So I had very luckily won a signed ARC of this book and was so hoping I would have it read and reviewed before it released. Clearly this didn’t happen but I did finish it! 🙂
Title: The Raven Boys
Series: Raven Cycle (Book 1)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publication Date: September 18, 2012
Pages: 409
Format: ARC
Source: Won
Purchase: Amazon | Apple
Summary (Goodreads):
“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.
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First, let me start out by saying I did enjoy this book, BUT it is nothing like Maggie’s Wolves of Mercy Falls series. This book did not leave me wanting to create, rather it gave me chills, made me miss my old group of friends, and made me long for adventure.
Maggie has created another wonderful world where although it is set in contemporary time and space it is still a world of magic (making a reader wonder if there is such magic here in our own world). I really loved the story created not just that we are reading but of the tale of the Raven King, having this quest set out for the characters was thrilling and chilling.
As with most stories, for me the characters are key. Maggie has provided us with a lovely set Blue, Adam, Gansey, Noah, and Ronan. Also Blue’s crazy “family” was well crafted to fit together and mold the story. I found that Blue and her group of boys really made me miss my old group of boys back in 11th grade, those friendships and the adventures we went on were so vivid after reading The Raven Boys. I believe it is a special kind of friendship and Maggie captured it to perfection. Not only were the relationships between the characters well done and important to the story but each and every character has such personality. Much like Andrea Cremer, I find that Maggie has also captured the art of making a whole cast of characters more than just supporting roles, but actually, people that I feel like I know personally. For me, this skill is very special and makes the story really come to life.
Unfortunately, with this book, I felt like the ending was rushed. I know that this will be a series (although while reading it I thought it was a standalone book). Really I think that with a little more flesh to the end I would have given it 5 stars, but having that ending feel so abrupt nagged at me. I’m not sure how many books in the series there will be but honestly, I thought there would be only one, which is not a good thing. If the book is going to be a series I feel like there needs to be a resolution at the end of each book with the overall plot not ending until the last book, and though I see where this was attempted…it felt like an attempt and not a completion. I plan on reading the next book, and hoping that will feel complete and less rushed at the end for me, but for book one it is a 4 out of 5 stars.
I'm thinking of getting this book, but now I know what state of mind to go in with.
I'm thinking of getting this book, but now I know what state of mind to go in with.
It was a good read. I would have giving it 5 stars if it wasn't for the ending, hopefully it will get better as the series goes on :)! But most important is to remember it is nothing like Shiver.
I just got this book from The Book Depository YAYYYY!!! I like SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater, but I never read LINGER or FOREVER. I wasn't a huge fan of the series, although I really liked SHIVER. I heard a lot of not so great things about LINGER, so I just shied away from that series. I bought THE SCORPIO RACES for my sister, so I'll be reading THE RAVEN BOYS and THE SCORPIO RACES soon. Thanksd for hthe review!!! I'll be watching out for that ending, and see if I like it or not 🙂
I just got this book from The Book Depository YAYYYY!!! I like SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater, but I never read LINGER or FOREVER. I wasn't a huge fan of the series, although I really liked SHIVER. I heard a lot of not so great things about LINGER, so I just shied away from that series. I bought THE SCORPIO RACES for my sister, so I'll be reading THE RAVEN BOYS and THE SCORPIO RACES soon. Thanksd for hthe review!!! I'll be watching out for that ending, and see if I like it or not 🙂
I LOVED Linger and Forever, I'd seriously give them a shot! I'm hoping to read all of Maggie's books, The Raven Boys was very good, just that ending bit was too fast, too rushed, but I'm hoping as the series goes on I will enjoy it more and more. 🙂
You are so lucky to have gotten an ARC! I've been excited to read this book, can't wait to get to it. Thanks for the review!:)
You are so lucky to have gotten an ARC! I've been excited to read this book, can't wait to get to it. Thanks for the review!:)
I certainly am! It was one of the best things I have won!
