by Mark Walden (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

Otto Malpense, a mastermind criminal orphan, has been handpicked to attend a special school called Higher Institute of Villainous Education (known as H.I.V.E.‑) to help develop his skills as a villain. The problem is, he doesn’t want to spend the next six years studying something he already knows. He needs to escape. But destiny has its own plans.

This action and adventure book is marvellous because instead of being about heroes, it’s about villains instead. It also
has great detail in it so you feel like you are there when everything is happening.

I loved reading about the diabolical and complex plan that Otto and his friends made when in H.I.V.E.

Suitable for readers aged 10+.