Repository: Sceptre/sceptre

Issue:
feature request: append stack_tag inheritance 
Currently stack_tags inheritance strategy is override which means that stack tags can be defined in a Sceptre StackGroup and then overridden in the a child StackGroup or Stack config.    I would like to make a feature request to append stack_tags on a dependencies. 

Example:
Assume Scepter project A, B and C with dependency C -> B 

root StackConfig config/config.yaml
```
stack_tags:
  - country: US
```

config/prod/A.yaml
```
stack_tags:
  - city: anaheim    # stack A tags are 'city:anaheim', 'country:US'
```

config/prod/C.yaml
```
dependencies:
  - prod/B.yaml
stack_tags:
  - county: collin   # stack C tags are 'county:collin', 'country:US'
 ``` 

config/prod/B.yaml
```
stack_tags:
  - city: boston    # stack B tags are 'city:boston', 'county:collin', 'country:US'
```


Discussion:

Patch:
diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index ace46ff..95677b3 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ repos:
     hooks:
       - id: yamllint
   - repo: https://github.com/awslabs/cfn-python-lint
-    rev: v0.85.2
+    rev: v0.86.0
     hooks:
       - id: cfn-python-lint
         args:
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ repos:
             ^.pre-commit-config.yaml
           )
   - repo: https://github.com/psf/black
-    rev: 24.2.0
+    rev: 24.3.0
     hooks:
       - id: black
   - repo: https://github.com/python-poetry/poetry
-    rev: '1.7.0'
+    rev: '1.8.0'
     hooks:
       - id: poetry-check
       - id: poetry-lock
diff --git a/docs/_source/docs/stack_config.rst b/docs/_source/docs/stack_config.rst
index 52ff8db..d8e8807 100644
--- a/docs/_source/docs/stack_config.rst
+++ b/docs/_source/docs/stack_config.rst
@@ -15,13 +15,16 @@ particular Stack. The available keys are listed below.
 
 -  `template_path`_ or `template`_ *(required)*
 -  `dependencies`_ *(optional)*
+-  `dependencies_inheritance`_ *(optional)*
 -  `hooks`_ *(optional)*
+-  `hooks_inheritance`_ *(optional)*
 -  `ignore`_ *(optional)*
 -  `notifications`_ *(optional)*
 -  `obsolete`_ *(optional)*
 -  `on_failure`_ *(optional)*
 -  `disable_rollback`_ *(optional)*
 -  `parameters`_ *(optional)*
+-  `parameters_inheritance`_ *(optional)*
 -  `protected`_ *(optional)*
 -  `role_arn`_ *(optional)*
 -  `cloudformation_service_role`_ *(optional)*
@@ -30,8 +33,10 @@ particular Stack. The available keys are listed below.
 -  `iam_role_session_duration`_ *(optional)*
 -  `sceptre_role_session_duration`_ *(optional)*
 -  `sceptre_user_data`_ *(optional)*
+-  `sceptre_user_data_inheritance`_ *(optional)*
 -  `stack_name`_ *(optional)*
 -  `stack_tags`_ *(optional)*
+-  `stack_tags_inheritance`_ *(optional)*
 -  `stack_timeout`_ *(optional)*
 
 It is not possible to define both `template_path`_ and `template`_. If you do so,
@@ -80,7 +85,7 @@ dependencies
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
 * Resolvable: No
 * Can be inherited from StackGroup: Yes
-* Inheritance strategy: Appended to parent's dependencies
+* Inheritance strategy: Appended to parent's dependencies. Configurable with ``dependencies_inheritance`` parameter.
 
 A list of other Stacks in the environment that this Stack depends on. Note that
 if a Stack fetches an output value from another Stack using the
@@ -97,15 +102,39 @@ and that Stack need not be added as an explicit dependency.
    situation by either (a) setting those ``dependencies`` on individual Stack Configs rather than the
    the StackGroup Config, or (b) moving those dependency stacks outside of the StackGroup.
 
