The Paladin Prophecy (The Paladin Prophecy, #1) by Mark Frost

Jun 08, 2013 Logan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is friggin fantastic! What a start to an awesome series. Set In a dystopian future, but not too far into the future and to be honest the way the economy and government is discussed, it doesn't sound too far off the mark. This book is like Harry Potter meets mythology and secrets like the davinci code with tons of page turning excitement. Lots of unexpected twists. I will be purchasing the next one in the series as soon as it hits the street. Highly recommend this book.

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Apr 04, 2013 Chaz Robbins rated it 5 of 5 stars

WOW! Have to start with that one word.

There are some books that you love but wish had more unpredictability. Then exists some that leave you dumbfounded with great story but you don't necessarily love it. Rarely does a book come along that does BOTH! I would like to state, after saying it does both, that this book is meant to be ENJOYED and not ANALYZED. I’ve read some reviews that are WAY over critical like if this was a Harvard Law paper. Jeez people, just enjoy what the author wants to prese...more WOW! Have to start with that one word.

There are some books that you love but wish had more unpredictability. Then exists some that leave you dumbfounded with great story but you don't necessarily love it. Rarely does a book come along that does BOTH! I would like to state, after saying it does both, that this book is meant to be ENJOYED and not ANALYZED. I’ve read some reviews that are WAY over critical like if this was a Harvard Law paper. Jeez people, just enjoy what the author wants to present!!!!!

I have to say I judged this book by the cover when I walked into B&N. It really draws you in and I appreciate the thought that goes into a well-made jacket. I ordered it instantly to my Kindle and it was all down hill from there!

The book starts with a completely "ordinary" teen named Will West. But the beauty of how the author engages you right from the start is incredible. The action begins FAST! Will is drawn into such a complex series of events from the very beginning and one doesn't have to suffer a couple chapters of endless character background history and storytelling!! The author works that in all during the book that gives the reader those “oooohhhhh” moments (which everyone enjoys, right?).
The characters introduced (and pay attention when you read cause they are MANY) have comprehensive backgrounds and depth to them and the perfect lingo that goes with the personality of each. Nobody is just a side guy or a stand in. Will, Nando, Nick (who is my favorite and everyone will see why!!), Brooke, Ajay, Elise, and Ronnie won’t fail to amaze! Not to mention the plethora of others!

Mark Frost has a plot that doesn’t disappoint. He merges history and fantasy to the point where it can sound believable at times. Hehehe. The classic Good vs. Bad is there of course. You can value how he leads it in to the story slowly. Leaves one wondering who’s who with a few of the key characters. Also they way the story is layered and moves keeps it rolling high from start to end. It isn’t a slow read so it makes it easier to get through.

The ending will have you craving the next book, which is entirely the point of course! If your one of those people who reads the last page or last paragraph first, DON'T!!!!! Trust me it will destroy the story for you!!!!!!

I’m going to leave it here. I’m not one to explain a books story and spoil the contents.

READ IT!!!! YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!! THAT my friend, is the bottom line. ;)
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Feb 15, 2013 Aaron rated it 4 of 5 stars

Harry Potter meets The da Vinci Code with a just a touch of James bond in this new series by this film producer. Will West grew up in the strangest of family situations. Granted, he is not the only kid who grew up with his family moving from place to place, but his family seems to be filled with secrets. His father is a master scientist at a a unveristy. They have recently settled into life in California.

Everything changes, though, when Will mistakenly does incredibly well on a standardized test...more Harry Potter meets The da Vinci Code with a just a touch of James bond in this new series by this film producer. Will West grew up in the strangest of family situations. Granted, he is not the only kid who grew up with his family moving from place to place, but his family seems to be filled with secrets. His father is a master scientist at a a unveristy. They have recently settled into life in California.

Everything changes, though, when Will mistakenly does incredibly well on a standardized test. Representatives from am exclusive private school to offer him a scholarship just as everything with his parents seems to explode. They seem to be almost possessed as they join forces with a group of guys in black hats who are out to bring Will in. Fortunately, the school is offering a full scholarship and is willing to bring him in during the current semester.

Upon arriving, he finds himself joined with a group of suite mates who quickly become his friends. The more they come together, the more they learn that the situation with Will is not just his problem. They each seem to have found their way to compass on scholarship after acing the same test. They also each seem to have unique powers. They also start to realize the campus bullies might also be tight to a dark and ancient secret that is tied to a mysterious Medieval society with ties to demonology.

