The Syndicate

Jul 28, 2012 Mitch rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: no-just-no

The Syndicate has such a great summary but that's about it for me. Wasn't a fan of the writing, I thought this would be an actioner and yeah there's plenty of Hybrid slaying but the prose was just too passive to carry it. And beyond the solid premise, there's just not a lot of plot or character development, instead Shorts devotes a lot of this short read to a somewhat strange romance and wraps things up with a rushed ending. I'm disappointed.

My biggest problem though is the writing. I'm not usua...more The Syndicate has such a great summary but that's about it for me. Wasn't a fan of the writing, I thought this would be an actioner and yeah there's plenty of Hybrid slaying but the prose was just too passive to carry it. And beyond the solid premise, there's just not a lot of plot or character development, instead Shorts devotes a lot of this short read to a somewhat strange romance and wraps things up with a rushed ending. I'm disappointed.

My biggest problem though is the writing. I'm not usually a fan of male points of view by female authors because they don't really feel authentic to me, but that wasn't really the case here. Instead, it's the way Vasi narrates everything, he's like, I do this, he's my brother, I think that because, a lot of telling rather than showing. I didn't have a problem getting inside his head, but Vasi's narrating style unfortunately just didn't connect with me, rather it lost me. Even the fight scenes, he's rushed by more than a dozen hybrids at one point, there's a lot of shooting, throat slitting, and daggers in spines, but the whole scene was just mechanical, somewhat detached, didn't feel exciting. And there's also a surprising lack of blood for so many slit throats, the stuff should just be gurgling everywhere but Vasi just puts the bodies in the back of his car. I'd expect one messy car but no.

Beyond that, Vasi's supposed to be this conflicted character having to chose between staying loyal to the Syndicate or loyal to his ideals. I really didn't feel that, at times he almost feels flippant at the Syndicate (one of his brothers, not him) having to kill Riley, just brushes off the whole thing as Syndicate loyalty, but when he's with Riley he suddenly becomes loyal to her. Maybe it's because the two of them suffers from some massive instant love and the romance plot involves Vasi learning about Riley's past rather than figuring things out about himself, but he just doesn't really have the internal conflict I'd expect from someone taught to obey this organization without question and then is ordered to do something that goes against his conscience. Instead, he's more like I can't kill her, and then, yeah, I was right not to kill her. Riley really surprised me though, she seems like the more conflicted character, balancing her safety with her attraction to Vasi, but Vasi's sister Rosie has them both beat in characterization because she at least makes sense as the moral compass character.

A lot of other things ended up being pretty simple too. The backstory's really a modified werewolf killing thing, yeah call the Syndicate’s targets Hybrids and give them fangs and yellow eyes and long nails and transformations without going full werewolf, but the whole thing with the Readers and the Guard and how they came into being really lacked any complexity. And the explanation for how the rushed ending comes together, Readers and Guards don't mix, yeah right. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the last few chapters just feels like a worse version of Breaking Dawn. The mythology, all of it, just feels, I don't know, amateurish.

I'm not saying this book is a pain to read, it actually goes pretty quickly, but I can't say I enjoyed the writing or the plot. I just expected so much more, and ended up with something really simple in every way.(less)

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Jul 27, 2012 Katy rated it 1 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't.

I thought the concept had a lot of potential, and I was really interested in seeing what Shorts had in stored. Unfortunately, I never really understood her world at all. In the beginning, you learn about the Guard, Scouts and Readers and how they make up the Syndicate, and I guess why it was formed to protect the world from the Hybrids. But what we don't get a clear picture of is what a Hybrid is (I'm guessing some sort of animal-like monste...more I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't.

I thought the concept had a lot of potential, and I was really interested in seeing what Shorts had in stored. Unfortunately, I never really understood her world at all. In the beginning, you learn about the Guard, Scouts and Readers and how they make up the Syndicate, and I guess why it was formed to protect the world from the Hybrids. But what we don't get a clear picture of is what a Hybrid is (I'm guessing some sort of animal-like monster because Shorts describes changing spines and doggy nightmares) or what it means to be infected.

It wasn't until probably 60 percent (wow, REALLY late in the book) through that you learned about the history of their people, and you begin to get an idea of how to picture what a Hybrid is. And you find out how it spreads, but you still don't know what it means to be infected or how it even started in the first place. And the history itself, I'm sorry, but it was a bit silly, and I didn't buy into the whole curse and help from the dogs and cats. I think I may have if it had been explained more clearly rather than just skimming the surface.

