The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater -- Restarting August 20th 2025

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Julianne wrote: "Ch 1
[spoilers removed]"

I think you are liking it more than Lisa and I right now. :P

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Lisa wrote: "@Bookbuyer: same problem"

I hope the writing issues goes away or at least fades to the back of my mind. It's not unreadable but it feels a bit like a 4th grader reading a 7th grade book and I don't know why I get that feeling. It's not a particularly hard book. :/

[Lisa]

yeah, sometimes i'm not sure who is talking or thinking right now and they jump from one tought to another and there are not enough paragraphs!

and i'm 1/5(20%) in and nothing happened, except even more POVS seems to appear...

[Lisa]

Julianne: if you like it, i'm happy for you :)
everyone seems to like it and i want to like it too... maybe it gets better?

[[deleted user]]

I definitely am having problems trying to tell the group of boys apart. I dont really know what makes them unique. They all sort of have the same voice, except Gansey.


And i was rec'd this book a lot because people said they loved the language. I am just sort of confused by it.

[Keyona]

I've been listening to this on audio and might I suggest it for those having problems getting into it? This narrator is VERY good. Easy to follow. I am loving this so far. Especially hearing Adam's southern accent.

[Keyona]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ I'm liking this so far. At first I thought perhaps Adam was in love with Ganzy and that was the LGBT part but I'm interested to see how far him and Blue will get. I think he's such a sweetheart. I do wonder why if Blue has already come into contact with Ganzy she didn't recognize him...I'm glad to see the author went in another direction with her love interest because I thought she'd go for the obvious. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ch 8
(view spoiler)[ so she has the journal of notes. I really liked her small interaction with Adam. It was sort of sweet. Im really interested in this search for the knights. I wonder how Blue could help (hide spoiler)]

[Lisa]

yeah, maybe the audio woul be better, but i confess that i don't want to buy the audiobook :)

[Keyona]

Lisa wrote: "yeah, maybe the audio woul be better, but i confess that i don't want to buy the audiobook :)"

Lol I don't blame you. I got the audio from Scribd.

[[deleted user]]

Ch 19
(view spoiler)[ so blue is going to tell them about the corpse road that is the leyline right? Also. Is Glendower, the dude theyre looking for, blues father?? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Chapter 29
(view spoiler)[ um okay thats a huge twist i wonder why it didnt seem obvious before?? Hes the one who whelk has been talking about too (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ i liked it. I wish more happened in the book though. It felt like a long story of them just kind of wandering in circles before they even met in person and started finding stuff out. I am super interested in this whole got the bird from my dreams though (hide spoiler)]

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

I'm going to DNF this. I just can't understand what's going on about 90% of the time. :(

[Keyona]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[So Blue will tell the boys about the corpse road. I'm trying to figure out what role Wilks will play in all this. Also, if Adam and Blue are hitting it off what will be Blue and Gansey relationship... (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Bookbuyer wrote: "I'm going to DNF this. I just can't understand what's going on about 90% of the time. :("

Aw okay Bookbuyer! But I totally understand! I definitely had to reread things a lot to understand what was happening

[Keyona]

Chapter 30 (view spoiler)[All this time Noah has been dead. What a twist!I think it's safe to say Welks killed him. The question is why.. (hide spoiler)]

[Keyona]

Finished (view spoiler)[I'm done but I still have a lot of questions. How does Blue's father tie into all this? What will Adam do with this power he has? I'm excited to see what happens next. I found this book to be hilarious and the narrator really made this book for me. I'm not sure I would've liked it as much if I read it but now I want to see what other books he's done. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting October 12th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting January 12th 2019. Happy Reading ☺

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[Yajahyra]

I’ve had these books forever and I’m finally gunna get around to reading them

[Maria]

I'll probably start tomorrow. Have to finish my current book before I can start this one. Excited, though!

[Aliza]

Starting late tonight/morning tomorrow!

[Maria]

I started today. On chapter 1 right now. Will share my thoughts for a while!

[Maria]

Through chapter 1. (view spoiler)[ That was a fine prologue! And I also guessed right about the boy being from the Aglionby and being her eventual true love...but she is still a non-seer, for which I am kinda glad (sets her apart from her family, in a cool way). The guy is her true love and someone she'd kill.
I am curious to see how the guy's death comes about despite Blue being someone who stays well away from guys, and someone who knew she could kill them (when she kisses him). (hide spoiler)]

[Aliza]

I’m on chapter 15 and things are really picking up. I like the eccentricity of all the characters, from Blue to the boys to all the women Blue lives with. Persephone brings Luna Lovegood to mind.

