How to Read The Academy Saga
The Academy Saga is a continuous romantic suspense and New Adult series written by C.J. Daly. The story focuses on Kate Connelly, her gifted younger brother, and their dangerous entanglement with the mysterious Elite International Academy. Because the series features an ongoing narrative with deep character development, cliffhangers, and evolving relationships, the books must be read in their strict chronological publication order. Reading them out of order will result in major plot spoilers.
The Academy Saga in Recommended Reading Order
Here is the recommended reading path for C.J. Daly's series. Each book builds directly upon the events of the previous installment:
- The Academy: The Elite & Gifted (2019) – The book that started it all. Readers are introduced to seventeen-year-old Kate Connelly, who lives in New Mexico and is fiercely protective of her younger brother. When the mysterious Elite International Academy targets her brother for recruitment, Cadet Peter Davenport is sent to mentor him, sparking a tense, high-stakes relationship between Kate and the Academy's recruits.
- Cadet-in-Training (2020) – In this second installment, the tension rises as Kate is forced to navigate the grueling trials and demanding expectations of the Academy. Trust is tested, alliances shift, and Kate faces betrayal from those she thought she could rely on.
- CAP & Gown (2021) – The stakes escalate further as graduation approaches. Kate must balance her loyalty to her family with the dark reality of the Elite International Academy, leading to critical decisions about her future.
- Trial & Tribulations (2022) – The fourth entry plunges deeper into the organization's sinister agenda. Kate's romantic life grows increasingly complex as she fights to protect the people she loves from the Academy's dangerous reach.
- Awaken After Mourning (2023) – A highly emotional installment dealing with aftermath, grief, and survival. Kate must pick up the pieces of her fractured life while the lingering threats of the Academy refuse to fade.
- Spies, Lies, & Allies (2024) – Book six introduces a massive shift in the status quo. Kate makes a life-altering choice to pursue a rescue mission for her first love, former Cadet Pete Davenport, leading her deeper into a web of espionage.
- Dark Angel & the Damned (2025) – The seventh book continues the high-stakes rescue and rebellion, forcing Kate to make alliances with dangerous and unpredictable figures.
- Redemption & Rekindled Flame (2026) – The eighth installment focuses on rebuilding trust, surviving the final plays of the Academy, and the potential resolution of long-standing romantic tension.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into C.J. Daly's series, there are several key elements that readers should keep in mind to set their expectations:
- Genre Fusion: The Academy Saga is a blend of contemporary young adult/new adult romance, romantic suspense, and mild speculative elements (centered around "gifted" individuals). It features popular tropes such as "enemies-to-lovers," high-stakes training, and a strong, protective heroine.
- Reverse Harem and Romantic Elements: The series features multiple attractive cadets vying for Kate's attention or forming complex relationships with her, making it a favorite among fans of reverse harem and New Adult romance.
- Setting: The author uses her own background growing up in Eastern New Mexico to ground the early parts of the story, contrasting the dusty plains of New Mexico with the elite, high-tech, and secretive facilities of the Academy.
- Ongoing Continuity: Unlike some romance series where each book features a different couple, the Academy Saga follows the same central protagonist, Kate Connelly, across all books. As a result, the story functions as one long, serialized narrative.
Are There Spin-Offs or Standalones?
Currently, C.J. Daly has not published any standalone novels, short story collections, or spin-off series. Her entire bibliography is dedicated to the core Academy Saga storyline. Readers looking to explore her work should focus solely on the main path outlined above, starting with the first novel, The Academy: The Elite & Gifted.