I wasn’t able to finish this book. Because of this, it is my policy not to review the book on my site or on Goodreads/Amazon. I also didn’t mark it DNF.

An interesting premise and definitely fast-paced. Unfortunately, this just wasn't as focus-grabbing as I'd hoped. I feel like the movie references were too much and too often but maybe someone who watches tons and tons of movies might find that characteristic appealing? This would have been great if the final third had taken on like a movie-esque ending -- I would have loved to see the the tie-in back to her love of film references played out at the end somehow. Overall, an alright installment to what is now a 5 installment series.

3.5 stars

I received this free eARC novel from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This has been on my TBR pile for so long, and I'm glad I finally got around to it. I really enjoyed the storyline and seeing the characters change throughout the story was a great character development. The plot was great and kept my attention. I'm glad I got the chance to read this and will be on the lookout for more in the future!

This had a fantastic set up, a group of kids from preppy school, spending the weekend alone at a hunting lodge - it felt very clue like at first! I think the suspense and the general story line were great, but the ending left me wanting.

The boarding school setting is one I wll always appreciate, mixed with a hierarchy of cliques, and a hunger games-esque vibe with increasing horrifying challenges, this book really opened the doors to a more mature and graphic YA style.

This was I very interesting book in the Young Adult genre. For anyone that has read the Magnolia League, and similar books with find this one interesting. It does take some old story lines, differences in class etc. and place a new spin on them. The characters were interesting but not deeply developed, just the things about them that you need at the moment for what was happening in the story. The main characters developed more in the last third of the books. It did have moments of suspense. Over all a good book and the series may do well.

Not a popular book in my classroom among my students. No one has liked it enough to read the entire work. Not sure what really.

I was immediately disappointed in how slowly this book started, I actually started it and put it down once before I came back and gave it another try. I’m a huge fan of any book that takes place in a boarding school, so seeing that in the synopsis made me immediately request it. I’d say about 40% through the book, I was completely immersed and could not put it down until I found out how everything was going to turn out.

I found there was a lot of character building in the beginning, and maybe that’s why it took me so long to get into it. I was expecting to be thrown into an action pack book immediately. I wasn’t the biggest fan on the main character until maybe 85% through. She seemed to be just a big follower of all the people around her and generally annoyed me. It talked about bullying and I thought it was portrayed really well.

I’d say this one was an equally plot-based and character-based book. The first half was all character development and the last was all this strange intricate plot that was amazing to read about and follow though on. I loved the ending of this one and all the pop culture (movie) references. I would say push through the beginning if you are finding it slow, because it is definitely worth it.

I wasn’t able to finish this book. Because of this, it is my policy not to review the book on my site or label it as DNF (did not finish) on Goodreads/Amazon.

3.5, maybe 3.75 stars. Posh English boarding schools are my catnip, so I was all in on "S.T.A.G.S." I really, really enjoyed it up until the last 1/4 of the book.
I didn't expect a return to "normalcy" after Henry died, but the twist that the whole weekend was a part of a cult ritual was beyond belief. Everything about the story was great up until that point; as soon as the cult was introduced, the book went off the rails. The writing suffered and the characters did a complete 180. The abbot being the "Grandmaster" was so dumb that it nearly destroyed all of the goodwill the rest of the story had created.

tl;dr a fun read ruined by a stupid ending.

It was not my favorite book and It took awhile for me to get through the book. I felt the ending was a little open ended to make room for a next book. It’s not the first book I would recommend to a patron or friend.

What can I say about this book that won't give too much away? I no longer read many young adult books, but after reading the synopsis of S.T.A.G.S, I knew it was one not to be missed. It's a grand mystery that appeals to my upper crust privileged crazy private school love with mean teens who are left without any parental control. You just know that shenanigans of the worst kind will ensue. I flew through this book. I had OMG moments. I thought a few times I knew all, but found out I didn't. In truth, I figured out most, but that didn't slight my intrigue for all the little details. S.T.A.G.S is very reminiscent of many 90's private school movies. They are all dark and kind of gothically brooding. If that makes any sense. Loved it. Read it. That's all I have to say. For me, it definitely deserves a reread.

