Promising premise, horrible beginning, mediocre middle, cliched ending.

There were a couple of points in this book where I almost started to enjoy it; Ms. Bennett isn't a terrible writer its just that the whole thing is structured so badly I could never get into it. I kept getting distracted by things like a newly-introduced character's accent not being described until two entire pages later. The first third of the book suffers from tell-itis to such a horrifying degree that even our narrator comments on it; sadly, such clever self-reference does not advance the plot in a useful way. And I'm quite charmed by the narrative voice but it could have been love if only the rest of the book didn't make me so mad I could spit. Save your money, kids, maybe her next book will be better.

I received this book free from Penguin Random House for review. ( )

An intriguing glimpse into the world of the elite, full of wonderful twists and turns. ( )

I'm not a fan of foreshadowing, but this is a book where it's well done. Add in a cast of very interesting characters, some very chilling moments and a plot that's both twisty and full of action and you have a very satisfying read. Props for the well woven movie references throughout the book. ( )

So for me, Stags was just an OK read: one that I was initially very much looking forward to reading: Unfortunately, it didn't deliver the expected results and I found I enjoyed the idea behind this story more than it's actual execution.
This was in itself an interesting premise: Primarily a YA book Stags is an Elite boarding school steeped in tradition and elitism.
Our main girl Greer is a recent scholarship student at this prestigious establishment and she just wants to fit in with her new peers.
The main Clique at Greers new school are called the medievals: this unique group of privileged individuals stick to all things old world in there dress and reject the modern conveniences of the twenty-first century.



So there was such a heavy ominous undertone throughout this and the emphasis here is heavily on the class divide and the over-privilege of the upper classes compared to there working class peers. There is an almost bigoted elitist bias towards what they see as lesser individuals as if the accident of there birth makes them somehow superior in some way.
The venom towards anyone they perceive as reaching above there current station in life is absolutely shocking.
Poor Chanel a classmate of Greer's seems to get it heavily from these snobs mainly because her father is new money which is apparently worse than just being working class or a scholarship student.
She's stuck in an almost no man's land where she belongs to neither faction she just doesn't quite fit either mould.
Even the servants seem to share the popular attitude and bias.
So this is told exclusively from Greer's POV and Greer, Chanel and another student Shafeen: Indian royalty but who doesn't fit in either are invited to the estate of classmate Henry de Warlencourt along with his fellow medievals Cookson, Piers, Charlotte, Esme and Lara for a weekend of huntin, shootin, fishin.
So as I said intriguing; although that still wasn't enough to elevate this for me into a higher rating bracket.
The writing itself was fine if slightly over-descriptive and I did find myself bored and as a consequence skimming slightly.
I also found all the random movie references a bit bizarre and long winded.
I felt a lack of personal connection with the characters themselves and found they lacked depth and were a bit one-dimensional.
Greer herself seemed easily swayed by a pretty face in spite of the mountain of evidence revealed to her here.
I did find Shafeen an interesting character despite sharing similar backgrounds with the medievals he couldn't be more different in temperament and ideals.
The twist at the end of this did redeem things for me slightly it was a tad predictable but still a great finale.
This wasn't quite my thing but that's just me you might appreciate it more than I did.
I voluntary reviewed an Arc of S.T.A.G.S.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com ( )

So for me, Stags was just an OK read: one that I was initially very much looking forward to reading: Unfortunately, it didn't deliver the expected results and I found I enjoyed the idea behind this story more than it's actual execution.
This was in itself an interesting premise: Primarily a YA book Stags is an Elite boarding school steeped in tradition and elitism.
Our main girl Greer is a recent scholarship student at this prestigious establishment and she just wants to fit in with her new peers.
The main Clique at Greers new school are called the medievals: this unique group of privileged individuals stick to all things old world in there dress and reject the modern conveniences of the twenty-first century.



So there was such a heavy ominous undertone throughout this and the emphasis here is heavily on the class divide and the over-privilege of the upper classes compared to there working class peers. There is an almost bigoted elitist bias towards what they see as lesser individuals as if the accident of there birth makes them somehow superior in some way.
The venom towards anyone they perceive as reaching above there current station in life is absolutely shocking.
Poor Chanel a classmate of Greer's seems to get it heavily from these snobs mainly because her father is new money which is apparently worse than just being working class or a scholarship student.
She's stuck in an almost no man's land where she belongs to neither faction she just doesn't quite fit either mould.
Even the servants seem to share the popular attitude and bias.
So this is told exclusively from Greer's POV and Greer, Chanel and another student Shafeen: Indian royalty but who doesn't fit in either are invited to the estate of classmate Henry de Warlencourt along with his fellow medievals Cookson, Piers, Charlotte, Esme and Lara for a weekend of huntin, shootin, fishin.
So as I said intriguing; although that still wasn't enough to elevate this for me into a higher rating bracket.
The writing itself was fine if slightly over-descriptive and I did find myself bored and as a consequence skimming slightly.
I also found all the random movie references a bit bizarre and long winded.
I felt a lack of personal connection with the characters themselves and found they lacked depth and were a bit one-dimensional.
Greer herself seemed easily swayed by a pretty face in spite of the mountain of evidence revealed to her here.
I did find Shafeen an interesting character despite sharing similar backgrounds with the medievals he couldn't be more different in temperament and ideals.
The twist at the end of this did redeem things for me slightly it was a tad predictable but still a great finale.
This wasn't quite my thing but that's just me you might appreciate it more than I did.
I voluntary reviewed an Arc of S.T.A.G.S.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com ( )