Divided Souls (#3 Darke Academy) by Gabriella Poole

Rating: 9/10

Summary: Cassie Bell attends her third semester at Darke Academy, who once again moved to an exotic location. From its first semester in Paris, to New York and now Istanbul, the scenery may be different but the dark secrets and the smell of death only follow the academy wherever it goes. With a more romantic twist mixed in this semester, Cassie continues to struggle between friends, the Few, and romance, without forgetting to watch her back with every move as a killer is ticking off the Few one by one.

My thoughts: The third book involved a more romantic side for both Cassie and Isabelle. I often feel like authors add in romantic scenes and storylines to fill more pages, however, Gabriella Poole wove the romantic threads so well that without them, the story would not have made much sense. Also, unlike many love triangles, I often choose one over the other for who I prefer, in this book I would jump from one to the other just to go back and root for the first one again.

As a series, I must admit this is one of the best series I have read in a long time. It was captivating, well written and different from many other YA novels out there.

Quote p.214: “Cassie knew how much Isabella loved Jake. She knew her friend’s ferocious, burning loyalty, and how violently she defended those she loved; it was just that she’d never been on the receiving end before.

But there was more. Isabella was hiding something.’’

Darke Academy series:

1. Secret Lives

2. Blood Ties

3. Divided Souls

Blood Ties (#2 Darke Academy) by Gabriella Poole

Rating: 9/10

Summary:  In the sequel, Cassie Bell returns to Darke Academy for her second term, now located in New York. She is no longer the innocent scholarship girl but one of the Few. She is strong, important, and very dangerous as she is the host to an extremely powerful spirit that needs constant feeding. Throughout the term she must decide whether she will save her friends which will ultimately destroy her, or vice versa.

My thoughts: This sequel is much darker than the last. With Cassie a member of the Few and host to a very malevolent spirit, we see her struggle to maintain herself and not let the spirit rule her body. It was refreshing to see the main character struggle with difficult emotions yet not appear whinny. I really felt for the character and kept wishing her the best. On the other hand, I was a little disappointed with the turn Isabelle took since she allowed Cassie to feed off of her quickly with no questions and not outweighing the consequences. To me she was just unnaturally over trustworthy.   

The characters where once again very well developed, and the change in city’s which the school does with every term does in no way hinder the flow of the story.

 Quote p.202: “‘No!’ Cassie scrambled back, pressing herself between the bed and the nightstand, and raised her hand, palm outward, to keep her friend at bay. ‘No, Isabella, don’t! I’m – I think I need to feed.’ Isabella hesitated, blinking at Cassie’s outstretched palm. Then she clasped it, hauling Cassie to her feet and gripping her shoulders.”

Darke Academy series:

1. Secret Lives

2. Blood Ties

3. Divided Souls

Secret Lives (#1 Darke Academy) by Gabriella Poole

Rating: 9/10

Summary:  Cassie Bell, is a regular girl chosen to attend a very prestigious and mysterious school that moves to a new city around the world every term. Unlike the rich that attend the school, Cassie is given a scholarship. She finds herself in Paris for the first term at this elite school. While she has a hard time fitting in, her roommate, Isabella, does everything possible to make her feel included and comfortable. Throughout the semester, she discovers that Darke Academy is more than just a school; it holds a dark and dangerous secret. Knowledge is power, however it can also be a curse, and Cassie has discovered a little too much about the secrets the Few are guarding.

My thoughts: With a slow start, this book still had the makings for a great story, after pushing through for about a third of it, I was pleased to see the story evolve and be a truly interesting read. Gabriella Poole has created a unique way of incorporating the real world with a little bit of fantasy, with a twist. Unlike the thousand vampire novels out there (don’t get me wrong, I do love myself some vampire books) this one was very unique with a well built plot with twists and turns as I haven’t seen in awhile.  Book 1 of 3, this is definitely a series that kept me enthralled and enjoying every moment of it.

Quote p.61: “Cassie studied him. So this was the legendary founder of the Darke Academy? The portrait was a modern one, his angular face defined in deceptively casual brushstrokes. His eyes burned with vivid intelligence, their colours melding into grey but glinting like mica in granite. His silver-streaked dark hair grew in a perfect widow’s peak, one stray strand of it curving down his forehead like a thin blade. He had been painted at his desk, a book open beneath his hand, and he was watching the artist with an expression of cold, probing curiosity. Cassie felt he was looking straight into her brain and soul.”

Darke Academy series:

1. Secret Lives

2. Blood Ties

3. Divided Souls