Nightshade Academy by Mel Torrefranca: ARC book review
This post is primary spoiler-free, and the mild spoilers included won't take away from the book.
Hello and welcome to Pages of Perfiction! For those of you who are new here, I'm Paige and I post YA book reviews on this tiny corner of the internet. Today, I'm going to be sharing a review of Nightshade Academy, a fantasy/dystopian novel by Mel Torrefranca, a 20-year-old author who also runs her own publishing company.
Notes:
I received a free copy in exchange for an online review, but my opinions are my own.
A condensed, 3-paragraph version of this post is available in the conclusion.
"Nightshade Academy" was released on November 11, and it's available for ordering now!
Initial Reactions:
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this book. I've been trying to read more books written by younger authors lately, and out of all the ones I've tried so far, this one was the most composed and put-together. That being said, this novel didn't strike the perfect balance that some writers are able to achieve.
Take the characters, for instance. They were well developed, but a bit too far fetched. One one hand, the characters weren't relatable, and I couldn't see myself in the story. On the other hand, the problems happening to the protagonist were so engaging, I didn't lose interest.
Things I loved:
Writing Style:
Mel’s writing style was unique and made the book enjoyable to read. She wasn’t heavy on the descriptions, but included them when needed. In fact, she mentioned in a video that she followed the motto, “When in doubt, cut it out,” which was visible in her writing.
The first sentences, “Yahshi Konya was an easy target. His scarlet coat restricted his movement, crinkled with every step, and stood out against the evergreens,” hooked me.
Themes
The book explored themes of survival, which emphasized the importance of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Additionally, it depicted a coming-of-age journey as Yahshi navigated the challenges and trials of the academy. Through these attributes, the novel explored personal growth, self-discovery, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood, which were interesting to read about.
Side Characters
Yahshi made friends along his journey. His interactions with them were not only realistic and well written, they contributed to the quality of the book. Mel did a fantastic job writing those! In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the supporting cast was my favorite part of the book. Vell and Pinto each had unique personalities that added life to the story.
What didn't work out.
Pacing
The first half of the novel follows Yahshi as he tries to survive in the academy, and the second half focuses on his life as an academy graduate. This book would have benefited if it had been split in two- the first book covering his journey of getting accepted and passing the Nightshade Academy trials, and the second book exploring his life after. Instead, the novel is equally divided between the two stories, and it can feel stretched at times.
Family relationships
The relationships with his family were forced. I previously mentioned how Yashi's relationship with his friends were well established, but when it came to his dad, things developed in the first chapter but went downhill from there. He completely forgot about his father for chapters on end before bringing him up at random times.
Plot Twists
Additionally, there were several confusing plot twists, such as a character I assumed was dead turning out to be alive. In some cases, this can enhance the story, but in this instance, it wasn't well executed.
I'm not going into detail on the others for spoiler reasons.
Should you read it?
Read it if you like...
Read it if you enjoy young adult fantasy or dystopian novels. This book is classified as fantasy by the author, but it seemed to lean towards dystopian in my opinion. if you like realistic fiction, you might benefit from this post instead.
Fans of The Hunger Games will enjoy this book, because the first half does have a Hunger Games vibe, with Yashi struggling to survive the cruel trials he's being forced to endure at Nightshade Academy.
Stay away from this book if...
On the other hand, stay away from this book if you prefer middle-grade fiction, want a quick one-sitting read, or prefer traditionally published books. While technically not self-published, Mel founded her publishing house, The Lost Island Press, which might affect your preference for traditionally published works.
Age Rating
The official warning recommends the book for ages 14+ due to "violence, subtle romantic undertones, mild profanity, discrimination, animal cruelty, and child abuse," but I think anyone 12 or older can understand and read this book. That being said, I think the ages that would enjoy the book most are 13-16 years old.
Conclusion
Star Rating
I'm going to go with a 4-star rating for this book. Throughout this post, we discussed the pros and cons of this novel so you can decide whether it seems like a book you'll enjoy, but based on my personal tastes, this book was pretty good!
Post summary
Here’s the entire post condensed into three paragraphs, in case you don’t have time to read the whole thing:
The book impressed me with its quality, even though it didn't strike a perfect balance. The characters were well-developed but somewhat far-fetched. Mel's unique writing style and the exploration of themes like survival and coming-of-age made the book enjoyable. The realistic interactions and friendships added to its quality.
However, the book's structure, divided between his academy life and post-graduate life, felt stretched. Family relationships, especially with the protagonist's dad, seemed forced. I recommend the book for fans of young adult fantasy or dystopian novels, particularly those who enjoyed 'The Hunger Games.' Avoid it if you prefer middle-grade fiction or quick one-sitting reads. There were also confusing plot twists.
The age rating suggests 14+, but I believe it's suitable for readers aged 12 and older. In conclusion, I give 'Nightshade Academy' a 4-star rating based on my personal taste.
Outro
Thank you for joining me on this journey through the pages of 'Nightshade Academy' by Mel Torrefranca. I hope this review has provided you with valuable insights into the book and helped you determine whether it's the right read for you.
Feel free to leave your comments and thoughts on 'Nightshade Academy' or any other books you'd like to see reviewed in the future. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Until next time, happy reading!
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