The Institute

The Institute #1

by Kayla Howarth

Living in constant fear. Always looking over your shoulder. The source of your fear? The Institute.

Allira Daniels will do anything to keep her Defective brother safe from the Institute. They claim to protect Defectives, but it’s human nature to fear the unknown. Defectives are dangerous, they possess abilities that no human should be able to. To Allira and the rest of her family, the Institute seems more like a prison than the safe-haven they promote themselves to be. Protecting Shilah from that fate is their number one priority.

When Allira stumbles across a car crash involving two of her school classmates, she ignores all of her father’s warnings of laying low and not drawing attention to herself. By doing so, she may have just caught the eye of the Institute. She’s not Defective, but what seventeen-year-old girl has the ability to pull two teenage boys away from a fiery rubble and walk away without a scratch? It would definitely be seen as suspicious.

Allira and her family need to make decisions. Do they stay, or do they flee again? Will they be coming for her? Will her whole family come under investigation? Will they discover Shilah and his ability to predict the future?

Are you Defective? The Institute is coming for you.

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fiction

324 pages, ebook

First published January 7, 2015

About the author

As a writer, I lead an extremely exciting life. When I'm not base jumping, playing my guitar and singing for a sold-out crowd, or having tea with the queen... Okay, all of these things are lies.

The truth is, I live on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, with my husband and son and you'll most likely find me with my laptop on my lap and a coffee in my hand.

Obsessed with YA fiction, I'm still a teenager at heart and live all of my exciting experiences through reading and writing.

Reviews

[Kayla Howarth]

***UPDATE April, 2016***
A complete proofread/re-edit of The Institute has been done and files updated.


**********************
I'm really excited for the release of this book! Many hours hunched over my laptop went into this, allowing me to achieve something I never thought possible of me.
I hope you enjoy meeting my characters as much as I enjoyed creating them.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

They are watching your every move. Be normal, very normal, because even an act of selfless bravery can expose you to THE INSTITUTE and it will be the end of your life as you know it.
Allira Daniels knows how to stay under the radar of The Institute. Her brother is a Defective according to the Institute, a threat to humanity that must be put away. The truth is, Shilah possesses a special gift, one that could be a blessing to the world, but instead, he must be hidden in fear.

Little did Allira know, the boy she rescued would do more than steal her heart, he would steal both her freedom and that of Shilah. Seems there is more to Allira than meets the eye and now she must make a deal with the devil to survive the prison she and Shilah have been locked away in. Allira will learn more about herself, her gift and who she can trust in just a brief time, but one thing for sure, she can never trust her heart, again.

Kayla Howarth’s THE INSTITUTE is a brilliant addition to the young adult fantasy genre. Low on angst, populated with a myriad of character personalities, raw scenes of brutality and the power-hungry group who lords over the populace with an iron fist. Allira is a strong female character, tricked by her teen hormones, deceived by the boy of her dreams and entrusted with secrets of the Institute’s inmates. The intrigue is captivating, the plot is well-thought out and the battle of good versus evil feels like it is about to ramp up in spades. A fabulous read that ignites any imagination it touches!

Series: The Institute - Book 1
Publication Date: January 9, 2015
Publisher: Kayla Howarth
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 322 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really did surprise me. I was drawn to this book from the first page.the mystery about the Institute was really intruguing. It became much more intresting after knowing about the Institute and how they worked for the "defectives".

i found Allira's character very strong.she was willing to do anything to save her brother from going to the Institute.
I liked Drew from the beginning,even when he hurt Allira,because he was doing the same thing Allira ended up doing at last. So there was no reason for not liking him.

I enjoyed reading the conversations between Tate,Chad,and Allira. i really liked that the story also had it fun moments with all the serious stuff going on.

The story was fast paced(which really worked for me),mysterious,and amazingly written.
The ending was quite unexpected. it left me completely shocked/confused,and i didn't realize until then that there is a next book in this series which i really want to read it now!
I am really glad that i got a copy of this book by the author for an honest review. can't wait to read the next book!

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!
This was a bit different than expected, good but different. Full review to come.

