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

[Ariel]

Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[
The trees are speaking to them!? Whattttt? (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

Chapter 32
(view spoiler)[
This is quickly turning into one of the creepiest books I have read! Someone killed Noah for this ley line and Blue is touching him. It's just so creepy (hide spoiler)]

[Ariel]

FINISHED
(view spoiler)[
So, the second half of this book is crazy exciting. I am so happy that Noah finally gets some sort of peace and for the most part I felt like a lot of things were resolved at the end. I am really curious to see where this romance is going to go for Blue... (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Chapter 13: (view spoiler)[ I don't like how the description of the book makes you believe she is the main character when she has only been in like three chapters. . . I know she'll probably be more involved later on but still. . . (hide spoiler)]

[Songbird Bookworm]

Chapter 4: I am enjoying the start of this book and the interactions between the boys so far

[Johanna]

I've been really busy lately, so I haven't been able to start until now.
Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[ Nice start of this one! The characters seem quite interesting, especially Adam. I'm really looking forward to continue reading, but I should definitely sleep right now. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ this book is SO good!! I really have to force myself to stop reading. I don't find the chapters about Whelk that interesting, but otherwise... wow! Can't wait to find out more about the characters and how their stories are connected. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 32 (view spoiler)[ I'm in love with this book. I've laughed out loud multiple times, because some sentences are just comedy gold.

My only complaint is that I feel like Blue became friends with the boys unrealistically fast. It's described as a part of her personality, but still, it bothers me a bit. (hide spoiler)]

[Songbird Bookworm]

Finally been able to pick this book up !!
Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ LOVED Blues sass and the introduction of Mr Whelk and his traumatic past has me intrigued.... Can i trust him ?? (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Finished this book yesterday.
(view spoiler)[ Overall it was a really great reading experience! Going to pick up the sequel next month. I'm not sure why I liked this book so much, but I did.

So, the thing is that before I started reading this book, I flicked through the pages for some really stupid reason. I was just standing with the book in my hand while talking to a friend, and didn't know what to do with my hands. I wasn't paying attention to the book at all. But then, I looked down for ONE second and accidentally read ONE single sentence. Which said "They buried Noah's bones". This means that all along, I thought I knew that he was going to die. And then it turned out he was already dead. Yikes. Such a mess. (hide spoiler)]

[Songbird Bookworm]

Chapter 32 (view spoiler)[ I really liked Noah, i still cant believe he's dead....and that Mr whelk knew him !! (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Annemarie wrote: "I just finished it, and I love it.

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Oh, I actually thought that it was focused a bit too much on the love aspect of it (especially the love triangle) xD. I mean, I understand why Blue is so focused on it since it's basically her "destiny" but I feel like that that was everything that Blue brought to the story (plus her ability to make things louder). (hide spoiler)]

Annemarie wrote: "Ariel wrote: "Chapter 15

Dragging myself through this book. I'm a little confused about the boys. It's like the are so old, but they are young. And how does one become interested in what they are ..."

Yeah, I've always been fascinitaed by this stuff since I was very young. I love it xD

[Michelle]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 17 [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I agree. I think it would've been better if he was just a side character or someone in the background (view spoiler)[ at least until they said that Noah was dead (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

Johanna wrote: "Finished this book yesterday.
Overall it was a really great reading experience! Going to pick up the sequel next month. I'm not sure why I liked this book so much, but I did.

So, the thing is th..."

To me that was the only thing that I didn't see coming, but everything else was pretty predictable :/

[Michelle]

My final thoughts: (view spoiler)[ I liked this book but as much as I thought I would (damn the hype!). I listen to the audiobook for some of it because even though it's a fast read once I get into it, it took me too long to actually get into it. I don't like Blue, I feel like she was there just to help the boys, which y'know makes sense, but the description and first few chapters make you believe this is her story. I was a bit confused at the end but I definitely want to continue with the series. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date Changed. Restarting April 5th 2017. Happy Reading ☺

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[Tee]

Anyone reading this?

[cali (Fae & Alchemy SPOILERS)]

I have been!! :D

[cali (Fae & Alchemy SPOILERS)]

I'm rereading it, actually.

[Amanda]

I was going to, but no one else seemed to be!

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Working on this one now. I will post some thoughts soon. I've just been reading several books all at once. =P

[Tee]

Great, I'll get back to it then! I was reading several books too and also started this one but put it on a side when I noticed no one is reading.
I love the writing style and the story seems intriguing, lets hope I'll end up loving it :)

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

4% I have heard only great things about this series, and I think they are warranted. I am only 4% into the book and I am enjoying the heck out of it. Admittedly, the first page or two I was skeptical. I had no idea what was going on, but things are progressing, and I am loving where things are heading.

