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Newstead Trilogy #1
The Newstead Project
Joel Cranston thinks he’s the luckiest guy ever. He's just been recruited to Newstead, a blue-chip private school, while he's still a junior. Deep down he knows there has to be a catch. And there is. Newstead didn’t pick him because he’s lucky. They picked him because they know something he doesn' that he's either exactly what they need to complete their plans of world domination, or he's the biggest threat they've ever known.
- GenresYoung AdultRomance
394 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2013
530 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 3, 2013
The Newstead Project is Melanie Schulz’s debut novel and the first installment in a trilogy. This is a fascinating premise for a story, and after reading, I’m curious where it’s all going and eagerly await the next book in the series.
Ms. Schulz’s writing pulled me in from the first chapter, and enough was held back to keep me racing to read more. I was right there at Newstead with Joel, felt a drop in my stomach when Joel made the wrong moves at school and became an instant outcast, experienced Fred’s and the intimidation Rachel endured from the Newsteaders as well as her strange living arrangements in the trailer, knowing she might be on the move at any moment. I felt the intense connection between Joel and Rachel even though there were times the speed of it seemed unrealistic. By the end, many of my questions were answered and new ones had formed. I was on the edge of my seat when Joel put his plan into action during the war games. The descriptions of the man-who-was-not-a-man were terrific; I experienced his effect right along with Joel and Rachel.
A few critiques: The alternating POVs were necessary to the story; however, it wasn’t always apparent whose voice it was at the beginning of each chapter. As a reader, I don’t want to be ejected from the story and left to figure out whose POV I’m reading. This book is in need of a tighter edit. My copy was an ARC, so hopefully the released version won’t be rife with errors. I was disappointed more of Joel’s experience at Newstead wasn’t covered. While there was interaction between the students, there was minimal adult interaction even when Joel was skipping classes. Rachel seemed to be an intelligent young woman, and though it was convenient to the plot, it boggled my mind that she accepted certain circumstances without pushing for answers.
Despite a few plot holes and the need for a thorough edit, I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait to find out where Joel and Rachel are headed. The plot was very creative, and I look forward to where Ms. Schulz will be taking us next.
Ms. Schulz’s writing pulled me in from the first chapter, and enough was held back to keep me racing to read more. I was right there at Newstead with Joel, felt a drop in my stomach when Joel made the wrong moves at school and became an instant outcast, experienced Fred’s and the intimidation Rachel endured from the Newsteaders as well as her strange living arrangements in the trailer, knowing she might be on the move at any moment. I felt the intense connection between Joel and Rachel even though there were times the speed of it seemed unrealistic. By the end, many of my questions were answered and new ones had formed. I was on the edge of my seat when Joel put his plan into action during the war games. The descriptions of the man-who-was-not-a-man were terrific; I experienced his effect right along with Joel and Rachel.
A few critiques: The alternating POVs were necessary to the story; however, it wasn’t always apparent whose voice it was at the beginning of each chapter. As a reader, I don’t want to be ejected from the story and left to figure out whose POV I’m reading. This book is in need of a tighter edit. My copy was an ARC, so hopefully the released version won’t be rife with errors. I was disappointed more of Joel’s experience at Newstead wasn’t covered. While there was interaction between the students, there was minimal adult interaction even when Joel was skipping classes. Rachel seemed to be an intelligent young woman, and though it was convenient to the plot, it boggled my mind that she accepted certain circumstances without pushing for answers.
Despite a few plot holes and the need for a thorough edit, I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait to find out where Joel and Rachel are headed. The plot was very creative, and I look forward to where Ms. Schulz will be taking us next.
May 16, 2013
"And all the others together with them took unto themselves wives, and each chose for himself one, and they began to go in unto them and to defile themselves with them, and they taught them charms and enchantments, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants. 2. And they became pregnant, and they bare great giants, whose height was three thousand ells: 3. Who consumed all the acquisitions of men. And when men could no longer sustain them, 4. the giants turned against them and devoured mankind. 5. And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and to devour one another's flesh, and drink the blood. 6. Then the earth laid accusation against the lawless ones."
And from the apocryphal Book of Enoch people's imagination began to work at full power. How can angels, even fallen ones, to give birth to monsters? Told and retold the stories of giants, of the Nephilims, always intrigue and occasionally it’ll appear a work that will attract fantasy readers’ attention. Newstead Project deserves to be one of them.
