The Arkwell Academy, Book 1
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.
Literally.
Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.
Then Eli’s dream comes true.
Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.
Review: Ah what an original subject, nightmares. I admit that I was immediately intrigued and really wanted to learn more. I never had the opportunity to read a book about something like that and it was very interesting to find out more.
By reading this book I thought a lot about the Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep. Both books are very interesting and the Mindee Arnett’s writing style is just as effective. It is true that they also have some elements in common such as the fact that Dusty has a rare gift, different from all the other students. Our two heroines evolve almost in the same environment and it is hard not to compare it at first. But there is no more and the Mindee Arnett’s novel is really a great discovery. We follow Dusty throughout the story, trying to understand who could be behind these murders, establishing numerous assumptions with her. I confess that I was really surprised when I heard who was the real person behind all this, but I immediately understood the motivations of the other characters. Our nightmare does not know much about her powers and what she can do with them and it is true that not knowing that kind of character I was very intrigued to learn more her. She will change a lot throughout the novel, realizing that she knows very little about what she is and what she can do. She will investigate throughout the novel, experiment and discover her gift. It was very interesting to see what she could do and the consequences of her actions. Of course there are other characters too, just as fascinating like her mother Moira or her friends and teachers. But I leave you the pleasure to see that for yourself.
kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews
Wow, great rating, D.! and fab review. SO do you think it’s better than Mythos Academy? I found the latter a tad too predictable.
Melliane
No it’s not too predictable, this one is nice, not better it’s finally something different even if it’s the same idea but I liked it.
Brandi Kosiner
Dusty being a nightmare def is a unique premise. She sounds great to read about. I will have to pick this one up.
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
Melliane
for once it’s more like your books, I would be curious to see what you think about it.
Melissa (Books and Things)
Sounds like both a great character book and one with and interesting “world”. Oh and I love a character who grows. Oh yea! I’m so pushing this one up the wishlist!
Melliane
yeah it’s a nice one.
Sullivan McPig
Hmm… sounds like something I should give a try.
Aurian
I like this Melliane, I’ll put it on the wishlist.
Melliane
Oh I’m impressed it’s rare when I attract you with YA books.
Addicted2Heroines
This sounds great! I’ll have to check it out. Thanks, Melliane!
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
Oh I do like the sounds of this one. I like the nightmare take and with that boy. Thanks!
MockingJay
Je ne connaissais pas du tout, mais tu me donnes vraiment envie de découvrir!
lune-et-plume.fr
Melliane
c’est vraiment sympa comme livre!