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cosybookcorner's review
2.0
This was kind of fun, if far fetched, but I have to mark it down because I was so uncomfortable with certain elements:
Greer’s boyfriend and some of her friends are POC, and express to her how they feel targeted by behaviours, but Greer TOTALLY dismisses them - the author even makes out like Shafeen is completely paranoid and ridiculous for having these feelings.
This story discusses an institution that’s been around for 500+ years and basically lynches people - yet it DISMISSES concerns that there is a racial element at play, whilst simultaneously showing that POC have been targeted. It feels like the author is trying to make a statement, but doesn’t quite know how to tackle it? I just feel like ACE OF SPADES takes a similar premise and is far more successful in the execution, so I’d recommend that instead.
Also, teacher / student relationships AREN’T it. They’re not a cute vibe, especially if you’re not going to address the power imbalance or condemn the actions of the person in the position of power.
Greer’s boyfriend and some of her friends are POC, and express to her how they feel targeted by behaviours, but Greer TOTALLY dismisses them - the author even makes out like Shafeen is completely paranoid and ridiculous for having these feelings.
This story discusses an institution that’s been around for 500+ years and basically lynches people - yet it DISMISSES concerns that there is a racial element at play, whilst simultaneously showing that POC have been targeted. It feels like the author is trying to make a statement, but doesn’t quite know how to tackle it? I just feel like ACE OF SPADES takes a similar premise and is far more successful in the execution, so I’d recommend that instead.
Also, teacher / student relationships AREN’T it. They’re not a cute vibe, especially if you’re not going to address the power imbalance or condemn the actions of the person in the position of power.
jasmineslib's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
emmanovella's review
3.0
"D.O.G.S" by M.A Bennett is the sequel to "S.T.A.G.S". I have yet to give this author anything other than a solid 3 stars, yet I always seem to think about them for months after reading them. They're just so different and unique to any other books I've read and despite them often letting me down slightly (I find them predictable and they tend to stay on the surface level for me, in my opinion) there's something that keeps me coming back to them.
I think.. maybe, I preferred D.O.G.S to the first book, but it's been a while since I read either so I can't recall. But the setting of the school is super intriguing and I would love to see more books set there but perhaps following different characters/plot.
I don't even know who I could recommend this series of books to as in the past, the people I thought would love it didn't so it's truly a hit or miss but I'm sure i'll continue to pick up this
alongreader's review
4.0
Greer is trying to settle back into school after the horrific visit to Longcross. The appearance of a long lost play catapults her back into a world of mystery, forcing her back to Longcross to lay old ghosts to rest.
So this is the second in what is now apparently a trilogy. As such, not a lot actually happens. There's a secret play that's tied into the Order, a lot of arguing, a visit to Longcross to find part of the play that is mostly not at all about the actual play. However, this is still an exciting, interesting read and I read it in one go, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I loved that we couldn't quite tell which side the characters were on; of the two reveals at the end, one confused me adn one really impressed me. I'm looking forward to reading the third part, but going on history that's a couple of years away at least!
Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.
'So you're from the Isle of Dogs, right?'
'Yeah.'
'Why's it called that?'
'It was called Isle of Dogs cos it was s'posed to be where Elizabeth I's royal kennels were. So back then it was literally swarming with dogs.'
'Makes sense.'
'There's this pub called the Ferry House where my uncles used to drink,' she went on, 'and there was a crazy old guy who always used to sit at the bar and say that on frosty nights you could hear those Elizabethan dogs baying across the mudflats.'
I shivered. I was back at Longcross, hearing Henry's dogs barking through the dense fog after Nel's blood. If I was a real friend to Ty, could I really let her go to Longcross alone? Yes, I liked the twins, and no, they weren't Henry. But before I could make up my mind she hurried away, probably to catch up with Louis.
I could've stopped her. I could've called her back. But I said nothing, and my own silence made me feel a bit sick.
So this is the second in what is now apparently a trilogy. As such, not a lot actually happens. There's a secret play that's tied into the Order, a lot of arguing, a visit to Longcross to find part of the play that is mostly not at all about the actual play. However, this is still an exciting, interesting read and I read it in one go, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I loved that we couldn't quite tell which side the characters were on; of the two reveals at the end, one confused me adn one really impressed me. I'm looking forward to reading the third part, but going on history that's a couple of years away at least!
Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.
'So you're from the Isle of Dogs, right?'
'Yeah.'
'Why's it called that?'
'It was called Isle of Dogs cos it was s'posed to be where Elizabeth I's royal kennels were. So back then it was literally swarming with dogs.'