Joel, the main character, is a guy who could have easily everything, from popularity to the power that it is given by it. It could have been a guy that impose himself to others, and not just by brute force, but who prefer solitude and the peace that it brings. Moreover, he doesn't want to change himself even when the change was offered to him. Having the advantage that is new in the Newstead world he doesn’t fall into "superior being" temptation and does not deviate from his humanity, although it always felt about himself to be rather a monster. He reacts immediately to correct an evil doing and doesn’t change his decision when the consequences turn out to be a fatal risk. Facing these tests he evolves, he begins to discover himself and he’ll engage in the Newstead Project ... in his own terms. He still doesn’t know what he is and from where he comes, but he reconfirms his choice. To be as he wants he must confront his own kind (but are they his kind?).
"I took a deep breath. It felt like freedom to me. I don’t know why; it wasn’t like I was a prisoner or anything, but for some reason there was a difference."
I appreciated that the author allowed us to find good guys among the "bad" ones. They (or he – for you to don’t know at whom to expect) deserve to be more admired as they don’t have Joel’s genetic heritage or his trump to be kept away from the mysterious "school".
The augmentation of the conflicts and romantic tension arise with Rachel. A girl about we find too little, though enough to understand her fears and reactions. Usually, the answers we get about her just raise new questions, new secrets to discover. Everything can change, for better or worse, at any time.
The relationship between Joel and Rachel acquires deepness encountered perhaps in the old couples where love was enriched over time. No need for words, no need for physical interaction. The other's presence is enough. However, uncertainty, secrets of both and changes that they seem to go through, the danger that comes from Newstead test their relationship. If they manage to stay together you will see by yourself, but I warn you, do not dream about because everything can fall apart at anytime.
“I thought about nothing, I cared about nothing. I was nothing. It was the only way I could stand to live and work around people I knew were monsters.”
Alternating points of view from which a book is written usually gives to the reader "the big picture". But Melanie Schulz uses them to emphasize unknowns, to make you raise more questions.
Melanie also brings something different about the chapter’s motto. For Joel's chapters the author used - Sun Tzu - The Art of War or Mei Yao-Ch'en. For Rachel’s she has used various authors, even AA Milne - Winnie the Pooh. That doesn’t mean that they are not equally important, but that the author has used them to describe the characters. I liked it.
“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you. —AA Milne, Winnie the Pooh”
“In three words I can sum up what I’ve learned about life: it goes on. —Robert Frost”
The action is meticulously built. You don't get major direct confrontation, but it doesn't matter because here the tension and the unknown are the important accents. And they are in full.
I liked the book a lot and I recommend to you.
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/2013...
And from the apocryphal Book of Enoch people's imagination began to work at full power. How can angels, even fallen ones, to give birth to monsters? Told and retold the stories of giants, of the Nephilims, always intrigue and occasionally it’ll appear a work that will attract fantasy readers’ attention. Newstead Project deserves to be one of them.
Joel, the main character, is a guy who could have easily everything, from popularity to the power that it is given by it. It could have been a guy that impose himself to others, and not just by brute force, but who prefer solitude and the peace that it brings. Moreover, he doesn't want to change himself even when the change was offered to him. Having the advantage that is new in the Newstead world he doesn’t fall into "superior being" temptation and does not deviate from his humanity, although it always felt about himself to be rather a monster. He reacts immediately to correct an evil doing and doesn’t change his decision when the consequences turn out to be a fatal risk. Facing these tests he evolves, he begins to discover himself and he’ll engage in the Newstead Project ... in his own terms. He still doesn’t know what he is and from where he comes, but he reconfirms his choice. To be as he wants he must confront his own kind (but are they his kind?).
"I took a deep breath. It felt like freedom to me. I don’t know why; it wasn’t like I was a prisoner or anything, but for some reason there was a difference."
I appreciated that the author allowed us to find good guys among the "bad" ones. They (or he – for you to don’t know at whom to expect) deserve to be more admired as they don’t have Joel’s genetic heritage or his trump to be kept away from the mysterious "school".
The augmentation of the conflicts and romantic tension arise with Rachel. A girl about we find too little, though enough to understand her fears and reactions. Usually, the answers we get about her just raise new questions, new secrets to discover. Everything can change, for better or worse, at any time.
The relationship between Joel and Rachel acquires deepness encountered perhaps in the old couples where love was enriched over time. No need for words, no need for physical interaction. The other's presence is enough. However, uncertainty, secrets of both and changes that they seem to go through, the danger that comes from Newstead test their relationship. If they manage to stay together you will see by yourself, but I warn you, do not dream about because everything can fall apart at anytime.
“I thought about nothing, I cared about nothing. I was nothing. It was the only way I could stand to live and work around people I knew were monsters.”
Alternating points of view from which a book is written usually gives to the reader "the big picture". But Melanie Schulz uses them to emphasize unknowns, to make you raise more questions.
Melanie also brings something different about the chapter’s motto. For Joel's chapters the author used - Sun Tzu - The Art of War or Mei Yao-Ch'en. For Rachel’s she has used various authors, even AA Milne - Winnie the Pooh. That doesn’t mean that they are not equally important, but that the author has used them to describe the characters. I liked it.
“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you. —AA Milne, Winnie the Pooh”
“In three words I can sum up what I’ve learned about life: it goes on. —Robert Frost”
The action is meticulously built. You don't get major direct confrontation, but it doesn't matter because here the tension and the unknown are the important accents. And they are in full.
I liked the book a lot and I recommend to you.
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/2013...
May 3, 2013
Melanie Schulz…thank you for providing me with an ecopy of your book in trade for an honest review, for this blog tour. Honestly, I had read the synopsis some time ago and when it came time to read the book, I had forgotten what it was about and was pleasantly surprised. For those who are fans of Hush, Hush, Angelology, The Mortal Instruments, etc., this book will be right up your alley.
Centered on Joel, the story plays out from the time he is offered a place at the private Newstead High School to the time he leaves there. So much goes on in the span of a few months. There is romance, danger, awakening, discovery, treachery, betrayal, anguish and much more. Joel’s life is changed forevermore.
I found this book to be a quick read. It caught my attention and I fell asleep reading it, read it upon waking, dug back in to it during my lunch break and finished when the rest of the family went to bed for the night leaving me to myself and the story. A good YA book about Nephilim and humanity in battle through one person. It is also wrapped up with Sun Tzu’s The Art of War in a way that at first you don’t get, but later on you get the Ah-ha resounding from the pages.
The story grabbed me, but I found some items in it distracting. There were changes of thought that had me rereading it because there was no noticeable break showing a shift in the storyline. I also found that for Joel not knowing who he was, what was going on at the school would have had me looking for answers. Staring down people and just walking away, ok, if it was me and I was being stared down I would be like, “Hey, take a picture” or “What the hell are you looking at?” For a teen, he was actually quite submissive in a lot of ways. But…he does find his mojo, thankfully. Also, I don’t know if it was the ecopy that I had, but there were some grammatical errors that I found a bit awkward, BUT they did not take away from the story.
The author gives us some interesting characters, a setting that is very well described and a story that holds its own. I recommend this to anyone who likes a take on the Nephilim and those that are thrown into their world unwillingly. I also recommend this to anyone who likes a good, well-structured read. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, The Bashan Agenda, but not looking forward to waiting until November 1st to read it! I know…get a grip…but I want to know what happens NOW!
Centered on Joel, the story plays out from the time he is offered a place at the private Newstead High School to the time he leaves there. So much goes on in the span of a few months. There is romance, danger, awakening, discovery, treachery, betrayal, anguish and much more. Joel’s life is changed forevermore.
I found this book to be a quick read. It caught my attention and I fell asleep reading it, read it upon waking, dug back in to it during my lunch break and finished when the rest of the family went to bed for the night leaving me to myself and the story. A good YA book about Nephilim and humanity in battle through one person. It is also wrapped up with Sun Tzu’s The Art of War in a way that at first you don’t get, but later on you get the Ah-ha resounding from the pages.
The story grabbed me, but I found some items in it distracting. There were changes of thought that had me rereading it because there was no noticeable break showing a shift in the storyline. I also found that for Joel not knowing who he was, what was going on at the school would have had me looking for answers. Staring down people and just walking away, ok, if it was me and I was being stared down I would be like, “Hey, take a picture” or “What the hell are you looking at?” For a teen, he was actually quite submissive in a lot of ways. But…he does find his mojo, thankfully. Also, I don’t know if it was the ecopy that I had, but there were some grammatical errors that I found a bit awkward, BUT they did not take away from the story.
The author gives us some interesting characters, a setting that is very well described and a story that holds its own. I recommend this to anyone who likes a take on the Nephilim and those that are thrown into their world unwillingly. I also recommend this to anyone who likes a good, well-structured read. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, The Bashan Agenda, but not looking forward to waiting until November 1st to read it! I know…get a grip…but I want to know what happens NOW!
May 15, 2013
**ORIGINALLY ON READ-A-HOLICZ, HERE!**
3.5 STARS: Going into this story I was intrigued by the story plot. I mean kids that shouldn't exist and then there getting trained to "be tomorrow's rulers, tomorrow's dictators, tomorrow's gods" Um, wait for it...*Mind Blown* I really liked this concept and couldn't wait to start it.
Once i started reading, however, it wasn't what I was expecting but i did like it. Normally I don't comment on the writing but on this book I actually did. I thought the writing was okay-ish. It didn't evoke much emotion in me *I'm a feeler, ME NEED TO FEEL* Other than that little bump I did like other touches the author put. Like the chinese letters? *i really don't know what they were but they were interesting* and that the chapters started with a quote. PLUS there were alternating POVs *which I do love in books!*
Story and character wise, it was okay too. I liked Joel, though at times i wanted to give him a hug. He is a complex character that I loved getting to know more about. Then the school was interesting. How he was invited and then attending. Things were pretty bad he was outcasted AT that school too! I mean you're in a place where the other kids who are supposed to be like you *different* but even there you don't fit in, now thats tough. I liked Rachel, although I did want her to question some things that happened to her, she was overall an interesting character to read about.
OVERALL: This was an interesting debut book. It had a certain charm that kept me reading and I did love a lot of things that happened in the book. Although I can't say what because then I'd ruin it :P I would recommend this book for lovers of mysteries, private schools, and interesting characters & plots!
3.5 STARS: Going into this story I was intrigued by the story plot. I mean kids that shouldn't exist and then there getting trained to "be tomorrow's rulers, tomorrow's dictators, tomorrow's gods" Um, wait for it...*Mind Blown* I really liked this concept and couldn't wait to start it.
Once i started reading, however, it wasn't what I was expecting but i did like it. Normally I don't comment on the writing but on this book I actually did. I thought the writing was okay-ish. It didn't evoke much emotion in me *I'm a feeler, ME NEED TO FEEL* Other than that little bump I did like other touches the author put. Like the chinese letters? *i really don't know what they were but they were interesting* and that the chapters started with a quote. PLUS there were alternating POVs *which I do love in books!*
Story and character wise, it was okay too. I liked Joel, though at times i wanted to give him a hug. He is a complex character that I loved getting to know more about. Then the school was interesting. How he was invited and then attending. Things were pretty bad he was outcasted AT that school too! I mean you're in a place where the other kids who are supposed to be like you *different* but even there you don't fit in, now thats tough. I liked Rachel, although I did want her to question some things that happened to her, she was overall an interesting character to read about.
OVERALL: This was an interesting debut book. It had a certain charm that kept me reading and I did love a lot of things that happened in the book. Although I can't say what because then I'd ruin it :P I would recommend this book for lovers of mysteries, private schools, and interesting characters & plots!
January 10, 2014
Giving this one a 3.5.
Newstead project was so refreshing in that I've never read anything like it. There's something to be said for originality. It's a paranormal without vampires- finally! The biblical twists are good too. Not too much, but enough to season it. The Nephilim premise was a good one- it's got my interest. I liked that they were big, talented, and different.
I have to say that my favorite character was a guy named Steven- I wish I could have seen more between him and the MC, but then on second thought, I realized their lack of interaction kind of made it what it was. I think Schulz played that perfectly. She created a great relationship based on really little time together. I know the love interest didn't work for some people in the story, but I actually found it very sweet up until things got confusing (when the FTX starts and he gets all weird). I really liked Rachel. I loved her story, her voice, her background. The scenes in the pizza shop were my favorite. It was so very high-school, consistently so, and it earned a lot of points in my mind for those reasons.
The downturns to this book were the shifts in POV. There was no clear indication when they happened, so I would get confused (especially in the beginning) and have to backtrack. Also, there was a couple of points in the book where I wasn't really solid on what was going on, or if I'd skipped a page or two, but I hadn't. It gave me the feeling that I never quite had a grip. A scene in a restaurant between the MC and his love interest comes to mind, as well as a scene at the end. One other thing that makes me rate it at 3.5 is that the ending is built up, lots of great suspense and questions and motivation to figure out what is going on, and then an info dump by a brand new character. While it sets the next book up well (which I plan to read) it also lead to a let down. I also felt like I never really got a grip on the goal of Newstead. It speaks about it at the end, but felt flimsy and a bit underdeveloped.
From what I understand there's another book, and I definitely want to get my hands on it so I can read about what happens.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review- and I was so happy to read. Can't wait to read the next!
