I definitely felt awkward reading this book on my Kindle but it was a thrilling read I liked the ending a lot. It did have a slow start for me. I'm glad I kept going with it!
I enjoyed the writing style a lot and I think this book was a story I've never read before and I don't think I've read anything like it!
I will be recommending this gift to lots of my friends!

I liked the idea of this however I can't get past the waffle in the story stopping me getting to the action

I really enjoyed STAGS, for some reason I often find YA titles better than general books aimed at adults and this was no exception. The characters in STAGS were well crafted for a 300 page story, the plot was interesting and while the author laid the endgame out at the beginning of the book I couldn’t really see exactly how it would end and it wasn’t disappointing at all.

The story threw up some interesting questions about heritage, where we have been and where we are heading and the lengths people will go to keep their world intact.

I’d give this one 4.5 🌟 out of 5, it lost a little edge for being a smidge dragged out at the end but I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a YA thriller mystery; overall this was an engaging, pacey YA title that will keep you turning the pages

This is a really enjoyable, fast paced YA book.

The premise is that 3 "misfit" teenagers get invited by the schools elite to a weekend of "hunting', shootin' and fishin' " As the weekend progresses the teenagers slowly realise that the local wildlife isn't the only prey, and they have to come up with a plan if they are to stay alive.

The book touches on peer pressure, isolation, teenage bullying, the role of social media and power and privilege, albeit on a fairly superficial level. There is little character development, but the plot more than compensates. The tension as the weekend comes to a close is palpable, and just when I thought it was over, ratchets up a notch and the book ends on a possible cliffhanger for a sequel.

Thanks go to the publishers and net galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I wanted to read S.T.A.G.S because i read the blurb on Netgalley and thought it sounded a little bit different to assist my genre jumping.

This book is a great read for a YA and I would certainly recommend it to my friends teens up to about 16/17. For a bit of a giggle and a step into fantasy world for an hour.

I sort of enjoyed this book, it had all the starting of a great thriller but at each of the many pathways the story took you on , they all seemed to come to a feeling of a dead end. The writer didn't 'do anything 'with them.

The mobile phone just wound me up! it did anything and everything even though the use of technology was said to be 'Savage' and wasn't allowed.
Then there are other issues covered such as bullying, but not covered nearly enough. this could have been a fabulous way to get anti bullying into books of this kind. (missed opportunity`) maybe next time?

The main character (1st person) made it feel like it was 'the Greer Chronicles' the characters came in but didn't spend enough time to get to know them well enough to follow any menacing moments with them,

I felt I needed to read to the end of the story to give it a chance so I did, I got a bit excited and then thud, a little bit long winded to get to the conclusion.

Overall it was a well written debut, with all the beginnings of more to come, i will read more from the author to see how they progress

Greer, a down to earth film buff, knew that life would be different once she accepted the scholarship to St Aidan the Great School but she did not realise how lonely she would be. Ostracised for not having money, status or a title, like the majority of the other pupils, she is either ignored or laughed at by the ‘Medievals’, the school’s most popular students. When they suddenly invite her to a long weekend of huntin’ shootin’ & fishin’ at their leader Henry’s estate she jumps at the chance to finally fit in. With two other outcasts, Chantal, whose crime is coming from new money, and Shafeen, whose Indian heritage makes him the target of bullying, she is thrown into a world of luxury and privilege the likes of which she has never seen before. Despite the enticing pull of the lavish lifestyle and her growing attraction to Henry, she cannot shake the feeling that something about the weekend is off, but it is only when the blood sports begin that she starts to understand why they are all there.

This novel had a lot of promise and, although it was not a complete disappointment, I failed to relate to any of the characters, which made it hard to care what happened to them. Bennett’s writing abilities are evident in the excellent descriptions of the stately home and rolling lands that surround it, and it is obvious that a great deal of research went into the portrayal of each ‘sport’. The plot, though predictable, was well paced and interesting enough to hold my attention to the end, but I did find the romance a bit shoehorned in. The premise behind the book is a little too out there to make this a commentary on class, bullying or social mobility but it is a fun, thriller that will appeal to many.

"Nine students. Three blood sports. One deadly weekend."

