H.I.V.E. Higher Institute of Villanous Education by Walden opens with Otto Malpence, the main character, regaining consciousness on a helicopter flying low and fast over water. He and Wing, another boy who’d been kidnapped end up at H.I.V.E., a school for super villains with courses like Tactical Education, Villainous Studies, and Stealth and Evasion. H.I.V.E. is located inside an island that’s basically a fake volcano. Students stay on the island for six years and allowed no contact with the outside world, so Otto and Wing decide to find a way out. Though the premise was interesting, too many of the details were cliché. The leader of all the villains is referred to as Number One. Franz, a German boy, is practically identical to Augustus Gloop from Willie Wonka, The Contessa, Dr. Nero and others seem almost like cartoon characters, or something out of a James Bond/Austin Powers move to be realistic. However, the action was fun and Otto’s character is very compelling. Worth the read, but not my favorite.

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