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Academy Bound
To dream you must have faith. To command requires conviction. To fail is not an option.
Sixteen-year-old Zach Aurelian has held the same dream since he was eight years old—to attend the Earth System Alliance Fleet Academy and train to become a command officer like his mother, who went missing in the system-wide civil war that fractured the Alliance. He believes in his soul that she’s still alive and is determined to reach the stars to find her, no matter the challenge. Zach soon learns that not only will he face down his anxiety disorder and the rigors of the Academy, but the ghosts of his mother’s past who would stand in his way.
From Outstanding Creator award-winning contributing author and editor of Dragons of a Different Tail comes this exciting debut young adult science fiction novel. A coming of age, space military academy adventure that follows Zach as he takes on fighter pilot training, navigates friendships and budding romance, and learns what it means to be a true leader and serve in the ESA Fleet. But the spiteful Commandant Trask has made it his mission to see him wash out of the Academy, and tensions of reignited interstellar war are building. Zach's anxiety and body will be pushed to their physical limits as he musters the courage to fight through whatever Trask and the Academy throw at him, lean on his friends and allies for support, and step up as a Command Cadet when everything he knows and believes changes.
Sixteen-year-old Zach Aurelian has held the same dream since he was eight years old—to attend the Earth System Alliance Fleet Academy and train to become a command officer like his mother, who went missing in the system-wide civil war that fractured the Alliance. He believes in his soul that she’s still alive and is determined to reach the stars to find her, no matter the challenge. Zach soon learns that not only will he face down his anxiety disorder and the rigors of the Academy, but the ghosts of his mother’s past who would stand in his way.
From Outstanding Creator award-winning contributing author and editor of Dragons of a Different Tail comes this exciting debut young adult science fiction novel. A coming of age, space military academy adventure that follows Zach as he takes on fighter pilot training, navigates friendships and budding romance, and learns what it means to be a true leader and serve in the ESA Fleet. But the spiteful Commandant Trask has made it his mission to see him wash out of the Academy, and tensions of reignited interstellar war are building. Zach's anxiety and body will be pushed to their physical limits as he musters the courage to fight through whatever Trask and the Academy throw at him, lean on his friends and allies for support, and step up as a Command Cadet when everything he knows and believes changes.
349 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2022
About the author
J.C. Mastro
12 books5 followersJ.C. Mastro grew up in California in the 1980’s. As a child, he enjoyed science fiction and fantasy, spending sunny days outside battling invisible aliens and flying through space in oversized, cardboard ships. Evenings and lazy afternoons were spent consuming 1980’s TV and movie favorites like reruns of Star Trek, and Star Wars on worn-down VHS tapes. In his teens, J.C. discovered a love of reading sci-fi and fantasy novels by authors such as Frank Herbert, Michael Crichton, Timothy Zahn, Anne McCaffrey and even Stephen King. His goal is to entertain readers through fun action and characters they can relate to, and to stimulate their imaginations--just like his was growing up.
J.C. is a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill University and a stay-at-home-geek-dad. His short story “Spirit of the Dragon” appears in the Outstanding Creator Award winning anthology, Dragons of a Different Tail, where he also served as an editor. His debut young adult science fiction novel, Academy Bound releases May 31th 2022.
J.C. is a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill University and a stay-at-home-geek-dad. His short story “Spirit of the Dragon” appears in the Outstanding Creator Award winning anthology, Dragons of a Different Tail, where he also served as an editor. His debut young adult science fiction novel, Academy Bound releases May 31th 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 6, 2022
“Ender’s Game” meets “Starship Troopers” with a subtle, underlying romance.
If you like "Ender’s Game" and "Starship Troopers," you’ll love "Academy Bound" by J.C. Mastro. Having spread throughout the solar system, humanity is difficult to govern with a single political entity. As such, opposing factions have gone to war over use of resources and treatment of far-flung colonies. Zach Aurelian’s mother was a casualty of this war, though half of the population believe her to be a hero while the other half insist that she’s a traitor.
It's now eight years later, and Zach has his mind and heart set on joining the Earth Alliance Fleet Academy to become an officer just like his mom. He must overcome obstacles, both internal and external, before he can call himself a cadet. With some unanticipated help from an old family friend along with his own hard work and dedication, Zach is admitted into the Academy.
