The blub as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Press
468 Pages
“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.
From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.
They were explorers,
scientists, anthropologists of historical magic.
I had read Stiefvater’s work before with the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. And while I enjoyed those, they didn’t really stand out against other books I’ve read. However, The Raven Boys is something I will never forget. The story is told in third person omniscient which works perfectly for this type of tale. We not only get to dive into the heads of our main characters, but we also get to really know those close to them.
Release Date: September 18, 2012Publisher: Scholastic Press
468 Pages
“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.
From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.
“Fate is a very
weighty word to throw around before breakfast.”
Fate: the development of events beyond a person's control,
regarded as determined by a supernatural power.
Are we fated to meet certain people in our lives? Blue
Sargent has spent her entire life in Henrietta and has never had any interest
in the ‘Raven Boys’ – boys who attend the prestigious local private school,
Aglionby. Then on St. Mark’s Eve, she sees the spirit of one and suddenly their
fates are intertwined.
“There are only two
reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve, Blue. Either you’re
his true love or you killed him.”
Since Blue has always been told that if she were to kiss her
true love he would die, this warning weighs heavily on her. She doesn’t seek
him out, but an interesting twist of fate brings him directly to her doorstep.
Richard ‘Dick’ Campbell Gansey III, just Gansey as he likes
to be called, has been searching for a dead Welsh king hidden for centuries. He
is aided by his friends Adam, Ronan, and Noah.
I had read Stiefvater’s work before with the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. And while I enjoyed those, they didn’t really stand out against other books I’ve read. However, The Raven Boys is something I will never forget. The story is told in third person omniscient which works perfectly for this type of tale. We not only get to dive into the heads of our main characters, but we also get to really know those close to them.
This was a very character driven book. The pace was a little
slow, but I felt it was perfectly timed (if that even makes sense). I enjoyed
the slow reveal of secrets, as I too was trying to solve the mystery. But during
this time we got to know and fall in love (and boy did I) with these people.
Blue, who only fit in when around her family suddenly found herself the missing
piece of a puzzle she didn’t know existed. Gansey with his studious quality and
big money perfection who was so obsessed with his mythical king that at times
he seemed like two different people. Adam, sweet sweet Adam, who wanted
acceptance and freedom not knowing the cost he would have to pay to get it.
Angry Ronan who’s past haunted him everyday. And Noah, the sad and extremely
patient soul who knows more than we do. I loved each and every one of them.
The writing and the descriptive way Stiefvater sucks you in
and keeps you hooked. The mystery surrounding this group weighs heavy on every
page until you’re drowning in it, but I didn’t mind. Suffocate me, as long as I
can find the truth along with them. The characters love for each other and deep
connection makes this one of the best character work I’ve read.
The ending was rather poetic, but left me wanting more and I
cannot wait to delve into the sequel. Because I am completely owned by these
Raven Boys and I guarantee you will be too.
Ah I wasn't a big fan of her Wolves series, but you've made me want to check this out now! I love books that are slow paced, but it feels like the right pace. You get to slowly enjoy the book, without being bored (: ! Thanks for the review hun!
ReplyDeleteHaley @ YA-Aholic