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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
3.5
When I loved it, I LOVED it! But there were parts that got a little tedious for me. Mostly the movie references. I understand why, and it worked in some cases, but sometimes they got to be too much or would be thrown in the middle of a really good description, which would then take away from that "picturing myself in the environment." I think I also expected it to be a bit darker, but it definitely had its creepy moments.
Overall, though, it held my interest...and made me want to rewatch The Skulls. (movie reference!)
When I loved it, I LOVED it! But there were parts that got a little tedious for me. Mostly the movie references. I understand why, and it worked in some cases, but sometimes they got to be too much or would be thrown in the middle of a really good description, which would then take away from that "picturing myself in the environment." I think I also expected it to be a bit darker, but it definitely had its creepy moments.
Overall, though, it held my interest...and made me want to rewatch The Skulls. (movie reference!)
I received a copy of this novel from Net Galley and Hot Key Books in return for an honest review.
I've heard loads about this novel on Twitter and among other YA bloggers, so I was super excited to get my hands on a copy to review. I wasn't disappointed at all! This is a fascinating and unique YA thriller that will keep you reading until the last page!
This novel is set in an English boarding school, I'm a sucker for anything set in boarding schools, so if you have any other recommendations let me know!! There's something magical and so different about boarding schools, maybe it's because it's something I've only experienced through books and tv so it has a real novelty to it, but whatever the reason I can't say no to books with that setting. Bennett does an excellent job of setting up the boarding school and the scenario within the school quickly and efficiently so the storyline can get going as quickly as possible.
Bennett's writing style is well suited to these quick paced novels, her descriptions are brief but essential, and characters are developed well, without sacrificing the quick pace of the plot.
This novel utilises a past tense narrative, with our main character Greer seemingly telling the story from the future, adding another layer to the mystery and adding the reliable/unreliable narrator theme into the novel. More of the story becomes clear as we read; Greer has the whole story, but she only drip feeds the details to the reader, so we are left wondering exactly what has taken place, and it's not completely clear until the very end of the novel.
The mystery in the novel is also well written, Bennett keeps the reader guess into exactly what has taken place until the very end, and even when you think the action has finished, Bennett throws in another twist just to keep you on your toes! It's a fast-paced and twisting story that will definitely keep you reading until the last page.
Overall I really enjoyed this novel. Bennett writes an amazing YA thriller, check out her other novel The Island for something more Hunger Games-esque but just as action packed!
I've heard loads about this novel on Twitter and among other YA bloggers, so I was super excited to get my hands on a copy to review. I wasn't disappointed at all! This is a fascinating and unique YA thriller that will keep you reading until the last page!
This novel is set in an English boarding school, I'm a sucker for anything set in boarding schools, so if you have any other recommendations let me know!! There's something magical and so different about boarding schools, maybe it's because it's something I've only experienced through books and tv so it has a real novelty to it, but whatever the reason I can't say no to books with that setting. Bennett does an excellent job of setting up the boarding school and the scenario within the school quickly and efficiently so the storyline can get going as quickly as possible.
Bennett's writing style is well suited to these quick paced novels, her descriptions are brief but essential, and characters are developed well, without sacrificing the quick pace of the plot.
This novel utilises a past tense narrative, with our main character Greer seemingly telling the story from the future, adding another layer to the mystery and adding the reliable/unreliable narrator theme into the novel. More of the story becomes clear as we read; Greer has the whole story, but she only drip feeds the details to the reader, so we are left wondering exactly what has taken place, and it's not completely clear until the very end of the novel.
The mystery in the novel is also well written, Bennett keeps the reader guess into exactly what has taken place until the very end, and even when you think the action has finished, Bennett throws in another twist just to keep you on your toes! It's a fast-paced and twisting story that will definitely keep you reading until the last page.
Overall I really enjoyed this novel. Bennett writes an amazing YA thriller, check out her other novel The Island for something more Hunger Games-esque but just as action packed!
Three blood sports, three Medievals, three misfits.
