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Dark School
Your grandfather is dead. You travel overseas to attend his funeral and discover that you are the apparent heir to his estate and a mansion with a vast forest littered with ruins and grottos. Inside his diary you discover his involvement with occult experiments and realize the domain he left you is not an inheritance at all -- it's a proving ground. Leave behind the world you were born into and carry on his noble work. Become a worthy heir not only to his vast fortune, but to The Great Work, and restore eminence to your family name. A great destiny awaits you; or perhaps, an untimely destruction. Follow your fate and find your path. Once you enter, you can never go back. You Must Choose.
312 pages, Paperback
Published April 2, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 4, 2019
As someone who grew up in the 80s with classic Choose Your Own Adventure books, I absolutely love the concept of Dark School: being thrust back into a reading adventure where choices count, but in a world clearly built for adults. This book is just filled with incredible occult characters and scenarios, and some of the choices results in some pretty brutal endings, but being able to make it to the end is highly rewarding.
Can't wait for book 2!
Can't wait for book 2!
May 28, 2019
It's almost impossible to keep up with the mind of Silver.
He's the one person I've worked with who can keep entire worlds inside his head, complete with backstories, character profiles, timelines and even interlaced storylines. If you dig deep, you'll discover they're all variations of each other, but the variables he manipulates are impressive nonetheless.
He originally approached me to co-write this with him and after hearing about the world, I declined because I would just be getting in the way. More importantly, the world he pitched needed to stay true to his vision because it's the closest you're going to get in understanding what happens in Silver's mind.
Dark School is a Choose Your Own Adventure novel unlike any other.
First, it's thick... really thick. There is a lot of detail that went into the (many) storylines and if you make it far enough in and choose unwisely, you're going to be pissed. You'll wish you had chosen better and then you'll wonder at what point you should've chosen better as well.
This isn't a book you can just skim the pages and work backwards (or dive somewhere in the middle and work from there) because the narrative won't make sense--at all. You need to dive into the world and really understand what's happening, forcing you to actually think hard about each choice.
Then there's the theme of the book itself.
Your typical over-the-counter book from a retail chain about the occult, talismans and summoning spirits pale in comparison to this work. In fact, this book is probably the best education you'll receive about the subject and those who have studied it will appreciate the accuracy by which everything is done.
It's dark, deals with the occult and gives you control over the outcome.
If those three ideas strike you, pick this one up.
He's the one person I've worked with who can keep entire worlds inside his head, complete with backstories, character profiles, timelines and even interlaced storylines. If you dig deep, you'll discover they're all variations of each other, but the variables he manipulates are impressive nonetheless.
He originally approached me to co-write this with him and after hearing about the world, I declined because I would just be getting in the way. More importantly, the world he pitched needed to stay true to his vision because it's the closest you're going to get in understanding what happens in Silver's mind.
Dark School is a Choose Your Own Adventure novel unlike any other.
First, it's thick... really thick. There is a lot of detail that went into the (many) storylines and if you make it far enough in and choose unwisely, you're going to be pissed. You'll wish you had chosen better and then you'll wonder at what point you should've chosen better as well.
This isn't a book you can just skim the pages and work backwards (or dive somewhere in the middle and work from there) because the narrative won't make sense--at all. You need to dive into the world and really understand what's happening, forcing you to actually think hard about each choice.
Then there's the theme of the book itself.
Your typical over-the-counter book from a retail chain about the occult, talismans and summoning spirits pale in comparison to this work. In fact, this book is probably the best education you'll receive about the subject and those who have studied it will appreciate the accuracy by which everything is done.
It's dark, deals with the occult and gives you control over the outcome.
If those three ideas strike you, pick this one up.
June 28, 2019
Do you have what it takes to survive a Matti Silver world? A fantasy choose your own adventure that makes you the protagonist in a world with impressive details and descriptions. This is an entertaining and immersive read that will make you wish to experience every ending possible based on the decisions you make. The author has made this nostalgic genre of books a dark and personal experience as you decide what actions you take in a world filled with dangers of the unknown as you battle the occult and become worthy of the family name. A must read for all readers!!!
April 2, 2023
“Dark School” is the first book in a paranormal fantasy adventure series created by Matti Silver. It’s a fascinating tale that is quite unlike anything you’ve ever read.
The story opens with an elderly man completing his will and placing it in a handcrafted wooden box along with a key chain holding five keys, a pocket watch, a vial, a small pouch, and a leather bound black book. Reminiscing over days gone by, and considering past achievements and failures, his final thoughts deliver him to a slumber from which he will not awaken.
In this choose-your-path quest, the reader is positioned directly into the story. Immediately you (as protagonist) discover that the elderly man is your grandfather, and he has bequeathed to you the wooden box of mysterious contents, including a deed to a mansion and a vast fortune. Your mission, as dictated by your dearly departed grandfather? To realize his dreams and finish The Great Work.
To help readers complete The Great Work an instructor – a Familiar materializes who guides you through the tasks required to fulfill grandfather’s work by learning how the spirit realm functions and how to harness its’ power to make the world a better place. This requires some trust from the reader but be careful who you grace with that honor. Along the way, readers meet a number of spirits, many of whom are none too pleased to be ruled by someone so inexperienced. But perseverance and determination, along with being a quick study, commands respect, albeit reluctantly, of the spirits of the realm and I found the interaction with the spirits fascinating as well as a bit frightening, and as the lead character, I often wondered what I got myself into.
