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The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1)

by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads Author)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 16,517 ratings · 3,707 reviews

Blue has spent the majority of her sixteen years being told that if she kisses her true love, he will die. When Blue meets Gansey’s spirit on the corpse road she knows there is only one reason why – either he is her true love or she has killed him.

Determined to find out the truth, Blue becomes involved with the Raven Boys, four boys from the local private school (lead by G...more

Paperback, UK, 454 pages

Published September 19th 2012 by Scholastic (first published September 12th 2012)

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Nov 26, 2012 Cas rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, mystery-thriller, young-adults, fantasy, romance, the-beloved, magic, ebook

Maggie! A new series by Maggie!

Can't wait for you, Raven Boys!!

Post Reading
4.5 stars
I loved it! The characters, the plot, the writing style. A series to watch. Can't wait for book 2!

Review to come.

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Sep 18, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-publication, young-adult, scholastic, paranormal-general, september, ala-2012, read-2012, pn-ghosts, supportive-author

On a cold night every spring, sixteen-year-old Blue and her psychic mother wait in a churchyard for the dead to arrive. Her mother is usually the one who sees the spirits of people who will die within the next twelve months, but this year, Blue herself is startled by the sad, desperate sight of a boy named Gansey falling to his knees before her.

"There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve, Blue. Either you're his true love...or you killed him."

With those chilling...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Mitch rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Up until the very end, I was so sure The Raven Boys would be making an appearance on my top favorites list. Maggie Stiefvater’s latest book has everything I want from a great reading experience, a complex narrative, an intriguing and highly developed cast of characters, an utterly haunting style of writing that just blew me away from the first sentence recounting a dire prophecy. Sadly, my enthusiasm dampened somewhat once I sensed Stiefvater was trying a bit too hard to set up a new series, lea...more Up until the very end, I was so sure The Raven Boys would be making an appearance on my top favorites list. Maggie Stiefvater’s latest book has everything I want from a great reading experience, a complex narrative, an intriguing and highly developed cast of characters, an utterly haunting style of writing that just blew me away from the first sentence recounting a dire prophecy. Sadly, my enthusiasm dampened somewhat once I sensed Stiefvater was trying a bit too hard to set up a new series, leading to pacing problems and a disappointing ending that, for me, drops this book just a notch below absolutely amazing.

But it’s not often that I read a book where the words themselves feel magical, Stiefvater deserves mad props just for that. From the very first line of the prologue, hers are deliberately chosen to give off an unsettling, peculiar vibe that not only goes incredibly well with the supernatural tone and dark mood of the book, but really forced me to slow down, I really had to appreciate some passages word for word just to get a full sense of what’s going on. Not that I minded, because I was fully attuned with the story and despite, or maybe because of, the offbeat writing, the chapters drew me in as they easily varied between a variety of emotions, solemnity, anger, incredulity, weariness, each just when the plot calls for it, only serving to enhance the narrative. But best of all, every so often there are these lines, simultaneously seeming strangely out of place and perfectly positioned, that highlight Stiefvater’s dry sense of humor which never once failed to put a stupid grin on my face. I have to admit, this kind of heavy duty writing probably isn’t for everyone, I’d describe the book overall as muted yet dramatic rather than intense and bursting off the page, but for me, this is the exactly kind of writing that could make descriptions of watching mold grow not that bad of a read.

Of course, this is not a book about watching mold grow. From the curious legend of Saint Mark’s Day, the one day gifted psychics are able to see the soon to die as they file past on the corpse road, sort of a highway for spirits, Stiefvater has created an enormously complex tale centered around fate and expectations. Our heroine Blue Sargent, of course, grows up in a family of psychics, and is warned by her mother and her mother’s friends, for as long as she can remember, that her true love’s kiss is fatal. She’s the sort of eccentric character who seems resigned and maybe a bit standoffish and too proud of her independence at first, and maybe Raven Boys takes a little too long bringing her and the Boys together and then putting them on their shared quest, opting for a couple of fake outs first, but once they all fall into that easy friendship I could not stop trying to figure out just what fate had in store for her. And it really is an expectations game, there’s no quick and offputtingly shallow romance at work, rather Blue’s character develops based on her early jaded expectations about true love thanks to that prophecy, and it’s really a fascinating change for her as her future is slowly revealed.

What really impressed me, though, was how Stiefvater manages to develop each one of the supporting characters in such memorable ways. Either through ridiculous names like Barrington Whelk’s, or through hidden motives like Neeve’s, or through strange behavior like Calla’s and Persephone’s, or through atypical parenting like Blue’s mother Maura’s, I never once thought, who is this character again, because I feel like I know them all. Each of the Raven Boys too, none of them fits into the rich snob stereotype I’d have tagged them as, like Blue did initially, because the story sets aside time for each of them, Adam and his problems with his family and being the scholarship kid - though he did kind of annoy me by playing to the poor kid scraping by on his scholarship to the elite school stereotype, and Ronan and his problems with his brother and dead father. Even Noah, who stands out at first because I quickly noticed how not much is said about him, that’s a huge clue towards his real identity. Really, how Stiefvater handles Noah’s story is just brilliant.

Though for me at least, the star of the show isn’t Blue, it’s Gansey. He has all these expectations piled on his as a result of his rich kid status, and his quest, the quest that becomes the Boys’ quest, Blue’s quest, finding the corpse road, the ley line, the path to a sleeping Welsh king, whatever you want to call it, that’s sort of his way of putting himself on the map and doing something nobody expects from him. But his character, like Noah’s, also ends up being indicative of how well Stiefvater has woven this incredibly complex story, there’s clues and easily missed breadcrumbs along the way, like his allergy to bees, which just add layers and layers to his character as the story unfolds and new details emerge. I have to praise the writing again, it’s really that great because Raven Boys is the kind of book that deserves a slow, careful read to really connect the dots. Not just for character development but for the plot as a whole, every time there’s a new twist I can always think back to something I read previously and say to myself, oh yeah, I see what Stiefvater did there.

For such a brilliant book, the only thing that bothers me is how much Raven Boys ends up feeling more like it’s setting up sequels than being amazing in its own right. I’m not talking about Ronan’s final line really, or the many loose plot threads such as the significance of Blue’s father that I’m sure will be tackled by the books to come, those I can live with. Rather, it’s a small part the pacing, intentionally holding back a few obvious revelations for maybe a few chapters more than necessary, and a big part the anticlimatical climax, certain things happening too conveniently and others being brushed aside before, yeah, it’s all over for now. Sure, I get it’s only starting, there’ll be more conflict in the sequel, but after watching such a complex yet masterfully crafted plot unfold, I’m kind of let down by the resolution. I wanted to say wow, I don’t believe what I read and can’t wait for the next book, but I didn’t get that reaction. What I got in response to the events of the last chapter was a disappointing what the hell just happened.

But don’t let my one small complaint fool you, The Raven Boys is absolutely on my list of must read books. The writing is an experience unto itself, which is surprising, since I've never been a fan of Maggie Stiefvater's books - until now.(less)

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Jul 19, 2012 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-or-galley, fantasy-or-paranormal, fantasy-or-pn-favourites, ultimate-favourites, favourite-boys, 5-star-gems, romance, paranormal, mystery, fantasy, 2012-favourites

If Blue were to kiss her true love, he would die. This is the unwavering conclusion all the clairvoyant women in her family have reached countless times, again and again. For Blue, the situation is simple; she will never allow herself to fall in love.

On the Eve of St. Mark’s Day, April 24th, Blue joins her mother’s half-sister in the churchyard as the spirits of those fated to die within the next year walk past. This is tradition, something she has done every year with her mother, only this St....more If Blue were to kiss her true love, he would die. This is the unwavering conclusion all the clairvoyant women in her family have reached countless times, again and again. For Blue, the situation is simple; she will never allow herself to fall in love.

On the Eve of St. Mark’s Day, April 24th, Blue joins her mother’s half-sister in the churchyard as the spirits of those fated to die within the next year walk past. This is tradition, something she has done every year with her mother, only this St. Mark’s Eve, something is different. When Blue suddenly realises she can see one of the spirits, an elegant Raven Boy from Aglionby Academy, there are only two possible explanations, neither of them particularly satisfying. Either Blue is this Raven Boy’s true love… or Blue is somehow responsible for his death.

What appears at first to be a significantly romantic promise of a plot quickly diffuses into something more complex, more adventurous, and generally better than what might be expected. At the core of this book is a mystery – a bizarre and original mystery of ley lines, ancient kings and momentous promises. Gansey, one of the four Raven Boys key to this story, has his heart set on uncovering the resting place of Owen Glendower, for the first to do so is granted a favour. His research and travels have formed his unconventional personality, his easy smile and his longing for something that may not even exist. Along for the ride are hot-tempered Ronan Lynch, wealth-resenting Adam Parrish and quiet and mostly absent Noah.

The friendship between these boys is one of my favourite aspects of this book, for each Raven Boy is layered and impossible to truly understand at first. For a group of boys so different and so complex, Maggie Stiefvater managed to make them all strangely compatible. Gansey and Ronan are the stars of this book for me, though both are very nearly opposite in character. It didn’t take long at all for me to proclaim myself a Raven Boy – despite being, well, not a boy – and wanting to become the fifth member of their quest. Luckily for Blue though, she does become the fifth member soon enough. Waiting for them to meet was pleasant torture, and Stiefvater has the pacing nailed perfectly. There is no rush to set everything in motion. Stiefvater’s writing is as eloquent as ever, almost lyrical at times, and it shines through in her well-developed characters.

There is much uncertainty surrounding elements of the plot, but not in a way which frustrates and leaves disappointment. If anything, I am more desperate than ever to get hold of a sequel. After such an impressive start to this series, I can only hope for more promising things to come. I can’t say Maggie Stiefvater’s books have always been favourites of mine, but this new book from her is quite unlike anything I have read in a while. And really, as hard as I may try, I can’t think of anything at all that I didn’t like about this book.

(This review also appears on my blog)
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Jul 06, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, signed-by-author

Wow! I just now finished this and I'm sort of speechless, in a good way, but now somehow I have to form a coherent review.

Every April 24th, St. Mark's Eve, Blue Sargent and her psychic mother wait in an old church yard to see the spirits of anyone who will die in the next twelve months. When Blue shows up to write down the locals names, it's the first time she actually sees one of the spirits, a boy that is clearly a student of Aglionby, the local private school of Henrietta's privileged. When...more
Wow! I just now finished this and I'm sort of speechless, in a good way, but now somehow I have to form a coherent review.

