The world may never be the same if Layla won’t unveil her powers…Before Layla Holden can start her freshman year at Coltin High, she receives an unexpected invitation to attend a private school she’s never heard of. She doesn’t hesitate to accept, eager to escape the close-minded small town where she’s been taunted and teased for seeing otherworldly creatures. Anywhere has to be better than … be better than home.
Yet she’s only permitted to go if she brings her twin sister Sabine along for the ride.
Inside the walls of the castle-like fortress on the isolated campus, the girls find many secrets and hidden mysteries. Layla’s never shied from challenges and is determined to pass her first year. However, with more unusual and bigger monsters lurking at the school, she struggles to keep her ability a secret. On top of the pressure to succeed in the competitive school, she also attracts the attention of a new student, Flynn Madsen. He’s not the only one who’s curious about her, but he seems to have the same gift of sensing these supernatural beings.
In a new school, it’s impossible to know who to trust and what to believe. By keeping her own secrets closely guarded, Layla has to have faith in herself. Not her bookish roomie, not the cute new boy who seems too curious about her. Because sometimes holding your own secrets can overpower the need to unravel others–a fine balance of controlling your fears or letting them destroy you.
Secrecy is the first book in the magical and spell-bound Olde Earth Series. If you like stories about puzzling fantasy journeys, witty heros, and evil creatures, then you’ll love this YA supernatural fantasy series from top-selling author Amabel Daniels!
Buy Secrecy today to see if Layla can save the day!
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Still curious, here’s what other readers are saying:
★★★★★ “Layla rocks!”
★★★★★ “Amabel Daniels weaves another fabulous tale.”
★★★★★ “This is an awesome story.”
★★★★★ “Like Harry Potter meets Twilight and maybe The Hobbit in one.”
★★★★★ “The adventures they take you on make you feel like you are there doing this with them”
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I’ve pretty much devoured this series and am on book 5 – as soon as I finished one, I had to start the next right away. I really appreciate that while complex and forward-moving, this book isn’t too dark or heavy (though it’s not all sunshine & roses either – plenty of action and obstacles). The books seem to go by so fast. If you want to get lost for a while in a new world, look no further.
The main characters are very believable, fun, and quickly become endearing to the reader. The plot is easily followed and the story is truly a great one. I would have no difficulty in recommending this book to anyone with a vivid imagination and who enjoy Paranormal fiction.
Content warning: Profanity, swearing.
Layla is not yet 16 and looking forward to beginning high school; to (eventually) get free of the stifling town, poverty, and taunting of her hateful sister and fellow students. Just four years to go.
Then, a seeming miracle appears as a man in a long black car, with an offer of a wonderful and distant academy–free! But her father and sister insist on a condition. Her twin, who is nearly her complete opposite (in academics and temperament), must go too. It’s a tough choice, but the chance for a better education wins. (Argh!)
Olde Earth Academy is heavy on academics, with a focus on the sciences and an undercurrent of secrets. At first, it isn’t a concern, but as interest naturally turns to the unexplained, Layla wonders whether the academy’s plans for her are in her best interest. And Layla is learning who she can’t trust. No surprise, her sister is still on the list.
This is listed as “book 1,” however, it is actually Part 1, with the end cutting off abruptly after a cliffhanger.
It’s a typical “girl goes to academy and discovers she’s magical” story, but it is fairly well told, and there are unique elements that make it interesting. I appreciate how Layla maintains her personality by continuing her reluctance to trust at school. She doesn’t gush or drop all defenses just to be accepted, or because a guy talks to her. In a phrase, “She keeps her head.”
I plan to read book 2 (actually Part 2), but with caution.
The profanity and swearing seems to be for shock value in the first chapter or so, then mostly sprinkled with swearing on occasion. I understand a little swearing but the profanity (which also occurs later), was unnecessary and over the top.
Some unexplained phrases and words the author has Layla use are unfamiliar (to this well-read reviewer), and there are spelling errors and typos from its ebook publication in 2019.
Story 4 Stars
Profanity, swearing, errors -2 Stars
Total = 2/5 Stars; willing to reevaluate following editing.
Layla was the black sheep in her family. When she was younger, she was attacked by an animal when she was swimming, which left marks on her arms. For years, Her family thought she was mentally ill and has been institutionalized for it. Working at a pet store, she caught the eye of the headmaster of an exclusive school for those with unique talents. Layla has struggled with a power that nobody but her knew about. She can communicate with animals and the ability to see things that a normal person wouldn’t. Unfortunately, she also had to bring her annoying sister, who literally forced her way in.
This was such a cute YA story. This had sort of a Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children meets Harry Potter feel to it. Definitely, recommended for those who enjoy these kind of stories!
Secrecy (Olde Earth Academy Year One)
Amabel Daniels
This book will take you on an adventure of a lifetime. People have always thought and told Layla that she is crazy. She is so ready to be done with school so she can move from her hometown. As luck would have it, a gentleman shows up at her house offering her a chance to attend an elite private school – the Old Earth Academy. She is so ready to go, and is not happy when her twin sister Sabine worms her way into getting an invite too. The school and everything about it is shroaded in secrecy – so much that on the trip there, they aren’t told where the academy is located. Once she is there, the campus is almost overwhelming, but she meets a guy that she even thinks is cute. Will she find other people there that are like her or will she continue to be thought of as a freak? What are the secrets that Olde Earthe is hiding? Can others see the magical creatures that Layla can see? Will anyone admit to these ablities? You will need to read this to find out. I can’t say enough about how this book kept me enchanted and reading until I finished it. Wow what a cliffhanger!! I need to read the rest of this series so I know what happened and who gets to come back for another year at the Olde Earth Academy. I’ve read a couple of other books by this author, and I really enjoy how she writes and her style. I look forward to reading many more of her works.
