rosetyper9's review against another edition
4.0
I really wish I would start writing reviews as soon as I finish a book because I am drawing a blank on what to say about this book. I liked it, yes, as you can see by my five star rating. Let's try and detail it up now.
The characters are interesting and intriguing. I instantly wanted to learn more about them when I started reading. I am a Team Jack member ALL THE WAY! I don't like Cam at all and I am actually on Jack's side of the events all the way until the end of the book. I don't trust Mr. Judan or Cam. I also believe that Dancia (cool name) is a bit nieve about her ability and the way she could or could not use it. I think she could have easily figured it all out if she would have applied herself sooner.
The plot of the story is excellent but I think that Dancia is way too hard on Jack through almost the entire book. She is supposed to be his friend not a judge, her treatment of him really annoyed me. Anyway, plot is excellent, moves fast, and you will be done with this book and wanting more before you even feel like you have gotten into it. As with any cliff-hanging ending I wanted way more when I was finished. I will definitely be looking out for the next book!
The characters are interesting and intriguing. I instantly wanted to learn more about them when I started reading. I am a Team Jack member ALL THE WAY! I don't like Cam at all and I am actually on Jack's side of the events all the way until the end of the book. I don't trust Mr. Judan or Cam. I also believe that Dancia (cool name) is a bit nieve about her ability and the way she could or could not use it. I think she could have easily figured it all out if she would have applied herself sooner.
The plot of the story is excellent but I think that Dancia is way too hard on Jack through almost the entire book. She is supposed to be his friend not a judge, her treatment of him really annoyed me. Anyway, plot is excellent, moves fast, and you will be done with this book and wanting more before you even feel like you have gotten into it. As with any cliff-hanging ending I wanted way more when I was finished. I will definitely be looking out for the next book!
thecozyreaderwbo's review against another edition
1.0
Initial Review
Wasn't that great. Official review to come.
Page 83: Getting interesting...finally.
I'm usually a big fan of the boarding school for gifted students with super powers. And while I enjoyed the characters, to an extent, this book just didn't wrap it all together as good as I've come to expect from other series that have this sort of theme:
[b:The Summoning|7810517|The Summoning (Darkest Powers, #1)|Kelley Armstrong|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-355yxnAL._SL75_.jpg|2451397]
[b:Hex Hall|5287473|Hex Hall (Hex Hall, #1)|Rachel Hawkins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1259686913s/5287473.jpg|5354884]
And while those two are more paranormal I think they are still comparable.
I felt that the story line took too long to get moving that the setting, while interesting, was dragged out a bit too much and more details to what was actually going on needed to be addressed but in a better fashion than it was already being done.
The timing was also arranged weird. Dancia, what a weird name too, was able to go home to her grandmother's for the weekend but that was hardly ever shown. I really liked her grandmother and wanted more interaction between them.
The love triangle was also pretty infuriating.
And the ending pretty much sucked. I was not a fan.
At this time I have no plans of picking up the next book of this series.
Wasn't that great. Official review to come.
Page 83: Getting interesting...finally.
I'm usually a big fan of the boarding school for gifted students with super powers. And while I enjoyed the characters, to an extent, this book just didn't wrap it all together as good as I've come to expect from other series that have this sort of theme:
[b:The Summoning|7810517|The Summoning (Darkest Powers, #1)|Kelley Armstrong|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-355yxnAL._SL75_.jpg|2451397]
[b:Hex Hall|5287473|Hex Hall (Hex Hall, #1)|Rachel Hawkins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1259686913s/5287473.jpg|5354884]
And while those two are more paranormal I think they are still comparable.
I felt that the story line took too long to get moving that the setting, while interesting, was dragged out a bit too much and more details to what was actually going on needed to be addressed but in a better fashion than it was already being done.
The timing was also arranged weird. Dancia, what a weird name too, was able to go home to her grandmother's for the weekend but that was hardly ever shown. I really liked her grandmother and wanted more interaction between them.
The love triangle was also pretty infuriating.
