This is young adult novel, so don't expect any sex or many romantic moments. 
However, closer to the end of the story, there were confessions and a few tender kisses. 
I would recommend this for my 13-year olds (that's roughly the age of the characters, anyway) without hesitation.

The Academy in this book houses many professions: military, healing,magic, law... However, there is virtually no magic of any sort in this book, save for a couple of healing episodes.

Despite being true "young adult" novel, the book was pretty interesting to me and I really enjoyed the characters and the plot.

There are a few bumps in the writing style, but one that annoyed me most was the author's inability (or fear) to use pronouns. "Sentinel trainee" or "mage trainee" started to drive me (excuse my language) nuts by the end of the book.

I am kind of mad at Gina for sleeping through the whole ordeal. Her father. Her troubles. Yet it's Dunc who ends up in all kinds of trouble.

Still, great fun :) 

I never liked Owen and I hate him now. He is no better than Ryan where it comes to manipulating Will.

I really wanted to strangle Owen in this one, even more than Tony. 

And Will, but not so much, maybe a little ;) ...cause he's too cute for words. 

I really feel bad giving it 2 stars. BUT:

- I could not connect with the MCs. The narration was dry, the interaction between the MCs was too easy: A student with a hero worship + a soldier with a PTSD in need of love and care = Uber Quick Instalove
I am not usually the one to condemn love at first sight, but this one wasn't convincing even to me.
- Angie was annoying as hell; she set my teeth on edge every. single. time.
- The evil stepfather was extremely sketchy (literally)
- ...And so was the local playboy - Trevor? Terry?
- Ryan... plenty of him in the past, but he was brushed off many a time at the time of the narrative. Why was he even there? Nothing but a prop, like most (all) of the secondary characters here. I hoped and waited for him to show up in book two, but - nothing.
- Rainbow flags were everywhere (in 'spirit' at least). Everyone was sooooo tolerant and accepting and not in the least surprised about everybody else being gay. Except for the evil stepfather, of course, he was one ugly bastard with a foul mouth.

So, a number of things didn't work for me here. Once again - book's too short? I don't know :( I suspect it might be me, since everybody else loves it.