I read the sampler of this book back in the summer, and I was absolutely hooked. Who could resist the opening liner: "I think I might be a murderer..."

When I finally got my hands on a copy of STAGS I couldn't wait to devour it. I really enjoyed this thriller/murder/boarding school YA. It's fairly short and quite easy to whip through (304 pages). I enjoyed the main character's interest in films, and the references throughout. Having said that the tension and disturbing scenes throughout kept me turning the pages and I won't be forgetting this novel for a while!

I reckon this if going to be a hit in the teen section of my library. Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book, I have now bought one for the library :D

This book flowed nocelt and was well paced. However it promised me blood but gave me nothing more than splatter! THERE WAS NO SURPRISE! The expected tension was dispelled with a simple sentence at the beginning. I was expecting far more death – I was possibly even looking forward to a nice gruesome read – and I find myself left feeling disappointed. The twist ending was obvious and i really did finish the book wondering if the characters were a special level of idiot…

This is told from Greer’s point of view and she doesn’t start off coming across as sort of stupid bit I really don’t think she’s nearly as clever as she thinks she is.
She’s a film-a-holic and she’s often explaining things in film scenes, which is helpful if you’ve only seen a handful of the ones mentioned…If you haven’t you’re left to imagine the scene out in your mind rather than recalling the scene in your mind – which might just be the point of the book.

I’d have loved to have seen some of this book from Shafeen’s POV to be honest. I’d have liked to see further explanation for the reason why he finally accepted the invitation after so much time, I didn’t think that the reason told was sufficient for what I thought was coming at least.
I thought Nel was going to be a rival so I was prepared to dislike her then never really cared either way.

I don’t support the harassing of fellow peoples, but I was almost with Hen when it came to his assessment of technology. I know someone with multiple Amazon echoes in their home and other people with an electric salt grinder which just amazed me, especially having watched SpyKids 2 recently. Hey look, a film reference you won’t get if you haven’t seen the film! (They wind up on a magnetic island and all of their voice activated items and gadgets don’t work)
iPads are given to children to shut them up and make them go away instead of having a chat with them or playing with them and we spend all our time on our phones – can’t stand a moment of boredom, can’t think, must be entertained! Me too – Instagram – Pinterest – Amazon Kindle.

I loved how the world of posh old money was described. Their things were old. There was history behind them and they still had them because they were still in working order. It appealed to me because I’m not a fan of our throw away would. I try and do my part – I’ve replaced things in my life with re-usable options etc but with the world of technology moving at the pace it does it’s likely to only get worse.

In short, I wasn’t wow’d but I also wasn’t bored. It didn’t give me the bloodbath I wanted, but it did make me think.

This was such a quick read for me, it was so interesting and quite different to books I normally read, I don't usually read mystery/crime books, but I'm glad I gave this one a try!

Good but needed more pacing.

When I began to read this book, the main character called Greer looked back on her time at STAGS. A posh boarding school in England which looked down upon modern day technology, and focused on the old school ways of teaching and learning. Although it felt as if she told me what was going to happen before it did, I still didn't imagine the story turning in such a way, with the ending leaving me completely captivated.

I really enjoyed how the Medievals were described. Bennett didn't make them out to be the posh, polite, kids who spoke the Queens English, which usually is how the upper class is shown. Although they had these characteristics, the way in which Bennett wrote them, encouraged a more sinister, and smart portrayal of the Medievals. They used their politeness to their advantage as they tricked people over the weekend of Huntin' shootin' and Fishin'. Each of them had their own personality which came across in their snooty presentations. Furthermore, they all worked really well together, and the way Bennett used them to interact with Greer and the two other students by her side really worked well with the mystery of the story.

I didn't feel overly connected with the characters while I read the book, but I still felt the need to find out what happened over the weekend at Longcross, and I really enjoyed the writing style of Bennett which helped keep me hooked onto the mystery.

All in all, I would rate this a 4/5 and would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Young Adult mysteries, and those who don't mind a bit of a dark twist on what seems like an innocent weekend retreat for Huntin' shootin' and Fishin'.