“Dark School” is a genuine demonstration of Silver’s proficiency in creative writing and sheer imagination. It’s inventive, entertaining, and distinctive in its presentation and command of the readers’ attention. Readers will most likely plow through this story as fast as one can make decisions and turn pages. The enticing drama, where one wrong move could prove fatal, is present on every page.
One of my favorite parts is when the protagonist uses special powers on her (or his, depending on the reader) peers at school. Unpopular? Introverted? Feeling invisible to the other students? Try unleashing a host of special powers, including mind manipulation, to make friends and elicit the advances of a boy or girl you’ve had your eye on. But be careful – unleashing demons into the earthly realm can hold serious consequences. I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the story, highlighting the intensity of power the reader holds and the ramifications of how a misuse of power can go terribly wrong. Great job!
The spirits all played their parts well and though readers only hold a short amount of time with each, they are all well developed and readers can completely grasp the depths of their nature. A bonus is most of them have attitude, giving off feisty, sarcastic vibes. Likewise, the settings are easily well visualized, for me in black and white, as the magic, the demons, the dense forest, and foreboding cave created an atmosphere of darkness and angst. It well cloaked me in darkness, like a cloud followed me along on the adventure. The exquisite black and white illustrations may have heavily influenced that feeling – the artwork added yet another layer of authenticity to the story.
Overall “Dark School” exceeded my expectations. This is the third book I’ve read in the series despite it being the first book, or the prequel. Take my advice and start with this book. It will lay the groundwork in order for you to best enjoy the rest of the series: Dark School: Path of the Neophyte, Dark School: Mark of the Adept, and the final book in the series (the one I’m off to read now), Dark School: Work of the Magus. Recommended for fans of dark fantasy involving the occult sciences.
The story opens with an elderly man completing his will and placing it in a handcrafted wooden box along with a key chain holding five keys, a pocket watch, a vial, a small pouch, and a leather bound black book. Reminiscing over days gone by, and considering past achievements and failures, his final thoughts deliver him to a slumber from which he will not awaken.
In this choose-your-path quest, the reader is positioned directly into the story. Immediately you (as protagonist) discover that the elderly man is your grandfather, and he has bequeathed to you the wooden box of mysterious contents, including a deed to a mansion and a vast fortune. Your mission, as dictated by your dearly departed grandfather? To realize his dreams and finish The Great Work.
To help readers complete The Great Work an instructor – a Familiar materializes who guides you through the tasks required to fulfill grandfather’s work by learning how the spirit realm functions and how to harness its’ power to make the world a better place. This requires some trust from the reader but be careful who you grace with that honor. Along the way, readers meet a number of spirits, many of whom are none too pleased to be ruled by someone so inexperienced. But perseverance and determination, along with being a quick study, commands respect, albeit reluctantly, of the spirits of the realm and I found the interaction with the spirits fascinating as well as a bit frightening, and as the lead character, I often wondered what I got myself into.
“Dark School” is a genuine demonstration of Silver’s proficiency in creative writing and sheer imagination. It’s inventive, entertaining, and distinctive in its presentation and command of the readers’ attention. Readers will most likely plow through this story as fast as one can make decisions and turn pages. The enticing drama, where one wrong move could prove fatal, is present on every page.
One of my favorite parts is when the protagonist uses special powers on her (or his, depending on the reader) peers at school. Unpopular? Introverted? Feeling invisible to the other students? Try unleashing a host of special powers, including mind manipulation, to make friends and elicit the advances of a boy or girl you’ve had your eye on. But be careful – unleashing demons into the earthly realm can hold serious consequences. I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the story, highlighting the intensity of power the reader holds and the ramifications of how a misuse of power can go terribly wrong. Great job!
The spirits all played their parts well and though readers only hold a short amount of time with each, they are all well developed and readers can completely grasp the depths of their nature. A bonus is most of them have attitude, giving off feisty, sarcastic vibes. Likewise, the settings are easily well visualized, for me in black and white, as the magic, the demons, the dense forest, and foreboding cave created an atmosphere of darkness and angst. It well cloaked me in darkness, like a cloud followed me along on the adventure. The exquisite black and white illustrations may have heavily influenced that feeling – the artwork added yet another layer of authenticity to the story.
Overall “Dark School” exceeded my expectations. This is the third book I’ve read in the series despite it being the first book, or the prequel. Take my advice and start with this book. It will lay the groundwork in order for you to best enjoy the rest of the series: Dark School: Path of the Neophyte, Dark School: Mark of the Adept, and the final book in the series (the one I’m off to read now), Dark School: Work of the Magus. Recommended for fans of dark fantasy involving the occult sciences.
April 5, 2023
Bought the book at Ottawa mini Comic Con after reading the back summary of Dark School: Mark of the Adept. I loved the adventure this book took me on. I was immediately drawn into the story and loved making it my own journey through the tale. I can’t wait to read the next one.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews