The Invisible Girl's Power

Dancia Lewis, a self-effacing teenager living with her grandmother, has always tried to blend in and avoid attention. But she harbors a dangerous secret: when she feels threatened or someone she cares about is in danger, she can make things happen—sometimes violently—without understanding how. After a traumatic incident at a hospital where her power saves lives but leaves a man in a coma, Dancia is left feeling like a freak, determined to keep her abilities hidden from the world.

The Invitation to Delcroix

Dancia's life takes a sharp turn when recruiters from the elite Delcroix Academy arrive at her home, offering her a full scholarship to their exclusive boarding school. The recruiters, including the charismatic student Cam and the enigmatic Mr. Judan, insist she's special, though Dancia is skeptical. Despite her misgivings and her grandmother's encouragement, Dancia is drawn to the possibility of a new start, especially after meeting Cam, whose presence is both comforting and electrifying.

Secrets Behind Iron Gates

Upon arrival at Delcroix, Dancia is struck by the school's fortress-like security: iron gates, ID badges, and strict rules. The student body is a mix of prodigies, artists, and oddballs, all seemingly exceptional in some way. Dancia's attempts to remain invisible are challenged by the school's social structure and the attention she receives from both Cam and a brooding, tattooed boy named Jack, who seems to recognize something in her.

New Friends, Old Fears

Dancia quickly befriends Esther and Hennie, two girls who help her feel less alone. Yet, she remains wary of forming attachments, fearing her power will hurt those she cares about. Her roommate, Catherine, is cold and competitive, reinforcing Dancia's sense of not belonging. Meanwhile, Jack's presence grows more significant, as he hints at knowing more about Delcroix's secrets and shares a troubled past.

The Wall and the Test

During a team-building exercise, Dancia's group must scale a daunting wall. When she nearly fails, she feels an inexplicable push—possibly from Jack—helping her succeed. This moment hints that Jack, too, possesses unusual abilities. The experience bonds Dancia with her team but also deepens her anxiety about her powers and the true nature of Delcroix.

Jack's Arrival and Warnings

Jack confides in Dancia about his difficult upbringing, brushes with the law, and his own mysterious powers to manipulate matter. He warns her that Delcroix is not what it seems, that the school is watching them, and that they are both there for reasons beyond academics. Jack's paranoia about being followed and his distrust of authority put him at odds with Cam and the school's leadership.

The Watchers' Eyes

Dancia learns that Delcroix employs "Watchers"—students and staff assigned to monitor certain students, especially those with latent powers. Cam, her recruiter and friend, is revealed to be her Watcher, keeping detailed reports on her. The realization that her relationships may be orchestrated for observation shakes Dancia's trust in Cam and the school.

Struggling to Belong

As Dancia tries to fit in, she is haunted by her lack of a clear "focus" or talent compared to her peers. She overhears classmates questioning why she was chosen for Delcroix, deepening her insecurities. Her friendship with Jack grows complicated as he pushes her to embrace her powers, while her feelings for Cam become more tangled amid revelations of surveillance.

Powers Unleashed

With Jack's encouragement, Dancia experiments with her abilities, discovering she can manipulate physical forces with intent and control. Their shared secret draws them closer, culminating in a kiss that confuses Dancia's feelings further. However, the danger of their powers—and the school's interest in them—becomes more apparent.

The Truth About Delcroix

After a series of confrontations and betrayals, Cam confesses the truth: Delcroix is a front for a secret program that recruits and trains young people with extraordinary abilities to serve a global council. The school's mission is to nurture, monitor, and, if necessary, control these talents for the greater good. Dancia is both relieved to understand her place and horrified by the implications.

Betrayal and Confession

Dancia confronts Cam about his role as her Watcher and the manipulation of their friendship. Cam admits he genuinely cares for her, but his loyalty to the program complicates everything. Meanwhile, Jack, feeling hunted and betrayed, steals secret books from the school, hoping to unlock more of his power and escape Delcroix's control.

The Dangerous Choice

As the school's Watchers close in on Jack, Dancia is torn between her loyalty to Cam and her empathy for Jack. She realizes the program's methods can be ruthless, and that Jack's fears are justified. When Jack asks her to run away with him, Dancia refuses, choosing instead to face the truth and try to change things from within.

The Escape and the Sinkhole

When armed Watchers arrive to capture Jack, Dancia uses her powers in a spectacular display—creating a sinkhole to stop their car and save Jack's life. She helps Jack escape, knowing it may be the last time she sees him. The event exposes the true extent of her abilities and the lengths she will go to protect those she cares about.

Aftermath and Acceptance

In the wake of Jack's escape, Dancia returns the stolen books to Delcroix, solidifying her decision to stay and learn to use her powers responsibly. She is accepted into the school's secret program, but the experience leaves her questioning the morality of the Watchers and the cost of safety versus freedom.

The Program's Dark Side

Dancia learns more about the Program's global reach and its role in preventing disasters and policing those with dangerous abilities. She grapples with the knowledge that the Watchers sometimes act preemptively and without mercy, and that the line between protection and oppression is thin. Her own initiation is shadowed by doubts about the system she is joining.