Newstead project was so refreshing in that I've never read anything like it. There's something to be said for originality. It's a paranormal without vampires- finally! The biblical twists are good too. Not too much, but enough to season it. The Nephilim premise was a good one- it's got my interest. I liked that they were big, talented, and different.
I have to say that my favorite character was a guy named Steven- I wish I could have seen more between him and the MC, but then on second thought, I realized their lack of interaction kind of made it what it was. I think Schulz played that perfectly. She created a great relationship based on really little time together. I know the love interest didn't work for some people in the story, but I actually found it very sweet up until things got confusing (when the FTX starts and he gets all weird). I really liked Rachel. I loved her story, her voice, her background. The scenes in the pizza shop were my favorite. It was so very high-school, consistently so, and it earned a lot of points in my mind for those reasons.
The downturns to this book were the shifts in POV. There was no clear indication when they happened, so I would get confused (especially in the beginning) and have to backtrack. Also, there was a couple of points in the book where I wasn't really solid on what was going on, or if I'd skipped a page or two, but I hadn't. It gave me the feeling that I never quite had a grip. A scene in a restaurant between the MC and his love interest comes to mind, as well as a scene at the end. One other thing that makes me rate it at 3.5 is that the ending is built up, lots of great suspense and questions and motivation to figure out what is going on, and then an info dump by a brand new character. While it sets the next book up well (which I plan to read) it also lead to a let down. I also felt like I never really got a grip on the goal of Newstead. It speaks about it at the end, but felt flimsy and a bit underdeveloped.
From what I understand there's another book, and I definitely want to get my hands on it so I can read about what happens.
I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review- and I was so happy to read. Can't wait to read the next!
May 24, 2013
When Joel Cranston receives a full scholarship to Newstead, an elite boarding school, the opportunity seems too good to be true…especially when Joel’s inner voice warns him to stay away. When Joel arrives at Newstead, he is surprised to find that the all-male student body is like him – large, muscular and exceedingly athletic. Except, the commonalities only seem to go skin deep. Joel’s quiet and wholesome personality doesn’t match the aggressive, domineering attitude that is displayed by all the other students and actively encouraged by the staff.
Something is very, very wrong with Newstead, and as Joel begins to unravel the pieces, he finds that beneath the surface, his classmates and teachers may not exactly be human.
The Newstead Project is an enjoyable read, told from back and forth point of view of Joel and Rachel, an impoverished high school girl Joel’s age who moves around the country with her hermit-like cousin and catatonic aunt. As their relationship blossoms, Rachel soon finds herself in that familiar paranormal heroine quandary – in love with a man who may not be fully of the human persuasion.
The story moves at a fast clip – at times I could have sworn I was reading an Amanda Hocking novel –and the mystery unravels as the characters try to puzzle out the supernatural forces working around them while trying to stay alive and save their budding relationship.
Author Melanie Schultz has given this series opener a biblical bent, which is refreshing after the vampires and werewolves of late. Her characters are likable, and I found myself rooting for both Joel and Rachel despite their repetitive relationship tiffs (understandable, really -- it’s hard to care about your partner’s day at school when your own classmates tried to kill you…again).
The Newstead Project is a book that teens will enjoy, especially if they’re looking for paranormal without so much fang in it. The romance element is sincere and chaste, making this novel appropriate for tweens as well.
(This book was provided to Compulsion Reads for review by the author.)
Something is very, very wrong with Newstead, and as Joel begins to unravel the pieces, he finds that beneath the surface, his classmates and teachers may not exactly be human.
The Newstead Project is an enjoyable read, told from back and forth point of view of Joel and Rachel, an impoverished high school girl Joel’s age who moves around the country with her hermit-like cousin and catatonic aunt. As their relationship blossoms, Rachel soon finds herself in that familiar paranormal heroine quandary – in love with a man who may not be fully of the human persuasion.
The story moves at a fast clip – at times I could have sworn I was reading an Amanda Hocking novel –and the mystery unravels as the characters try to puzzle out the supernatural forces working around them while trying to stay alive and save their budding relationship.
Author Melanie Schultz has given this series opener a biblical bent, which is refreshing after the vampires and werewolves of late. Her characters are likable, and I found myself rooting for both Joel and Rachel despite their repetitive relationship tiffs (understandable, really -- it’s hard to care about your partner’s day at school when your own classmates tried to kill you…again).
The Newstead Project is a book that teens will enjoy, especially if they’re looking for paranormal without so much fang in it. The romance element is sincere and chaste, making this novel appropriate for tweens as well.
