Desert Dark
A Desert Dark Novel
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Hogwarts meets The Bourne Identity in this action-packed thriller about teenage spies—for fans of Marie Lu's Legends series and James Dashner's Maze Runner trilogy
Sixteen-year-old Nadia Riley is delighted to earn a spot at an elite, government-funded boarding school. Nothing sounds better than leaving behind her fraught relationship with her ex-boyfriend and moving to faraway Arizona to attend Desert Mountain Academy.
But when she arrives, Nadia finds out she has more than classwork to catch up on. Desert Mountain Academy is a covert CIA program, which recruits and trains high-achieving students for Black-Ops work. While struggling to keep up with her new classes, Nadia must also gain the trust of her teammates, and survive a rigorous exercise and combat training course. Thrilled at the opportunity, Nadia isn't expecting to fall in love—or to end up in real, deadly danger.
When news leaks that there is a double agent on campus, suddenly everyone is a suspect—including Nadia. To clear her name, she must use her newfound skills to uncover the traitor—before he can eliminate her as a threat.
Told from alternating points of view, including that of the anonymous double agent, Desert Dark is perfect for young adult readers who love action, adventure, and intrigue.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this promising series opener from debut author Stone, life at an elite boarding school that is secretly a training ground for Black Ops CIA agents seems like a dream come true for 16-year-old Nadia Riley until her studies take a backseat to a real mission. Miserable after a spectacular breakup, cryptogram-loving Nadia jumps at the chance to attend the government-funded Desert Mountain Academy; she's soon off to Arizona, where the school is reeling from the death of Drew Anderson, the girl whose spot Nadia is taking. Desert Mountain is home to a typical mix of students including Nadia's roommate, Libby, a well-mannered Southern girl with a touch of OCD; Alan, a genius lacking in social graces; and Jack, the team leader who catches Nadia's eye. As Nadia tries to catch up academically, rumors circulate that Drew's death wasn't accidental, and there's talk of a double agent operating within the school, with new recruit Nadia as the prime suspect. A mix of all-too-real war games, teenage love conundrums, and a tenacious heroine makes this an engaging first outing. Ages 12 up.