Besides his friends, Will finds support from a taxi driver who seems willing to do anything for adventure, a guardian angel, and some of the school's mysterious teachers as he takes on the forces of ultimate evil and demons that have almost alien-like qualities.

The book is full of adventure and seems almost written to make the perfect film. At 560 pages, it really doesn't feel like it drags as the story moves along fairly quickly. There are only a few periods where the pacing of the story slows, but the book is anything but boring. I am definitely looking forward to reading the sequel, which will be called Alliance(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fiction

This is a fast paced fun read. Once I started this book I couldn't put it down. The main character Will is a very likable young man, who in many ways reminds me of my own 17 year old son. While he tries to keep a low profile, something his parents instilled in him from a young age though he does not know why. But due to a mistake, which I find very realistic in teen boys, he completely changes his life. While the concept of taking a test which brings the attention of powerful people who want to...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Daniel Ernandes rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who likes a book with moderate action and a plot unfolding at uneven speeds.

This book is, in my opinion, one of the absolute best books aimed for teens that I have read. It keeps the reader's attention the entire time with constant plot development and an evolving back story of the main character, Will West, and his classmates at the Center for Integrated Learning. I also liked his use of hiding plot points in plain sight, and you will only notice it a while after you pass it. (view spoiler)...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Karen Yingling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Will West's parents have always told him to fly under the radar-- which is really hard when you can run freakishly fast and score so high on standardized tests that elite private schools come recruiting you. Will finds out why his parents wanted him to lay low soon enough. As soon as Dr. Robbins at The Center for Integrated Learning contacts him, things begin to go wrong with his parents. His mother's eye go blank, and his father first texts him to run away from the threatening men in black cars...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Christy Woods rated it 2 of 5 stars

THE BAD: You know those commercials that you hear on TV, the ones selling weird gadgets, the ones that seem to SHOUT at you? The ones that seem to say “LOOK AT ME! I’M EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED! PLEASE BUY ME EVEN THOUGH I’M COMPLETELY USELESS!” The Paladin Prophecy was that book for me. That doesn’t make sense? Let me elaborate.

I was totally taken in by the cover of this book (kickass), by its synopsis (intriguing), and by its author’s credentials (Twin Peaks? Fantastic Four? Yes!). Perhaps my e...more THE BAD: You know those commercials that you hear on TV, the ones selling weird gadgets, the ones that seem to SHOUT at you? The ones that seem to say “LOOK AT ME! I’M EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED! PLEASE BUY ME EVEN THOUGH I’M COMPLETELY USELESS!” The Paladin Prophecy was that book for me. That doesn’t make sense? Let me elaborate.

I was totally taken in by the cover of this book (kickass), by its synopsis (intriguing), and by its author’s credentials (Twin Peaks? Fantastic Four? Yes!). Perhaps my expectations were a bit high, and that is the reason I was let down. This is not a bad book per se, but the writing came across a little desperate and unnatural to me. I felt like the writer had a clear audience (teenage male) and wrote so specifically for that audience that he completely alienated anyone else. Now, that is perfectly ok, if that was his intention. I, personally, believe that there is not enough out there for that particular market. But, even when I take this into consideration, I still found the book difficult to drag myself through. There was the car language "tricked out" cars on "custom chassis" and the homeboy language "nah...don't sweat holms". Personally, I felt that it insulted the intelligence of the teenage male reader. I mean, anyone who picks up a 500 page book (and actually intends on reading it rather than throwing it) is probably intelligent enough to use their own imagination to visualize the world that the author paints without having to have every detail and nuance spelled out for them.

If you have read my previous reviews, you know that I have a problem with gratuitous descriptions and unnecessary information (that which neither propels the story forward, nor gives us insight into the character or setting), and Frost is guilty of this. The biggest problem with the descriptions? As elaborate as they were, they didn’t paint a clear picture. It became very frustrating.

Another of the big problems that I had with this book was Frost’s use of the “deux ex machina”...a huge no-no. When the protagonist gets to the airport and we wonder how he’s going to get through security when his name is certainly going to be on the watch list, what happens? Oh yeah, didn’t you know? Will can push pictures into people’s minds. Yep....been doing it since he was a kid....sorry, I forgot to mention that.