And the ending pretty much sucked. I was not a fan.
At this time I have no plans of picking up the next book of this series.
jeev1017's review against another edition
3.0
Delcroix Academy..............another one of my greatest reads. I loved this book, so much, especially because of it's impressive book cover................but the only thing that I was disappointed about was that Dancia ended up with Cam... I don't like Cam at all, and I was soo sure she was going to be with Jack....and that really got to me...I am never wrong :( ..............but whatever, overall this book was amazing!!!
theladygonzalez's review against another edition
3.0
After reading the book description I was eagerly anticipating reading The Candidates. While I enjoyed the idea of the story, the characters seemed a bit off to me. As a reader, characters are what really sell me on book and unfortunately in the case of the Candidates, I was not all that impressed.
Dancia, the book's protagonist, has the potential to be a great character. She is empathetic and possess some wicked awesome powers. There were certain parts of the book in which I enjoyed Dancia's character but I did have a few problems with her as well. First of all, her characters personality isn't really defined in the book. Sure, she is empathetic to those around her, but she really just goes along with what other people are saying. She never really makes her own decisions, just follows what either Jack or Cam tells her. It bothered me that she relied on what Cam said to make her decisions. This brings me to my second major problem with her; she was kind of a terrible friend to Jack. He obviously needed her and she just dropped him because Cam was "worried" about her. Jack was a tremendous friend to her; he was always there when she needed him; he definitely got the short end of the stick on that one.
Another character I had mad issues with was Cam. I just do not like him or trust him. In fact, I think he is kind of a sleaze bucket. He straight up lies to Dancia and pushes her away from Jack. Then, she catches him in a lie and calls him on it, and then forgives him. I don't know if she was just stupid or if he was using his powers on her. Honestly, I think his powers are creepy. I would not want anything to do with that guy. I don't want to give away what his powers are, but I just would not trust my feelings around him anymore.
Obviously, I felt Dancia's love interest should have been Jack. Jack was a far more interesting character and I felt like he actually cared about her. I am afraid we won't see much of him in the next book, which would really disappoint me. Because honestly, I think the rest of the characters are rather boring.
However, like I said before, the storyline has a lot of potential. I am really digging the whole X-men boarding school vibe and I think the books could progress nicely. I am hoping that in the next book Dancia will stand on her own two feet and develop a little more personality.
Dancia, the book's protagonist, has the potential to be a great character. She is empathetic and possess some wicked awesome powers. There were certain parts of the book in which I enjoyed Dancia's character but I did have a few problems with her as well. First of all, her characters personality isn't really defined in the book. Sure, she is empathetic to those around her, but she really just goes along with what other people are saying. She never really makes her own decisions, just follows what either Jack or Cam tells her. It bothered me that she relied on what Cam said to make her decisions. This brings me to my second major problem with her; she was kind of a terrible friend to Jack. He obviously needed her and she just dropped him because Cam was "worried" about her. Jack was a tremendous friend to her; he was always there when she needed him; he definitely got the short end of the stick on that one.
Another character I had mad issues with was Cam. I just do not like him or trust him. In fact, I think he is kind of a sleaze bucket. He straight up lies to Dancia and pushes her away from Jack. Then, she catches him in a lie and calls him on it, and then forgives him. I don't know if she was just stupid or if he was using his powers on her. Honestly, I think his powers are creepy. I would not want anything to do with that guy. I don't want to give away what his powers are, but I just would not trust my feelings around him anymore.
Obviously, I felt Dancia's love interest should have been Jack. Jack was a far more interesting character and I felt like he actually cared about her. I am afraid we won't see much of him in the next book, which would really disappoint me. Because honestly, I think the rest of the characters are rather boring.
However, like I said before, the storyline has a lot of potential. I am really digging the whole X-men boarding school vibe and I think the books could progress nicely. I am hoping that in the next book Dancia will stand on her own two feet and develop a little more personality.
randomly_kait's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really good, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next one!
