#STAGS is the name of the fancy private school Greer has got a scholarship to attend. Her first month is lonely and she feels increasingly isolated, then she gets invited to a weekend of hunting, shooting & fishing at the estate of the most popular boy at STAGS.

Only three people get invited, along with the ‘Medieval’s, they are the popular crew, super smart & beautiful, they also utterly reject technology and esteem tradition. Apparently if the weekend goes well, she and the other two guests might be invited to be a Medieval.

Greer tells the story as it happened, so at the very beginning we know that there is going to be a murder, but how? And was it the hunted or the hunter?

I was gripped from the start, and read this in one sitting. I loved it, and didn’t see the twist at the very end coming.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Huntin' Shootin' Fishin'

I love love love boarding school young adult books. I wanted to be a school boarder when I was younger - don't ask me why, I think it was to do with all of the midnight feasts I was promised with Enid Blyton that probably would never happen in real life - and I'm still fascinated with the idea of living at school during the week or even during the term.

I'm also a huge fan of mystery books set in schools, including clique style mysteries such as Pretty Little Liars and the Privilege series by Kate Brian. With this in mind, once I saw S.T.A.G.S on the shelf of my local bookstore, I snapped it up, hoping to be dragged into a world of suspenseful school mystery.

It was strange that almost immediately, the main characters leave the school and the majority of the action takes place at one of the popular students' estate during a weekend away. I was hoping for there to be a little bit more based in the school. But instead we are thrust into the fabulous home of Henry, where technology doesn't exist and there are no adults to monitor the kids, only servants to offer their services throughout the weekend.

Greer and two other lower ranking students are invited to Longcross, where they are promised the chance to up their popularity and perhaps become 'Medievals' in the school next year (similar to school prefects, I guess.) However, instead of this being a fun weekend of upper class jollys, things take a frightening turn and Greer and her new friends have to work out whether they are the hunters or the hunted.

I mostly enjoyed this book. I found the start to be a little slow at times, and I was hoping for a little more action to hook me as the reader in. However, I do no regret pursuing this, as I felt like the story kicked in towards a third of the way through and continued right up until the very end. In fact the twist right at the end was brilliantly done, even though I had a small inkling that it would happen (although it did surprise me as I thought the time for the twist had come and gone!) and I thought it was so good I bumped the book up a whole star rating.

My main issue was with the character of Greer. I hate to judge books by their main characters, as I feel like sometimes they are not supposed to be likable. But Greer clearly is. And so, some things she does and says really annoyed me. For example, she was constantly comparing every situation to films she had seen - I don't know if, in that situation, that would be one of the first things I'd think to do, and I'm a bit of a film buff myself. There's a real chance she and her friends might die and in her head is a commentary from a film she watched years ago. Why? Also, I didn't like the way she kept saying she was a bad feminist. She was a rubbish feminist because the first thing she noticed about a guy was that he was hot... What does that have to do with feminism? Or humanism? That's just appreciation, in my opinion. If you call yourself a feminist or a humanist or whatever, you still find people attractive as that is just human nature.

Apart from Greer getting on my nerves at points, overall I found the story to be fun and fast paced after a slow start and I am massively looking forward to checking out the next book in the series. That twist has got me hooked!

I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed the feel of it, the sense that we were sitting down for a casual chat with Greer. A chat wher she shares her deepest secrets.

The first page gripped me instantly. Well, it would you wouldn’t if the first thing they said was that they had murdered someone, wouldn’t it? But… after that gripping first page, I found things just plodded along until the Huntin’ Shootin’ and Fishin’ part. Which zoomed by all too fast.

I loved the descriptions of the house, Longrcross Hall, and the grounds surrounding it. The thought that went into the games, and the sense of history all stood out. It really did read as though we were sat with Greer and hearing her confessions.

The idea of this school being sort of stuck in Medieval times it’s a great idea. And that some of the students, well all of them really, are stuck alongside it when it comes to technology. Or like in the book, just completely against it all. The thought that has gone into the school, and the characters, is fantastic.

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 must admit I was expecting more from this YA thriller.

Greer is a film buff (fair enough) but she uses every waking moment to compare something that is happening to a scene from a film. I love a film reference as much as the next person, but definitely not that many. There is no way the average reader will have watched the number of films she name drops throughout this book - there are absolutely loads.
Second issue with Greer, she calls herself a feminist (which is awesome) but then she says things like "I'm letting down feminism because I worried about what to wear" or "feminism stood a step backward because the first thing I thought when I saw him was that he was hot.". This is just NOT what feminism is. Feminism DOES NOT CARE if you think someone is hot or if you care about what you wear. There is nothing wrong with that!! Feminism is about equality for all, and when people mistake caring about how they look with not being a feminist then we have a problem.

