Book review| The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

September 13, 2022

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Published on: September 12, 2022

Publisher: Luna Van den Borre

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

Book Blurb

“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. - Goodreads

My thoughts

A breathtaking and gripping novel that follows a group of intriguing teens whose paths cross along the way. In the first book of The Raven Cycle, Maggie Stiefvater teleports the unknowing and inquisitive reader to an alternate universe where both the background and characters feel like they’ve come truly alive. The story is set in a place called ‘Henrietta’ , a village near a large and magical forest where time seems to have its own will. I think it’s beautiful how well written the book is as I read a couple of bad reviews before I started reading. To be completely honest, I think it’s one of the most interesting stories I read if we’re talking plotlines. It’s filled with magic and spirituality, woven perfectly with a bit of history and the right amount of romance.

The first half of the book is a bit on the slow and more long-winded side, but once you get to the middle, that’s where the real fun starts. Although I read a lot of spoilers around this book, it didn’t take away my curiosity or entertainment reading the book. Despite knowing the end already, I am still excited to read the rest of the series. The plotline has a lot of twists and turns which makes it all the greater and the characters make it such a comfort book that you can’t set the book aside till it’s completely finished.

While the plot is riveling and the setting is magnificent, the book is really all about the characters. In the beginning of the book every person seems a bit normal, even Blue, daughter of a psychic. But like most books, looks can be deceitful. Throughout the book you get to know each and every person a bit more and you learn that nothing is as it seems. I think the most beautiful thing about this book is the fact that each of them has their own kind of struggles and baggage they carry around, but they find comfort and relief in each other's presence. However the boys are so different from each other, their friendship is built on trust and loyalty.

“Fate is a very weighty word to throw around before breakfast.” Last but not least, we have the ultimately charming romance in this novel. I love how this is a slow burn with so much potential and simplicity. As Blue was told since she was a little girl, she could never kiss her true love, as the moment she will, he’ll die. That’s one hell of a prophecy to grow up with. To not be able to kiss anyone without the fear of killing them. As the first book focuses more on her connection with Adam and less with Gansey, you still know Gansey’s the one she’ll end up with. Their relationship has had a rough start, but as they spend more and more time together, he starts to grow on her ; and she on him.

Overall, I think The Raven Boys is certainly worth reading, even if you aren’t a fan of slow burns or a little bit of that admirably old history. It’s well written, the setting is amazing and the characters are absolutely outstanding. The magic is built up in a way that makes it seem truly believable and the mythology in the book is quite unique.There is literally nothing more you could ask for.

My rating: ★★★★☆

Bookshop.org / Amazon

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