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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
I have a thing for books set in boarding schools. There's something about the history, the snobbery, and always the secret societies that engrosses me. Knowing that STAGS was set in a boarding school and having seen the comparisons to Donna Tartt's The Secret History, I knew I had to read it immediately.
The story follows Greer, an average girl who gains a scholarship to the prestigious STAGS academy. It is basically a prep school for Oxford, and it's full of posh, luddite students who eschew technology and love "huntin', shootin', and fishin'." Take me back to Brideshead Revisited, why don't you? I love it. I also love that Greer, like myself, is a cinephile. Perhaps in lieu of a personality (for me and for Greer, let's be real) she is constantly referencing films she has seen and relating every moment of her life to the movies. Maybe even as much as the private school setting did I love the perfect framing of scenes from the book as scenes from films I've watched.
The plot of the book is juicy. Greer is invited on a weekend hunting trip with the elite of her peers and ends up playing the role of the young sister in a retelling of the Bluebeard story. That is, she has every reason to distrust these evil rich and especially the handsome Evilist Rich, but she naively ignores her better judgment. As in the Bluebeard story, she explores a manor full of doors and secrets and uncovers the truth of the "huntin'" trip in a forbidden room. It's all riveting until that happens, and then it becomes a little frustrating. Instead, the falling action drags a bit as it paves the way for book two.
My qualms with this story are beholden to its status as a YA novel: the writing is not as dark and beautiful as Donna Tartt's, there are pandering references to things that teens like (Vine and YouTube challenges are mentioned), and at times I just felt myself craving more. But that's really a me problem. Overall, this is a wonderful retelling of the Bluebeard story that functions as the first steps down a rabbit hole of a sequel that nearly promises to be bigger and darker. It's fun, readable, and I did enjoy my experience reading STAGS.
The story follows Greer, an average girl who gains a scholarship to the prestigious STAGS academy. It is basically a prep school for Oxford, and it's full of posh, luddite students who eschew technology and love "huntin', shootin', and fishin'." Take me back to Brideshead Revisited, why don't you? I love it. I also love that Greer, like myself, is a cinephile. Perhaps in lieu of a personality (for me and for Greer, let's be real) she is constantly referencing films she has seen and relating every moment of her life to the movies. Maybe even as much as the private school setting did I love the perfect framing of scenes from the book as scenes from films I've watched.
The plot of the book is juicy. Greer is invited on a weekend hunting trip with the elite of her peers and ends up playing the role of the young sister in a retelling of the Bluebeard story. That is, she has every reason to distrust these evil rich and especially the handsome Evilist Rich, but she naively ignores her better judgment. As in the Bluebeard story, she explores a manor full of doors and secrets and uncovers the truth of the "huntin'" trip in a forbidden room. It's all riveting until that happens, and then it becomes a little frustrating.
Spoiler
Perhaps because I had wished for the unveiling of a cult and an exploration of its deeply sinister rituals, I was a bit let down that the book never went that way, except to set up a sequel (which my hopes will now carry to).My qualms with this story are beholden to its status as a YA novel: the writing is not as dark and beautiful as Donna Tartt's, there are pandering references to things that teens like (Vine and YouTube challenges are mentioned), and at times I just felt myself craving more. But that's really a me problem. Overall, this is a wonderful retelling of the Bluebeard story that functions as the first steps down a rabbit hole of a sequel that nearly promises to be bigger and darker. It's fun, readable, and I did enjoy my experience reading STAGS.
Fishin' is where it picks up and it gets the third star. Very slow though.
The premise of this sounded SO GOOD - dark secrets of the privileged attendees of a boarding school - but the execution left much to be desired.
The tone of the book was somewhat confusing, as it reads as though the main character Greer is looking back on events of the past. The pacing was odd too. Was this supposed to be a thriller? Because revealing the crime that is committed in the first chapter really ruined the suspense for me.
Greer, the main character was so naive. Over and over again she talked about what a bad guy Henry was, only to be taken in by his charms again and again. There was no character development to Henry. He was flat and dull, with none of the charm apparent that Greer gushed over. The whole time I was reading, I kept thinking, “well, DUH!” The mistakes that Greer made were that obvious. She was so blindly trusting. Also, the villain revealed was so obvious. Ugh. And why didn’t they go to the police?????
The other thing about Greer that irritated me was her constant references to movies. A couple of them would have been okay (the one about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was actually pretty clever) but after a while, they became annoying. They started happening more and more frequently, and Greer started giving spoilers. I’ve never seen The Fault in our Stars, but I guess I don’t need to now because Greer told me how it ended. The worst one was when she went on and on and on about the ending to Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows. I’ve seen the movie and it still annoyed me that the ending was spoiled. I think the constant references to movies were supposed to show how “different” she was from the other kids, because they didn’t use technology, but it was actually pretty annoying.
