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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
This was an interesting book to say the least. I personally wasn’t really able to connect to the main character, so it was a bit difficult to feel bad for her sometimes in certain situations. She felt a bit gullible at some points, but even acknowledged that very fact and still went through with a lot of things. It was interesting watching her interact with her fellow classmates over the famous weekend, and slowly finding out what the others were like and what ‘side’ they were on. An interesting read.
Here is what I wanted S.T.A.G.S. to be: some sort of universe where Hunger Games meets Battle Royale and maybe The Strangers, a book where students get hunted like prey and killed in a remote location, mowed down like beasts or vermin by their emotionless, bloodthirsty peers. Unfortunately, that's not exactly what happened. Maybe I expected too much, but I'm not so sure that I did.
Rating:
Greer, our main character and only POV for this whole saga, thinks in film. Her father is a nature videographer, and I suppose this led to her being brought up surrounded by movies and media, because Greer manages to relate everything she so much as glances at back to some sort of film reference. This was nice at first as it gave me a good visual, but as the novel wore on I grew tired of Greer's descriptors and just wanted her to get to the point already. In a way, this explains my feelings toward 99% of this book: just get to the point.
There is a lot of exposition taking place in the beginning of this book, so I don't discredit Bennett there - a world has to be built, we have to meet these characters who are not the boarding school elite (the "savage"), and contrast them to the ones who are (the "medievals"). This is like Harry Potter gone wrong, where the prefects are all Percy Weasley and they all spend their time in the prefect bathroom being racist assholes toward the first-years. Greer is invited to the love interest's family home in the middle of nowhere, courtesy of a gorgeous embossed linen invitation boasting a long weekend of "huntin' shootin' fishin'" with the medievals. Greer doesn't fit in at this posh boarding school, but this might be her chance to become one of the elite medievals herself! Two other "savage" students are invited - and while it feels a little off like something isn't quite sitting right in the puzzle frame, Greer is too enamored by the lush landscape and beauty of Henry's home to care. After all, he's attractive and he's talking to her, and she's going to go huntin' with him tomorrow!
By the time the plot actually starts to thicken we're nearly 100 pages in, and it's over 100 before something actually happens (one of the other "savage" students - Chanel - gets chased by hunting dogs). Unfortunately, that's maybe 10 pages and then we're right back to long, moony descriptions of Henry and how hot he is, how big his house is and how gorgeous it all is. It takes the second "savage" kid getting hurt during the shootin' day before Greer realizes that - wait a minute, maybe something really isn't right here! This book isn't even 300 pages long, and I don't think I got actually invested until page 200.
For all its flaws, the final 1/3 of S.T.A.G.S. was entertaining and engaging. I was interested in seeing what was going to happen, and what the murder alluded to throughout the entire book would be focusing on. (Greer spends the entire book saying something happened, but it was nothing compared to what would come - etc). It turns out that I was expecting a climax that was a 9 on a 1-10 drama scale, and in reality it was maybe a 3. "Murder" is a loose term for what the apex of this book has happen, and I was pretty disappointed to be honest.
It does wrap up pretty well in the final 20-30 pages, and I was about to give it 2 stars for a "big red shiny bow" wrap-up when it redeemed itself in the eleventh hour. But unfortunately still, this wasn't enough to save S.T.A.G.S. from its staggering banality. I wanted it to work - I really did - but the exposition and constant movie references just didn't keep me rooted. A lot of people seem to really love this book - I'm just not one of them.
Rating:
How I'd Describe This Book to a Friend
Greer, our main character and only POV for this whole saga, thinks in film. Her father is a nature videographer, and I suppose this led to her being brought up surrounded by movies and media, because Greer manages to relate everything she so much as glances at back to some sort of film reference. This was nice at first as it gave me a good visual, but as the novel wore on I grew tired of Greer's descriptors and just wanted her to get to the point already. In a way, this explains my feelings toward 99% of this book: just get to the point.
