Jake Highfield: Chaos Unleashed

by Alec Sillifant

Chaos runs through the dark night; head down, teeth clenched, eyes peeled. The rain lashes his face, thick clumps of mud fly up as he runs, but nothing will stop him discovering the dark secret of the Academy, nothing.

Alec Sillifant's first novel will drag you in and hold you hostage in a world of tension, fear, treachery and adventure, refusing to let you go. The ransom? A dare to make it through until the very last page. Enter the double life of Jake Highfield: school boy, operative, fugitive.

When the Academy turns against Jake, he finds himself outside of any authority, forced to put his training and his past to use in a deadly situation, tainted by corruption, where enemy and friend could be one and the same.

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

THe book has geat twists..I was addicted!!

[Aine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute espionage kind of story for YA , jake was an abandoned kid always getting in trouble. He was picked as the perfect kid to join a school who train these kids to be operatives for missions. Not much information is given on why this is or what the missions are. Jake gets targeted to vanish but he fights back and this draws out the bad guys for a finale fight. It was a quick read, cute story but not enough was explained.

[Jonathan Currinn (Good Star Vibes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book inside one of my many book boxes - which I'm trying to clear out - with total belief that this was a novel in a series of books, possibly the first one, and so to my complete surprise, when searching it up, I soon found out it was a stand-alone novel, so I knew I had to move it up on my list of TBRs.

We're first introduced to Chaos, a spy in the field but things don't quite go according to plan and he ends up messing up but still completing his mission.

We then shoot back in time by three years, meeting our protagonist Jake Highfield, who is a troubled teen, apparently being sent to a boarding school. Only this is no ordinary boarding school.

We soon jump back to present day and find out that Chaos is Jake Highfields's code name, and that there is something amiss at the school... It turns out that someone had planned for Chaos' mission to go wrong.

With twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat unable to turn the pages quick enough. Jake Highfield: Chaos Unleashed is a total must-read with an unforgettable storyline.

I just wish there was a sequel as I would love to return to this world. Not only that, I felt that Jake Highfield was too naïve at times although at other times he seemed more like he was in his 20's rather than a teenager. Some scenes weren't believable, either, but all in all, I couldn't help but love it, and I would so read it again.

[LibraryGirl2008 · Rating 4 out of 5]

When juvenile delinquent Jake Highfield is arrested yet again for some petty crime, the last thing he expects is to be recruited by the powers that be for his top-notch thieving skills—yet this is exactly what happens. In order to repay his debt to society, he is brought to St. Margaret’s, a special secret school that turns talented young lawbreakers into trained operatives, ready to risk life and limb for queen and country. Although Jake initially resists his integration into school-life, he soon settles down to a better life than he could have ever imagined. However, St. Margaret’s is not entirely what it seems. When rumors begin circulating that operatives are starting to disappear in the field, Jake doesn’t pay them much mind—until his best friend, Angel, finds evidence that suggests that he may be the next to vanish!

Chaos Unleashed is an entry that belongs to the “special school” genre of YA literature. Although the supporting cast leaves something to be desired, Jake and his friend, Angel, are finely drawn characters in this fast-paced novel. Recommended for fans of spy adventure, and Ages 15-Up.

[Orla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake is certainly an interesting character, yet the book falls apart despite this. The double crossing is never fully explained, leaving the reader confused, and the plot twists and turns in an almost predictable fashion - he almost loses, but manages in the end. The only reason I would give the book 3 stars is because it was enthralling, at points, and was well written, even if some of the science-y stuff seemed a little off.

[ree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Double crossing and mystery- combined with very unique and well developed characters. Good stuff. I found myself sucked into every twist and turn the MC (Jake) took on his quest. Lots of action, and... I liked the villain. But, I'm weird, a book isn't fun to read without a good antagonist . Fun read!