Overall, this was an entertaining read. A few parts I didn't really feel added up, and a few times I had to suspend my disbelief.

Finally got round to reading this book. I think I put if off for a while because I wasn’t sure it would be my thing. I was wrong.
The book hooked me in and suddenly I couldn’t put it down. I was fascinated by the macbre sport of students hunting other students. The bloodsports and the order of things. It was twisted and chilling but what made it even more chilling was some of what was said.
I understood where Henry was coming from in terms of technology and people not living their life but living it through a screen and that yes is important but the way he went about it ... well it was messed up.

I think it’s why this book is so alluring, it’s clever ... it’s got twists and turns and even when you think it’s over it’s not. I didn’t think I would be too fussed about reading the second one but now I am.

S.T.A.G.S has a fascinating premise. The plot has the potential to be creepy, dark and twisted. I was hooked right at the beginning as the story hints at what is to come. Unfortunately for me it fell short of those descriptors. I didn't care about any of the characters and there wasn't enough action or suspense for me. I expected it to be high stakes and dramatic, but it was slow going and little to keep me invested.

Right at the end, the very last chapter, the story managed to hook me in again with one final cliffhanger which eludes to a sequel. But if this book didn't live up to its blurb, then I'm not sure the sequel would either.

Not for me, but there are some great reviews out there so it's clearly working for some!

I'm not usually a fan of YA, but I absolutely loved STAGS.

Right from the start, you know someone dies. Murdered, to be precise. But while the who, how and why is yet to be described, that isn't the only mystery in this fast paced, gripping tale of privilege vs the modern world.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

So for me, Stags was just an OK read: one that I was initially very much looking forward to reading: Unfortunately, it didn't deliver the expected results and I found I enjoyed the idea behind this story more than it's actual execution.
This was in itself an interesting premise: Primarily a YA book Stags is an Elite boarding school steeped in tradition and elitism.
Our main girl Greer is a recent scholarship student at this prestigious establishment and she just wants to fit in with her new peers.
The main Clique at Greers new school are called the medievals: this unique group of privileged individuals stick to all things old world in there dress and reject the modern conveniences of the twenty-first century.
So there was such a heavy ominous undertone throughout this and the emphasis here is heavily on the class divide and the over-privilege of the upper classes compared to there working class peers. There is an almost bigoted elitist bias towards what they see as lesser individuals as if the accident of there birth makes them somehow superior in some way.
The venom towards anyone they perceive as reaching above there current station in life is absolutely shocking.
Poor Chanel a classmate of Greer's seems to get it heavily from these snobs mainly because her father is new money which is apparently worse than just being working class or a scholarship student.
She's stuck in an almost no man's land where she belongs to neither faction she just doesn't quite fit either mould.
Even the servants seem to share the popular attitude and bias.
So this is told exclusively from Greer's POV and Greer, Chanel and another student Shafeen: Indian royalty but who doesn't fit in either are invited to the estate of classmate Henry de Warlencourt along with his fellow medievals Cookson, Piers, Charlotte, Esme and Lara for a weekend of huntin, shootin, fishin.
So as I said intriguing although this still wasn't for me enough to elevate this into a higher rating bracket.
The writing itself was fine if slightly over-descriptive and I found myself bored and as a consequence skimming slightly.
I also found all the random movie references a bit bizarre.
I didn't feel a connection with the characters themselves and found they lacked depth and were a bit one-dimensional.
Greer herself seemed easily swayed by a pretty face in spite of the mountain of evidence revealed to her here.
I did find Shafeen an interesting character despite sharing similar backgrounds with the medievals he couldn't be more different in temperament and ideals.
The twist at the end of this did redeem things for me slightly it was a tad predictable but still a great finale.
This wasn't quite my thing but that's just me you might appreciate it more than I did.
I voluntary reviewed an Arc of S.T.A.G.S.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book follows Greer, a student who won a scholarship to an elite boarding school. All of her classmates are very wealthy, and Greer often feels out of place, until she is invited to Henry’s weekend of huntin’ shootin’ fishin’. She accepts this invitation and goes along on the sporting weekend, only to discover that everything is much darker than it seems.

The narration in this book is very colloquial and easy to read, which connects you immediately to Greer. Greer begins the story as an outcast and misfit, but her personality really develops as she becomes more confident and determined. At times I did find her to be a bit annoying, especially regarding her infatuation with Henry, since she knew that he wasn’t the nice guy he seemed to be.