I hope you like it! Let me know what you think when you are finished (especially about the ending! I want to know if I'm the only one who feels like it was rushed!)
I certainly am! It was one of the best things I have won!
I hope you like it! Let me know what you think when you are finished (especially about the ending! I want to know if I'm the only one who feels like it was rushed!)
Thanks for your honest review. I have loved Maggie's other books, so I think I will give this one a shot too. I know it's hard to switch series from the same author when the first one was so awesome! thanks!!
Yeah, I am a big fan of Maggie's Shiver series. The Raven Boys was very good, for me the only problem was the ending, the pace was too fast compared to the rest of the book that it left me feeling like it was rushed. Still I'm excited to read the other books in the series as they come out!
Yeah, I am a big fan of Maggie's Shiver series. The Raven Boys was very good, for me the only problem was the ending, the pace was too fast compared to the rest of the book that it left me feeling like it was rushed. Still I'm excited to read the other books in the series as they come out!
I love the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and have this book on my TBR list. Can't wait to read it =) another great review!
I love the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and have this book on my TBR list. Can't wait to read it =) another great review!
I want to read this book, but I think I'll be entering it with lowered expectations. Still, I like that you enjoyed it overall 🙂
I want to read this book, but I think I'll be entering it with lowered expectations. Still, I like that you enjoyed it overall 🙂
I adored the Wolves of Mercy Falls and I think I will enjoy this series too. I was just bit bummed at the ending of the book, I think the change in pace was too drastic which is why it felt a bit rushed. I'd love to know what you think of the ending. Let me know when you get a chance to read The Raven Boys 🙂
I adored the Wolves of Mercy Falls and I think I will enjoy this series too. I was just bit bummed at the ending of the book, I think the change in pace was too drastic which is why it felt a bit rushed. I'd love to know what you think of the ending. Let me know when you get a chance to read The Raven Boys 🙂
I really did enjoy the book, my problem really lies with the ending. The change in pace was so drastic that it felt rushed. I'm hoping that the rest of the series won't be like that…AND this was an ARC review so it is possible it may have changed a bit before it was finalized. I'd love to hear your thoughts when you get a chance to read it 🙂
I really did enjoy the book, my problem really lies with the ending. The change in pace was so drastic that it felt rushed. I'm hoping that the rest of the series won't be like that…AND this was an ARC review so it is possible it may have changed a bit before it was finalized. I'd love to hear your thoughts when you get a chance to read it 🙂
I bought this book last week and still haven't read it. I'm a bit nervous because Wolves of Mercy Falls was a book I adored and according to your review and a few others I have read it doesn't sound like the same style. So I am letting it simmer on my nightstand until this weekend…I hope I like it too! Thank you for your review on it (I like a book that makes me long for adventure)
I bought this book last week and still haven't read it. I'm a bit nervous because Wolves of Mercy Falls was a book I adored and according to your review and a few others I have read it doesn't sound like the same style. So I am letting it simmer on my nightstand until this weekend…I hope I like it too! Thank you for your review on it (I like a book that makes me long for adventure)
Hi Dione!
Yes, The Raven Boys is a very different style than The Wolves of Mercy Falls series but I’m excited to see where it goes. I hope you enjoyed The Raven Boys (and that it gave you an adventure!)
I really enjoyed this book as well but ended up also giving it 4 stars. I don't know whether it was the ending or the slow start. I still have super high hopes for the next book though!
It’s good to know I’m not the only one Emily! It seems like everyone adored it and I was the only one who wasn’t blow away. I also have high hopes for the rest of the series tho! 🙂
I really enjoyed this book as well but ended up also giving it 4 stars. I don't know whether it was the ending or the slow start. I still have super high hopes for the next book though!
It’s good to know I’m not the only one Emily! It seems like everyone adored it and I was the only one who wasn’t blow away. I also have high hopes for the rest of the series tho! 🙂