The first electrifying book in Maggie Stiefvater's The
Raven Cycle series.
"There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit
on St. Mark's Eve...
Either you're his true love... or you killed him."
Part of a clairvoyant family, Blue has spent sixteen years being
told that if she kisses her true love, he will die.
So when she meets Gansey's spirit on the corpse road, Blue knows
that either he is her true love - or she has killed him.
The boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His
name is Gansey, and he is a student at Aglionby, a wealthy local
private school. With three other mysterious and privileged boys,
he is on a quest to find the grave of Glendower - a Welsh king buried
somewhere on a Virginia ley line. Whoever finds him will be
granted a supernatural favour.
Never before has Blue felt such magic around her. But is Gansey
really her true love - the one she is destined to kill?
Blue never fully believed in the prophecy. But as she is caught
up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not
so sure anymore.
Absolutely addictive writing for teen girls... and grown-up girls...
Magic, mystery and adventure at every turn
From the bestselling author of Shiver, Linger
and Forever which all debuted at #1 on the UK book bestseller
charts
Film rights to The Raven Cycle have been acquired
PRAISE FOR MAGGIE STIEFVATER BOOKS
The Raven Boys:
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year 2012
"Stiefvater is a master storyteller." - USA Today
"A dizzying paranormal romance tinged with murder and Welsh mythology."
- The Los Angeles Times
"A tour de force... such a memorable read." - Publishers Weekly
"One unexpected and wonderful surprise after another... a marvel
of imagination." - Booklist
"The Raven Boys is an incredibly rich and unique tale, a supernatural
thriller of a different flavor... Fans have been salivating
for Stiefvater's next release and The Raven Boys delivers." -
School Library Journal
"Equal parts thriller and mystery, with a measured dash of romance
sprinkled on top... Maggie has woven such a unique, intriguing
narrative that I struggled for comparisons." - MTV.com
Blue Lily, Lily Blue:
"Blue Lily, Lily Blue is, simply, a triumph." - Booklist
"Expect this truly one-of-a-kind series to come to a thundering
close." - Kirkus Reviews
"We have not yet finished loving these characters and exploring
their world." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Stiefvater's razor-sharp characterizations, drily witty dialogue,
and knack for unexpected metaphors and turns of phrase make
for sumptuous, thrilling reading... Readers will snap up the final
installment the second it's available." - Publishers Weekly
"The prose is crisp and dazzling and the dialogue positively crackles."
- School Library Journal
The Scorpio Races:
"Masterful. Like nothing else out there now." - Kirkus Reviews
"An utterly compelling read." - Publishers Weekly
"Filling it with loving descriptions of wet, wind-tossed Thisby
as well as exciting equine action, Stiefvater has created a thrilling
backdrop for the love story that blooms...A book appealing
to lovers of fantasy, horse stories, romance, and actionadventure
alike, this seems to have a shot at being a YA blockbuster." -
School Library Journal
#1 New York Times bestselling Shiver trilogy:
"A lyrical tale of alienated werewolves and first love....Stiefvater
skillfully increases the tension throughout; her take on werewolves
is interesting and original while her characters are refreshingly
willing to use their brains to deal with the challenges
they face." - Publishers Weekly
"Readers will be able to enjoy Stiefvater's fast-paced storytelling
and dedication to the old-fashioned art of creating a believable
and enduring romance. Shiver is beautifully written, even poetic
at times, and a perfect indulgence for readers of all ages."
- Bookpage.com
"This riveting narrative, impossible to put down, is not only
an excellent addition to the current fangs and fur craze, but is
also a beautifully written romance that, along with Shiver, will
have teens clamoring for the third and final entry." - VOYA
Since being bored to death by the Wolves of Mercy Falls series (I got halfway through Linger before I had to put it down or risk falling into a coma), I had very little interest in reading Stiefvater’s other books. Then The Raven Boys was released and and I decided that four guys x one girl x Welsh mythology was something I might like to read about, so I bought it for my birthday last year. I didn’t get around to reading it for a few months, but I’m glad that I was finally in the mood to pick it up, because I very much enjoyed it!
Blue, the female main character, is absolutely flawless. I adore her, and her family is amazing. I loved how Blue’s family of psychics was just as prominent and relevant to the story as Blue and the guys, because this doesn’t happen very often. Usually it’s the main character and her love interest, perhaps a couple of friends, who go off and fight evil, but in The Raven Boys, everyone is involved.
The other characters are mostly excellent. Adam was my favourite of the guys in this book. He’s the poor kid going to a private school full of rich guys who throw money around like it’s nothing. I had a similar experience in high school myself, and totally understood what he was going through and how he didn’t want his friends to pay his way. Adam made me cry several times, especially towards the end when THE THING happened and oh my god NOBODY WARNED ME.
Gansey, the fan favourite, is also bloody amazing. I love his whole personality, and his blissful ignorance, and his relationship with all of the guys. I think it’s brilliant that he’s the thread that connects them all together, and it makes me emotional because Gansey is their rock, even if some of the characters don’t want to acknowledge that right now. His accidental chemistry with Blue hurts my soul, especially since it’s said that if Blue kisses her true love (who is probably hopefully obviously Gansey) he will die. Gansey is my favourite after reading the sequel, by the way, because he’s FLAW FREEEEEEE.
While reading The Raven Boys, I didn’t really feel much for either Ronan or Noah. I know, I know, what is this blasphemy? I don’t know, I just didn’t find either of them to be very enticing, although Noah was kind of adorable at some points.
There is a giant twist at the end of the book that blew everything up and made people smack their heads against the wall. Unfortunately, I knew it was coming because I accidentally read part of Maggie’s recap when we posted it on Recaptains. I hate myself for that, but at the same time it meant that I spotted a few things as I was reading that made me go OH MY GOD.
The Raven Boys is so much better than The Wolves of Mercy Falls, and I wish I hadn’t let that series deter me from trying out Maggie’s other stuff for so long. I want to read The Scorpio Races ASAP, because I have a feeling it’s going to be great, and I am highly anticipating the release of Blue Lily, Lily Blue right now! The Raven Boys is thrilling, adorable, and packed full of interesting characters. Stiefvater has developed a captivating story and her writing keeps you wanting more.
Speaking of The Raven Cycle, have you signed up for the Raven Cycle (Re)Readathon yet? It’s happening over the course of two months, and there’s going to be giveaways and challenges and twitter chats and Q&A’s and more! If you’re a fan of The Raven Cycle, or if you want to potentially become one, you should sign up and read along with us!
