Freestyle: 1 (Academy of Stardom)

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Something else that I absolutely adored about this series, was the heavy reliance on music. In the beginning of each book Paige has a short playlist of songs that influenced certain scenes which are then mentioned in those subsequent scenes as well. I loved this so much as music is such a huge part of my life (and also my muse as an aspiring author), I found so many new amazing songs that I had not heard before and they've been added to my own playlists because I just enjoyed them all so much. So not only was this a great story, it also showed me music that I hadn't come across before, which is absolutely amazing in my eyes. I don’t even know where to begin with the guys. The chapters written in the past are my favorite. I loved getting to read about each one of them. I would’ve fallen in love too if I was her. They all cared so much and were always willing to protect Pen. Now that they’re grown up, I just want them to love again.

I really connected to them and the story, and Bea's writing is probably my fav, this book was written beautifully 😍 We were 17 when they left me. You see, for kids like us, dance was all we had. Growing up in a rundown housing estate in London with no prospects can make you view the world differently. It can make you choose the wrong path. I chose dance, and they chose crime. Dance is in my blood. It’s what keeps me sane, out of trouble. It used to keep them out of trouble, too - a group of boys I grew up with. Xeno, York, Zayn, and Dax. I'm also not complaining about the limited sexual scenes..it was just enough..and at the right places.. especially the scenes with York and Dax! When they came together through their only medium of communication.. dancing..damn it felt like mini fireworks bursting everywhere! I'm glad Dax was her first..it seemed well thought of! Just right.York , Dax , Xeno and Zayn are known as the breakers. There used to be one more person in their group. A girl who betrayed them all. Who turned them all to the Monsters they are today. Now they have her again and this time , it is her who is going to be with the broken heart. The one with the broken soul. Pen reminds me of this Dancer Jade Chynoweth. She is just something out of this world. The way she moves, she tells you a story. She just grasps your attention and this is how I see Pen with the way she dances. She dances as if her life depends on it. Here we have that classic drama, that i personally hate, were the heroine and the heroes were friends when younger and started liking each other, but something happens that breaks them apart, and both parts blame and hate each other. And OF COURSE is not that simple, but do the guys and the girl just TALK to each other to get to the bottom of it?NO!

This book was one wild ride of emotions for me! Each time a breaker made an appearance with Pen , I literally shivered. The book was phenomenally written and I would definitely recommend this to all the Bully Romance Lovers out there! This book had everything you want , the angst that breaks your heart in the right way , the pain that makes you feel so much and the vulnerable scenes that you want to capture and keep with you forever! PEN IS A GODDESS! -There isn't a person in this book who doesn't think Pen is the BEST. In everyone's eyes, she's amazing, flawless, the best dancer... " Oh, you're THE Pen? Wow!!" " I've heard about you, you're quite something" " Pen is a goddess, she's the best, the most beautiful, the..."Xeno..makes her heart beat erratically, he pushes her buttons and fires her up. They have this intense chemistry that is so hard to deny. It was actually quite funny, as I was reading through this series, a certain character is mentioned, in the first book actually; and it made me realise that I actually already had a series by Bea Paige sitting on my kindle which I had won in a Facebook competition. That series is set in the same world as this one and the characters make small cameo appearances which I thought was fantastic! I'm dying to read that series next as I enjoyed this one so much and I'm hoping that it's just as amazing! I've also kind of been holding off on reading too, I think because I loved this series so much, I want to prolong the anticipation of reading yet another great series from Paige. Honestly, this series was one of those ones I wish I could experience for the first time again, and that's saying something, because it's rare to find a book like that letalone an entire series. This is a Bully Romance at its finest, in a way that I haven’t read before. The difference with this book is that all these characters have a HISTORY. There history was that all characters fell in love and something big made them fall apart. I mean okay, Xeno is like the lider of the group, but if the guys really love her, how are they so okay with that ultimatum?

I just love when a book/series can do that, it pulls you in from the get go. This is definitely an unexpected book, that is addictive, and captivating. Before I knew it, the seconds, minutes and hours went by and I become so absorbed in these characters story that I didn’t want it to end. Let’s just say, thank goodness that this is a series. If you love RH books, where all of the guys have completely different personalities but compliment one another then you will love this book. This book was high-octane, the reveals were done so well, the twists kept me on the edge of my seat, the love between Pen and her Breakers was magical, and to see them create this found family was beautiful. The ending is heartpounding and I won’t give it away, just know they get their HEA and we get a sneak peak into the next book in the shared world (which was The Masks duet btw). And again like I said the side characters stole the show at some points (which is not a complaint whatsoever, I loved them to pieces and the villains were done well/evil so I appreciated their place in this story haha) and I cannot wait to see if Lena and her bodyguard maaaaaaybe become a thing. The sparks of something maybe starting in this one. Only time will tell if more things happen haha.The boys on the outside they are so angry, full of rage, but deep down when you look closely beyond the anger and rage. You can see sadness, lust, madness of want, need. The anger and rage is putting a foggy haze over their true feelings. Until one day it all goes to hell and they all end with their heart broken, feeling bitter and resentful. I sure hope that Grim continues to be an ally for Pen as she desperately needs one. Beast, Clancy and River were great added characters to this story. I only have one more problem and that was the fact that a question I often had to ask myself while reading was 'These guys do know that words exist, right?" Now, don't get me wrong, I'm fully aware that this is a book centred around dance - I know - but did they have to tell each other EVERYTHING through dance? They hardly ever spoke about their feelings and I refuse to believe that they can clear the air like that just by stomping on the floor a little harder.

Dax..understands Pen in a way that the others don’t as they have had the same upbringing. His protective, and makes her feel SAFE. The narration was good again, nothing different than what we got in the other 3 books of the series. I would definitely re-listen to them in the future, especially when I want to revisit this sensational and comforting world (despite all the tribulations, the families and relationships really seal the deal for me and I can’t not love them all). Narration was 4-4.5 stars with all the emotion, especially the devastation in the beginning of the book and then the tense and scary scenes at the end for everyone. This review may have spoilers, but I'll let you know.* And if you plan to read this book, I may not be your best motivator. But, hey, my opinion is not the rule, so... I'm honestly sad to say that I DNF'ed this book, at 68%. I felt bad because I convinced myself that I had to finish the book, since I had loved the first two. But I couldn't read because I started reading already stressed, impatient and unhappy, finding everything unbearable, angry and thinking "who wrote this book? It was the same author?". It was also frustrating reading this book. I knew the author wanted to keep the reveal, about why Pen did what she did to the guys, towards the end but I really wanted her to explain it to the guys halfway through! Everyone was just getting hurt and upset and expressing their feelings and thoughts only through dance, whenever someone wanted the truth, and although those scenes were well written..the 'peacemaker' in me wanted to call TIME OUT on all their asses and make Pen confess!!

Success

I’m not lying to you when I say I fell asleep on their last sex scene (when they’re all together). I freaking fell asleep. I wasn’t even tired and I just plop jeje. This book continues off right where the first one ended and It was much more angsty than the first book too. The breakers have now realised that things are not as simple as they seem. That their Pen might have betrayed them , but she broke herself in doing that.