Drag the book to turn it

Belladonna · Book 1

Nightshade Academy

BookBubAs featured on BookBubYoung AdultDystopianThriller

Twenty teenagers are selected for an elite military boarding school, but only five will emerge as guardians—destined for a life of glamour and brutality.

For readers who love

The Hunger GamesAn Ember in the AshesLegend

What readers are saying
Mel never disappoints but this was mind-blowing.
Ishana ★★★★★ Goodreads
These characters were everything. My sister can attest through the multiple texts I sent her talking about how wholesome the friendship dynamics are.
S.J. Robert ★★★★★ Goodreads
First in a page-turning fantasy series.
BookBub
About the story

It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.

The Academy only selects twenty students from across the Empire, and despite his low scores, Yahshi made the cut. From day one, he’s thrown into an aggressive military program where only five graduates will become guardians—elite soldiers tasked with enforcing the Emperor’s rule.

To better his odds, Yahshi teams up with Vell, the only girl, and Pinto, the overachiever. The trio tackles academic, athletic, and ethical trials as competitors drop out one by one. The closer they get to graduation, the more they fantasize about serving as guardians together.

But the job isn’t what it seems. The Empire demands loyalty above all, and Yahshi discovers that his uniform comes with a price he never agreed to pay.

Publisher
Lost Island Press
Pages
408
Early release
Publication
Formats
Ebook, Paperback, BlueBound
Cover Designer
MAD Book Covers
Illustrator
Gonzalo Mansilla
School SettingFound FamilyMilitaryMorally GrayRetro Feel
Political IntrigueRoyaltySecret IdentitySurvivalTragedy
Free sample

Content warnings

Mel Torrefranca
About the author

Mel Torrefranca is a full-time author and founder of Lost Island Press. Her books feature morally gray characters, bold endings, and a pinch of awkward humor. Mel discovered her passion for writing at the age of seven and published her debut novel Leaving Wishville during high school. She also drinks way too many lattes.

Press kit

Ready to use for a post, review, or interview about Nightshade Academy.

  • Fact sheet
  • Press release
  • Blurbs
  • Author bio
  • Reader praise
  • Short excerpt
  • Credit lines
  • Covers and mockups
  • Logos
ZIP · free to use for coverage

Ready to get lost in ?

3 books + 2 extras

The Belladonna series

Start with Book 1 or either novella, then read on in order.

Get all released paperbacks and save

Get all released ebooks and save

1
Nightshade​ Academy
Great place to start
1.5
Maelin
Great place to startA novella you can read before, between, or after the novels.
Spinoff novella
2
Underground Royalty
Read Book 1 first
2.5
Avarium
Great place to startA novella you can read before, between, or after the novels.
Spinoff novella
?
3
Untitled
Not included
Prototype · test data