Mark Walden’s debut novel, H.I.V.E. (Higher Institute for Villainous Education) is a fast, fun story with similarities to Artemis Fowl, The Alex Rider adventures, Austin Powers and James Bond. Here, talented teens attend an elite boarding school learning to be the world’s future criminal masterminds. 
13 year old orphan Otto Malpense awakens on a helicopter on the way to a tropical volcanic island; he has no memory of being taken and no idea of where he’s headed. He soon discovers that he and 200 other teens have been abducted to HIVE, a secret school to nurture those with “a special talent for the supremely villainous.”
Otto, who has a photogenic memory, quickly befriends 3 other students: Wing Fanchu, a martial arts expert; Laura Brand, an expert with electronics; and Shelby Trinity, a dexterous jewel thief. The foursome conspire to escape their captors, and engineer a plan to return to their old lives. The energetic plot is quick, action-packed, and laden with twists & turns. The kids don’t end up leaving the island; instead, the story’s left open for subsequent action-packed installments.
- Posted by Cori