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
Okay, so stories that deal with "true love," boys that go to private schools with their own fancy sweaters and such, and love triangles usually don't interest me, but I had to read this because of Adam Doyle's breathtaking cover art. Well, that and because I adored Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races, but it's impossible to resist Adam Doyle. Impossible. If anyone claims to never have judged a book by its cover, they're lying.
In any case, I ended up falling in love with this dang novel. And it's dang love story and its dang boys in their dang fancy sweaters and such.
The book begins with a nice and creepy scene outside a church on St. Mark's Eve, in which the protag, Blue, sees a spirit who calls himself Gansey. Because Blue's not a psychic like the rest of her family, seeing this spirit means only two things: he's either her true love, or he's someone she's going to kill. Or probably both.
Now, the love story unfolds with the classic, "oh god, he's a rich private school boy with money out his ears we will never be friends" Pride and Prejudice kind of affair, but the book's plot chooses not to revolve around their little love story (even with a +1, making this a dreaded love triangle but one that actually doesn't seem forced or convoluted). There's a LOT going on in this book.
For starters, every character has a fully-developed backstory, and their actions actually reflect their past experiences. I can't even explain how rare that simple concept seems to be nowadays, especially in YA fiction. Every action and choice is thought out and carefully expressed. Each of the four Aglionby boys are so different from each other yet avoid being shoved into a cliché. And they each have something to add to the story, to richen it, to develop it further. I also have to give props to Maggie for the relationships between these guys, because even their relationships with each other are unique and believable. It all just works, and I'm left here stunned wondering how she did it. How she managed to come so close to all these stereotypes, but somehow avoid them and create something wonderful.
Also, I just couldn't put this book down. There was an immediacy to the writing (and oohh, the writing. Such beautiful, beautiful writing. I want to kiss those words. Mmm.) that just drew me into the story and wouldn't let me stop, even for a bathroom break.
That's not to say everything was perfect, though. I did feel like sometimes there was too much going on at one time, or that things were happening with no explanation (like the ending, and maybe it was me, but I floundered for a while before I realized what the ending line really meant. Kind of seemed a bit gimmicky at that point; "get ready for the sequel, folks!"). Plus, I wanted a bit more closure. The climax happened, and then suddenly there was an ending. I wasn't sure where exactly the characters were at. What really happened? Plus, the whole story seemed to set up this "fall in love or kill him" idea, and that wasn't resolved. I get that the idea would probably span the entire cycle, but it didn't seem to be introduced that way, and it felt like being cheated.
Anyways, loved the plot, the atmosphere, the characters, the WRITING, and all the details in between. I can't wait to get my hand on the second installment.