[Melissa Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love strong female MCs, and cliffhangers that make you want to find out where the author lives, The Institute is for you.
I'll say it. Dystopian has been done to death and I was leery of picking up yet another one, but this book captured my interest within the first few pages and never let go.
With Allira, we get what is so absent today in YA. We get a real girl, with real issues and insecurities; but it's the way she faces a challenge that really made me stand up and take notice. Allira doesn't always know the right thing to do or say (well ... she's really good at saying the wrong thing) but she rises to the challenge, always determined to persevere because, as her Aunt Kenna says, "This is how strong people are made."
Alliria is accompanied by a host of well rounded characters, and her love interest(s) and the situations she finds herself in are 100% believable. I never got that unrealistic insta-love vibe, and I've enjoyed watching the way these relationships and friendships have developed and progressed in a very real way throughout book one. I'm definitely looking forward to book two.
My only criticism - and I won't spoil anything here - is with some of the supernatural abilities. I love super powers - wish I had one, but sometimes these things were just a little tenuous in they way they worked or didn't work in different situations. There were a few instances where it felt like the rules of certain abilities weren't established quite clearly enough.
But the ENDING! Did not see that coming for this book. You don't want to miss this cliffhanger.

[Vivianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first few chapters where kind of interesting. The world where Allira lives in is explained. Defective people are being hunted by the Institute and put away to learn how to handle their abilities. Her brother is also defective and her dad and Allira are trying to hide that for the intitute. They move constantly to prevent someone from figuring this out. Then Allira meets Drew and saves him from a car crash. Then the whole story collapses and gets sooooo boring I almost gave up on the book. NOTHING happens and Allira is just dealing with teenage problems and is worried about her brother. In about 40% off the book this huge plot twist happens. I actually didn't see it coming that Drew was working for the institute, and that scene with him hitting Sheala had me heartbroken. The scenes in the cells and her getting tortured where kind of oke, but a little bit short and vague. She meets Tate and finds out her ability. But then again the story got boring untill about 20 pages till the end. I got really curious about all how all this is going to play out and then: end of book one. When Drew got 'good' again this story actually gone the wrong way because the author finally created some feelings with me for the book. But that ended when he apologizes. I think this book's pace was to slow for me. Also a few thinks about this world aren't that much explained. Like is there one institute or is it just a collective noun for buildings like that across the country? And why isn't somebody doing something against the institute?
Allira was an oke character but I couldn't figure her out. I think the author was trying to create a bad ass character but sometimes she kind off didn't act like that. I thought it was hard to understand her. I absolutely love Tate and Chad, though.

Summarizing I liked the book, the storyline and some characters but there were some strange thing about the story and it has long boring fragments.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)

Allira was an okay character. I felt quite sorry for her a few times.

The pacing was a bit slow at first, but after a while it picked up, and it was fine.
Despite the slow start, the story kept my interest fine, and overall, it was an okay read.

[Katerina Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I found most of the characters in this book rather annoying at times, but overall they were ok. The beginning of the book was a little confusing with the whole accident and what relevance it had to the story. I liked Allira for the majority of the time, however sometimes she seemed a little whiny. The whole insta-love thing is overused, and to be honest who falls in love after a fatal car accident? It was obvious that Drew was not to be trusted, I mean why would he insist that Allira had to go to school on the day they had to go to the Institute? That's when I got suspicious of him. Tate and Chad were amazing and the highlight of the book, but once again the insta-love with Chad was predictable. I only started liking Allira when she finally hated Drew later on in the book. Drew was just fake and a liar in my opinion, but his character was presented well. The ending should have been shocking or a cliffhanger but it was kind of predictable. Overall it was a good book and I would like to read the second one.

I gave it a 3 out 5 stars.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Kayla Howarth.)

This was an okay story, but I did lose interest as the book went on.

Allira was an okay character, but the pace in this book was just too slow for me, and I kept wanting to stop reading. I felt like not a lot really happened, which might have been down to the pace, but it was like the book had only just started to get going when it ended (with a bit of a cliff-hanger).



