This book was either a hit or miss.
Depends on your preferences. We might differ.
Well there was supposed to be so much going on given the thickness of the book and of course since it was written by two authors, it should’ve given you more.
The stories.
Illumen Hall is an elite boarding school. Tragedy strikes when the body of a student is discovered at their exclusive summer party – on her back is an elaborate tattoo of a magpie.
When new girl Audrey arrives the following term, running from her own secrets back home in America, she is thrown into solving the case. Despite her best efforts to avoid any drama, her new roommate Ivy was close to the murdered girl, and the two of them can’t help but get pulled in.
The two can’t stand each other, but as they are drawn deeper into the mystery of this strange and terrible murder, they will discover that something dangerous is at the heart of their superficially perfect school.
Welcome to The Magpie Society.
Less is more.
There was so much going around this book yet there’s nothing much to offer you.
The story of this book was based on a elite boarding school. A school so old, vintage and victorian but the kids would only learn the normal ordinary stuff. Yet nothing much to reveal the actual subject they’re learning there.
Maybe nothing so special I guess.
A tragic death took place yet there was so minimal suspense and thrilling feeling were caught.
Yet again, nothing so special here.
Andddd, that was it.
Nothing to expect maybe?
I’d loved to see if there’s a hidden agenda, a back-stabbing revelations, interesting study subjects or any secrets to the rusty old school that would make me feel “hook” to keep reading the rest of the book.
Bummer.
Honestly, I had a high expectation for this book.
Reading the quick blurbs, a tragic incident occurred among a high school student, a mysterious death, an unknown magpie markings, a hidden message.
Wow it sure was intriguing. At first.
But the overall stories, wasn’t as interesting as I thought it’s gonna be.
The story was flat and slow. If it was a graph, it would just go static without occurring drastic spikes or curves. Not much climax, minimal intense moments or twisting revelations.
As for a thriller and mystery genre, it as a let down.
The characters was flat and boring as well.
No background stories and just a little developments. Thus it fails to make an attachment for the readers thus it felt empty inside.
At least for me.
Kinda felt like those moments where you just read without any emotional role play took place.
Not to mentioned, I find that the main characters were annoying and irritating. Also I don’t really get the point why they made the characters despise each other at first, then moving on the parts where nothing of that related in the rest of the book.
It should’ve be more drama.
It would be much better if there would be any twist early in the book, the any emotional background stories about the characters and ending it with a much more intense cliffhanger.
That would definitely make me wanting to read the sequel more!
Oh Potter!
One thing that I had spotted on early in my reading was, the Harry Potter references.
I’m not sure whether this was only me, but so much of this book reminded me of the famous wizarding world.
More specifically, Harry Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets.
I mean, the old school, kinda resembles Hogwarts. Lots of high and busy staircases, yes the moving staircases. The boarding houses, the long tables in the main hall, the secrets passageway like the chamber the basilisk was in, a mysterious creature that was well known but no one talks about (magpie = basilisk), the name Dolores, Radcliffe.
There were so much of Harry Potter going on in this book and it provoked me into thinking that this lacks originality(?)
It would be much better if all of those references were taken down, replace it with somewhat new, refreshing, original or at least non-relatable content.
Because, come on, it’s Harry Potter we are talking about here. Of course anyone would noticed the resemblances.
How I wish they would really use the references well and established their own version of non-magical world.
Ending.
There was a little twist at the end. Which was supposed to keep you hooked and wanting more for the sequel.
I guess the graph kinda spiked a little bit, making a small cliffhanger element presence at least once or twice in the whole book.
But it felt like, they were pushing it. It doesn’t felt real and natural.
Because I know they’ve been dragging the story until the end, and just ended it with a sudden twist.
BUT STILL, I’m pretty curious to know the remaining mysteries regarding who is the culprit and more about this “Magpie Society”.
That would be the reason if I were to grab the sequel, which is coming soon on 2021.
So far, I’d rate this book for a total of 2/5 stars!
Thank you Times Reads for sending me this Review Copy in exchange for an honest and transparent review. This book is available in all bookstores!
p/s : “I am but a mirage, a figment, a fragment, a half finished portrait.”