THE GOOD: Now, I accept that this book was clearly not written for the likes of me and I would definitely recommend it to a specific audience. I, also, think it would probably make a killer movie. Despite its slow pace (it seemed like forever before we actually find out any useful information) the book was action packed and non-stop.

The negative aspects of this book just happen to be qualities in writing that I find it difficult to overlook unless their are very strong points to counter them. For me, the action and the storyline were just not enough to save the book.
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Nov 26, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Diving right in, the Paladin Prophecy is very fast-paced. It really reminded me of the Percy Jackson series, if you weren't told Percy had anything special about him, or why he might be doing anything he's doing.

The plot seems based more on action than plot, until about 2/3 of the way through the book. Frost obviously adheres to the "show, don't tell" theory in writing, which is both fun and frustrating. You don't find out why the antagonist is even after him until the final pages of the book. T...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, guys-read, life, not-graphic, sci-fi, ya

Rule #3: Don't Draw Attention to Yourself

Will and his family have always carefully lived by that rule, moving every couple of years. He tries to stay under the radar by maintaining a B average and always holding something back when he runs cross country, whatever it takes to remain unexceptional and unnoticed. He did the same with the last standardized test he took in school--or so he thought. But the same morning that he gets a strange text from his dad--RUN, WILL--and notices strange men in bl...more Rule #3: Don't Draw Attention to Yourself

Will and his family have always carefully lived by that rule, moving every couple of years. He tries to stay under the radar by maintaining a B average and always holding something back when he runs cross country, whatever it takes to remain unexceptional and unnoticed. He did the same with the last standardized test he took in school--or so he thought. But the same morning that he gets a strange text from his dad--RUN, WILL--and notices strange men in black suits and SUVs sniffing around his neighborhood, a woman from the National Scholastic Evaluation Agency shows up at his school saying he scored off the charts on that test. His performance was so exceptional, in fact, that she offers him a fully paid spot at a secret, exclusive boarding school for the outrageously gifted. Then his mom shows up acting nothing at all like herself and some sort of invisible creatures try to kill him until he's rescued by a strange Australian man in a badass tricked-out hot rod. He suddenly finds himself having to rely on all 98 of Dad's Rules to Live By, like #5: Trust No One and #8: Always Be Prepared to Improvise.

Things just get more interesting from there. This is a complex, nuanced action-suspense book that never gets too complicated to understand despite its intelligence. Frost has thrown in everything including the kitchen sink--government conspiracy, odd boarding school full of interesting people, angels and demons of a sort, super powers, Da Vinci Code-like-historical conspiracy, computer geekery, sports, peer relations, and more--yet makes it all work remarkably well. There were a few moments near the start that I had the thought that this didn't just read like the perfect book for thirteen-year-old boys, but as though it had been written by one--adjective heavy, imaginative adventure about topics the author had never experienced or even researched--but that feeling quickly went away as I got swept up in the story.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next title in the trilogy.(less)

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Oct 24, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-emmy

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: High-stakes and over-flowing with action, The Paladin Prophecy is a intense read. A hilarious hero with a secretive past and new friends at a strange school are thrown into a war with an alternate dimension.

Opening Sentence: The Importance of an Orderly Mind Will West began every day with that thought even before he opened his eyes.

The Review:

While I was reading this novel, and for a few hours afterward, The Paladin Prophecy had me buzzing....more

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Oct 18, 2012 Bob rated it 3 of 5 stars

Not an easy book to rate. I was tempted to give it either a 2 or a 4 star rating. The quality of writing and, at the end, the pleasure of reading the book merited a 4. However, the plotting reminded me so much of E.E. Doc Smith's books, where eventually the characters could literally do ANYTHING so that there seemed no point in even writing about them. Here we have various powers cropping up in these kids at opportune times, saving them from the bad guys, combined with completely oblivious adult...more

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Sep 01, 2012 YA Novelties rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Check this review out on our blog!

Superheroes have taken over our society. No one can deny it. Just check out the box office numbers for The Avengers or watch at least one episode of The Big Bang Theory. Our society's obsession with superheroes cause them to often be featured in entertainment, causing the superheroes to possess the same characteristics. Basically, they are clones of one another. I mean, each of the main heroes in The Avengers have basically one skill; beating things up with brut...more Check this review out on our blog!

Superheroes have taken over our society. No one can deny it. Just check out the box office numbers for The Avengers or watch at least one episode of The Big Bang Theory. Our society's obsession with superheroes cause them to often be featured in entertainment, causing the superheroes to possess the same characteristics. Basically, they are clones of one another. I mean, each of the main heroes in The Avengers have basically one skill; beating things up with brute force.

The Paladin Prophecy seems to possess some of the superhero-mojo when it comes to Will's mysterious powers and the forces that are against Will. However, there seems the be a lack of a cohesive plot that all of Marvel's movies possess. At times, things are not thoroughly explained, leaving empty plot holes that leave the reader wondering, and other times, the actions done by some of the characters are ridiculous and idiotic. If I can be completely sure on one stereotype, it is that no superhero makes mistakes without resolving the problem in the end. There is now an exception: The Paladin Prophecy.

I just don't know how The Paladin Prophecy could possibly go wrong until I began it. Immediately, I sensed an awkward first chapter, and as time went on, events just did not smoothly transition from one another. Not to mention, Will's special powers don't really serve a purpose for the plot of this book besides forcing him to attend the new school out in Wisconsin and having him get into fights with the bad guys. Notice, I say getting into fights, not fighting fights. Let's just not start on the "battles," if they can even be called battles.

The mystery is the real power behind The Paladin Prophecy's ability to draw readers and suck them into this somewhat screwed up world. Mark Frost is a genius in drawing the readers into his dark world. I anxiously awaited for each new truth to be revealed as a flipped pages eagerly soaking up this fast-paced adventure. If you doubt me then hear about this; Reliance Entertainment and Kintop Pictures acquiring film rights for Paladin Trilogy. Apparently, the movie is to be released in 2014. The Paladin Prophecy is a decent starter to what seems to be an exciting adventure awaiting.

Angie @YA Novelties (less)

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Apr 29, 2012 Mrs. Kenyon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books

Will West hasn't lived in one place longer than 18 months. His family has taught him many rules and insisted that he not draw attention to himself. No athletic or academic achievements are encouraged by his parents. Suddenly, Will's life gets turned upside down. He is chased by a black sedan while running in the morning, a strange car is parked outside of his morning group stop, he is called to the office where he is informed he scored off the charts (a perfect score) on a national exam and he i...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

This story has heart-pounding action from the get-go! Will West, a teenager who has pretended to be average his whole life, scores off the charts on an academic test. Unfortunately, this draws the attention of both good and evil. Within the first 20 pages of the story, Will is chased by “black caps” in an SUV as he goes for his morning run. This is followed by a call to the office once school starts where he is invited to attend The Center for Integrated Learning due to his amazing test scores....more

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Sep 16, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story had lots of familiar elements - a young man who has been educated by his parents to keep his abilities secret, frequent moves without explanation, a chance to attend a special school for exceptional kids, unknown enemies who seem to be everywhere. The way Frost wove them together made a compelling and very readable tale.

Will West had been following his parents' instruction to be average but he blew it when he scored off the charts on a standardized test given to all the kids in the U...more This story had lots of familiar elements - a young man who has been educated by his parents to keep his abilities secret, frequent moves without explanation, a chance to attend a special school for exceptional kids, unknown enemies who seem to be everywhere. The way Frost wove them together made a compelling and very readable tale.

Will West had been following his parents' instruction to be average but he blew it when he scored off the charts on a standardized test given to all the kids in the US. Now he is being followed by men in black sedans with heavily frosted glass. He's been recruited and offered a full scholarship to the Center - a secretive school in rural Wisconsin. His mother is acting strangely and he isn't sure his father has been affected too. He runs - with the aide of an Australian guy named Dave in a hot car - to the school. Will's father had given him a variety of rules to live by which Will wrote in a notebook. He took it and a picture of his parents when he ran. The rules help him keep his parents close and help him make decisions in dangerous situations.

Once he arrives at the school he finds that he hasn't completely outrun the bad guys. He makes friends with the kids who share his pod - Brooke, Elise, Ajay and Nick - and makes an enemy of Lyle who is the Provost Marshall of his dorm. He finds that there is a secret society in the school that has some evil plans. They are in league with some Others who have been locked into a prison in the NeverWas as a result of a war long ago. Now those Others are trying to escape and take over the Earth again.

Dave tells Will that he is his guardian angel but has a limited number of times he can offer assistance. He also tells Will that he is an initiate for the side of good in this epic war between Good and Evil. Will and his friends have a number of adventures as they try to find out who the members of the secret society are and what their goal is.