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Tijana, I love the writing style as well. It is easy to follow and has a lot of details. I am a stickler for lots of details, but I don't like the books to feel like a textbook either. This is flowing really nicely. =]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

I am really loving the mysterious things that are happening! It's tickling me in all the best places. I can't wait to read more!

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

13% These characters are so complex and so complicated, and I have just scratched the surface! OMG, just the kind of writing that I love! -squee- So far I really do love Gansey. He seems like the kind of person that I would be friends with in real life. And I like Blue as well, though I think that I need to know more about her. The other boys are mysterious. Well, they all are, really. Does anyone else have any favorites so far?

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

35% All of the characters and how they are connected in the story is starting to present itself. Some of the dots are connecting. There has been some more character development as well. I keep thinking about how the series could possibly end by just the information that I have so far. I am so immersed in this story and the cogs in my brain won't stop turning!

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

68% OMG, shit is getting real! I have no clue what is happening or why and I am loving it! I have never been so glad to be so clueless before. This plot is thickening and I am so intrigued. Now I know what everyone that is obsessed with this series is talking about.

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Anyone there? I'd love to swap ideas about the plot with someone. =]

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️]

Finished! (view spoiler)[Okay, so this book was incredible. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and now I feel compelled to read the rest of the books in the series immediately. =P Things finally came together at the end, although there were still some mysteries unsolved. I would like to know who Blue's father is and if it is significant to the story. I need to know if Neeve is good or bad, and where she ended up. I felt that Whelk's ending was uneventful, but deserved. I wish that he hadn't have died though. I think there could have been more to him in this story. I'm still thinking over Adam and Blue's relationship, and wondering if she will fall in love with Gansey or not. There is just so much more to know! (hide spoiler)]
I definitely think that I will have to buddy read the rest of the series next month. I just loved this book. =]

[Abi]

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Reading from the 3rd of May 2017 AND the 17th of May 2017

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[Susan]

Chapters 1-10

So I have to say I picked this book up 3 times in the last year and never got past page 11. Then I started it in the beginning of April and stopped at page 20. I just wasn't feeling this book. SO for my buddy read I joined a couple sprints here on Goodreads and started over and pushed through and I am so glad I did.

(view spoiler)[
So far it's about a family that have psychic abilities and it starts on St Mary's Eve which is a day spirits come to a church that are going to die that upcoming year. Blue and her mom or Aunt take the names each year so they can inform the people if they were among the dead who came.

Meanwhile Gansey is a Raven boy who goes to a school whose emblem is the raven. He is really into all this psychic ability and is trying to find ley lines and all kinds of stuff with maps.

There are 4 friends who all go to this elite school call Aglionby Academy and they seem to look out and take care of each other. Gansey, Ronan, Noah, and Adam (hide spoiler)]

[Sophie]

Hey I know I am a bit late but I will start reading in a couple of hours

[Susan]

Sophie wrote: "Hey I know I am a bit late but I will start reading in a couple of hours"

Sounds good. I'm a bit late too. I just posted this 1st review so it's all good

[Natalie]

I did not realise there was a Buddy Read for this book o.O Will be starting today, hope I'm not late!

[Erika]

what do you think about the ending?

[Natalie]

2%

Okay, so I've only read the prologue so far (so this is definitely spoiler free :P) but something about this book just calls to me already. I don't normally feel that way so soon when starting a new book o.O

[Susan]

Chapters 10-20

This book is certainly interesting. This is my kind of book. I love this dark evilish kind of thing that is just lurking beyond the surface waiting for this time to strike.

(view spoiler)[
I found it pretty interesting the the teacher Whelk and Gansey (and his group of guys) all went to get their fortunes told. There is something big with Whelk but not sure what it is. This book keeps you reading because you HAVE TO KNOW what is happening to Blue, Gansey, Ronan, Whelk, and Neeve.

So lets talk about creepy. The ritual that Neeve was performing by the beech tree and something in the water that seemed to put Neeve in a trance like state. (hide spoiler)]

[Sophie]

Chapter 3
I like it so far the plot seems interesting.

[Sophie]

Chapter 11
I'm not sure about the plot anymore. I like the psychic stuff but what the boys are searching?

[Susan]

I completely with you Jordan which is why I think I was having such a hard time getting into this past year.

Real quick, you know you have to leave 4 reviews here to satisfy our buddy read and gain points? I wanted to make sure you did it because you will have to link this buddy read thread to the buddy review to get double points for the book.

You are flying through this book. I need to have uninterrupted reading time. I am loving it and can't believe it took me this long to read it.