Every April 24th, St. Mark's Eve, Blue Sargent and her psychic mother wait in an old church yard to see the spirits of anyone who will die in the next twelve months. When Blue shows up to write down the locals names, it's the first time she actually sees one of the spirits, a boy that is clearly a student of Aglionby, the local private school of Henrietta's privileged. When Blue asks, he tells her his name is Gansey. Her aunt tells her there are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve. Either you're his true love or you killed him. Blue Sargent has always been told that she would kill her true love with a kiss. So is this boy who she's never met, the one she falls in love with? Is she the reason he is to die? Blue can hardly believe that she could ever fall in love with a "Ravens Boy," the nick-name used for the rich, arrogant, entitled boys who attend Alionby Academy.

Richard Campbell "Gansey" III, is a senior at Alionby Academy. For several years his passion has been to locate the burial place of Owain Glendower, a medieval Welsh noble who disappeared right before the English could capture him. Legend has it that Glendower is still alive, but sleeping for centuries, and whoever finds and awakens him would be granted a favor. Through his investigations, he has been led to Henrietta, Virginia as a probable place for Glendower's final resting place. Gansey and his circle of friends, Adam, Ronan, and Noah are all part of this mystery that will collide with Blue's world.

These are the two main mysteries in this story, but really there is a third mystery, one that doesn't become apparent until half-way through the book. I literally gasped when it was revealed! There are some great revelations you may or may not see coming, but it's thrilling when you start to piece everything together. The story starts out as separate threads that gradually start to knit together as the plots unfold. Because this is the start of a series, it took about a hundred pages to get the lay of the land and start to make sense of what is going on. But don't let this discourage you at all, you'll find yourself slowly sucked into the story, riveted by how things are coming together.

I've been a fan of Ms. Stiefvater's writing for quite some time. She is truly the master of setting a mood, making you feel a scene, in showing, not telling. This story is no exception. You feel her characters feelings as they were your own, so it's easy to connect to each and every one of them. Blue was a strong "sensible" girl in spite of being in a house full of anything but the usual. Her mother, Maura, Calla, and Persephone are the eccentric and fun characters that make up her family. You can't help but love every one of the "Raven Boys," each of them with a sad background that is gradually revealed.

I have to say I was a little nervous that I wouldn't love this story as much as Maggie's other series. But it turns out I had nothing to fear. The Raven Boys is an excellent start to what I feel will be an amazing series. The first installment ends solving some of the mysteries, but left so many unresolved. It didn't leave off on a cliffhanger, but the story is far from finished. I'm now eagerly awaiting the next book!

You will find this review and more at The Readers Den (less)

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Sep 30, 2012 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, my-bookshelf, beloved

That is the BEST last line I have read in a while.

This book is strange and magical and also gritty at times, and I would recommend it to everyone.

Well, anyone who likes strange.

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Oct 03, 2012 Keertana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: rainy-day-re-reads, books-that-linger

A little over a month ago, I finished my first Stiefvater novel, The Scorpio Races and ever since, The Raven Boys has, quite unexpectedly really, become one of my most anticipated books of the year. While The Raven Boys most certainly did not disappoint, I found myself to be strangely disappointed. Yet, this, by no means, means that The Raven Boys is a bad book - quite the contrary in fact. It's an atmospheric tale whose crazy story will suck you in, whose characters will become your friends, an...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, own, paranormal

The synopsis for The Raven Boys is what first attracted me to this novel. A girl from a clairvoyant family who sees her first "soon-to-be-dead" ghost, the ghost of a boy who is currently a high school student, the ghost of a boy who she can't fall in love with. Because she's pretty sure what kills him is their first kiss. I know! This sounds exactly like a book for me. I was highly intrigued by this premise and especially excited by all the wonderful reviews it has gotten thus far, but I soon ca...more The synopsis for The Raven Boys is what first attracted me to this novel. A girl from a clairvoyant family who sees her first "soon-to-be-dead" ghost, the ghost of a boy who is currently a high school student, the ghost of a boy who she can't fall in love with. Because she's pretty sure what kills him is their first kiss. I know! This sounds exactly like a book for me. I was highly intrigued by this premise and especially excited by all the wonderful reviews it has gotten thus far, but I soon came to realize that the plot had very little to do with what this synopsis describes, and more to do with a hunt for an ancient king who will grant a favor to the one who wakes him. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are looking... for a genie.

Sure, I can certainly get with this unexpected plot and I still kept my hopes up that it would wow me. Involving energy ley lines also definitely brings about very bizarre and somewhat perplexing turns in the book that I found especially fascinating. Mostly, it's the way the story is told that kept me from becoming enamored like so many others. As in Maggie's The Scorpio Races, I think the writing style in The Raven Boys will be a hit or miss. After quite enjoying her easily readable Shiver series, I was not expecting the complexity in which this one is delivered. It's a novel that has a lot of drawn out descriptions and frequent back-stories. I can see readers who enjoy this type of telling would love it, I've often loved books of this nature myself--when I'm expecting it--but in this case, I found it disrupted the flow of the story. When we stopped a conversation, or worse, an exciting scene, to get an abundance of details on the surroundings or past events, my mind would start to wander off and I would have a hard time getting back into it. Let's just say it took me a while to finish this one.

