Ineffable Book Blog: Introductions ~ C.L. Stone

Publisher: CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date: 1/7/2013
Pages: 208

With an agoraphobic mother and a barely-there father, Sang abhors the isolation keeping her in the shadows. The only thing Sang craves is a fresh start and to be accepted as ordinary by her peers, because for her being different meant being cast out alone.

When her family moves to a new school district, Sang infiltrates a group of boys nearly perfect in every way. Grateful for an influence outside of her parents’ negativity, she quickly bonds with the boys, hoping to blend in and learn from them what it means to have a natural relationship with friends.

Only the boys have secrets of their own and they’ll do anything to keep her safe from the knowledge of the mysterious Academy that they've sworn allegiance to. Bit by bit, Sang discovers that her friends are far from the normalcy she expected. Will her loyalty change when she's forced to remain in the dark, or will she accept that she's traded one house of secrets for another?

Meet Kota, Victor, Silas, Nathan, Gabriel, Luke and North in a story about differences and loyalty, truth and mystery, friendships and heart-throbbing intimacy.

The Academy, ever vigilant.

@ Goodreads

Review

I have to admit. The first time I ever read this book, I gave it two stars. Two stars.

I thought the characters flat and the book without character.

How wrong I was...

This is actually one of my favorite books/series of all times. Yahhh.

Where I once thought the characters were dull, I now find them shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Where I once found Sang the most boring character ever, I now find her the most dynamic and interesting. It took a while to really understand how the author wrote the first book. I believe that alot of people don't understand it and the way it was written.

For all those doubters out there, Introductions (and the Academy series as a whole) is wrote from the perspective of Sang. So when Sang was holding back her emotions and listlessly going through life, the book reflects that. As the series continues, Sang comes out of her shell and livens up. Coincidentally, so does the series.

The first book fits perfectly with its name. Introductions. This book literally introduces every important and main character in the series and teases the reader with a little of their personality. It drove me a little crazy the first time I read this book because the other people featured in the book are secretive and I was unsure of who they were and what the author planned for them. Yet I was intrigued! This book made me so interested in all the characters and the plot line of the series that now I am one of those fanatics waiting on bated breath for every new book! (P.S. there are supposed to be more than 10!)

Sang is one of those amazing characters that one slowly connects with through her trauma and just absolute character pureness. She's one of those "perfect angel" characters that is kind of socially inept. This would usually annoy me to no end (and sometimes it does), but this just fits so well within the book that I can't help but like her character. (Not to mention that Sang can kind of be an accidental BadA**). First time reading the book, Sang was kind of a shadow of a character. Looking back on it, Sang is a misunderstood girl who is abused yet doesn't really understand it or other's lives.

The Academy Boys.... oh jeeze. I really can't get over how perfect they all are. One of the frustrating things about this book is that I like to pair up my characters (I mean who doesn't), yet I couldn't find that "perfect" someone for Sang. I just couldn't decide! This actually makes sense later on but I don't want to spoil it ;). Anyways, all you need to know right now is the fact that all of the boyos are awesome.

I'd definitely recommend this book for anyone that is looking for an amazing series!