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Introductions truly is an introduction to all of the characters in The Academy series. The narrator, Sang, comes from an abusive home. Her mother is a recluse and never leaves the house. She lectures her two daughters about how dangerous the outside world is and forbids them from socializing with others outside of school. A simple phone call from a potential friend does not go unpunished. Her father is very withdrawn from the family and is nothing more than a provider from what I could tell in this book. He goes to work every day and drives the girls to their high school registration, but that is about it.

One evening Sang decides to spend an evening out on her own. While on her way, a neighbor's dog knocks her down and causes some minor injuries. That is how she meets Kota. They will be attending the same school this upcoming year and are even in the same grade. She quickly meets several of his friends and starts to develop real friendships for the first time in her life.

Throughout the books she notices that these long time friends seem to communicate on a different level than most kids her age. They are all very intelligent and appear to be holding back information. She eventually learns that they are from a private school known as The Academy. As part of a special project they will be attending the public school this year. There are a lot of secrets the boys are not able to share with Sang before the end of the book. We don't know what type of school The Academy really is, but we can certainly speculate. Is it a school for spies like The Gallagher Girls? Fortunately, I will not have to wait long to find out. The next three books in the series are already available.

I really enjoyed all of the characters in this series so far with the exception of Sang's parents of course. I can't wait to find out more about The Academy and to hopefully see Sang come out of her protective shell. She is still very shy and uncomfortable around others. She is constantly questioning the intentions of even a simple friendly touch. I'm sure Kota and the rest of the boys, who area already very protective of Sang, will be a very positive influence on her life.

When I first came across this series, I was ecstatic. I definitely have a thing for Academy/Boarding school books and this series isn't necessarily based in one, (yet, perhaps) but it certainly has the mystery that was exactly what I was looking for.


This short first book was exactly as the title suggests. Since the series is supposed to be almost 20 books long, with 7.5 out so far, I think this was a very good idea. It was cute, sweet and had me on my knees looking for more, (still does).

" I was empty. Strangers in a strange family.”

The story is told from Sang Sorenson's point of view who is a 15 year old girl who's family have just moved to a little secluded road of houses outside Charlesville. For Sang, life has never been easy having a psychotic, sick mother who seems to hide her in the house and have her punished for disobeying her. Sang has always tried to do as her mother said, abiding by the warnings of what society is really like. She has never really had friends and isn't close with her family much at all. With her sick mother, an absent father and a sister that doesn't really like her, Sang is quite naive when it comes to people.

“It worried me that perhaps my voice was permanently damaged. I couldn’t stand to think that was the case. I would be Sang, the girl with nothing to say, and no voice to say it.”

The night she wishes to escape, she runs into Kota, a neighbour down her road, who brings her in and takes care of her on that blustery eve. She learns that he wishes to be her friend and although she is wary, Sang has no idea what to think of letting someone in.

And then there were 7.

Kota. Victor. Silas. Nathan. Gabriel. North. Luke.

And what she finds out from being with them will change her future forever.

" Will you buckle in? It’s bad enough we kidnapped you.”

With 7 newfound friends, Sang is overwhelmed but terrified of what her mother will do to her if she ever found out. It's all new for her but the boys seem willing to do anything for her as they gradually learn of her situation at home. They become her world as they take care of her and they seem to be able to handle anything, bringing her into their group. Sang wants to let them in but old habits still leave her hesitant to trust them, especially when she begins to learn of why the mysterious group who seem so well off, are really doing in Ashley Waters High in Charlesville.

She notices the looks they share, their disappearances. And when she learns of 'The Academy', she's intrigued. No one knows where it is. But the students there are different. They have skills that normal kids don't have. They don't have a normal education.

And Sang finds herself on the verge of being sucked into their dangerous world.

This book is the beginning of a series which I am intrigued to read more about. The situation is really unique and I am find myself getting lost in all the personalities of each of the boys.

I was confused by how touchy they all were, and I could understand why Sang, who would've never been around people much at all before, is overwhelmed by it all. These boys who start to look out for her, even though she's new to it all, I really liked the moments where she could be independent. Her trust issues meant that she didn't want to depend on them, or rather admit that she may have needed them more than she realised. But in her situation, it seems she's never really known what it was like to have someone care for her.

With secrets and complications, this series is so promising and I am super excited to get stuck in.

Un debutto con il botto! Una serie che ha molto, molto potenziale. I personaggi maschili sono tutti meravigliosi (uhm... Sang avrà dei seri problemi a trovarsi un fidanzato e/o a sceglierne uno)
Sang è ingenua (ok, a 16 anni ero anche io così però, quindi mi immedesimo) e questo nonostante quello che ha passato nella sua vita. Sono curiosa di vedere come evolverà il personaggio.
Si ringrazia NetGalley per la gentile preview!

Voto: 4 stelle

What did I just read? I wanted so much to hate this book. Really, I did. Because it's awful. It's Twilight levels of awful. And yet... I really want to download all the other books in the series right this second and stay up all night reading them.

As a book, it's pretty lackluster. But if you pretend it's self-insert fanfiction, it's pretty great.

I will say I appreciate that the protagonist doesn't go along with the "you're not like other girls" sentiment the boys bring up. But the fact she's surrounded by 7 hot, rich guys that were all attracted to her was pure wish fulfillment.

Easy quick read but nothing special

I was curious about where this book would lead, not initially realizing this was only and introduction to the characters. It kept me ready and curious, which is surprising because that much profanity usually causes me to toss a book.

Just wayyyyyy too young for me. The writing was so flat. I gave this until 50% and called it quits.

Not sure why I couldn't put this book down. Some of the things they said and did seem ludicrous since they're supposed to be in high school, but nonetheless this was enjoyable and I feel like I need to start the second book immediately. I do think there will be a lot of decisions to be made when it comes to the guys in the story though.