6 out of 10

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Institute as a whole felt like a combination of several dystopian novels. The premise itself was interesting, but you feel like you have read it before. Nevertheless, the fast pacing will urge you to keep reading. It’s action packed, with drama, romance, and humor thrown in the mix. My greatest concern with it was the first ten chapters; it was slower than the rest of the novel, and the characters’ reactions are inconsistent. There was a significant event at the beginning of the novel that involved the police, and I think it was weird that the police just let the only witnesses of the accident go home with no questions asked. Then there was the relationship that blossomed out of nowhere, which, considering their history, was quite questionable. I think that was the weakest point of the novel. It moved too fast to that direction I wasn’t surprised when the plot twist came.

But Howarth’s writing was easy to follow, and I must admit I like all of the characters. Allira is strong and believable, with her mixed emotions, her strong urge to protect her brother, and her courage. It was definitely worth getting to know her and her friends.

Overall, as a fan of YA dystopia, I recommend this book to fellow fans. It won’t disappoint you. :)

[C.P. Cabaniss · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably more of a 2.5 for me.

While I found portions of the story enjoyable (a bit similar to other novels I've read), The pacing was a bit off and I was confused in the beginning. Things just seemed to happen out of nowhere. One minute Allira seems smart, the next she's about to repeat all of her past mistakes.

I don't think it was a terrible book and I think it has potential, I just had a hard time connecting with the characters. There wasn't enough character building for my tastes I guess. Overall it was enjoyable, but not overly captivating.

[John Hennessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You always fear what you don't understand."

- Carmine Falcone, Batman Begins.

Any dystopian tale is immediately going to be compared to The Hunger Games and the Divergent series.

There are immediate and noticeable parallels with these two giants of YA fiction, but also new and interesting layers that the author has weaved into her story.

A new novelist can have a great idea in their head, but it needs fleshing out on paper and on screen, and for those of us who have written books, we can fully understand where she is coming from.

The book has a rather slow start but there are signs even in the early stages, that this was going to be a great book. And so it came to pass.

Our heroine, Allira invites us inside her head as The Institute is told from first person. That's never as easy as one would think, it relies upon the reader getting alongside the main character, and understanding her motivations.

Through a freakish accident Allira discovers she is Defective, which in her case means she will take part, unwilling, in a game of will she or won't she be killed.

The Defectives, for there are more than one appear at different points throughout the story. It's important to stick with the story, especially in the early chapters, to see where it's going to take you. Bear in mind the Council of Elrond scene in Lord of the Rings (the book) is far too long and over descriptive. The reader is all for vivid descriptions but it would be nice for the reader to work them out too.

Fortunately, when The Institute finds its feet, Allira is no longer focussed on some girlish trivia - she actually starts to learn what it is to be Defective. The story takes glee in kicking us in the gut several times, and at this point, we're hooked!

Kayla Howarth's description of the world in which this story takes place is the real star. It's not bleak by accident or design, it is a realistic, gritty story that soon becomes unputdownable, fully realising its early promise.

I didn't immediately warm to Allira, but as the story progresses and some real humdingers of a reveal happen in the story's closing stages, I began to cheer for her. Comparisons to Katniss or Tris are inevitable but I feel we would be doing the author's creation a disservice by saying 'take Allira out, put Katniss in, we've got the same story here.'

I would argue that Miss Howarth has created an even better story here - this is book one in the series so there is more to come. Whilst I loved The Hunger Games, it was clear book one was THE book in the series.

When The Institute ends, it's clear that there is more story to come that will tease, entice and enthrall. There is a peek into book two which I decided not to read, because I'm already invested in this series and want to read it in its entirety.

From my own personal perspective, I loved the training sequences where Allira is learning to fight:-

"I'm so distracted by Chad and Ebbodeine that I get hit in the face by my sparring partner numerous times.......I manage to get a few good jabs in when they tell us class is over. Damn it, I was just getting warmed up."

Loved that. In my own experience, the bell goes just when I'm getting warmed up for a fight!

Another line I loved:-

"You don't know how far you've come until you're taken back, back to a time of complete innocence."

