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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
Started off a bit slow but then the more I read the more I got sucked in. An excellent dark read that had twist after twist right up to the last page.
this book had potential but i was left quite disappointed. intriguing plot, but i didn't care about any of the characters and was quite a slow start. picked up near the end but didn't do enough to redeem itself unfortunately
Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
I am not usually a thriller person, so this book was definitely out of my genre comfort zone. I ended up really enjoying it, even though it was a but rushed and superficial at times. There are some great twists and truly creepy characters.... https://noreadstoogreat.wordpress.com/2018/09/09/review-s-t-a-g-s/
I am not usually a thriller person, so this book was definitely out of my genre comfort zone. I ended up really enjoying it, even though it was a but rushed and superficial at times. There are some great twists and truly creepy characters.... https://noreadstoogreat.wordpress.com/2018/09/09/review-s-t-a-g-s/
*Thank you so much to HotKeyBooks for sending me a copy in exchange for review!*
I’m new to the YA Thriller genre, having read a lot of adult thrillers I didn’t think this would have the same level of intrigue and while the concept sounded amazing I didn’t know if I was going to enjoy it. I enjoyed it. A lot.
This is essentially a cult thriller, with a touch of dark academia vibes. Sort of like the secret history, but with a bunch of rich, white and privileged seventeen-year-olds. It was so fun to read. It was well written, sometimes when I got into school-based YA I get worried that it will be a touch too childish for my taste, but this was perfect. I also appreciated the pop culture references - it was done subtly and not too often to become try-hard. It was very entertaining.
There was a great depiction of hierarchies of power, racism and ‘otherness’ in this book. Though it is set in an elite private school with predominantly white characters, there is a protagonist of colour in this book, with hints of there being more diverse characters in the next one so I look forward to that.
It was predictable when I got to the middle, but then the ending shocked me. The elements of mystery were hit and miss, but it still remained a page-turner and I cannot wait to read the other books to see where the author takes these characters.
I’m new to the YA Thriller genre, having read a lot of adult thrillers I didn’t think this would have the same level of intrigue and while the concept sounded amazing I didn’t know if I was going to enjoy it. I enjoyed it. A lot.
This is essentially a cult thriller, with a touch of dark academia vibes. Sort of like the secret history, but with a bunch of rich, white and privileged seventeen-year-olds. It was so fun to read. It was well written, sometimes when I got into school-based YA I get worried that it will be a touch too childish for my taste, but this was perfect. I also appreciated the pop culture references - it was done subtly and not too often to become try-hard. It was very entertaining.
There was a great depiction of hierarchies of power, racism and ‘otherness’ in this book. Though it is set in an elite private school with predominantly white characters, there is a protagonist of colour in this book, with hints of there being more diverse characters in the next one so I look forward to that.
It was predictable when I got to the middle, but then the ending shocked me. The elements of mystery were hit and miss, but it still remained a page-turner and I cannot wait to read the other books to see where the author takes these characters.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4th January 2018
Rated this book 2 stars.
Opinion: Greer is possibly the most annoying MC.
She’s unlikeable in the way she narrates the story which is essentially about how ‘The Medievals’ (6 influential bullying teenagers at Greer’s school, STAGS, who all look the same (blonde hair, blue eyes) and who are unrealistically popular among fellow students for discriminating other students.), specifically ring leader, Henry, invites her and two other people they dislike and occasionally bully to his place for the holidays.
A bit strange.
On the first page, Greer admits that she might be a murderer. Even stranger.
But anywho, this book is written past tense, with Greer narrating and commenting on the past at every end of the chapter or so to keep the mystery a mystery that seems more mysterious every page or so. I think it was supposed to create tension, after all, the book is in the ‘thriller’ genre.
Personally, I thought that the only suspense rose at Fishin'. But then it was broken by a downfall of so many explanatory things we already new (eg. How Lara was too posh and lazy to speak proper words and sentences ect. ect.), and what could have been enjoyable parts of the story where ruined by Greer's long train of thoughts (I guess similar to this review).
Anyway, Greer’s commenting got distracting and soon irritating.
But I pushed through, finished the book.
Then I thought I’d give it another try later.
13th January 2020
Re-rated this book 1 star.
Only got to page 30. I couldn’t take it anymore. Also unintentionally, the “huntin’, shootin’, fishin’” theme reminded me of BCF’s advertisements: boats, camping, fishing...
But I kind of think that I’m not being fair to this book. I honestly don’t think this book is that bad, I just, am not the biggest fan. Which is why I think I might try reading M. A Bennett’s novel ‘The Island’.
Rated this book 2 stars.
Opinion: Greer is possibly the most annoying MC.
