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Books › H.I.V.E. Higher Institute of Villainous Education (H.I.V.E. #1)

Cover of H.I.V.E. Higher Institute of Villainous Education (H.I.V.E. #1)

H.I.V.E. Higher Institute of Villainous Education (H.I.V.E. #1)

Mark Walden

320 pages

A slick, high-tech joyride that flips the classic boarding school trope on its head by asking you to root for the bad guys.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like stepping into a sleek, high-tech spy movie where the traditional moral compass has been gleefully tossed out the window. The atmosphere is crackling with clandestine energy, blending the cozy, secretive thrill of a hidden boarding school with the sleek, gadget-laden danger of a Bond villain's lair. It moves at a brisk, cinematic clip, propelled by witty banter, clever heists, and the constant, simmering tension of an impossible escape. Beneath the cheeky, subversive tone lies a surprisingly warm core about misfits finding their tribe. It is an absolute delight for anyone who loves rooting for the smartest person in the room, especially when they are using their genius to break all the rules.

Mood
  • high-tech
  • energetic
  • suspenseful
  • clandestine
Tone
  • cheeky
  • cinematic
  • wry
  • adventurous
Pace
brisk
Themes
found family among misfits · questioning authority · moral ambiguity · loyalty and rebellion · outsmarting the system
The writing
The prose is cinematic and snappy, prioritizing witty banter and slick, gadget-heavy action sequences over deep introspection.
The arc
The journey moves from isolated defiance and suspicion to the thrilling warmth of unexpected camaraderie and shared rebellion.
Who it's for
Perfect for readers who always thought the villains had the coolest gadgets and who love a clever, high-stakes heist.
Content notes
  • kidnapping
  • mild sci-fi violence
  • child peril

About the book

H.I.V.E. (Higher Institute of Villainous Education) is a top-secret school of applied villainy where children with a precocious gift for wrongdoing are sent to develop their talents into criminal mastermind. After all, ‘villains have the best lines and wear the best costumes'. One small catch is that the children cannot leave until training is complete, six years later. With villainy comes a certain freedom of thought, and every year one student in particular will show exceptional talent - after all, it takes the best to produce the worst. This year there are two students: Otto Malpense and his new friend Wing Fanchu are both exceptionally bad, and they are definitely not keen on being held against their will for six long years...

Description from Open Library.

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