Gosh, doesn't something like that make you think? It's not some twee, pretentious line to throw away. I found myself breaking from reading the story just to take some of that in. That's the author's skill, and her power - she makes you think whilst you are reading!

The last third is a heady mix of thrills and revelations. As for the ending, I could not have wished for better. Once the story gets going, it sweeps you along with it.

I would be very surprised if this story didn't be the next dystopian tale to hit the big screen. Before you all feel washed out by Mockingjay Part 2 to come, along with the next Divergent film, give this story a chance. Those who do can say? "Oh, all this hullaboloo about The Institute series? We read it FIRST."

My thanks to the author for introducing me to this amazing book. There is a Kayla in one of my books too, and whilst I think it's one of the most awesome names in the world, this is my critique of the book, not the author.

This is a terrific tale that deserves to be on your read list. get it so you can read it now, and tell all your friends. They'll be glad you did.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and Sarah :)

Allira Daniels is desperate to keep her younger Defective brother safe from the Institute. Ever since the family found about his Defect,they have been shifting place to place to seek safety from their utmost fear--the Institute,a place where they help the Defectives find a 'cure' for their dangerous ability. One little suspicious act could lead her brother straight to the Institute,so they have to fit in and blend with the others.
' I think of one day being able to live that way but I can't imagine it. We've been looking over our shoulders for so long,it has become second nature'
Eminent Falls is what she has been calling home for three years--the longest she and her family have ever stayed at a place. But she isn't sure it would remain like that anymore after the accident involving saving her schoolmates from a car crash. Would all her efforts to protect her brother would go to waste because of this one selfless act?

Defectives are basically people affected by the nuclear explosion that took place during the wars. As a result,some were born with supernatural abilities that the government consider a threat.
I liked how the story flowed nicely and loved the concept of 'Defectives' and the dystopian atmosphere that it brought though some of their abilities weren't that interesting. And they made the book seem more like paranormal fantasy than sci-fi.

Allira was a fine character,not that great. The sacrifices she tended to make to protect her brother,Shilah were amazing. But other than that,she was so unsure of everything. She was strong,but not as a character. The romantic relationships she involved herself in were a bit disturbing,too.
The other characters weren't that impressive either. Tate was really awesome though.

The Institute being the source of fear for the Defectives and their families was what made the book really interesting.While I thought it really was a horrible place and the business that they did there to ensure authority over the Defectives,it wasn't quite as horrible as they were making it seem at first. They would be really strict with one thing and way too lenient with the other. for example,it certainly would take more than having them live in a cell and giving them hard,tasteless food for meals to break them,wouldn't it? I could imagine it being more horrible.

The plot and the ending were good,although predictable.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me. I went into it not expecting much, I'd never heard of the author and I'd been given a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review. The premise of the story did sound somewhat interesting, but the term "defective" didn't really give me much to go on.

Well, I had absolutely no trouble getting into this book. No trouble finishing it. The only trouble I had was putting it down!!!

The main character, Allira and her family move around constantly. Trying to stay ahead of this organization that is hell bent on segregating normal people and defectives. Jerks.

But anyway, she has an most obsessive need to protect her brother from any and all harm, which to be honest gets a bit hypocritical at times. But as an older sister this was definitely relatable. I won't give too much away on the defective abilities side of things. But in the romance front, oh boy. What to say about drew? Well at first he seemed okay, a bit crazy obsessive but they're teenagers. It happens. Eventually you find out that he is is not what he seems. Not at freaking all. You will want to squash his little head. Ugh. Oh and the excuses he makes..... I can think of a very good place for him.


The downsides: The reason this book didn't get a full five stars from me...
There were times where the plot seemed to get muddled, or things happened that weren't explained well enough to understand. I felt like I was desperately playing catch up at times. Or like I had missed a page somewhere. These times eventually sorted themselves out, so I managed to keep reading but it was frustrating. As for the relationship between Allira and Drew... He absolutely humiliated her upon their first meeting, yet she finds herself insta-loving him pretty quickly. That was a bit annoying. I got over it, especially once he turned out to be a total skeeze.


