About the Book

Title: The Candidates (Delcroix Academy #1)
Published: 2010
Series: Delcroix Academy
Swoonworthy Scale: 5

BFF Charm: Yay!
Talky Talk: All Grown Up
Bonus Factor: Boarding School, Special Powers, Being Watched
Relationship Status: Real Love

Note: This book has been republished under the title The Talents.

The Deal:

Dancia is a perfectly average freshman. Perfectly. And she works hard to be so. She’s careful to maintain average grades, makes sure her wardrobe never stands out, and has no friends. None. Because when she lets herself care about people, strange things happen that usually end up with someone being landed in a hospital. She is afraid of herself, and whatever it is she seems to make happen when someone she loves is threatened.

So when recruiters from super posh Delcroix Academy show up at her grandmother’s door and tell her she’s been selected for a full scholarship to the boarding school, she’s less than excited. How will she ‘blend’ with super rich, super smart, super talented kids? Lucky for her, or not, super cute Cam is one of the school’s recruiters- and students- and she finds herself unable to say no to joining him at the school.

But mysterious things are afoot at Delcroix, and even as Dancia finds herself making friends with some of the girls, and the mysterious Jack, all while mooning over Cam, she wonders what is the school’s real purpose? Why don’t the dorm windows open, and are the massive gates around the school for the protection of its students, or, as Jack suggests, to keep them locked in?

BFF Charm: Yay!

Yay BFF Charm

I love, love, LOVE Dancia’s inner monologue. She’s a smart young woman, with a level head and her feet firmly planted. And even when she flounders around, searching for the right choices to make, I wasn’t annoyed with her process, and like any true BFF, still loved her when I didn’t agree with said choices made. This is a girl I’d be friends for life with.

Swoonworthy Scale: 5

Okay, so let me just say that I’ve come to the conclusion that I always pick the WRONG guy. I’m TOTALLY drawn to the dark, brooding, mysterious ones, and they don’t always turn out so great. It wouldn’t be so bad if I could say that I’ve learned from my mistakes and could go back in time and tell my 15-year old self a thing or two. No, I still pick the SAME one! Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed rooting for Dancia and one of the guys- I won’t tell you which one! The chemistry between her and Jack was a lot of fun, and her pining for Cam was equally goose-bump inducing.

Talky Talk: All Grown Up

This debut from Inara Scott was one of the most enjoyable reads I’ve had in a long while. I LOVED her voice, and I think it’s because she writes Dancia a lot wiser and more mature than a lot of YA authors write their heroines. It’s not that she sounded just like a grown up, but because of her circumstances and penchant for introspection, I felt I could really cheer her on without ever getting annoyed at her immaturity.

This book comes out August 24th 2010, so after your post-Mockingjay crash, when you feel empty inside, and wander around your house calling for Katniss or Peeta or Gale, I recommend putting down your bow and arrow, refilling your glass, and picking up this little gem.

Bonus Factors: Boarding School

Regal old boarding school building with turrets and ivy on the stone walls

What can I say? I’m a sucker for boarding school, and boarding school with mysterious and possibly sinister motives, cute boys, secret passages, cute boys, iron gates, cute…

Bonus Factors: Special Powers

I mean, really, who wouldn’t have wanted special powers when they were in high school, yeah?

Bonus Factors: Being Watched

There’s nothing like feeling like you’re being watched to get the old blood pumping- well, maybe there are a lot more pleasant things, but who is in that sedan, and what about the suits in dark sunglasses? Besides, it’s REALLY hard to make out with the boy you like when you think someone’s behind the bushes.

Relationship Status: Real Love

All my little plans and schemes lost like some forgotten dream seems like all I was really doing was waiting for this book.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received neither money nor cocktails for writing this review (dammit!). The Candidates is available now.

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Jenny grew up on a steady diet of Piers Anthony, Isaac Asimov and Star Wars novels. She has now expanded her tastes to include television, movies, and YA fiction.