Title: Matches
Series: Underground
Author: Kennedy Plumb
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Release Date: 30th June 2024
BLURB
No one talks about what happens at Hill Academy, the prestigious and secretive boarding school for the country's wealthiest elites. All Veronica Wadhwani knows is she has to make her time here count if she wants to build up her empire. Lined up against hundreds of teens just as gifted, privileged, and ruthless as her, she knows she's in for a challenge to stand out, but she is determined that nothing will stand in her way. Especially not the arrogant and frustratingly handsome Arcadius Cargill. But when the secret agenda of Hill Academy is revealed, Veronica realizes the next three years will be less focused on academics, and more focused on survival. The stakes of her education are higher than ever and failure is not an option.
REVIEW
I love the quite stark cover of the lit match. It’s really clever the way the title “Matches” has a dual meaning within the book, as it represents actual matches that when lit cause fires and when two people are put together as being compatible. I also love the addiction of the byline "You have a fire that matches mine" which is a quote from within the book
The central character of Matches is Veronica Wadhwani who is being dropped off at a new boarding school that her parents attended years ago. Sadly, Veronica’s mother died years before so it is just her father taking her to the new school. As she is being dropped off her father advises she should not be too hot headed here as the 'best she can do for the family is to attract a lucrative match'. This remark both annoys and saddens Veronica as it’s clear her father always wanted a son to pass the family legacy onto. Veronica feels more than capable on taking on the family business but it is very much still a mans world era that she lives in.
As Veronica approaches the entrance of Hill Academy she has an eery feeling that despite having as much money, style, poise & notability as the other students, she is not going to fit in. Then she sees the cryptic quote above the school door 'ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND PROMINENCE'
It's like stepping into another world, the students are expected to hand over phones & keys, anyone kicking up a fuss is removed, forcibly if necessary. Next is a rather humiliating assessment and examination then Veronica goes to her room to discover she is sharing with the cosmetic heiress and model, Darcy Mentzer. The two young women seem to bond and stick together during the talk from Dean Westbrook, he explains studies will be one of the priorities but preparing to advance into society as leaders & dignitaries is equally important.
It seems they are there to be matched with a life partner who matches their background & goals in life. He explains the process has already begun. The compatibility assessment they just had upon arrival was uploaded to the system and the powerful AI system has already found 3 possible partners. In the following weeks there will be trials & tasks to be undertaken with their different potential partners to determine whether they deserve to be here.
The Dean quite ominously reveals if they prove themself unworthy, their parents have agreed that drastic measures must be taken & they will be sent to rehabilitation at an alternative location. It’s not long until Veronica discovers her 3 possible matches, Arcadius Gill, Drew Montgomery and Owen Hensburg. Veronica decides to “go with the flow” and for appearances sake make it look like she is going along with everything.
I have to admit I had similar thoughts to the character Veronica as she entered Hill Academy and the expectations of her were revealed. What on earth is Hill Academy? Exactly what are the students there being matched and prepared for? Does Veronica's father really know what's going on there? Can Veronica make it look like she is accepting enough of the process and avoid being sent to some horrendous sounding rehabilitation centre.......Exactly what has Veronica's father signed her up for!?!
I instantly liked Veronica, obviously ahead of her time, wanting to be an independent woman and not just be married off to stay at home and care for the house and family. As soon as Arcadius or Cade as he is referred as you progress in the novella was introduced, I had that inkling he was definitely be someone Veronica was going to have to deal with. He is a strong willed, opinionated, yet at the same time caring and thoughtful. I can already feel the chemistry building between Veronica and Arcadius.....I have to admit as soon as he was introduced within the novella I was #TeamArcadius #TeamCade.
I really loved the novella, it’s characters and plot and to be honest I really didn’t want it to end. I’m intrigued with how these characters and their stories will unfold alongside of the characters I have already read about in Buried.
Summing up I love, love loved this short story, though not 100% sure where it all fits into the Underground Series yet, definitely looking forward to reading more.
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