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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
Wow. This book . . . wow. Ever since I first heard about S.T.A.G.S, I was excited to read it as it sounded right up my street: a YA mystery set in an English boarding school, complete with class issues (landed gentry vs new money / no money) and murder. What's not to love? When I first started, I was a little wary of the voice as Greer is telling the story after it happened, but the voice proved to be perfect.
Within twenty pages or so, I was hooked. We know from very early on that Henry, a charismatic and slightly mysterious prefect, ends up dead, but we have no idea how or why. It made Greer's narrative even more interesting as she was telling the story from a point of hindsight rather than as if it was happening right then, dropping hints and foreshadowing along the way. I was gripped from start to finish, torn between my desire to know what happened and to keep the mystery going.
I didn't want the book to end. Bennett's imagery was phenomenal, doing an absolutely stellar job of building the world of Longcross - Henry's lavish estate home, where the weekend of blood sports begins. This book had everything I want from a YA mystery: tension; suspense; brilliantly developed characters, and an intricate, grounded location. Not to mention a couple of brilliant twists! I can't wait to read Bennett's upcoming novel, The Island - another YA mystery.
Within twenty pages or so, I was hooked. We know from very early on that Henry, a charismatic and slightly mysterious prefect, ends up dead, but we have no idea how or why. It made Greer's narrative even more interesting as she was telling the story from a point of hindsight rather than as if it was happening right then, dropping hints and foreshadowing along the way. I was gripped from start to finish, torn between my desire to know what happened and to keep the mystery going.
I didn't want the book to end. Bennett's imagery was phenomenal, doing an absolutely stellar job of building the world of Longcross - Henry's lavish estate home, where the weekend of blood sports begins. This book had everything I want from a YA mystery: tension; suspense; brilliantly developed characters, and an intricate, grounded location. Not to mention a couple of brilliant twists! I can't wait to read Bennett's upcoming novel, The Island - another YA mystery.
3 stars.
S.T.A.G.S is a novel following the invitation of three misfits at an upper-class boarding school known as STAGS to the home of the leader of the most popular group in school; the Medievals. The three misfits are promised a weekend of huntin', shootin' and fishin' and a chance to be accepted into the Medievals but this weekend is more sinister than it seems. A Greer-esque comment would be to call the novel 'Get Out' without the black people.
What I Liked:
- The premise. It is one of my guilty pleasures to read about rich and important teens at school, especially the teens that get blood-thirsty because they believe they're above the law.
- Shafeen. He was honestly my favourite character; he was brave, he was sweet and he wasn't fawning all over the place like a dolt, he was the only intelligent one in the novel.
- The one and only good thing about the writing was that it was fast-paced, so it never got boring. I read the book in a day.
- The ending. OH MY GOD, the ending was the best part of this book, it bumped my rating from 2 stars to 3.
What I Didn't Like:
- The writing style was lazy. I liked the analogies and symbolism but it was obvious, you didn't have to search the text for anything. I really like reading a book and thinking 'oh that's why the author put that in there' or 'described it this way' when you finish, but you don't have to worry about that at all with this book. My second criticism, we'll come to why I disliked Greer in a sec but, half her personality was describing the setting by comparing it to movies in EVERY OTHER SENTENCE. This for one just felt like a way for the author to get out of describing the setting and came across very lazy.
- Greer's personality. So, Greer isn't as bad as some protagonists I've read about, she wasn't really developed but she didn't need to be because it wasn't about her growing as a person, however the parts that did shine through of her personality I didn't like. The fact she compared everything, from her feelings to the settings to movies pissed me right off, yeah okay do it once or twice to show she's a fan, but in every other sentence, it started to get on my nerves. Secondly, and I hate this in people too, was her pseudo-feminism, why do so many girls including Greer believe they can't be feminists if they like a guy? Why do they believe they have to be non-feminine, man hating and emotionless to be a TRUE feminist?
Now I normally finish with favorite quotes, but there wasn't a lot because the writing was so poor, so here is the one I like at the end:
To conclude, this book wasn't anything special but it wasn't bad either. If there was a sequel I'd probably read it.
- Much Love
S.T.A.G.S is a novel following the invitation of three misfits at an upper-class boarding school known as STAGS to the home of the leader of the most popular group in school; the Medievals. The three misfits are promised a weekend of huntin', shootin' and fishin' and a chance to be accepted into the Medievals but this weekend is more sinister than it seems. A Greer-esque comment would be to call the novel 'Get Out' without the black people.
What I Liked:
- The premise. It is one of my guilty pleasures to read about rich and important teens at school, especially the teens that get blood-thirsty because they believe they're above the law.
- Shafeen. He was honestly my favourite character; he was brave, he was sweet and he wasn't fawning all over the place like a dolt, he was the only intelligent one in the novel.
- The one and only good thing about the writing was that it was fast-paced, so it never got boring. I read the book in a day.
- The ending. OH MY GOD, the ending was the best part of this book, it bumped my rating from 2 stars to 3.
Spoiler
I loved the fact it didn't end on a happy note, it was way too easy to disband an organisation like that with one kid's suicide. And, while we'll come to why I hate Greer's movie obsession, I really liked the cliffhanger that they copied from the Sherlock Holmes movie.What I Didn't Like:
- The writing style was lazy. I liked the analogies and symbolism but it was obvious, you didn't have to search the text for anything. I really like reading a book and thinking 'oh that's why the author put that in there' or 'described it this way' when you finish, but you don't have to worry about that at all with this book. My second criticism, we'll come to why I disliked Greer in a sec but, half her personality was describing the setting by comparing it to movies in EVERY OTHER SENTENCE. This for one just felt like a way for the author to get out of describing the setting and came across very lazy.