Greer is also a huge film fan, and makes a lot, and I mean a lot, of references to different films. Personally I don’t watch that many films so this did go over my head a bit, and the sheer volume of references that I couldn’t understand definitely didn’t help me get swept away by the story.

S.T.A.G.S is one of those books that hints at the ending right at the beginning, so the reader knows a bit about what’ll come to happen. This did draw me in, as you try to guess what events will happen to cause that ending, and then get to watch the story unfold. This did cause the ending to be less of a surprise as it was already hinted at, but there was another plot twist right at the end which wasn’t hinted at, and did leave me shocked!

This book is quite twisted and dark, themed around blood sports and a huntin’ fishin’ shooting’ weekend. They do kill a stag, pheasants and fish in this book with guns and fishing rods so be wary of that if you’re sensitive to animals being killed. I quite liked the twisted nature and darker creepy atmosphere of this book, it made the story more interesting and I definitely think it’ll be a good Halloween read!

Overall I’m giving S.T.A.G.S a rating of 3.5/5 stars. This writing style make this book easy to read and fly through, becoming immediately connected to the characters by the more chatty language used. Hints to the ending at the beginning really make you want to read on and find out what happens. I wasn’t too keen on all the film references, and Greer could be a bit annoying at times, but the creepy atmosphere made this an interesting read!

Loved this book from the get go! We know from the start that someone dies, and what follows is a well written, funny tale from the point of view of Greer, a young girl drawn into the world of the Medievals, at their posh boarding school.

Three ordinary pupils are invited to the country estate of one of their fellow pupils, for a weekend of “huntin’ shootin’ and fishin’” unaware that they are the ones to be hunted, shot st and fished.

I enjoyed the sense of humour throughout the book and also liked how Greer compares situations and scenarios to movies she’s seen.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable read, whether you are a young adult or fully fledged one like myself. Film buffs like myself will enjoy the movie references too.

Nine students. Three blood-sports. One deadly weekend.
Greer McDonald is struggling to settle into the exclusive Boarding School commonly referred to as S.T.A.G.S; she has no real friends to speak of, and is struggling to make it through. Greer, unexpectedly, receives a mysterious invitation for a weekend of "huntin' shootin' fishin'"; and in accepting this invitation, her life will change forever. Greer soon realises that this is not a normal sleepover weekend, and when she notices that the others invited are also outcasts at the school, she begins to question the true intentions of her hosts. Only one thing is clear; someone is not making it out of this weekend alive.

I was quite intrigued by this book based purely on the cover as I hadn't read the premise; it offered little in terms of explanation but still pulled me in and intrigued me. I'm so glad that I did; I really enjoyed this book, and especially Greer; she was sarcastic and witty, and everything I like in a main character. She wasn't perfect; she made mistakes, and did things that were daft, but I still really enjoyed the portrayal of her. I really enjoyed this book as a whole; the mysterious Order mentioned in the book, and the twist at the end really made this book interesting.

The only negative I have to say about this book is the fact that they tell us at the start that Harry dies; I think it would have been much more of a thriller if we didn't see any of that coming, and were experiencing things as Greer did. Other than that I loved it.

I am very pleased that this novel turned out to be just as enjoyable as I was expecting. After seeing great reviews for this novel all over social media I had the opportunity to read the authors second novel, The Island. That paticular book was a train wreck which obviously put me off reading S.T.A.G.S. However I conceded and eventually read it.
I am glad that I read this novel as it is a totally different reading experience to reading The Island.
The three main characters (the savages) are likeable and you really root for them throughout the book. The Medievals are not as likeable but draw you in just as they are meant to.
The plot was split into three parts which I found refreshing and easy to follow. The suspense kept me reading and turning the pages to discover the secrets.
My only negative point about this novel is that I would have appreciated a trigger warning for suicide. It is not a subject I enjoy reading about due to a personal experience so a trigger warning at the start of the novel would have prepared me for the situation.

STAGS is one of those books that you really need to read twice. Once to find out what is going on and then again to pick up on all the clues that are scattered through the story like breadcrumbs. Just on picking it up and looking through the first few pages in preparation for this review I can already see significant words and phrases that meant nothing first time around. You don’t need that second read to be reeled in though. The book captures you from the first sentence, “I think I might be a murderer.” As first sentences go it’s a corker and it sets the tone for the rest of the story.

In a lot of ways STAGS or St Aidan’s Great School is the anti-Hogwarts. Everything is antiquated, the building, the traditions, the lessons but without the handy magical alternatives to make life easier. So perhaps unsurprisingly, when the British class system raises its highly polished head, it becomes clear that unless you are one of the exalted few, St Aidan’s isn’t all that great.