STAGS is a pretty enjoyable thriller, with excellent twists - especially the very end! I would give it a solid 3.5 stars.
It lost marks a little with me for all the movie references, they were a bit jarring and sometimes unnecessary. Especially if you've not seen the film! And also despite being A levels they were set (unlikely unless the school is super massive, which it doesn't seem to be) and all doing the same subjects, or too many subjects which was a bit confusing and unlikely. I also felt it needed a little more build up to going away for the huntin', shootin' and fishin' as it felt a bit sudden and then the initial confusion of being at the house with people being nice didn't quite fit.
Aside from that though, it was a relatively well paced mystery/thriller. Genuinely freaky in places, and I especially liked the way the tension built.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Okay. I have to start off by saying that I went into the book not expecting anything and instead I came out on the other side with a completely different mindset. This book was AMAZING FROM START TO FINISH.

I literally read the first 20 or 30 pages of this book and was hooked instantly. I remember having to out it down because I was going somewhere but for that whole day while I was away from it, I just wanted to devour it in one sitting.

It was such a good idea - and it was executed so well. There was mystery, intrigue, romance, friendship and murder. Something I especially loved about STAGS was that the author hinted at the death that occurred throughout the book. I thought that worked brilliantly in a book like this.

The characters were so unique and I loved each of their quirks and nicknames - how Greer named a movie every time something reminded her of one, of how Henry had his mischievous charm, how Chanel had her nickname of Carphone Chanel. This is definitely doing to be one of my top ten books I've read this year.

If you're looking for a book to get you out of a slump, I would totally recommend STAGS. Filled with action and humour and shock plot twists that makes it impossible not to put down! I'm so excited to meet this author at Deptcon3 to rave about STAGS to her!

This was one of those stories where you had a sense of what to expect, and it was more about how it all came together.

A YA thriller... I haven't really seen many of these within the YA book community, so when I received S.T.A.G.S from the publisher to review, I read the blurb and I was very intrigued to see how a YA thriller would be written. There were some of the usual 'rich people' tropes that were in the book, but all in all, it was a very enjoyable read.

It is the autumn term and Greer MacDonald is struggling to settle into the sixth form at the exclusive St. Aidan the Great boarding school, known to its privileged pupils as S.T.A.G.S. Just when she despairs of making friends Greer receives a mysterious invitation with three words embossed upon on it: huntin' shootin' fishin'. When Greer learns that the invitation is to spend the half term weekend at the country manor of Henry de Warlencourt, the most popular and wealthy boy at S.T.A.G.S., she is as surprised as she is flattered.

But when Greer joins the other chosen few at the ancient and sprawling Longcross Hall, she realises that Henry's parents are not at home; the only adults present are a cohort of eerily compliant servants. The students are at the mercy of their capricious host, and, over the next three days, as the three bloodsports - hunting, shooting and fishing - become increasingly dark and twisted, Greer comes to the horrifying realisation that those being hunted are not wild game, but the very misfits Henry has brought with him from school...

As I mentioned at the start, S.T.A.G.S has the usual tropes throughout this book: a girl who is considered an outcast in a posh school and the mean, rich kid stereotypes. Not all people who have a lot of money are evil and for once, I would like to read about upper-class people who aren't mean and don't care about anyone but themselves. ANYWAY.. What I was saying what that, yes there is the mean, rich kid stereotype, but once you look past that, there is actually a very good storyline here.

The book is fast-paced which I love in a thriller and one of the things that I also loved about this book was that you knew who died at the beginning and you knew you did it, but the whole mystery that surrounds this book is how that death came about and the mystery surrounding an entire weekend. Another thing that I really liked is that there wasn't an unreliable narrator. In most of the thriller books that I read, the main character is very unreliable due to blackouts/memory loss, but in S.T.A.G.S, the main protagonist, Greer is very reliable as she takes us through the twisted world of her school.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and each plot twist left me hankering for more. And the ending! OH.MY.LIFE. THE ENDING! I just remember closing the book and staring at it for a good 10 minutes because I couldn't believe how Bennett had ended the book (in a good way). Bennett writes the ending so that there is a possibility for a sequel but then writes it in a way that it also makes for an immense cliffhanger and just ruins the reader.