The Raven Boys is filled with intriguing characters. We have a lot of very distinguished, very unique personalities. However, with such an abundance of characters it can take a while to situate yourself inside their lives. It took me a good part of the first half of this book (well over 100 pages) until I was confident I knew who was who, what relationships they had with each others, and how they fit in the story. Also, with so many people to keep track of, I can't say I was especially in tuned with any of them; I never quite got to identify with them emotionally. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the closeness they all seem to share with one another. Every character has their own quirks, their own bizarre traits that make them genuine. I may not have felt a deep character connection, but I certainly did enjoy the personalities I got to meet.

This book is clearly very unique and filled with twists that I found highly interesting. I was hoping for some more answers in the end; we don't make very much progress in terms of the plot, nor the romance. So, yes, I was a little bit disappointed that I didn't share the enthusiasm of so many of my fellow readers on this one, but I wouldn't say I didn't like it, either. The writing style is what put me off the most and since it doesn't seem to be a problem for many others, it seems to be one of those books you have to try for yourself.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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Apr 28, 2013 Palice Pottle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5

Oh dear god, after Iron King, the memory of this book is like chocolate to me. Yes, I know, I didn't even read it that long ago, but like, remembering what I read of Iron King, and then comparing it to what I read in The Raven Boys, it's like... mud and nutella. Yes, they're both brown but-- actually, probably not a good idea to go into that. Ahem. So. Like almost every other YA book, I wanted this because of its damn shiny beautiful artistic cover.

Like wow. Have you looked closely at this? C...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Tammara added it · review of another edition

I'll admit it - I'm a sucker for a guy with the ability to command a room, his peers, and total strangers by the tone of his voice, his vocabulary, and the absolute knowledge of who he is. He has money, or he will, and he knows it. If there's a dilemma he wants to solve, he'll solve it. If an injustice annoys him, he will right it. Insecure superiors are a bit afraid he makes them something less just by sharing physical space, and their fears are probably founded.

So unlike our heroine, the very...more I'll admit it - I'm a sucker for a guy with the ability to command a room, his peers, and total strangers by the tone of his voice, his vocabulary, and the absolute knowledge of who he is. He has money, or he will, and he knows it. If there's a dilemma he wants to solve, he'll solve it. If an injustice annoys him, he will right it. Insecure superiors are a bit afraid he makes them something less just by sharing physical space, and their fears are probably founded.

So unlike our heroine, the very sensible Blue Sargent, Richard Gansey III knocked me for a loop immediately. To Blue, on the other hand, Gansey is a "Raven Boy" - and as such, he's lumped into the category of local prep-school adolescent males who are privledged, arrogant, obnoxious and rich. He is someone to be avoided - if possible, and ignored if not.

Too bad that her first sight of him showed him at his most vulnerable and hopeless, and she can't shake that knowledge. Too bad that she's attracted to one of his best friends - Aglionby scholarship student and fellow townie Adam. Too bad that as the non-psychic daughter of the town psychic, she can't help getting pulled into Gansey's quest for a fabled source of magic - a magic that calls to her as well. Too bad that she's lived her life under a curse that never mattered before, but slowly begins to be everything: If she kisses her true love, he will die. But who is Blue's true love? And when she comes toe-to-toe with that disastrous prophecy, will she dare it to be true, or deny herself to save the life of the boy she loves?

Maggie Stiefvater's perfectly constructed characters are engrossing - I could visualize them by their personality traits alone. Her vivid prose creates a fresh story full of mystery and magic, tinged with the beginnings of a romantic triangle. Blue transforms from the only non-clairvoyant in a house full of witches to a crucial part of the puzzle Gansey is compelled to piece together. There is a slow build to this story, complete with shocking revelations and bonds forged and broken as Gansey and his classmates - Adam, Ronan and Noah - come closer to unearthing an ancient secret, thanks to a girl who appears to be the key to it all. (less)

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Jan 10, 2013 Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!* rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: on-my-kindle, ooh-pretty-cover, 5-star-books, favorites, ghosts, addicting-as-crack, bromance, young-adult, fantasy, romance, i-have-met-the-author

I'm still trying to get through a large pile of things to review, so I'll try to keep this as concise as I can. (Also, luckily, I don't have much to complain about.)

I have been a fan of Maggie Stiefvater for years now. I read the Books of Faerie, The Wolves of Mercy Falls, and The Scorpio Races. All of these books/series were enjoyable, but I always felt they were missing something. I've always thought Maggie's writing was beautiful and that her books were always very atmospheric. However, there...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Katy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

WOW!!! How do I write this review without ruining it and still allow people the same reading experience that I had? This book is one of those where readers may struggle through or lose interest, but they should definitely keep going because the story will hit them like a ton of bricks. And truthfully, I can see many NOT liking it, but I ending up doing so, very much actually.

Let me start out by saying from the summary, I had assumed this was going to be a cliche, quick-read paranormal romance. B...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Stephanie (Stepping out of the Page) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-review, books-i-own, too-much-hype, title-appeal, supernatural, series-or-companions, read-in-2012, mythology, magical-realism, magic, ghosts, fantasy, better-than-expected

The Raven Boys has probably been one of the most hyped up books this year. As it is being released this week, I thought I had better pick it up and see what the fuss was about! I must admit that I wasn't a fan of Shiver or Linger, though I haven't yet enjoyed any shapeshifter book. Due to the different storyline of this book, I decided to give it a go, despite my reservations.