This was trying too hard to be The Most Dangerous Game. Trying, and failing.
There was a cliffhanger, but I’m not vested enough to keep reading.
The tone of the book was somewhat confusing, as it reads as though the main character Greer is looking back on events of the past. The pacing was odd too. Was this supposed to be a thriller? Because revealing the crime that is committed in the first chapter really ruined the suspense for me.
Greer, the main character was so naive. Over and over again she talked about what a bad guy Henry was, only to be taken in by his charms again and again. There was no character development to Henry. He was flat and dull, with none of the charm apparent that Greer gushed over. The whole time I was reading, I kept thinking, “well, DUH!” The mistakes that Greer made were that obvious. She was so blindly trusting. Also, the villain revealed was so obvious. Ugh. And why didn’t they go to the police?????
The other thing about Greer that irritated me was her constant references to movies. A couple of them would have been okay (the one about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was actually pretty clever) but after a while, they became annoying. They started happening more and more frequently, and Greer started giving spoilers. I’ve never seen The Fault in our Stars, but I guess I don’t need to now because Greer told me how it ended. The worst one was when she went on and on and on about the ending to Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows. I’ve seen the movie and it still annoyed me that the ending was spoiled. I think the constant references to movies were supposed to show how “different” she was from the other kids, because they didn’t use technology, but it was actually pretty annoying.
This was trying too hard to be The Most Dangerous Game. Trying, and failing.
There was a cliffhanger, but I’m not vested enough to keep reading.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After being enrolled into the elite boarding school known as STAGS on a scholarship, Greer MacDonald isn't expecting to being accepted by her schoolmates. Most of the other pupils come from privileged backgrounds and Greer just doesn't fit in. So when an envelope arrives under her dorm door inviting her to a weekend away with the Medievals, she jumps at the chance. The Medievals are the unofficial Prefects of the school, a group of 6 students who come from the richest and most prestigious families. The Medievals truly run the school and to be accepted by them, would elevate any pupil from regular to elite status.
Arriving at Henry de Warlencourt's manor, Greer attempts to settle in for a weekend of huntin', shootin', fishin'. But it's clear this isn't her world. On the first night, she discovers that fellow outcasts Shafeen and Chanel have been invited and starts to relax slightly. But the next day, when the group go huntin', Chanel gets spooked and Greer finds her hiding away. Chanel claims that the Medievals and their hounds were hunting her. Greer initially doesn't believe her. But what if she's telling the truth? What if she's next??
I've had this book on my physical bookshelf at home for far too long. I've wanted to read it for years but just never got round to picking it up. The concept of boarding school elite kids hunting other kids for sport was fascinating to me. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me. I don't quite know what was off about it, but I was bored for most of the book. That's never a good thing when reading a mystery thriller.
Also, I hated the main character, Greer. For someone so smart, she really was so bloody stupid. For example,
Such a disappointment :/
Arriving at Henry de Warlencourt's manor, Greer attempts to settle in for a weekend of huntin', shootin', fishin'. But it's clear this isn't her world. On the first night, she discovers that fellow outcasts Shafeen and Chanel have been invited and starts to relax slightly. But the next day, when the group go huntin', Chanel gets spooked and Greer finds her hiding away. Chanel claims that the Medievals and their hounds were hunting her. Greer initially doesn't believe her. But what if she's telling the truth? What if she's next??
I've had this book on my physical bookshelf at home for far too long. I've wanted to read it for years but just never got round to picking it up. The concept of boarding school elite kids hunting other kids for sport was fascinating to me. Unfortunately, this book just didn't work for me. I don't quite know what was off about it, but I was bored for most of the book. That's never a good thing when reading a mystery thriller.
Also, I hated the main character, Greer. For someone so smart, she really was so bloody stupid. For example,
Spoiler
after Henry woos her after Chanel's incident, she really believes that he's going to dump his beautiful rich girlfriend and possibly marry Greer instead, despite the fact they come from very different backgrounds and they've never spoken to each other before this weekend, and even when all the evidence is in front of her that the Medievals want to harm the 'outcasts', she's still like but noooo, this guy is different, he gets me, he wouldn't harm anyone. Honestly! She was just annoying character. Oh, and she was one of those girls that's beautiful, but doesn't believe she's beautiful, so every character needs to tell her she's beautiful, but she's not, but she really is, she just can't see it. Yawn.Such a disappointment :/
I don't know why but I expected this book to be about something completly different than it actually was.
