Review: Phoebe and the Year of Four by Nya Jade

Title: Phoebe and the Year of Four
Series: Shapers #1
Author: Nya Jade
Release Date: October 28, 2012
Rating: 3.5 Stars
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Book Blurb

The students of Green Lane Academy roam their halls unaware that below their manicured campus exists a prestigious school of an entirely different kind . . .

Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Pope has enrolled at the Campus Below: a spy academy for shape-shifters hidden deep beneath the grounds of a boarding school whose humans unknowingly protect it. There, thanks to a carefully planned schedule, she leads a double life: spy trainee Below and normal teenager Above.

As if two course loads, concealing a secret power she alone wields, and coping with her father’s recent death weren’t enough, Phoebe finds herself developing major feelings for actor and teen heartthrob Colten Chase, who attends the Campus Above and appears to be majoring in winning Phoebe’s heart. But when officials learn that Phoebe may be at the center of a startling prophecy, she becomes the target of shape-shifting assassins who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth.

Now Phoebe’s lessons about Shaper’s enemies and spycraft take on great importance as a menace stalks the campus, with Phoebe as its target. Meanwhile, what began as an unlikely relationship with Colten, quickly morphs into heartache when she suspects that something sinister lurks beneath this movie star’s glitter and fame. Suddenly, Phoebe’s caught in a mesh of lies, betrayals, and danger where she doesn’t know who to trust, and needs to rely on herself—and her secret power—to get to the truth and to stay alive.

My Thoughts

Let me start off by saying shapeshifter books aren't my thing. I don't mind if they are a secondary character but as the main focus it's just not for me. 

What drew me in to this one was the whole idea of the spy school under the normal school. At first I was a bit confused with the whole shapeshifter concept since Phoebe kept mentioning her hearts and I kept thinking it was a typo till it was explained xD

I liked how the story flowed and I liked all characters. I was a bit frustrated with Phoebe, I really wanted her to use her powers more. She came out to be kind of helpless when she shouldn't be. I understand why she couldn't use it as much but still. 

I wish the story was centered more on the plot instead of the romance not that the romance was bad, it was actually really nicely done, but still, that's just my preference. 

I was pleasantly surprised at the end, I did not even suspect that person as being the traitor, it came totally out of left field for me. I kept trying to keep with the plot thinking I had mostly everything figured out, it turns out, I didn't xD 

This was a nice, entertaining read, which a new twist to shapeshifters. Good start to the series :)

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