So all in all, without giving the plot away I can say that I actually NEED to read the next book. The resistance? Her mother? Oh my yes. I will definitely be trying to wrangle myself a copy of the next book.

[Kym · Rating 4 out of 5]

I go to shut my door when I hear Chad say, "Oh, I just banged your wife." He turns to me and winks, and I burst into laughter.

And that was the exact moment that I decided that I loved Chad. The comment is aimed at Drew and as much as I want to hate Drew there is still a part of me that keeps been drawn to him (damn them bad boys).This book had a wonderful cast of characters and I loved them all and thought that they were all very well done. I loved Tate and hope that they are going to be able to get him away from the institute. I don't know why but I kept wondering if Tate and Shilah were going to get together. I dunno just a thought maybe it will happen, maybe it won't. Can I just say that I would love to have Allira's ability. I mean she is pretty much unrestricted on what she can do and she is able to try out so many cool powers.

I thought the story was quite well paced and was really well written. I have to admit I read a few chapters yesterday but spent pretty much all of today reading this. I found it really hard to put down and it was just so easy to read. I loved all the interactions between the character's especially between Allira and Tate. The ending was fantastic and it makes you want to pick up the next book right away. Resistance, oh yeah that just has my name written all over it. I am a little concerned about how the return of a certain character will change the dynamic between Allira and Chad but I guess we will just have to read on to see how it all pans out. A huge thank you to Kayla Howarth for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I can not wait to pick up the next book, Resistance so keep an eye out for that review in the next couple of weeks.

http://harebearshangout.blogspot.com.au

[Tom Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sci-Fi is not my first genre of choice, but I am content to read and review any genre if it holds up in certain areas. I want to see a good plot, believable characters, natural dialogue, clear imagery, and a well-told story. In effect, I want to see good creative writing.
How much of my reading criteria did I discover in this futuristic story of a divided society?
I’m looking forward to reading the sequel. This tale was pure entertainment. As a bonus, I think the cover design is very clever too.
If there is one thing I like more than discovering a good book, it has to be discovering a good author--like this one. This is a writer with a keen imagination, who understands how to create conflict, suspense, tension, and pace.
The central character Allira is trying hard to settle in to yet another town and another school so that she can get on with her life. There is added pressure, because she is beginning to have doubts about whether or not she is one of regular society’s outlawed citizens; a Defective. There is a nagging doubt, because she knows there are various types of Defective, but their powers or abilities are not always obvious. Life for Allira has never been easy, but it’s about to change yet again.
The blurb tells you all you have to know about the tale itself, so if you’re like me and intrigued by the setup, you can read the book with the confidence that you’ll enjoy what happens.
One spoiler? Okay, I was surprised by the ending, but in a really good way. Well done Kayla.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)


Okay, so this is a hard one for me. You know, some books manage to grab your attention from the first chapter, and others take a longer time, you find yourself halfway through the book and suddenly you can't put it down. Well, this is not how it went with this book. I've actually never been so frustrated and angry than after reading the "prologue". To me, it wasn't a prologue at all, it had barely any exposition, and served absolutely no purpose whatsoever. I was thinking of dozens of scenes I would have rather began with as I was reading it (like, maybe introducing Ebbodine before doing the big time jump ???), so by the time I got to chapter 1, I was actually really angry and pushing myself to read more and finish the book.

It got slightly better as the story progresses, Tate and Chad were good additions, the whole Allira/Drew thing was terribly annoying even before she found out he was a complete twat, but on the whole, I can't say I enjoyed this book (the ending was also really damn predictable !).

I realize that my judgement is slightly biased by the fact that life got really busy all of a sudden and I couldn't even find any time to continue reading, so that's why I'm kind of up-rating this book (I would say it's more of a 2,5), but the book didn't make me want to come back to it either.

But while it didn't work for me, I can see that the story's got potential. The idea is pretty great too, it's just that the magic didn't work on me.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I really liked this book, like really really liked it.

But it finished too quickly :(

I think what made this book one of my favs is that how real it was...

Yes I know how can people with "super powers" be real?