This story follows Zach through his first year as a cadet. He meets new people and makes new friends. He unexpectedly finds himself torn between sweet Brianna and strong Sam, both equally beautiful and smart. He is forced to find common ground with a long-time enemy. And Zach finally learns more about what happened in the final battle of the war where his mom and most of her team were lost. With an unexpected twist near the end, readers are left eager for the sequel.
One thing that sets this book apart from others of the genre is that, even though it’s told from a male perspective, it includes the same insecurities around the romantic storyline that we always see from the female protagonist’s point of view. It's a refreshing departure from the norm that will help younger men and women realize that we all have the same doubts in that regard.
If you like stories of perseverance and overcoming impossible obstacles to meet your goals, this book is for you. Despite his own insecurities and the external obstacles placed in his way by enemies of his family, Zach is determined to join the Fleet and find out what really happened eight years ago, and he will stop at nothing to do it.
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you like "Ender’s Game" and "Starship Troopers," you’ll love "Academy Bound" by J.C. Mastro. Having spread throughout the solar system, humanity is difficult to govern with a single political entity. As such, opposing factions have gone to war over use of resources and treatment of far-flung colonies. Zach Aurelian’s mother was a casualty of this war, though half of the population believe her to be a hero while the other half insist that she’s a traitor.
It's now eight years later, and Zach has his mind and heart set on joining the Earth Alliance Fleet Academy to become an officer just like his mom. He must overcome obstacles, both internal and external, before he can call himself a cadet. With some unanticipated help from an old family friend along with his own hard work and dedication, Zach is admitted into the Academy.
This story follows Zach through his first year as a cadet. He meets new people and makes new friends. He unexpectedly finds himself torn between sweet Brianna and strong Sam, both equally beautiful and smart. He is forced to find common ground with a long-time enemy. And Zach finally learns more about what happened in the final battle of the war where his mom and most of her team were lost. With an unexpected twist near the end, readers are left eager for the sequel.
One thing that sets this book apart from others of the genre is that, even though it’s told from a male perspective, it includes the same insecurities around the romantic storyline that we always see from the female protagonist’s point of view. It's a refreshing departure from the norm that will help younger men and women realize that we all have the same doubts in that regard.
If you like stories of perseverance and overcoming impossible obstacles to meet your goals, this book is for you. Despite his own insecurities and the external obstacles placed in his way by enemies of his family, Zach is determined to join the Fleet and find out what really happened eight years ago, and he will stop at nothing to do it.
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of Academy Bound for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Set in a future where the Earth Alliance has been fighting a war against the Independent Colony Worlds, this tells the story of sixteen-year-old Zachariah Aurelian who joins the Earth Alliance’s Fleet Academy, dreaming of fighting for his planet and discovering his mother, after disappearing in action when he was a child, after fighting for the Earth Alliance herself. This is a sci-fi title aimed at YA audiences: part coming of age story, part school drama, part military thriller, part mystery, part action adventure. All these parts form an amazing whole.
While geared to the YA market, this is told with a level of maturity often missing from the genre. The characters all act their age: sixteen-year-olds with the level of maturity you expect from kids that age. They aren’t perfect, and on a number of occasions, Zach makes mistakes and acts immaturely. This is acknowledged not just through his behaviour, but also the first person narration articulating his thoughts and feelings. Readers of a similar age will see themselves, and older readers will recollect how it felt to be that age.
The book features Zach’s battle with his anxiety, and while it doesn’t dwell on this, it plays an important part of the narrative. It is presented beautifully, and completely honestly.
Thanks in no small part to its charm and emotional realism, Academy Bound charmed me from the outset. Zach’s narration draws the reader in and keeps them smiling. The paragraphs are digestible and keep everything moving at a speedy pace. It is a testament to the author that he has kept this pace while articulating everything the reader needs to know, be it about events, Zach’s thoughts, world building or exposition. At no point did it feel like anything was sacrificed to balance the story requirements with easy readability.
Academy Bound is deftly plotted as it weaves a coming of age story, military intrigue and its ongoing mystery. While the author doesn’t entirely avoid genre tropes and some of the plot twists played out entirely as expected, it engaged me thoroughly.