WOW!! WOW!! WOW!! DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING!?! SECRECY: YEAR ONE by Amabel Daniels took me by SURPRISE and CANNOT WAIT for the Next One!! That Freakn CLIFFHANGER gutted me!!!
I truly loved this book! It was like Harry Potter meets Twilight and maybe The Hobbit in one. But that cliffhanger destroyed me. I didn’t realize I was that close to the end of the book and then boom! I gotta read the next one!!!
Layla’s life growing up had been awkward and fraught with a dysfunctional relationship with her deplorable vain twin sister Sabine and her flighty dad. Without a mother in the picture, it was a strange family unit. But a new life beckoned for Layla in the form of an invitation to attend a mysterious prestigious private school. This was her chance to get away from her Podunk town and her vicious sister and maybe have a better life. But her father refused to let her go unless her sister gets to go too. It wasn’t in the original plans but Layla had to begrudgingly accept that she was saddled with her spoiled brat sister getting her way.
Olde Earth Academy opened up a whole new world for Layla. Even as her sister tried to sabotage anything for her with her antics and diva attitude and vile gossip, Layla was determined her sister wouldn’t ruin her plans for a new life. She finds clarity and redemption in the friends she meets, and their adventures. Something from her past comes back to haunt her though and threatens her new found identity.
I will definitely be following this series. I loved this story. It was a great introduction to a new to me author.
The book had me on the end and it was so interesting that I couldn’t put it down. It feels like you are one of the character, making you feel what they feel. Layla has her hands full and learning about Olde Earth is awesome. Dealing with the enemies and friends and then the cliff hangers, which leave you hanging, wanting more. I give this book five stars. A must read!!
This was a nice start to the series. There were some parts that were really slow for me but all in all a good read.
This book was a great start to a new series. Secrets, drama, mystery, paranormal creatures, intriguing characters and a story line that keeps you invested from start to finish are just some of the reasons you will like this story. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series to see what happens next.
An awesome read. Fun and twisty, this PNR will keep you entertained. Just as you get invested the story ends, as long as you go in knowing it’s a series I think you will enjoy it. I’m ready for book 2 already.
I couldn’t put this book down. I was hooked. Layla has been picked on a lot and called a freak. She couldn’t wait for high school then off to college to get put of her little town. One day a gentleman comes inviting her to the Olde Earth Academy. She couldn’t wait to go, till her sister piped in and got herself invited too. Once she’s there she finds out the Academy is not what she thought it was. This book will draw you in. This book does leave you with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
This is an exciting page turner, which ends much too soon. Layla is a terrific heroine, and I love how her confidence grows as the story unfolds. Olde Earth Academy is a fascinating place with so many secrets, and we barely scratch the surface here. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series, to see who gets to remain at the school, and what new powers and secrets are revealed. I recommend this book to readers from young adult to old adult, anyone who loves a thrilling adventure of a read!
This was a neat world to dive into. Kept my interest from start to finish! Can’t wait to read the next one.
I was immediately thrown into a magical world when I started this book and I loved the adventure that we are seeing Layla on. As we struggle with Laylas frustration in the beginning and than as she finds her niche in her new magical school I think that this series is going to prove to be a fun and adventurous trip.
For her whole life, Layla has been told she has mental issues. It started when she went swimming and was attacked by a creature that no one else could see. Years of therapy, institutions, and side eye looks from people has not helped. So when a stranger shows up at her house and offers her and her not so nice twin a scholarship to an elite school, she is ready to leave her small town for a fresh start.
Olde Earth Academy is a unique school for unique people. As she starts her schooling she starts to question things she is seeing and wondering if her peers will be like her hometown and judge her. But as she learns more, she finds that Old Earth Academy is not quite the school she imagined. She also learns about who she is and that the things she has seen are real.
This is a great YA read. It follows a young girl with special abilities as she navigates through her life and what is to come for her. Amabel Daniels tells a good story and draws you into keep turning pages. I enjoyed the book so much I’ve already downloaded the second book because I want to see where the story goes. This is a must read for anyone.
Layla and Sabine are twins who have a strong dislike for each other. Layla is asked to attend and academy and Sabine sees it as her chance to get.oitnof the small town they were born in. As the sisters embark on this journey that will change their lives the secrets just keep unfolding. New friends and new experience. A must read.
Such a great book absolutely loved it
This isn’t my typical read but I really did enjoy it. There was great characters and amazing storyline. I would definitely like to check out more from Ms. Daniels.
What an awesome story.
A little bit about it without spoiling. Layla is a special girl, she can see creatures that no one else can, or so she thought. She is asked to go to the very secretive high school called Olde Earth Academy where she learns that only so many students actually advance to become sophomores. No one really knows why, but the upper class men are not to be bother or talked to. Layla’s twin sister Sabine is also there with her, even thought they hate each other and Sabine was not really who they wanted there, the two figure out that there is something strange happening at the school. With the help of her friends, Layla starts figure out what is going on and why she can see these strange animals.
I can’t wait to finish the rest of the series and figure out what happens to Layla and her friends.