Hey. I’m Zara. I was just about to start my junior year of high school when my parents shipped me off to boarding school in Switzerland. Yep, you heard that right—Switzerland. Now I’m at a mysterious school that everybody refers to as Spy School. Nobody seems to like me. Except them. Smart. Mysterious. Hot. And they want to be my friends. Who could say no?
Loyal is the first book in The Zara Chronicles, an RH Serial.
I'm Scarlett Haven. I write YA and NA books and I write a lot. My books are a fun mixture of romance, mystery, and now some paranormal too!
Besides writing, I also love to read anything I can get my hands on and I'm always drawn to the villain of the story. I am 29 years old and am married to the love of my life.
So this was legit bad. There was zero editing and while that itself is enough to turn me off a book the terribleness was compounded by flat characters with no personality, predictability, continuity errors and a flimsy plot.
Zara is a 17 year old with a famous actress for a mother who gets shipped off to a private boarding school in Switzerland because she's beautiful(but of course she doesn't think so) and smart(she aces her advanced calc math test on her first day after missing a week of school) and oh so special(because no other kid has ever been accepted into this school as a junior ever). So of course she immediately makes friends with a group of guys who take her under their wing and decide that not only is it worth getting kicked out of school to do something for Zara but also it's all good because she was having a panic attack so of course it makes sense to get into trouble over letting her go through the horror of that.
The only good thing about this is that it's short and while it's insta love at it's worse it's also a slow burn so I had to keep reading till the 4th book which is all that the series has progressed so far. And while I did continue it and the next books do get marginally better it comes off as a less well put together version of the Ghost Bird series.
After her parent's latest fight, Zara finds herself being shipped off to a boarding school in Switzerland. When she arrives, she knows nothing about the school and everything especially the classes seem strange to her. The other thing is that she is a novelty as the school doesn't normally take new students on at her age. Zara is about to learn that this school is, in fact, a school to train spies and that she has been given entrance due to one of the school's top success stories Zach Stone. But how is Zach connected to Zara, especially since she has never heard of him before and when she tries to ask her mother she shuts down. Loyal was also a Reverse Harem series as Zara finds herself friends with a team of boys. This part reminded me of the Ghost Bird Academy series with Sang by CL Stone. Loyal was a fun YA read that has something for everyone from High school experiences, boarding school hijinks, spy adventures and reverse harems. I am now looking forward to starting the Zara Chronicles journey as they are currently up to Book #12 which was recently released.
2/5/23- *Note to self: You raised your previous rating from two stars to three because you enjoyed this series enough to read it three times. Even if the writing isn't spectacular, it's obviously good enough to keep bringing you back.
7/7/24- *Note to self: See review for the second book in this series. You lied to yourself, Kate. It's not good.
Sometimes I go into a book wondering why i started it to begin with. And, like a bad movie I just can't stop. Review for books 1 to 4
These books are a contemporary RH that is very similar to The Academy Ghost Bird series by CL( I HATE HATE THOSE BOOKS. because the MC is in idiot who has deep psycho issues , but her guy friends thinks she ready for a relationship with 7 guys!!)
okay enough of that rant. this series is SLIGHTLY better than CL books. I kinda like Zara and kinda like the guys around her. To be honest after book 1 i skimmed through the other books. Nothing MAJOR happens and i hope this book wont be moving along slowly like the CL books.
Also I do like insta-love on occasion! In this one I am not a fan of it. its just to much and doesnt seem natural. On top of that everyone things she is sooooo special for things she can do - which are not that special.
Would I read book 5, maybe , but I'll probably skim through it. IF this is ur first RH book do yourself a favor and read the best RH book series The Veil Diaries. That was my first RH genre book and that realllllllly set the standards for the other RH books I have read this past year. RH is a hard genre to right. You really have to make not only a good story, but set up a great friendship first between the main girl and the guys.
These books are free on Amazon KU. if they werent I wouldn't waste my time.
Somebody reviewed this series and said it’s a cross between Disney’s Spy Kids and the Ghost Bird Academy. series. That reviewer is absolutely correct. The name of the school is silly. Spy School, really?! I know the genre is young adult but I’m thinking this is aimed more at sixth graders. And, each book in the series is fewer than 100 pages. It took me less than two hours to read all three of them.
But on the upside, there is something sweet about these three books. With the exception of some mean girls who are very minor characters, everybody in the story is very likeable. And unlike many reverse harem storylines, there is absolutely no swearing at all and no sex. It’s a slow burn romance. The furthest these characters are probably going to go is sharing kisses.