The book questions the morality of war and the nature of assuming we are on the “right” side of conflict, and though it doesn’t delve deeply into these matters, it plants some great seeds which can be elaborated on in subsequent entries. And yes, this is the first part of a series, but it is perfectly self-contained.
The characters are a delight to read. The protagonist and his friends are a joy, and the antagonists all have their motivations. Each character is fully realised, work with the plot and vice versa.
From start to finish, Academy Bound is an absolute joy. If you’re a YA, sci-fi, mystery or military fan, or just enjoy well-plotted books with great characters, there is so much to love.
To read my full review (and reviews for a host of other books), click here.
Set in a future where the Earth Alliance has been fighting a war against the Independent Colony Worlds, this tells the story of sixteen-year-old Zachariah Aurelian who joins the Earth Alliance’s Fleet Academy, dreaming of fighting for his planet and discovering his mother, after disappearing in action when he was a child, after fighting for the Earth Alliance herself. This is a sci-fi title aimed at YA audiences: part coming of age story, part school drama, part military thriller, part mystery, part action adventure. All these parts form an amazing whole.
While geared to the YA market, this is told with a level of maturity often missing from the genre. The characters all act their age: sixteen-year-olds with the level of maturity you expect from kids that age. They aren’t perfect, and on a number of occasions, Zach makes mistakes and acts immaturely. This is acknowledged not just through his behaviour, but also the first person narration articulating his thoughts and feelings. Readers of a similar age will see themselves, and older readers will recollect how it felt to be that age.
The book features Zach’s battle with his anxiety, and while it doesn’t dwell on this, it plays an important part of the narrative. It is presented beautifully, and completely honestly.
Thanks in no small part to its charm and emotional realism, Academy Bound charmed me from the outset. Zach’s narration draws the reader in and keeps them smiling. The paragraphs are digestible and keep everything moving at a speedy pace. It is a testament to the author that he has kept this pace while articulating everything the reader needs to know, be it about events, Zach’s thoughts, world building or exposition. At no point did it feel like anything was sacrificed to balance the story requirements with easy readability.
Academy Bound is deftly plotted as it weaves a coming of age story, military intrigue and its ongoing mystery. While the author doesn’t entirely avoid genre tropes and some of the plot twists played out entirely as expected, it engaged me thoroughly.
The book questions the morality of war and the nature of assuming we are on the “right” side of conflict, and though it doesn’t delve deeply into these matters, it plants some great seeds which can be elaborated on in subsequent entries. And yes, this is the first part of a series, but it is perfectly self-contained.
The characters are a delight to read. The protagonist and his friends are a joy, and the antagonists all have their motivations. Each character is fully realised, work with the plot and vice versa.
From start to finish, Academy Bound is an absolute joy. If you’re a YA, sci-fi, mystery or military fan, or just enjoy well-plotted books with great characters, there is so much to love.
To read my full review (and reviews for a host of other books), click here.
August 4, 2022
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Academy Bound is a solid, action-packed addition to the SF coming-of-age young adult novel.
After the mysterious disappearance of his mother, an Earth Alliance commander, in a battle with the Independent Colony Worlds, Zach Aurelian busts his rear and goes against his father's wishes to join the Earth Alliance Fleet Academy. He wants to prove himself and serve the Earth Alliance as his mother did, but he also wants to know why his mother disappeared. Over the course of the story, Zach comes to grips with his anxiety, learns to deal with bullies who are both fellow cadets and commanding officers, and discovers that sometimes, serving in the Fleet requires more bravery and sacrifice than anyone expects.
There are many parts of this novel I greatly enjoyed. As a middle school teacher, I appreciate fiction that shows the main character moving forward despite the obstacles in his path. Zach's father disapproves of his joining the Academy, but he does it anyway. He's an anxious kid, but overcomes it. Commander Trask clearly has it out for him, but Zach maintains his cool and succeeds despite Trask's efforts. Zach wants to be a commander, but his first cadet assignment is as a second officer, not as the captain of his group. He works through his disappointments and comes to understand what it takes to lead others. And, when things come to a head, Zach keeps his cool despite discovering that, perhaps, what he knows about his mother's disappearance is just the tip of the iceberg.
