The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, #4)

by Maggie Stiefvater

[payton]

I remember when I read the first three books in this series. I sat in a worn black spinny chair. It was the same chair I'd used all summer when I sat on the computer. I had just found out Adobe Digital Editions was a thing and decided test it out. I was using a desktop computer. The monitor was HP and the tower was Dell or vice versa, I can't remember exactly which. Cinnamon wax cubes melted in a snowflake warmer. I was bored and hating life. I was miserable. I decided to download some books that I had heard from other reviews.

The first book was questionable to me. This was the second series I was reading from the author and the two were nothing alike. I didn't know what to do with this taste in my mouth. At first I didn't like it. It was odd and the characters were obnoxious but it was dreamy and I was smarmy and I wanted a new dream to latch onto. This book was the start of that. It was a mistake not picking it up sooner.

I would sit in the dark with those wax cubes going and I still can't properly recount how I felt. I felt triumphant and happy. I immersed myself in these books. They were exciting, griping, held me in front of the screen. I felt like nothing outside of my life could bother me. The first three books were over so quick. I gave myself time to absorb the last of the third book then I started over again. I read the first, second, and third books all over again. No matter how many times I reread these books they do something to me.

I was in a particularly down and miserable part of my life when I started these books. They gave me something to dream about. I still dream about it, I've made it my compass. The friendship and magic in this book is enough to bring me to tears. And even though this is the last book it was something. This whole series is something and I want it to come alive and breathe. I read so many books and so few of them give me the pay off I want, but this series is one of them.

Thanks Maggie for the ride. I'm sure the Ronan trilogy will shake me just as this one did.