It reminded me a little bit of Tower Prep, which is good, because I'm in love with that show.
A more detailed review coming... eventually...
It reminded me a little bit of Tower Prep, which is good, because I'm in love with that show.
A more detailed review coming... eventually...
chllybrd's review against another edition
4.0
review from http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blogspot.com/
I read some mixed reviews but I liked the synopses and loved the cover so thought I would give it a shot. Dancia is someone who has tried to stay under the radar through out her school years and wants to continue blending in. One day some people from Delcroix Academy show up and recruit her, she doesn't understand what they could possibly want with her she isn't rich like all the other kids and she isn't extraordinary in anything she does and she doesn't thing they have any clue about her powers. She decided to give it a shot and starts making friends right away and really starts to come out of her shell but her new friend Jack brings up good points about weirdness going on in the school and she just cant let it go the more she sees and hears. Dancia's character was very enjoyable to watch grow through out the book. The love triangle wasn't over the top. The secret wasn't what I expected and I liked how it played out. Inara Scott really created a neat world inside of Delcoix academy with the special powers people have and the way Dancia goes about finding herself and what she can do. Everything was really well rounded and blended together well. It was a quick read that kept me entertained.
I read some mixed reviews but I liked the synopses and loved the cover so thought I would give it a shot. Dancia is someone who has tried to stay under the radar through out her school years and wants to continue blending in. One day some people from Delcroix Academy show up and recruit her, she doesn't understand what they could possibly want with her she isn't rich like all the other kids and she isn't extraordinary in anything she does and she doesn't thing they have any clue about her powers. She decided to give it a shot and starts making friends right away and really starts to come out of her shell but her new friend Jack brings up good points about weirdness going on in the school and she just cant let it go the more she sees and hears. Dancia's character was very enjoyable to watch grow through out the book. The love triangle wasn't over the top. The secret wasn't what I expected and I liked how it played out. Inara Scott really created a neat world inside of Delcoix academy with the special powers people have and the way Dancia goes about finding herself and what she can do. Everything was really well rounded and blended together well. It was a quick read that kept me entertained.
felinity's review against another edition
3.0
Very formulaic. I know it's YA, but that doesn't preclude innovation. (And it probably doesn't help that I recently read Mercedes Lackey's "Legacies" books either.) Girl with a hidden power but otherwise very normal gets recruited to the mysterious and exclusive private boarding school; the overly stunning older boy who helps recruit her takes an unusual interest in her; the one person there who seems like a regular guy (untalented, not a genius and poor) is made to seem suspicious by aforementioned stunning older boy. Needless to say, things for Dancia don't quite add up, and she gets drawn into a conspiracy.
If you can put that aside, it was relatively enjoyable. The character interactions were interesting, and it was a shame that Dancia's friends were basically relegated to the "chatty girlfriend" level of involvement.
I can't say I'd try too hard to find any more of this series - it's just too predictable - but it wouldn't kill me to spend another couple of hours reading one.
If you can put that aside, it was relatively enjoyable. The character interactions were interesting, and it was a shame that Dancia's friends were basically relegated to the "chatty girlfriend" level of involvement.
I can't say I'd try too hard to find any more of this series - it's just too predictable - but it wouldn't kill me to spend another couple of hours reading one.
_tabae's review against another edition
3.0
Ganz nette mystery school Story aber hat sich leider ein wenig gezogen da bist zum Ende kaum etwas passiert ist und man eigentlich von Anfang an wusste wie es ausgeht. Trotzdem ganz gut geschrieben und unterhaltsam.
riverdogbookco's review against another edition
3.0
Another perpetual search: teen reads suitable for non-teen readers (and teen readers as well). Here's a new one to add to that list, and you know what I like best about it? The paranormal powers discussed in this book have nothing to do with vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, necromancers, ghosts, angels, or fallen angels. Don't get me wrong, I like me a good vampire/werewolf novel just like almost everyone else. But it's nice to break away from that every now and again, with your good, old-fashioned, unexplainable paranormal ability.