In this post COVID world, it's important to provide examples of resilience and growth to young adults. This book shows that Zach and his companions have 'true grit,' which I greatly appreciated. The path for Zach and his friends is not an easy one, yet they strive forward anyway.
As a coming-of-age novel that is, admittedly, a little 'boy' heavy, the female characters are well-fleshed out and leaders in their own right. They function as equals with the male characters seamlessly. I found the mystery surrounding Zach's mother to be very compelling, and I'm eager to find out what happens next for Zach and his friends. I have no doubt that Mastro will deliver much more tension and excitement in the next volume of the story.
If you like mystery, SF tech that's accessable and logical, great characters, and well-crafted prose, then Academy Bound is a novel you'll love.
Academy Bound is a solid, action-packed addition to the SF coming-of-age young adult novel.
After the mysterious disappearance of his mother, an Earth Alliance commander, in a battle with the Independent Colony Worlds, Zach Aurelian busts his rear and goes against his father's wishes to join the Earth Alliance Fleet Academy. He wants to prove himself and serve the Earth Alliance as his mother did, but he also wants to know why his mother disappeared. Over the course of the story, Zach comes to grips with his anxiety, learns to deal with bullies who are both fellow cadets and commanding officers, and discovers that sometimes, serving in the Fleet requires more bravery and sacrifice than anyone expects.
There are many parts of this novel I greatly enjoyed. As a middle school teacher, I appreciate fiction that shows the main character moving forward despite the obstacles in his path. Zach's father disapproves of his joining the Academy, but he does it anyway. He's an anxious kid, but overcomes it. Commander Trask clearly has it out for him, but Zach maintains his cool and succeeds despite Trask's efforts. Zach wants to be a commander, but his first cadet assignment is as a second officer, not as the captain of his group. He works through his disappointments and comes to understand what it takes to lead others. And, when things come to a head, Zach keeps his cool despite discovering that, perhaps, what he knows about his mother's disappearance is just the tip of the iceberg.
In this post COVID world, it's important to provide examples of resilience and growth to young adults. This book shows that Zach and his companions have 'true grit,' which I greatly appreciated. The path for Zach and his friends is not an easy one, yet they strive forward anyway.
As a coming-of-age novel that is, admittedly, a little 'boy' heavy, the female characters are well-fleshed out and leaders in their own right. They function as equals with the male characters seamlessly. I found the mystery surrounding Zach's mother to be very compelling, and I'm eager to find out what happens next for Zach and his friends. I have no doubt that Mastro will deliver much more tension and excitement in the next volume of the story.
If you like mystery, SF tech that's accessable and logical, great characters, and well-crafted prose, then Academy Bound is a novel you'll love.
August 5, 2022
J.C. Mastro delivers an action-packed, character-driven sci-fi epic perfect for all ages. Academy Bound will appeal to any science-fiction fan. I enjoyed the easter eggs to other popular properties like Star Trek and Starship Troopers that Mastro slipped into his story.
Zach is an appealing protagonist who’s easy to root for. He’s also very believable. He makes mistakes and goes through issues you’d expect a teenager to face but ones you don’t always see in science-fiction. Mastro does a great job establishing both external and internal conflict for Zach. And surrounds him with a strong cast of supporting characters. His two closest friends in the academy, Russ and Sam, are great complements and all their interactions are very believable. As is Zach’s with his Dad. The family dynamic is an important part of the story, and Zach’s search for his Mom, who went missing in action, is a fantastic driving force and the part of the story I found the most fascinating.
The action and space scenes are very well written. It’s clear Mastro put a lot of thought into world-building, which gives the characters a ton of fun stuff to play with. I also like that much of it is set in San Diego, where I used to live. But it also makes perfect sense due to the city’s long naval history.
There are some clever twists and turns along the way, and the story builds to a wonderful climax. It left me with questions that I can’t wait for Mastro to answer in the next installment.
