The Academie by Amy Joy

Another good read, a bit different than what I usually enjoy but the enigmatic undercurrent in this novel is very easy to sink your teeth into.

The Academie is a new scheme of schooling sweeping America, taking back anybody under the age of 23 into the most hellish place on Earth. High school. Allie Thompson has finished her first year in college, but has to go back a step in her life under these new regulations. From the very start, Allie realises something isn't right with the system. Her new boyfriend is terrified of his place of education and her brother has turned into a mindless drone that cares for nothing but his Academie.

I enjoyed this book, as it had everything young adult literature should have; a plucky, young woman with a strong will, a love interest that she is unexpectedly ripped away from, and a foreboding sense that something is not quite right. 

The Academie keeps you guessing until the very end, and engages you from every angle. The young protagonist is very easy to relate to and her inquisitive mind and her determination to find the truth is inspiring, encouraging you to read on. Her separation from her very new found love, keeps you emotionally engaged in Allie's struggle.

The place itself is easy to slide into through Amy Joy's writing. I found myself immersed in the slightly creepy, and very much odd place that is The Academie, almost as if I myself was there with Allie, noticing all the strange things that happened around us. Although, Joy did include the benefits of the system too, which helped me understand why some people believed that the system was the right way to go.

The ending was shocking, to say the least, but I was quite proud of myself as it was one of the guesses I had made in my head! I was left with many questions at the end, but I'm pleased to hear that there are going to be sequels to this book to answer them all.

I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a good mystery, a cute but tragic relationship and an engaging range of characters. 

I would give this book an A rating for its fascinating and perplexing concept.

Buy the book on paperback here or on Kindle here

Happy Reading!

Review by Lauren Goodfellow