H.I.V.E (Higher Institute of Villainous Education) is an excellent book with an extremely long title. This gripping, evil story made me beg and beg my parents until I got the full set. A series looking at how villains run things was a great twist in the hero theme and can be compared with the likes of Artemis Fowl. I loved how the author (Mark Walden) made up an excellent thriller of a plot for the book. The students were all evil in their own way with special talents – especially Otto Malpense, the main character.
Otto Malpense is an orphan, and when he hears his orphanage is to be shut down he launches a plan to make the Prime Minster revert his choice. With his special talent of soaking up information at lightning fast speed, he travels down to Brighton and, let’s say, makes the Prime Minister very unpopular indeed!
As he prepares to leave, he gets shot, later waking up in a helicopter with no recollection of what happened. He is in H.I.V.E. There he meets Wing, Laura, Nigel, Franz and Shelby. He then discoverers that he is to spend the next 6 years learning something he knows quite well already - Evil. Three of his friends agree to hatch a plan to escape. I wont spoil it, but it involves wardrobes! Quite soon after this a rampaging plant destroys the school and Otto has to help.
This great, captivating book was an amazing read and the other books were just as good. I loved all the mischievous things the characters got up too (and the not-so-usual school staff). The enemies of the villains were well-thought, and I have to say I did get scared a bit. I would recommend this book to 9+ as it was a bit scary.
- Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop
