annieb123's Review of School for Psychics (School for Psychics, #1)

by K.C. Archer

An entrancing new series starring a funny, impulsive, and sometimes self-congratulatory young woman who discovers she has psychic abilities—and then must decide whether she will use her skills for good or…not.

Teddy Cannon isn’t your typical twenty-something woman. Yes she’s resourceful, bright, and scrappy. But she can also read people with uncanny precision. What she doesn’t realize: she’s actually psychic.

When a series of bad decisions leads Teddy to a run-in with the police, a mysterious stranger intervenes. He invites her to apply to the School for Psychics, a facility hidden off the coast of San Francisco where students are trained like Delta Force operatives: it’s competitive, cutthroat, and highly secretive. They’ll learn telepathy, telekinesis, investigative skills, and SWAT tactics. And if students survive their training, they go on to serve at the highest levels of government, using their skills to protect America, and the world.

In class, Teddy befriends Lucas, a rebel without a cause who can start and manipulate fire; Jillian, a hipster who can mediate communication between animals and humans; and Molly, a hacker who can apprehend the emotional state of another individual. But just as Teddy feels like she’s found where she might belong, strange things begin to happen: break-ins, missing students, and more. It leads Teddy to accept a dangerous mission that will ultimately cause her to question everything—her teachers, her friends, her family, and even herself.

Set in a world very much like our own, School for Psychics is the first book in a stay-up-all night series.

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The School for Psychics is the first book in a new series by K. C. Archer, due for release 03 April, 2018 from Simon and Schuster. The book covers the recruitment and first year of a group of young paranormals at a training college for psychics of all types from a pyrokinetic (Lucas, inevitably nicknamed 'Pyro') to animal medium (Jillian) and psychometrist (Jeremy). The main character, Theodora/Teddy is an astral telepath who combines a bad attitude and trust issues with out of control psychic ability.

The entire setup has a very X-Men/New Mutants vibe, but the author has successfully resisted much of the temptation to play off of the usual stereotypes. There is, however, a lot of 'cool kids' vs. 'misfits' included as well as breaking curfew and sleeping around. The sex (clean, and implied rather than graphic), drinking, etc, isn't as disturbing as it would be in another YA novel, since all of the principle players are over the age of consent, but the book certainly feels like a YA book. All of the content is safe for work, so no need to avoid reading it on the bus commute or lunchtime.

The book is well written technically. The dialogue flows well and the story moves along at a good clip. The psychic dialogue was well handled (mostly in italics), and wasn't confusing to read. I never had trouble figuring out what was going on.

Available in ebook, paperback, and audio formats, 368 pages, due out 3rd April. I recently saw that the movie rights have already been optioned, so a film is likely at some point.

Three and a half stars, shadowy government agencies, good vs. evil mutants psychics, escapist fun.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

School for Psychics (School for Psychics, #1)

by K.C. Archer

Reviewed by annieb123 on Feb 13, 2018

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