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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Classism
I actually really liked the story, but the writing was hard to get through.
If you're bored, don't plan on taking it seriously and have low standards then S.T.A.G.S is entertaining. Though I read it in 2-3 days and didn't wanna jump off a cliff while reading it, the book was rather terrible. The plot was a hot mess, especially the ending. The characters weren't my favorite and were kind of stupid at times. The main character had this annoying tendency of mentioning things that weren't "feminist". In my opinion the writing wasn't anything special or maybe it just wasn't my style.
I was really torn with what to rate this book. I enjoyed it for the most part but also was not a huge fan of the writing style or the voice of the main character. However I really enjoyed the premise and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
However I could not justify rating it more than 3 stars purely based on other books which I have given 4 star ratings which were much better in my opinion. This being said, I would recommend this book as an easy to read YA book if you have a few hours spare and want something with an interesting concept that is a light read.
However I could not justify rating it more than 3 stars purely based on other books which I have given 4 star ratings which were much better in my opinion. This being said, I would recommend this book as an easy to read YA book if you have a few hours spare and want something with an interesting concept that is a light read.
Greer MacDonald is the new kid at the prestigious St Aidan the Great Boarding school (S.T.A.G.S.). Feeling isolated and out of place among the other students who hail from rich, high class families, she thinks she is finally being accepted into their ranks when she receives an invitation to spend the weekend with a few select others at Longcross Hall, home of Henry de Walencourt, the most popular boy in school and leader of the Medievals (the in-crowd and unofficial prefects of the school). However, the story soon take a sinister turn and Greer learns that the "huntin' shootin' fishin' " weekend could be deadlier than it sounds.
I think this was the first YA thriller I'd read and it was like a movie playing out in my mind. Greer is an engaging storyteller and the narrative itself flowed smoothly and was easy to read though it grew a bit slow at times. The story serves to make the reader ponder on a few points, such as the occurrence of bullying in schools, the effects of class and social hierarchy and the impact of technology on our lives.
I liked the eerie setting, especially after things started getting weird at Longcross Hall. But I have to admit I expected it to be more intense, given that the tagline reads, "Nine students. Three bloodsports. One deadly weekend." I also wished there had been more detailed descriptions about the personalities of the Medievals instead of the repeated information of their appearance, especially the girls.
I appreciated the introduction of the twist in the story close to the end, and the fact that one of the things that led Greer to make her discovery was a pointer in grammar one of her teachers had mentioned close to the beginning of the book. I love it when little details like that turn out to be significant. The story concludes with an open ending that could hint at a sequel. I personally think it's better to leave it at one book.
I think this was the first YA thriller I'd read and it was like a movie playing out in my mind. Greer is an engaging storyteller and the narrative itself flowed smoothly and was easy to read though it grew a bit slow at times. The story serves to make the reader ponder on a few points, such as the occurrence of bullying in schools, the effects of class and social hierarchy and the impact of technology on our lives.
I liked the eerie setting, especially after things started getting weird at Longcross Hall. But I have to admit I expected it to be more intense, given that the tagline reads, "Nine students. Three bloodsports. One deadly weekend." I also wished there had been more detailed descriptions about the personalities of the Medievals instead of the repeated information of their appearance, especially the girls.
I appreciated the introduction of the twist in the story close to the end, and the fact that one of the things that led Greer to make her discovery was a pointer in grammar one of her teachers had mentioned close to the beginning of the book. I love it when little details like that turn out to be significant. The story concludes with an open ending that could hint at a sequel. I personally think it's better to leave it at one book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Any story set in a British boarding school automatically grabs my interest, and has done since my childhood reading Enid Blyton and Elinor M. Brent-Dyer. So points for that, to start. And this one, in one of those old (centuries old) schools with incredibly outdated uniforms and traditions, coupled with a fish-out-of-water student's experiences? Ok, let's go!
That's all the good stuff: the descriptions of the school, the students, the traditions, the Heritage That Is England stuff. The plot, and the characters, however, don't quite live up to that. They're predictable and oh so stereotypical, right down to the "plot twist" at the end. Sigh.
ARC provided by publisher.
That's all the good stuff: the descriptions of the school, the students, the traditions, the Heritage That Is England stuff. The plot, and the characters, however, don't quite live up to that. They're predictable and oh so stereotypical, right down to the "plot twist" at the end. Sigh.
ARC provided by publisher.
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It had some promising themes, but I felt it glossed over some of them in favour of plot twists and shock factor. Overall, it was fine; a quick and easy thriller.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
4.5⭐️ I liked this book and would recommend it to others