What do you think?
Rate this book
ACADIA
Acadia—the last human city, a fact all of its citizens were told from birth. For two hundred years, a countless host of creatures have laid siege to Acadia, leaving the land rough with the bodies of the fallen. For Cojax becoming a Validated, a true defender of the city, is his greatest ambition. That all changes when Jessica appears—a girl from outside the city walls—from a land that supposedly held no life. Her presence threatens to undermine the entire society, putting Cojax in an impossible situation. He now must choose between what is right and the survival of his people.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2016
25 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Sterling Nixon
17 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 22, 2025
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
May 23, 2017
Good one
I felt the training sequence was rather long and at times, just drawn out. But this was a rip roarin' adventure and I can't imagine any fan of adventure not enjoying this book.
I felt the training sequence was rather long and at times, just drawn out. But this was a rip roarin' adventure and I can't imagine any fan of adventure not enjoying this book.
November 24, 2016
The world building was great, in the vein of Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, Pierce Brown, and so many other great authors that I've discovered recently.
Acadia is a city of the future that holds to the ideals of the past. If you took an ancient Roman/Greek city and infused in in technology and then surrounded it with a massive horde of countless, cutting and vile creatures, you would get an idea of what Acadia is.
Why this is such a great book:
Acadia is the last human city--all human cities have been destroyed by an invading alien army known as the Roaches. Acadia then wages a over two century war with the creatures in their defense. Acadia, over time, has developed into a war based society, where resources the most resources are allocated to the greatest contributors of society.
The defenders of the city are judged by the Acadian System: a comprehensive program that is able to add or subtract points from each Acadian depending on their actions. The points are on display for the world to see on Placards that are situated on the chest of each Acadian. Every aspect of their lives is equated to a point system: combat, resources consumed, how good they are at their secondary occupation. In battle, the Acadians are monitored by cameras that rates their technique, their skill, their kills, etc. The better the warrior, the more points they receive, and the longer the city will allow them to stay out of the Rift. The Rift is one of the big mysteries of the book. This sort of system has huge emotional and psychological implications, and the author, painstakingly shows the reader what those are. I was impressed by the emotion, the depth of feeling, and the sense of loss I felt throughout the book.
I am so excited for the next book, Titan. Hopefully, it will be just as good, or better than the first.
Acadia is a city of the future that holds to the ideals of the past. If you took an ancient Roman/Greek city and infused in in technology and then surrounded it with a massive horde of countless, cutting and vile creatures, you would get an idea of what Acadia is.
Why this is such a great book:
Acadia is the last human city--all human cities have been destroyed by an invading alien army known as the Roaches. Acadia then wages a over two century war with the creatures in their defense. Acadia, over time, has developed into a war based society, where resources the most resources are allocated to the greatest contributors of society.
The defenders of the city are judged by the Acadian System: a comprehensive program that is able to add or subtract points from each Acadian depending on their actions. The points are on display for the world to see on Placards that are situated on the chest of each Acadian. Every aspect of their lives is equated to a point system: combat, resources consumed, how good they are at their secondary occupation. In battle, the Acadians are monitored by cameras that rates their technique, their skill, their kills, etc. The better the warrior, the more points they receive, and the longer the city will allow them to stay out of the Rift. The Rift is one of the big mysteries of the book. This sort of system has huge emotional and psychological implications, and the author, painstakingly shows the reader what those are. I was impressed by the emotion, the depth of feeling, and the sense of loss I felt throughout the book.
I am so excited for the next book, Titan. Hopefully, it will be just as good, or better than the first.
January 19, 2021
I’ve read this book twice and I just LOVE IT. Jessica is so determined and such an inspirational character. She is a wonderful example of a strong female character that isn’t exactly strong. Her will and focus is remarkable, and she is a leader in a very calculated way.
The world of Acadia is also really well thought out and put together. A world of Meritocracy and no emotion is very fun to read about and it feels so real. And since it is heavily rooted in Ancient Rome and Greece, there is an element of possibility.
It’s well written and very thorough. I have and will recommend this book forever
The world of Acadia is also really well thought out and put together. A world of Meritocracy and no emotion is very fun to read about and it feels so real. And since it is heavily rooted in Ancient Rome and Greece, there is an element of possibility.
It’s well written and very thorough. I have and will recommend this book forever
August 16, 2018
My rating system.
* Probably didn't finish and I finish 99% of the books I start.
** Not a fan. I finished just on principle.
*** Pretty good and worth the read.
**** Above average. If there is a sequel I will read it.
***** Created a good memory, very informative and I may actually read it again one day.
* Probably didn't finish and I finish 99% of the books I start.
** Not a fan. I finished just on principle.
*** Pretty good and worth the read.
**** Above average. If there is a sequel I will read it.
***** Created a good memory, very informative and I may actually read it again one day.
November 25, 2016
Definitely one of the best books I've read in a long time. Very well put together character and story development without the extra baggage a lot of authors seem to unintentional include in their stories. It took a day to read because I couldn't put it down.
September 1, 2017
In my soul, I don't believe the book is credible. I don't think that could happen, it doesn't seem that that's what people would do.
The book barely passed me not giving it up. But it has an unusual twist in the end. And a promise of more books.
The book barely passed me not giving it up. But it has an unusual twist in the end. And a promise of more books.
December 9, 2020
Saga of Discovery
In a city constantly at war for its survival, a few begin to question what they have always been taught, with titanic results. This gripping tale is both human and mythic... Well worth the read!
In a city constantly at war for its survival, a few begin to question what they have always been taught, with titanic results. This gripping tale is both human and mythic... Well worth the read!