Initiation and New Allegiances

Dancia is formally initiated into the Program, pledging to use her powers for the greater good. Cam stands as her sponsor, and she is welcomed by the other Earth Talents. Yet, the memory of Jack's flight and the school's secrets linger. Dancia embraces her new identity, determined to find her own path and ensure that her power is used with compassion and integrity.

Characters

Dancia Lewis

Dancia is a teenager who has spent her life trying to be invisible, haunted by a power she cannot control and fears to use. Orphaned and raised by her grandmother, she is fiercely protective of those she loves, but terrified of hurting them. Dancia's journey is one of self-acceptance, as she learns to embrace her abilities and confront the ethical dilemmas of power, loyalty, and belonging. Her relationships with Cam and Jack force her to question trust, love, and the true meaning of doing good.

Cam Sanders

Cam is the golden boy of Delcroix: handsome, athletic, and universally liked. As Dancia's recruiter and Watcher, he is both her protector and her observer, torn between his duty to the Program and his genuine affection for her. Cam's powers of persuasion and recognition make him a natural leader, but his loyalty to the system is tested as he witnesses its darker side. His relationship with Dancia evolves from mentorship to romance, complicated by secrets and the demands of the Program.

Jack Landry

Jack is a survivor, shaped by a traumatic childhood and a life on the run. His ability to manipulate matter and create invisible barriers makes him both powerful and vulnerable. Jack's distrust of authority and fear of being controlled put him at odds with Delcroix and its Watchers. His bond with Dancia is deep and complex, rooted in shared pain and understanding. Jack's choices force Dancia to confront the moral ambiguities of power and the cost of freedom.

Mr. Judan

As Delcroix's chief recruiter and a high-ranking member of the Program, Mr. Judan is both charming and intimidating. He believes in the necessity of the Watchers and the Program's mission, but his methods are often ruthless. Judan's ability to persuade and his unwavering commitment to the greater good make him a formidable figure, embodying the ethical dilemmas at the heart of the story.

Esther

Esther is Dancia's first real friend at Delcroix, outgoing and quick-witted. Her talent for acting and impersonation hints at deeper abilities, but she remains grounded and loyal. Esther's warmth and humor help Dancia navigate the school's complexities, and her friendship is a source of comfort and strength.

Hennie

Hennie is quiet, intuitive, and gifted with languages. Her ability to "hear" the unspoken feelings of others makes her a natural mediator and confidante. Hennie's sensitivity allows her to see through facades, and her support helps Dancia accept herself. She represents the softer, more compassionate side of power.

Catherine Arkane

Catherine is Dancia's roommate and foil: driven, competitive, and emotionally distant. Her academic brilliance and family legacy at Delcroix fuel her sense of superiority, but also her isolation. Catherine's antagonism pushes Dancia to define her own values and strengths.

Anna

Anna is a star runner and a key member of the Program. Her competitive nature and lingering feelings for Cam create tension with Dancia. Anna's loyalty to the Program and her own ambitions highlight the pressures faced by those with extraordinary gifts.

Trevor

Trevor is Cam's best friend and a Watcher-in-training. His somatic abilities and strict adherence to rules make him a formidable presence. Trevor's role as both protector and observer underscores the Program's surveillance culture.

Grandma Lewis

Dancia's grandmother is her only family and emotional anchor. Despite her frailty, she provides wisdom, love, and a sense of home. Her encouragement and belief in Dancia's potential are crucial to Dancia's journey toward self-acceptance.

Plot Devices

The Boarding School as Microcosm

The isolated, highly regulated environment of Delcroix Academy serves as both sanctuary and prison, intensifying the characters' struggles with identity, loyalty, and morality. The school's physical barriers and social hierarchies mirror the internal barriers Dancia must overcome.

The Watcher System

The concept of Watchers—students and staff assigned to monitor and report on others—creates an atmosphere of suspicion and control. This device explores themes of trust, autonomy, and the ethics of surveillance, foreshadowing the Program's darker aspects.

Powers as Metaphor for Adolescence

The characters' supernatural talents symbolize the tumultuous emotions, desires, and fears of adolescence. The struggle to control and understand these powers parallels the journey toward self-knowledge and moral responsibility.

Love Triangle and Divided Loyalties

Dancia's relationships with Cam and Jack embody the conflict between safety and rebellion, trust and skepticism. The love triangle is not just romantic but ideological, forcing Dancia to choose between complicity and resistance.

Initiation and Pledge

The Program's initiation ceremony and pledge structure the narrative, marking Dancia's transition from outsider to insider. These rituals raise questions about conformity, sacrifice, and the true cost of belonging.

Analysis

Inara Scott's The Candidates reimagines the boarding school fantasy as a meditation on power, surveillance, and the ethics of belonging. Through Dancia's journey from self-effacing outsider to empowered initiate, the novel interrogates the price of safety and the allure of control. The Watcher system, with its blend of mentorship and manipulation, serves as a chilling metaphor for institutional authority and the loss of privacy. Dancia's struggle to reconcile her compassion with the Program's utilitarian logic reflects broader questions about the use and abuse of talent—whether supernatural or mundane. The story's heart lies in its nuanced portrayal of friendship, love, and the longing to be seen for who we truly are. Ultimately, The Candidates challenges readers to consider what it means to do good in a world where every gift is also a potential weapon, and where the greatest danger may come from those who claim to protect us.

Last updated: May 12, 2025