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A review by italsma
S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett
2.0
As someone who frequently bounces around genres, there are few times when I feel that the sequence of my book selections directly influences my appreciation for what comes next. For me, reading S.T.A.G.S. in (unintentionally!) quick succession with The Secret History definitely shaded my overall enjoyment of this book. Although the subject matters are innately different, there were enough nagging similarities that I found myself constantly comparing the two and, ultimately, pitted them against each other.
In the case of S.T.A.G.S., I felt that the early reveal of the climax/mystery (similar to TSH) eliminated any suspense I felt moving through the plot. Knowing the outline of the narrator's actions in the first few chapters eased the tension of the build up, regardless of the terrible situations the characters found themselves in. Being given bread crumbs to how heinous the Medievals were ahead of time dulled the reaction of "the reveal" of the happenings at Longcross.
This book also highlighted a few of my personal narrative pet peeves, including overbearing pop culture references (a character trait that felt more like a crutch to avoid full visual/emotional descriptions) and repetitive language (describing colors as "arterial blood" in various situations). Overall, appreciated that S.T.A.G.S. had not-so-happy and open ending. I am glad to have read this as an entry on my growing list of campus-novels/students-go-bad books.
In the case of S.T.A.G.S., I felt that the early reveal of the climax/mystery (similar to TSH) eliminated any suspense I felt moving through the plot. Knowing the outline of the narrator's actions in the first few chapters eased the tension of the build up, regardless of the terrible situations the characters found themselves in. Being given bread crumbs to how heinous the Medievals were ahead of time dulled the reaction of "the reveal" of the happenings at Longcross.
This book also highlighted a few of my personal narrative pet peeves, including overbearing pop culture references (a character trait that felt more like a crutch to avoid full visual/emotional descriptions) and repetitive language (describing colors as "arterial blood" in various situations). Overall, appreciated that S.T.A.G.S. had not-so-happy and open ending. I am glad to have read this as an entry on my growing list of campus-novels/students-go-bad books.