We are so happy to be part of The Last Academy Tour today!
Don't forget to enter the giveaway below!
 |
Published: April 30th 2013
Publisher: Point
*E-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange of an honest review*
What is this prep school preparing them for?
Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam's new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don't seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what? The answer will leave Cam—and readers—stunned and breathless, in this thrilling debut novel.
I can't really decide how I want to start this review, so I'm going to go right to it.
Camden is a 14-year-old girl that is sent to a boarding school to start high school. Away from home and alone in the other side of the country, she soon finds some new friends and new enemies.
Her roommate Tamara, hates her on the spot and then she has frenemies relationship with the popular girl.
I really enjoyed the characters in the Last Academy, each and everyone of them is unique and has a very well defined voice and at the same time, they have something in common and pulls them together and apart at the same time.
Cam is a great main character. She's strong and brave even when she's scared. She's loyal to her friends and she's willing to do anything to keep them safe.
The plot is intriguing. It catches you, even when the book may go slow in a few parts. Life in the academy has a dark, hunting feel to it that contrast with the care free way the teachers and students act at points. But living under the same roof may do that to you and Ms. Applegate brings life on campus in great detail to life in The Last Academy's pages.
I really loved the idea behind the plot. It was well developed.
I think, my biggest problem with this was the spoiler that used to be in the summary. While yes, there's hints at what's going on through the book, I think that bit was just too much.
Or maybe there were too many hints earlier, but having an idea of how it's going to end is no fun... however it really depends on the reader's knowledge whether you catch them or not.
While there's some romance, is not the main focus on the story, or for me it doesn't, but Cam and Mark Elliot's relationship is sweet, innocent and works amazingly with the rest of the book. You really fall in love with him. I wanted to hug him and never let go.
The last chapter had me teary eyed. It's probably my favorite part of the book. It full with raw emotion and a great ending for the story. I absolutely loved it.
The Last Academy is a great debut novel and I'm really looking forward to Anne Applegate's future books.
ABOUT ANNE APPLEGATE
Anne Applegate was born in Chico, California. Most of her childhood was spent moving across America with her family, nomad style.
When Anne was fourteen, her parents sent her to boarding school so she could spend four years in a single educational system. As it turned out, her family then promptly settled into a small mid-western town and lived there for the next sixteen years. Anne still hasn’t figured out if this means something.
After graduation, she went on to Tufts University in Medford, MA, where she had a wicked good time. Eventually, she wound up back on the west coast, where she married a fantastic Californian guy. Together, they have three children.
For the last twelve years, Anne has lived in San Luis Obispo County. This is by far the longest time she has stayed in any one place her whole life. She immensely enjoys living where 1) the sun always shines and 2) she isn’t the weirdest person in town.
Great review!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book to read. Thank you for the chance to win this book.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck!
Delete