S.T.A.Gs is a YA full of twists and turns, with an interesting plot and a very good twist at the very end. Younger YA readers will love it, as the book is full of references that teenagers will recognise instantly and a school setting that is so far removed from their own that they cannot help but get sucked in. Yet beyond the setting and references lies an analysis of British class and values. What does being rich mean? Does money bring you everything? Do those with money control those without/with less? S.T.A.G.S is therefore not just a YA mystery thriller, but a closer inspection of the value of money, technology and class in the lives of young people.
S.T.A.Gs is a YA full of twists and turns, with an interesting plot and a very good twist at the very end. Younger YA readers will love it, as the book is full of references that teenagers will recognise instantly and a school setting that is so far removed from their own that they cannot help but get sucked in. Yet beyond the setting and references lies an analysis of British class and values. What does being rich mean? Does money bring you everything? Do those with money control those without/with less? S.T.A.G.S is therefore not just a YA mystery thriller, but a closer inspection of the value of money, technology and class in the lives of young people.
3.5*
S.T.A.G.S. was described to me as a 'twisting thriller' and although I did enjoy the originality of this YA story I couldn't help but feel like there was some action missing.
This book is quite difficult to describe without spoilers but I'm going to give it a go. S.T.A.G.S. tells the story of an outcast scholarship student at a private school is invited to a long weekend of' huntin', shootin', and fishin' by the extremely rich and dashingly handsome Henry de Warlencourt. She finds herself in the company of two other school outcasts and Henry's rich, upper-class friends, known as The Medievals. It is safe to say that things for our lead character, Greer, do not go as planned and the rest of the tale is filled with dark secrets and foreboding imagery.
I found Greer to be quite a refreshing character, her intelligence and resourcefulness balancing well with her ability to manipulate those around her. Although I did find the constant film references slightly offputting as they drew me out of the story, albeit only briefly.
If you are a fan of boarding school stories and don't mind a darker plot then I would give this a read. I have rated this book 3.5 stars as I feel the story could definitely do with some more action and a faster pace.
S.T.A.G.S. was described to me as a 'twisting thriller' and although I did enjoy the originality of this YA story I couldn't help but feel like there was some action missing.
This book is quite difficult to describe without spoilers but I'm going to give it a go. S.T.A.G.S. tells the story of an outcast scholarship student at a private school is invited to a long weekend of' huntin', shootin', and fishin' by the extremely rich and dashingly handsome Henry de Warlencourt. She finds herself in the company of two other school outcasts and Henry's rich, upper-class friends, known as The Medievals. It is safe to say that things for our lead character, Greer, do not go as planned and the rest of the tale is filled with dark secrets and foreboding imagery.
I found Greer to be quite a refreshing character, her intelligence and resourcefulness balancing well with her ability to manipulate those around her. Although I did find the constant film references slightly offputting as they drew me out of the story, albeit only briefly.
If you are a fan of boarding school stories and don't mind a darker plot then I would give this a read. I have rated this book 3.5 stars as I feel the story could definitely do with some more action and a faster pace.
I have mixed feelings about S.T.A.G.S. Broadly it was an easy read, that I finished comfortably in a day and that is typically a good sign, books that take me ages are usually a slog for a bad reason.
The story is about bullying, a conspiracy at England’s oldest private school, and the class divide. It starts out making a bold claim about the main student’s and to avoid spoilers I won’t go into detail, but that claim, I felt, doesn’t really come to fruition. Which made the ending a bit of a disappointment, although there was a somewhat predictable twist right at the end.
It’s a simple plot that’s easy to follow with pretty engaging characters, I liked the scene setting too, although the first 15% of the book reads very bizarrely. It’s almost like a shopping list. I think it could have done with a further edit to make the description flow better.
The main character was likable, and the constant references to films could have been a big risk – a cheat for metaphors and description, but actually, I quite liked how the character viewed the world and compared it to movies.
Overall, this was an okay book. It was a good, quick read, with characters I liked to hate, but it didn’t blow me away. That being said, I probably would read another book by this author.
