"D.O.G.S." - Book Review -

"D.O.G.S."

Written by M.A. Bennett

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

A literary sequel must accomplish three things: a summary of the previous events, an introduction of new events, and a plot execution that ties both together. A sequel must link to the past but also create for the future. D.O.G.S. is a sequel to the first novel in its series, S.T.A.G.S. The author, M.A. Bennett uses figurative language, puns, and idioms to depict dark events, while using animals as their symbols. S.T.A.G.S. begins the story of Greer Macdonald, a newcomer to a prestigious but mysterious boarding school. Similar to its genre type, the book follows Greer as she becomes friends and rivals to the wealthy, privileged students. We learn in the first that a deceitful cult-like order runs the school and its elders have had a past of hunting down weaker humans. Cheery.

In D.O.G.S., we learn Greer has lived and learned from her frightening and dangerous ordeal with the students of the school. Now that one of them is dead and the other have moved on to bigger and better things, Greer must adapt to her last year. She begins a major project, directing a school play. Mysteriously, an original manuscript of a banned play finds her way under her door, arriving in four different increments. She learns of the story behind the play, of Ben Jonson, of why The Isle of Dogs was considered high treason, for its supernatural beliefs of necromancy. 

The story follows a typical dark academia-genre format, with Greer meeting untrustworthy foes, a backdrop of ominous theatre, and a strange opulent setting of an elite school. Greer and her friends take a very Scooby Doo-like approach to the mystery, which makes the book more fun and light-hearted than the chilling and spellbinding story I anticipated. I do understand that as I am nearly twenty-five years old, that not all teen and young adult stories will entreat me, but I felt that the sequel does a disservice to the first novel. I absolutely adored the way author M.A. Bennett portrayed the sinister and rumored Isle of Dogs. Although Bennett uses far too many pop culture references, her writing style is still enjoyable, as long as you do not go into reading this novel, hoping for something of the calibre as The Secret History or If We Were Villains.

The end of this novel sets up the next, F.O.X.E.S., to be an interesting one. I may hope that the third novel will be the final in the story. However, I think the plot will be appealing, with Greer hopefully finally ending The Order of the Stag and maybe happily going off to Oxford University with all of her limbs and extremities?!

I rate this novel at four out of five stars.

Thank you to Hot Key Books for sending a review copy (far too long ago). I read it!!! It just took me a while. ;)