The Raven Boys tells a story of Blue who lives with her psychic mother and aunts. Blue visits a graveyard on a special ni...more The Raven Boys has probably been one of the most hyped up books this year. As it is being released this week, I thought I had better pick it up and see what the fuss was about! I must admit that I wasn't a fan of Shiver or Linger, though I haven't yet enjoyed any shapeshifter book. Due to the different storyline of this book, I decided to give it a go, despite my reservations.

The Raven Boys tells a story of Blue who lives with her psychic mother and aunts. Blue visits a graveyard on a special night where she can see all of the people who are going to pass over to the spirit world during the next year. There, Blue sees a boy, named Gansey and seems to have a special connection with him. She is told it is because she either murdered him, or he was her true love - she has been told that if she kisses her true love, he will die. The story sounded interesting enough - I am very interested in the paranormal and once I got into the book there was also a lot of talk about ley lines, something that I find fascinating.

I really liked the characters in this book. Our main character, Blue had just the right amount of sass about her - despite living in a psychic-dominated house, Blue knows who she is - she is certainly an individual, with her own thoughts and beliefs. She isn't close-minded which was great. The family around her are interesting and definitely individual too, with quite vibrant personalities. After seeing Gansey, a Raven Boy, at the graveyard, Blue wants to discover more about them.

The Raven Boys are a group of boys who attend Aglionby, a private school. In the beginning, I think that they were made out to be your stereotypical rich and somewhat snobby private school kids - to me, that didn't come across very well but then again I was a private school kid myself. As the book went on, it turned out that the Raven Boys aren't really that stereotypical which I was thankful for. I really come to love Gansey and Adam, I felt I understood them well. Actually, I really enjoyed reading about all of The Raven Boys - the group of boys were certainly likeable and all so very different. They absolutely made the story for me, I could read about them all day. They had history behind them and each had an interesting one at that, particularly Adam and Noah.

Even a few days after finishing this book, I'm still not completely sure how I feel about it. I certainly enjoyed it more than I enjoyed Shiver and Linger. The storyline is quite complex and it was vastly more impressive than The Wolves of Mercy Falls books. I enjoyed the idea, the twists and turns, but for me, Stiefvater's writing was not completely enjoyable. The book dragged on quite a lot and it was a bit confusing at points - though a lot of the detail was understandably necessary to contribute information to the story. Truly, I found things to be a little disjointed and distracting - it wasn't a book that I was eager to keep returning to and it did take me quite a while to read.

I think a lot of people will certainly enjoy this book - it does have positive points and I would like to read more of the series just to find out more about our Raven Boys. I am glad that I picked this one up as I've certainly seen a different, more impressive side to Stiefvater than I previously saw in her earlier books. Even if you haven't been pleased by her previous work, I would urge you to try this one out.(less)

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May 02, 2013 Merna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite-covers, fav-fantasy-books, ultimate-favourites, fantasy, favorites

One a cold night, a sixteen year old girl named Blue and Neeve (her aunty) wait for the dead to arrive. Her aunty and mother are always the ones to see the spirit of people on who will die in the next twelve months. As Blue helps Neeve in the churchyard, she is stunned by the sudden sight of the sad boy named Gansey.

“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.”

I was very cautious to read the Raven...more One a cold night, a sixteen year old girl named Blue and Neeve (her aunty) wait for the dead to arrive. Her aunty and mother are always the ones to see the spirit of people on who will die in the next twelve months. As Blue helps Neeve in the churchyard, she is stunned by the sudden sight of the sad boy named Gansey.

“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.”

I was very cautious to read the Raven boys. After all the author Maggie Stiefavatar wrote shiver. A book told from two perspectives but it might as well been one, since one of the narrator was ‘suppose’ to be a guy, but no doubt if the author didn't recap your memory at the beginning of every chapter on who was narrating he could have passed as a girl.

The Raven Boys was a surprise - a wonderful surprise. The writing took a little time to get used to but nonetheless it was brilliantly written.

The story opens up with Blue's point of view, the book however is actually told mainly from three angles. Adam (The scholarship student and one of Gansey's best friend), Blue and Gansey. At first I thought this book would be a disappointment due to the fact Gansey was rich and Blue wasn't. I hoped it wasn't another typical story of poor girl falling for a rich boy at first sight for no apparent reason. The author didn't let me down me at all. (No insta- love). I was pleased.

There are several mysteries going on in the Raven boys. There are numerous plot lines to keep track of which was slightly infuriating at first but as soon as I got each one in check, the story became perfect.

Take in mind before you pick up this book. It's very slow paced not much happens until the last few chapters. The book was more focused on character development which I had zero problem with.

I enjoyed every bit of this book and I’m deeply excited for the next in the series. There is countless cursing in this book. Just letting you know.
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Dec 01, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance-urban-fantasy, young-adult

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

The Raven Boys is only the second novel I've read by Maggie Stiefvater. My reading experience with the first novel, Shiver, did not go very well so understandably I was reluctant to read any of her other books. But then I heard the premise for The Raven Boys and I was intrigued. I couldn't resist giving Stiefvater another shot, and I'm glad that I did.

Seventeen year old Blue Sargent comes from a family of psychics, although she herself isn't one. She never has psychic vis...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya, arcs-read, read-in-2012

3.5 stars

“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.”