(This book was provided to Compulsion Reads for review by the author.)
May 17, 2013
The Newstead Project by Melanie Schulz was kind of slow and very mysterious. Mysterious to the point where it made it hard to understand what was going on or why. The first person you meet is Joel. Joel lives with his mom in a rundown apartment and he doesn’t know his father or who he is. He isn’t supposed to be alive as it says in the blurb but it’s not really explained. I think it was maybe an abortion that maybe didn’t work? Joel’s mom works two jobs and wants Joel to be able to get a scholarship and out of the life they live.
One day Joel gets that chance when someone from Newstead comes and offers him a full scholarship. Naturally he has to take it. That is when he starts to realize how different he is from everyone in Newstead.
Rachel moves around a lot with her Aunt and cousin. She works where ever she can until it is time to move again.
The romance between Joel and Rachel seemed super fast and a bit forced. She wouldn’t give him the time of day and then all of a sudden a couple weeks later she is telling him that she loves him? It just seemed a bit awkward.
I enjoyed the mood at Newstead even though Joel was being iced out, I enjoyed the whole atmosphere of it as well as Rachel’s home life. I kind of wished there was a bit more of how Newstead worked and I really wanted more between Joel and Steven. Steven seemed like he could have been a great ally for Joel.
The field training exercise seemed like a huge part of the ending but it felt like it ended just as quickly as it started which was a disappointed me a lot. It just fell flat with all the build up that happened for it.
The ending was kind of interesting and seemed to be where the story shined and really caught my interest. Because of the ending I would look at reading the second book when it comes out.
May 17, 2013
This story is an interesting fantasy story. First have Joel who is a large boy, who loves sports and is invited to attend Newstead. He lives alone with his mother and has never met his father. Then we meet Rachel who lives with her cousin and Aunt and seems to move around a LOT.
This book had a few spots that were hard to follow or just a repeat of what you had previously read. The author chose to write from the two points of view Joels and Rachels, so we do have quite a bit of repetitive storyline when we switch between the two POV's. Personally I didn't think it was necessary to go over every single thing like that. At times we've moved on from the particular moment and we are sucked back in time again to go over the other POV. This does have a confusion aspect to it and does make the reader go "huh?" and wind up re-reading that spot.
As for Character creation, I do like Joel, but I do think he was a bit submissive of a child for someone so large and powerful. I also think he does grow in the story which I always like. Rachel meanwhile is an interesting young girl.
I will say I did enjoy this book. I enjoyed the school and the characters. I really have to say I liked Joel and Rachel. I can't wait to continue on this story to find out what happens in the lives of Joel and Rachel. We were left a bit hanging in that we don't really know what Rachel is or who she is. There is some Biblical relevance in this story and particular things from the Bible are mentioned. So if you have something against the Bible I would advise against it. But all in all this is a fun story to read and more so since it happens to be about a particular thing... sorry can't say or it may spoil the story for you.
I give this book 4 stars and will definitely continue the story.
Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
This book had a few spots that were hard to follow or just a repeat of what you had previously read. The author chose to write from the two points of view Joels and Rachels, so we do have quite a bit of repetitive storyline when we switch between the two POV's. Personally I didn't think it was necessary to go over every single thing like that. At times we've moved on from the particular moment and we are sucked back in time again to go over the other POV. This does have a confusion aspect to it and does make the reader go "huh?" and wind up re-reading that spot.
As for Character creation, I do like Joel, but I do think he was a bit submissive of a child for someone so large and powerful. I also think he does grow in the story which I always like. Rachel meanwhile is an interesting young girl.
I will say I did enjoy this book. I enjoyed the school and the characters. I really have to say I liked Joel and Rachel. I can't wait to continue on this story to find out what happens in the lives of Joel and Rachel. We were left a bit hanging in that we don't really know what Rachel is or who she is. There is some Biblical relevance in this story and particular things from the Bible are mentioned. So if you have something against the Bible I would advise against it. But all in all this is a fun story to read and more so since it happens to be about a particular thing... sorry can't say or it may spoil the story for you.
I give this book 4 stars and will definitely continue the story.
Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
May 6, 2013
Joel Cranston has always been different –more athletic, faster, naturally attractive. He hopes to go to college on a football scholarship. When a recruiter notices Joel, the offer of a full ride at a private school called Newstead seems like a dream come true. Joel arrives at school, but finds his dream quickly sours. The students at Newstead may look similar to Joel but he just doesn’t fit in well and soon he is in a fight for his life.
