The Candidates* by Inara Scott

Genre: paranormal, science fiction
Series and Book #: The Talents #1
Pages: 293
Summary:

Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that’s not just because of her average grades or less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia’s mediocrity is a calculated 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 she can to avoid getting close to anyone, believing this way she can suppress her powers and keep them hidden.

 

But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room offering her a full scholarship, Dancia’s days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for child geniuses and diplomats’ kids—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.

 

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*There might be some confusion with this book. For some reason, Inara Scott changed the title of this book to The Talents. Originally, this book was called The Candidates and that was the novel I read with this same book cover. However, when I was looking for the sequel, I realized that at some time the book's title was changed. The new cover is to your right. It is the same book, just a different title and cover.

Getting past the odd title change this book was okay. It was interesting but it wasn't captivating. Of course, I knew before Dancia that Delcroix wasn't just a ritzy boarding school. I liked how Jack made Dancia see things that she wouldn't have normally discovered for herself, or if she did, she would immediately discard the idea that it was anything but a normal school. Dancia's blind faith in the school itself was a bit unnerving. I wished she was more curious to the goings-on, and luckily Jack was there to push her natural curiosity until she became wary.

Dancia's character was excellently written. Though she's not book smart she knows what is going on around her and she's not terribly afraid to be herself. Inara didn't make her sound older than she was with her writing and I especially appreciated that. Of course, what good would this book be without a love triangle? Jack or Cam? Both seemed good for Dancia, but neither were really a good medium. It was kind of like Jack symbolizes Dancia's wariness of Delcroix whereas Cam is the faith she has in the school to make her a better person.

Overall, it wasn't terribly engaging, but it wasn't terrible either. I hope the sequel offers more insight into the school, that Dancia still investigates her powers and what Delcriox really is up to, and, for goodness sake, please don't let Jack fall off the face of the earth! I really hope there's more of him!

The Cover: Which one? The original I like because of the gates and the eye catching color scheme that draws your eye to the Delcroix plaque, but I like the second one because it really shows Dancia's immediate hesitation in attending Delcroix. If I had to pick one, though, I'd say I like the newest one.

What are your thoughts about the title change and the covers?