+dependencies_inheritance
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+* Resolvable: No
+* Can be inherited from StackGroup: Yes
+* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set
+
+This configuration will override the default inheritance strategy of `dependencies`.
+
+The default value for this is ``merge``.
+
+Valid values for this config are: ``merge``, or ``override``.
+
 hooks
 ~~~~~
 * Resolvable: No (but you can use resolvers _in_ hook arguments!)
 * Can be inherited from StackGroup: Yes
-* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set
+* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set. Configurable with ``hooks_inheritance`` parameter.
 
 A list of arbitrary shell or Python commands or scripts to run. Find out more
 in the :doc:`hooks` section.
 
+hooks_inheritance
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+* Resolvable: No
+* Can be inherited from StackGroup: Yes
+* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set
+
+This configuration will override the default inheritance strategy of `hooks`.
+
+The default value for this is ``override``.
+
+Valid values for this config are: ``merge``, or ``override``.
+
 ignore
 ~~~~~~
 * Resolvable: No
@@ -155,7 +184,7 @@ notifications
 
 List of SNS topic ARNs to publish Stack related events to. A maximum of 5 ARNs
 can be specified per Stack. This configuration will be used by the ``create``,
-``update``, and ``delete`` commands. More information about Stack notifications
+``update``, or ``delete`` commands. More information about Stack notifications
 can found under the relevant section in the `AWS CloudFormation API
 documentation`_.
 
@@ -231,7 +260,7 @@ parameters
 ~~~~~~~~~~
 * Resolvable: Yes
 * Can be inherited from StackGroup: Yes
-* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set
+* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set. Configurable with ``parameters_inheritance`` parameter.
 
 .. warning::
 
@@ -241,7 +270,7 @@ parameters
    environment variable resolver.
 
 A dictionary of key-value pairs to be supplied to a template as parameters. The
-keys must match up with the name of the parameter, and the value must be of the
+keys must match up with the name of the parameter, or the value must be of the
 type as defined in the template.
 
 .. note::
@@ -292,6 +321,18 @@ Example:
        - !stack_output security-groups.yaml::BaseSecurityGroupId
        - !file_contents /file/with/security_group_id.txt
 
+parameters_inheritance
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+* Resolvable: No
+* Can be inherited from StackGroup: Yes
+* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set
+
+This configuration will override the default inheritance strategy of `parameters`.
+
+The default value for this is ``override``.
+
+Valid values for this config are: ``merge``, or ``override``.
+
 protected
 ~~~~~~~~~
 * Resolvable: No
@@ -391,12 +432,24 @@ sceptre_user_data
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 * Resolvable: Yes
 * Can be inherited from StackGroup: Yes
-* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set
+* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set. Configurable with ``sceptre_user_data_inheritance`` parameter.
 
 Represents data to be passed to the ``sceptre_handler(sceptre_user_data)``
 function in Python templates or accessible under ``sceptre_user_data`` variable
 key within Jinja2 templates.
 
+sceptre_user_data_inheritance
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+* Resolvable: No
+* Can be inherited from StackGroup: Yes
+* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set
+
+This configuration will override the default inheritance strategy of `sceptre_user_data`.
+
+The default value for this is ``override``.
+
+Valid values for this config are: ``merge``, or ``override``.
+
 stack_name
 ~~~~~~~~~~
 * Resolvable: No
@@ -436,10 +489,22 @@ stack_tags
 ~~~~~~~~~~
 * Resolvable: Yes
 * Can be inherited from StackGroup: Yes
-* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set
+* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set. Configurable with ``stack_tags_inheritance`` parameter.
 
 A dictionary of `CloudFormation Tags`_ to be applied to the Stack.
 
