The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater --> Restarting October 7th, 2022

[Aly]

“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.

[si ( ◠‿◠ )]

chapters 1-8 (view spoiler)[i don’t think i’ve ever consistently cared about every character in a series, through the whole series, even rereading it again after years..... these books truly mean the whole world to me. (hide spoiler)]

chapters 9-20 (view spoiler)[i completely spaced and forgot about ronan’s nightmare creatures until the second i read that tck tck tck noise and the TERROR that went through me......HHHH i love this book so much akdksks also ronan and gansey’s friendship is giving me a million times more feels this time around than the last time. help my poor heart (hide spoiler)]

chapters 21-33 (view spoiler)[”rex corvus, parate regis corvi. the raven king, make way for the raven king.” CHILLS. EVERY TIME. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 34 - end (view spoiler)[ i'm so so so in love with this book and this series. those last chapters....the battle with the nightmare and the fire dragon.....incomparable. i'm truly in awe yet again. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

25% - (view spoiler)[Well, this got interesting quickly. I'm rooting for Adam to make the right choice, and I'm wondering what Calla meant about Ronan. This is very exciting and I'm intrigued to see where this will go. (hide spoiler)]

50% - (view spoiler)[I like that Blue is coming into her own. So far she is a character with a lot of potential and not much action, but I expect that will change. I also want to know the deal with Whelk. Right now I want to like him, but I know that could change. (hide spoiler)]

75% - (view spoiler)[The stuff about Noah really threw me. I just thought he was a creepy kid, but not in this way. Also, I still don't know what to think about Whelk and his intents. He seems to regret Czearney's death, but is also still looking. And I don't exactly understand how Gansey came to acquire that "house" if Noah was already there, which seems to be the case if Noah doesn't remember how he got there. (hide spoiler)]

100% - (view spoiler)[Well, I had expected up until the last few pages that this book would have me scrambling to find the sequel (my library has an ebook copy) and the other two after that (which I can't get as an ebook from either my local or my high school library, and my college doesn't use Overdrive, and everything physical is closed). In that way, I'm really glad at the way the book ended, because I won't have to be extensively searching for a way to read the next three books. This is a series that I really do want to follow up with, though, and I'm glad I finally picked it up. (hide spoiler)]

[si ( ◠‿◠ )]

chapters 1-14 - (view spoiler)[ i love the gray man so much and i love greenmantle even though he’s terrifying and i love piper even though she’s a psychopath. these characters are just too good!! (hide spoiler)]

chapters 15-25 (view spoiler)[ gansey and blue’s chemistry is absolutely devastating. every scene with them longing for each other is a knife to the gut. (hide spoiler)]

chapters 26-40 (view spoiler)[ i keep thinking i’ll hit a point when i want. a break but who am i kidding. stiefvater is queen of keeping me in suspense. i love love love this book. the scenes with crazy gwenllian are hitting way harder this time and im DYING of laughter. i don’t remember her being so funny but i’m fr cackling throughout every scene of hers askjssk (hide spoiler)]

chapters 41-end (view spoiler)[ once again devastated by that ending, once again in love with these characters, once again itching for the next book. starting it today! (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Starting this audiobook tomorrow!

[Kim]

20% So I didn't know what to expect when I first started this audio but I'm liking it so far. (view spoiler)[ I don't usually go for a primarily male cast of characters. The Raven boys are so different, their descriptions making me questions if I am hearing things correctly. I am on the fence whether I like or hate that there is no reasoning given as to why the guys are the way they are (Noah and his phantom-ness, Adam who seems like a charity case but they don't delve why). Maybe it's something brought up later. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

April 25 - 45% (view spoiler)[ Blue is crushing it! I'm glad she chose Adam but I'm curious to see if this is accurate or not, since we know she has seen him dead. As foreshadowed, is it because she falls in love with him? Or is it her relationship with Adam that causes his demise?

Additionally, this search for the Welsh king is weird. Like is it just me that this isn't something that people do?? Plus the helicopter, are you kidding me? (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

63% (view spoiler)[ Noah is dead!? What does this mean? Does it change anything about their search? They mentioned he got sick by the car they found in the woods; it sounds like it was his. Does that mean someone saw him searching for the king and killed him for it? Disposed of the body? It's hard to tell how far the church is from that field they were in.