I was hoping that these books would help me get over my ghost bird addiction but that’s not going to happen. As I said, these books are too short and the story line is rushed, as is the relationship between the six major characters.
I forgot to mention that even though CL stone is the better writer you can’t help but notice the similarities between the Zara Chronicles and the ghost bird series. It would be great if CL stone had some competition, it might make her produce faster. Unfortunately, this series isn’t it.
The story idea was good but for teenagers, the story went on way to fast. They’re juniors in high school and they are already saying “oh she’s the girl of my dream” and she’s already catching feelings under the first 5 days. I understand that this is a story but still, make it a little bit believable. how do you want me to believe this when all of us know it would never happen in real life. Story is still good and im still curious about what happens in the next book but i have to say that im disappointed in how the author made the teenagers seems so corny and how fast she made the group fall for each other
This was BAD. There's no other way to describe it. The worst thing is that it is lazy. It is like a first sketch of the novel, giving us just the bare bones of the plot without any of the hearty meat.
Our completely forgettable main character is a girl named Zara, who is basically a Mary Sue except for the fact that she is short for her age and can't fight like others trained at spy school. She knows noting about spy school, but she is seemingly perfect upon arrival. She talks to a sum total of 6 students at this school, 5 of whom are boys and take her into her team. The sixth is her roommate, who is depicted as a snarky and jealous girl who has nothing good to say to her. Actually she does have a conversation of sorts with two girls in the restroom about the guys she is hanging out with. It doesn't go any better.
The whole novel is chock full of this 'I'm-not-like-the-other-girls' energy. If it wasn't obvious enough, one of the boys even says that to Zara. This is a dated trope by now, and I suspect even young girls know enough to see through this sexist bs. I have no problem with the MC being special. Just don't put down every other character to make it happen.
I don't like how quickly the relationship between the team developed. It's way too quick. And there is something clumsy and awkward about the dialogue between them. They sound like archetypes instead of fleshed out characters. This is how I expect people to talk when their therapist guides them to speak to each other. The boys also spend way too much time telling Zara she is beautiful and amazing. It's annoying. If she is beautiful and amazing, please show it in the plot? Don't just repeatedly tell us readers without proving it anywhere. Even one incident of her showing off her skill in any classroom would have sufficed. And doing high school calculus a little faster is NOT amazing.
It's pretty sad how this book doesn't deliver on any of its premises. We don't see enough of spy school, even though that would be an AMAZING setting for a story. We don't meet enough of her teachers or other spies. The main plot of the story is centred around finding out who recommended Zara to enter the school, and it is fairly straightforward and predictable.
I guess my main let down is that I came to this story excited to find another novel series as good as the Gallagher girls, only to find one that falls so far short of expectations. I wouldn't recommend this to any of my friends. It isn't insultingly bad, in hindsight, but it genuinely has no value worth recommending.
Who is rating this five stars? It reads like fan fic that is a mix between Disney's Spy Kids and CL Stone's Ghost Bird. The plot is based on horrible cliches. What little character development there is also cliche heavy. I know when I get shipped off to spy school for my junior year of high school, I'm totes cool and go with the flow. I'm sorry did I say spy school? Because it's mercenary school. When you are trying to be a spy without an affliction to a country, as the kids in this series are, you are a mercenary. And what good parents don't ship their 13 year old off to mercenary boarding school! Oh you know what also makes total sense, immediately falling in love with a 17 year old and planning your life together as a group of one girl and five guys at 17. I guess that's just what mercenary teens do, you know when they aren't staying at home with their movie star mom (who is actually a Grammy award winning artist who what? Gave that up? ) because they can't hurt her feelings to move in with their dad despite the mom abandoning them for months at a time. It was 89 pages, your couldn't handle continuity for 89 pages. So bad.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
A great start to a read that feels like a mix of James Bond meet Spy Kids. The characters are vibrant, colourful and have only one interest, learning everything they can at the School, that is until she shows up. Petite, beautiful, clever and courageous she goes head to head against her fears. But how did she end up at the school? No-one knows until the boys get her in to hack into the school records. She is there because a living legend has asked for her to be there. Although extremely bright her physical powers are nonexistent. The group of five boys take her under their wing. Causing a lot of back chat from the rest of the students. Now she is on her first mission with the boys and the mysterious chaperone. The one that got her into Spy School.