Overall, Academy Bound is an awesome addition to the ranks of thrilling and fun YA sci-fi, and I look forward to subsequent books.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Zach is an appealing protagonist who’s easy to root for. He’s also very believable. He makes mistakes and goes through issues you’d expect a teenager to face but ones you don’t always see in science-fiction. Mastro does a great job establishing both external and internal conflict for Zach. And surrounds him with a strong cast of supporting characters. His two closest friends in the academy, Russ and Sam, are great complements and all their interactions are very believable. As is Zach’s with his Dad. The family dynamic is an important part of the story, and Zach’s search for his Mom, who went missing in action, is a fantastic driving force and the part of the story I found the most fascinating.
The action and space scenes are very well written. It’s clear Mastro put a lot of thought into world-building, which gives the characters a ton of fun stuff to play with. I also like that much of it is set in San Diego, where I used to live. But it also makes perfect sense due to the city’s long naval history.
There are some clever twists and turns along the way, and the story builds to a wonderful climax. It left me with questions that I can’t wait for Mastro to answer in the next installment.
Overall, Academy Bound is an awesome addition to the ranks of thrilling and fun YA sci-fi, and I look forward to subsequent books.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2022
Well crafted and engaging space and school action adventure.
This book has all the right ingredients with several story questions and a young adult coming of age theme. I cared about the characters and even the romance element for the main, heterosexual male character has some interesting internal conflict.
The plot centres upon a sixteen year old young man wanting to get into the space academy against his father's wishes. His mother graduated from the academy and went missing while on a special forces mission eight years previous to his opportunity. One of the main plot drivers is discovering what happened in that final mission.
There is a clear and logical progression of the story which I thought was well paced. Themes of difficult choices and loyalty and leadership are addressed as is willingness to sacrifice personal interests and/or prejudices for the benefit of comrades or a cause.
There is a satisfying resolution in this book although there is a wide open channel for subsequent books continuing the careers of several important characters. This is a very strong debut and I will look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a free advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book has all the right ingredients with several story questions and a young adult coming of age theme. I cared about the characters and even the romance element for the main, heterosexual male character has some interesting internal conflict.
The plot centres upon a sixteen year old young man wanting to get into the space academy against his father's wishes. His mother graduated from the academy and went missing while on a special forces mission eight years previous to his opportunity. One of the main plot drivers is discovering what happened in that final mission.
There is a clear and logical progression of the story which I thought was well paced. Themes of difficult choices and loyalty and leadership are addressed as is willingness to sacrifice personal interests and/or prejudices for the benefit of comrades or a cause.
There is a satisfying resolution in this book although there is a wide open channel for subsequent books continuing the careers of several important characters. This is a very strong debut and I will look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a free advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 14, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
With a flowing writing style and quick pace that makes it easy to fall in and continue reading until the end, Academy Bound had all the tenants of sci-fi that makes it appealing—a futuristic society, space travel, and the instant classic feelings of Ender’s Game and Red Rising.
The plot was fairly simplistic, for all the intricacies of the world it takes place in and the constantly references of political struggles between inter-space territories. The main character, Zach, is a “Fleet Academy hopeful” wanting to attend the elite space academy in order to find out what really happened to his mom, a previous Fleet officer. What follows is a plot that is pretty easy to keep track of. Zach gets into the Academy and tries to find out more about his mom, while also navigating a teenage rivalry and even bigger animosity of the Commander of the Academy.
What strikes me most about this novel was how the world itself was crafted. All the technology was very believable, such as the futuristic train-like system that can travel at 1200kph, and cellphone-like systems called PAIs (Personal Artificial Intelligence). It is believable jumps that could theoretically be feasible in our own world, given enough technological advancement.
The characters, for the most part, were lovable. At first, I thought Zach was much younger than he was (maybe about thirteen, as opposed to the sixteen he actually is). However, this became more evident later on, especially as his interest in relationships grew. I enjoyed Zach’s perspective on things and getting in his head, and loved to see how his friendships developed with the others. Of course when Sam, a fiery redhead with a stubborn and sarcastic personality, showed up, Zach was immediately interested in her—which I expected for a young adult—but what kept it intriguing were the constant upsets in it, and the dancing around interest. We had Zach’s perspective, but never truly had Sam’s, despite her comments.