Also, I find Gansey's need to save Ronan annoying. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

100% (view spoiler)[ what a great ending! All of the lead up for this, the weird Latin teacher, Noah!!, Adam and his dad, Adam and his mini tantrum, Blue and the girls at 300, everything. It was all woven together so well! I hope they are all in the next book. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

15% The boys are back and Blue is in tow and to be quite frank I can't tell who is the primary focus for this tale. We are seeing quite a bit from Adam and Ronan. (view spoiler)[ Adam has finally stood up to his dad, but this means he moves out and is constantly on edge. Ronan shares that he can take things out of his dreams and they stay there. That's a wicked cool power that I would never have thought of and is way better than being able to see through things. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

50% (view spoiler)[ Ronan's gift is really cool, but his mother too?! That's insane! I like that we have met his little brother though. He seems so anti-Ronan it's precious. Also, Mr. Grey's real identity better be revealed by the end of the book and not a cliffhanger into the next. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

76% (view spoiler)[ Finally! Adam is doing something productive, outside of moping. Additionally, I love that Gansey is not saving the day. I dig his love for Blue but respect for Adam, it's so sweet! (view spoiler)[

100% This was the best ending so far! I think I liked this book better than the first; although, without the first it would not have had the same effect. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

22% (view spoiler)[ I had momentarily forgotten that Blue's mom had disappeared. This cave adventure sounds super dangerous to me. Also, Mallory sounds like an old fuddy duddy but potentially a red herring? (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

32% (view spoiler)[ I know Latin is a dead language but this series has evoked an interest in me to learn some of it; it may be because I love languages. Anywho, Greenmantle as the new Latin teacher. Shit is getting fierce! His wife sounds awesome though. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

77% I find myself singing the Blue Lily song every now and then, can't lie. (view spoiler)[ Not Persephone!! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

100% Best one yet! (view spoiler)[ so Greenmantle and Piper are really fun characters and it sounds like, at least Piper will be in the next book. I'm starting to like Ronan's character more and I kind of wish the murder squash song was real.

If you read this series instead of listening to the audio, I truly feel like you are missing out! (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

30% (view spoiler)[ orphan girl finally got into the outside world; cute that she'll be staying with Ronan's mom. this tree and the 3 blue's are mad creepy though. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

50% (view spoiler)[ so much love! Gansey & Blue, obviously, and now Ronan and Adam! Girly shriek, cute! Too bad I think Noah is going to be a casualty of this battle. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

65% (view spoiler)[ Henry is such an interesting character, I feel like he has to fit into this in some way other than just a buyer's son (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

100% (view spoiler)[ I had such hopes for a bang-up ending! Everything was leading that way but I was hoping for a bit more tragedy. Probably makes me a cynic but I feel like more people should have died...Overall, enjoyed the book. I would definitely recommend the series. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Yesterday I watched the 2016 Ghostbusters which mentions ley lines.

Today I finished a book that takes place in Wales and references Owain of Glendyr.

Maybe it's fated that I try to finish this series.

[Kim]

Do it!!

[Aly]

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RESTARTING FEBRUARY 21ST 2022

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[⚚♆ Cynthia ♆⚚]

I am here! :)

[⚚♆ Cynthia ♆⚚]

I am starting 's audiobook tomorrow

[Celia]

Ok I'll read soon and then get to as the BOTM sometime this month

[⚚♆ Cynthia ♆⚚]

Hope you like them! I finished yesterday! I put my thoughts in the BOTM thread. Will you be reading ? If so I will wait for you!

[Celia]

At some point, yeah

[Celia]

Ok, not going to have a chance to get to the right one for the BR so I'll keep posting here. It does look like #4 will be next month's though

[Aly]

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RESTARTING OCOTBER 7TH, 2022

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[Melany]

Chapter 4
(view spoiler)[ Declan’s wide jaw and smile said, Vote for me while Ronan’s buzzed head and thin mouth warned that this species was poisonous. I love the way she describes Ronan (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Chapter 15
(view spoiler)[ I do love how Gansey tried so hard to be polite even when he's angry and I love that line When Gansey was polite, it made him powerful. When Adam was polite, he was giving power away. it just says so much about the character (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Chapter 28
(view spoiler)[they found Noah's bones!! Also, I love Blue and Gansey's relationship that she tries so hard not to like him! (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Chapter 32
(view spoiler)[ poor Noah died so Gansey could live and killed by his best friend (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

20% : (view spoiler)[Ok so the plot of the book is definitely intriguing and I am liking the writing style as well. All the psychic stuff is making me a bit wary but Blue herself seems amazing. All the Raven boys have a good rapport among them. I am excited to see where this will all lead to. (hide spoiler)]

