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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this book, and it really didn’t disappoint.
It starts off with us finding out that the narrator, Greer, is just starting at a new and extremely prestigious school called St Aidan the Great School or S.T.A.G.S. for short. We find out that Greer was lucky enough to win a scholarship for the school and took it so that her dad (a wildlife cameraman) could go to Chile to film in bat caves instead of turning the job down as he had been doing previously. Things aren’t plain sailing for Greer though, as she finds that the other students (including her roommate) aren’t the most welcoming or friendly, and as a result of this spends the first term quite lonely and keeping herself to herself. That is until she gets an invitation pushed under her door, and it’s an invitation that will change her life forever. The invitation comes from the most popular group in the school, who also happen to be the prefects or the “Medievals”. Pleased to finally have a chance at friendship, and with her roommates persuasion that it means she will become a Medieval next year, Greer takes up the invitation to spend three days at the country house of one of the most popular boys at school.
When Greer arrives, she is surprised to find two other people have also been invited and is surprised since she thought the Medievals disliked them as much as she’d thought they disliked her. What then follows is three days of hunting, shooting and fishing. And also three days of “accidents” and the three “unpopular” students teaming up against the six Medievals.
This book was thrilling from start to finish, and one of those books that you really don’t want to end because you are enjoying it so much. I enjoyed that Greer referenced movies so much, as the two main passions in my own life are books and films. With each film she referenced, it solidified the picture in my mind of the scene that was going on around her.
A definite 5 stars from me! And I cannot wait to read the sequels!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Suicide
I wish the pacing of this book was significantly better.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not only does the romance in S.T.A.G.S serve as an aid for the plot, it didn't bore me, or annoy me. It didn't entirely come out of nowhere, or take up all of the book. This was good writing, and good use of love and romance in the story.
Also this book was a good thriller. I was on the edge the entire time, and I read the whole book in a full sitting. The idea was unique, and while a little predicable, Bennett executed (heh) it perfectly. It made me wish for a sequel, because you can't leave me on a fucking cliff-hanger like that!
The only criticisms about Greer is that she's portrayed a little as the quirky, indie protagonist. Seriously, having obscure knowledge about movies and film? But this is easily glossed over with the rest of her personality and choices in the book. While I can't say I related to Greer as such (because honestly? I would have dealt with the entire scenario completely differently), I did find her real and incredibly likeable, which isn't something I can say about a lot of YA protagonists, especially the girls (which is unfortunate, because girls are so interesting and likeable in real life).
Overall, this is a good book, and I would 100% recommend it.
Also this book was a good thriller. I was on the edge the entire time, and I read the whole book in a full sitting. The idea was unique, and while a little predicable, Bennett executed (heh) it perfectly. It made me wish for a sequel, because you can't leave me on a fucking cliff-hanger like that!
The only criticisms about Greer is that she's portrayed a little as the quirky, indie protagonist. Seriously, having obscure knowledge about movies and film? But this is easily glossed over with the rest of her personality and choices in the book. While I can't say I related to Greer as such (because honestly? I would have dealt with the entire scenario completely differently), I did find her real and incredibly likeable, which isn't something I can say about a lot of YA protagonists, especially the girls (which is unfortunate, because girls are so interesting and likeable in real life).
Overall, this is a good book, and I would 100% recommend it.
I love YA and I love thrillers so I knew this book would be perfect for me. Following the adventures of three “misfits” at a weekend away with the elite Medievals, we are shown that things aren’t always as they appear to be.
With twists right up until the very end, this is a page turner that you should definitely get your hands on.
With twists right up until the very end, this is a page turner that you should definitely get your hands on.
Wow. I think a guy has a good looking face. I'm such a bad feminist. I hate this book so much.
I love a posh badboy…
Posh private school, murder, scenery to die for? Sounds like a dream book right? Props to Bennett for creating a quick, easy read and describing the surroundings beautifully but other than that it was just an OK book, really a bit of a disappointment…
I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and didn’t particularly like many of them (kinda the point but also didn’t like those you were supposed to like!) There were plot holes and the characters were very 2D, with not much behind them although it was written well in the fact I only noticed this 3/4s of the way through!
The Fourth Wall is often broken and wasn’t done well enough for me not to get annoyed and just want them to continue with the story - also way too much use of film references (many of which I hadn’t seen!)
It wasn’t bad enough to get a meh 3 stars, but just not enough to be on par with our other four stars...
Posh private school, murder, scenery to die for? Sounds like a dream book right? Props to Bennett for creating a quick, easy read and describing the surroundings beautifully but other than that it was just an OK book, really a bit of a disappointment…
I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and didn’t particularly like many of them (kinda the point but also didn’t like those you were supposed to like!) There were plot holes and the characters were very 2D, with not much behind them although it was written well in the fact I only noticed this 3/4s of the way through!
The Fourth Wall is often broken and wasn’t done well enough for me not to get annoyed and just want them to continue with the story - also way too much use of film references (many of which I hadn’t seen!)
It wasn’t bad enough to get a meh 3 stars, but just not enough to be on par with our other four stars...
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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
I'm very sorry but this has got to be the dumbest book I've read in ages. It was just so bland, and entirely predictable. Who even fucking cares about those "Medievals"? I don't understand why the main character, Greer, goes on the trip in the first place?? These people have been horrible for an entire year and she doesn't think that it might not be a very smart idea to go on a hunting trip with them???
Overall, this novel just really lacked suspense and a believable motivation to explain what happens. I really couldn't bring myself to care even a little bit.
On top of that, Greer could use a lesson or two on what is and isn't feminism. The only two times she mentions it are when she picks clothes to take on the trip and before she calls a boy handsome. That's... not what feminism is?
I've also had to read this sentence with my own two eyes: "The Medievals were not straightforward racists; nothing so simple. I suppose you'd have to say that they were pretty even-handed really, in that they were quite happy to make fun of anything that didn't fit." Well, that's okay then? How fair of them?? And if that isn't enough, Shafeen is portrayed as being very "exotic" throughout the entire novel, and even compared to freaking Aladdin at the end.
Overall, this novel just really lacked suspense and a believable motivation to explain what happens. I really couldn't bring myself to care even a little bit.
On top of that, Greer could use a lesson or two on what is and isn't feminism. The only two times she mentions it are when she picks clothes to take on the trip and before she calls a boy handsome. That's... not what feminism is?
I've also had to read this sentence with my own two eyes: "The Medievals were not straightforward racists; nothing so simple. I suppose you'd have to say that they were pretty even-handed really, in that they were quite happy to make fun of anything that didn't fit." Well, that's okay then? How fair of them?? And if that isn't enough, Shafeen is portrayed as being very "exotic" throughout the entire novel, and even compared to freaking Aladdin at the end.
Well written, and I did enjoy the story, but it was too predictable for me.