The writing is very juvenile and needs more editing. There’s not much character building and the story seems to progress with very little detail. I can’t invest myself in the characters or even storyline. Simple details on things like the school, besides it being big, I don’t know much. Zara seems too over the top to be relatable... she’s advanced in math (most academia), acting, dance, yoga and accents... who masters accents? And she’s supposed to be relatable? And come on... spy school? That’s really what it’s called? Not much of a ‘spy’ school if everyone knows what the school is for. I was looking forward to fun easy RH read. But was very disappointed. Loved the cover but that’s about it.
I love books like this...short, sweet, kinda exciting and the beginning of what will likely be a slow-burn RH series. Zara got shipped off to Switzerland at the beginning of her junior year with no notice. So as the new kid, it’s always stressful trying to fit in, especially when the school is so much different from where you had been and when all the other students have been together since freshman year. Thankfully, five amazing guys in her year take her under their wing and she really starts to enjoy her new school and new friends.
Loyal is just the first novella in the Zara Chronicles. It’s a slow burn contemporary RH, set at a Spy School in Switzerland. Now Zara is shipped off to this boarding school in the last couple years of high school, this school is prestigious and predominantly for legacy students, it’s a wonder as to why Zara was accepted, read through to find out how Zara fits into this puzzle! Whilst I didn’t think this was outstanding, and I say this mainly because it’s predictable, I will continue to read the sequels and give an overall rating.
Well that was a marathon! I binged all 12 and I can finally take a breath. A sweet story with lots happening I just wish we got some more down time with Zara and the guys. It also would have been better to get to know the guys a bit more I feel like they all kinda rolled into one. The stalker plot wasn't done very well it just felt really manufactured and not thought out. You'd think after 12 books I'd know these characters really well but I feel like we barely breached the surface but oh well I enjoyed the series all the same.
Such a great start to a series. Little short for my taste but nonetheless great. Zara has the brains and the beauty and I cannot get enough of her being able to show up the sexy men she finds as spy school. She has an inner strength that will make you want to.know everything about her and the guys to meets are great as well each with their own special set of skills.
I dislike giving bad reviews- so good stuff: Who wouldn’t like a Spy School concept. I like how Zara isn’t afraid of much. The guys were fine too if a bit 2D. The bad- the writing style was immature and rushed- like a fan fiction piece. It lacked depth. Relationships were almost instant and conflict minor or resolved in a paragraph. It would be a better read with better character development, leave some mystery and build up, and more world building.
... and not well done, at that. Even for a serial, the so called relationships between Zara and the guys was way too rushed. Then there was the "character development" that was really just a series of monologues. Seriously, The Academy series by C. L. Stone that this author attempted to rip off was better written in all aspects, don't waste your time on a poor imitation.
As I’m reading I felt like this book was moving slow, but the next thing I know, I’ve finished it and moved onto the next one in the series.
High school can be a tricky time for girls, but to move to a new school, and be the odd one out?? Been there done that myself. But Zara is rescued by the guys!!
3.5 Stars. It was good, intriguing storyline. Needs a little editing, but the writing felt a little simplistic. Hard to explain, but it kinda felt like some of the way things were said was not in a way that I could see high schoolers talking, or that things were explained that I felt were obvious and unnecessary to explain. Maybe it’s just geared towards a younger audience. Still good though.
This was a really good first book. Negatives: too short and personally, not quite enough physical descriptions of the characters. Hopefully, in the next book, we will see a lot more character building. Positive: really great start and Zara, the main female lead, is not annoying.
This is my first book from this author. Very quick read. There were a few typos (I don’t lower ratings for typos, unless the book is chock full of them). It had a slight cheesy factor, but overall not bad for a fast paced read. The book had a space of about a week. My one thought was that Zara could have made at least one female friend in that time.
Zara is awesome! I loved how she wasn't completely perfext, she has flaws and that the guys like her because of that. She does in perfectly with get guys and they become a family in such an awesome way. Now on to the next book, so excited!
This book moves quickly. Has a great plot developing for the series and great lead characters. I love reading books with people you would actually like to be around. All in all well worth reading!
Loyal follows Zara as she begins her days at a boarding school meant to train spies. We are introduced to Zara, the guys and the school. We get to know them a bit and see how their days go. It's a rather short book, but interesting.
A great story about growing into a well adjusted human. These characters and the plot are enthralling, and I can't wait any longer to read the next book. Enjoy!
This book was amazing. I don't usually like books with a cliffhanger, and this one is a doozy, but since the next book is already out it isn't so bad. I really enjoyed all of the characters, and looks forward to learning more about them all.
I fell in love with all the characters right away and can't wait to read the next book to see what it going to happen to Zara and the guys with spy school!