At Branson Academy, brilliance is currency, secrets are weapons, and survival means knowing when you're being played.

When tech prodigy Mackenzie Fleming vanishes from Branson Academy, everyone assumes she ran. But her best friend Lucas Rambally knows better. Mackenzie was too careful. Too brilliant. And dangerously close to exposing something no one was meant to see.
 

As Lucas searches for answers, he uncovers a world of rivalries, secret alliances, and ruthless power plays. This isn’t just a missing person case. It’s a game. And someone is several moves ahead. Then Ivy Ishihara—a chess prodigy with a not-so-subtle crush on Lucas—starts delivering dire warnings disguised as strategy. Lucas realizes too late Mackenzie’s disappearance wasn’t the crisis. It was the opening move.
 

Now the clock is ticking. The board is set. And if Lucas makes the wrong move, he won’t just lose the game. He’ll be eliminated.

 

Named one of the Best Thrillers of the Year by BestThrillers.com, A Game of Malice is a dark academia YA thriller where the deadliest lessons aren't taught in the classroom.

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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

"Glede Browne Kabongo delivers a high-stakes thriller with A Game of Malice, an addictive blend of mystery, suspense, and psychological intrigue.” 
—Goodreads Review
 

“Engrossing, fast-paced, and full of twists you won’t see coming.”
—Bookbub Review

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“Fans of dark academia, psychological thrillers, and suspenseful whodunits will find much to enjoy in this expertly crafted novel. Kabongo’s masterful storytelling ensures that every chapter builds suspense, leading to a climactic finale that will leave readers breathless.”
—Goodreads Review

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"A razor-sharp YA thriller."
—NewInBooks.com

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“A complex and intense psychological thriller. It was so hard to put this book down, and I highly recommend reading it.”
—Bookbub Review

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​“This complex young adult thriller is an intense game of cat and mouse, where not everything is as it seems. This thrilling journey is a must-read for young adult fans.”
—Goodreads Review

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“A Game of Malice is a YA thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish…there really were many times when I felt my pulse race.”
—Bookbub Review

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"One of the best thrillers of the year."
—Bestthrillers.com Book Awards

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“The suspense in the book hooked me from the first page. This is definitely a five-star thriller that young adults will enjoy.”
—Goodreads Review