The school is ruled by the ‘Medievals’, a group of very rich, very aristocratic pupils who do what they want and treat others as badly as they want. There is a certain vulnerability to the lead character, Greer MacDonald. She’s smart and trendy, but it isn’t enough here. Greer thinks she is finally being accepted when she is invited to stay with them for a weekend of huntin’ shootin’ fishin’. As a reader I don’t think we are meant to be surprised that there is a sinister intent behind this, but our curiosity is piqued to see how the story unfurls.

Greer is a likeable character, her dad is a cameraman and she references a lot of films. This is at first interesting but overly laboured and becomes annoying when you haven’t seen the films and don’t get the references. I am sure some cult fan of the book will make a list to create a STAGS film marathon.

It is the sinister undertones that build the tension and keep the reader enthralled in this book. I had a couple of late nights reading it, as I wanted to go on and find out what would eventually happen. The storyline isn’t particularly groundbreaking but the writing gets its claws into you and holds on. It’s Christmas now and though I finished the book a little while back it is still haunting me. Rudolph and his antlers has never looked so threatening. So some dark night when you are casting around for a chiller to read, pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.

Sometimes you know from the very beginning of a book that you are going to thoroughly enjoy it and this was definitely that book.

Greer MacDonald wins a scholarship to the prestigious STAGS (St Aidan the great school). She finds it hard to make new friends as old money trumps new and it’s an old establishment where one’s ancestry is very important.

When Greer receives an invitation with the words “huntin, shootin and fishin” from the very popular Henry Cookson, it looks like her luck has changed. Unfortunately with no parents around to supervise, this weekend away goes from bad to worse and the animals are not the only thing being hunted!!

Although I do not agree with hunting, It was a fascinating story full of old fashioned traditions.

A book for any ages, that manages to keep building the tension up. You know from the first line something bad has happened and it’s the not knowing what it is that makes this a very hard book to put down!!

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.

This book hits all the right notes - key characters that are either likeable or loath-able, romance, suspense, action, and a cliff hanger ending. It has all the ingredients for a perfect transition from book to movie. I'd go watch the movie, and I will definitely read this book again.

I was expecting this to be like ‘One of us is lying’ I was a bit disappointed. Without giving the ending away it was a good idea but it seemed to drag on a bit and didn’t seem as thrilling as it could have been. Worth a read if you like teen books.

This book has such an air of an 80s movie, although technology is there in the book. I could easily see this being on the screen, into a successful movie (with the right casting)
Definitely a good YA thriller, the only thing is the dialogue sometimes felt like it could have been a bit shorter (or maybe I don't get the younger people)

Let’s not be under the misapprehension that this will be one of those fun private school books where the heroine convinces the school bullies to be nice and all is rosy and jolly. As you’ll be able to tell from the summary, this book is a fair bit darker than that. However, I think the core themes of elitism and dislike of ‘the other’ are important things to be discussing, particularly in the current political climate.

What I was worried about, when I started reading, was that it was going to take far too long for the characters to catch on to what was happening. It’s that classic horror movie ‘don’t go into the basement’ problem. I find it very difficult to forgive characters who put themselves into situations that are clearly dangerous. There is an element of that right at the start of the story, but once the plot starts moving they quickly start to work out what is happening and they get infinitely less annoying as a result. There are a few bits of motivation that make slightly less sense than I would perhaps like them to, some motivations that remain either unclear or a little bit…silly. For the most part, I did like the characters in this story. I thought that Greer was well written (though she doesn’t have a hugely distinctive character beyond her love of old films) and that the surrounding characters, whether the posh private school elites or the friends that Greer makes, are also interesting to read about.

Without spoiling anything, I think it was the ending that let this one down for me. I would say it is like the ending of Cabin in the Woods where everything stops being creepy and starts feeling like a cheesy horror film from 1992. It bothered me because before the plot reveal everything felt extreme but believable, whereas this took the idea just a shade too far for my liking?

I am glad that I finally got to read this, it’s a compelling book, it has some very exciting moments and I enjoyed the underlying themes. I would say it’s maybe one to request at your local library as I’m not sure it has a lot of re-readability.

My rating: 3/5 stars

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book was so satisfying. Sometime all you want is a really good read about hateful rich people. It's a theme I return to regularly. Again, boarding school books will always fascinate me as it adds another dynamic level to the story, that other books cannot achieve. It's almost a sense of claustrophobia.