[Susan]

Chapter 21-26

(view spoiler)[ I love how the boys have taken Blue in and have just included her in the hunt for Glendower.

How badass was it that Gansey's sister Helen flew the helicopter that took them to the ley lines. Once they landed at the ley lines or corpse lines some really weird things happen. Time stops, they see things that aren't really there, every time they walk a little further the seasons change from Fall to winter to spring and summer, and then there is the dreaming tree.

I am at the part where they just went back to the woods to explore more....yikes (hide spoiler)]

[Susan]

Sophie wrote: "Chapter 11
I'm not sure about the plot anymore. I like the psychic stuff but what the boys are searching?"

Keep going it really will all tie in together and you will really love the relationships even more. I picked this up 3 times this past year and just couldn't do it and now I am smacking my head wondering how come I couldn't see how good this book was. My daughter didn't love this book so it may not be for everyone.

Sometimes we want to love it cause other really do but maybe it's just not for you. I think you are allowed to not love it like others...RIGHT...lol

[Susan]

Jordan wrote: "Now that the book has started to pick up I'm really liking it. I can't decide whose my favourite character because their all so great. Although I love the scene where Ronan comes back for Adam and ..."

I can't decide who I want her with too but so far I like her and Adam but I am only on page 247 so maybe I will see more of the relationship building with Gansey soon.

Noah worries me...not sure why because he seems (so far) very gentle and soft spoken but I just have a feeling there is something more to him...I kind of hope not because of the strong characters the other 3 boys are but we'll see. Off to read so I don't get spoiled.

If you want to write a spoiler here is how you do that (in case you don't know how, I didn't :)

Type <
then type spoiler
then type >

those arrows will be on both side of the word spoiler and it will link the spoiler for anyone who doesn't want to be spoiled....I didn't know if you knew how to do it. If you did then I apologize. Once you type that everything you type after that will not be seen unless they click on the word spoiler...I may have made that far more complicated then it needed to be sorry

[Natalie]

20%

At this stage I'm really liking Blue, Adam and Ganesh, am intrigued by Ronan and his relationship with his brother and kinda meh on Noah xD

(view spoiler)[I really want to know what started Gansey's obsession with the leylines and what's with Adam - is he a scholarship student? New money? What's happening there? (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

51%

Okay, so we're definitely starting to get into things here.

(view spoiler)[I'm worried about the relationship between Adam, Gansey and Blue. Blue may or may not be the true love of Gansey - and also his potential killer, but Adam is so sweet and I don't want him to be heartbroken if Blue does end up with Gansey ;u;

Ronan is definitely growing on me, but now I seriously want to know what happened with his father - and why Declan is such a d***.

Also, is Noah meant to be a main character? Or is he just there for decoration - because at this point that is all he seems to be :| He doesn't seem to have any plot significance whatsoever unless it'[s to "round out" the Raven Boys into the presidential one, rough one, sweet one and smudgy one ._.
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

68%

(view spoiler)[Okay, so I knew there was something weird about Noah, he just didn't seem to fit, like he was just in the story for decoration or something. But I did NOT guess that he was deceased - and not only that, but the deceased friend (follower?) of the creepy teacher?

Looking back on it now, there were definitely hints about it - but I still did NOT see that coming o.O Wonder what part he's going to play now that they're aware of his... status... :| (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

75%

(view spoiler)[Now that Noah's been outed as being dead he seems to be a much larger part of the story than when he was "alive", which is kinda odd xD; Really interesting though. I really feel as though the plot is properly coming together now - and I can't wait to see where it ends up. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

80%

(view spoiler)[Okay, what's happening with Neeve? Is the evil or just misguided? I mean, she's definitely up to something (and possibly a little power-hungry) but I don't feel she's a bad character. I could be wrong though.

Intriguing that she was brought to Henrietta by Whelk though...
(hide spoiler)]

...I really need to finish this book - tonight if possible. So many questions...

[Susan]

Chapter 26 - The End

If I wasn't in the middle of a HUGE May TBR I would totally pick up the next book in this series but I have buddy read #2 to start tomorrow. I am in love with all the characters and the story line. I am dropping a BIG spoiler so don't click that link if you don't want to know!!!

(view spoiler)[
I am shocked as heck that the bones they found at the ley lines site is Noah's who was murdered by his best friend 7 years ago when he killed him as a sacrifice. The Latin teacher Mr. Whelk was a student who lost everything when his dad lost everything and he went nuts and killed Noah with a blow to the head using a skateboard. The whole time in this book Noah has been a ghost with a semi physical body.

The ending and how Muara and the girls rearranged the mirrors in Neeve's room caused her to disappear from the ritual was kind of funny.... (hide spoiler)]