S.T.A.G.S is a cracking debut psychological thriller aimed at the YA market but in all honesty with M.A. Bennett’s neat plotting, the scathing humour of her central character and a storyline filled with situations which are accessible to an adult audience, this novel has the ability to entertain well beyond its target bracket.

S.T.A.G.S. is a book that unsettled me, disgusted me, made me all kinds of uncomfortable, and turned my stomach. I loved it.

What I loved:

The pacing. I rarely say anything about pacing in a novel, because for me it never seems to matter that much and I feel like it can be kind of trivial at times, but this book is so nicely paced. It has its action and it’s mystery mixing between a fast and steady pace seamlessly and for once that is something I can truly appreciate.

It grossed me out. There are parts of this story that really made me physically uncomfortable due its description and the fact that it accomplished that shows how well it was written. Thrillers like this are meant to make your skin crawl and S.T.A.G.S. accomplishes that quite well.

Cult vibes. There is a cult in this book although they would call themselves a “prestigious organization” or “keepers of the old ways”. The mystery of this group and even that they were truly an order of some kind was fascinating.

Greer might actually be insane. The group that invites her on this trip to hunt, shoot, and fish are all pretty insane, but this isn’t killers going after a girl who is normal and is shocked by it all. Nope. It’s the insane hunting the insane. Some of this girls thoughts made me take a step back and wonder who should I truly root for here?

Simply a story well told. This boarding school thriller fest has all the makings of a brilliant novel. It is unique, well thought out, with a mixture of dark humor to balance it out.

Final thoughts:

S.T.A.G.S. Is a book that will stick in my memory for a long time. It’s a twisted thriller that I highly recommend to anyone that wants to get into or already loves this chilling genre.

This book reminded me of a primal Pretty Little Liars. It's set in a school that doesn't have any of the modern amenities. No phones are allowed and the popular crowd goes by the name of "The Medeivals".

Greer is very surprised to learn that she has been invited to spend the weekend at Longcross Hall. She's more intrigued by who is invited along with her. Knowing that none of them have been on The Medeivals radar, she can't help but feel that something else might be going on. Despite that feeling she soldiers on and tries to make the most of this dream weekend.

It was a good story and had solid characters. It was a bit slow moving and action lacking for my taste. The author writes well and had great description, but I didn't find myself gripping the edge of anything throughout the tale.

In S.T.A.G.S., Greer gets accepted as a scholarship student to an ancient and prestigious school where nobody uses technology. No phones, no computers, no cameras. At first, she doesn’t fit in, but when she gets invited to spend a luxurious weekend at the estate of the richest and most popular boy in school with his friends, she thinks her life is about to turn around.

I gotta say, I LOVED the first 80% of this book. It was to die for (pun intended).

The story starts off with a murder confession, then dives right into the plot. The narrator does a great job of painting a picture and keeping the reader in the loop.

The suspense builds slowly and as the reader, I ate it up. Greer, the main character, tells us several times that something bad is coming, that certain characters are not what they seem, that it all ends in tragedy. That kept me reading and kept the suspense cranked up even when the situations weren’t tense.

I wished it ended differently. S.T.A.G.S. seemed to have two endings. I expected the first ending because Greer mentioned it several times throughout the book (I liked the first ending). However, the twist in the second ending wasn’t much of a twist, since I could see it coming miles away.

Based on the mixed Goodreads reviews for this book, other readers have similar feelings about the end.

Regardless, this was a super fun read and a suspenseful story. It’s definitely going on my “read it again” shelf.

I loved the world that the author built. The school, the estate, the social hierarchy — it was all fascinating and I reeeeeeaally hope the author writes more books set at the same school.

