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Embassy Academy #1
Deadly First Day
Who knew that the first day at a new school could be deadly?
Embassy Academy, the elite private boarding school I’m being shipped off to wasn’t made for girls like me. Girls who are timid wallflowers.
It was made for bold, outspoken, cultured kids of the political elite. Rich. Privileged. Condescending.
Except for Ricardo, who looks at me like I'm a new flavor of ice cream he'd like to try, despite my cute bodyguard's disapproving stare. If only bratty girls and cute boys were my biggest problem.
When the academy's resident mean girl is killed on my very first day, their shimmering oasis becomes a pool of blood. The whispering gets louder. Quick glances become hard stares.
They’re looking for someone to blame. They’re looking at me.
Embassy Academy, the elite private boarding school I’m being shipped off to wasn’t made for girls like me. Girls who are timid wallflowers.
It was made for bold, outspoken, cultured kids of the political elite. Rich. Privileged. Condescending.
Except for Ricardo, who looks at me like I'm a new flavor of ice cream he'd like to try, despite my cute bodyguard's disapproving stare. If only bratty girls and cute boys were my biggest problem.
When the academy's resident mean girl is killed on my very first day, their shimmering oasis becomes a pool of blood. The whispering gets louder. Quick glances become hard stares.
They’re looking for someone to blame. They’re looking at me.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2019
150 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Emily Kazmierski
25 books98 followersEmily lives in sunny Southern California with her husband and two daughters. When she's not in her book dragon form devouring books, she can be found in the kitchen making homemade ice cream or baking something delicious. In addition to reading and writing, Emily loves watching police procedurals, playing with makeup, and cuddling with her two long-haired dachshunds Nestlé and Kiefer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 14, 2020
A lot of the books I read that take place at a school or boarding school almost always have some type of magic involved. It was so refreshing to have a book that had "normal" teenagers for once. Yes, there was a lot of politics, etc., but that actually made Deadly First Day so interesting. The story is well written, the pacing perfect and the plot kept me reading.
Our main character Adrienne is starting a new school when she goes to live with the father she doesn't really know. Her mother is off to Antartica for work, so her life is flipped upside down. I really enjoyed Adrienne as a character. She's really down to earth and her love of baking was a nice touch. A lot of the girls are worried about their looks and popularity, but she just wants to get through school.
At the beginning of the book, a student is brutally murdered on campus and definitely makes you dive right into the plot. I loved trying to put the puzzle pieces together to see who was responsible. The author had an interesting way of giving us little hints and bits of information leading us to the murderer. I have to say I figured it out before the big reveal, but that didn't make me enjoy this story any less.
Even though this is a mystery, I loved that the author also let us read about the day to day life. Not everything was about the murders. I think this was great, because it gave us a chance to get to know the characters a bit more. Friendship and family are important aspects in the characters' lives and she kept the balance between all of the relationships in this story.
I really enjoyed the side characters and hope to see a lot more of them in the next books in this series. Charlotte and Callahan are characters I really want to know more about. Besides the murder mystery, there is a little romance as well. Mikhail and Ricardo were such a fun characters and had me smiling while reading. I think this is the only thing I would've liked to have seen a little different. I needed just a little bit more interaction between these characters for a romance to evolve. It felt a bit fast. All in all, Deadly First Day was such a fun book and I'm looking forward to see where everything goes from here!
Our main character Adrienne is starting a new school when she goes to live with the father she doesn't really know. Her mother is off to Antartica for work, so her life is flipped upside down. I really enjoyed Adrienne as a character. She's really down to earth and her love of baking was a nice touch. A lot of the girls are worried about their looks and popularity, but she just wants to get through school.
At the beginning of the book, a student is brutally murdered on campus and definitely makes you dive right into the plot. I loved trying to put the puzzle pieces together to see who was responsible. The author had an interesting way of giving us little hints and bits of information leading us to the murderer. I have to say I figured it out before the big reveal, but that didn't make me enjoy this story any less.
Even though this is a mystery, I loved that the author also let us read about the day to day life. Not everything was about the murders. I think this was great, because it gave us a chance to get to know the characters a bit more. Friendship and family are important aspects in the characters' lives and she kept the balance between all of the relationships in this story.
I really enjoyed the side characters and hope to see a lot more of them in the next books in this series. Charlotte and Callahan are characters I really want to know more about. Besides the murder mystery, there is a little romance as well. Mikhail and Ricardo were such a fun characters and had me smiling while reading. I think this is the only thing I would've liked to have seen a little different. I needed just a little bit more interaction between these characters for a romance to evolve. It felt a bit fast. All in all, Deadly First Day was such a fun book and I'm looking forward to see where everything goes from here!
November 2, 2019
3.5
“Who’s Mikhail?” I call as I rush to follow her, averting my eyes to avoid the smiling faces in the vacation photos.
“He’s my driver slash bodyguard.”
“You have a bodyguard?”
This one was rather cute. Flawlessly executed Young Adult spy story.
I missed the depth in character development, but all in all, I loved it!
“Who’s Mikhail?” I call as I rush to follow her, averting my eyes to avoid the smiling faces in the vacation photos.
“He’s my driver slash bodyguard.”
“You have a bodyguard?”
This one was rather cute. Flawlessly executed Young Adult spy story.
I missed the depth in character development, but all in all, I loved it!
May 15, 2022
[REVIEW]
Suspense and mystery aren’t genres I typically reach for. Every year, though, I try to read a few books out of my comfort zone in hopes to expand my interests in genres and tropes. It’s worked before: For example, I didn’t read a lot sci-fi until I read The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. The series helped me learn what I want to read in future sci-fi books, which is when the genre is mixed with dystopian. Going into this murder mystery, I hoped it would help me in the same way—and it did! I’ve discovered that I enjoy murder mysteries when it has a sweet romance and characters who aren’t detectives, but have the determination to solve the case.
Anyway, on to the review...
•Can I just say Adrienne has the WORST luck her first semester? I just wanted her to be happy and bake her favorite things...without the fear of being arrested for murder lurking in the back of her mind. Seriously, I’m glad everything worked out for her in the end.
•I was worried Charlotte was going to be an evil stepsister, but I ending up LOVING HER! She’s a complex and determined character, and I look forward to reading her POV in Lethal Queen Bee.
•The family subplot was fascinating! I never thought about how children are affected when their parents are politicians. It frustrated me that Adrienne’s dad sometimes was more worried about his reputation than his daughter. At the same time, I get it. There are MANY people in the press who take advantage of anything wrong with celebrities/politicians, and it’s impossible to control them once they get their hands on it. It’s not a black and white situation, and Kazmierski pulled that off excellently.
•I was guessing the murderer the entire way through! Now I gotta read it again to pick up on the clues that Kazmierski cleverly hid throughout the story. How could I’ve NOT seen that coming?!
I look forward to reading more of Kazmierski’s books, and want to thank her for helping me find what I will like in future murder mystery reads! If you enjoy mysteries, characters who bake, and books about boarding schools, I recommend this book!
Suspense and mystery aren’t genres I typically reach for. Every year, though, I try to read a few books out of my comfort zone in hopes to expand my interests in genres and tropes. It’s worked before: For example, I didn’t read a lot sci-fi until I read The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. The series helped me learn what I want to read in future sci-fi books, which is when the genre is mixed with dystopian. Going into this murder mystery, I hoped it would help me in the same way—and it did! I’ve discovered that I enjoy murder mysteries when it has a sweet romance and characters who aren’t detectives, but have the determination to solve the case.
Anyway, on to the review...
•Can I just say Adrienne has the WORST luck her first semester? I just wanted her to be happy and bake her favorite things...without the fear of being arrested for murder lurking in the back of her mind. Seriously, I’m glad everything worked out for her in the end.
•I was worried Charlotte was going to be an evil stepsister, but I ending up LOVING HER! She’s a complex and determined character, and I look forward to reading her POV in Lethal Queen Bee.
•The family subplot was fascinating! I never thought about how children are affected when their parents are politicians. It frustrated me that Adrienne’s dad sometimes was more worried about his reputation than his daughter. At the same time, I get it. There are MANY people in the press who take advantage of anything wrong with celebrities/politicians, and it’s impossible to control them once they get their hands on it. It’s not a black and white situation, and Kazmierski pulled that off excellently.
•I was guessing the murderer the entire way through! Now I gotta read it again to pick up on the clues that Kazmierski cleverly hid throughout the story. How could I’ve NOT seen that coming?!
I look forward to reading more of Kazmierski’s books, and want to thank her for helping me find what I will like in future murder mystery reads! If you enjoy mysteries, characters who bake, and books about boarding schools, I recommend this book!
November 19, 2019
So this is off to a great start! A well written story that is fast paced and will keep you hooked and on your toes! The author has done a fab job laying the groundwork and the characters are realistic and I am enjoying watching them grow and develop. Twists and turns and romance and suspense makes this a very interesting read and I look forward to reading the next book!
May 22, 2024
Academy books are hugely popular at the moment and this one definitely grabbed my attention because unlike a large majority that features magical beings, this was about a girl who liked to cook.
Adrienne is the primary storyteller and she is likable. She gets thrown into a new type of world when she goes to live with her father and stepmother. I liked that for the most part the step-siblings weren't at each other and being totally horrible - it's nice to see that going in a different direction.
But, while I am on about storytellers, I'm not convinced that the switches in POV were needed. For instance, the first chapter is told from the POV of Na, who is promptly murdered. Then we get trust back into the past (but told in present tense) to see what led up to it. I get that the author wanted to provide the scene and perhaps have the reader sympathise with the victim, but honestly, I didn't care. I feel the story would have been stronger if Adrienne had led the book with chapter 2 and then have Na killed. This is because the author managed to show Na's two sides really well as the story progressed. Perhaps it's just a technique I don't like though.
Ricardo was a standout character - I admit it, I liked him from the beginning and he got all the good lines. He also provided a much-needed balance while the murder mystery/investigation we on.
As mentioned above this is very American-centric in terms that it included the processes and roles in politics that would be more familiar with those living in the United States of America than say Canada, Australia, etc. A few may get lost in this but the author does a good job of painting the picture.
The murder mystery itself was interesting but I did find some of the side storylines a little more engaging, but overall I would say it's a smart book in terms that it doesn't treat teens like they're clueless.
Adrienne is the primary storyteller and she is likable. She gets thrown into a new type of world when she goes to live with her father and stepmother. I liked that for the most part the step-siblings weren't at each other and being totally horrible - it's nice to see that going in a different direction.
But, while I am on about storytellers, I'm not convinced that the switches in POV were needed. For instance, the first chapter is told from the POV of Na, who is promptly murdered. Then we get trust back into the past (but told in present tense) to see what led up to it. I get that the author wanted to provide the scene and perhaps have the reader sympathise with the victim, but honestly, I didn't care. I feel the story would have been stronger if Adrienne had led the book with chapter 2 and then have Na killed. This is because the author managed to show Na's two sides really well as the story progressed. Perhaps it's just a technique I don't like though.
Ricardo was a standout character - I admit it, I liked him from the beginning and he got all the good lines. He also provided a much-needed balance while the murder mystery/investigation we on.
As mentioned above this is very American-centric in terms that it included the processes and roles in politics that would be more familiar with those living in the United States of America than say Canada, Australia, etc. A few may get lost in this but the author does a good job of painting the picture.
The murder mystery itself was interesting but I did find some of the side storylines a little more engaging, but overall I would say it's a smart book in terms that it doesn't treat teens like they're clueless.
March 12, 2022
Embassy Academy #1-3 . . .
Embassy Academy is a boarding school for the rich, privileged children of the elite where you might expect courses on international diplomacy and etiquette. But Book 1 dives right into a murder mystery when the academy's resident mean girl is killed on Adrienne’s first day and everyone looks for someone to blame. And Adrienne finds all of them looking right at her!
Titles included in this Trilogy are:
• Deadly First Day (Embassy Academy, #1)
• Lethal Queen Bee (Embassy Academy, #2)
• Killer Final Exams (Embassy Academy #3)
Lots of excitement to keep the reader’s interest. I really liked the stories and the pacing that never let your mind wander. The set also includes exclusive behind the scenes extras not found anywhere else, deleted scenes, and alternate story threads to give us something extra. The fun of having the box set like this is that you can keep on reading into the night if you get drawn into the stories and don’t want to stop reading. Enjoy!
Embassy Academy is a boarding school for the rich, privileged children of the elite where you might expect courses on international diplomacy and etiquette. But Book 1 dives right into a murder mystery when the academy's resident mean girl is killed on Adrienne’s first day and everyone looks for someone to blame. And Adrienne finds all of them looking right at her!
Titles included in this Trilogy are:
• Deadly First Day (Embassy Academy, #1)
• Lethal Queen Bee (Embassy Academy, #2)
• Killer Final Exams (Embassy Academy #3)
Lots of excitement to keep the reader’s interest. I really liked the stories and the pacing that never let your mind wander. The set also includes exclusive behind the scenes extras not found anywhere else, deleted scenes, and alternate story threads to give us something extra. The fun of having the box set like this is that you can keep on reading into the night if you get drawn into the stories and don’t want to stop reading. Enjoy!
November 18, 2019
I enjoyed this book it's a first for me by Emily and I enjoyed her style I will for sure check out book 2 when it becomes available this is well written and has great characters!
May 30, 2020
In “Deadly First Day” the first intriguing book in the “Embassy Academy” series opens when Adrienne’s mother, a biologist goes to Antarctica on assignment leaving her with her estranged father a State Representative and his family. All too quickly she’s bundled off to an elite and preppy boarding school with her stepbrother Callahan and stepsister Charlotte only to stumble upon a dead body in the bathroom on her first day. Shaken and unable to call for help, her shoes swimming in the pool of blood around the body, Adrienne finds herself the talk of the school and the chief suspect in a murder.
Well-written and action-packed the plot heats up when Adrienne begins investigating the mysterious death. Intensity and suspense escalate with clues to a drug dealing teacher, her stepbrother’s nightly excursions off campus and a political agreement that’s at an impasse. With twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, the plot progresses quickly and smoothly to a fascinating ending and the hint of a second novel.
Amid the engaging murder mystery romance seems to blossom between Adrienne and the flirtatious Ricardo Laguerre who is known for his interest in every new girl. But it’s Mikhail Sokolov the young Russian bodyguard who brings hot flashes to her face, although she believes him to be in love with her stepsister.
Infusing the story with tension and emotional upheaval are compelling characters like seventeen-year-old gentle, shy and caring Adrienne who loves to cook and has an impulsive streak; her stepsister the feisty, stubborn and competitive Charlotte Holt; her quiet, withdrawn and intense stepbrother Callahan Holt; the helpful, dramatic and flirtatious Ricardo Laguerre; and chauffeur//bodyguard, the good-looking, taciturn but kind and confident Mikhail Sokolov.
I thoroughly enjoyed the YA murder-mystery “Deadly First Day” with its fascinating plot and credible characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Well-written and action-packed the plot heats up when Adrienne begins investigating the mysterious death. Intensity and suspense escalate with clues to a drug dealing teacher, her stepbrother’s nightly excursions off campus and a political agreement that’s at an impasse. With twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, the plot progresses quickly and smoothly to a fascinating ending and the hint of a second novel.
Amid the engaging murder mystery romance seems to blossom between Adrienne and the flirtatious Ricardo Laguerre who is known for his interest in every new girl. But it’s Mikhail Sokolov the young Russian bodyguard who brings hot flashes to her face, although she believes him to be in love with her stepsister.
Infusing the story with tension and emotional upheaval are compelling characters like seventeen-year-old gentle, shy and caring Adrienne who loves to cook and has an impulsive streak; her stepsister the feisty, stubborn and competitive Charlotte Holt; her quiet, withdrawn and intense stepbrother Callahan Holt; the helpful, dramatic and flirtatious Ricardo Laguerre; and chauffeur//bodyguard, the good-looking, taciturn but kind and confident Mikhail Sokolov.
I thoroughly enjoyed the YA murder-mystery “Deadly First Day” with its fascinating plot and credible characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
April 17, 2020
I don’t remember how I came to borrow this on KU, but it was a fun read. There were a few things I didn’t love, but it turned into a book I didn’t want to put down.
It would have been nice to see a stronger main character. Adrienne was a bit of a doormat to her father, and the insta-family was a bit much. The book needs chapter breaks. We would be in one situation and then we’re thrown into another situation with no sort of warning which was confusing but an easy fix.
I liked that the book started with a murder and that Adrienne didn't sit idly by. Kazmierski did a good job of keeping the reader guessing. While I figured it out about 3/4’s in, I had no idea until then, and that made the guessing fun. I also liked the various love interests that were happening for Adrienne and Charlotte. I think Charlotte could play a bigger role in future books. I’m looking forward to the release of book 2.
It would have been nice to see a stronger main character. Adrienne was a bit of a doormat to her father, and the insta-family was a bit much. The book needs chapter breaks. We would be in one situation and then we’re thrown into another situation with no sort of warning which was confusing but an easy fix.
I liked that the book started with a murder and that Adrienne didn't sit idly by. Kazmierski did a good job of keeping the reader guessing. While I figured it out about 3/4’s in, I had no idea until then, and that made the guessing fun. I also liked the various love interests that were happening for Adrienne and Charlotte. I think Charlotte could play a bigger role in future books. I’m looking forward to the release of book 2.
April 6, 2020
This is a wonderful young adult academy book! The style and plot line remind me of Ally Carter books like “I’d tell you I love you, but then I’d have to kill you” series with fun characters and mysteries that need to be solved!
The first day that Adrienne joins an elite school, a student is found murdered and she’s the one who finds her! There’s lots of plot twists which I wont spoil, but this book is fast-paced with action and intrigue, while also letting the reader enjoy watching a normal teenage girl try to deal with real-life issues like living with an absent father, going to a new school, and getting to know her stepsister and stepbrother.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys YA mysteries and academy settings. The characters are likable and the plot is engaging and surprising.
The first day that Adrienne joins an elite school, a student is found murdered and she’s the one who finds her! There’s lots of plot twists which I wont spoil, but this book is fast-paced with action and intrigue, while also letting the reader enjoy watching a normal teenage girl try to deal with real-life issues like living with an absent father, going to a new school, and getting to know her stepsister and stepbrother.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys YA mysteries and academy settings. The characters are likable and the plot is engaging and surprising.
September 3, 2022
3.5⭐️
Adrienne is a 17-year-old girl who sees her life change when her mother sends her to live with her father, the Senator, with whom she has barely shared time growing up, his wife and her 2 stepbrothers. Together with them, she will begin to attend the Embassy Academy, a prestigious school attended by children of ambassadors from different countries and where politics, relationships and power are present.
To top it off, on the first day of school Adrienne is a witness in the murder of a student and she is pointed out as a possible culprit. So Adrienne will try to find the culprit and thus clear her name.
The story is fine, only there are times when it gets a little long, I expected a little more suspense, but even so, I'm going to read the following books since I grow fond of the characters.
Adrienne is a 17-year-old girl who sees her life change when her mother sends her to live with her father, the Senator, with whom she has barely shared time growing up, his wife and her 2 stepbrothers. Together with them, she will begin to attend the Embassy Academy, a prestigious school attended by children of ambassadors from different countries and where politics, relationships and power are present.
To top it off, on the first day of school Adrienne is a witness in the murder of a student and she is pointed out as a possible culprit. So Adrienne will try to find the culprit and thus clear her name.
The story is fine, only there are times when it gets a little long, I expected a little more suspense, but even so, I'm going to read the following books since I grow fond of the characters.
August 16, 2022
I was in a reading slump and this book got me out of it. I found it from a KU ad based on my reading you might like this, and it was correct. The premise reminded me of Ally Carter's novels and Killing November, which are all books that I loved. I couldn't put it down and texted my friend that she needed to read it too.
The mystery is well-paced, the character dynamics are fun, and there's enough romance to satisfy my romance trope needs without it becoming unrealistic hey there's a murderer on the loose but let's not worry about that because ~ boys ~.
I'm going to continue reading this trilogy and I'd definitely recommend it as a fun read to anyone, especially if you have KU.
The mystery is well-paced, the character dynamics are fun, and there's enough romance to satisfy my romance trope needs without it becoming unrealistic hey there's a murderer on the loose but let's not worry about that because ~ boys ~.
I'm going to continue reading this trilogy and I'd definitely recommend it as a fun read to anyone, especially if you have KU.
November 18, 2019
What a great start to a new series. The storyline is exceptional, the characters are interesting. The way the story flows will keep you turning the pages and wanting more.
April 15, 2020
This was a fun, interesting YA mystery with a very unlikely sleuth main character. I thought the story had a nice mix between mystery and regular high school drama (including all kinds of relationship drama- friends, family and romance), with a touch of politics thrown in for world building. The story starts out with a murder that the main character is inadvertently thrust in the middle of, and the solving of said murder was twisty and well done with lots of suspects and motivations without giving away who the actual killer was. The main character was so out of her element, a simple girl who has been thrust into a school full of wealthy, powerful kids and intense academics and competition- but she had baking to keep her sane and a cute body guard to pave the way. My favorite part of the story was the relationship between the step siblings- the main character has two step siblings she doesn't really know and now lives with, and I was expecting rivalry or bitterness, but instead there was support and care and I adored it. I will say that the romance in the story was a little off for me- keep in mind I fully support who her love interest happens to be, I just think the book didn't have them together very much to actually get to know each other (a love confession was made that I never saw develop) where as another character was given a lot of romance vibes so I was confused by the change.
Overall, this was an interesting read and I look forward to the next book in the series and more drama to come.
Overall, this was an interesting read and I look forward to the next book in the series and more drama to come.
August 3, 2022
Wow I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected. After not having much luck with many books on kindle unlimited I stumbled upon this little gem and despite thinking at first this was a spy novel, I was pleasantly surprised.
Our MC Adrienne is reunited with her estranged father and his step family when her mother is given the opportunity to go on a research trip to Antarctica. This subsequently leads to Adrienne’s enrolment into “Embassy Academy”, a elite boarding school for the children of ambassadors.
However, on Adrienne’s first day a student is mysteriously murdered and Adrienne placed as the main suspect, and Adrienne’s fears of being the new girl are the least of her worries…
Please do not read further if you have not read the book as they’re may be some spoilers :)
So what did I think of this book?
Plot: I absolutely loved it, Kazmierski balanced the tension and suspense of the murder with lovable characters, a 1920s themed swing club and a very cute bodyguard called Mikhail (did I mention that he’s Russian!).