I thought Will and his friends were well-developed characters who had unique strengths and abilities. I was especially fond of Nick who provided a sense of comic relief when things were especially tense but who also was incredibly brave and loyal. And I really want some of the technology the author had in the story. I want a tablet like the ones described with its avatar.

This book was a good start to a series that I think will be very popular - especially with my middle grade boys. I can't wait to share it with them. I was glad to add it to my next book order.(less)

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May 17, 2012 Kim McGee rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this as an advance read. You have been told to keep a low profile but don't know why. You can run faster, solve problems quicker and are good looking but you leave town and are off to the next place before you can make lasting friends then one day you test really high and some weird things begin to happen- you are recruited to join a private academy for the gifted in another state. This is the first few chapters of the Paladin Prophecy which reminds me of a cross between The Lightning...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Zora rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-for-boys

Very early on in the novel, I began fantasizing that the author had hired a team of Market Analyst Drones (MADs) to analyze successful YA books of the past half-generation. And that he had this conversation (probably via Skype):

MADs: Male protagonist a must; females readers will adapt, but young male readers still have a hard time imagining themselves as girls. Author: Check

He seems average but what the kids around him don't know/appreciate is that he is Very Special Indeed. Caters to typical ad...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Courtney rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: dnf

More reviews at Rondo of a Possible World: YA Book Reviews

Will West is a genius told to dumb it down and remain low because there is danger lurking after him. He's moved countless times and his abides by rules that his father set forth and lives off of them like its his bible. Will was a character that I liked, he was smart (obviously), funny, but quite pompous and reminded me of a young and modern Sherlock Holmes in a way. But Will was the only thing about the book that I could really watch a...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Kat Heckenbach rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone looking for action and male protagonists in a teen novel

The last book I reviewed was a YA novel by a writer who was established in the adult market, and I swore that I'd start reading author bios before picking up books because I had gotten to the point where I could spot within the first few pages of the book an author whose bio includes the words "this is his/her first YA novel." I have gotten so tired of adult-market authors jumping on the teen bandwagon and pumping out books that don't read like teen novels, that are awkward or too adult or dumbe...more

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Oct 05, 2012 LH Johnson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, gritty, young-adult, school-stories

It's always hard to know where to begin with a book that was as contradictory an experience as The Paladin Prophecy. The author, Mark Frost, has an excellent pedigree. He co-created Twin Peaks, wrote one of the funnier superhero films 'The Fantastic Four' and the not as bad as you think it might be sequel 'The Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer'. He knows his craft.

However I'm not sure that this is his book, not yet.

The Paladin Prophecy is the first in a series and is the story of Will...more It's always hard to know where to begin with a book that was as contradictory an experience as The Paladin Prophecy. The author, Mark Frost, has an excellent pedigree. He co-created Twin Peaks, wrote one of the funnier superhero films 'The Fantastic Four' and the not as bad as you think it might be sequel 'The Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer'. He knows his craft.

However I'm not sure that this is his book, not yet.

The Paladin Prophecy is the first in a series and is the story of Will West. Will has lived his life by his father's rules. Stay off the radar. Play it safe. Don't get noticed. But when Will slips up. He does a test - and he aces it. Aces it to the extent that he's on the radar both of a shadowy group of men driving black sedan cars and also an exclusive school. His life's never going to be the same again.

It's a big book, and one that doesn't really get going for a while. When it does actually get going, it's great. I loved the school, at points reminding me of Hogwarts, the X Mansion, and that one from the Secret History by Donna Tartt (thank you to everyone on Twitter for reminding me of this title!). I loved the characters in the school - and really loved the library scenes.

But I didn't really love Will, and I think that's maybe a problem. He was too good to be true for me; too brave, too smart, and too Mary-Sue(ish). I can give Frost a little bit of leeway for this because this is the first book in a series (it has to be with *that* ending) and maybe Will develops more in the second books. It's just that right now Will really didn't really do anything for me.

I'm more than aware this might be a personal thing, and I'm aware that there's people who'll love this. Where I do think this book shines is in the sidekicks (Dave!) and the world-building. It's great there. I love the concept and there are parts of it which I swallowed whole. Where I think it struggles a little bit is right at the core, with Will and his personal journey. I don't know if I ever felt like I really knew him - and whilst that might be a perfectly character trait, it all felt a little too studied and self aware for me.

