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Thursday, July 31, 2014

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater


The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater 


“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.

”add
Publishes in US: July 30th 2013 by Scholastic Paperbacks
Genre: YA paranormal
Source: library
Series? The Raven Cycle #1

Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound Book Depository

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   I've had my eyes on The Raven Boys for quite some time because of all of the positive reviews. I decided to wait a bit for a few reasons--maybe expectations would be on par instead of reading right when hype is high, and also, I just haven't had time in my reading schedule. 

   I connected with Blue right away. I liked her voice and I could relate with feeling on the outside even if my feelings have nothing to do with the paranormal. Hers is because she hasn't been able to see ghosts or have any intuition for the supernatural world, she only amplifies that of her family. Speaking of they are so eclectic and fun to read about. It had to be hard for Blue as well because a premonition has followed her for her whole life-- that the boy she kissed/fell in love with would die. I mean talk about a dating downer and how you view yourself. 

    When it came to the Raven Boys, it took me longer to get a sense of their separate personalities and how they played into the story. Gansey is the boy that Blue saw, so it seems that I would gravitate to him, but he seems to have a split personality and I had a hard time with his ups and downs and acting so differently. I was more drawn to Adam personally. 

    I was pretty confused at times, and I know that some is probably on purpose, and honestly I would skim a bit, since I was intimidated by the size to start with.  It had that feeling that everything was slowly setting up, and honestly I am surprised that I stuck with it since I had issues that I didn't really get inside the head of and feel for the guys as separate characters but also how they work together. But I liked Blue and I liked the mystical feel to it, and wanted to know how it would play out for Blue and Gansey.

    But there was something about it, even with my gripes that I just couldn't put it down and I had to know what would happen. As the story went on I was able to finally get a grasp on some of the raven boys, but Adam continued to be my favorite. 

    There were so many twists, and changed what I thought of the different characters and the roles they played. Some of the character's actions really surprised me as well as the whole thread of her first kiss and who I thought and who I wanted it to be. I will be continuing the series, and glad I gave it a chance. 


Bottom Line: Slow set-up but loved Blue, one of the main characters, and the mystical tone.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Do you ever have supernatural intuition or know someone who does? Or do you not believe in that sort of thing in real life?

28 comments:

  1. Eeep! So glad you enjoyed as a whole. I agree that it was a very slow build at first, but I quite liked how it suited this particular story. Yeah? I really didn't like Adam. He's my least fav out of all the guys, if I must pick one. I hope you enjoy the sequel even more, Brandi!

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  2. Maja (The Nocturnal Library)July 31, 2014 at 3:39 AM

    I had a hard time getting into this, but ended up loving it. And the second book was just spectacular.

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  3. I only read a series by the author but not this one and I know I need to try more of her books.

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  4. Okay so i'll admit i nearly DNF'ed this one. The beginning was too slow and I just couldn't with it but i stuck with it and before I knew it I ended up loving it! I loved Blue and Gansey SO MUCH but like I also loved the gang as well! I'm so thrilled you ended up liking this one and i can't wait for you to read the sequel!

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  5. I read this one this year as well :) But I liked Gansey most. His personality and influence made me love him. But that's just me :)

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  6. It's definitely a slow set-up, but the cast of characters are intriguing. I really found Adam to be interesting as well.


    Glad you enjoyed it!

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  7. kirstymariejonesstudioreadsJuly 31, 2014 at 10:52 AM

    Shame you didn't have as much of a good time with it as others (and I) did, but do get why, I got a little confused with it at times too. But, loved the characters! I wouldn't say I have a supernatural intuition but you know, pretty open to that stuff anyway.

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  8. Yay, I am glad that you enjoyed this. I loved this one, and I hope you love the next book in the series. Great review.

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  9. Yeah the story is kinda slow because of the way it's written. She really played with words here and took her time with the introductions. I love the whole myth though, very unique.

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  10. I have intuition sometimes and know people who have it strongly. I definitely believe in it. I have this one on my shelf (first two actually) and I think that's Maggie's style, to really play with the words and make it beautiful but not always fast paced and easy to follow. I guess we'll see what I think!

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  11. Yeah, I wouldn't say these books are fast reads, but they are very well structured and the writing is well done.

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  12. I am glad you loved this one. I think the second book was even stronger. I am excited for the third. Yes, I do have strong intuition.

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  13. elizabeth swordsforfightingJuly 31, 2014 at 3:25 PM

    This book has been on my wishlist for a while now. I can't wait to start it.

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  14. I've heard a lot about these books, and I can't wait to start them. I'm also eager to begin the shiver trilogy by this author too!

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  15. I will be doing a post this evening and will be mentioning BookBub where I have been getting a lot of free e-books, some inspirational some Christian romance and some Christian detective mystery. I haven't read this book you reviewed, but in some books there is a character that receives "inside information." For the Christian in their daily lives, we can have a "knowing, a sort of inward prompting" and it is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit - - the word of knowledge when you "KNOW" something that usually you would NOT know. Then there is the gift of wisdom, when all of a sudden you are able to say something out of the ordinary and help someone. Not all Christians are open to let God speak to them in this way, but perhaps we should allow Him to use us even to prophesy blessings and comfort to the hurting.

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  16. I love reading reviews of this book because it is MY FAVOURITE. Wait until you read Dream Thieves, honestly. It's a lot better and just amazing and I cannot stop gushing ahhhh

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  17. Amazing review sweetie. <3 I'm so glad you finally read this book, hih :D But aw. I'm sorry you didn't love it :( And ack! You didn't love Gansey? SOBS. Hopefully you will in the sequel :) Thank you for sharing. <3

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  18. Sinner was my first book by Maggie and even though I was confused at parts (my fault because I hadn't wear her wolf series - but it was supposed to be a stand alone) I was enthralled by her writing style. I have this one but haven't read it yet.

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  19. This one was a bit slow but I totally agree that Blue is an awesome character. I'm so happy you enjoyed this one. Great review, Brandi :)

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  20. I've read many raving reviews of the series but I still haven't cracked open my copy of The Raven Boys. Glad to see you liked the book enough to want to read the next installment. I've always believed we receive intuitive message so that we can choose with our free will to change the outcome and not let things happen in the same way as the message is given to us. Great question, Brandi!

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  21. Good review. Glad you liked it somewhat and want to continue the series. I still need to read this too.

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  22. Brandi, I felt a bit confused with book one as well, but I still really enjoyed it (loved Blue.) Then I read Dream Thieves. and Loved it! So many things happen, and theres more action, supernatural elements, and deepening of friendship and romance. I hope you give it a try as well. Great review :)

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  23. This was not my cup of tea but I am happy you mostly liked it.

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  24. I'm glad you connect with the MC and did enjoy her voice. I know I've had this one on my list for quite a bit now. :) Even with the slow set-up, I think I'll have to eventually give this one a try. I just love the sound of it! Lovely review!

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  25. This is a story where patience is required, definitely. It is a slow start, and a little confusing, but I really enjoyed it. The dry humor and secondary characters were fabulous. I have to say that I appreciated the story more the second time I "read" (listened to the audio) it because I got so much more out of it. Hope you like the next one better if you decide to continue the series, Brandi. :)

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  26. Oooh...3.5 Stars... I have this, but haven't got to read it and was curious as to what you rated it... I hope I can fit it in soon so I can share my thoughts too.

    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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  27. Hm, this sounds like an interesting book. I'm not one who works well with really long slow set ups, but ah well. It seems like there are a lot of characters in here that you get to know individually as well. As for the supernatural intuition, I don't think I believe in all that ^.^

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