Easily one of the most hyped books of the year, Maggie Stiefvater's first installment in her Raven Cycle series was high on my to-read list. I wasn't left disappointed but as far as first installments go it could have been better.

Blue Sargent is a non-seer but has the gift of being able to amplify other seers powers. On the Eve of St. Mark’s Day...more 3.5 stars

“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.”

Easily one of the most hyped books of the year, Maggie Stiefvater's first installment in her Raven Cycle series was high on my to-read list. I wasn't left disappointed but as far as first installments go it could have been better.

Blue Sargent is a non-seer but has the gift of being able to amplify other seers powers. On the Eve of St. Mark’s Day Blue's mother, a clairvoyant, sits watch over the churchyard all night to watch the ghosts of those that will be passing over in the next year. Blue accompanies her mother even though she's not able to see any of the ghosts. Except she does this year. A boy wearing the uniform from Aglionby Academy named Gansey; a Raven Boy. And the only reason a non-seer would see a spirit is he's either Blue's true love or she's the one that kills him.

Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah (otherwise known as The Raven Boys) have their own mystery to add into the mix. Gansey has become obsessed over the years with finding the local ley line and believes that once found he will be able to locate an ancient and mythical sleeping king and that he will grant him a wish.

Despite the initial hint at romance, it never actually made an appearance. It was a nice change from the typical though. I was loving the whole Practical Magic feel and loved Blue and her eclectic household. The group of boys aptly named the Raven Boys were quite charming and reminded me a lot of the group of friends in The Secret History (at least before the whole sleeping king granting wishes came in to play). The multiple storylines were intriguing, nicely written and converged well with one another. The only problem is it is a bit slow-going at first so patience may be required for some. Also, fans of Maggie Stiefvater may find that The Raven Boys is missing some of her beautiful prose that she’s so famous for.

I would have gladly given this a solid 4 stars; however, I had one HUGE problem. I wouldn’t say that there’s a huge cliffhanger, but more that there isn’t actually any resolution to be seen. No conclusion. No answers. I understand that this is the first in the series but it definitely had the feel of a pilot episode and despite the fact that I will still be waiting with bated breath for the next installment I really wish we would have been given more. Not sure if this is really a spoiler but I’ll cover it up just to be sure. (view spoiler)(less)

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Jan 12, 2013 willaful rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, series, young-adult, made-me-laugh

I had the impression from GoodReads reviews that Stiefvater is just another lackluster, derivative YA writer. It's harder to evaluate style when listening to an audiobook, but I thought this was terrific. The situation is haunting, the characterizations are rich, and themes of class and friendship are explored with humor and insight. Even what seems likely to become a love triangle seem original, because it's organic to the story and very lightly touched upon. (This first book in the series is n...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Kristalia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: me-likey-mucho, reviewed, unique-stories, 4-to-5-stars, cut-my-heart-out, be-my-hero-plz

Final rating: ★★★★☆/★★★★★

raven boys

Wow, this was nice.....weird, but nice. ♥ 4.5 stars ♥ I always loved Maggie Stiefvater and her works (though i only read wolves of mercy falls ), i adored her characters the most. This proved to be far more interesting than Shiver. YAAAAAAAAAAAY XD. And no, it has no connection with Edgar Alan Poe (for that see Nevermore xD)-even though the opening was from the raven.

Next thing i wanted to say: i love the cover ♥

story

What i really loved was that it was third person view w...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Three and a half stars a paranormal read with fortune tellers, ghosts, ley lines and more!

Blue is the daughter of a psychic. She comes from a family of psychics, but she does not have the gift. Blue has been told by every fortune teller that she will kiss and lose her true love to death. For Blue, this is certainly a troubling future, but she has put it in the back of her mind. That is until she visits the church graveyard on St. Mark's Day. A night when the spirits of those who will die in the...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Arlene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Arlene by: The Readers Den

Shelves: arc, read-2012, ya-paranormal, young-adult

Thank you to The Readers Den for allowing me to read this ARC.

The king sleeps still, underneath a mountain, and around him is assembled his warriors and his herds and his riches. By his right hand is his cup, filled with possibility. On his breast nestles his sword waiting too, to wake. Fortunate is the soul who finds the king and is brave enough to call him to wakefulness, for the king will grant him a favor, as wondrous as can be imagined by a mortal man.

Maggie Stiefvater has truly outdone her...more Thank you to The Readers Den for allowing me to read this ARC.

The king sleeps still, underneath a mountain, and around him is assembled his warriors and his herds and his riches. By his right hand is his cup, filled with possibility. On his breast nestles his sword waiting too, to wake. Fortunate is the soul who finds the king and is brave enough to call him to wakefulness, for the king will grant him a favor, as wondrous as can be imagined by a mortal man.

Maggie Stiefvater has truly outdone herself with her latest novel The Raven Boys. I, for one, can clearly see how this author has continued to master her craft of storytelling. I’ve said this before with her Shiver series and recently The Scorpio Races, Stiefvator has this unique ability to meticulously create a setting where her audience feels submerged in the surroundings she’s chosen to weave. Where in Shiver I felt the sharp winter coldness and in The Scorpio Races I experienced the misty seaside - The Raven Boys takes us to a whole new time and place where you can’t help but feel a part of the dark hollow night. Her atmospheric skill is truly her token ability.