One of the things in the book that was really interesting was the way of thinking of the Medievals. They believe that technology is "savage" and that it destroys our way of thinking. The Medievals are all about learning through books and their definition of recreational activities is huntin', shootin' and fishin'. In a way, I agree with the whole 'technology-is-ruining-society' because I see my little sister invite her best friend round to the house and all they do is go on their phones for hours upon end, hardly talking to each other. All I see when I sit down with family is my Mom playing Candy Crush, my sister on Snapchat and me and my Dad just looking at each other like "great family time this is". But then you also have the perks of technology. Without it, I would never be able to write this review and share it with millions of people, without technology, I would never be able to talk to my family in The Netherlands... So yes, I completely understand why the Medievals think that technology is savage. This conversation is also turned into a debate between Henry and Greer and it was interesting to read their debate.

Even though Henry is evil and just the worst person ever, part of me really did have a soft spot for him... Is that crazy and stupid? I think I just really liked his cleverness and how you could uphold a sophisticated conversation with him. I mean, that's the only thing that I like about the guy, the rest of him is just pure craziness.

Overall, this is a very good read. And it's an actual thriller book! It's not a book that is being marketed as a thriller book to gain a bigger audience, it's actually a thriller book. Which is amazing. I still can't get over the ending though. It ruined me.

Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

ARC gratefully received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I finished this book several days ago and I've been thinking about it ever since. I don't know anything about the author. I don't know if this is a debut book or the latest of many. Either way it was fantastic.

The best way I can think to describe this book in short is Made in Chelsea meets Riverdale.

S.T.A.G.S is an immersive, edge-of-your-seat type of read. I haven't read anything quite this for some time. I loved how the story was almost told in reverse. Our narrator Greer makes a bold statement in the opening pages. The rest of the book is then Greer telling us all about the weekend she was invited to go huntin' shootin' fishin'.

I was completely invested in this book from the first page to the last. Everything was intense and vivid and realistic. It felt more than "just" a book. I felt like I was sat round the table at meal times with Greer and the others. I felt like I was quite literally huntin' shootin' fishin'.

This is a dark, twisty and surprising novel. I had no idea what to expect and I was totally blown away. I requested a copy to review because I loved the cover. The tag line made me think this was a sporty story (a genre I love) which it was I guess and so much more.

Read this book. If you are looking for a book that will make you question your loyalties over and over again. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

STAGS is an intriguing read from the start and keeps the reader entertained the whole way through. On the whole I enjoyed the reading experience but had a minor problem with the book.

STAGS main character Greer is a strong character who is interesting to get to know and easy to relate to but if she thinks something like a boy is attractive she feels like a bad feminist. It related her liking a boy to not having feminist values, but this may have been something that she was discovering was OK.

The other minor problem I had with the book is how much Greer forebodes the future of the book and that you know how it is going to end at the start. However it is interesting to try to work out how it will get there as you read on.

The story itself is interesting with the twist and turns and intrigue mixed with the traditional values of the school and some forklore. It definitely made for a good read. The fact that Greer fights with herself about what is really going on adds another layer to the story.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a thriller with younger protagonist with an upper class feel.

*ARC received from publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I feel as if this is suited for a younger age range than my own. Ie. 12-16. It's just not what I look for in a thriller type book so I've skipped out on a proper review for this one. Although I think younger audiences will ideally enjoy.

I have been wanting to read this book since I saw the synopsis months ago and thankfully it lived up to my expectations and more.
I have always loved books with rich powerful teens who exist in secret societies and have read many books with these types of characters but this was unlike anything I had ever read before. The huntin', shootin', fishin' was a really unique concept (if very hard to read about) and I was always on edge over what the Medievals would do to the Savages. At the school no internet, mobile phones and modern technology are really used and it just added to the overall creepy vibe although the main character Greer regularly threw in film references and things she had done when she lived at home before going to the school and I really liked seeing them. It made me realise how weird it must have been for a regular teen to be caught up in this twisted new world.
My only annoyance is that I didn't know a big part of this book is set at the Lakes District where I will be visiting in around 6 weeks and I wish I had kept it to read until then.
Oh and there is totally gonna be a sequel, right?

An intriguing story of privilege, friendship and murder. STAGS mixed the old and the new with it's archaic school and practices in a modern world. I thought the ending, although left open, was really well done. It reminded me in some ways of the film A Young Sherlock Holmes, which I'm sure Greer would approve of!