Of course, there was a little bit in Sam’s character of the “not like other girls” trope. She makes a comment at one point, not quite making fun of her roommates, about how if she “really seems like the type of person to want a mani-pedi.” She also brings this up when Zach is frustrated he didn’t get the full Commander position in his schooling and was assigned to be her right hand, by asking if he doesn’t respect her as his commander because she’s a girl. These were small moments in the book—but they stood out to me, overwhelmingly because it didn’t seem to fit the rest of the world we were presented with. If this future is in a world where a 16 y/o would, upon being jealous that the girl he’s interested might like someone else, comment on whether he doesn’t know if it’s another boy or a girl, I wasn’t expecting to have these kinds of “not like other girl” comments elsewhere.
Then it comes down to the plot. As stated before, it’s a plot that is easy to follow and easy to fall into. We want to have the questions answered, we want to figure out the mysteries, and ultimately, we want to see Zach succeed. There were a few times when I found myself questioning what the plot was and having to remind myself of the central problem (Zach wanting to find his mom), because I feel it had gotten lost a little bit in the school formatting of the novel. However, this is unavoidable, and almost expected within young adult, so it’s to be a little expected—the school setting doesn’t bring the novel down, and it aids as a progression device to the plot as well as introducing a rivals-to-friends scenario (which was fantastic) that would have been harder to do if they weren’t forced to be with each other all the time.
Academy Bound is an exciting new book with stunning worldbuilding and a storyline that leaves you wanting for more as the mystery unfolds.
With a flowing writing style and quick pace that makes it easy to fall in and continue reading until the end, Academy Bound had all the tenants of sci-fi that makes it appealing—a futuristic society, space travel, and the instant classic feelings of Ender’s Game and Red Rising.
The plot was fairly simplistic, for all the intricacies of the world it takes place in and the constantly references of political struggles between inter-space territories. The main character, Zach, is a “Fleet Academy hopeful” wanting to attend the elite space academy in order to find out what really happened to his mom, a previous Fleet officer. What follows is a plot that is pretty easy to keep track of. Zach gets into the Academy and tries to find out more about his mom, while also navigating a teenage rivalry and even bigger animosity of the Commander of the Academy.
What strikes me most about this novel was how the world itself was crafted. All the technology was very believable, such as the futuristic train-like system that can travel at 1200kph, and cellphone-like systems called PAIs (Personal Artificial Intelligence). It is believable jumps that could theoretically be feasible in our own world, given enough technological advancement.
The characters, for the most part, were lovable. At first, I thought Zach was much younger than he was (maybe about thirteen, as opposed to the sixteen he actually is). However, this became more evident later on, especially as his interest in relationships grew. I enjoyed Zach’s perspective on things and getting in his head, and loved to see how his friendships developed with the others. Of course when Sam, a fiery redhead with a stubborn and sarcastic personality, showed up, Zach was immediately interested in her—which I expected for a young adult—but what kept it intriguing were the constant upsets in it, and the dancing around interest. We had Zach’s perspective, but never truly had Sam’s, despite her comments.
Of course, there was a little bit in Sam’s character of the “not like other girls” trope. She makes a comment at one point, not quite making fun of her roommates, about how if she “really seems like the type of person to want a mani-pedi.” She also brings this up when Zach is frustrated he didn’t get the full Commander position in his schooling and was assigned to be her right hand, by asking if he doesn’t respect her as his commander because she’s a girl. These were small moments in the book—but they stood out to me, overwhelmingly because it didn’t seem to fit the rest of the world we were presented with. If this future is in a world where a 16 y/o would, upon being jealous that the girl he’s interested might like someone else, comment on whether he doesn’t know if it’s another boy or a girl, I wasn’t expecting to have these kinds of “not like other girl” comments elsewhere.
Then it comes down to the plot. As stated before, it’s a plot that is easy to follow and easy to fall into. We want to have the questions answered, we want to figure out the mysteries, and ultimately, we want to see Zach succeed. There were a few times when I found myself questioning what the plot was and having to remind myself of the central problem (Zach wanting to find his mom), because I feel it had gotten lost a little bit in the school formatting of the novel. However, this is unavoidable, and almost expected within young adult, so it’s to be a little expected—the school setting doesn’t bring the novel down, and it aids as a progression device to the plot as well as introducing a rivals-to-friends scenario (which was fantastic) that would have been harder to do if they weren’t forced to be with each other all the time.