40% : (view spoiler)[Blue and the Raven boys' first meeting was hilarious ngl! I feel bad for her because of what Neeve predicted about her love life but I really don't think she'd be able to prevent that from happening. Gansey is supposed to be her true love right? But she's also pushed towards Adam so I am a little confused here. (hide spoiler)]

60% : (view spoiler)[I cannot understand the motivation behind the Raven boys being so desperate to find Gelndower and the helicopter ride albeit entertaining was a bit over the top. I could not for the life of me figure out how they could just all jump into a freaking helicopter and fly all over Henrietta. (hide spoiler)]

80% : (view spoiler)[NOAH IS A GHOST?? In hindsight, yes the signs were all there but I still was shocked by the revelation. Whelk turned out to be so bad and Adam's home situation made me feel awful as well. I finally understood why he wants to wake the ley line. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Those last chapters were simply awesome. I am glad that Adam killed Whelk and left him to rot just the way he did to Noah. I totally agreed with him about this is what Whelk deserved. Noah's funeral was bittersweet and I am just happy that Blue and The Raven Boys and Noah are all together again (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[ Gansey and Ronan's relationship is so wholesome and sweet that one minute they're talking about Ronan's weird dream stealing powers and necks they're going to get orange juice at 3:00 in the morning (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Chapter 18
(view spoiler)[ Ronan's nightmares are super scary, it interesting how big of a role Adam plays in Ronans dream and I can't believe one got away (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Chapter 51
(view spoiler)[I love Blue and Gansey so much there so sweet and their almost kiss makes my heart ache (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Chapter 54
(view spoiler)[ it's sad to here the the Gray Man kill Ronan's dad it makes sense but it still sad I really like the Gray Man (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Started book 1 tonight.



Prologue - Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[
The whole Blue will kill her true love thing is interesting. I like that she doesn't even like Gansey at first. Their relationship develops so much over the series.

I forgot how much Adam's hang-ups about money irritated me. He's such a prick sometimes to Gansey about it.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Melanie wrote: "Started book 1 tonight.



Prologue - Chapter 12
."
Yes he is

[Melany]

Chapter 11
(view spoiler)[ I feel so bad for Ronan he has to look into the eyes of the man that order the death if his father in this favorite class it bad enough he had to make peace with the man that actually killed his dad (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[ Blue didn't need to be so mean to Gansey I feel bad that everything in her life sucks right now but it's not Gansey's gault she can't kiss him (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Chapters 13-24
(view spoiler)[
Adam is just annoying me more and more as I reread this.

I love Blue's interactions with the boys. Ronan is so hostile, I liked that Blue fires back at him. And her and Gansey are great. She's trying so hard not to like him because she knows she's going to be the cause of his death.

The forest they found is so neat, I can't wait to see more of it.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Chapters 25-36
(view spoiler)[
Cabeswater is such a neat place. The trees speaking Latin and all of the seasons being there.

Noah being dead is crazy. I mean he did tell everyone though, they just didn't believe him.

I'm glad Adam finally pressed charges on his dad for beating him. Hopefully his ear goes back to normal at some point.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Finished book 1.



Chapters 37-48
(view spoiler)[
God Adam is so annoying. I am really disliking him this time around.

They've woken the ley line! I'm annoyed with Adam for the way he did it, seems like he just wants power to be on the same level as Gansey which is dumb.

But I'm glad Noah is back now that they put his bones back on the line.
(hide spoiler)]

I'll pick up book 2 in a few days after I finish some other books first.

[Melany]

Chapter 32
(view spoiler)[ I feel so bad for Ronan that Adam made him do that he was so upset why Adam made him so it but it still really messed up (hide spoiler)]

[Melany]

Chapter 42
(view spoiler)[ Poor Persephone she was just trying to save Maura (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Started book 2 tonight!



Prologue - Chapter 10
(view spoiler)[
Ronan's abilities are so neat. Him being able to create things in his dreams and bring them back with him is so cool.

Adam continues to irritate me. He's so woe is me and I'm tired of it. I liked that Blue pushed back when he behaved like an ass.

I have to say it cracked me up when Ronan threw Noah out the window just to see what would happen.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Chapters 11-28
(view spoiler)[
Whatever that thing was that Ronan pulled out of his dreams was terrifying. But I liked that no one in the group hesitated to help him bury its' body after him and Gansey killed it.

The little moments of Gansey trying not to notice Blue too much are great. I love the build up between them and wish Adam would just go away.

The Gray Man is interesting, I love the flirting between him and Maura.
(hide spoiler)]