- Greer's personality. So, Greer isn't as bad as some protagonists I've read about, she wasn't really developed but she didn't need to be because it wasn't about her growing as a person, however the parts that did shine through of her personality I didn't like. The fact she compared everything, from her feelings to the settings to movies pissed me right off, yeah okay do it once or twice to show she's a fan, but in every other sentence, it started to get on my nerves. Secondly, and I hate this in people too, was her pseudo-feminism, why do so many girls including Greer believe they can't be feminists if they like a guy? Why do they believe they have to be non-feminine, man hating and emotionless to be a TRUE feminist?
Now I normally finish with favorite quotes, but there wasn't a lot because the writing was so poor, so here is the one I like at the end:
“Then, his arms flung out like a cross, he tipped back over the lip of the falls.
Suddenly I was back in Paulinus quad, dropping a coin down the medieval well. The coin was falling down and down into the darkness, and I was waiting for it to hit the surface of the water.and the coin falling together. At Conrad’s Force, too, time stretched out to infinity, and the roar of the waterfall was so loud that we couldn’t even hear whenSpoiler
Henryhit the rocks below.”Spoiler
Henry
To conclude, this book wasn't anything special but it wasn't bad either. If there was a sequel I'd probably read it.
- Much Love
adventurous
mysterious
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
From the moment we meet Greer, we know she's caught up in something shocking. She tells us she might be a murderer, and I couldn't wait to see just how this came together.
Greer is a scholarship girl at reputable school S.T.A.G.S. It's a school of traditions, where money is revered and there's a sense that those who have money/status will always come out on top. It reminded me of a number of films/novels, where we are asked to look at how privilege affects character. Greer feels an outsider from the start and, along with Shafeen and Nel, they are made to feel uncomfortable by the group known as the Medievals who run the school.
Our story starts properly when Greer and the others are invited to the home of Henry (leader of the Medievals) for a shooting, hunting, fishing weekend. I was fascinated by the aura of wealth and privilege, but also slightly repulsed by the air of menace that exudes from this group.
As the story picks up, the rose-tinted glasses fall from Greer's eyes. What she's involved in isn't simply an attempt to make a group of people feel socially inferior, it's deadly serious. Over years 'accidents' have happened and it quickly becomes a case of survival, and trying to work out just how far-up the chain this goes!
The focus on wealth and race felt uncomfortable. Yet I know thus probably hadn't too far from the norm for some. Whether it goes quite this far is hard to credit, but it certainly makes for a thrilling story.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this in advance of publication.
Greer is a scholarship girl at reputable school S.T.A.G.S. It's a school of traditions, where money is revered and there's a sense that those who have money/status will always come out on top. It reminded me of a number of films/novels, where we are asked to look at how privilege affects character. Greer feels an outsider from the start and, along with Shafeen and Nel, they are made to feel uncomfortable by the group known as the Medievals who run the school.
Our story starts properly when Greer and the others are invited to the home of Henry (leader of the Medievals) for a shooting, hunting, fishing weekend. I was fascinated by the aura of wealth and privilege, but also slightly repulsed by the air of menace that exudes from this group.
As the story picks up, the rose-tinted glasses fall from Greer's eyes. What she's involved in isn't simply an attempt to make a group of people feel socially inferior, it's deadly serious. Over years 'accidents' have happened and it quickly becomes a case of survival, and trying to work out just how far-up the chain this goes!
The focus on wealth and race felt uncomfortable. Yet I know thus probably hadn't too far from the norm for some. Whether it goes quite this far is hard to credit, but it certainly makes for a thrilling story.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this in advance of publication.
Okay wow. No spoilers but I was a bit disappointed by the ending until I read the epilogue and got CHILLS. Everything connected in a way that I was hoping it would but still managed to surprise me. Amazing. 10/10 would recommend.
This book ……
I went in w such low expectations
It was amazing
Probably my top book of may
Slay through and through
I went in w such low expectations
It was amazing
Probably my top book of may
Slay through and through
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
When I enrolled on ReadersFirst I had the chance to get a free copy of STAGS or the Mayfly. I chose the latter and I am very glad because it turned out to be an amazing thriller. But I was also very curious about STAGS so I bought it and read it. The idea behind it is what lured me in. I mean, a cultist,secluded private school and a murder? How could I say no to such a dark and twisted idea? But the thing is, while reading it I didn't quite grasp that sense of darkness. It's not that the writing was bad, because it wasn't, but the atmosphere wasn't there for me. And it's a shame because it could be a very creepy and scary thriller! I do have to say that I wish I could see these kind of concepts more often in YA novels!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book wasn’t bad, just different to what I expected from the synopsis. I thought the games would involve the students more, The hunting section and shooting section really didn’t do a lot for me but the fishing onwards was when it picked up personally,
I did really enjoy the writing style of the book (even if the ending freaked me out a bit) however, it seemed a bit rushed, almost ‘too simple’ at the end, which I hope is explained more in the sequel. This is the 3rd ‘Dark Academia’ novel that I have read and honestly this was my least favourite plot-wise but not for writing style; I think the main issue was that I simply expected something far different to what I got ( the idea of the games was what sold me it > any suggestions of it being DA).
Spoiler
when instead what happened to them was made to look like accidental consequences.Spoiler
and the discoveries of the cultI did really enjoy the writing style of the book (even if the ending freaked me out a bit) however, it seemed a bit rushed, almost ‘too simple’ at the end, which I hope is explained more in the sequel. This is the 3rd ‘Dark Academia’ novel that I have read and honestly this was my least favourite plot-wise but not for writing style; I think the main issue was that I simply expected something far different to what I got ( the idea of the games was what sold me it > any suggestions of it being DA).