REVIEW: S.T.A.G.S by M.A Bennett

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Delecorte Press

ISBN: 0525578463

Format: Hardback, Paperback, E-Book,
Audio-Book

Release Date: 30th Jan 2018



Links: Goodreads, Amazon.com, Indigo
B&N, Book Depository

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Rating: 8/10


Synopsis:

There's no point hunting if there's no kill.

At St. Aidan the Great School, or S.T.A.G.S., new things--and new people--are to be avoided. Unfortunately, Greer MacDonald, token scholarship student, is very much a new person. She has just transferred to S.T.A.G.S., and finds herself ignored at best and mocked at worst by the school's most admired circle of friends, the Medievals.
So imagine Greer's surprise when this very group invites her to an exclusive weekend retreat at the private estate of the parents of their unofficial leader, Henry de Warlencourt. It's billed as a weekend of "huntin' shootin' fishin'," and rumor has it that the invitee who most impresses the group will be given the privilege of becoming a Medieval themselves.

As the weekend begins to take shape, however, it becomes apparent that beyond the luxurious trappings--the fancy clothes the maid lays out on Greer's bed, the elaborate multicourse dinners held in the Great Hall--there are predators lurking, and they're out for blood. . . .

Review:

** I was sent this book by Penguin Random House Canada in return for my honest review**

S.T.A.G.S is a prestigious school in England where the Medievals are the most popular kids in school. Greer is just trying to fit in and is taken by surprise when she receives an invitation to an exclusive weekend at a private estate. As the weekend progresses its apparent that not everything is as it seems.

This book was a brilliant take on the mystery/thriller YA genre. The story is suspenseful and full of twists and turns that I never expected. I just couldn't put the book down.

Bennett does a fantastic job the main character, Greer, and her sarcastic, youthful commentary which convinces you of her being only 16 years old. She has a dark comical tone and often makes references to different movies throughout the novel.

The other characters in the book include the Medievals. The Medievals in particular were well written. At S.T.A.G.S they are admired by all when in reality they hide a dark secret and are more cunning than you anticipate. They believe they are superior due to their wealth and family name and look down on those under them. I didn't feel the deepest connection to these characters and I would have liked to have read more about them.

The other two major character are Nel and Sebastian. Again, I loved how these characters were written. Nel in particular was well written; she tries to change herself to fit in with the 'popular crowd' when in reality her real friends are right beside her. Sebastian becomes a love interest for Greer but I never felt a real connection between the two of them. I think it would have been better not written in or having more scenes with the two of them alone.

I found the final stage, 'fishing', in the book was too drawn out and almost anticlimactic. I was expecting something bigger to happen but it did end with something that I didn't see coming. I also feel the book could have benefitted from being longer with more about the school and minor character being written in.

The ending isn't truly an ending but rather almost a new 'beginning'. There is easily room for one or two more books after this one. 

Overall, this book is a fantastic take on the mystery/thriller YA genre and I'd love to read more. I could easily see this book becoming a film and I think fans of The Hunger Games will love this one.