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ACADIA: Children of Acadia, Book 1
Two hundred years ago, the Roaches swept across the Earth, annihilating everything in their path. Humanity’s remnants retreated behind the walls of Acadia—a militarized city where every citizen’s worth is dictated by a ruthless merit score. Earn enough points and you live in safety. Fall short, and you’re Rifted—cast into the depths beyond salvation.
Jessica teeters on the edge of that fate, forced into the Mahghetto—an unforgiving gauntlet where failure means death. Cojax is a young soldier desperate to prove himself in a society that sees him as expendable. When they uncover a long-guarded secret, the two are thrust into a conspiracy that could shatter Acadia’s rigid order and ignite a war it cannot win.
In Acadia, loyalty is rewarded… until the day it kills you.
Jessica teeters on the edge of that fate, forced into the Mahghetto—an unforgiving gauntlet where failure means death. Cojax is a young soldier desperate to prove himself in a society that sees him as expendable. When they uncover a long-guarded secret, the two are thrust into a conspiracy that could shatter Acadia’s rigid order and ignite a war it cannot win.
In Acadia, loyalty is rewarded… until the day it kills you.
Audible Audio
Published January 5, 2026
2 people want to read
About the author
Sterling Nixon
18 books36 followersWriting is not just a hobby for me, but a life-long passion. Since 1999, I’ve spent countless hours writing, editing, reviewing, and re-writing other author’s books as well as several full-length novels of my own.
I’ll be honest with you; the road has been rough. I’ve almost given up writing for good a few times. But I keep coming back to it, thanks in large part to the support of my readers. In my darkest days, or after some of my biggest setbacks, a quick letter from a fan or two has changed everything. And I am so grateful for your support. Now, I am more committed to writing than ever.
One of my favorite past times is reading the manuscripts or novels by struggling or upcoming authors. There is a fantastic community of writers out there who look to build others up rather than tear them down. And if I can help you along with your journey of being a full-time author, please let me know. I think the more writers we have out there, the better off all of us will be.
I absolutely love the creative process. I get tremendous satisfaction when I create characters who seem so real that a reader expects to be able to meet them one day. Or when I manufacture a landscape so compelling that someone feels tempted to plan a visit to that location during summer vacation. But the real joy for me is constructing situations where the protagonist has hard choices to make, where internal conflicts are so intense, it makes the reader second guess exactly what they would do if they faced those same dilemmas.
I’ll be honest with you; the road has been rough. I’ve almost given up writing for good a few times. But I keep coming back to it, thanks in large part to the support of my readers. In my darkest days, or after some of my biggest setbacks, a quick letter from a fan or two has changed everything. And I am so grateful for your support. Now, I am more committed to writing than ever.
One of my favorite past times is reading the manuscripts or novels by struggling or upcoming authors. There is a fantastic community of writers out there who look to build others up rather than tear them down. And if I can help you along with your journey of being a full-time author, please let me know. I think the more writers we have out there, the better off all of us will be.
I absolutely love the creative process. I get tremendous satisfaction when I create characters who seem so real that a reader expects to be able to meet them one day. Or when I manufacture a landscape so compelling that someone feels tempted to plan a visit to that location during summer vacation. But the real joy for me is constructing situations where the protagonist has hard choices to make, where internal conflicts are so intense, it makes the reader second guess exactly what they would do if they faced those same dilemmas.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 16, 2026
Release Day!!! Great for fans of The Will of the Many
Note: The author/audio publisher is giving out 5000 free copies of the audio here . You do have to listen to it on the bookfunnel app but I found the app worked well.
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Acadia is a blend of Roman/Greek culture and Starship Trooper monsters. A society built around one purpose. Locked in a war ranging over 300 years against the alien bugs or Roaches as they called. The society is built around one purpose, raising a warrior class to fight in the war. They are the elite and everyone else is just a dependent in the system.
Acadia is the golden city, the last bastion of hope for humans. They have stood against the Roaches for over three hundred years and everything in the society is built on rules, codes and a points system. Having a number places you in a tier, your rights depend on the tier you are in. If you are one of the best numbered, bringing glory to Acadia you get better food and more privileges. But if you are a drain on the society and your number drops to low, you are sent to one final battle against to Roaches. Everything is monitored, everything is measured and then put on display on a chest placard. Everyone in Acadia knows where you fall on the merit system all the time.
The Acadian's have been bred for war and they have changed much from their human ancestors. One girl might upset the balance of it all. Jessica was found outside the walls of the city when she was young. She is smaller and frailer than the children in Acadia, but by right of Acadian law if she proves her worth and becomes a Validated by going through the Margetto she will win a place in their society. However, if that happens it could unbalance their entire system. A rebellion pins all their hopes on this one girl, while others will try to make sure she doesn't come out of the Margetto alive.