I hope this changes in the next book and I think that Frost is more than capable of delivering it. I'll be keen to see how this series evolves because all of the building blocks are there. They're just a little loose at present. (less)

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Mar 03, 2013 Savvy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Definitely waffling between a 3 or 4 star rating. I liked the book, but was slightly bored on occasion, leading me to skim a paragraph here and there. And I have to say, the potential romance that will eventually happen in the second book, I just don't see it happening. If anything, I like the main character Will with a different girl.
As for the actual story, it seemed a bit long. The story seemed descriptive, but also lacking. Knowing that the author has written screenplays, I couldn't help but...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books

The Paladin prophecy is an exciting new novel from the co author of Twin Peaks. It's fast paced and exciting with a brilliant lead character and lots of interesting ideas which I'm sure will make for an exciting series overall.

The paladin prophecy follows the story of Will West. Will has spent his life in the shadows actively not standing out amongst his peers until one day when he aces a test and offered a place as a prestigious academy. From that moment on things start to go strange for Will...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Jody rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, special-abilities, ya

The Paladin Prophecy is a full on action movie where "Bourne Identity" meets Harry Potter. I was immediately drawn into the action where Will West hits the ground running literally from mysterious black sedans. Will has always lived by a book of rules his Dad made for him. Will never preformed up to his abilities and always stayed below the radar. He wasn't even able to join the cross-country team until he promised to always finish in the pack. But as the book starts, Will notices the black seda...more The Paladin Prophecy is a full on action movie where "Bourne Identity" meets Harry Potter. I was immediately drawn into the action where Will West hits the ground running literally from mysterious black sedans. Will has always lived by a book of rules his Dad made for him. Will never preformed up to his abilities and always stayed below the radar. He wasn't even able to join the cross-country team until he promised to always finish in the pack. But as the book starts, Will notices the black sedans watching and following his running route. After escaping to school, Will is called out of class to be offered a full scholarship to THE CENTER, an ultra exclusive school for the highest of achievers. Will finds out that he scored off the charts of a regular exam he took in the fall. Will figures his parents will be angry due to a violation of the rule to never draw attention to himself. But when he gets home, he finds his Mom has been replaced by Stepford Mom, his mother by looks but who is not acting like herself at all and won't take her sunglasses off. Will decides to run away and almost gets caught by some really demonstrous bad guys. He is saved by a guardian of sorts who will not tell him what is going on.

Will struggles to escape the black caps who have captured his Dad and done something to his Mom. Desperate to get away, he calls Dr. Robbins and accepts the scholarship to the center. He barely escapes to the center when he is immediately challenged by a fellow student who is essentially the dorm advisor and security. Will finds himself immediately thrust into a world of over-achievers that are mysterious and trustworthy. Will finds a "family" of sorts that he learns to trust and even violates rules. Will belongs with the center but knows that he hasn't really escaped the danger that found him in the Southern California hills. Soon Will finds a connection that challenges everything he has ever known. Will must piece together a mystery that could mean keeping the balance between light and dark. With the help of his friends, Will uncovers the secrets that have been hidden in the world since before the English ever landed in America.

I loved this book and cannot wait for the next one. This is the start of solid series in the fashion of Harry Potter. I could totally see this playing out as a movie in the genre of Percy Jackson or HP. The story hits the ground running and continues to engage the reader in a mysterious identity of Will. Will West is also the best hero name in a long time! I do wish there was a little more romance between Will and Brooke--It seemed rushed and an afterthought in the whole picture. It didn't really need to be there but being the hopeless romantic I am I hope this will develop more in the future books. The struggle of light and dark reminded me of the darkness that was written into Scott Westerfields' Midnight Hour books. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action filled struggle between good and evil. This series is poised to burst onto the YA scene and become the next breakout.(less)

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May 28, 2013 Zunaira Ghazal rated it 4 of 5 stars

honestly, it took me a while to get into it. but once i did--wow. just wow.

Will was such an amazing character. he was portrayed so well. it didn't occur to me that he was a little bit too good to be true--which he wasrn't. I loved his relationship with his parents. i loved how the circumstances were created around him. and i absolutely LOVED how his perception of the world was portrayed to the rest of us and how he wasn't just salivating over a girl. he was such a solid character.

Next to will, N...more

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May 11, 2013 ✿ℎazℯℓ✿ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: listened-to, fave-rave, favorite-ya-pnr-adv-dystopian

I can't wait for the next book!

If you likes books like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, then you will love this.