'Makes sense.'
'There's this pub called the Ferry House where my uncles used to drink,' she went on, 'and there was a crazy old guy who always used to sit at the bar and say that on frosty nights you could hear those Elizabethan dogs baying across the mudflats.'
I shivered. I was back at Longcross, hearing Henry's dogs barking through the dense fog after Nel's blood. If I was a real friend to Ty, could I really let her go to Longcross alone? Yes, I liked the twins, and no, they weren't Henry. But before I could make up my mind she hurried away, probably to catch up with Louis.
I could've stopped her. I could've called her back. But I said nothing, and my own silence made me feel a bit sick.
alex2009's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
powisamy's review
4.0
After the cliffhanger of S.T.A.G.S., I have been eagerly awaiting the release of D.O.G.S. as I wanted to know what happened and was happy that the wait was very much worth it! Overall D.O.G.S. was a great sequel to S.T.A.G.S and I have even more waiting for the next book.
I was excited to read the book because the idea of the play interested me. I was excited to see how the plot around it unravelled and the direction it went. I was even surprised that the Isle Of Dogs was a real play which leads to some googling. I think that the play was well placed in the story and it is surprising that it even had happened in the first place.
I also think that M. A. Bennett's writing is easy to read which is a great thing and lent itself to such a fast-paced plot which I wanted to race through. The book also has lots of pop culture references in it which I also really enjoyed and added to the story which helped contextualise it.
I also really enjoyed the characters in the book especially Greer as she was a great character to connect with and to follow her story. All the characters that we introduced in the book were also really fleshed out and added to the plot itself.
I also love the story of STAGS and want to see how far it goes because of that ending.
I was excited to read the book because the idea of the play interested me. I was excited to see how the plot around it unravelled and the direction it went. I was even surprised that the Isle Of Dogs was a real play which leads to some googling. I think that the play was well placed in the story and it is surprising that it even had happened in the first place.
I also think that M. A. Bennett's writing is easy to read which is a great thing and lent itself to such a fast-paced plot which I wanted to race through. The book also has lots of pop culture references in it which I also really enjoyed and added to the story which helped contextualise it.
I also really enjoyed the characters in the book especially Greer as she was a great character to connect with and to follow her story. All the characters that we introduced in the book were also really fleshed out and added to the plot itself.
I also love the story of STAGS and want to see how far it goes because of that ending.
nicole953's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
btpbookclub's review
4.0
Finally got around to reading this, book two in the S.T.A.G.S series and I seriously hope there is more to come. Please. I need more. S.T.A.G.S I read last year was brilliant and made my top twenty of 2019 and this was just as good!
We see the same characters from the first book with some new comers but this year it's all focused on a play called The Isle of Dogs. Which apparantly all the scripts got destroyed... Well except one... The one Greer has been given. She decides to perform the play for her A level but things soon start to become wierd and familiar. Linking past to the present. This is more than just a play...
After book one (S.T.A.G.S) she could never imagine she would end up back at Longcross but that is exactly where she ends up. Back where everything began. I don't want to give too much away but it's a brilliant sequel to S.T.A.G.S. A must read. I really enjoyed it. The ending messed with my head a little and ended on a major cliffhanger... I need answers. I need more.
Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me. Brilliant. Perfect for mystery and young adult readers. Would make a brilliant tv series or film.
We see the same characters from the first book with some new comers but this year it's all focused on a play called The Isle of Dogs. Which apparantly all the scripts got destroyed... Well except one... The one Greer has been given. She decides to perform the play for her A level but things soon start to become wierd and familiar. Linking past to the present. This is more than just a play...
After book one (S.T.A.G.S) she could never imagine she would end up back at Longcross but that is exactly where she ends up. Back where everything began. I don't want to give too much away but it's a brilliant sequel to S.T.A.G.S. A must read. I really enjoyed it. The ending messed with my head a little and ended on a major cliffhanger... I need answers. I need more.
Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me. Brilliant. Perfect for mystery and young adult readers. Would make a brilliant tv series or film.
bethanmay_24's review
4.0
After the success of my listen to the first book in the series (S.T.A.G.S) I dove right in to this one. I wasn't sure at first how I felt about the premise of it surrounding the play, Isle of Dogs, but I loved it. New characters that added to the story in such amazing ways, along with the same characters you loved from the first book just evolving further. It is such an interesting take on an almost "straightforward" plot, to keep you guessing and hoping for certain outcomes. Lucy Dixon again brought life to Bennett's characters in such an amazing way and I don't think I would have enjoyed the book quite as much if I read it and not listened.