Overall, I thought the writing was a bit elementary, and the dialogue wasn't that great. But it was bearable - except when it came to Vasi and Riley. My biggest problem with the book was the "romance." How do I explain their relationship without spoiling it other than WHAT THE EFF!!! Yes, please tell me (view spoiler) or (view spoiler) or the church scene or the big decision. It was really rushed, which okay, if I worked hard to get over the fact that it's really not THAT big of a deal with all the instalove in YA books nowadays. But the relationship was so AWKWARD.

Otherwise, I would say the story itself was okay, nothing special. Still, I was expecting more action - and there was very little. Now, Shorts did try to throw in a twist at the end, but the whole big reveal and face-off occurred very quickly, and it was over before you knew it. It was a bit disappointing, and I was left thinking, "What? That's it?"

Like I said, I really, really, really wanted to like this book. And I tried hard to look past the things that I thought the book failed to do. But there was just too much that I didn't like about it, and the whole simple yet awkward writing and dialogue were reasons why I couldn't give it anything higher. However, this was just my opinion, and I hope others do like it, because honestly, I did try to like it.(less)

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Aug 13, 2012 M. Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars

I put this book on my to-read list at the beginning of the summer, and after I read the synopsis I knew it was one of those books that I just had to get my hands on. A huge part of what made me pick up this book is that it was about a secret organization that eliminates Hybrids, a threat to humanity. Another thing that caught my attention was that it was written in a male's PoV. Most books that I read are from a female PoV, so it's nice to have a change every now and then. So I ordered it, and n...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Lacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

First Thoughts:

Wow, I never wanted this book to end, I fell in love with the characters and didn’t want to let them go, there’s just so much depth and character to them that I wanted to keep reading about them. And to make this an even greater book was the plot! No cookie cutter plot, there was definitely originality and creativity poured into each and every page. I was so engrossed in this new “society” and how it worked; it was really cool to see two sides of the same blade…

Plot:

Okay so I real...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Soumi(in love with Puck) Roy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-arcs, owned-copy, paranormal-others, signed-copies, books-i-reviewed, shapeshifters

My first book of Shelena Shorts and I was like OMFG. When I first received the book I cannot help myself from gawking at the cover with a hawk eye like waiting for moment when Vasi will come out of the cover and I will throw myself in his arm. Sound romantic, yes! trust me you may feel the same and you feeling may enhance once you read the book.

The Syndicate is not you so called paranormal romance. Of course romance is the main ingredient but there is suspense and action too. Love, betrayal, tre...more My first book of Shelena Shorts and I was like OMFG. When I first received the book I cannot help myself from gawking at the cover with a hawk eye like waiting for moment when Vasi will come out of the cover and I will throw myself in his arm. Sound romantic, yes! trust me you may feel the same and you feeling may enhance once you read the book.

The Syndicate is not you so called paranormal romance. Of course romance is the main ingredient but there is suspense and action too. Love, betrayal, treachery and conspiracy, The Syndicate is has all in equal measure.
Syndicate is a secret organization that hunts down monsters like hybrids that nearly resembles to werewolves and saves mankind. Vasi has inherited his family job and tradition of serving the syndicate and he is extremely loyal to his duty, until Syndicate targeted a girl. A girl can never be a hybrid and Syndicate has never targeted a girl before, there must have been some mistake and Vasi intends to find what’s wrong. In process the more he gets to know Riley, the girl he has been assigned to kill, the more he falls for her. Digging into secrets of Syndicates true motivation, he finds out some shocking truth that can destroy him.

As for the characters, Vasi is incredible hero with strong personality. As the book progressed, we see a really mature Vasi, brave both physically and mentally. Being center of the novel he overshadowed others, but end of the day he is 17 years old boy flooded with emotion and love. Also he has a great presence of mind, knows how to handle situation and take down dozen of hybrids.
On the other hand Riley is really weak and adhesive, clinging onto Vasi like a scared little girl. Fragile and unpredictable, what I feels that she is not a perfect companion comparing Vasi.
Another person I can’t help but mentioning is Rosie, Vasi’s little sister and his scout, the one assists him to find out the hybrids and kill them. Jolly and full of life, I immediately liked her.

The Syndicate was a enjoying and quick read for me, and by the end I left with wanting more of the story. I liked how author gathered the whole story into a satisfying ending. The Syndicate is a stand alone, as it seems to me but secretly I’m praying this book to be a series, please.
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Jul 27, 2012 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read

GoodReads Synopsis: For centuries, the Petrescu family has been protecting society from a danger that moves among the population undetected. Eighteen-year-old Vasi Petrescu has never had a problem carrying out his duty, but, when ordered to eliminate an eighteen-year-old girl, he is immediately taken out of his comfort zone.

The Syndicate has never targeted a female before, yet somehow this one has ended up on more than one hit list. Vasi would like to find out why, but there may not be time.