The cover of this book grabbed me the minute I saw it and I was intrigued. I was a bit disappointed in this book though as it became very predictable quite quickly as to what was going on. The ending was good though, so I would be interested in reading a sequel if there was one

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

S.T.A.G.S. is the type of novel that you need to really be in the mood for. If you're not in the right state of mind for the book, it will certainly not be your cup of tea and border on dull or lifeless. But, it's exactly its dreary tone of danger that captivated me from the get-go. S.T.A.G.S. is smart and indulgent, mysterious and gray, compelling to a quality beyond its age range. It's perfect for fans of Kate Brian's beloved Private series and twisted in just the right way. There's something utterly compelling and fresh to S.T.A.G.S. that I can't quite explain without spoiling the story.

So what do you get when you mix (1) Elite school for mostly over privileged kids (3) Outsiders longing for the chance to no longer be on the outside looking in (6) Of said Elite School's "most admired group of friends" called the Medievals and one weekend outing full of all the bleak and luxurious perks of being part of a clique? A twisted game of hunt or be hunted that will, without a doubt, do your head in with all the suspense that follows.

Straight away, we're introduced to the narrator/main character Greer MacDonald. Greer is a very solid narrator and frankly, the story wouldn't have worked from anyone else's point of view (sans, perhaps, Henry--but we'll get to that later) because she truly speaks to readers. As it happens, Greer's voice is exactly how you'd expect it to be--she is thoughtful, shaken and somewhere between child and adult.




I wasn't sure I'd like how the narration would be set up--in something like a retrospect--but it truly worked. I liked that we saw Greer's life as it was before the event; her quiet observation of her fellow classmates, the ones who isolate, ignore or mock her, the admiration she had at first for the clique known as the Medievals and in particular the ringleader, Henry de Warlencourt.

There's this sort of innocence to her at first. I am reluctant to use that exact term but there's nothing else quite sufficient to refer to the picture of Before that she paints in her narration. Because the story is told in comparison to life Before and After one fateful weekend.

Other elements included in the story are: cruelty, privilege, friendship and what it's like to grow up in a word of insiders as an outsider.

At its core, S.T.A.G.S. could be seen as something not terribly unique. Upon first glance, I'll admit, I thought it'd be just another private school mystery that had little substance. But Bennett surprised me with her descriptive writing, richly drawn history and spine-tingling suspense that built up slowly and in what felt like real time.

You see, she has this way of writing her characters that feels incredibly real. Like you already know them. Greer could be your very best-friend, a girl from your class, your sister. Chanel could be much of the same. And of course, so can Shafeen. These three serve as the moral center of the novel and feel very much like the sort of kids I'd have befriended during my teenage years--I loved that quality. You truly wanted them to get out of their ordeal alive.

As for the Medievals, they too felt like kids you knew in high school... but with a dreadfully dark and disturbing twist. That being said, I'm not sure why many reviewers are titling this story as something similar to the film Mean Girls. Plot-wise, the story is completely different and far more creepy due to its subject matter and the so-called game at hand. Come to think of it, there's nothing quite like it that I had ever read before and that's what made it so appealing to me, plot-holes and all. The only book I can think to compare it to, in its genre, is the above mentioned Private (and Privilege) series by Kate Brian.

In fact, Henry feels like the perfectly suitable counterpart to Private/Privilege's deliciously charming and utterly evil Ariana Osgood. I remember thinking, for the most part, how similar they were in tone and personality. Admittedly, Ariana was the much more sympathetic villain but they are both deeply compelling because of their gruesome games.

But back to S.T.A.G.S.

I'm not going to tackle the plot-holes that made me knock my rating down half a star because they're more personal preference ticks than actual faults of Bennett's delectable tale. S.T.A.G.S. was more than any flaws it had and that's what makes it so brilliant and atmospheric; it isn't perfect but it sure is easy to get wrapped into.

Essentially, the story's biggest focus is the Medievals and their clique's ways. You know the type... until you don't. Because these kids aren't exactly the mean girls and boys you've known your entire life. What I found to be most intriguing about them was not their personalities or lack of quirks, it was the way they owned the school and its students with barely any whisper. They had this eerie control over everyone and everything, to the point that their word was basically law.

And there's this whole conspiracy on just how deeply their word runs in the entire area, even beyond the school. Including some interesting trends they set--like the distaste for technology and social media, not something you see everyday in this particular age group. It begs the question... who else is under their thumbs?

