ACCEPTED : BOOK REVIEW SNIPPET

FICTION : '' ACCEPTED By Matthew Lycakis. Self Published. '' Fame, Ambition and Manipulation.

A powerful debut novel merges suspense with emotional depth and captures the dangerous allure of acceptance in an age dominated by influence and image.

Matthew Lycakis is a crime-thriller author based in the Gold Coast of Australia, balancing a busy corporate career with writing.

With Accepted, his debut novel, he offers a dark and gripping narrative that dives headfirst into the sinister underbelly of Fame, ambition and manipulation.

The book serves as a dark commentary on the exploitation of youth and the piece of acceptance in a world driven by power, secrecy and social currency.

Set primarily in Gold Coast, Accepted, follows the journey of Kath Corrigan, a high school track star with Olympic dreams and a fractured family life. 

Narrated in the third person but often from Kath's perspective, the story open with familiar young adult themes - athletic ambition, teen popularity and family dysfunction. - but quickly pivots into a psychological thriller brimming with suspense and social critique.

Diving into the storyline, Kath is a student with a strong social media presence and seemingly bright future.

Her best friend Jasmine - another rising star - introduces her to '' The Group'', an elite secretive organisation masquerading as a talent management agency.

The Group offers luxury, be it private jets, designer clothes or exclusive parties. But the price is steep.

Kath soon finds herself entangled in a web of manipulation, abuse and coercion. Her identity is moulded to fit The Group's aesthetic and agenda, her privacy stripped away under constant surveillance and '' initiations ''.

Lycakis slowly peels away the glitzy facade to reveal a cult-like organization, exploiting vulnerable young talent for power and profit.

With a strong female lead, tight plotting and a haunting commentary on modern-day exploitation,  Accepted makes a compelling case for itself and is a must-read for students and fans of the contemporary thriller genre.

It is recommended for readers who enjoy stories that confront hard truths and explore the shadows lurking beneath the spotlight.

The World Students Society thanks Sara Danial.