You know, when I heard "deadly weekend", "boadning school", "country manor" and "bloodsports" I imagined this to be about 9 people getting stranded in some old manor and a psycho killer killing them one by one. Or at least a psycho killer killing two or three of them and omg who's the killer, is it someone we know?
What I got here boring privileged kids with no distinctive treats - they're all extremely posh, I swear to God all the girls are exactly the ame (exept for Lara, who's Russian) and all the three boys are exactly the same (except for Piers, the other two are both names Henry, jesus christ EYE ROLL).
Those white privileged kids
The main character, Greer, was interesting at the beginning, I found it fun and refreshing that she was so much into movies (and not into books like they all are with Jane Eyre and Wuthering heights reading in one scene but besides that never be seen with a book ever again - Bella Swan, I'm looking at you), but that got old pretty fast, tbh - she was referencing movies every two pages or so (no, I'm not exaggerating) and OMG YOU LIKE MOVIES, I KNOOOOOOW, JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!
Also, if you're referencing a movie just to avoid explaining the situation and make it more clear but then you have to explain the movie plot, then it's a bit redundant, don't you think?
As I said, I was happy with Greer at the beginning, she seemed smart and inteesting, but then she fell for a boy who's clearly not right in the head and i lost all respect for her.
He smiled and sort of rubbed his hand up and down the top of my arm. I hate to admit that I kind of liked it. I guess you can't just switch off feelings, even if the boy you thought you liked is a homicidal maniac.
Can't you, though?
I MEAN, CAN'T YOU REALLY, GREER!?
I lost all my respect for her after that line.
The ending is not surprising AT ALL.
It's a mystery YA novel, so cooomeeee on
Considering the fact our little trio was in a school for super smart people one could expect them to figure that all out sooner.
Also, omg just STOP WITH THIS FORESHADOWING! It stopped being fun after first 3207843578 times.
Ok, conclusion:
I started writing this review with three stars in my mind - it wasn't the best book I've read but it was fairly decent, but then I started to think about it and I just can't give it more than two.
I just don't think it's fair for the rest of three star reads.
You know, when I heard "deadly weekend", "boadning school", "country manor" and "bloodsports" I imagined this to be about 9 people getting stranded in some old manor and a psycho killer killing them one by one. Or at least a psycho killer killing two or three of them and omg who's the killer, is it someone we know?
What I got here boring privileged kids with no distinctive treats - they're all extremely posh, I swear to God all the girls are exactly the ame (exept for Lara, who's Russian) and all the three boys are exactly the same (except for Piers, the other two are both names Henry, jesus christ EYE ROLL).
Those white privileged kids
Spoiler
are "hunting" and/or killing off the less fortunate for no apparent reason except for idk.. boredom? I'm not into this whole secret society thing, because even secret society things have to have some kind of rules and reasoning besides "hey, let's kill some poor bastards and make it look like a hunting accident just because we can... muahahaha... evil laughThe main character, Greer, was interesting at the beginning, I found it fun and refreshing that she was so much into movies (and not into books like they all are with Jane Eyre and Wuthering heights reading in one scene but besides that never be seen with a book ever again - Bella Swan, I'm looking at you), but that got old pretty fast, tbh - she was referencing movies every two pages or so (no, I'm not exaggerating) and OMG YOU LIKE MOVIES, I KNOOOOOOW, JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!
Also, if you're referencing a movie just to avoid explaining the situation and make it more clear but then you have to explain the movie plot, then it's a bit redundant, don't you think?
As I said, I was happy with Greer at the beginning, she seemed smart and inteesting, but then she fell for a boy who's clearly not right in the head and i lost all respect for her.
He smiled and sort of rubbed his hand up and down the top of my arm. I hate to admit that I kind of liked it. I guess you can't just switch off feelings, even if the boy you thought you liked is a homicidal maniac.
Can't you, though?
I MEAN, CAN'T YOU REALLY, GREER!?
I lost all my respect for her after that line.
The ending is not surprising AT ALL.
It's a mystery YA novel, so cooomeeee on
Spoiler
trusting an adult can not end well, don't you think? The second they went to see the abbott and he was all like "oh yeah, I trust you and I will do whatever you think is best and them I will make you, my cute little pumpking the prefects" I knew it was a wrong movie and he's on it as well.Considering the fact our little trio was in a school for super smart people one could expect them to figure that all out sooner.
Also, omg just STOP WITH THIS FORESHADOWING! It stopped being fun after first 3207843578 times.
Ok, conclusion:
I started writing this review with three stars in my mind - it wasn't the best book I've read but it was fairly decent, but then I started to think about it and I just can't give it more than two.
I just don't think it's fair for the rest of three star reads.