They are true hunters; stylish in their arrogance, intelligent and conniving. They lure you into a sort of comfort before going in for the kill. Quite literally. The worst of them all, of course, is Henry. He is clearly the mastermind behind everything and calls the shots in his own time. What's worse is he is the type of character that chills you to your bone as you wonder if you should distrust him or if it's all in your head.

That's the biggest theme of the novel: you just don't know who to trust and if you, and the characters, are overreacting.

Every year, at half-term, (?) the Medievals host a weekend away at the estate of Henry's family. The place is old and luxurious, setting further the tone and atmosphere that Bennett had set up at the just-as-old-and-creepy school, and the purpose of the getaway is supposedly to scope out new prospects for their little clique.

During this time, the group of six known as the Medievals would get to know a group of three and partake in "huntin' shootin' fishin'". This, of course, makes one outsider suspicious from the get-go and the other two are seduced into this idea that, one day, they'd be a part of the group for real. Any teenager who has felt loneliness or like they don't truly belong in school would have felt the same, and that vulnerability serves as something obtainable for the audience.

It also serves as something the Medievals rely on when it comes to their own games.

Soon, the weekend turns from fun to a nightmare and the three outsiders have to find a way to beat the others at their own game. One thing is for certain: none of them are safe and the hunt is on.

With a chilling pace and fascinating twists and turns, S.T.A.G.S. proves itself to be one of the best YA books of the year and one of the funnest debuts I've read in a very long time. My heart was pounding at a constant pace throughout the many thrilling moments and my mind is still reeling from that final twist. And the way that it ended was truly and completely satisfying! I loved S.T.A.G.S. and cannot wait to hear more from Bennett in the future.

The concept of the novel is intriguing, but the follow-though was too far-fetched and left too many open question. Would have made a good stand-alone, but not so sure it has the makings of a good series.

STAGS is a boarding school for the wealthy elite. Greer is admitted on a scholarship, whereas most other students at the school have had generations of attendees in their families. When Greer and two other new/outcast students are invited for a weekend of "Huntin'. Shootin'. Fishin'" with the Medievals (the elite clique of students at the school), she is warned against going by a former friend, but ultimately decides to go, seeing it as a chance to finally make friends and be accepted. What occurs instead is a weekend of veiled bullying and the thrill of the chase.

I honestly feel that this is one of the better YA thrillers I have read lately. That being said, though, the book certainly has its flaws. However, regarding the genre, I thought M.A. Bennett did a terrific job of setting up a bit of background for the Medievals by showing them flaunting their personal family lineage back to the crusades in class and even around the dinner table. Their shady words alluding to hatred of outsiders was a first clue as to their true motives. However, their talk is so flowery and conversation so natural that who would really think that there was a threat present? Nel just wants to make friends, Greer wants conversation, and Shafeen wants to stand up for himself.

The setting in a boarding school and then a large family estate on the moors of Northumberland was also perfect. Beautiful, yet ominous and eerie...much like the Medievals themselves. I could just imagine mists and fog and these elite teenagers showing off their knowledge of "huntin', shootin', and fishin'" to the outcasts who had never or who had hardly been exposed to that before. It truly was another world for the three outsiders, or "Savages" as they came to be called. The author's descriptions were just wonderful and added an extra dimension of creep factor.

Despite the good in the book, I will admit that I never felt fully invested or connected in the main characters. I cared for them, yes, but I was preoccupied with the bigger picture in the book. Greer is a teenage narrator who really reads like a teenager. She is constantly referencing movies--which I didn't mind much, and it sort of made sense since her father makes films--and jumping around in her telling of the story ("But that was not nearly as bad as what was to happen next," etc.). I could do without that. I felt that some of the descriptions were too drawn out and the action too underplayed. I wanted a bit more out of those.

And of course, the ending. I like the concept and how the book wrapped up. Certain aspects I saw coming, while others were a nice touch. If ever there was a book that should be a movie, its this one. I can absolutely see this as a screenplay and I would definitely go see it.