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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
Written for 12 year olds, all the characters are stupid, the actual premise doesn't even make sense when given basic scrutiny and the obsession with referencing films was infantile. They weren't even good films, the author contrived entire scenes just to reference films but not impressive films, things like twighlight and beauty and the beast.
It's only two stars because there was one line that made me cackle.
It's only two stars because there was one line that made me cackle.
"S.T.A.G.S." written by M.A.Bennett is a superb story that was such a different read to my normal books, yet still in keeping with the thriller genre.
I knew as soon as I started reading this that I was going to enjoy it and I wasn't proved wrong. With twists and turns right to the very end, readers will love this book - so easy to follow with brilliant characters (I could certainly see the attraction with Henry) and a seriously captivating plot.
Greer MacDonald has won a scholarship at the very elite and prestigious St. Aidan the Great School in Northumberland. She doesn't make many friends at the school due to not being the wealthy and socially acceptable student all the others are. When Greer receives the much coveted annual invitation to join a group of 'Medievals' (unofficial prefects of the school) at Longcross Hall, she accepts the "huntin' shootin' fishin'" invitation in the hope she will make new friends and be socially accepted. However, things aren't as they seem in the invitation and things start to go disastrously wrong once the deadly weekend gets underway. We know from the start that a death has occurred - quite possibly a murder - and we are taken on a twisty turny journey that Greer relates in great detail, keeping the reader engrossed in a tale of medieval history, traditional blood sports and the power of long established well to do families.
Living myself beside the hauntingly beautiful counties of Northumberland and Cumberland, I could really relate to the areas the school and Hall were located, the descriptions were truly spot on! I also particularly enjoyed the little references Greer made relating to movies incorporating film scenes where that situation was occurring, and the fact it was written in the first person means we get to hear Greer's doubts and feelings first hand.
"S.T.A.G.S." could easily be made into a movie, there's a huge audience of all ages that would enjoy this story and I highly recommend the book - I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would happily read it again.
5 stars.
I knew as soon as I started reading this that I was going to enjoy it and I wasn't proved wrong. With twists and turns right to the very end, readers will love this book - so easy to follow with brilliant characters (I could certainly see the attraction with Henry) and a seriously captivating plot.
Greer MacDonald has won a scholarship at the very elite and prestigious St. Aidan the Great School in Northumberland. She doesn't make many friends at the school due to not being the wealthy and socially acceptable student all the others are. When Greer receives the much coveted annual invitation to join a group of 'Medievals' (unofficial prefects of the school) at Longcross Hall, she accepts the "huntin' shootin' fishin'" invitation in the hope she will make new friends and be socially accepted. However, things aren't as they seem in the invitation and things start to go disastrously wrong once the deadly weekend gets underway. We know from the start that a death has occurred - quite possibly a murder - and we are taken on a twisty turny journey that Greer relates in great detail, keeping the reader engrossed in a tale of medieval history, traditional blood sports and the power of long established well to do families.
Living myself beside the hauntingly beautiful counties of Northumberland and Cumberland, I could really relate to the areas the school and Hall were located, the descriptions were truly spot on! I also particularly enjoyed the little references Greer made relating to movies incorporating film scenes where that situation was occurring, and the fact it was written in the first person means we get to hear Greer's doubts and feelings first hand.
"S.T.A.G.S." could easily be made into a movie, there's a huge audience of all ages that would enjoy this story and I highly recommend the book - I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would happily read it again.
5 stars.
A well-deserved winner of the Amazing Book Awards 2019, this thriller is a pageturner. Set in an English boarding school where the offspring of the landed gentry take great offence at sharing their school with the nouveau-riche of the 21st century. but of course, they can't say this out-loud so they have a way of dealing with these interlopers. Every year, three students are asked to attend a 'Huntin', Shootin', Fishin' weekend at the ancestral home of Henry de Warlencourt. What they don't realise is that they are the targets of the Huntin', Shootin' and Fishin' and that this has been going on for centuries. No more plot reveals, suffice to say the book is a pageturner and the plot doesn't stop twisting and turning right to the very last page. Fabulous references to Greek mythology, the Luddites and so many 1980s themes that my head was spinning!
Really nice concept but I did find myself working things out before the main characters..maybe this attests to my mistrusting nature. I did really enjoy it however and I'm looking forward to seeing if they will be a sequel. I think it could do well as either and individual novel or a series but again it might get a little predictable.
Heck. I gotta say, I'm a little unhappy with that ending. I'm assuming there isn't actually going to be a sequel... but dang. Otherwise this was such an enjoyable read. Pretty cliche at times, but in an endearing way I would say. I quite enjoyed the experience of a YA thriller, in that it was suspenseful without actually being scary.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
STAGS is an eerie and creepy thriller that follows Greer McDonald. Greer, and two other students, are invited to spend the weekend at the de Warlencourts household.
This book could easily be read in one sitting. It’s mysterious, fast paced and great narration.
This book could easily be read in one sitting. It’s mysterious, fast paced and great narration.
2.5 Stars
I think a major problem with this was my expectations. I was expecting more “The Most Dangerous Game” and got more of a psychological mystery/thriller. It just wasn’t really what I wanted and its commentary on technology and social media was...a lot. The foreshadowing and pop culture references were also too heavy-handed for my tastes. The romance was also SO thrown in at the last moment. It didn’t make ANY sense. Do not recommend. There’s gotta be better thrillers to read. Help me find them.
I think a major problem with this was my expectations. I was expecting more “The Most Dangerous Game” and got more of a psychological mystery/thriller. It just wasn’t really what I wanted and its commentary on technology and social media was...a lot. The foreshadowing and pop culture references were also too heavy-handed for my tastes. The romance was also SO thrown in at the last moment. It didn’t make ANY sense. Do not recommend. There’s gotta be better thrillers to read. Help me find them.
Este libro lo conocí mediante un video de una booktuber y me tincó mucho, así que lo pedí para navidad :3 Lo malo es que después leí algunas reviews que no eran muy buenas entonces todas mis expectativas bajaron. Ahora que ya me lo terminé tengo que decir que el libro me entretuvo mucho y me gustó, también me gustó la manera en que estaba escrito. Me lo leí relativamente rápido (para mí) porque desde como la página 100 me enganché harto. Algo malo es que me di cuenta que tiene dos libros que le siguen :( así que tendré que invertir para continuar la historia jajaj Le recomiendo el libro a quien le guste las historias sobre internados, cosas medias (o bien) turbias, secretos por revelar, etc.
4.5!
4.5!
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No