But I felt like the characters were real and the RELATIONSHIPS were real.
I get so sick of YA novels where the girl and boy fall in love then he does something wrong but apologises and then its all lovey dovey again. *BARF

This book, when the boy does something wrong she actually gets mad! and then she starts exploring her feelings for others. I mean in the end I think I know how it'll end up but still this first book really allowed the characters to show real emotion and not just jumping into everything within a day.

The beginning of the story was quite confusing, as you were kind of thrown in the deep end, but once I started I literally couldn't stop.

I have already recommended it to 1000000 people, possibly not for the great story line (which yes I also did like), but most likely for the relationships that are made between characters, it truly felt how real 17/18 yr olds would act.

Cannot wait to read the next on.

[Lesley Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much. I like science fiction, especially when it plays with ideas and imagined futures and also presents a believable scenario, with characters full of depth and substance. Although this was a book aimed at a YA readership, I was able to relate fully to the emotions and moral dilemmas of Allira, the teenage narrator of the story. She describes in the Institute much of what is prevalent already in society. It reminded me too of certain ‘religious’ and corporate organisations where a form of brainwashing ensures that the message of the establishment remains embedded in the minds of those in their thrall, either through choice or circumstance. This was cleverly and subtly demonstrated in Kayla Howarth’s novel. I also liked the fact that it is the troublesome ‘Defectives’ in this dystopian society who are actually probably the next evolutionary step forward. The characterisation in this novel was superb, as was the dialogue. I found the novel hard to put down, and wanted to know what happened next – right to the end... and now... thank goodness there is a sequel!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book, loved the way Kayla Howarth writes.

Really connected well with Allira. my favourite characters were Tate & Chad, definitely there was just something about them that completely appealed to me.

In short this story is about categorising people into 'Normal' & 'Defective' Defective means that each person has a paranormal ability, which the law states have to be captured and placed in confinement called the 'institute' where lots of horrors go on.

I thought this was such a good story line, hoping for a great romance between allira & chad in book 2, which I have just purchased along with book 3 on Amazon. :)

I think there is something that most people can connect with on the book and that is protecting your family, Allira has all her life protected her Brother Shilah who is slightly younger than her and has been defective fo much longer.

I kinda feel sorry for Drew though, I quite like his character.

So overall a great read.

[R.K. Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

There really is not much to dislike about this book. It has everything you are looking for in a YA novel, with terrific pacing and a bit of humor tossed into the mix. Allira and her brother Shilah are both defective, which means they have a gene giving them mutant powers (think X-men).

What Howarth does so well with this work. While she is writing about a world where people are able to have fantastic (and not so fantastic) super powers she still makes it about the characters themselves and not the flash. While the defectives are a more evolved human they are still preyed upon by the government, which creates an interesting landscape; while they may be more enhanced than they predators, the defectives are still vulnerable.

Without giving anything away, my favorite characters are Tate, Ebbodine, and Paxton. I hope to see them more in the rest of the series.

If you like YA this book is everything you are looking for. I look forward to completing the whole series.

[Leigh Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the epitome of I-thought-I-had-it-all-figured-out-but-plot-twist.

At first I was confused but by the time I got to the end of chapter two/start of chapter three, I was hooked and there was no turning back.

First of all, let me just say that Allira is that fiesty girl that belongs in every novel. I love this character!

I've never read a book that made me feel so connected with a character like I did with Allira. I felt all of her emotions, strongly.

The premise of the novel is one that I find very interesting and the events of the plot unfold in surprising ways. A predictable novel is usually a boring novel, and this one was far from it.

I can't wait to get started on book two!

[CallMeSensei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my blog! CallMeSensei

NOTE: The author provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If I could say one thing about Kayla Howarth’s The Institute, it would be that this novel grows on you. It may take some time to get through the first ten or so chapters but after that, you will be hooked.

The Institute is the first installment of yet another young adult dystopian series. A pandemic has swept the world destroying half of the population. Travel is prohibited to prevent future disasters. The government offers incentives to reproduce and replenish the human population.