Danica Lewis tries her best to be the most mediocre person around. She dresses in neutral colors so she can literally blend into the background. Her desire to go unnoticed doesn't stem from a place of hostility – rather, she's afraid to care about people too much. When she does care, and she sees someone she likes being threatened in some way, bad things happen to those doing the threatening. Bullies have tree branches suddenly dropped on their heads. A man threatening her grandmother "slips" and ends up in a coma.
As inconspicuous as Danny wishes to be, certain people are watching. Two recruiters for Delcroix Academy, the prestigious private academy on the other side of town, show up on Danica's grandmother's doorstep, offering Danica a full scholarship for all four years of high school. Danica knows she would be crazy not to accept, but why would Delcroix – the school that collects the best of the best – want ordinary her (well, ordinary minus that special power she's not thinking about)?
Danica's freshman year begins, and against her better judgment, she begins to make friends. Maybe this is a place where anything's possible. But just as she's beginning to let down her guard, her new friend Jack reveals Danica's not the only one with a power, and they both may have been specially chosen to attend this school. Delcroix's students excel at gymnastics and are computer whizzes, but what if some of them have special powers too? Danica doesn't want to believe it but what other explanation could there be for receiving a full scholarship and for Cam, the hottest guy in school, to hang around her a lot? He must be part of the group of Watchers, evaluating her on the power she struggles to keep hidden. It can't possibly be that he likes her. Could it?
Now I have to be honest. I know most girls out there will probably be drawn to Cam, the perfect, charming, handsome older man, but I can't help but hope that Danica's friend Jack, the pierced, tattooed, misunderstood classmate of hers, gets the girl in the end. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Book 2.
Danica Lewis tries her best to be the most mediocre person around. She dresses in neutral colors so she can literally blend into the background. Her desire to go unnoticed doesn't stem from a place of hostility – rather, she's afraid to care about people too much. When she does care, and she sees someone she likes being threatened in some way, bad things happen to those doing the threatening. Bullies have tree branches suddenly dropped on their heads. A man threatening her grandmother "slips" and ends up in a coma.
As inconspicuous as Danny wishes to be, certain people are watching. Two recruiters for Delcroix Academy, the prestigious private academy on the other side of town, show up on Danica's grandmother's doorstep, offering Danica a full scholarship for all four years of high school. Danica knows she would be crazy not to accept, but why would Delcroix – the school that collects the best of the best – want ordinary her (well, ordinary minus that special power she's not thinking about)?
Danica's freshman year begins, and against her better judgment, she begins to make friends. Maybe this is a place where anything's possible. But just as she's beginning to let down her guard, her new friend Jack reveals Danica's not the only one with a power, and they both may have been specially chosen to attend this school. Delcroix's students excel at gymnastics and are computer whizzes, but what if some of them have special powers too? Danica doesn't want to believe it but what other explanation could there be for receiving a full scholarship and for Cam, the hottest guy in school, to hang around her a lot? He must be part of the group of Watchers, evaluating her on the power she struggles to keep hidden. It can't possibly be that he likes her. Could it?
Now I have to be honest. I know most girls out there will probably be drawn to Cam, the perfect, charming, handsome older man, but I can't help but hope that Danica's friend Jack, the pierced, tattooed, misunderstood classmate of hers, gets the girl in the end. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Book 2.
tldhuett's review against another edition
5.0
Inara Scott creates the most identifiable character there could be, Dancia Lewis. The "invisible" girl. Her main goal in life is to be average and forgettable. She is nothing of the sort though to Inara's readers. Dancia is the perfect heroine of such an almost X-men inspired story. Though I believe Delcroix Academy is a more sinister place than Professor Xevier's School for the Gifted... I could not put this book down as I fell in love with Dancia and Jack. I day dreamed for days afterward about what would happen next. Unfortunately for Inara Scott's readers, the release date for the next book, now titled The Marked, was pushed back to April 3, 2012. I can't wait to read it though, ;) since I won an ARC of it. =D