+stack_tags_inheritance
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+* Resolvable: No
+* Can be inherited from StackGroup: Yes
+* Inheritance strategy: Overrides parent if set
+
+This configuration will override the default inheritance strategy of `stack_tags`.
+
+The default value for this is ``override``.
+
+Valid values for this config are: ``merge``, or ``override``.
+
 stack_timeout
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 * Resolvable: No
diff --git a/docs/_source/docs/stack_group_config.rst b/docs/_source/docs/stack_group_config.rst
index 3da527e..2638dc2 100644
--- a/docs/_source/docs/stack_group_config.rst
+++ b/docs/_source/docs/stack_group_config.rst
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ configurations should be defined at a lower directory level.
 
 YAML files that define configuration settings with conflicting keys, the child
 configuration file will usually take precedence (see the specific config keys as documented
-for the inheritance strategy employed).
+for the inheritance strategy employed and `Inheritance Strategy Override`_).
 
 In the above directory structure, ``config/config.yaml`` will be read in first,
 followed by ``config/account-1/config.yaml``, followed by
@@ -185,6 +185,16 @@ For example, if you wanted the ``dev`` StackGroup to build to a different
 region, this setting could be specified in the ``config/dev/config.yaml`` file,
 and would only be applied to builds in the ``dev`` StackGroup.
 
+Inheritance Strategy Override
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+The inheritance strategy of some properties may be overridden by the stack group config.
+
+Strategy options:
+
+* ``merge``: Child config is merged with parent configs, with child taking precedence for conflicting dictionary keys.
+* ``override``: Overrides the parent config, if set.
+
 .. _setting_dependencies_for_stack_groups:
 
 Setting Dependencies for StackGroups
diff --git a/sceptre/config/graph.py b/sceptre/config/graph.py
index 34d6b79..1ad11da 100644
--- a/sceptre/config/graph.py
+++ b/sceptre/config/graph.py
@@ -90,14 +90,18 @@ class StackGraph(object):
         :param stack: A Sceptre Stack
         :param dependencies: a collection of dependency paths
         """
-        self.logger.debug("Generate dependencies for stack {0}".format(stack))
+        self.logger.debug(f"Generate dependencies for stack {stack}")
         for dependency in set(dependencies):
             self.graph.add_edge(dependency, stack)
-            if not nx.is_directed_acyclic_graph(self.graph):
+            try:
+                cycle = nx.find_cycle(self.graph, orientation="original")
+                cycle_str = ", ".join([f"{edge[0]} -> {edge[1]}" for edge in cycle])
                 raise CircularDependenciesError(
-                    f"Dependency cycle detected: {stack} {dependency}"
+                    f"Dependency cycle detected: {cycle_str}"
                 )
-            self.logger.debug("  Added dependency: {}".format(dependency))
+            except nx.NetworkXNoCycle:
+                pass  # No cycle, continue
+            self.logger.debug(f"  Added dependency: {dependency}")
 
         if not dependencies:
             self.graph.add_node(stack)
diff --git a/sceptre/config/reader.py b/sceptre/config/reader.py
index c1a1018..fc74217 100644
--- a/sceptre/config/reader.py
+++ b/sceptre/config/reader.py
@@ -39,16 +39,30 @@ from sceptre.config import strategies
 
 ConfigAttributes = collections.namedtuple("Attributes", "required optional")
 
