ARC Review: "The Marked" (AKA "The Watchers") by Inara Scott

Just in case you were wondering about the name change of this book/ series: Inara's publisher didn't feel like the titles of her books "Delacroix Academy: The Candidates" and "Delacroix Academy: The Watchers" fully conveyed to the reader what the series was about. Therefore they decided to rename "The Candidates" (it is now called "The Talents") and give it a new cover. They also did the same for "The Watchers", this book (it is now called "The Marked"), and it will be released April 3, 2012. 

From Goodreads: "Dancia's back at Delcroix, but this year, everything's different. Danica is Talented, and her powers have earned an invitation to join Delacroix's real raison d'etre- the Program. All Danica ever wanted is to use her powers for good- and now Delacroix is going to give her the training she needs to make it happen.

At least that's what the school says she'll learn do to with her powers. Her cuter-than-cute boyfriend, Cam, insists that it's true, and so do all of the other students. But a little voice inside her wonders, if the Program's so great, why does her friend Jack run away from it rather than join? And why are angry ex-students attacking the school?

Danica's a loyal student... and a loyal girlfriend. But if finding out what's really going on means talking to Jack, well- it's a risk she might just have to take."

As becomes evident in my original review of "The Candidates" by Inara Scott I was very excited to get my hands on this novel, I loved the first book and was so excited to read this book, its sequel. However, after having finished it I must admit that I am a bit disappointed.

The largest problem that I had with this book is that I felt that there was a disconnect between what was going on in the plot of the book and the emotional development surrounding these parts. There was one specific part of the book (chapter 15) where Danica was training in the woods and something that she perceived as being terrible happened but I personally didn't understand why it was such a big deal solely because I don't think that the terror and horror that she was experiencing during it was as developed as it needed to be. The dialogue, of this part especially, felt too robotic and unnatural for my liking.

Furthermore, I was extremely confused by Jack's behaviour in this book (which broke my heart because he MADE the series for me)- I didn't understand why he ran hot one moment (joking around with Danica as if they hadn't been separated by time and their differing circumstances) and cold the next (to well, not joking- doing something far, far serious).

That being said, I did appreciate that the secondary characters of this series- Trevor, Anna, Hennie Esther and Catherine played a larger part (yes, I said CATHERINE- never did I expect to actually like that girl). I thought they helped to liven up the story- whether it be through their humor or seeing their abilities slowly start to develop. I also loved Barrett, the newly introduced male character in this book, I'd have to say that he is my most favourite male character after Jack and Yashir (I like Yashir a lot because he reminds me of Samuel from "The Glee Project").

All in all, while I was a tad disappointed by this installment of the series I WILL continue on with it (with the cliffhanger-ish ending of this book you'd be crazy not to!).

Rating: 7/10

I received this book from the author to read and honestly review. I was not compensated in any way for said review.