A cure is found for the virus but there is a strange side effect in a certain percentage of the population. They develop strange abilities, dangerous abilities that mark them as “Defective”. After one child, with the power of a nuclear bomb within him, decimates the remaining half of the population, the Institute is formed to contain Defectives. Those harboring Defectives do an injustice to all and will be punished. Defectives are to report themselves immediately.

Of course, the Daniels family will not submit themselves to the Institute. There are a lot of families reluctant to hand over their children to such a place, never having the chance to see them again. Allira Daniels and her father have spent 13 years hiding her brother Shilah, a seer, from the Institute. Until one day, on a routine yearly school trip to the Institute, the Institute decides to test their blood testing for defective genes.

It turns out that Shilah is not the only one in the Daniels family who is Defective.

This novel has a complex plot that involves missing mothers and friends, sexy but perhaps untrustworthy boys, cruel “normals,” and a female MC who will do anything to protect her brother.

Honestly, the first ten or so chapters did little to grab my attention. The prologue did nothing for me, the car crash in the first chapter was more interesting but very quickly skimmed over, the very strangely and quickly developed love interest seemed forced, and the sudden mention of missing people really seemed like too much.

I do, however, make myself read the first 100 pages of every book, just to ensure that slow starters get a fair chance. This is one of the books that reminds me why I have that policy. At the 80th page or so, Allira’s plight suddenly takes a new turn and the novel was hard to put down. I will say it again, this book certainly grows on you!

Allira, a 17-going-on-18 year old girl, has spent the majority of her life on the run to protect her brother. She’s very protect of Shilah and her somewhat strict father enforces that behavior.

Understandably, when her best friend disappears and a traumatic car accident shakes her up and, perhaps for the first time, puts her in the spotlight, she starts to make some silly teenage girl decisions. Unfortunately for Allira, these uncharacteristic reckless decisions land her family in danger, scarring her and making her question who she can trust. She takes a lot in stride, however, focusing her best efforts to protect her brother and survive. I, ultimately, think she’s a likeable and realistic MC.

Of course, there are a couple of love interests. It doesn’t really feel like your typical love triangle however. Drew is cast decide due to a huge betrayal and Chad becomes a welcome face in her confinement. Each, I think, is complex in the roles they play in Allira’s life and in their roles within the Institute.

Other characters in this novel, like Shilah and Tate, provide sources of relief and friendship for Allira as she works to protect her brother and connects with Tate as if she’s known him forever.

Despite an awkward beginning to this series, I think The Institute is a very acceptable first novel by Kayla Howarth. The popular dystopian theme seems to be growing a bit stale and overdone, but I think Howarth’s novel provides refreshing and realistic characters to liven it up. I can’t wait to pick up the second installment in this series.

4 stars.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being predictable, this book was enjoyable.

I thought the plot was good. Disease, cure, cure causes weird stuff, blah blah blah. Sign me up! And being Defective was intriguing. And some characters have neat abilities, albeit familiar (Peter Petrelli). Allira was all right. The profanity was unnecessary, but okay some of the time. World building was lacking, but characters enjoyable. Plus, it was free!



Yet there were downsides to the story.

Allira is a nice character, but she was too reckless. I wanted more time with her and less time with a love interest.

And the Love Interests? I saw one coming, and I didn't like him from page one. And his "surprise"? Saw that coming. Meanwhile, Allira goes from never kissing a guy to liking two and making out with another (for plot purposes; that guy has no interest in her). And Love Interest #1 is still kissing Allira after he betrayed her! What the heck? More story, less romance, please!

And the cliffhanger intrigued me. Why didn't I see it coming!? The foreshadowing was so obvious, but hindsight is 20/20. I can't believe so many pages built up to that. I can't wait to read the second one, dang it.

Anyway, once you get past the excessive amount of time with pointless romance and the story with few surprises, this book is an enjoyable and clever read. As of now, I've read the other two books. This is a good binge read if you give it the time.

[Patrick Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joining strong YA dystopian heroines like Katniss Everdeen and Tris Prior is Kayla Howarth's Allira Daniels, who lives in a world whose population has been devastated. The governments of the world have sealed their borders, and they maintain that the greatest threat to humanity are "defectives", people born with supernatural abilities.