+
+CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGY_OVERRIDES = {
+    "dependencies": strategies.LIST_STRATEGIES,
+    "hooks": strategies.LIST_STRATEGIES,
+    "notifications": strategies.LIST_STRATEGIES,
+    "parameters": strategies.DICT_STRATEGIES,
+    "sceptre_user_data": strategies.DICT_STRATEGIES,
+    "stack_tags": strategies.DICT_STRATEGIES,
+}
+
 CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGIES = {
     "dependencies": strategies.list_join,
+    "dependencies_inheritance": strategies.child_or_parent,
     "hooks": strategies.child_wins,
+    "hooks_inheritance": strategies.child_or_parent,
     "iam_role": strategies.child_wins,
     "sceptre_role": strategies.child_wins,
     "iam_role_session_duration": strategies.child_wins,
     "sceptre_role_session_duration": strategies.child_wins,
     "notifications": strategies.child_wins,
+    "notifications_inheritance": strategies.child_or_parent,
     "on_failure": strategies.child_wins,
     "parameters": strategies.child_wins,
+    "parameters_inheritance": strategies.child_or_parent,
     "profile": strategies.child_wins,
     "project_code": strategies.child_wins,
     "protect": strategies.child_wins,
@@ -57,8 +71,10 @@ CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGIES = {
     "role_arn": strategies.child_wins,
     "cloudformation_service_role": strategies.child_wins,
     "sceptre_user_data": strategies.child_wins,
+    "sceptre_user_data_inheritance": strategies.child_or_parent,
     "stack_name": strategies.child_wins,
     "stack_tags": strategies.child_wins,
+    "stack_tags_inheritance": strategies.child_or_parent,
     "stack_timeout": strategies.child_wins,
     "template_bucket_name": strategies.child_wins,
     "template_key_value": strategies.child_wins,
@@ -68,6 +84,7 @@ CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGIES = {
     "obsolete": strategies.child_wins,
 }
 
+
 STACK_GROUP_CONFIG_ATTRIBUTES = ConfigAttributes(
     {"project_code", "region"},
     {
@@ -84,7 +101,9 @@ STACK_CONFIG_ATTRIBUTES = ConfigAttributes(
         "template_path",
         "template",
         "dependencies",
+        "dependencies_inheritance",
         "hooks",
+        "hooks_inheritance",
         "iam_role",
         "sceptre_role",
         "iam_role_session_duration",
@@ -92,13 +111,16 @@ STACK_CONFIG_ATTRIBUTES = ConfigAttributes(
         "notifications",
         "on_failure",
         "parameters",
+        "parameters_inheritance",
         "profile",
         "protect",
         "role_arn",
         "cloudformation_service_role",
         "sceptre_user_data",
+        "sceptre_user_data_inheritance",
         "stack_name",
         "stack_tags",
+        "stack_tags_inheritance",
         "stack_timeout",
     },
 )
@@ -352,11 +374,8 @@ class ConfigReader(object):
 
         # Parse and read in the config files.
         this_config = self._recursive_read(directory_path, filename, config)
-
-        if "dependencies" in config or "dependencies" in this_config:
-            this_config["dependencies"] = CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGIES["dependencies"](
-                this_config.get("dependencies"), config.get("dependencies")
-            )
+        # Apply merge strategies with the config that includes base_config values.
+        this_config.update(self._get_merge_with_stratgies(config, this_config))
         config.update(this_config)
 
         self._check_version(config)
@@ -395,16 +414,39 @@ class ConfigReader(object):
 
         # Read config file and overwrite inherited properties
         child_config = self._render(directory_path, filename, config_group) or {}
+        child_config.update(self._get_merge_with_stratgies(config, child_config))
+        config.update(child_config)
+        return config
 
-        for config_key, strategy in CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGIES.items():
-            value = strategy(config.get(config_key), child_config.get(config_key))
+    def _get_merge_with_stratgies(self, left: dict, right: dict) -> dict:
+        """
+        Returns a new dict with only the merge values of the two inputs, using the
+        merge strategies defined for each key.
+        """
+        merge = {}
+
+        # Then apply the merge strategies to each item
+        for config_key, default_strategy in CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGIES.items():
+            strategy = default_strategy
+            override_key = f"{config_key}_inheritance"
+            if override_key in CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGIES:
+                name = CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGIES[override_key](
+                    left.get(override_key), right.get(override_key)
+                )
+                if not name:
+                    pass
+                elif name not in CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGY_OVERRIDES[config_key]:
+                    raise SceptreException(
+                        f"{name} is not a valid inheritance strategy for {config_key}"
+                    )
+                else:
+                    strategy = CONFIG_MERGE_STRATEGY_OVERRIDES[config_key][name]
 