Now,...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Jenelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: possibly-gaggy, love-thy-enemy, embarrassed-to-admit-i-ve-read, present-day, demons-goblins-bad-creatures, virus-or-disease, ya, urban-fantasy, read-in-2012

Barf.

Halfway through, but not even going to bother finishing it.

It's not bad, but just kind of weak and unsophisticated, I guess. The premise was intriguing-ish, but there is very little added to it (by page 150 at least). The pacing is sluggish, the plot drags, and sorry, but Vasi is a dope. Even the "forbidden romance" is rather lackluster.

Props to the author, though, for her mixed-race heroine: how refreshing!

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Apr 25, 2012 Jessie Harrell rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love Shelena Shorts and was dying to get my hands on this book. She was awesome enough to send me an ARC (thank you!). It was an entirely different book from The Pace series. Written from the male (Vasi's) perspective, the story felt a little more detached to me. Which is why I give it 4 rather than 5 stars; it did take me a little bit to connect with Vasi as a character (probably the result of never having been an 18 year old male assassin, I found it hard to relate).
That being said, I loved...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Sabrii rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone!

Shelves: ya, review-books, short, nice

The review is also posted on my blog: www.justfantasybooksadis.blogspot.com

The protagonist of the book is Vasi Petrescu. He lives in a group named The Syndicate, where the Guards hunt the Hybrids - people infected with a virus which turns them into abnormal creatures. But when Vasile gets an assignment to kill a girl - which can't even be infected with the virus - he refuses to kill her. More, he wants to get some details and soon, a love story is born between him and the girl named Riley. Vasil...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Maliha Khan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Vasi is the best assassin of his group, The Syndicate. Their job is to protect humans from mindless infected zombie-like creatures, whose purpose wasn't really ever revealed in this book. I mean, what do they do? Why are they a threat? Just because they roar and attack and infect people? Or do they eat brains or something? The author didn't say.

Other than that, I liked it. The heroine, Riley Bennett, is a strong and smart girl who's haunted by terrible visions. She unexpectedly turns up in Vasi'...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Shelley rated it 1 of 5 stars

I was so excited to start this book! With an afternoon free of distractions, I was ready. This was my first time reading Short, but from the synopsis, I had high hopes of drama, action, and a sweet love story. Within the first twenty pages, my hopes were dashed. This story is under developed, rushed, and lacking in emotional connection. I wanted to like these characters and to become attached to them, but that never happened. The plot had a good concept and ideas that had potential but never dev...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Kayla Eklund rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, reviews-completed

I didn't like The Syndicate. It started off slow, and continues that way throughout most of the book. The last fifty pages started to get interesting, but it didn't make up for the rest of the book. The plot was easy to follow. It just got really boring. I didn't care for the characters. The main character, Vasi, was okay at the beginning of the book. Then after he met Riley, he turned into an overprotective creeper and a stalker. He would sit outside Riley's apartment in his truck, and watch he...more

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Jul 02, 2012 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: nichole