The Raven Boys is probably one of the more character driven novels Stiefvater has created. There are about ten characters that each play a distinct role in this novel, and to meet them is to be impressed by their performance. There was something odd yet complicated about the “Raven Boys” including Ronan, Gansey, Adam and Noah. At first glance you want to dismiss then as typical academy boys, but granting them a moment to share their story, you’ll soon discover that every one of them is more than their surface portrays. They each struggle with a past or present conflict and they stick together as they journey through their challenges.

Blue, who can easily position herself as the protag of this book, is undoubtedly my favorite in this novel. She comes from a family of psychics that include her mother Maura and a few other gals - Calla, Persephone and the ever ambiguous Neeve. When Blue comes across the Raven Boys, she’s never intimidated but rather always ready to stand her ground and her courage cannot be ignored. This tale is a perfect blend of contemporary and fantasy that leaves me wondering where Stiefvater plans to take us to next.

So if raven cuts in the ground, creaks that lead into the woods, fish that change colors, hallucination trees, wrinkles in time and space, trees that are sentient beings, or dousing rods strike any sort of interest as you layer that will an intriguing legend, I’d highly suggest you give The Raven Boys a try. As you read this story, discover the legend and unfold the mystery you’ll be awed by Maggie Stiefvater’s ability to create fictional magic. Well done!

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Aug 25, 2012 Julianna Helms rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-arc, arcs-for-trade, ala-12, first-reads, needs-review-about-now, why-cliffhanger-why

I got it at ALA thanks to the AMAZING Andrea. :D <3 Thanks!!!

Quick reaction: 3.5 stars.

I'm not sure why, but lately books haven't been meeting my expectations in a way that leaves me satisfied and the book a complete, awesome journey. Maybe it's because after reading The Crown of Embers, other books just paled in comparison. But Maggie Stiefvater is usually so amazing that I was taken aback when I realized that I didn't love this book.

I liked it, sure. Maggie's character-building is brilliant...more

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Oct 07, 2012 oliviasbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, witches-sorcerers-magic, shapeshifters, urban-fantasy-paranormal, read-2012, high-expectations, ghosts-dead-people, paranormal-humans, mystery-crime-sleuthing, cliffhanger, swapped-or-given-away, love-triangle, yabc-quarterly-challenge-7, sequel-no-thank-you

Maura would say "That's the universe calling for you on line two, Orla" or something like that [...]. In the next room over, Orla was talking to either her boyfriend or one of the psychic hotline callers. With Orla it was difficult to tell the difference between the two sorts of calls. Both of them left Blue thinking she ought to shower afterwards.
The Raven Boys has been one of the books I anticipated so much that I placed a pretty early preorder on the hardcover. And, if you look at my status u...more Maura would say "That's the universe calling for you on line two, Orla" or something like that [...]. In the next room over, Orla was talking to either her boyfriend or one of the psychic hotline callers. With Orla it was difficult to tell the difference between the two sorts of calls. Both of them left Blue thinking she ought to shower afterwards.
The Raven Boys has been one of the books I anticipated so much that I placed a pretty early preorder on the hardcover. And, if you look at my status updates, you can see that I breezed through it in practically no time, because I did enjoy reading it and did not want to read other books in between in order to wait for my group of reading buddies to catch up.

Right from the start I loved heroine Blue Sargent, the likeably different non-psychic in a small-town, all-female household of delightfully wacky, but genuine tarot-card-reading fortune-tellers, without reserve and glued myself to her every move. Her family was like a mix of the Obermeiers in Olfi Obermeier und der Ödipus and the Delaneys in The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney, but in contrast to the hero and the heroine in the before mentioned novels, Blue feels perfectly comfortable being her mother’s offspring and contributes to her family’s business, too: Her presence is like an amplifier for everything spiritual, magical and life-energy-related. Blurry visions get clearer, spirit voices get louder and ley line energy flows freely when Blue is in the vicinity. I looked extremely forward to the possibility of wonderful Blue falling in love with a boy and struggling hard against her emotions, because her cards again and again predicted the too-early demise of a boy she will kiss. I was eager to meet the mysterious boy who had only one year or less to live: The doomed boy, whose spirit appeared to Blue on St. Mark’s Eve on corpse road.

And here is where my rainbow-colored balloon was condemned to slowly deflate: Although mystery boy Gansey and his friends Adam, Ronan and Noah, who – like him – are Ivy-League-bound students of the prestigious, private boarding-school Aglionby, are far from being cardboard characters, I didn’t fall for them at all. Their sharp angles and their unique edges failed to evoke my interest and their Holy-Grail-like quest to locate the exact route of one of three criss-crossing ley lines, and consequently the secret burying ground of the corpse of the Welsh legend Glendower, seemed pretty random, forcefully molded to fit to the rest of the story and artificially constructed altogether. The use Gansey – and his evil competitors, too – had for the power granted to the person responsible for ancient Glendower’s reawakening was eventually explained, but it did not convince me as far as the degree of obsession and urgency was concerned.

In addition, there was - contrary to the book flap's promise - no true love in sight. Blue is described as a very sensible person, who is determined not to fall in love, because she does not want to be the cause of someone's death. Her frightened realisation, that steeling her heart against love - which unerringly will find a crack to slip in anyhow - did not have the slightest effect at all, could have been an extraordinary drama to behold. But Stiefvater chose the route of lukewarm first attraction for one boy, whose attentions are kind of welcome and gratifying, and a curiosity-based, growing familiarity lined with bickering and headed towards a friendship between like-minded persons for another one, who at first seemed to be incompatible. In short, that means: No passion for Blue in volume one, but seeds in the soil for a solid love-triangle in volume 2.

By the way, volume 2: Quite a number of questions remained unanswered and quite a lot of puzzles stayed unsolved. I do not mind a book that leaves room for a sequel. (Shiver, for example, has been such a book for me. I could read Linger, if I ever felt like it, but I don’t have to.) But I resent books that make no sense on their own. The Raven Boys does not really end on a cliffhanger, but you cannot fail to notice that the story is incomplete.

I guess I will enjoy reading the sequel eventually. But I can assure you that nothing will seduce me into preordering the hardcover. My hardcover copy of The Raven Boys is back on the market, by the way. I see no sense in keeping it. A lovely cover alone does not earn my precious shelf space. All in all: A good read, but also a disappointment.
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Nov 18, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-physical-copies, meh-it-was-okay, boooooring

This review is also available over at my blog.

______________________

Actual Rating is 3.5 stars.

I'll be brutally honest here: the premise never really pulled me or got me excited. What did get my excited though was because, well, it's Maggie. I've pretty much loved every book I've read by her, and that's quite a number, so I was ecstatic when I first heard that she was writing a new series.

Now that I've finally read this book, though, am I disappointed? Well, a little.

The story tells of Blue Sarg...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Ela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: too-long-of-a-wait, cliff-hanger-ending, fangirling-over, holy-shit-ending, late-night-reads, my-favorites

Full review soon.

Excuse me while I

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Jul 17, 2012 Tripleness rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: advance, first-in-liked-series, cool-heroines, 2012-releases

This book was really good. Every aspect- plot, writing, characters, setting, themes, etc.- was really well done. This review is mostly going to be a list of a few of the things I liked most about The Raven Boys, because I honestly can't think of much to say about it that isn't glowing.

First off, I love the characters. They're each vibrant and distinctive, even the minor ones. Stiefvater does a great job of giving each character a unique voice, and I never had trouble distinguishing one personali...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Janina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult-fiction, on-my-shelf, cliffhanger, favourite-characters, i-see-dead-people, read-in-2012, alternating-pov, series-in-progress, read-along

I loved loved the characters, but the ending left me a tiny bit disappointed and slightly confused. I just don't like it when only half a story is told. But I cannot deny that I adored the story because of Blue, Gansey, Adam, Noah, Ronan, Maura, little Chainsaw (really, how could you choose a name like that?!) ... and am looking forward to reading on some time in the (hopefully not too distant) future.

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Aug 23, 2012 Ashleigh Paige rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, better-than-expected, creepy-and-i-love-it, damn-i-wish-i-could-write-like-that, provided-by-publisher, the-great-shelf-of-awesome

3.5 stars

Review to come. Great idea, great writing (most of the time), and I liked the characters, but it was a little overlong and it's hard to stay focused if you're not fully invested in the mystery. Also, what the fuck was that last line? Not cool. Seriously. You can't throw out something like that and then just end the book!

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Feb 21, 2013 Nina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hmmm... I am a little puzzled by the choice of MCs' names.

I just bought this today at a bookstore in Glasgow. The cover is gorgeous! Cannot wait to read it.

21st of february-
Loved it but with a conflicted heart - that's what Stiefvater is capable of doing to you!

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Oct 05, 2012 Anatea Oroz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, ghosts, fantasy, mystery, i-own

Woot! I won this book over at Supernatural Snark!

--------

This review is also posted on my blog, Anatea's Bookshelf.

First let me say this. If you have read Shiver and you expect this book to be like it, don't, because you'll be dissapointed. This book is nothing like The Wolves of Mercy Falls series. The writing is not as beautiful, but this book is something else. It is very good in it's own way. I truly enjoyed it!

It was slow in the beggining, the intro in the story was very long, but it was ne...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Surin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Edit: On a second read, I have decided to award The Raven Boys a 5 stars because truly doing a second read was I able to fully appreciate the intricacies of the plot as well as the subtle nuances of the characters. I still have huge issues with how the story flows and I really think that less patient readers would not be able to get through this. This book has it flaws no doubt BUT it has such amazing moments that it totally outweighs all of them

The Raven Boys is a hard book to explain. It's a v...more

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RONAN	29	91	May 17, 2013 03:50pm
Nothing but Readi...: * The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - Start Date May 12th	79	90	May 17, 2013 05:03am
YA Bookaholics: The Raven Boys	3	11	May 13, 2013 03:50pm
YA Bookaholics: The Raven Boys Trivia	17	22	May 12, 2013 11:53am
Did anyone NOT like this book??	37	93	May 10, 2013 01:19am
Addicted to YA: Blue Sargent (Raven Cycle)	5	60	May 06, 2013 07:21pm

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About Maggie Stiefvater

All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she...more

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“My words are unerring tools of
destruction, and I’ve come unequipped with the ability to disarm them.” — 183 people liked it

“She recognized the strange happiness that came from loving something without knowing why you did, that strange happiness that was sometimes so big that it felt like sadness.” — 138 people liked it

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The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1)

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