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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
Even though I feel that the building of friendship between the protagonists was slightly rushed, this was a very likeable read. The plot kept me on edge and I felt as if I was actually at the house. Would recommend to those who enjoy well written backstories and antagonists.
I think I might be a murderer.
The intention of me buying this book is ø. Yep. It was never on my to-buy list. Or to say more accurately, I didn't know about the existence of this book.
That was my lucky day. I went into the Waterstones in Exeter, intending to buy Lost Boys. And then I saw the black round sticker "BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE" on this book.
The cover caught my eyes. I checked the very very brief introduction on the back of the book. And I knew I had to have it.
There are some invitations you just shouldn't accept. Greer MacDonald just doesn't know yet.
*S.T.A.G.S. stands for St. Aidan the Great School. Think of it as Dalton Academy in Glee.
So...Greer got invited to spend the holidays at a posh manor. There were three outcasts and six high-ranked students.
If it were you, would you go? I mean, they aren't your friends, but they just sorta invite you to join their clique. Isn't that...suspicious?
Things I Liked About It
- the writing
I like M. A.'s writing very much. The way she described every detail about the people, the house, the blood sports... ... It was like I was really there.
- the plot
The plot was fast-paced. I just wanted to keep turning the pages because I wanted to know more about the story.
- the Grand conspiracy
I cannot tell you a lot. However, I can assure you that... ...everything is not as plain as it seems.
Things I Disliked About It
Honestly, there was nothing I didn't like about the story.
Similar TV series
American Horror Story @FX
season 7, CULT
Recommendation
I enjoyed reading this book very much.
You should pick up this book if
- your dream is to live like a royal someday
- you want to see some amazing scenery
- you are interested in underground organisation
- you would like to know more about medieval hunting tradition
- you crave for killer twists
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Waarom las ik dit boek niet eerder? Het boek is minder bloederig dan ik had gehoopt maar het hield mij wel continu in de ban! Jammer dat ze de andere delen nooit vertaald hebben. Het boek had soms net iets te veel tell dan show, maar het had wel continu die onderhuidse spanning waar ik van houd! Ik las het dan ook in één dag uit. Het had ook een super interessante setting en goed vormgegeven personages. Van genoten!
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Racism
4 stars - I enjoyed this book a lot, it kept me guessing and really engaged me and I actually found myself wishing that I was reading it whenever I was doing something else!
This book was about a girl attending a prestigious boarding school where most, if not all, students come from a middle class background. There are a few students who stand out from the others due to them being unlike the rest in different ways. These students are invited to spend half term at the most popular boy’s home for some “huntin’ shootin’ fishin’” where things quickly turn dangerous and almost lethal.
I really liked the plot of this book, I hardly wanted to put it down, and now that I have and I’ve started a new book, I can’t stop thinking about what will happen in the sequel! That’ll have to be my next read.
I liked the writing style and the subtle pop culture references (which normally gets on my nerves) and it really helped to build the world that this was set in and see the differences in the way the characters lived.
I would have liked for some of the side characters to be more developed but then I think the book would have had to have been a lot longer. I also think the ending didn’t shock me as much as I thought it would, but I thoroughly enjoyed it none the less.
Overall, 4 stars, I would definitely read this again and am looking forward to reading the sequels ASAP!
This book was about a girl attending a prestigious boarding school where most, if not all, students come from a middle class background. There are a few students who stand out from the others due to them being unlike the rest in different ways. These students are invited to spend half term at the most popular boy’s home for some “huntin’ shootin’ fishin’” where things quickly turn dangerous and almost lethal.
I really liked the plot of this book, I hardly wanted to put it down, and now that I have and I’ve started a new book, I can’t stop thinking about what will happen in the sequel! That’ll have to be my next read.
I liked the writing style and the subtle pop culture references (which normally gets on my nerves) and it really helped to build the world that this was set in and see the differences in the way the characters lived.
I would have liked for some of the side characters to be more developed but then I think the book would have had to have been a lot longer. I also think the ending didn’t shock me as much as I thought it would, but I thoroughly enjoyed it none the less.
Overall, 4 stars, I would definitely read this again and am looking forward to reading the sequels ASAP!
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this was dark and mysterious proper creepy though
This was a weird one. I thought I'd be getting a British young adult thriller but this book isn't just that. It felt like a very timely read right after the devastating UK elections because this book is all about (white) privilege and how cruel it is. "S.T.A.G.S." left me feeling uncomfortable in the best way at times and made me angry too, especially towards the end.
"S.T.A.G.S." examines the ugly roots at the heart of British culture. Narrator Greer is a scholarship student at the prestigious STAGS school where old money runs the world and the posh, rich kids of English nobility look down at those they think don't fit into their world: Like Greer, but also like Shafeen, who is Indian, or Nel, wo comes from "new money". To Henry and his clique people like Greer are intruders in a world they don't belong in.
"S.T.A.G.S." is a YA mystery/thriller but it's also quite a complex look at how privilege works and how people are shut out, seen as less worthy and even hurt in the name of tradition. STAGS is not a real school, obviously, but it is very clearly based on prestigious English public schools and what goes on there.
Basically, this book is about privilege and how it's toxic. It's about how rich people only care for other rich people and will throw everyone else under the bus to keep their privilege. It's about gatekeeping. It's about the idealisation of "tradition" and conservative values. It basically calls out the very idea that some people are better than others by birth just because they have the right names, looks and family history.
This message wasn't always executed well, the pacing was weird and I didn't understand Greer's motives towards the end, but it's such a powerful message after all. I'm curious to see where the author will go with it in the sequel, "D.O.G.S.", that came out this year.
"S.T.A.G.S." examines the ugly roots at the heart of British culture. Narrator Greer is a scholarship student at the prestigious STAGS school where old money runs the world and the posh, rich kids of English nobility look down at those they think don't fit into their world: Like Greer, but also like Shafeen, who is Indian, or Nel, wo comes from "new money". To Henry and his clique people like Greer are intruders in a world they don't belong in.
"S.T.A.G.S." is a YA mystery/thriller but it's also quite a complex look at how privilege works and how people are shut out, seen as less worthy and even hurt in the name of tradition. STAGS is not a real school, obviously, but it is very clearly based on prestigious English public schools and what goes on there.
Basically, this book is about privilege and how it's toxic. It's about how rich people only care for other rich people and will throw everyone else under the bus to keep their privilege. It's about gatekeeping. It's about the idealisation of "tradition" and conservative values. It basically calls out the very idea that some people are better than others by birth just because they have the right names, looks and family history.
This message wasn't always executed well, the pacing was weird and I didn't understand Greer's motives towards the end, but it's such a powerful message after all. I'm curious to see where the author will go with it in the sequel, "D.O.G.S.", that came out this year.