The story is about bullying, a conspiracy at England’s oldest private school, and the class divide. It starts out making a bold claim about the main student’s and to avoid spoilers I won’t go into detail, but that claim, I felt, doesn’t really come to fruition. Which made the ending a bit of a disappointment, although there was a somewhat predictable twist right at the end.
It’s a simple plot that’s easy to follow with pretty engaging characters, I liked the scene setting too, although the first 15% of the book reads very bizarrely. It’s almost like a shopping list. I think it could have done with a further edit to make the description flow better.
The main character was likable, and the constant references to films could have been a big risk – a cheat for metaphors and description, but actually, I quite liked how the character viewed the world and compared it to movies.
Overall, this was an okay book. It was a good, quick read, with characters I liked to hate, but it didn’t blow me away. That being said, I probably would read another book by this author.
3.5 Stars
STAGS are more than graceful animals. They are attendees at an elite boarding school in England. A school that costs more than I, or our main character Greer’s father can afford. Which is why she is on scholarship. And everyone at school knows it. It’s part of what makes her an outcast. A loner. A “savage”. She really wants to be a Medieval. One of the popular kids who run the school. And she gets her chance when an invitation arrives for fall break. She and 2 others have been tagged by the Medievals to join the hutin’, shootin’, and fishin’ weekend celebration. But the weekend takes a turn for the bleak when dogs attack, and each savage has a possibly deadly accident.
This was an interesting world to explore. I found much of the book to be predictable but I still found it enjoyable to read. There are other titles with similar setup, but maybe not as deadly. However, Just a few weeks ago I watched a movie on Netflix that could have been this book. The premise was similar, just missing the boarding school. An interesting movie titled Final Girl starting a blond Abigail Breslin. What I liked about this story was the background. Why was Greer going to boarding school? What was her relationship like with her parents? What made the Medievals so important? The book leaves itself open for a sequel, and to say why would give to much away. It doesn’t need a sequel, as the ending is part of a device plot the reader can see coming a mile away, but one could be made, and I think readers would follow.
STAGS are more than graceful animals. They are attendees at an elite boarding school in England. A school that costs more than I, or our main character Greer’s father can afford. Which is why she is on scholarship. And everyone at school knows it. It’s part of what makes her an outcast. A loner. A “savage”. She really wants to be a Medieval. One of the popular kids who run the school. And she gets her chance when an invitation arrives for fall break. She and 2 others have been tagged by the Medievals to join the hutin’, shootin’, and fishin’ weekend celebration. But the weekend takes a turn for the bleak when dogs attack, and each savage has a possibly deadly accident.
This was an interesting world to explore. I found much of the book to be predictable but I still found it enjoyable to read. There are other titles with similar setup, but maybe not as deadly. However, Just a few weeks ago I watched a movie on Netflix that could have been this book. The premise was similar, just missing the boarding school. An interesting movie titled Final Girl starting a blond Abigail Breslin. What I liked about this story was the background. Why was Greer going to boarding school? What was her relationship like with her parents? What made the Medievals so important? The book leaves itself open for a sequel, and to say why would give to much away. It doesn’t need a sequel, as the ending is part of a device plot the reader can see coming a mile away, but one could be made, and I think readers would follow.
*2.75...?
I did enjoy certain aspects of it... But overall I just found it super predictable and a little bit weird...
I did enjoy certain aspects of it... But overall I just found it super predictable and a little bit weird...
An interesting take on the boarding school story, but instead of midnight feasts and tuck boxes we have huntin' shootin' fishin' and the Medievals, a group of students who would seem to have it all. The main character, Greer, admits to being a murderer in the prologue so the story is about finding out exactly who she is meant to have killed.
A pretty decent YA novel, with a bow taken in the direction of Christie's And Then There Were None but ultimately nowhere near as satisfying. I enjoyed the story and was intrigued by the whole premise. At the end of the day though it wasn't quite thriller/suspense-y enough for me. I suspect 13-year-old me would have devoured it though!
- Upper class luxury and murder - like The Riot Club and The Secret History. Utterly my thing.