A review by readintowonderland
S.T.A.G.S. by M.A. Bennett

5.0

This book is not too scary. Any acts of violence or moments of stark fear are not described in too much detail. 

If you are a fan of many different films, you will unexpectedly enjoy this book. There are a ton of film references all throughout that cover all different genres of film.

At times the narrator becomes a bit too self-aware and breaks the fourth wall frequently, to the point of addressing the readers directly. For some readers, I know this can be a non-starter. While that is not my preference for books, it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. 

I found the entire story incredibly thrilling and hard to put down. This feeling is great evidence of how naturally engaging this book is. 

I think I might keep this book as an open-ended standalone in my reading experience because I am not necessarily interested in following another narrator tackling the same issues. 

This book is full of entirely morally grey characters. Even the allegedly good and bad guys are a mix of both. I like how even with a reliable narrator, Greer was never entirely in the right or entirely innocent. 

The book plays with modern vs ancient ideals very well. The main trio at the center of this book are more connected to the modern world than the rest of the student body. They show how modern technology in moderation can alter the course of their lives for better and for worse. 

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and highly enjoyed the unique perspective of a group of students who dress and act like priests. That said, I would not classify this book as having religious theming. I highly recommend this book to those who like a medium-paced thriller that isn't too dark. 

For a more in-depth review please see my blog:  https://readintowonderland.blogspot.com/2024/03/S.T.A.G.S.html