+            value = strategy(left.get(config_key), right.get(config_key))
             if value:
-                child_config[config_key] = value
+                merge[config_key] = value
 
-        config.update(child_config)
-
-        return config
+        return merge
 
     def _render(self, directory_path, basename, stack_group_config):
         """
diff --git a/sceptre/config/strategies.py b/sceptre/config/strategies.py
index 29b37d9..b0dc989 100644
--- a/sceptre/config/strategies.py
+++ b/sceptre/config/strategies.py
@@ -71,3 +71,26 @@ def child_wins(a, b):
     :returns: b
     """
     return b
+
+
+def child_or_parent(a, b):
+    """
+    Returns the second arg if it is not empty, else the first.
+
+    :param a: An object.
+    :type a: object
+    :param b: An object.
+    :type b: object
+    :returns: b
+    """
+    return b or a
+
+
+LIST_STRATEGIES = {
+    "merge": list_join,
+    "override": child_wins,
+}
+DICT_STRATEGIES = {
+    "merge": dict_merge,
+    "override": child_wins,
+}
diff --git a/sceptre/stack.py b/sceptre/stack.py
index 8a63309..fa5639a 100644
--- a/sceptre/stack.py
+++ b/sceptre/stack.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ This module implements a Stack class, which stores a Stack's data.
 
 import logging
 
-from typing import List, Any, Optional
+from typing import List, Dict, Union, Any, Optional
 from deprecation import deprecated
 
 from sceptre import __version__
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from sceptre.resolvers import (
     ResolvableValueProperty,
     RecursiveResolve,
     PlaceholderType,
+    Resolver,
 )
 from sceptre.template import Template
 
@@ -262,7 +263,7 @@ class Stack:
         )
 
         self.s3_details = s3_details
-        self.parameters = parameters or {}
+        self.parameters = self._ensure_parameters(parameters or {})
         self.sceptre_user_data = sceptre_user_data or {}
         self.notifications = notifications or []
 
@@ -275,6 +276,30 @@ class Stack:
             )
         return value
 
+    def _ensure_parameters(
+        self, parameters: Dict[str, Any]
+    ) -> Dict[str, Union[str, List[Union[str, Resolver]], Resolver]]:
+        """Ensure CloudFormation parameters are of valid types"""
+
+        def is_valid(value: Any) -> bool:
+            return (
+                isinstance(value, str)
+                or (
+                    isinstance(value, list)
+                    and all(
+                        isinstance(item, str) or isinstance(item, Resolver)
+                        for item in value
+                    )
+                )
+                or isinstance(value, Resolver)
+            )
+
+        if not all(is_valid(value) for value in parameters.values()):
+            raise InvalidConfigFileError(
+                f"{self.name}: Values for parameters must be strings, lists or resolvers, got {parameters}"
+            )
+        return parameters
+
     def __repr__(self):
         return (
             "sceptre.stack.Stack("


Test patch:
diff --git a/tests/test_config_reader.py b/tests/test_config_reader.py
index c860952..1bd9f7e 100644
--- a/tests/test_config_reader.py
+++ b/tests/test_config_reader.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import errno
 import os
+import string
 from unittest.mock import patch, sentinel, MagicMock, ANY
 
 import pytest
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@ from glob import glob
 
 from sceptre.config.reader import ConfigReader
 from sceptre.context import SceptreContext
+from sceptre.resolvers.stack_attr import StackAttr
 