Academy Bound is an exciting new book with stunning worldbuilding and a storyline that leaves you wanting for more as the mystery unfolds.
August 21, 2022
Oh my goodness, I enjoyed this story SO much!!! It has everything you could hope for: action and adventure, conflict, mystery, science, engaging well-developed characters that you really care about and who grow, relationships…seriously, you name it!
There were several moments that made me stop and take a moment to process my emotions. Really well-written and engaging.
I enjoyed every minute and am anxiously awaiting the sequel to find out what happens next!
There were several moments that made me stop and take a moment to process my emotions. Really well-written and engaging.
I enjoyed every minute and am anxiously awaiting the sequel to find out what happens next!
November 5, 2022
J. C. Mastro https://jcmastroauthor.com is the author of two novels. Academy Bound was published in 2022. It is the 58th book I’ve completed in 2022.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is 16-year-old Zachariah ‘Zack’ Aurelion.
Aurelion’s mother was an officer in the Earth Alliance. She went MIA eight years earlier at the end of the war. Now he wants to follow her into the Earth Alliance Fleet Academy. He wants to become a Command Officer. He wants to travel out into the stars. He has always been told that his mother is dead. He believes she is still alive, and he intends to find her.
Aurelion is in his first year at the Academy. His best friend, Russell ‘Russ’ White, is one of his fellow students. On the first day at the Academy, they meet Samantha ‘Sam’ Harriman. The three become close friends.
Together they suffer through the trials of first-year Academy students. Towards the end of the term, they are thrown into danger when the ICW suddenly attacks the EAS Dreadnought, where the three are on a training mission.
I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 356-page young adult science fiction novel. The novel reminds me a bit of Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers. It is one of the typical coming-of-age novels for young adults, but I enjoyed it a lot. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of delivering a fair and honest review. Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R. The primary character is 16-year-old Zachariah ‘Zack’ Aurelion.
Aurelion’s mother was an officer in the Earth Alliance. She went MIA eight years earlier at the end of the war. Now he wants to follow her into the Earth Alliance Fleet Academy. He wants to become a Command Officer. He wants to travel out into the stars. He has always been told that his mother is dead. He believes she is still alive, and he intends to find her.
Aurelion is in his first year at the Academy. His best friend, Russell ‘Russ’ White, is one of his fellow students. On the first day at the Academy, they meet Samantha ‘Sam’ Harriman. The three become close friends.
Together they suffer through the trials of first-year Academy students. Towards the end of the term, they are thrown into danger when the ICW suddenly attacks the EAS Dreadnought, where the three are on a training mission.
I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 356-page young adult science fiction novel. The novel reminds me a bit of Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers. It is one of the typical coming-of-age novels for young adults, but I enjoyed it a lot. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
January 28, 2025
Received an audio copy from the author to review, this is an honest review. J.C. Mastro's Academy Bound is a beautifully witty and an exhilarating way to launch a series that's sure to be a roller coaster of a journey. Narrated by Fred Berman, whose performance made the world that Zack Aurelian and his friends exist feel all the more real. And all that Zack has wanted to know is what was his mom's fate after she vanished during a critical mission during her service within the Earth Alliance military. Getting into the Fleet Academy is the only Zack feels he can finally get those desperate answers. And just getting is one battle... and first discovering how the military hierarchy views and values him because of his family history. As Zack's first year unfolds, he finds a sense of friendship as he fights to prove her can command a given crew. When a field trip to a powerful Dreadnaught ship turns dangerously, a harrowing revelation regarding Sack's mother, plunges Zack, his friends and the Fleet Academy heading into another fiery confrontation.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
August 4, 2022
Great sci-fi book for young adults & can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. You can see many influences of Star Trek & many other sci-fi titles.
It does use the term "hacking" or "hack" as an explicit a tad much to where it's "hacking annoying" but over all its a great read with an intriguing story.
It does use the term "hacking" or "hack" as an explicit a tad much to where it's "hacking annoying" but over all its a great read with an intriguing story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2023
A good sci-if book and interesting start of a new series. The characters are well developed and the book has a good storyline. An interesting read. I look forward to more books in this series.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
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