Nightshade Academy (Belladonna #1)

Mel Torrefranca

From the award-winning author of Capsule and Leaving Wishville

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.

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About the Book

Twenty teenagers enter. Only five become guardians.

Yahshi Konya shouldn’t be one of them. With low test scores, his selection for the Empire’s boarding school raises red flags. The guardians are offering him the opportunity of a lifetime, but at what cost?

Taking a chance, he joins the aggressive military program and strikes an alliance with two trainees. Vell, the only girl, and Pinto, the overachiever. United, they tackle relentless challenges, watching their competitors dwindle.

But the Academy is not what it seems. When dangerous truths emerge, Yahshi finds himself killing his friendships—and possibly his humanity.

A gripping tale of power, betrayal, and redemption, Nightshade Academy will leave you walking the tightrope between good and evil.

About the Release

Publication Date: November 11, 2023
Genre: Fantasy, Thriller
Paperback Pages: 408

Praise for Nightshade Academy

“The story started out strong and slowly but surely just kept getting better. And the ending is so very promising for what’s to come.”
—Thibault Busschots

“I don't even know where to begin. This book was phenomenal, heart-wrenching, and beautiful.”
—Gabriella Kuhn

“I wish I could rate this book higher than five stars…The plot twist at the end really had me, and I can't wait for the next book. Mel never disappoints but this was mind-blowing.”
—Ishana

“Every word in this novel was chosen carefully and with a specific intention and it shows. I was so impressed with the depth of emotion that was expressed with such few words.”
—Hannah Wernecke

“Where do I even start? This story was incredibly well-crafted. To me, characters are everything, and 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

Maturity Score ◉◉◉○○

    • Multiple fight scenes

    • Descriptions of blood and injuries

    • Poison used for murder

    • Violent school bullying

    • Hinted romance, open to platonic interpretation

    • Hand-holding and hugging

    • Occasional remarks on physical attraction

    • Discussions about abstaining from romantic and sexual engagements

    • Characters consume poisonous substances with hallucinogenic side effects

    • Occasional profanity, with the strongest words being: hell, damn/dammit, ass/asshole, prick, idiot

    • Jokes about a character’s physical disability

    • A boy is mocked for his stuttering

    • Forcibly vomiting as a coping mechanism

    • Obsessive-compulsive behaviors in response to trauma

    • Manifestation of guilt through self-starvation

    • Jumping off a balcony and claiming it was accidental

    • Teenagers poisoning, stabbing, and experimenting on rabbits

    • Physical disciplinary actions in a school setting

    • Force-feeding

    • Ritualistic branding of teenagers involving physical restraint to a metal chair

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