Seventeen-year-old Allira has spent her life on the run with her father and her younger brother Shilah, who is a Defective. They must hide him in plain sight, or he will be taken to "The Institute", a place where Defectives are kept segregated while a "cure" is found... or, at least, that's the story people are told...

Allira must find strength within herself to discover hidden truths not only about The Institute but about herself. She is a worthy heroine, well-written and well-developed. She is surrounded by a terrific cast of supporting characters that are not nearly as black-and-white as they first appear. (Tate is my favorite. He'll be yours too.)

I cannot wait for Book #2 in this series!

[Eric Lahti · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are plenty of twists and turns in The Institute; the story is engaging and keeps you pondering the large questions about exactly what you would do if you were dropped into a situation where you had to work with the people you hated or suffer the dire consequences. If you were abducted by government forces, dropped in a jail, tortured, and told your family would suffer if you failed to work with your abductors, what would you do? Would you grudgingly work with the people who imprisoned and tortured you or would you stick to your guns and accept punishment? To add a nice little twist to the tale, if you grudgingly work with the people who imprisoned you, your job will be to hunt down and imprison other people like you.

And that, right there, is the important part of the story. It’s about what it means to be different and how people come to grips that. It’s also a story about how we rationalize our decisions even when we’re not 100% certain the path we’ve chosen is a good one.

[A.A. Jankiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was already eager to read The Institute just based on the premise alone and I was hooked when I began reading. The author does a great job of writing in first person, allowing the reader to get into Allira’s head and to see the world through her own eyes. At times, it as though I were interacting with another person and not just a character which was how well written she was. This was not to say at all that the other character did not have the amount of depth that the protagonist did. Each one was well crafted and three dimensional with their own personalities.

The plot was originally crafted and while it did follow some of the tropes of young adult as well as dystopian it only did so to the point of identifying the genre and not beating one over the head, which I enjoyed. It also subverted some that I found really intriguing.

I highly recommend this book to any readers who enjoy young adult and dystopian fiction. The plot twists are what made it for me, there was never a moment where I could predict what happened next. I am really looking forward to reading Resistance.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I read this in a few hours which isn't unusual for me but this book just hooked me straight off!

I like the main character shes likeable but also isn't perfect. Something many authors force on readers. Drew well I am afraid I am still on team Drew, the characrer is complex. Chad is well boring, I didn't feel any chemistry between them and yet the author pushes for it... If anyone was going to be in a love-triangle it should have been Tate!

Tate is actually my favourite, uh please rescue him okay? Or these books may get boring for me.


Oh and the ending while it is good, I pegged it almost straight away. It was a classic way of a twist except its obvious so not a twist. (trying my best to not spoil it)

Overall I liked this book, if the author hadn't gotten predictable and actually shocked me more I may have loved it. This doesn't change I am looking forward to the next book and it also earns it a nice healthy 4 stars.

[Anthony Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This eloquently written tale portrayed in a alternate dystopian world where the next stage of human evolution is repressed and outlawed rather than kindled and nurtured, is narrated through the thoughts and actions of an eighteen year old girl embroiled within the societies processing or should I say mis-processing of its emerging mutant citizens.
Its flawless script flows seamlessly through the pages like a valley stream meandering silkily over a soft pebble bed, occasionally disturbed by protruding obstinate rocks, the violence soon swallowed by the calming silver waters.
Definitely targeted at the female young adult market and not for and old fart like me who would prefer a little more action and drama in his reading material, this is however a decent story and probably intriguing to the right genre.

[P.S. Mokha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before launching into specifics, I should point out that I read this book in under 24 hours. It was hard to put down… and not because my e-reader has glue spilt on the cover ;-)

The Institute, by Kayla Howarth is a fast-paced dystopian which initially felt like Divergent, with elements of mystery, romance and a desire to protect those we love.

However, as the story unfolded, it was more diverse, with its own originality. Fans of young adult fiction will find this a winner, with twists and turns that are a hallmark of the genre, yet I was not able to anticipate some, which were handled sumptuously.

Well done, Kayla, I’m looking forward to the sequel and thank you for the reciprocal review.