I am just amazed. I think it also helped that the audiobook is damn great. The story is just so eventful that I don't even know where to start.

Will, our main character is in league with Harry and Percy. You can't go wrong with this one. He's smart and he runs damn fast! His story starts with running.. and it seems like he's always running here. Their family has always been secretive abo...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: hostages-in-my-house-and-kindle, kindle-edition, netgallery, pretty-covers, do-you-have-your-towel, scrumptious-books, ya, read-2013

3.5 stars

I quite liked this, and probably would have liked it more had I not been in a reading funk so it gets an extra half star for that fact.

The concept of The Paladin Prophecy was something I quite liked nothing really new but still interesting enough.

Basically Will is super good at, well, everything and has some other crazy abilities.
He gets invited to a school for the best of the best, and then some people try to kill him, he goes to school to find out what the hell is going on.

Pretty sim...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, kinda-creepy, teens-and-older-audience, action-adventure

Harry Potter meets young James Bond (or possibly Alex Rider, but I haven't read that series).

This is a great book for Christmas/New Year's + snow and flu season. The action moves swiftly and dire situations are embraced with positive enthusiasm. Witty comments and jokes are thrown around during deadly encounters. I laughed a lot at some of the comments (which could mean that my mentality is similar to a 15-year-old boy... hmmm... but the author is closer to my age, so no need for an identity cri...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Kaitlin rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who like sci-fi

1.75 I couldn't give it an "ok," because it was worse than "ok" (to me), but it wasn't like I didn't like the whole entire book.

If you want to read this book then don't read this! Because I want you to read it because everyone has different opinions and preferences.

My friend recommended this to me, and I thought I would borrow it. It disappointed me a lot because, well, it sounded a little interesting. Key words: a little. This isn't really my type of book because I don't like fantasy or sci-fi...more 1.75 I couldn't give it an "ok," because it was worse than "ok" (to me), but it wasn't like I didn't like the whole entire book.

If you want to read this book then don't read this! Because I want you to read it because everyone has different opinions and preferences.

My friend recommended this to me, and I thought I would borrow it. It disappointed me a lot because, well, it sounded a little interesting. Key words: a little. This isn't really my type of book because I don't like fantasy or sci-fi that much. I liked the start of the book because Will West was a good character. I mean by his personality. He was innocent, quirky, and a little quiet. But then as the book moved along all that innocence kind of drained away, and his quietness DEFINITELY went away. I felt like by the second half of the book, Will was kind of different person.

I didn't like the start too much because I felt like it jumped right in too fast. I didn't get much background information, and the action started like half of a chapter in.

Also, I didn't believe it was possible that he had NO idea that he was super intelligent and super fast. I thought he would at least have SOME thoughts on that. Like, did he not notice that he understood everything in class? And how is it possible that he was so interested in science stuff when he got to the school, when he knew it? I mean, he aced the big test. I knew some stuff, and that says something.

I did like the Dad's List of Rules. That was cool, and I thought it was an interesting addition to the story. It was pretty original, and I found most of the rules either funny or pretty correct and straightforward.

As for the dialogue and stuff... I feel like he's trying to hard to have teen speak. Like, I've never heard anyone talk like Nick ever. But maybe that's just Nick.

The start was fast-paced, but after Will met Ajay I was skimming the pages because there were too many details, and it was getting boring. I started tuning back in when Nick, Ajay, and Will started going to the auxilary room, but then I was bored again. I came back in when the syn-apps were fighting and they were talking about Ronnie, but then I tuned out. I came back in in the climax, but at the end I once again tuned out. It was pretty boring as you can see.

The plot and hints were clever, nothing I would ever write, obviously, but I simply did not enjoy it.
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Mar 12, 2013 Martina Flasarová rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mark Frost je kromě scénáristy také spisovatel, který píše především knihy pro dospělé. Tato kniha je však určena mládeži, ale dle mého názoru si ji může přečíst každý, kdo má rád tajemno a fantasy knihy.

Will West je obyčejný patnáctiletý kluk, který je na první pohled stejný jako jeho vrstevníci. Ale je tu něco, co mu nedá spát: Proč se pořád s rodiči stěhuje z místa na místo? Proč umí tak rychle běhat? Proč umí své myšlenky podsouvat druhým lidem? Proč se nesmí příliš lišit od ostatních dětí?