For centuries, the Petrescu family has been protecting society from a danger that moves among the population undetected. Eighteen-year-old Vasi Petrescu has never had a problem carrying out his duty, but, when ordered to eliminate an eighteen-year-old girl, he is immediately taken out of his comfort zone.
The Syndicate has never targeted a female before, yet somehow this one has ended up on more than one hit list. Vasi would like to find out why, but there may not be time.
Now, he’ll have to decid...more For centuries, the Petrescu family has been protecting society from a danger that moves among the population undetected. Eighteen-year-old Vasi Petrescu has never had a problem carrying out his duty, but, when ordered to eliminate an eighteen-year-old girl, he is immediately taken out of his comfort zone.
The Syndicate has never targeted a female before, yet somehow this one has ended up on more than one hit list. Vasi would like to find out why, but there may not be time.
Now, he’ll have to decide whether or not to keep her alive even if it means going against his own family.
The action, mystery, and conspiracy in The Syndicate will take readers on an immersing journey in which decisions are not only life changing, but irreversible.
Vasi Petrescu has grown up in a world full of champions and heroes. The only problem is that the world has never heard of them. For in Vasi’s world, creatures called Hybrids roam the streets. Hybrids can blend in. They can look and speak just like an average human. In fact, if it were up to normal humans, they would never be able to pick one out of a line up. But Vasi knows better. Vasi knows that Hybrids are evil creatures who can snap at a moments notice, killing hundreds in their wake.
Now that Vasi has been initiated to a full fledged guard, he can help his brothers hunt down the Hybrids, saving the world from the terror and doom they bring to the Earth. The only problem is, Vasi has been assigned to assassinate a female. Vasi knows that females cannot become Hybrids, so he begins to question the family that has supported him and his kind since before he was born. Follow Vasi on his journey to the truth and witness him try to find himself in the process.
The first thing that drew me to The Syndicate was the cover. When I see a cover that I’m in love with it, I could care less about the description of the book. The only thing that matters is that the cover is pretty and I want to read what’s behind that beautiful image. Not only is the cover absolutely gorgeous, but it definitely relates to the book itself. It’s an image of a male, presumably Vasi, and I feel that you can really get a sense of his strength and confusion from the expression on his face. I know that when I was reading about Vasi’s story, I often would find myself referring back to the cover to get a good look at him.
I find that most female writers narrate from a female character’s perspective. There are a few exceptions to this. For example, Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, is narrated from the main male character, Ethan. I give major points to authors who go out of their realms and write from a totally different perspective. However, I often find that I have problems with male narrators written by female authors. That was no exception for this book. I often feel that the male character is either slightly feminine or over the top stereotyped masculine. In this case, it was the latter. I felt that Shorts did a great job identifying the main character was a male. Vasi really had no feminine traits, which is something that I enjoyed. However, females (society even) tend to create a majority stereotype for men. I felt that a lot of those stereotypes were released onto the character of Vasi. I would have appreciated it a little more if he had had a uniqueness to his personality. Something that separated him from the typical male stereotype.
If you follow my reviews, you may have noticed that I have a huge problem with weak female characters. It drives me nuts for a female to listen to everything a male says and to follow on his heels like he’s God himself. I want my female characters to be strong, independent, self-serving, a go-getting-I-can-do-it-myself female. This was not the case with the main female character, Riley. Riley completely depended on Vasi. She never once thought she could take care of herself, and she made that pretty clear throughout the whole book. There were even a few times where she basically mentioned that she needed Vasi to protect her. I just wanted to shake the girl and tell her that she wasn’t useless material. Girls and women alike can be very powerful, and I find that books often stereotype them to be the weakling that needs saved from the handsome prince.
I did enjoy the mystery of the book. It may have been my age level, but I figured out everything relevantly quickly. There was a twist at the end that I didn’t see, though, and I really appreciated that. I think that younger age groups will stay in suspense a lot longer than I did. One thing I didn’t like, though, was how quickly Vasi and Riley fell in love. I don’t even want to call it love, so I’m going to call it lust. They seemed to feel this way after two days, which is not enough time for anyone to fall in love. I wish that they didn’t attach themselves so quickly. In fact, I would have rather it not happened at all during this book. I would have liked to see the wooing process and witness Riley stand up for herself a little bit more. Some of the things at the end of the book (don’t worry, I won’t give anything away) really threw me. They just moved way too quickly. I know that when I first meet a guy, it takes months before I really let him in. Riley and Vasi didn’t take the initial time that couples take to get to know each other, which made it a little awkward to follow their story.
Younger teenagers, between the ages of 11-16, will probably really enjoy this book. It sort of reminded me of a cross between White Cat, by Holly Black, and The Strange Angels series by Lili St. Crow. I don’t think that people above the age of 20 will fully get into this book. It definitely targets a younger audience. There are a couple references to sexual encounters in the book. There are no explicit details included. Overall, though, it was an interesting read and I think that the younger generation will really appreciate it.
Pages: 301
Publication Date: July 9, 2012
Publisher: Lands Atlantic Publishing
Rating: : 2

Teaser Quote: “…we have to make the decision in time, we have to mark it, put it in the envelope, stick a stamp on it, and mail it back. We can’t just decide, but then let the deadline pass, because if we do, it’s like we never made the decision to begin with.”(less)

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May 24, 2012 Kristy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: supernatural

First off, I have to acknowledge this is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. A lot of you will not like this because of the lack of action and the abundance of romantical/relationship/lovey moments. But, if you are like me, you might just end up liking it for those reasons.

Spoilers ahead:

Vasi is part of a secret society, one that takes out hybrids. They are sort of contracted out by the government and kept a secret. Readers have visions that show them who the hybrids are, and from there the...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Bianca rated it 5 of 5 stars

You can find this review on my blog: http://bianca2b.wordpress.com
I received this book from Shelena as an ARC.Thanks,Shelena!

I really ,really enjoyed this book.I read it on the beach,and this made it very special for me.I have to recognize that I didn’t expect to like it THAT much.The blurb attracked me because of the Romanian names and because of the Syndicate.I was very curious to find out what’s the deal with the Syndicate.

Once I started it,I was surprised:better than I thought!First,it’s ver...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Vasi Petrescu has only ever known one life: the role of a Guardian who protects the humans from Hybrids - humans infected by a virus that turns them into rabid animals. But when he was given an assignment to kill a suspected female hybrid, he began to question just how reliable their Readers and Elders are. One look at Riley Bennett and he knew instantly that someone made a mistake. First of all, she's female; Hybrids aren't able to infect those of the xx chromosomes. Second of all, Riley isn't...more Vasi Petrescu has only ever known one life: the role of a Guardian who protects the humans from Hybrids - humans infected by a virus that turns them into rabid animals. But when he was given an assignment to kill a suspected female hybrid, he began to question just how reliable their Readers and Elders are. One look at Riley Bennett and he knew instantly that someone made a mistake. First of all, she's female; Hybrids aren't able to infect those of the xx chromosomes. Second of all, Riley isn't even infected. Caught between duty to protect his family and protecting a girl he barely knew, he was forced to make a decision that will ultimately change the future of The Syndicates.

The Syndicate wasn't...bad. But it wasn't that good for me either. Consider me apathetic. There were just things that Ms. Shorts had fallen, er, short on and it starts with her writing. Male POVs from a female writer is such a different ballgame and more often the story itself suffers if not done well. I can only name a few female authors that have excelled in this. Unfortunately, I found Vasi's voice dry and a little too matter-of-fact that he comes off cold.

This isn't a very long book pages wise but for some reason, I found myself bored and consequently, skimming a lot. My main problem is the slow pace for which Riley's role as the catalyst was revealed. It literally took the entire book. It wouldn't be such a problem if not for the fact that I felt detached for the most part. The mark of a good mystery is the author's ability to keep a reader engrossed and interested right from the beginning till the end. This reader, however, wasn't. The history and the much-needed information to acquaint the readers to the world Shelena Shorts was trying to sell was ambiguous and sometimes convoluted. Which is surprising since she only spent about a page or two on the history of how The Syndicate came to be.

It's hard to picture Riley as a girl plagued with endless nightmares involving monsters. If anything, I thought she was well-adjusted. I couldn't decide if she was an incredibly strong-willed character that she wasn't at all bothered by the nightmares or the author forgot that Riley needed to show any indications that her nerves were fried. She's a religious girl who was told by God not have sex before marriage but I guess He was a little late since she's already done it. Uhm. Okay. I guess it all boils down to the underdevelopment her character has suffered. There's not much you'd know about her. And the little interactions she had with Vasi didn't really give the readers much to go on but then again, I can say the same thing about Vasi.

VERDICT: At first glance, The Syndicate will lure you with the forbidden romance it alludes to. If not, it's the young executioner who hunts 'hybrids' and therefore, the expectations of action galore. Unfortunately, both story arcs weren't really executed well. However, some readers may still enjoy this take on the lycanthrope myth and the secret society that protects the people from ever knowing they exist. (less)

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Oct 07, 2012 Kerry rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-have

It was rather slow into the build up of excitement in this book--even with the bits of action thrown in. It wasn't as gripping as I was hoping for. But it wasn't entirely boring either. The writing was good enough, it didn't annoy me too greatly, it just wasn't very captivating. It was easy to read and follow, but it was just too predictable.

I did skip over the majority of the church scene. It was boring and I didn't find that it gave anything worthwhile to the reader to tie into the book. It al...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Krisz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Certainly each of us has something inside that sometimes makes us doubt some choices, sometimes prompts us to do something, as if it could guide us from the shadows, and often helps us to male decisions. It's called instinct, that little voice in our head that it’s always present, and gets out when feels it's needed .. At women I would call it the sixth sense, the ability to perceive certain things, to choose a way because you feel that. At men I don’t know how to call it, but they certainly pos...more Certainly each of us has something inside that sometimes makes us doubt some choices, sometimes prompts us to do something, as if it could guide us from the shadows, and often helps us to male decisions. It's called instinct, that little voice in our head that it’s always present, and gets out when feels it's needed .. At women I would call it the sixth sense, the ability to perceive certain things, to choose a way because you feel that. At men I don’t know how to call it, but they certainly possess it, too. The question is: how often do you rely on your instinct, and trust it? Sometimes it can be a trusted friend in our life, but sometimes it can be deceiving. What do you do when he dictates you to make something crazy, or something that it’s against your principles, but you have that feeling that this is right to do, and something surprising and positive awaits you at the end?
description