My favourite characters:
I really liked Adrienne as a main character, unlike a lot of YA books i have read she did not come across as annoying or immature, she felt realistic and i honestly felt for her for her terrible luck, Kazmierski’s choice to write in 1st person giving us a direct look into her thoughts and feelings.
Another character I really loved was Charlotte, Adrienne’s stepsister. I liked the fact that the author did not pit the two stepsisters against each other like many other books I have read, Kazmierski fleshing out a complex character who broke the typical “evil, snobby stepsister” archetype. Although charlotte was initially a little cold towards Adrienne, it was fun watching the pair warm up to each other in the end, their contrasting personalities leading to many comedic moments and I can’t wait to read the next book written from her POV.
Ahh and now we have Ricardo “but my girlfriends call me Ricky”. The flirtatious and cheeky playboy of the academy, Ricardo provided brilliant comedic relief to provide a break from some of the more tense moments of the novel and enjoyed watching his and Adrienne’s friendship bloom (also, wooooo for giving allowing a male and female friend to simply just be friends, I feel this doesn’t happen in many books).
Overall thoughts?
Overall this was a fun YA read with a perfect balance of mystery, friendship and romance - I would definitely recommend.
I think fans of Karen McManus and Ally Carter would love this book as well as anybody who enjoys murder-mystery, boarding schools, characters who bake, sweet friendships and cute romances.
My rating?: Easily 5 stars
This is one of my first reviews, thank you for reading 😊
Our MC Adrienne is reunited with her estranged father and his step family when her mother is given the opportunity to go on a research trip to Antarctica. This subsequently leads to Adrienne’s enrolment into “Embassy Academy”, a elite boarding school for the children of ambassadors.
However, on Adrienne’s first day a student is mysteriously murdered and Adrienne placed as the main suspect, and Adrienne’s fears of being the new girl are the least of her worries…
Please do not read further if you have not read the book as they’re may be some spoilers :)
So what did I think of this book?
Plot: I absolutely loved it, Kazmierski balanced the tension and suspense of the murder with lovable characters, a 1920s themed swing club and a very cute bodyguard called Mikhail (did I mention that he’s Russian!).
My favourite characters:
I really liked Adrienne as a main character, unlike a lot of YA books i have read she did not come across as annoying or immature, she felt realistic and i honestly felt for her for her terrible luck, Kazmierski’s choice to write in 1st person giving us a direct look into her thoughts and feelings.
Another character I really loved was Charlotte, Adrienne’s stepsister. I liked the fact that the author did not pit the two stepsisters against each other like many other books I have read, Kazmierski fleshing out a complex character who broke the typical “evil, snobby stepsister” archetype. Although charlotte was initially a little cold towards Adrienne, it was fun watching the pair warm up to each other in the end, their contrasting personalities leading to many comedic moments and I can’t wait to read the next book written from her POV.
Ahh and now we have Ricardo “but my girlfriends call me Ricky”. The flirtatious and cheeky playboy of the academy, Ricardo provided brilliant comedic relief to provide a break from some of the more tense moments of the novel and enjoyed watching his and Adrienne’s friendship bloom (also, wooooo for giving allowing a male and female friend to simply just be friends, I feel this doesn’t happen in many books).
Overall thoughts?
Overall this was a fun YA read with a perfect balance of mystery, friendship and romance - I would definitely recommend.
I think fans of Karen McManus and Ally Carter would love this book as well as anybody who enjoys murder-mystery, boarding schools, characters who bake, sweet friendships and cute romances.
My rating?: Easily 5 stars
This is one of my first reviews, thank you for reading 😊
May 20, 2024
Embassy Academy: Deadly First Day by Emily Kazmireski is a coming of age story, along with some mystery. The book follows a girl named Adrienne. She is the daughter of a powerful senator, who is running for the next presidential election, and a researcher who is traveling to China. Her parents are separated, so it is odd for her when she is sent to her father’s to stay there and attend a fancy boarding school. The boarding school is filled with the children of ambassadors, diplomats, and powerful political figures. So, when on the first day of school Adrienne finds Li Na, the school’s mean girl and Adrienne’s stepbrother Calum’s ex-girlfriend, is brutally killed in the bathroom, it is a very big deal. While trying to navigate a new school and a criminal investigation, she struggles with many different aspects of her life. Throughout all of her ups and downs, she still has support from her friends and family.
March 27, 2022
3.75 stars
March 12, 2022
Plot Twist after Plot Twist …. and wonder Who-Done-It?🧐
Mystery, sleuthing and action make for a good set of books. When it involves spoiled, rich teenagers copping attitudes of wealth and privilege, something is bound to happen…. But murder … stalking … people disappearing?