She’s unlikeable in the way she narrates the story which is essentially about how ‘The Medievals’ (6 influential bullying teenagers at Greer’s school, STAGS, who all look the same (blonde hair, blue eyes) and who are unrealistically popular among fellow students for discriminating other students.), specifically ring leader, Henry, invites her and two other people they dislike and occasionally bully to his place for the holidays.
A bit strange.
On the first page, Greer admits that she might be a murderer. Even stranger.
But anywho, this book is written past tense, with Greer narrating and commenting on the past at every end of the chapter or so to keep the mystery a mystery that seems more mysterious every page or so. I think it was supposed to create tension, after all, the book is in the ‘thriller’ genre.
Personally, I thought that the only suspense rose at Fishin'. But then it was broken by a downfall of so many explanatory things we already new (eg. How Lara was too posh and lazy to speak proper words and sentences ect. ect.), and what could have been enjoyable parts of the story where ruined by Greer's long train of thoughts (I guess similar to this review).
Anyway, Greer’s commenting got distracting and soon irritating.
But I pushed through, finished the book.
Then I thought I’d give it another try later.
13th January 2020
Re-rated this book 1 star.
Only got to page 30. I couldn’t take it anymore. Also unintentionally, the “huntin’, shootin’, fishin’” theme reminded me of BCF’s advertisements: boats, camping, fishing...
But I kind of think that I’m not being fair to this book. I honestly don’t think this book is that bad, I just, am not the biggest fan. Which is why I think I might try reading M. A Bennett’s novel ‘The Island’.
S.T.A.G.S follows the story of Greer, who is an outsider in a school of rich, privileged, and lost in the past students. She receives an invitation to spend the weekend with the Medievals, aka the top rich kids. The invitation details that there will be “huntin’, shootin’, and fishin’”. From there, you follow Greer’s weekend and the activities she partakes in over this weekend.
I expected more from S.T.A.G.S. It sounded like it was seriously going to shock me, but I found it slightly underwhelming and only a tad bloody. That’s probably just the twisted mind of mine wanting everything to go to complete hell. I feel like S.T.A.G.S would be a great novel for people just getting into YA fiction because it does have a thrilling concept. Another issue I had was the amount of film references. I...just did not care. There were like 20 of them and they were kind of shoved in my face every time something important happened. I also didn’t really feel emotionally connected to Greer.
As for the things I liked, I really enjoyed Shafeen’s character. I really enjoyed seeing an Indian character! He was probably my favorite character in this book. He’s smart and practical. What a king. It should have been through his POV.
Overall, I found S.T.A.G.S to be a bit predictable and underwhelming, but it was an easy read!
I expected more from S.T.A.G.S. It sounded like it was seriously going to shock me, but I found it slightly underwhelming and only a tad bloody. That’s probably just the twisted mind of mine wanting everything to go to complete hell. I feel like S.T.A.G.S would be a great novel for people just getting into YA fiction because it does have a thrilling concept. Another issue I had was the amount of film references. I...just did not care. There were like 20 of them and they were kind of shoved in my face every time something important happened. I also didn’t really feel emotionally connected to Greer.
As for the things I liked, I really enjoyed Shafeen’s character. I really enjoyed seeing an Indian character! He was probably my favorite character in this book. He’s smart and practical. What a king. It should have been through his POV.
Overall, I found S.T.A.G.S to be a bit predictable and underwhelming, but it was an easy read!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
This is a direct consequence of my obsession with Dark Academia from two months ago. It might have hit differently if I'd read it then.
2 of the things that made me rate it 2 stars:
- The rushed conclusion. SOOOO much happens in the last 20 pages that could have easily taken 100 more. The vibe is the same as when a kid peacefully sits on the seashore and a wave crashes on them, and every time they sit up and try to suck some air in, another wave hits them square in the face.
- It quickly went from YA to middle-grade-ish? The characters' behaviour, the writing style, and the dynamics. And the romance *ugh*.
- The main character is such a moron. And connecting with anyone from the cast is so hard.
2 of the things that made me rate it 2 stars:
- The rushed conclusion. SOOOO much happens in the last 20 pages that could have easily taken 100 more. The vibe is the same as when a kid peacefully sits on the seashore and a wave crashes on them, and every time they sit up and try to suck some air in, another wave hits them square in the face.
- It quickly went from YA to middle-grade-ish? The characters' behaviour, the writing style, and the dynamics. And the romance *ugh*.
- The main character is such a moron. And connecting with anyone from the cast is so hard.
3.5/5
I think I might have enjoyed the book more had it been more suspenseful (too much past tense talk in the beginning of the book in almost every chapter and before every event kind of took away from the suspense, at least for me anyway) but overall a good book
I think I might have enjoyed the book more had it been more suspenseful (too much past tense talk in the beginning of the book in almost every chapter and before every event kind of took away from the suspense, at least for me anyway) but overall a good book