The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: September 18, 2012

My Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 409

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

I was a little nervous before reading The Raven Boys. Maggie Stiefvate is a superb author. I realized that in her Shiver Trilogy. There's no doubt she can write. However, I didn't like her Shiver Trilogy. I found the plot redundant and boring. At the same time, I recently read Stiefvater's Scorpio Races and found it to be one of my favorite reads of 2012.  So, I knew I'd either love it or hate it. I loved it.

The writing didn't let me down. Stiefvater was generous with her descriptions but the plot was fast-paced enough to keep the story exciting. It was a good combination and I found myself enthralled. There were several passages in the book that were so good that they sucked me in and I'm surprised I escaped. Only after finishing the book of course.

The main character of the story is relatable. She had her flaws like any teenager. She reminded me of a typical teenager in that she was constantly questioning her mom, felt different from anyone else, and wanted to be loved. The only difference is that she really is different. She's the daughter of a psychic and, despite what she thinks, her powers may be useful. Her entire life she's been told that if she kisses her true love, he'll die. So when she meets Gansey and finds herself drawn into his and hos friends quest, she should know better. But she throws caution to the wind and ends up falling in love.

Blue was self-conscious and vulnerable but confident at the same time. I liked that. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind and tell it like it is. Her character was a good one and fit the daughter of a psychic perfectly. The Raven Boys were all different in their own way. Gansey was rich but tried hard to relate to poor people. He had a good heart and was always generous. Adam was sweet. He was dealing with a lot but always managed to make time for the people he cared about. I only wish he let his friends in a little more.  Noah was shy but in a good way. He had a charming personality and a secret. Rowan also had a secret. He was also selfish, rude and obnoxious. I didn't much like him, His only redeeming characteristic was his love for Gansey. I felt that he fell short in comparison to the other characters. Finally, there was Blues family. They were quirky but kind and I ended up liking them.

There wasn't much I didn't like. Besides Rowan there was one thing that bugged me. I was confused about ley lines at first. They were a major part of the story but I found myself wondering what exactly they were.

In conclusion, I ended up loving this book. It was enchanting and addicting. If you liked Stiefvater's previous books, withes, or anything paranormal, check into this book. You won't regret it- I certainly didn't.

Memorable Quotes

- "You're the table everyone wants at Starbucks," Gansey mused as he began to walk again.
Blue blinked. "What?"

Over his shoulder, Gansey said, "Next to the wall plug.”

 

- “Are you really going to work in that?" Maura asked.

Blue looked at her clothing. It involved a few thin layering shirts, including one she had altered using a method called shredding. "What's wrong with it?"
Maura shrugged. "Nothing. I always wanted an eccentric daughter. I just never realised how well my evil plans were working.”

 

- “You are being self-pitying."
"I'm nearly done. You don't have much more of this to bear."
"I like you better this way."
"Crushed and broken," Gansey said. "Just the way women like 'em.”  

 

-   “Do you know, it's really hard to be a parent. I blame it on Santa Claus. You spend so long making sure your kid doesn't know he's fake that you can't tell when you're supposed to stop."

 

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