Review: Book 4 in The Academy series - if you haven't checked it out yet, DO SO!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 18, 2013
OVERALL: 5 STARS!Story/Plot:5! - Yes, that's a HUGE WHOPPING 5, WITH EXCLAMATION MARK. So, this is book 4 in the Academy series by C.L. Stone.If anyone is glancing through my reviews - which I am horrible at compiling - if you came across my previous comments for books 1 - 3, you will find them sorely lacking. I apologize and shall try to go back and correct this so I can get EVERYONE to realize they need to read this amazing series. And I promise not to drop a lot of SPOILERS.Before I move on, I want to admit there aren't a lot of books out there that grip me from the first page straight through to the end of the book and headlong into the next book if it's a series. I will admit I love to read and I happily fall into the worlds authors create and don't want to leave, but even though it is difficult to explain I feel it more for certain books/series than others. The Academy series is unquestionably one of these.Re-read Value: 4 - I am 100% sure I will re-read these books. If I were honest with you, if I didn't have so many books on my TBR list currently, I would throw caution to the wind and re-read the series from the beginning to feed my addiction until the next book in the series is released. Maybe I should check my list for this month and see if I can do that . . .Continue Series: 5! - I am on tenterhooks here. The next book isn't available until January and I simply must find out what is going on with Sang and the guys. While pondering when the next book would become available and just how long I would have to suffer - god, I think it does sound like I am an addict facing withdrawals symptoms *sigh* - I went over to the author's website and found out the most amazing thing! If you are fan and are not aware yet, my I drop one spoiler? If you are saying no, please drop down to the next rating and if yes, here it is: Ms. Stone has 20 - yes, my fellow readers and fans, the big 2-0 - books outlines for this series and with a possibility of more to follow! Are you screaming and fangirling like I am? I know right?!Characters: 5 - I love the characters in The Academy series, both good, bad and the questionable. Mainly the good *smile* Who wouldn't? There are 9 - Kota, Victor, Silas, Nathan, Luke, North, Gabriel, Mr. Blackthorne & Dr. Green - very hot sexy guys you just gush over as you're reading the books. You're also calling them sweet and adorable or yelling at them to get their acts together. Of course that might just be me, but if you want to mock me, go ahead. And of course you have Sang, the luckiest girl in the whole universe. If your a girl, you will spend all your time reading the book thinking how lucky she is, how jealous you are and wondering what she is going to do. I won't go into the antagonists or the people we are still left looking at with huge question marks over their heads because as I mentioned up above, I don't want to provide spoilers & if I was honest, I would rant and rave about some of them and their antics and ruin the whole book for you. Trust me, just read the book and rant and rave yourself!Cover: 4 - The cover does in fact fit the image of this series. I only gave it a lower rating because *sigh* I am a little shallow and enjoyed the first two covers when this series was first being released. Now I am left in wonder at how hot and sexy the guys are.Genre Fulfillment: 5 - I wish I could put this at a higher rating. I guess that is confusing or maybe you think I am just being favorable because I LOVE this series, but I promise that isn't why I said that.This book is geared towards young adults/teens. It deals with not only teen issues, but adult issues as well and some pretty intense situations which are not considered pretty. This book isn't just a harem or reverse harem book, where all the guys are in love with the girl and the girl cannot choose between them - though from my comments above, you might assume that is all it is. *growl* You'd be wrong. There is also an element of mystery, espionage to the story that keeps you wondering. There's also a good amount of comedy and hilarious situations. In truth, the books are a nice blend if I say so myself. I read the books in one sitting - yes, in less than a day, I finish one book because they are so amazing - and during that time, I am shocked, offended, crying, laughing, suspicious, rooting for various characters, yelling at them to do this, that or telling them off for their behavior - sometimes with accompanying shake of the head or finger - smiling like a loon, or ready to reach into the book and be horrible to certain people because I am MAD. I should also add I am thinking and pondering - whether on what will happen in the future, that specific book or about the mysterious Academy. Now do you understand why I said I wished to give this book a higher rating for genre fulfillment?Personal Involvement: 5! - As if you didn't know? I don't know what to post here about my personal involvement. Above, you see how much I enjoy the series, but there is so much more that I cannot write about with telling you SPOILERS! On her author page, C.L. Stone states "I write things. Usually about cute boys and uncomfortable situations." *sigh* I don't know if this will spoil it for you and if it does, please excuse me. She does write about "uncomfortable situations" and personally, I try to not think about those things. I know they happen - trust me, I know - and I know the world can be a horrible place and there are tons of horrible people out there. I just generally try to avoid them in all things. This being mentioned, although it bothers me on a small level while reading the books, I am not put off. *sigh* It's not coming out right.I highly recommend if you have not already started reading this series, please do!