Darke Academy 01: Secret Lives [Paperback]

Darke Academy is a singular school that harbors many hidden secrets, as it moves from place to place, each term so as to avoid catching the eyes of those suspicious few. The elite establishment has impossibly beautiful, striking students who seem if anything almost unreal, which are both extremely wealthy and sophisticated in manner. It all seems too good to be true to Cassie who begins to unravel the truth behind the surface about this mysterious Academy, with her curiosity and inquisitiveness getting the better of her as she delves even deeper into what lurks within the shadows. A select group of students called `the few' aim to keep outsiders away, who hold close much undisclosed knowledge including about the incident a year ago when a scholarship girl died. Naturally as a scholarship girl herself Cassie endeavors to find out the truth, and so with the little insight that she possesses becoming a dangerous thing what might happen if she learns too much?
For readers who love teenage fiction/ Young Adult, you will be swept away by this stunning tale that has such an eye-catching and inspired front cover that I totally loved (with scarlet eyes that catch your attention instantly!). This trilogy promises much to come for I was left wanting to know more and to find out more about the Academy once I had finished this first installment, hence I take that as a very good sign and is testament to Gabriella Poole's brilliant writing. Captivating and full of electric tension and suspense, as I plunged head first into this absorbing tale I wanted to similarly to the main character find out more. This book also includes an extract from the second book in the trilogy `blood Ties' that brought a rather large smile to my face after feeling deflated that this story had ended, by the time I had reached page 267.

If you love Vampires and are a fan of the supernatural, fantastical and secretive then I urge you to discover and enroll at the Darke Academy, for before long you will be begging to join the chosen few. Character-driven with a fast-paced and gripping plot I found this story most original, the concept was totally inspired and it was refreshingly new. As a fan of not only the Young Adult genre but other works of fiction such as Twilight by Stephanie Meyer and The Vampire Diaries as well as `Teen' books, this book was a real delight to behold and the surprising plot full of twists & turns certainly kept me wanting to turn the page. I rate this book four and a half stars which as a result of enjoying it so much surpassed and exceeded all my expectations, hence I am really looking forward to reading the next installment within this brilliant saga! Just brilliant!!!

Cassie "Cassandra" has been sent to a very prestigous school. She hasn't a clue why she was chosen she's nothing special. She doesn't know her father her mother wanted her gone when she took up with a new boyfriend so Cassie has been living in an foster home since she got the boot.

Her counselor told her she had the grades for Darke Academy she should apply she does. Something isn't right from the outset; however she does have a fantastic roommate who simply adores her.

There is Ranjit the quiet alloof apparent leader of "The Few" the elitest group in the school the mean one Katerina and a cast of others. As Cassie tries to determine who she can trust and what is truly going on she gets masterfully drawn in by Richard and the other few only to find out that is seals her fate.

In a botched rescue by Isabella and Jake (who's sister one of the last scholarship students who got killed) Cassie ends up possesing half a god / demon but because the ceremony was disturb something is wrong.

She's "Few" now but she's not like the rest. It is now up to her, Isabella, Jake and Ranjit to learn how to she can live this way half demon half human. But can she?