The Candidates by Inara Scott (website, twitter)
Delacroix Academy #1
Published August 24th 2010 by Hyperion Book CH
amazon (Hardcover and Kindle)
synopsis from goodreads:
Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that’s not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia’s mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just…happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.
But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia’s days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats’ kids and child geniuses–not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she’s special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome.And then there’s her mysterious new friend Jack, who can’t stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. But Dancia isn’t convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her “gift” than they’re letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it…But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.
Totally enjoyed reading this book. Ever since I saw this super gorgeous cover and read the synopsis I wanted to read that one. Perfect concept for a good novel: girl with mysterious powers, a boarding school and two boys!
Danica (friends call her Danny which is why I HAVE to love her even more, oh and she’s blond like me too) never really fit in mainly because she didn’t want to fit in and to make friends. After the death of her parents she moves in with her Grandma.
Whenever someone is threatened she loves, weird things happen that prevent something bad to happen. She’s scared by this mysterious power because she doesn’t want to hurt someone but she has no control over this. This is why she’s a loner, always try to blend in and not to stick out. No A grades, no friends.
Live is Ok, not good but as Ok as it can get. One day a man and a gorgeous boy (Cam) come to her house, telling her that they are there to recruit her for this super duper expensive Boarding school. A school for gifted people, though they don’t say more. She also is supposed to get a full paid scholarship. Of course she doesn’t really want to go – how could she fit in? But this man and especially the Boy ask her to give it a try, that she’ll sure like it there. Her Grandma is thrilled so in the end she decided to give it a try.
The school is super well guarded and it does look like that this time it’s more difficult to not fit in like she usually does. She starts making friends, and there is this gorgeous Cam and the dark and mysterious Jake.
Jake however is suspicious and thinks that there is something off with the school, that it seems like the gates around the school should keep people IN and not other people out. Plus Dancia doesn’t really get why she’s here in the first place.
I totally like Danica and seeing her blooming in this new environment and finally making friends for the first time ever. Henie and Esther are wonderful girls that welcome Dancia and don’t give her a chance to back of from this friendship. They are the cutest girls and everyone would love to call them friends.
The character I loved most was Jake! He’s a mysterious boy that just looks like trouble, but he’s also an incredible lonely and sad boy. The minute I met him I knew he’d me my favorite! Go Team Jack! He and Dancia are really getting closer but he’s getting more and more suspicious. And, apparently Jake also has some powers just like Dancia!
Danica however is totally in love with Cam. But Cam always got me the creeps. He was too nice, too perfect and too good looking, he seemed not real. I always had the feeling there was something off with him. But of course I got Danica’s attraction to him, he’s like THE prefect guy to dream about while Jake just screams trouble.
This Book mostly focuses on building the world and plot for the coming books, but I didn’t mind following Dancia and Jake to look behind the facade of Delcroix walls and figure out what’s going on.
Ok this was a 3.5 for me, but mainly because I was not happy with the ending…..I wasn’t happy with the ending, but it makes me wish the next book would come out soon, because I will most definitely read the next one too! Loved the characters and I love the idea of the plot! Great book!
Random Notes and additional info :
During last year they changed the series name from “The Delacroix Academy” to “The Talents” which I really think it’s more fitting. What I don’t like so much are the new paperback covers. I still hope that there will be a smilar cover like the original one for the next book:
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| This is the first book, originally called The Candidates.. confused much? |
Here are the two covers I found for the second novel “The Marked” or “The Watchers”. Both editions are listed on goodreads as published by Hyperion so… So I have no idea what’s up, but easy to say I love “The Watchers” cover so much more!!
 
Happy Saturday!  |
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I don't like those new covers. I hate when release dates get pushed back but that's better than a half baked book.
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I hate when they change covers but I think I do like the paperback one. BUT I also like THE WATCHERS cover that matches the first book in the original cover. It's all really confusing. I know Inara and I remember talking to her about the cover change but I don't remember all the details. And I don't think I even knew about the release date being pushed back. I might see her soon so I'll be sure to ask. Also she's super nice so don't hesitate to ask her on twitter 😉
I felt like this first book was definitely about building the world. And I'm expecting to like the second book more. Definitely an interesting idea though, that's for sure!
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What?! I have to wait until 2012 for books 2?! This makes me sad. I loved the first one so much.
I'm so happy that I am not alone in the disappointment of Dancia' choice in boys. Jack is so much better than Cam!
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Aw, but the original covers were all sparkly and bright and had those swirly light things that I like 🙁 Your review confirmed my thought that I'd wait until the books were published before reading them. I think I'll enough it a lot better that way given how this book ends. Thanks!
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Thanks for the review! This one's on my wishlist 🙂 Look forward to reading it! …though I may wait a little until the sequel's nearer to release!
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I don't like them either… I really love the original ones!!! They are really catching! And , yes in the end you are right… but still waiting sucks..
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Oh yes if you see her ask her!! I might try to ask her on twitter too. I would really like to know what's up with the new cover.. I mean the old ones are really catching right??
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Yes…. April 2012 it seems. And YES I want Jack!!
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Yep, the original ones are so very catching and bright and the new ones are nice… but only nice right? Why do they do this? It's the same like with Nightshade, I mean the covers before were AWESOME and now they are just ordinary…
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Yes that might be a good idea!!!! I hate when a book ends like this… but I can't wait for the next one!
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Perfect example! The original Nightshade covers were so beautiful. They really stood out, too. The new ones are nice…ish, but they're so bland. It's pretty cool how they're offering dust jackets of the new cover for book one though so people who bought it with the old cover can have a matching set.
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Great review. I liked this one too.
OOOoo wow. I love the original cover. Much more fitting.
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