Hmmmm….. these are not your normal, ordinary high school students. Their political connections are strong and that’s not always a good thing. There can be a price to pay for power.
But not all is about intrigue … well, when you think about it, a teenage crush or two certainly can be intriguing…. and humorous too. This set has it all …. a real who-done-it with laughter thrown in alongside a really, sneaky spy. Oops…. did I say SPY? Maybe I should say a naive, nosey, sleuth instead.
🤔 QUESTIONS 👁^👁 OBSERVATIONS
➦ Yes, I enjoyed reading these books. I loved the teenage antics alongside their sleuthing. However, there is a lot left to the imagination… a lot of questions and observations as I kept turning the pages of these interesting Who-Done-It books.
➦ For instance, how did a few high school students keep police at bay while they set out to solve crimes?
➦ Didn’t the ki11er wrap his hands around Na’s neck to cut off her breathing? Didn’t they do an autopsy and see that????
➦ Who is Charlotte’s and Cal’s father? Where is he and what is the backstory to the Senator and Adrienne’s mother?
➦ Hmmm, how could all that evidence discovered be overlooked by investigators, especially in Book 2
➦ How dense and naive can these teens be? I know they’re still in high school but if your life is threatened or a failed murder attempt on you, uhhhh, you run, don’t walk, but run to authorities.
➦ An excerpt: “Headmistress Morgan arrives with several of the security guards in tow. “We’re here to assess the scene,” she says, scowling at us. “With all of the accidents happening on this campus this year, there will be a thorough investigation.”….. Hmmmmm, you don’t say? A thorough police investigation is what would actually happen, not school security guards and administrators.
I received an advance copy of this boxset and am leaving my personal thoughts and opinions.
Mystery, sleuthing and action make for a good set of books. When it involves spoiled, rich teenagers copping attitudes of wealth and privilege, something is bound to happen…. But murder … stalking … people disappearing?
Hmmmm….. these are not your normal, ordinary high school students. Their political connections are strong and that’s not always a good thing. There can be a price to pay for power.
But not all is about intrigue … well, when you think about it, a teenage crush or two certainly can be intriguing…. and humorous too. This set has it all …. a real who-done-it with laughter thrown in alongside a really, sneaky spy. Oops…. did I say SPY? Maybe I should say a naive, nosey, sleuth instead.
🤔 QUESTIONS 👁^👁 OBSERVATIONS
➦ Yes, I enjoyed reading these books. I loved the teenage antics alongside their sleuthing. However, there is a lot left to the imagination… a lot of questions and observations as I kept turning the pages of these interesting Who-Done-It books.
➦ For instance, how did a few high school students keep police at bay while they set out to solve crimes?
➦ Didn’t the ki11er wrap his hands around Na’s neck to cut off her breathing? Didn’t they do an autopsy and see that????
➦ Who is Charlotte’s and Cal’s father? Where is he and what is the backstory to the Senator and Adrienne’s mother?
➦ Hmmm, how could all that evidence discovered be overlooked by investigators, especially in Book 2
➦ How dense and naive can these teens be? I know they’re still in high school but if your life is threatened or a failed murder attempt on you, uhhhh, you run, don’t walk, but run to authorities.
➦ An excerpt: “Headmistress Morgan arrives with several of the security guards in tow. “We’re here to assess the scene,” she says, scowling at us. “With all of the accidents happening on this campus this year, there will be a thorough investigation.”….. Hmmmmm, you don’t say? A thorough police investigation is what would actually happen, not school security guards and administrators.
I received an advance copy of this boxset and am leaving my personal thoughts and opinions.
April 27, 2020
What a unique blend of murder mystery/suspense/ sleuthing. The plot line moves at a good pace and right off the bat pulls you into the mystery. The characters are well written and realistic. They could even be any number of people you went to school with. This makes for a good connection with the reader and the characters and serves to further draw the reader into the story. I really enjoy when a story is fresh and hasn't been done before and this one knocks it out of the park. It has a little bit for everyone so even if you are into a particular genre this one has something for you.
November 19, 2020
Embassy Academy: Deadly First Day by Emily Kazmierski is a wonderful story to read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series written by a brand new author for me to read. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading abut romance and mysteries.
I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.
March 12, 2022
The Embassy Academy Trilogy shows the view of different characters. In the beginning I wanted to see more from the first main character, but in end I really liked getting to know everyone. I could not saw which book I liked best. All have some points that were the best for me. In the beginning I only thought it would be a mystery book, but it is so much more. There is also the theme of the politic affairs and that I really loved. For me it could have a lot more of these politic aspects. I flew through these 3 books in less than 2 days. So I think that says everything. Its reminds me a bit of the book fixer from Jennifer barnes with a bit more mystery.