[Maria]

Cool! And what do you think about the writing? I'm really liking it so far, it's atmospheric and clever. I'm on chapter 2 and loving (view spoiler)[ Gansey's voice :p (hide spoiler)]

[Aliza]

It’s a bit of a different style of writing. The metaphors and descriptions can be odd but it works for the overall feel and theme of the book. Sometimes the way the boys talk to each other is...disjointed? I’m not sure how to say it. But it’s quite realistic. They switch topics and start conversations from the middle and say odd things that make it seem as if it’s all part of an inside joke from before the books started. And I like that because it feels authentic. It reminds me of how one of my close friends and I converse. We’ll be serious about something and then suddenly skip to a different thing and then maybe rhyme random words. Idk if I’m making sense. It just sounds like real young adults talking.

[Maria]

Yes! From the little of chapter two I've read, I can see how realistic the conversations seem! I like it, it's quite cool and makes the prose engaging

[Aliza]

On chapter 23 now. Some parts are getting slightly creepy. All is mysterious.

[Maria]

I was reading late in the night and it was already spooky in the early chapters!

[Aliza]

Yeah, I definitely think this is more of a daytime book for me, haha. I didn’t realize it would be so supernatural.

[Maria]

Through chapter 10. (view spoiler)[ I had feared this. Gansey is going to die in this ritual, isn't he? Like Czerny. We're not sure if Gansey does take this suggestion by Malory seriously but Whelk and his friend seem to have had doubts about the ritual, too! So had they done just whatever they thought made sense? Did Czerny's death count as the sacrifice (even though it was accidental)?? Is Gansey smart enough not to try something he's not completely certain of? I wonder if he is going to try finding more information about this ritual before performing it . . . I just really hope this ritual doesn't become the cause of his death. (hide spoiler)]
How likely do you guys think it is that (view spoiler)[Malory doesn't know of a death happening because of performing a ritual he is suggesting Gansey try? Or maybe the death hadn't made it to the news? (hide spoiler)]
Also, do you guys (view spoiler)[ also irrationally hope that Gansey wouldn't die? :p I kinda like him (hide spoiler)]

[Maria]

Keyona wrote: "Chapter 10 [spoilers removed]"

I hope this person found out eventually that (view spoiler)[ Blue hadn't seen his features clearly when she saw his ghost! They were all blurred, the book says. (hide spoiler)] because I was confused, too, at first! 😅

[Maria]

Through chapter 13. (view spoiler)[ It was Welk wasn't it? Does the 'three' signify three people looking for the Raven King? Will Blue eventually become one of them? Do Maura and the other psychics know about the Raven King? (hide spoiler)]

[Maria]

Ch. 15 (view spoiler)[ Calla seems blunt like Ronan.
I don't get why Blue would want to still see this Aglionby trio now when she clearly knows one of them is Gansey.
It had been really sweet of her in an earlier chapter when she thought the favour she'd ask from the Raven King should she find him was Gansey's life (hide spoiler)]

[Aliza]

Haven't been able to read due to work but I went ahead and Amazon Primed the other three books!

[Tiera]

I picked up the first book at the library. I'm going to jump in on the tail end of this if that is ok? Starting today.

[Tiera]

3% - (view spoiler)[ "There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve, Blue. Either you're his true love," Neeve said, "or you killed him." Da DA DAAAAAAA! or maybe even both? we sha'll see. (hide spoiler)]

[Tiera]

18% - (view spoiler)[ Ummm did anyone else have problems trying to understand wth is going on here? Whats the deal with Declan and Ronan fighting... and why is everyone so.... weird. Not one character in this book has acted like a normal human, they are all so ambiguous and mysterious and just weird (hide spoiler)]
23% - (view spoiler)[ I feel like crying and laughing because this book makes no sense. Where did the bird come from.. where is some backstory. I feel like we are missing an important component to the story... like world building. (hide spoiler)]
32% - (view spoiler)[ Lol well at least Calla has a sense of humor. So that reading was way weird.. how come they never explained anything to Blue? I also don't understand whats going on with Adams home life... Why do they have dialogue about events but never explain it... grrrr. (hide spoiler)]
42% - (view spoiler)[ Welk is like "What is wrong with this kid?" and I'm like dude you just robbed his locker... I don't understand why they are even so obsessed with this Glendower dude? They never really go into specifics about what finding him will actually mean... What is the point! (hide spoiler)]
57% - (view spoiler)[ "it was starting, it was starting".... Sigh if only we knew what... (hide spoiler)]
59% - (view spoiler)[ *whimpers* so now time is messed up? Im so lost. (hide spoiler)]
66% - (view spoiler)[ Ok... so at least we have a tiny bit of insight into Gansey's weird obsession... but not really. (hide spoiler)]
84% - (view spoiler)[ You go Adam! (hide spoiler)]
Finished: So done with this series... I have no clue what that was even about in all honesty. So confusing. I felt like I never really go to know any of the characters really. I never got super involved. There wasn't really any depth, hardly any emotion, and it was really spotty and jarring plot wise.

[Maria]

Tiera wrote: "
18% - [spoilers removed]
23% - [spoilers removed]
32% - [spoilers removed]
42% - [spoilers removed]
57% - [spoilers removed]
59% - [spoilers removed]
66% - [spoi..."

Well that sucks 😕 hope your next read is better. I personally liked the story and the characters. Sorry you didn't feel the same.

[Maria]

Jazzy wrote: "67% [spoilers removed]"

I know right? (view spoiler)[ He had seemed strange to me but whoa. (hide spoiler)] Chapter 29 was my favourite!

[Maria]

Jazzy wrote: "Maria wrote: "Through chapter 10. [spoilers removed]
How likely do you guys think it is that [spoilers removed]
Also, do you guys [spoilers removed]"

I like Gansey too. 🤗 For some reason, he remi..."

I actually liked Ronan from the beginning :p (view spoiler)[ I know he is spoilt, foul-mouthed and whatnot, but he can be so endearing when he shows any kind of emotion or appreciation for things (because he is so not the elusive type). He is so true and honest...there is something pure about him. His blunt lies, his love for his friends...

I don't love Adam, he is ok..although can be quite sweet too. But I so get what he is going through. I get that he wants to stand on his own, has his principles...and I kind of am annoyed for Gansey for not getting it 😅 He should respect his friend's values, try harder to understand him better.

I liked the scene in the attic too! Whelk is so unlikable ugh (hide spoiler)]

[Maria]

Jazzy wrote: "Finished! What the actual... that ending! "

(view spoiler)[
YES THE LEY LINE - I can only imagine how powerful an effect it will have now it's awake- more than it already has, that is, and that too in Henrietta! Where it's the most powerful. (hide spoiler)]

But I wonder what (view spoiler)[ actually happened to Adam? How did he actually sacrifice his principles? 'I give you my eyes' - that was so creepy. And how in the world Ronan took Chainsaw out of his dreams!! (hide spoiler)] That last line...But I suppose we'd find that out in the next book. The first one, too, hopefully.

[Maria]

I loved this book. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I loved the characters, the story, and the world and the writing. Funny thing is, I don't really read this kind of stuff (ghosts and psychics and all. Seem boring to me) - but now this book has become my favourite! It was so atmospheric, and mysterious and creepy (and the most ghostly chapter was my favourite!). It was unique in its premise and that's an element in my favourite books, too.

My only major complaint was that it was slow. Really. The peak moments were all diluted in the slow moving prose. But I didn't mind that as much as I should have! I was too invested in this world and the characters.

I really would have appreciated some information about how the boys actually got to be friends... I know it "felt right" for Gansey to befriend the other boys...but how exactly did that friendship ensue? Or is it just not that important anyway?

[Maria]

Jazzy wrote: "I was wondering the same thing too! [spoilers removed]"

Yes! I'm glad we'd be exploring Ronan more in the next book! (Or at least that's what its blurb implies). Ah. So excited!

[Lee]

Jazzy wrote: "28%[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ This also freaked me out because he seems really precious? (hide spoiler)]

Jazzy wrote: "31%[spoilers removed]"

I literally laughed out loud here. It was hilarious!!!

[Lee]

Jazzy wrote: "67% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ That baffled me! I didn't see that coming at all! (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

85%~ (view spoiler)[ I'm so proud of Adam. That couldn't have been easy. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Wow. That ending really created a lot of questions and made me super excited to read the next book. I thought overall, the book was a little slow and it took me a while to really get into it, but that ending let me know how excited I am about this series and to see where it's going to go. (hide spoiler)]