There is a lot of exposition taking place in the beginning of this book, so I don't discredit Bennett there - a world has to be built, we have to meet these characters who are not the boarding school elite (the "savage"), and contrast them to the ones who are (the "medievals"). This is like Harry Potter gone wrong, where the prefects are all Percy Weasley and they all spend their time in the prefect bathroom being racist assholes toward the first-years. Greer is invited to the love interest's family home in the middle of nowhere, courtesy of a gorgeous embossed linen invitation boasting a long weekend of "huntin' shootin' fishin'" with the medievals. Greer doesn't fit in at this posh boarding school, but this might be her chance to become one of the elite medievals herself! Two other "savage" students are invited - and while it feels a little off like something isn't quite sitting right in the puzzle frame, Greer is too enamored by the lush landscape and beauty of Henry's home to care. After all, he's attractive and he's talking to her, and she's going to go huntin' with him tomorrow!
By the time the plot actually starts to thicken we're nearly 100 pages in, and it's over 100 before something actually happens (one of the other "savage" students - Chanel - gets chased by hunting dogs). Unfortunately, that's maybe 10 pages and then we're right back to long, moony descriptions of Henry and how hot he is, how big his house is and how gorgeous it all is. It takes the second "savage" kid getting hurt during the shootin' day before Greer realizes that - wait a minute, maybe something really isn't right here! This book isn't even 300 pages long, and I don't think I got actually invested until page 200.
The Bottom Line
For all its flaws, the final 1/3 of S.T.A.G.S. was entertaining and engaging. I was interested in seeing what was going to happen, and what the murder alluded to throughout the entire book would be focusing on. (Greer spends the entire book saying something happened, but it was nothing compared to what would come - etc). It turns out that I was expecting a climax that was a 9 on a 1-10 drama scale, and in reality it was maybe a 3. "Murder" is a loose term for what the apex of this book has happen, and I was pretty disappointed to be honest.
It does wrap up pretty well in the final 20-30 pages, and I was about to give it 2 stars for a "big red shiny bow" wrap-up when it redeemed itself in the eleventh hour. But unfortunately still, this wasn't enough to save S.T.A.G.S. from its staggering banality. I wanted it to work - I really did - but the exposition and constant movie references just didn't keep me rooted. A lot of people seem to really love this book - I'm just not one of them.
"It was a bit like that bit in Beauty and the Beast when the Beast dances with Belle. Except there was no Belle. And no music. And no candlelight. Just a beast."
I have seen quite a few mixed reviews of this book but I really enjoyed it. I felt it had good pace and built suspense really well. While towards the end it does seem far fetched I was completely invested and couldn’t wait to see how it ended.
I thought the characters were well established and the development was really well written. There are a lot of movie references in this book and for those I knew I found it really helped to enhance the narrative however a few were super nuanced and I didn’t know quite what they were alluding to.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the rest of the series. It’s a quick read but packed with twists and turns that I at times was really shocked by.
I thought the characters were well established and the development was really well written. There are a lot of movie references in this book and for those I knew I found it really helped to enhance the narrative however a few were super nuanced and I didn’t know quite what they were alluding to.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the rest of the series. It’s a quick read but packed with twists and turns that I at times was really shocked by.
Enthralling. Excellently written. And I did not want it to end.
I need to read the rest of the series now! So so good
I need to read the rest of the series now! So so good
This book.. So many twist and turns.. And then one right at the end. Or is it The End? ;)
A bit too 'dangerous game' for me, but without the fun of openly hunting people. The twist at the end felt a bit forced.
Trigger warnings: animal death, hunting, gun violence, .
This book describes itself as a thriller. It........was kind of thrilling in the last third? But mostly this was like pulling teeth. Don't get me wrong, I liked the protagonist. But the pacing here was SO SLOW and I absolutely despised the constant movie references, if only because 99% of them were movies teenagers won't have seen. And if your story relies on referencing things your target demographic is unfamiliar with, you have kind of failed.
Also, weirdest school uniform ever. Just saying.