 from sceptre.exceptions import (
     DependencyDoesNotExistError,
@@ -295,7 +297,7 @@ class TestConfigReader(object):
             sceptre_user_data={},
             hooks={},
             s3_details=sentinel.s3_details,
-            dependencies=["child/level", "top/level"],
+            dependencies=["top/level", "child/level"],
             iam_role=None,
             sceptre_role=None,
             iam_role_session_duration=None,
@@ -667,3 +669,167 @@ class TestConfigReader(object):
             with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Error parsing .*"):
                 config_reader._render("configs", basename, stack_group_config)
                 assert len(glob("/tmp/rendered_*")) == 1
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "config_key", ("parameters", "sceptre_user_data", "stack_tags")
+    )
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "inheritance_at,values,expected_value",
+        [
+            (
+                0,
+                [{"a": "a"}, {"b": "b"}, {"c": "c"}, {}],
+                {"a": "a", "b": "b", "c": "c"},
+            ),
+            (
+                1,
+                [{"a": "a"}, {"b": "b"}, {"c": "c"}, {}],
+                {"a": "a", "b": "b", "c": "c"},
+            ),
+            (
+                0,
+                [{"a": "a"}, {"b": "b"}, {"c": "c"}, {"d": "d"}],
+                {"a": "a", "b": "b", "c": "c", "d": "d"},
+            ),
+            (
+                2,
+                [{"a": "a"}, {"b": "b"}, {"c": "c"}, {}],
+                {"b": "b", "c": "c"},
+            ),
+            (
+                3,
+                [{"a": "a"}, {"b": "b"}, {"c": "c"}, {}],
+                {"c": "c"},
+            ),
+            (
+                99,
+                [{"a": "a"}, {"b": "b"}, {"c": "c"}, {}],
+                {},
+            ),
+            (
+                99,
+                [{"a": "a"}, {"b": "b"}, {"c": "c"}, {"d": "d"}],
+                {"d": "d"},
+            ),
+            (
+                3,
+                [{"a": "a"}, {"b": "b"}, {"c": "c"}, {"c": "x", "d": "d"}],
+                {"c": "x", "d": "d"},
+            ),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_inheritance_strategy_override_dict_merge(
+        self,
+        config_key,
+        inheritance_at,
+        values,
+        expected_value,
+    ):
+        project_path, config_dir = self.create_project()
+        filepaths = [
+            "/".join(string.ascii_uppercase[:i]) + "/config.yaml"
+            for i in range(1, len(values))
+        ]
+        filepaths.append(
+            "/".join(string.ascii_uppercase[: len(values) - 1]) + "/1.yaml"
+        )
+
+        for i, (stack_path, stack_values) in enumerate(zip(filepaths, values)):
+            params = {config_key: stack_values}
+            if i == inheritance_at:
+                params[f"{config_key}_inheritance"] = "merge"
+            config = {
+                "region": "region",
+                "project_code": "project_code",
+                "template": {
+                    "path": stack_path,
+                },
+                **params,
+            }
+            abs_path = os.path.join(config_dir, stack_path)
+            self.write_config(abs_path, config)
+
+        self.context.project_path = project_path
+        config_reader = ConfigReader(self.context)
+        stack = list(config_reader.construct_stacks()[0])[-1]
+        stack_key = StackAttr.STACK_ATTR_MAP.get(config_key, config_key)
+        assert getattr(stack, stack_key) == expected_value
+
+    # "dependencies" is not included here as it has other tests and testing
+    # it requires configs to be created which makes setup harder.
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("config_key", ("hooks", "notifications"))
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "inheritance_at,values,expected_value",
+        [
+            (0, [["a"], ["b"], ["c"], []], ["a", "b", "c"]),
+            (1, [["a"], ["b"], ["c"], []], ["a", "b", "c"]),
+            (2, [["a"], ["b"], ["c"], []], ["b", "c"]),
+            (3, [["a"], ["b"], ["c"], ["d"]], ["c", "d"]),
+            (99, [["a"], ["b"], ["c"], ["d"]], ["d"]),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_inheritance_strategy_override_list_join(
+        self,
+        config_key,
+        inheritance_at,
+        values,
+        expected_value,
+    ):
+        project_path, config_dir = self.create_project()
+        filepaths = [
+            "/".join(string.ascii_uppercase[:i]) + "/config.yaml"
+            for i in range(1, len(values))
+        ]
+        filepaths.append(
+            "/".join(string.ascii_uppercase[: len(values) - 1]) + "/1.yaml"
+        )
+
+        for i, (stack_path, stack_values) in enumerate(zip(filepaths, values)):
+            params = {config_key: stack_values}
+            if i == inheritance_at:
+                params[f"{config_key}_inheritance"] = "merge"
+            config = {
+                "region": "region",
+                "project_code": "project_code",
+                "template": {
+                    "path": stack_path,
+                },
+                **params,
+            }
+            abs_path = os.path.join(config_dir, stack_path)
+            self.write_config(abs_path, config)
+
+        self.context.project_path = project_path
+        config_reader = ConfigReader(self.context)
+        stack = list(config_reader.construct_stacks()[0])[-1]
+        stack_key = StackAttr.STACK_ATTR_MAP.get(config_key, config_key)
+        assert getattr(stack, stack_key) == expected_value
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "config_key,strategy",
+        (
+            ("hooks", "foo"),
+            ("hooks", "deepcopy"),
+            ("hooks", "child_or_parent"),
+            ("stack_tags", "foo"),
+        ),
+    )
+    def test_inheritance_strategy_override_errors_on_invalid_strategy(
+        self, config_key, strategy
+    ):
+        project_path, config_dir = self.create_project()
+        stack_path = "A/1.yaml"
+        config = {
+            "region": "region",
+            "project_code": "project_code",
+            "template": {
+                "path": stack_path,
+            },
+            f"{config_key}_inheritance": strategy,
+        }
+        abs_path = os.path.join(config_dir, stack_path)
+        self.write_config(abs_path, config)
+        self.context.project_path = project_path
+        config_reader = ConfigReader(self.context)
+        with pytest.raises(SceptreException):
+            config_reader.construct_stacks()
diff --git a/tests/test_stack.py b/tests/test_stack.py
index 7e843e4..6f67e08 100644
--- a/tests/test_stack.py
+++ b/tests/test_stack.py
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ def stack_factory(**kwargs):
     return Stack(**call_kwargs)
 
 
+class FakeResolver(Resolver):
+    def resolve(self):
+        return "Fake"
+
+
 class TestStack(object):
     def setup_method(self, test_method):
         self.stack = Stack(
@@ -183,6 +188,46 @@ class TestStack(object):
                 obsolete="true",
             )
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "parameters",
+        [
+            {"someNum": 1},
+            {"someBool": True},
+            {"aBadList": [1, 2, 3]},
+            {"aDict": {"foo": "bar"}},
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_init__invalid_parameters_raise_invalid_config_file_error(self, parameters):
+        with pytest.raises(InvalidConfigFileError):
+            Stack(
+                name="stack_name",
+                project_code="project_code",
+                template_handler_config={"type": "file"},
+                region="region",
+                parameters=parameters,
+            )
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "parameters",
+        [
+            {"someNum": "1"},
+            {"someBool": "true"},
+            {"aList": ["aString", FakeResolver()]},
+            {"aResolver": FakeResolver()},
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_init__valid_parameters_do_not_raise_invalid_config_file_error(
+        self, parameters
+    ):
+        stack = Stack(
+            name="stack_name",
+            project_code="project_code",
+            template_handler_config={"type": "file"},
+            region="region",
+            parameters=parameters,
+        )
+        assert isinstance(stack, Stack)
+
     def test_stack_repr(self):
         assert (
             self.stack.__repr__() == "sceptre.stack.Stack("
@@ -248,14 +293,10 @@ class TestStack(object):
     def test_configuration_manager__sceptre_role_returns_value__returns_connection_manager_with_that_role(
         self,
     ):
-        class FakeResolver(Resolver):
-            def resolve(self):
-                return "role"
-
         self.stack.sceptre_role = FakeResolver()
 
         connection_manager = self.stack.connection_manager
-        assert connection_manager.sceptre_role == "role"
+        assert connection_manager.sceptre_role == "Fake"
 
     @fail_if_not_removed
     def test_iam_role__is_removed_on_removal_version(self):