N...more Mark Frost je kromě scénáristy také spisovatel, který píše především knihy pro dospělé. Tato kniha je však určena mládeži, ale dle mého názoru si ji může přečíst každý, kdo má rád tajemno a fantasy knihy.

Will West je obyčejný patnáctiletý kluk, který je na první pohled stejný jako jeho vrstevníci. Ale je tu něco, co mu nedá spát: Proč se pořád s rodiči stěhuje z místa na místo? Proč umí tak rychle běhat? Proč umí své myšlenky podsouvat druhým lidem? Proč se nesmí příliš lišit od ostatních dětí?

Na poslední škole, kterou navštěvuje, se konal celostátní inteligenční test a on v něm získal největší počet bodů v historii. Na základě tohoto testu je přijat na exkluzivní soukromou školu, která se jmenuje Centrum integrovaného studia ve Visconsinu. Will tuší, že z této zprávy rodiče nebudou mít vůbec radost, ale reakce jeho matky ho překvapila - je úplně nadšená. Willovi se to moc nezdá a pořád má vtíravý pocit, že se s jeho mámou něco stalo. A pak spatří její oči, které byly naprosto cizí, a že je nějak vyměněná. Will dostane strach o svého otce - co když je jiný i on? Když se otec vrací domů s neznámými muži v černých čepicích, pozná, že je to zatím on. Ale na jak dlouho?

Will na nic nečeká a utíká z domu. Jeho cílem se stává prestižní Centrum. V letadle ho však čeká velká nepříjemnost – do letadla se dostanou podivné nestvůry, které chtějí, aby letadlo spadlo. Ale je tu Willův strážný anděl Dave, který příšery zlikviduje.

V Centru je příjemně přivítán ředitelem školy doktorem Rourkem. Will dostane k ruce dívku Brooke, která ho má kampusem provést. Will musí odevzdat všechny svoje elektronické věci a pak je zaveden do pokoje, kde bude bydlet s dalšími čtyřmi dětmi – Ajayem, Nickem, Elis i Brooke. A Will má konečně pocit, že někde patří, že má konečně přátele a nemusí předstírat, že je někdo jiný. Tento pocit však netrvá dlouho. Na škole má totiž i své nepřátele v podobě dvou starších studentů – Lylea a Todda. Jenže vše není tak hrozné, jak to vypadá. Je to ještě mnohem horší.

Will musí vypátrat, kdo ho chce zabít. Na své dobrodružné cestě za pravdou zjišťuje různé skutečnosti, které mu odhalují, kdo vlastně je on sám...

Celý příběh je protkán pravidly Willova otce, které vždy platí se stoprocentní jistotou a Will se jimi řídí, ať se děje, co se děje a to mu už několikrát zachránilo život.

V knize je také hodně vyspělých technologií, až nad tím rozum zůstává stát. Nejvíc se mi líbily školní tablety s dvojníky těch, co vlastní onen tablet a upřímně řečeno, chtěla bych jeden takový mít doma.

Kromě vyspělé technologie se zde setkáme s různými příšerami a nestvůrami, dozvíme se také, kdo je to paladin a v nekonečné řadě také to, jestli zvítězí dobro nad zlem.

Kniha se čte jedním dechem, navozuje tu správnou chuť napětí. Děj je plynulý, nezastavuje se a v momentě, kdy jsem si pomyslela, že by se už mohlo konečně něco stát, tak děj poskočil a další slova zase oživla v nastávajícím dobrodružství.

Závěr příběhu je otevřený, některé moje otázky zůstaly nezodpovězeny, a proto se už moc těším na to, až si přečtu druhý díl.

Jediné, co se mi trochu nelíbilo, bylo to, že zde byl začleněn i tak trochu začínající vztah mezi Willem a Brooke ke konci příběhu. Podle mě je to dobrodružná fantasy kniha a tohle by tam asi být nemělo. Nicméně moje hodnocení je maximum hvězdiček - za napětí, za příběh, za tajemnou obálku a také za Willa a jeho přátele.(less)

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Apr 22, 2013 Kristina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

AHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT WAS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!
I LOVE the plot, and the characters. There is something so unique about how Mark Frost writes his books. There will never be anothe book like this book.
I have to say that Ajay is my favourite character. He's smart, funny in his own way and (to me) has a air of mystery about it. You know about the background about all the other main characters, but you don't know his.
You know how in books, the guys are usually perfect, pristine, gorgous and extreamly i...more

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