S.T.A.G.SRating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy gifted by Han
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.
To her surprise Greer receives a mysterious invitation with three words embossed upon on it: huntin' shootin' fishin' - an invitation 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.
Greer joins the other chosen students at the ancient and sprawling Longcross Hall, and soon realises that they are at the mercy of their capricious host. Over the next three days, as the three bloodsports - hunting, shooting and fishing - become increasingly dark and twisted, Greer comes to the horrifying reality that those being hunted are not wild game, but the very misfits Henry has brought with him from school...
I can't seem to get off the cult-esque train at the moment. It seems I've boarded and I'm not leaving anytime soon. Once a fellow blogger and friend, Han had told me a brief synopsis of STAGS, I was extremely excited. I'd heard lots of wonderful reviews of it, so when Han said she'd send it to me, I couldn't wait to get reading.
STAGS focuses on Greer MacDonald. She has just started at St Aidan the Great (STAGS) boarding school, in sixth form. Greer is struggling to make friends and settle in; she is at the school on a scholarship and doesn't come from a home with mounds of money like her classmates, so she feels this school really isn't the place for her.
Greer is feeling lonely and desperate when she receives an invite from the most popular boy in school, Henry. Henry is inviting her to his manor for a weekend of, "huntin', shootin', fishin'". She can't believe her luck and is so excited to have been chosen as a guest.
When the weekend arrives and Greer sees the other guests, doubts start to creep in as to why she's really been picked for this weekend. During the events, "accidents" start occurring and Greer's not so sure this weekend is really about hunting game, but hunting the guests...
I really connected with Greer, I thought she was a great character and I thought her character development was excellent. It felt really genuine, authentic and not rushed at all; which considering the length of the book (it wasn't too long) was a feat in itself. I also had such a soft spot for Shafeen (another guest at the manor that weekend). Shafeen held everyone in the book together for me and I found him a really interesting character.
This book is most definitely a thriller and the ending of this book was a real "holy crap!" moment. It was full of good description, was extremely fast-paced and definitely knew how to draw you in. I absolutely adored it.
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