I would definitely recommend this book for fans from mystery and tv shows like scandal.
I would definitely recommend this book for fans from mystery and tv shows like scandal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2022
This was a good book got to read I will highly recommend it to anyone. Such an amazing author too. Emily writes amazing books I'm definitely a huge fan of hers.
January 31, 2020
I picked this up looking for a good mystery and was not disappointed. First day of new school and Adrienne finds a body! The story was quick to get into and a read you won't want to put down. I was hooked with Charlotte and all the other characters. The writing was an engaging twist of a read and I loved it. Will be looking forward to the next book in the series, highly recommended!
January 2, 2020
Our heroine is a bit of a fish out of water. While her father is a powerful politician, she tries to avoid all that which makes her stand out at her new academy and the perfect patsy when a classmate ends up dead.
This is the start of a young adult academy mystery series. I love the spying and mystery but am so-so on academy stories, so I wasn't sure how this one would turn out. My answer: quite well. I found the story to be well written and easy to read with a cast of interesting and fun characters. Many of them are very stereotypical of what you would expect in an academy story, but there were some fresh faces as well which provided a welcome bit of variety. I really liked our heroine and how she stood out from the crowd, not like the snooty classmates. The mystery also had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing which made the story for me. Overall, a very enjoyable read.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is the start of a young adult academy mystery series. I love the spying and mystery but am so-so on academy stories, so I wasn't sure how this one would turn out. My answer: quite well. I found the story to be well written and easy to read with a cast of interesting and fun characters. Many of them are very stereotypical of what you would expect in an academy story, but there were some fresh faces as well which provided a welcome bit of variety. I really liked our heroine and how she stood out from the crowd, not like the snooty classmates. The mystery also had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing which made the story for me. Overall, a very enjoyable read.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
November 3, 2019
So I received an ARC of this book and decided to check it out because the premise sounded pretty cool. I'm sure that's the same reason you're checking out this review, but when I decided to review there was no one to tell me if I'd like it or not so let me tell you my reader friend - It's effing good! The writing is very seamless. I never felt lost in a scene or confused about the plot. Like the author definitely took her time going over and polishing this book. I read all 341 pages each night over the course of 4 nights. And let me tell you if I"m not interested in a book I may stop before I get to the middle and put it down for a month or so, but this had me hooked. I really hope she has a second one and makes this a long series because she writes for the underdog and we don't have enough books like this out there.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 15, 2019
Rich kids, mystery, and murder - a pretty scrumptious combo, especially with the added intrigue of money and politics. This was a great storyline but I do have to say that the main character (Adrienne) was beyond annoying to me. She seemed to spend a lot of time making bad decisions/choices and as someone who always carefully weighs my actions, I couldn’t relate. Despite how unlikeable she was to me, I did appreciate the twists and turns the story offered. And I only partially guessed the big reveal - there was a nice twist at the end that I didn’t see coming, which was refreshing. Overall it was an enjoyable read! 3.5 stars
February 1, 2022
Great Read!
We start out with a shocking beginning just to get thrown back fours days. Which is a freak hook! I read through this so quickly! I loved all the drama and mystery. Sadly I discovered who done it early on, which is why I typically don’t read mystery books. But I read the description and thought I’d give it a go. I loved the writing, some things were a bit lacking but overall a great read to sit down and enjoy!
We start out with a shocking beginning just to get thrown back fours days. Which is a freak hook! I read through this so quickly! I loved all the drama and mystery. Sadly I discovered who done it early on, which is why I typically don’t read mystery books. But I read the description and thought I’d give it a go. I loved the writing, some things were a bit lacking but overall a great read to sit down and enjoy!
October 22, 2019
This book has all the elements one could ask for--mystery, action, magic, intrigue, emotional rollercoasters, romance...There were great character development and depth that they felt relatable and real and I liked the author's writing style.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 5, 2019
Awesome Academy!
I really enjoyed this one. The romance was low key but I was keen to find out what would happen between the two MC's. I loved the premise of the book and it definitely lived up to expectations. Hope the next book comes out soon!
I received an ARC copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this one. The romance was low key but I was keen to find out what would happen between the two MC's. I loved the premise of the book and it definitely lived up to expectations. Hope the next book comes out soon!
I received an ARC copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 13, 2021
I'm working on editing this book baby, and she's shaping up to be a beauty! She's got snobby rich kids, a shy and not rich new girl, questionable step siblings, some kissing, and, oh yeah, a murder. Dun dun dun!
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