I was easily caught up in the story. Almost immediately there was intrigue and tension as I wondered where this story was going to take me. Joel is likeable but somewhat odd, and not only because of his size. His thoughts seem different – more linear but with leaps that often astounded me. There is so much mystery in who and what he is, and his mother is another enigma, as well. At first, it seemed like Newstead would be a perfect school for the young, charismatic Noel. However, the problems began almost immediately. Fortunately, Joel meets Rachel , and the two discover a very unexpected attraction to each other despite Rachel’s eccentric family. More tension, more mystery – by this time I cannot stop reading. Piece by piece the puzzle begins to come together. I loved Joel and Rachel. Theirs is a sweet romance that captured my heart. This first book in a planned series had a satisfactory ending, but left many threads to be explored in the next installment. I am looking forward to the next chapter in this exciting escapist fantasy.
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
I was easily caught up in the story. Almost immediately there was intrigue and tension as I wondered where this story was going to take me. Joel is likeable but somewhat odd, and not only because of his size. His thoughts seem different – more linear but with leaps that often astounded me. There is so much mystery in who and what he is, and his mother is another enigma, as well. At first, it seemed like Newstead would be a perfect school for the young, charismatic Noel. However, the problems began almost immediately. Fortunately, Joel meets Rachel , and the two discover a very unexpected attraction to each other despite Rachel’s eccentric family. More tension, more mystery – by this time I cannot stop reading. Piece by piece the puzzle begins to come together. I loved Joel and Rachel. Theirs is a sweet romance that captured my heart. This first book in a planned series had a satisfactory ending, but left many threads to be explored in the next installment. I am looking forward to the next chapter in this exciting escapist fantasy.
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
May 16, 2013
I thought this book was pretty good. I had read some previous reviews on it and that gave me the heads up to watch for the changing point of views. It might have been confusing had I not had the information ahead of time. For 98% of the book you alternate between Joel and Rachel. Joel has been recruited by a school called Newstead, but they failed to mention a few things to him: that it was an all boys school; that all of the students were giants as compared to the rest of the population; that they had to wear uniforms. He finds out a few more interesting things over the course of the next few months at Newstead - some of which he has in common with the boys, some he does not.
Rachel has only lived in Weston for a couple of months when Joel starts working at Fred's Pizza, where she is a waitress. She has had her fill of Newstead boys as they are usually her only customers. She has as little interaction with them as possible, so is shocked at herself when she finds she is attracted to Joel. Somehow she knows he isn't like the rest of them.
I liked the pace at which this book moved but what I found confusing is where you would cover a period of time from Joel's (or Rachel's) point of view and then would jump all the way back and cover it in the other person's point of view. Where it was very cool to see it both ways, it was sometimes hard to remember where you were starting over from.
Towards the end, I didn't want to put it down, because I wanted to know what became of Joel and Rachel. Of course, you get kind of a cliffhanger with the promise of a second book The Bashan Agenda in November 2013.
Rachel has only lived in Weston for a couple of months when Joel starts working at Fred's Pizza, where she is a waitress. She has had her fill of Newstead boys as they are usually her only customers. She has as little interaction with them as possible, so is shocked at herself when she finds she is attracted to Joel. Somehow she knows he isn't like the rest of them.
I liked the pace at which this book moved but what I found confusing is where you would cover a period of time from Joel's (or Rachel's) point of view and then would jump all the way back and cover it in the other person's point of view. Where it was very cool to see it both ways, it was sometimes hard to remember where you were starting over from.
Towards the end, I didn't want to put it down, because I wanted to know what became of Joel and Rachel. Of course, you get kind of a cliffhanger with the promise of a second book The Bashan Agenda in November 2013.
December 21, 2013
Joel is recruited to go to Newstead because of his impressive size and athletic ability. Coming from a life with his single mom who has struggled, he knows that when he tells her about this opportunity and his full scholarship she will be on board with it, even if he isn't so sure. And, he is right.
As they arrive at Newstead things seem ok - he isn't thrilled with the thought of an all boys school, but the thing he notices right off the bat is that all of the boys here are as big as he is. His roomate Marcus seems ok, but his other roomate Steven is a little of.