July 27, 2020
Amazing
Definitely worth the read. At no point did I lose interest, only gaining more till the last sentence. Definitely reading Titan next...right now :)
Definitely worth the read. At no point did I lose interest, only gaining more till the last sentence. Definitely reading Titan next...right now :)
November 9, 2020
Great Read. Fast-paced and intriguing. Great world building and characters. A few solid twists at the end. Going on to the next one in the series.
June 14, 2021
Definitely in the same martial coming of age vein as the first Red Rising. Unique world building, if some tried and true tropes and archetypes.
December 11, 2017
This book is just plain awesome!
Dynamic, well-flushed out characters; massive and unique world building; interesting and compelling plot points; characters that are not only real, but also likeable (something that for some reason seems rare amongst new books nowadays); and the fighting sequences are epic. The dystopian society is completely unique
I can't wait for the next book!
Things I loved:
*The battles were awesome.
*The society was unique and consisted of epic world building.
*The society is a complete meritocracy.
*Jessica was kick a$$. Even though she was weaker than your typical Acadian, she has an attitude and absolute dedication.
Synopsis:
The story focuses on two individuals, Jessica, a girl that is just like one of us, and Cojax, an individual who has body and characteristics that have been genetically enhanced. They are put through the Mahghetto, a combat training school that separates the weak from the strong through a series of grueling, and interesting tests. The plot goes a different direction than you think it would, and before you know it, you'll find yourself flipping through the pages, desperate to find out how the story will play out.
Dynamic, well-flushed out characters; massive and unique world building; interesting and compelling plot points; characters that are not only real, but also likeable (something that for some reason seems rare amongst new books nowadays); and the fighting sequences are epic. The dystopian society is completely unique
I can't wait for the next book!
Things I loved:
*The battles were awesome.
*The society was unique and consisted of epic world building.
*The society is a complete meritocracy.
*Jessica was kick a$$. Even though she was weaker than your typical Acadian, she has an attitude and absolute dedication.
Synopsis:
The story focuses on two individuals, Jessica, a girl that is just like one of us, and Cojax, an individual who has body and characteristics that have been genetically enhanced. They are put through the Mahghetto, a combat training school that separates the weak from the strong through a series of grueling, and interesting tests. The plot goes a different direction than you think it would, and before you know it, you'll find yourself flipping through the pages, desperate to find out how the story will play out.
October 19, 2016
Put Acadia on your "to read" list right now. I received an ARC and thought I would read it over the course of a few days, but I literally did not put it down except to grab some snacks.
Acadia is for people who are sad the dystopian fiction genre got taken over by love triangles. It felt more classic dystopian, like 1984, than Hunger Games. (Although one could make parallels to either. Good parallels.) Low on teen angst, and high on human nature. The world and characters are complex, but you never have to slog through backstory.
The main character, Jessica, absolutely shined. She was tough, aggressive, and never gave up. At the same time she never lost her humanity. I'd totally wear a t-shirt with Jessica on it.
And that is where Acadia reeled me in: I loved the characters I was supposed to love, and hated the characters I was supposed to hate and yet, I could totally see where everyone was coming from. Even the character I hated most had a point.
All in all, I highly recommend this book.
Acadia is for people who are sad the dystopian fiction genre got taken over by love triangles. It felt more classic dystopian, like 1984, than Hunger Games. (Although one could make parallels to either. Good parallels.) Low on teen angst, and high on human nature. The world and characters are complex, but you never have to slog through backstory.
The main character, Jessica, absolutely shined. She was tough, aggressive, and never gave up. At the same time she never lost her humanity. I'd totally wear a t-shirt with Jessica on it.
And that is where Acadia reeled me in: I loved the characters I was supposed to love, and hated the characters I was supposed to hate and yet, I could totally see where everyone was coming from. Even the character I hated most had a point.
All in all, I highly recommend this book.
November 24, 2016
This is the first novel in the series. It is the job of this first book to capture the reader and set them on the path of reading the whole series. That being said, I am hooked on the series. I found this novel similar to a Brandon Sanderson novel (who is also one of my favorite writers). Great characters and action sequences. By the end of the novel, my heart threatened to break a rip it was beating so hard against my chest.
I recommend this novel to anyone who likes to be sucked into a different, but believable world that consists of a mix of old ideals and new technology. It was a mix between Sparta and Tron. Loved it.
I recommend this novel to anyone who likes to be sucked into a different, but believable world that consists of a mix of old ideals and new technology. It was a mix between Sparta and Tron. Loved it.
November 25, 2016
There are lots of books that are good, but this one stands among those that are great. It was quick paced, well thought out, and poignant. Had some pretty deep parallels to our own, interesting society in the US. Don't know if those were intentional or not, but I thought it was fantastic.
Great characters, compelling plot points, and dynamic world building. I really do look forward to the next book in the series. I just hope the author can keep the momentum.
Great characters, compelling plot points, and dynamic world building. I really do look forward to the next book in the series. I just hope the author can keep the momentum.
January 3, 2017
Yes, another dystopic novel. And while some of the ideas struck me as derivative, particularly when I began the story, it ended with twist upon twist that I did not predict, so major "points" there. Also, very solid character development, especially for the genre. I'd read the sequel right now if it were out.
November 24, 2016
AWESOME! Loved this one. I think there was a believe, and powerful connection between the two main protagonist. Once I started this novel, I couldn't finish. It page after page went by and still I wanted more.
I am soooo excited for the second book.
I am soooo excited for the second book.
November 27, 2016
I loved this book! Great characters and awesome, fresh ideas. I loved the dynamic roles of the characters and how they interacted with each other. I look forward to the next one!!!
September 4, 2020
loved the book, can't wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews