A review by kezmarie36
Academy of Unholy Boys by David Fitzpatrick MFA

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is a deep and tragic YA story that explores sexuality, influence, peer pressures, falling in love, empathy and morality. It navigates traumas, violence and a need to escape reality, balanced against the evolving moods of teenagers, a need to be in control, desires to be understood, and toxic power plays. 
Foster is dangerous, narcissistic and corruptive with his charisma, knowledge and ability to manipulate those around him. 
Bear is obsessed, loyal and tragically in love, unable to step away from his bond with Foster, and accept how he negatively changes the course of his life.
Jay is sweet, naive, easily swayed, and wholly unprepared for the influence of his two new friends to make him spiral into chaos, under the guises of friendship, brotherhood and love. 
The story explores dark themes including suicide pacts, indoctrination, blackmail, the pressures of teenage life, grief, drugs and loss. 
It's also a poignant story about wanting to fit in, be seen and accepted, falling in love, embracing yourself and finding your own identity away from the influence of others.

✨"We're trapped together somehow, linked... A warped bond"

✨"What the hell is Foster Gold to me now? First crush? Lover? Maestro? Nemesis? Arrogant fool, coward? Scumbag! Or was it something even worse?"

✨"You can't doubt me like that. I'm the sanest one here"