Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle, #3)

by Maggie Stiefvater

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The five star rating should be of no surprise to anyone given by undying love for Stiefvater’s writing. This is the third book of the Raven Cycle series and it is no less amazing that their predecessors, The Raven Boys and The Dream Thief. In most series there are usually some books that are better than others (second book syndrome?), but I think that these books share the same amazingness.

“She was weirdly lovely, even though she had unevenly clipped her dark hair all over her head and wore a shirt she’d attacked with a rototiller. Or perhaps because of these things. When had she gotten so pretty and so grown-up?”

These characters! They are all outstanding: good or bad, imperfect, afraid, brave, right or wrong. All absolutely amazing. Blue is dealing with the aftermath of Maura’s disappearance and working with her Raven boys to find her. Things at 300 Fox Way are hectic and enveloped in tragedy. Gansey, Ronan, Adam and Noah are back in school while trying to move forward with their discoveries of Cabeswater and Glendower. How I love these characters! I think all of them are endearing in their own way, they have grown so much since they started their journey together and I can’t wait to see who they will become by the end. I’m so happy to see how Adam understands now that accepting help is not a weakness, that most of the prejudice is in his own mind.

I think Gansey will forever hold a special part of my heart. He’s the glue that holds this group together and I cringe to think on what has been foretold will happen to him and how the rest would be able to keep going without him. The feelings between Gansey and Blue are so tremulous, so hesitant; they are so afraid to let anything become more, because they’re afraid of the consequences to the rest of the group and because of Blue’s curse. I so wish for a happy ending for these two.

“There were two sorts of people: The ones who could see Noah, and the ones who couldn’t. Blue generally only got along with the former.”

Even the “bad” guys are so interesting and easy to identify with. It takes true talent to do something like that. Not to be mean, but Mr. Gray, Piper and Greenmantel for instance, are not stand up citizens. Don’t get me wrong, I quite like Mr. Gray and his unpredictable ways. We also get to meet Mallory in Blue Lily. He’s the professor that helped Gansey before and come once more to his aid, but this time in person. Jesse Dittley is a gentle giant that helped them despite everything.

“She thought-wished-longed-dreamt of leaves rustling. Overhead, the trees shushed their leaves, forming a vague, whispered words, Avide audimus. She thought of a spring flower. A lily, blue, like her name. A blue petal fell aimlessly into her hair. Another dropped onto the back of her hand, slipping down her wrist like a kiss.”

I adore Stiefvater’s writing. There is something so lyrical, unpredictable delightful, and insightful about it. I will honestly read anything she writes, even her blog is a pleasure to follow. The plot is convoluted in its intricacies, but at the same time understandable. As with previous books in the series, the story is told in the third person and from multiples points of view, which works perfectly well here.

“Adam Parrish was lonesome… Lonesome means a state of being apart. Of being other. Alone-some.”

Overall, Blue Lily, Lily Blue is a great addition to a series that keeps getting better and better. The ending was quite cliffhanger-like and I dying to get the last (yet-to-be-titled) book. I just have a burning plea for you, dear author, to please find a loophole that will allow Gansey to live. Pretty please!!!

About the cover: Beautiful, right? These covers are whimsical, artsy, symbolic, a great reflection of the awesomeness housed within its pages.