Vasi Petrescu lived all his life, until now, true to its rules, and the Syndicate, which he considers his family. He was raised in the spirit of his father that was the leader of this secret organization that deals with the elimination of hybrids, men who were infected with a virus, and now have become a danger to society. He's an assassin, trained from when he was a child, and now he's the best. Besides others like him, there are Readers, who have a vision and find the names of hybrids, and Scouts that deal with their investigation , and find all necessary information about the hybrids, how to be killed quietly, without any humans around.
Nothing seems unusual with his life, because he makes a good think to keep humans safe. Orphaned since his parents were killed, he is totally committed to the Syndicate, which he obey blindly, and his younger sister, the only relative left. However, things are more complicated, and the leader, Henri, warns Vasi that a huge danger threatens to destroy forever their organization, and that one of them will betray them. Things got crazy when he is send to kill a girl .. what is so unusual. They have never killed a woman and didn’t have to do that because they cannot gets infected with the virus, women are immune to it. And then, why Henri still insists that he must liquidate her because it will bring a disaster to the Syndicate?
Vasi is for the first time completely confused and doesn’t know what to do, he who was always sure of himself. He meets his target, a poor alone girl who doesn’t seem to have anything evil, and has no idea about his world and the Syndicate, although he had some dreams of him, and of certain creatures - hybrids ..
The executioner starts protecting his prey, and a friendship is born between them, at least temporarily, until Vasi tries to discover what's wrong with Riley, his victim .. and feelings gradually become stronger between them.
He will have to make a crucial decision: to trust his instinct that tells him that there is nothing dangerous of this young girl, and not to kill her, but betray his family or to obey blindly the Syndicate 's orders? Listen to duty, or to his heart?
I was very intriguated by this book when I read the description and I made the conclusion that the main character’s name is Romanian, and I wasn’t wrong. Although I didn’t understood why Shelena decided that my country should play a role in her novel, because Vasile, and his family are natives of Romania, I felt flattered. The majority of characters have Romanian names .. Adela, Ramona, Basil, Stefan, Valentin, Alexander, Daniel, and Ovidui (but I think there is a little mistake here, the correct name is Ovidiu) and firstly I felt that I was reading a novel written by a Romanian writer, which was translated into English: )). Anyway, it was s very pleasant feeling.
I read this book in a couple of hours, and I didn’t realize when I finished it honestly. Seriously, I was very curious and intrigued by the subject, it seemed so interesting. The style is alert, full of action. It had beautiful moments and pleasant teasing between Vasi and Riley, and I liked a lot his inner struggles .. and some lines or ironic conclusions.
But I liked than Vasi, his character, that he is a noble person, and smart. He is funny or rather ironic, sexy, deep, protective and cute, and in some moments rebel, unsafe and impulsive. However, that he has qualities and defects made him seem very human in my perception, and I loved that.
I didn’t understood Riley sometimes, I didn’t managed to make an opinion about her personality, and I thought her behavior was.. unclear. I always had the feeling that she's not a good character, and there's something evil about her, she seemed too innocent. If Shelena wanted that the readers have doubts about her, she made a great job! But if Riley didn’t convince me, Vasi's sister Rosie, was brilliant! Funny, honest, fair, direct.. and the teasing between the brothers and the little ironies were so delicious!
description

If you read the book carefully, you will surely learn that you should not blindly trust in someone or something, that you have the right to make your own choices, and above all, have faith in instinct sometimes, because he knows what he knows! And that love is more important than duty!
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May 15, 2013 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, series-in-progress

I was excited to read The Syndicate since I first heard of it because it sounded so interesting. It didn't seem like a book I would normally read from the summary, but I am really glad I picked it up because I loved it. The Syndicate turned out to be a well written story about family, conspiracies, romance, betrayal, and even included some paranormal elements.

• Setting: The Syndicate takes place in a world very much like our own, with one exception: Hybrids. And because Hybrids exist, so does th...more I was excited to read The Syndicate since I first heard of it because it sounded so interesting. It didn't seem like a book I would normally read from the summary, but I am really glad I picked it up because I loved it. The Syndicate turned out to be a well written story about family, conspiracies, romance, betrayal, and even included some paranormal elements.

• Setting: The Syndicate takes place in a world very much like our own, with one exception: Hybrids. And because Hybrids exist, so does the Syndicate. Hybrids are men who have turned into evil creatures (think zombies) and the Syndicate hunt them down and kill them before they can do much damage. Since they are an undercover and live on their own, it was easy to find this world a believable one. It would not surprise me if these secret societies actually existed in our world.

• Characters: Vasi is a trained assassin, a Guard, and one of the best at what he does. He was born to kill Hybrids and at the age of eighteen, he is a no-nonsense kind of guy who does his job and does it well. Every month, the Syndicate meets and figures who have become Hybrids and who will kill them. As usual Vasi has his sister Rosie, a Scout, find out about his assignments, but when she comes back with news that Riley is a girl, he begins to question what he has always known as truth. Vasi is definitely a more serious character; he's brave, honest and loyal. I wasn't sure if I liked him at first, but he grew on me really quickly. He changes a bit as the story develops, but only becomes more likeable. He is determined to get answers, is hesitant about his feelings but also turns affectionate, stays loyal but his loyalties change, and proves his bravery as the plot thickens.

Rosie, Vasi's sister, is a more fun character, adding a more humorous and lighthearted addition to the family of serious men. While she is also very good at her job, she is less hesitant to turn on what she has always known and follows her instincts instead. Vasi is the only blood family she has remaining and she accepts and believes in him and what he does. She was definitely a favorite.

Riley is an innocent girl who comes off a little week, but proves to be quite brave when she has to be. She decides to trust Vasi, even though he is sent to kill her, and we can definitely see why they connect. We don't get to learn that much about her, but I did like her a lot and definitely was rooting for her to survive what she was going through.

• Supporting characters: While there were plenty of other characters involved, it didn't get confusing to keep track of them. They were also each unique, well described, and played important roles that made the story a lot better for me.

• Plot & Pacing: Told from a male POV, which I have not gotten too used to, turned out to be quite entertaining. Vasi isn't as emotional, complicated or confused as a girl would have been and gets things done. He is ready to defend what he cares for at a moments notice and this definitely provides a lot of action. The book is filled with faced-paced scenes as Vasi struggles to figure out what is going on and what to do about the secrets he uncovers. Never a dull moment, The Syndicate kept me hooked until the end.

• Writing: For the most part, the writing was smooth and easy to read. I only thought that the first few pages had too much explanation, but this did not drag the book down. I definitely wanted to learn more and was not deterred by this minor problem I had with the beginning.

• Romance: While the romance isn't as emotionally attaching and instant, it definitely felt more realistic because it starts off with only an unexpected physical attraction between both characters. It definitely does become a little sappy, but in no way overwhelmed the story with too much gushiness.

Overall: I really enjoyed The Syndicate and definitely recommend it to others. It has plenty of twists, shocking turn of events, mystery and an interesting romance. It is a unique book that will leave you wanting more (and like many others, I hope that there is a sequel coming in the future to answer some questions!) I look forward to reading more from this author in the future, and I can't recommend The Syndicate enough.(less)

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May 23, 2012 Book Whales rated it 5 of 5 stars

Originally posted @ Book Whales

This is my first book from Shelana Shorts. The first time I saw “The Syndicate” on Goodreads, I was salivating to read it. The cover draws me in! I mean, who could not look away? Vasi in the cover, looks so gorgeous. This book will not disappoint you. It is infused with adrenaline and a twist that will blow your mind. It was that good! One of the best books I’ve read so far.

The story is about how the world was kept safe by trained assassins. Vasi Petrascu is part o...more Originally posted @ Book Whales

This is my first book from Shelana Shorts. The first time I saw “The Syndicate” on Goodreads, I was salivating to read it. The cover draws me in! I mean, who could not look away? Vasi in the cover, looks so gorgeous. This book will not disappoint you. It is infused with adrenaline and a twist that will blow your mind. It was that good! One of the best books I’ve read so far.

The story is about how the world was kept safe by trained assassins. Vasi Petrascu is part of The Syndicate, a secret group of trained assassins. He was given an assignment to kill a hybrid (or so he thought). He had never had a problem carrying out his duty before. Until, he was assigned to kill an Eighteen-year old girl. He now questions his loyalty to The Syndicate. Torn Between his loyalty to The Syndicate and the girl he loves. Vasi and Riley go on a journey to find out answers. Why kill a non-hybrid? Who or What is Riley? You have to pick up this book to find out.

The world building is outstanding. I love the world Shelena had created. It was believable! The pacing is good, no dull moments. There were times when, I find myself on the edge of my seat. The action scenes are very cinematic. This book can be made into a movie. When it comes to her writing style, it is really good. The scenes were described pretty well. I didn't had a hard time picturing it. She also has a talent to keep the readers guessing. There were times when I wanted to squish the book to get some answers. The revelations and twists will leave your mouth hanging open. I didn't want it to end. This book is a great read!

As for the characters, I connected to them easily. They were realistic and well described. Again, I did not have a hard time picturing them in my head. I also like how unique each of them are. Each has his/her touch of individuality. Vasi is my favorite character here. I love his personality! The way he talks to himself in his head, made me laugh loads of times. An ideal guy! He is strong, funny and a gentleman. Rosie is my second favorite. I love how mature she is for her age. She complements her brother. Both are opposites yet they support what each one lacks. She is strong-minded and sweet. As for Riley, I find it hard to connect to her at first. Her character is confused. Well, I don’t blame her. She had no family and knows nothing about who she really is. I connected to her mid-part. I get that she is lonely and bewildered. But her vulnerability made me like her. She is fragile yet strong at the same time. Her courage to face The Syndicate, awed me.

Lastly, the love angle is quite good. I get their instant connection. It was believable. Their relationship made by stomach flutter. I didn’t expect them to do two things “Sex and Marriage” but that actually gave spice to the story. I didn’t question it because of the characters’ maturity.

Overall, this book is an excellent read. I recommend this to action and conspiracy lovers. I have to patiently wait for book two now -sigh-. I will definitely read the Pace Series while waiting.

Rating:

(less)

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May 16, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Full Review Here
þ Action packed from beginning to end

þ Secrets, conspiracies, lies, and a truth that no one will see coming

þ Steamy heated romance that seems magnetic at times.

Wow. For the first time since reading Divergent I am sitting here speechless after finishing a book. I took notes while reading for the first time ever because I was feeling and thinking so many things I didn't want to forget any of it. This book is definitely an adrenaline pumper and emotional roller coaster.

It has to be....more

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Sep 15, 2012 Carie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a good, riveting book. I enjoyed it a lot--really felt the paranoia, danger, and oppression of Vasi’s situation. I felt somewhat detached from Riley--didn’t feel like I knew her extremely well and I actually feared for a while that (view spoiler). This disconnected feeling about her may be just because everything was from Vasi’s POV. I would’ve liked to see inside Riley's head and understand her thoughts/feelings more.

The religious as...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Claire rated it 4 of 5 stars

Vasi Petrescu is a Guard in The Syndicate. Protectors of humans against Hybrids, he does what he needs for The Syndicate and man-kind. But suddenly his world is shaken up when he receives the name of a girl. Females have never been targeted before, and Vasi's instincts are telling him that Riley is not a threat.

This book was fabulous. You don't read a lot of books written in male point of view but I love it. I would also just like to point out... How good-looking is the model in the cover? Yes....more

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Jun 26, 2012 Mandi Kaye Ottaway rated it 4 of 5 stars

Since I started posting reviews of the books I read, I’ve found that I’m a lot more critical than I used to be. I used to be able to just sit back and get lost in the story, regardless of the writing or any continuity issues. Now, I notice them and it can be somewhat distracting – even when the story is fantastic.

This book was somewhat affected by this curse. It’s not until two-thirds of the way through the book that we even find out what the Syndicate actually is and who/what the Hybrids are. A...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Yasmin rated it 3 of 5 stars

2.7 stars though i really did like this book, it was a bit slow. I would have liked more detail on the romance and action scenes. everything good went a bit quickly and not enough detail went into most of the book.

Vasi is a Guard. he protects the human world from the monsters that go bump in the night. His sister is a scout, someone who locates and tracts the Hybrid and finds a time when the monster is alone to have them killed. Readers are those who see the future, the names and locations of th...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Amber rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, must-have, arc, for-review, own, male-pov

Mind blowing Awesomeness!

The Syndicate, is nothing short of AMAZING!! The cover is enough to lure the reader in, but the story within is full of conspiracy, twists, an unforgettable budding romance, bonds, action and more! This is one book you will NOT want to miss out on.

Vasile Petrescu is a Guard for Syndicate. Their duty is to protect the world from the awful Hybrids, who infect them if bitten. The Guards get assignments to hunt and kill these evil Hybrids when told, but Vasi's new assignme...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Michelle Flores rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Syndicate marks a new phase in writer Shelena Shorts' career. Backing away from The Pace Series, she's back with a new and electrifying romance plus the element she manages to perfection: Science. The story is centered in Vasi Petrescu, one of the Syndicate's knights who's been loyal and proud to carry family tradition on duty none other than eradicate from society the “Hybrids” that threaten peace. The Syndicate has never targeted a female until now. Once Vassi finds himself against the wal...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Traci rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: signed-books

I found this book slightly slow in the beginning, but as things began to pick up, the story became quite fascinating.

Like with most YA novels of the paranormal lean, this novel involves Vasi, our main character and member of the Syndicate that is mean to kill someone that he assumes to be a hybrid; a human that has been bitten and infected with a virus that will turn him into a crazed, angry person that is bent on harming others. However, his sister and scout Rosie finds out his target is not a...more

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May 07, 2012 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm always hesitant to write reviews because I don't want to give ANYTHING away. I will say that my favorite thing about Shelena is her ability to take a genre that has been done in every different way you can think of and then throw in her own personal twist that you would never have imagined! It is nothing you have read before and it does not disappoint! GREAT JOB SHELENA! :) Impatiently waiting for the final book in The Pace Series (if you haven't read it, do it NOW)!!!
:-D

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Jul 15, 2012 Jackie -Sated Faery rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, other-paranormal

Holy Hit-List – this book was incredible!! I can’t even tell you how awesome Vasi is. He’s dark & dangerous but also a protector who is very loyal to his family. He is smart enough not to let his loyalty blind him though. He has incredible instincts and as he learns to fully trust in them he find out things that he never expected. He’s also completely taken with the girl who he is supposed to be eliminating. Riley may appear to be fragile but she is very brave when she needs to be & mana...more

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