Spoiler
suicide, attempted murder, cultThis book describes itself as a thriller. It........was kind of thrilling in the last third? But mostly this was like pulling teeth. Don't get me wrong, I liked the protagonist. But the pacing here was SO SLOW and I absolutely despised the constant movie references, if only because 99% of them were movies teenagers won't have seen. And if your story relies on referencing things your target demographic is unfamiliar with, you have kind of failed.
Also, weirdest school uniform ever. Just saying.
From the opening pages of S.T.A.G.S, I was utterly hooked. Bennett drew me in straight away and since then, has never let me go.
This is a darkly entrancing and thrilling examination of privilege, corruption and the insidious hierarchies of society, all wrapped up in a boarding school mystery that keeps you reading. Although I’m an avid mystery reader, this series still manages to constantly catch me by surprise.
The ominous atmosphere Bennett creates straight away leaves such an uneasy feeling over the initial school politics and the inner conspiracy theorist in me was going wild with several theories about what was going to happen. I love the main trio of characters, who get so much development over the books. None of Bennett’s characters are really two-dimensional, despite initial appearances. That’s something that I really loved; how Bennett managed to fool me constantly and subvert so many tropes.
On a writing note, the feel of the series is very cinematic, with rich descriptions and plenty of razor-sharp dialogue. I could easily see this as an addictive Netflix series and it helps that Greer often makes little film references. As a huge film nerd, this made me connect with her even more.
The endings of both books left me open-mouthed and desperately needing more, so I know that I’ve fallen hook, line and sinker for this series. Bennett has crafted a brilliant, thought-provoking series that I know I will be continuing.
This is a darkly entrancing and thrilling examination of privilege, corruption and the insidious hierarchies of society, all wrapped up in a boarding school mystery that keeps you reading. Although I’m an avid mystery reader, this series still manages to constantly catch me by surprise.
The ominous atmosphere Bennett creates straight away leaves such an uneasy feeling over the initial school politics and the inner conspiracy theorist in me was going wild with several theories about what was going to happen. I love the main trio of characters, who get so much development over the books. None of Bennett’s characters are really two-dimensional, despite initial appearances. That’s something that I really loved; how Bennett managed to fool me constantly and subvert so many tropes.
On a writing note, the feel of the series is very cinematic, with rich descriptions and plenty of razor-sharp dialogue. I could easily see this as an addictive Netflix series and it helps that Greer often makes little film references. As a huge film nerd, this made me connect with her even more.
The endings of both books left me open-mouthed and desperately needing more, so I know that I’ve fallen hook, line and sinker for this series. Bennett has crafted a brilliant, thought-provoking series that I know I will be continuing.
It’s hard to wrap my thoughts around this book.
I find the idea intriguing and it had so much potential. I could have been a great ya thriller but the execution left a lot to wish for.
The plot of rich, entitled teens inviting others to their mantenían to secretly hunt them down, the repression of technology and brainwashing everybody were great. The deception and creation of the illusion of friendly and elite group everybody wants to be a part of was very creative.
The characters may not have been very likable but I think that was the point.
The issue I had... the writing. It was awful. I didn’t think I would get through the first third of the book that focused mostly on setting up the scene. The narration was all around the place. It was so hard to comprehend and not at all easy flowing.
The plot was great but the wiring brought it waay down.
But besides that, even though the outcome was predictable I enjoyed reading the story and the twists at the end were really fun. Just because of the ending I will be considering reading next two books and will be hoping for the writing style to improve.
I find the idea intriguing and it had so much potential. I could have been a great ya thriller but the execution left a lot to wish for.
The plot of rich, entitled teens inviting others to their mantenían to secretly hunt them down, the repression of technology and brainwashing everybody were great. The deception and creation of the illusion of friendly and elite group everybody wants to be a part of was very creative.
The characters may not have been very likable but I think that was the point.
The issue I had... the writing. It was awful. I didn’t think I would get through the first third of the book that focused mostly on setting up the scene. The narration was all around the place. It was so hard to comprehend and not at all easy flowing.
The plot was great but the wiring brought it waay down.
But besides that, even though the outcome was predictable I enjoyed reading the story and the twists at the end were really fun. Just because of the ending I will be considering reading next two books and will be hoping for the writing style to improve.