Things aren't as they seem at Newstead, and Joel soon realizes that trying to be himself alienates him from the rest of the group. One thing he did gain by hanging with them is going to Fred's pizza and meeting Rachel. She is certainly beautiful, but is initially extremely rude to him and the rest of the people in the restaurant...all of them from Newstead. And when Joel asks for an application she is shocked - she knows what the boys of Newstead are like, the last thing she wants is to work with one of them. But, after she gets to know Joel, she realizes that he isn't like the others, and she doesn't have to be afraid of him - in fact she is falling in love with him.
Joel enjoys going to Fred's to spend time with Rachel as well, but also knows that something is really wrong at Newstead. He has always felt different, and his `voice' has always been there, but when he arrived here and saw the other boys he thought this might be his chance to fit in. He was wrong. They do all have on thing in common, but what is it? And, what makes Joel different?
Beautifully written. Hope to see more of it!
As they arrive at Newstead things seem ok - he isn't thrilled with the thought of an all boys school, but the thing he notices right off the bat is that all of the boys here are as big as he is. His roomate Marcus seems ok, but his other roomate Steven is a little of.
Things aren't as they seem at Newstead, and Joel soon realizes that trying to be himself alienates him from the rest of the group. One thing he did gain by hanging with them is going to Fred's pizza and meeting Rachel. She is certainly beautiful, but is initially extremely rude to him and the rest of the people in the restaurant...all of them from Newstead. And when Joel asks for an application she is shocked - she knows what the boys of Newstead are like, the last thing she wants is to work with one of them. But, after she gets to know Joel, she realizes that he isn't like the others, and she doesn't have to be afraid of him - in fact she is falling in love with him.
Joel enjoys going to Fred's to spend time with Rachel as well, but also knows that something is really wrong at Newstead. He has always felt different, and his `voice' has always been there, but when he arrived here and saw the other boys he thought this might be his chance to fit in. He was wrong. They do all have on thing in common, but what is it? And, what makes Joel different?
Beautifully written. Hope to see more of it!
January 26, 2014
I like Joel, the main character in this book. He is a good guy. He practices hard in sports to get a scholarship, he wants to help his mum and make her happy. And he is not a follower, he doesn't yield under peer pressure. He respects his crush Rachel and does her right. His relationship with Rachel is sweet and one that I enjoy reading.
Some aspects in this book is confusing for me.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for honest review.
Some aspects in this book is confusing for me.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for honest review.
August 31, 2016
I really enjoyed the last half of this book. It was an interesting fantasy adventure story with some decent world-building around the biblical Nephilim (children of the "sons of gods"/fallen angels) who had all been brought to the same school (Newstead) for training. The main character, Joel, is also brought to Newstead, but he doesn't really seem to fit in with all of the other boys. I could only give it a 3.5 overall rating, though, because the first half of the book was mostly about the romance between the two main characters, and I didn't find it that interesting. In fact, a lot of the time I just found the girl, Rachel, pretty annoying. I really couldn't care about her silly insta-love problem. Recommended for readers who really like paranormal romance because this one fits in very well with the usual thing. I got a free copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.
November 3, 2015
Warning: This book will pull you in from the start...and it won't let you go until the end. Then you'll want to grab book #2 and read it immediately! Don't say you haven't been warned. Joel is living a fairly normal life with his single mom when he is recruited to join Newstead, an all-boys' school. He has a bad feeling about the school, but he doesn't listen to his intuition. He should have. What follows is an exciting mystery-slash-adventure with a little romance thrown in. I loved the way Melanie slowly revealed the truth about Newstead. You'll love this one!
August 2, 2014
** Received from the giveaways **
The Newstead Project is a delightful and easy read. I started it knowing practically nothing about the story. It was fun deciding whether it is a mystery, adventure, romance, or fantasy story. It's a bit of all, I suppose. The book kept me guessing even when I was half way through. And now that I've reached the end of it, I am curious to see where the story is going in the next book.
The Newstead Project is a delightful and easy read. I started it knowing practically nothing about the story. It was fun deciding whether it is a mystery, adventure, romance, or fantasy story. It's a bit of all, I suppose. The book kept me guessing even when I was half way through. And now that I've reached the end of it, I am curious to see where the story is going in the next book.
May 9, 2013
I wasn't sure about this book when I first started reading but as I got futher along, realized that the previous chapters were needed. this book really got interesting near the end and then of course it stops....talk about a cliff hanger for book 2 to pick up with!
May 3, 2013
I couldn't put this book down. I was reading it into the wee hours of the morning. Joel Cranston is the type of hero every woman is looking for.
May 1, 2014
This book has it all. action, fantasy, suspense, mystery and romance, In all it was an amazing book that I could not put down. I would definitely recommend this book.
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