Cojax is the son of a numberless, one of Acadia's elite class. He has worked his entire life to go through the trials of the Margetto and become one of the Validated that defend the city. When he meets the aberration, Jessica during the Margetto they accidentally form an alliance of sorts. Cojax must decided if he believes in Jessica and what he will risk for the cause she is the linchpin for.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. The competition based school of horrors where over four kids enter and around two hundred are planned to survive. The emotional impact of Jessica's journey and how much she had to commit to in order to just make it to the trail to become validated. The unrolling of the society through the PoVs of Jessica, Cojax and Marcus (Cojax's validated Brother) to see different aspects of this harsh meritocracy, was a great way to worldbuild and inject emotion into the story.
There are some great twists near the end, that the story built to so well. I was surprised by all of them, which is saying something, since I really should have seen at least one of them coming. I enjoyed the character growth and the set up for the sequel, Titan. I believe this book will resonate with fans of Red Rising and Will of the Many.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: None
Euan Morton was such a perfect selection to be the narrator for this story. His voice fits the vibe so well. I loved his narrations for Will of the Many and Strength of the Few. He has such distinctive narration voice and then slips in and out of the character voices effortlessly. I always understood who was speaking and felt the emotion they were bringing to the situation. Absolutely brought the story to life for me.
Note: The author/audio publisher is giving out 5000 free copies of the audio here . You do have to listen to it on the bookfunnel app but I found the app worked well.
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Acadia is a blend of Roman/Greek culture and Starship Trooper monsters. A society built around one purpose. Locked in a war ranging over 300 years against the alien bugs or Roaches as they called. The society is built around one purpose, raising a warrior class to fight in the war. They are the elite and everyone else is just a dependent in the system.
Acadia is the golden city, the last bastion of hope for humans. They have stood against the Roaches for over three hundred years and everything in the society is built on rules, codes and a points system. Having a number places you in a tier, your rights depend on the tier you are in. If you are one of the best numbered, bringing glory to Acadia you get better food and more privileges. But if you are a drain on the society and your number drops to low, you are sent to one final battle against to Roaches. Everything is monitored, everything is measured and then put on display on a chest placard. Everyone in Acadia knows where you fall on the merit system all the time.
The Acadian's have been bred for war and they have changed much from their human ancestors. One girl might upset the balance of it all. Jessica was found outside the walls of the city when she was young. She is smaller and frailer than the children in Acadia, but by right of Acadian law if she proves her worth and becomes a Validated by going through the Margetto she will win a place in their society. However, if that happens it could unbalance their entire system. A rebellion pins all their hopes on this one girl, while others will try to make sure she doesn't come out of the Margetto alive.
Cojax is the son of a numberless, one of Acadia's elite class. He has worked his entire life to go through the trials of the Margetto and become one of the Validated that defend the city. When he meets the aberration, Jessica during the Margetto they accidentally form an alliance of sorts. Cojax must decided if he believes in Jessica and what he will risk for the cause she is the linchpin for.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. The competition based school of horrors where over four kids enter and around two hundred are planned to survive. The emotional impact of Jessica's journey and how much she had to commit to in order to just make it to the trail to become validated. The unrolling of the society through the PoVs of Jessica, Cojax and Marcus (Cojax's validated Brother) to see different aspects of this harsh meritocracy, was a great way to worldbuild and inject emotion into the story.
There are some great twists near the end, that the story built to so well. I was surprised by all of them, which is saying something, since I really should have seen at least one of them coming. I enjoyed the character growth and the set up for the sequel, Titan. I believe this book will resonate with fans of Red Rising and Will of the Many.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★★
Diction: ★★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★★
Sound Effects: None
Euan Morton was such a perfect selection to be the narrator for this story. His voice fits the vibe so well. I loved his narrations for Will of the Many and Strength of the Few. He has such distinctive narration voice and then slips in and out of the character voices effortlessly. I always understood who was speaking and felt the emotion they were bringing to the situation. Absolutely brought the story to life for me.
January 16, 2026
Arcadia is the first in a series and went well beyond my expectations. Life inside Acadia’s walls revolves around hierarchy. Every conversation and decision is influenced by rank, especially for those lower on the scale, who must constantly be aware of their position. Higher-ranked individuals carry authority and confidence, backed by a system that rarely questions itself.
Beyond the walls is a constant threat in the form of giant roaches that attack the city. These creatures add urgency and danger to the world and help explain why Acadia values strength so highly. Survival depends on everyone being ready to fight, and the presence of the roaches makes the strict ranking system feel necessary…
What makes Acadia stand out is how it balances an external enemy with an internal struggle. The roaches are terrifying, but the way rank shapes identity and worth is just as engaging to follow. The novel raises questions about how much of yourself you can give up in the name of survival, and whether a society built entirely around strength can still be humane. Dark and thought-provoking, Acadia is a fantasy that lingers long after the last page.
Beyond the walls is a constant threat in the form of giant roaches that attack the city. These creatures add urgency and danger to the world and help explain why Acadia values strength so highly. Survival depends on everyone being ready to fight, and the presence of the roaches makes the strict ranking system feel necessary…
What makes Acadia stand out is how it balances an external enemy with an internal struggle. The roaches are terrifying, but the way rank shapes identity and worth is just as engaging to follow. The novel raises questions about how much of yourself you can give up in the name of survival, and whether a society built entirely around strength can still be humane. Dark and thought-provoking, Acadia is a fantasy that lingers long after the last page.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews