an entire world.
Please Don’t Feed the Dinosaurs by Corinna Turner
A series of dino adventures that has been doing better what the mainstream Jurassic Park series only recently attempted.
The City and The Dungeon by Matthew P. Schmidt
Who knew fighting monsters in a D&D dungeon could convince him that not everything can be attributed to a chance roll of the dice?
Most Highly Favored Daughter by Janice Palko
Her perfect life hides her city’s darkest secrets. Can Cara face the light of truth and come to understand real love?
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.
Anyone But Him by Theresa Linden
What if you woke up one day and didn’t recognize the person you were sleeping next to?
The Phantom Phoenix
A humble phoenix rises from the ashes to clean up corrupt, 1920s Chicago in this thrilling superhero comic
Honor at Stake by Declan Finn
If you’re looking for a vampire-romance with a truly unique twist look no further.
Shadowmancer by G.P. Taylor
A dark fantasy along the lines of Revelation itself.
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?
How Sweet the Sound by Courtney Guest Kim
Annette makes all the wrong decisions for her love life—but through Grace finds true wisdom.
680 Miles Away By Tara J. Stone
Will Evie run away for good, or will she fight for Finn?
Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation By Fr. Josh Johnson
Fr. Josh addresses some of the common misconceptions people have about God and what getting to actually know him actually means.
The Poppy and The Rose by Ashlee Cowles
While abroad in England, Taylor discovers a mystery linking her to an heiress and passenger aboard The Titanic.