The publisher kindly sent me a physical copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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 …
S.T.A.G.S. Review
When PenguinTeen Canada reached out to me to join in this tour, I jumped at the change. S.T.A.G.S seemed so different from anything I’ve ever read.
S.T.A.G.S follows Greer, a teenage girl who is new at a prestigious and elite boarding school. The school prefrects, also known as the Medievals, invite Greer for a weekend away. But it’s not long before Greer realizes that not everything is as it seems.
As a main character, Greer is both brave and really naive. Her choices are sometimes odd, but at times they’re also warranted. I did like seeing her relationships with certain characters grow and develop. Her character in general, is an enjoyable aspect of the book.
There’s certainly a lot of suspense throughout this book and I enjoyed that aspect. There are so many opportunities for twists and turns, but most of the time they still surprise you. I just wish there was a bit more action throughout the book.
Another thing I enjoyed is the four distinct parts the book is set up in. While the book is slow at times, the different parts bring some suspense. Because of the suspense, those twists and turns really come out and surprise you!
Overall, S.T.A.G.S is a solid debut novel. If you’re looking for a boarding school mystery, then this might be the book for you. It’s also like a big mix of Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, and How to Get Away with Murder!
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Favourite Quote
I was Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars … and as if my Jedi mind trick had worked, the stag outran the hounds easily.
About the Author
M.A. Bennett is half Venetian and was born in Manchester, England, and raised in the Yorkshire Dales. She is a history graduate of Oxford University and the University of Venice, where she specialized in the study of Shakespeare’s plays as a historical source. After university she studied art and has since worked as an illustrator, an actress, and a film reviewer. She also designed tour visuals for rock bands, including U2 and the Rolling Stones. She was married on the Grand Canal in Venice and lives in north London with her husband, son and daughter.
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[…] in the Blog Tour for this book with Penguin Teen Canada and Penguin Random House (read my review here). This book was super suspenseful and although it was a little bit slow, I enjoyed it overall. […]