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Bobby Ether and the Jade Academy
When sixteen-year-old Bobby Ether is abducted and brought to the secluded Jade Academy in Tibet, monks teach him and other special students how to tap into their Anima—the universal energy that connects all living things. But the headmistress of the academy is secretly exploiting the students, looking for genetic triggers to create a new breed of humans with metaphysical abilities. As his powers increase, Bobby is thrust into a cesspool of conspiracy, lies, and betrayal. A jade amulet left by his clairvoyant grandfather may provide answers, but what exactly is his family's connection to this mysterious place?
Can Bobby master his talents in time to uncover the truth? If not, his fate—and the fate of the entire Jade Academy—may be sealed.
Can Bobby master his talents in time to uncover the truth? If not, his fate—and the fate of the entire Jade Academy—may be sealed.
320 pages, Paperback
Published April 24, 2019
10 people are currently reading
1048 people want to read
About the author
R. Scott Boyer
4 books232 followersR. Scott Boyer graduated from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley in 1996. In 2008, he became fascinated with the idea of blending young adult fantasy with new-age fiction. While maintaining a full-time job, he couldn't help but envision the kind of book he wanted to read. This exploration led to the creation of the Bobby Ether YA fantasy series, which combines spiritual elements with ancient myths and legends to create fun, fast-paced stories tailored for young adults but suited for adventure lovers of all ages.
Through his writing, Scott likes to explore various spiritual and metaphysical themes, including karma, serendipity, communion with nature, and the interconnectedness of all living things. In his free time, Scott likes to play basketball and tennis, as well as bike with his rescue dog, Patch. Over the years, Scott has been involved with a number of volunteer youth organizations, including United In Harmony, YMCA summer and winter camps, various basketball programs, and C5LA.
Raised in Santa Monica, California, Scott still resides in the Los Angeles area close to his family.
Through his writing, Scott likes to explore various spiritual and metaphysical themes, including karma, serendipity, communion with nature, and the interconnectedness of all living things. In his free time, Scott likes to play basketball and tennis, as well as bike with his rescue dog, Patch. Over the years, Scott has been involved with a number of volunteer youth organizations, including United In Harmony, YMCA summer and winter camps, various basketball programs, and C5LA.
Raised in Santa Monica, California, Scott still resides in the Los Angeles area close to his family.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 13, 2019
Quick-paced ~ Fun ~ Widely-Appealing
tl;dr: Teen's parents are in an accident, throwing him into a secret society.
Hard review to write, because if you really want to enjoy this book, you should know nothing. The story has strong plotting and seamless world-building. There is a sort of Hitchockian sensibility, though the YA readers might not pick up on it. The best part of this book is that any kid could be Bobby. This any-boy sensibility to the MC is great for YA. This makes the storyline at once relatable and also makes the comparison between the events in the story and real world all the more surprising.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
tl;dr: Teen's parents are in an accident, throwing him into a secret society.
Hard review to write, because if you really want to enjoy this book, you should know nothing. The story has strong plotting and seamless world-building. There is a sort of Hitchockian sensibility, though the YA readers might not pick up on it. The best part of this book is that any kid could be Bobby. This any-boy sensibility to the MC is great for YA. This makes the storyline at once relatable and also makes the comparison between the events in the story and real world all the more surprising.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2021
Fantastic! Very entertaining. This one tickles the imagination and leaves the reader looking forward to read what happens next. So glad it is a series!
June 23, 2019
5 Cranky Stars
This is an interesting storyline that will appeal to young and old. It was fast paced, and action packed with multiple twists and turns. At times I couldn’t put it down. At times, it was impossible to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Just when you think you have it figured out, along comes another twist.
Bobby is 16 and lives in California and is used to earthquakes. This one however woke him from his nightmare and seemed to last forever. When he looked out the window, it seemed he was the only one who felt it. Even the water in the pool next door was calm. So, what had happened? The wall was cracked, and a dresser moved but it appeared the quake was only in his room. As if that wasn’t strange enough, the phone rings. It’s the hospital informing him his parents are in serious condition due to a car accident. That is what he had been dreaming. As he runs out the door to get to his mother’s car, a strange woman is at his door. She tells him he must come with her as he isn’t safe. Then strange men show up and the action starts. Who should he trust?
Cassandra works with Bobby’s grandfather and is trying to save him from himself and others. He doesn’t know his true history nor what he is capable of doing. Of course, what sixteen-year-old listens to any adult let alone a stranger? He eventually escapes the safe house, destroys the hospital in a fit of rage while trying to get to his parents and is then captured by the strange men. When he next wakes up, he is in a private school in Tibet called the Jade Academy. The headmistress tries to explain about his special powers and how the academy will train him. In his heart he knows things aren’t right but doesn’t know who to trust. Passages up, down, in and out of the mountains, monks, Jade mines and legends abound. With the help of his friends who also question their life here, he manages to escape with the help of his grandfather. Or does he? What a surprise twist at the end. Where is Book 2?
This is an interesting storyline that will appeal to young and old. It was fast paced, and action packed with multiple twists and turns. At times I couldn’t put it down. At times, it was impossible to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Just when you think you have it figured out, along comes another twist.
Bobby is 16 and lives in California and is used to earthquakes. This one however woke him from his nightmare and seemed to last forever. When he looked out the window, it seemed he was the only one who felt it. Even the water in the pool next door was calm. So, what had happened? The wall was cracked, and a dresser moved but it appeared the quake was only in his room. As if that wasn’t strange enough, the phone rings. It’s the hospital informing him his parents are in serious condition due to a car accident. That is what he had been dreaming. As he runs out the door to get to his mother’s car, a strange woman is at his door. She tells him he must come with her as he isn’t safe. Then strange men show up and the action starts. Who should he trust?
Cassandra works with Bobby’s grandfather and is trying to save him from himself and others. He doesn’t know his true history nor what he is capable of doing. Of course, what sixteen-year-old listens to any adult let alone a stranger? He eventually escapes the safe house, destroys the hospital in a fit of rage while trying to get to his parents and is then captured by the strange men. When he next wakes up, he is in a private school in Tibet called the Jade Academy. The headmistress tries to explain about his special powers and how the academy will train him. In his heart he knows things aren’t right but doesn’t know who to trust. Passages up, down, in and out of the mountains, monks, Jade mines and legends abound. With the help of his friends who also question their life here, he manages to escape with the help of his grandfather. Or does he? What a surprise twist at the end. Where is Book 2?
February 19, 2019
This was a nice surprise! There’s nothing I love more than stories about kids who get to go to some sort of special school because they have magical powers. And this school was spectacular.
I’m an adult who reads a lot of young adult books. Although this book skewed a little younger than most books I read, I still enjoyed it. It reminded me a bit of the Michael Vey series – if you like those books, you’ll probably like this as well.
It was fast-paced and fun to read. I liked the elements of spiritualism. I really enjoyed the friendships Bobby made and the loyalty he showed to his friends. I was continuously surprised throughout the book, which is a good thing.
My only critique is that I found the whole concept of “anima” to be a bit confusing. It was a little more complicated than it needed to be.
I can't wait to read the next book!
Thanks to Netgalley for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’m an adult who reads a lot of young adult books. Although this book skewed a little younger than most books I read, I still enjoyed it. It reminded me a bit of the Michael Vey series – if you like those books, you’ll probably like this as well.
It was fast-paced and fun to read. I liked the elements of spiritualism. I really enjoyed the friendships Bobby made and the loyalty he showed to his friends. I was continuously surprised throughout the book, which is a good thing.
My only critique is that I found the whole concept of “anima” to be a bit confusing. It was a little more complicated than it needed to be.
I can't wait to read the next book!
Thanks to Netgalley for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
February 21, 2019
Deceived by the blurb. The kindest thing I can say about this book is that, if further developed, it has potential.
The characters were under-developed stick figures with stereotypes tacked to their chests, and nowhere was this more evident than with the female and POC characters. For instance, Lily's sole purpose seemed to be to throw her arms around various male characters whilst exclaiming how worried she had been. She runs aimlessly in and out of scenes, an afterthought. She and numerous others felt like mere sketches, shades of personalities rather than individuals in their own right. It felt soulless.
Again, the basic premise of the book was interesting and something I'd usually enjoy, but the prose and character development themselves were desperately malnourished. Also, Bobby came across as younger and much more vulnerable than a sixteen-year-old.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were under-developed stick figures with stereotypes tacked to their chests, and nowhere was this more evident than with the female and POC characters. For instance, Lily's sole purpose seemed to be to throw her arms around various male characters whilst exclaiming how worried she had been. She runs aimlessly in and out of scenes, an afterthought. She and numerous others felt like mere sketches, shades of personalities rather than individuals in their own right. It felt soulless.
Again, the basic premise of the book was interesting and something I'd usually enjoy, but the prose and character development themselves were desperately malnourished. Also, Bobby came across as younger and much more vulnerable than a sixteen-year-old.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2019
**I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
This is a great start to what should be a fun and exciting series! Bobby is a great hero for younger readers and shows strong morals without being self-righteous or patronizing. I especially liked how he befriended Jinx and accepted him for who he is, quirks and all. The supporting characters are not as well developed, but still meaningful parts of the story. The villains are what you would expect in a story like this and fit well with the story - they're not overly done or cartoonish. The early events between Cassandra and Bobby could have gone very different had she been honest with him from the start, but if that had happened the rest of the book probably wouldn't have.
This is a great start to what should be a fun and exciting series! Bobby is a great hero for younger readers and shows strong morals without being self-righteous or patronizing. I especially liked how he befriended Jinx and accepted him for who he is, quirks and all. The supporting characters are not as well developed, but still meaningful parts of the story. The villains are what you would expect in a story like this and fit well with the story - they're not overly done or cartoonish. The early events between Cassandra and Bobby could have gone very different had she been honest with him from the start, but if that had happened the rest of the book probably wouldn't have.
April 25, 2019
Bobby had just heard about his parents being in a car accident when he is kidnapped. Actually he is kind of kidnapped by two fractions, who are both interested in special skills he has, although he is anaware of them.
He is taken to a school tht specializes on children like him and here he finds true friends, but also makes some enemies.
Learning through experience what is important and will help him to survive is his quest in this book.
The story is like a magic school setting, but on a more negative and sinister level. An interesting plot and I would definitely like to know how the story will continue.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
He is taken to a school tht specializes on children like him and here he finds true friends, but also makes some enemies.
Learning through experience what is important and will help him to survive is his quest in this book.
The story is like a magic school setting, but on a more negative and sinister level. An interesting plot and I would definitely like to know how the story will continue.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 15, 2019
This is a great book and I can't wait to see what happens next. Reminiscent of Harry Potter and Charlie Bone series, this has it's own unique flair and plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing till the end. Without directly saying so, it really encapsulates Native American lore, Buddhist principles, and even a childlike wonder in the characters and locations of the book. R. Scott Boyer has the makings of a long-running series with Bobby Ether!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 19, 2019
I very much enjoyed this Bobby Ether story and think it has great potential.
It's easy to read, the characters are easy to identify with and the story is fast paced and driven.
The only part I wasn't keen on was towards the ending but I don't want to give the story away to other readers it just went a bit to Sci-fi for my liking.
Thanks net galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
It's easy to read, the characters are easy to identify with and the story is fast paced and driven.
The only part I wasn't keen on was towards the ending but I don't want to give the story away to other readers it just went a bit to Sci-fi for my liking.
Thanks net galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 7, 2019
This is an exciting story, filled with action and page-turning adventure. The story-line/plot is totally original and captured me from the beginning. I was engrossed in the action to the end. And what an ending. Hoping for more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Currently reading
September 18, 2019This book is so fast paced that I was constantly flipping ahead to try to figure out what was coming up next before I got there! The story telling was phenomenal and I was constantly on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who was the bad guy and who were really the good guys... this book should appeal to young and old alike!
November 27, 2019
Erratic and Predictable
Decent plot and enjoyable characters yet the sequence of events coupled to the challenges the main characters found themselves in felt overly contrived with very predictable outcomes. Very little was a surprise and most events felt more like a “oh by the way, let’s insert this” ad hoc encounter.
Decent plot and enjoyable characters yet the sequence of events coupled to the challenges the main characters found themselves in felt overly contrived with very predictable outcomes. Very little was a surprise and most events felt more like a “oh by the way, let’s insert this” ad hoc encounter.
June 17, 2019
Fantastic book - can't wait for the next in the series!
June 17, 2019
I am the author.
R. Scott Boyer
R. Scott Boyer
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2019
Good story. Too much rambling mysticism.
May 16, 2019
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. It wasn’t too difficult & it flowed for the most part. I would have liked a little bit more information in some sections but I am interested in reading the next book in the series.
Can’t wait to read what happens next to Bobby & his friends!
Would definitely recommend for students & anyone that enjoys this YA genre.
Can’t wait to read what happens next to Bobby & his friends!
Would definitely recommend for students & anyone that enjoys this YA genre.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews