Status
Available
Series
Publication
Scholastic Paperbacks (2013), Edition: Reprint, 416 pages
Description
Though she is from a family of clairvoyants, Blue Sargent's only gift seems to be that she makes other people's talents stronger, and when she meets Gansey, one of the Raven Boys from the expensive Aglionby Academy, she discovers that he has talents of his own--and that together their talents are a dangerous mix.
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LibraryThing member A_Reader_of_Fictions
For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.
Oh hey. So yeah. I did this thing. I read The Raven Boys. And I told absolutely no one. I almost accidentally blurted it out in chat a bunch of times. I also thought about instagramming myself reading over lunch and then realized I
Sometime after Forever, Maggie Stiefvater grew into the sort of author whose books I can appreciate. I’m not saying her previous books are objectively terrible, because they’re not. They are, however, books I struggled through. I’d mostly given up on Stiefvater’s fiction ever being for me, despite the intriguing premises. But then everyone in the world said that The Raven Boys was so different and The Scorpio Races got a redesign with a cover so pretty I had to own it and Stiefvater released a book about Cole and Isabel. I already read Sinner and noted how different it was and The Raven Boys is similarly a step away from her first five novels. Where the first five have MCs I find, minus one, incredibly boring, The Raven Boys and Sinner are populated by characters of depth and quirk and pain.
The characters didn’t charm me first, though. That was the writing. The Raven Boys is another of those books that should be used to beat down people who sneer at YA as being juvenile and poorly written. We all know they’re wrong of course, but they don’t…yet. If they ever read books like The Raven Boys, we’ll convert them, if they’re capable of being honest to themselves at all. Maggie’s writing is gorgeous and dreamy, in a way that perfectly matches the magical realism of the novel. There are so many quotable quotes that keeping track of all the good lines would fill a good deal of notebook.
Precisely no one has shelved The Raven Boys as magical realism on Goodreads, which makes me wonder if I’m wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t own up to this in a review, because I feel like it could be embarrassing. Personally, I think The Raven Boys walks a line between paranormal and magical realism. I suspect it’s going to tilt on over in The Dream Thieves, but there’s something about the dreamy quality of it and the fact that the magic’s been lying dormant for so long people might not have realized the real world had magic that makes me say magical realism. Does it matter really? No. But I felt like rambling on about it. You’re welcome.
I’d been warned that The Raven Boys was slow and might even be boring, perhaps because people wanted me prepared to not immediately dismiss the book. I didn’t find it to be so at all. It’s a long book, so it took some time to read, but I thought the pacing was good. The plot is a bit hazy at first, but at the end I was left superbly impressed with what had been accomplished. It’s unclear at times because you sort of spiral in on it and the mood is really important. It all just fits together really well, if that makes any damn sense.
I’m sort of at a loss for quite what to say about the characters actually, though I’m sure I’ll get over that. To help me, let’s start with some hilarious misconceptions I got from the things I saw on Twitter or in chats with people who were talking about this series.
I thought this series was about a girl named Blue who had three hot guy friends, two of whom are interested in her. Instead, there are four hot guy friends. HOW HAD I NEVER HEARD ABOUT NOAH?
Because of all the love for Ronan and the spoiler I know about him, I was really shocked to actually meet him. Was not expecting him to be quite so punch-oriented. Again, I would have thought I’d have heard about that.
NO ONE EVER MENTIONED CHAINSAW EITHER.
I totally expected Adam to be similar to his namesake in Shatter Me, based on the dislike I see of him around the internet. He is not.
Blue: I don’t have a great handle on Blue yet. I feel like there’s so much to come from her, like I can sense her coming evolution and character arc, so it’s almost like something’s missing. What I do like about Blue is that she simultaneously desperately wants romance and doesn’t, because dooming your true love with a kiss is way harsh Tai. Simultaneously, Blue does and doesn’t want to have the psychic abilities of her family. She’s like to be either normal or actually able to experience psychic visions herself. Maybe this is why I don’t have a hold on Blue? She hasn’t decided yet what she wants to be, just that she wants something. She herself doesn’t know who she is yet.
Blue’s Family: Freaking fantastic. They’re strange and occasionally creepy, but I love this house of psychics. The dynamic reminds me a lot of that in Practical Magic. There’s a powerful sense of family and community and magic, but they’re also more friends than family members. Maura loves Blue and takes care of her, but she’s not remotely a traditional mother. Blue has as much say in her choices as Maura does. Actually more. I love non-traditional but functional families, and this ones if fabulous.
Adam: Guys, he is so sweet. I know this book is heading for the good ship Gansey, but Adam’s really adorable too. This poor guy has such a shit life and is trying so hard to make his way out on his own two feet. Is it any wonder that he shies away from any sort of dependence when being a dependent has been so horrible? *hugs Adam* His crush on Blue is super cute, but admittedly I’m not exactly on this ship either because a) I don’t really see the chemistry and b) events.
Gansey: He’s kind of an ass. Again, wasn’t really prepared for that. However, he’s an ass who’s really trying to quit being an ass and who has only the best of intentions. Basically, he’s incredibly socially awkward. What’s funny is that nobody really notices how awkward Gansey is because he’s so rich and attractive and intelligent. Everything he does seems intentional, but he’s constantly putting his foot in his mouth. Of course, he also calls Blue “Jane,” which is an intentional dick thing to do, but he is a Dick after all. Also, that makes them Dick and Jane, which hahahaha. Not actually on this ship either, because tragic and because I don’t really see the sparks here either yet. The book does say they’re coming, but I have to wait and see.
Ronan: Ellis’ baby. Someone needs to get this kid some counseling. Gansey’s sort of his mother/psychiatrist/friend and he’s not exactly fit for this role, since he has his own host of issues. Their friendship is touching, as is any moment that Ronan opens up to Adam or Blue. Actually, all of these characters need big hugs. Can I hug all of them? Also, what’s up with Declan? And his dad? I MUST KNOW THINGS.
Noah: Biggest hug of all for Noah. Poor Noah. You’re not as interesting as the other Raven Boys, but I accept you. I’m trying to decide if he has the saddest story and he just might. This character is such an enigma and I’m really curious as to how he’s going to further the plot down the road.
There. My massive attempt to review The Raven Boys is over. The short version is that I thought it was incredible, but I also don’t have the feels. Hopefully, the feels will pile on top of me and destroy me utterly in The Dream Thieves.
Oh hey. So yeah. I did this thing. I read The Raven Boys. And I told absolutely no one. I almost accidentally blurted it out in chat a bunch of times. I also thought about instagramming myself reading over lunch and then realized I
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was reading The Raven Boys secretly, which I would no longer be post ill-considered Innstagram. However, I remained steadfast and secretive, even once I know, early on, that I was going to like the book. I wanted to be able to have only my thoughts in my head for this one, because there’s so much out there already and I didn’t want the hype to mess with my experience. Anyway, you guys win: The Raven Boys is fantastic.Sometime after Forever, Maggie Stiefvater grew into the sort of author whose books I can appreciate. I’m not saying her previous books are objectively terrible, because they’re not. They are, however, books I struggled through. I’d mostly given up on Stiefvater’s fiction ever being for me, despite the intriguing premises. But then everyone in the world said that The Raven Boys was so different and The Scorpio Races got a redesign with a cover so pretty I had to own it and Stiefvater released a book about Cole and Isabel. I already read Sinner and noted how different it was and The Raven Boys is similarly a step away from her first five novels. Where the first five have MCs I find, minus one, incredibly boring, The Raven Boys and Sinner are populated by characters of depth and quirk and pain.
The characters didn’t charm me first, though. That was the writing. The Raven Boys is another of those books that should be used to beat down people who sneer at YA as being juvenile and poorly written. We all know they’re wrong of course, but they don’t…yet. If they ever read books like The Raven Boys, we’ll convert them, if they’re capable of being honest to themselves at all. Maggie’s writing is gorgeous and dreamy, in a way that perfectly matches the magical realism of the novel. There are so many quotable quotes that keeping track of all the good lines would fill a good deal of notebook.
Precisely no one has shelved The Raven Boys as magical realism on Goodreads, which makes me wonder if I’m wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t own up to this in a review, because I feel like it could be embarrassing. Personally, I think The Raven Boys walks a line between paranormal and magical realism. I suspect it’s going to tilt on over in The Dream Thieves, but there’s something about the dreamy quality of it and the fact that the magic’s been lying dormant for so long people might not have realized the real world had magic that makes me say magical realism. Does it matter really? No. But I felt like rambling on about it. You’re welcome.
I’d been warned that The Raven Boys was slow and might even be boring, perhaps because people wanted me prepared to not immediately dismiss the book. I didn’t find it to be so at all. It’s a long book, so it took some time to read, but I thought the pacing was good. The plot is a bit hazy at first, but at the end I was left superbly impressed with what had been accomplished. It’s unclear at times because you sort of spiral in on it and the mood is really important. It all just fits together really well, if that makes any damn sense.
I’m sort of at a loss for quite what to say about the characters actually, though I’m sure I’ll get over that. To help me, let’s start with some hilarious misconceptions I got from the things I saw on Twitter or in chats with people who were talking about this series.
I thought this series was about a girl named Blue who had three hot guy friends, two of whom are interested in her. Instead, there are four hot guy friends. HOW HAD I NEVER HEARD ABOUT NOAH?
Because of all the love for Ronan and the spoiler I know about him, I was really shocked to actually meet him. Was not expecting him to be quite so punch-oriented. Again, I would have thought I’d have heard about that.
NO ONE EVER MENTIONED CHAINSAW EITHER.
I totally expected Adam to be similar to his namesake in Shatter Me, based on the dislike I see of him around the internet. He is not.
Blue: I don’t have a great handle on Blue yet. I feel like there’s so much to come from her, like I can sense her coming evolution and character arc, so it’s almost like something’s missing. What I do like about Blue is that she simultaneously desperately wants romance and doesn’t, because dooming your true love with a kiss is way harsh Tai. Simultaneously, Blue does and doesn’t want to have the psychic abilities of her family. She’s like to be either normal or actually able to experience psychic visions herself. Maybe this is why I don’t have a hold on Blue? She hasn’t decided yet what she wants to be, just that she wants something. She herself doesn’t know who she is yet.
Blue’s Family: Freaking fantastic. They’re strange and occasionally creepy, but I love this house of psychics. The dynamic reminds me a lot of that in Practical Magic. There’s a powerful sense of family and community and magic, but they’re also more friends than family members. Maura loves Blue and takes care of her, but she’s not remotely a traditional mother. Blue has as much say in her choices as Maura does. Actually more. I love non-traditional but functional families, and this ones if fabulous.
Adam: Guys, he is so sweet. I know this book is heading for the good ship Gansey, but Adam’s really adorable too. This poor guy has such a shit life and is trying so hard to make his way out on his own two feet. Is it any wonder that he shies away from any sort of dependence when being a dependent has been so horrible? *hugs Adam* His crush on Blue is super cute, but admittedly I’m not exactly on this ship either because a) I don’t really see the chemistry and b) events.
Gansey: He’s kind of an ass. Again, wasn’t really prepared for that. However, he’s an ass who’s really trying to quit being an ass and who has only the best of intentions. Basically, he’s incredibly socially awkward. What’s funny is that nobody really notices how awkward Gansey is because he’s so rich and attractive and intelligent. Everything he does seems intentional, but he’s constantly putting his foot in his mouth. Of course, he also calls Blue “Jane,” which is an intentional dick thing to do, but he is a Dick after all. Also, that makes them Dick and Jane, which hahahaha. Not actually on this ship either, because tragic and because I don’t really see the sparks here either yet. The book does say they’re coming, but I have to wait and see.
Ronan: Ellis’ baby. Someone needs to get this kid some counseling. Gansey’s sort of his mother/psychiatrist/friend and he’s not exactly fit for this role, since he has his own host of issues. Their friendship is touching, as is any moment that Ronan opens up to Adam or Blue. Actually, all of these characters need big hugs. Can I hug all of them? Also, what’s up with Declan? And his dad? I MUST KNOW THINGS.
Noah: Biggest hug of all for Noah. Poor Noah. You’re not as interesting as the other Raven Boys, but I accept you. I’m trying to decide if he has the saddest story and he just might. This character is such an enigma and I’m really curious as to how he’s going to further the plot down the road.
There. My massive attempt to review The Raven Boys is over. The short version is that I thought it was incredible, but I also don’t have the feels. Hopefully, the feels will pile on top of me and destroy me utterly in The Dream Thieves.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I was really looking forward to a new book from Steifvater. This was an interesting book that is told from numerous POVs. It really isn’t any one character’s story but a story about a group of people. It was an intriguing read and is full of mystery.
Blue comes from a family of Clairvoyants, but
This story is told from five points of view. That of Blue, Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Wilkes. Blue, who lives with many clairvoyants, is told that the first boy she kisses will die. She has one rule and that is to never get involved with Raven boys.
Gansey is seeking out Ley lines in hopes of finding something he’s missing. His friends are all wrapped up in the mystery and death with him. Ronan is a wild and dangerous boy who has never been the same since his father died. Adam comes from an abusive and poor family and always feels like he is so much less than the other boys, he is constantly trying to prove himself. Noah is Gansey’s third friend and he is quiet and drifts in the background.
The last POV we hear from is Wilkes, he is the Latin teacher from Aglionby and has a dark secret that ends up tying in with the mystery the Raven boys and Blue get wrapped up in.
The multiple POVs work well for this story, but make it so the story belongs to all of the characters and not really any one character. The characters are all very well done, they have a lot of depth to them, and you really care about what happens to them. They are all loners in their own way, yet are drawn together by Gansey’s quest to search out the ley lines and the truth.
The plot is mostly driven by Gansey’s quest, by Blue’s predicted fate, and by the mystery behind what Wilkes did so long ago. It ends up being a mystery of ley lines, future deaths, and missing people. Some of the most interesting parts of the story are driven by how all of these somewhat flawed characters interact with each other.
The story starts a bit slow but picks up pace towards the end; almost all of Steifvater’s books are like this. The story was still engaging and interesting and I enjoyed reading it. The book is well written and the descriptions of settings are beautifully done.
Overall I enjoyed reading this story. It’s pretty much a paranormal mystery involving future deaths, missing persons, ley lines, and fate. The whole story is well put together and the characters involved are intriguing. I hope in the next book we get to dive deeper into the lives of these characters and learn more about the ley lines. Recommended to those who enjoy a character-driven paranormal mysteries. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Blue comes from a family of Clairvoyants, but
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she herself only makes their abilities stronger. That is until she sees the ghost of a boy named Gansey on the road in a cemetery. Blue comes to find that Gansey is one of the rich boys that goes to Aglionby, an all boys private school. Gansey is on a quest to search out ley lines and is accompanied by three other Raven boys. The five teenagers must solve a mystery of murder, ghosts, and mystical energy.This story is told from five points of view. That of Blue, Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Wilkes. Blue, who lives with many clairvoyants, is told that the first boy she kisses will die. She has one rule and that is to never get involved with Raven boys.
Gansey is seeking out Ley lines in hopes of finding something he’s missing. His friends are all wrapped up in the mystery and death with him. Ronan is a wild and dangerous boy who has never been the same since his father died. Adam comes from an abusive and poor family and always feels like he is so much less than the other boys, he is constantly trying to prove himself. Noah is Gansey’s third friend and he is quiet and drifts in the background.
The last POV we hear from is Wilkes, he is the Latin teacher from Aglionby and has a dark secret that ends up tying in with the mystery the Raven boys and Blue get wrapped up in.
The multiple POVs work well for this story, but make it so the story belongs to all of the characters and not really any one character. The characters are all very well done, they have a lot of depth to them, and you really care about what happens to them. They are all loners in their own way, yet are drawn together by Gansey’s quest to search out the ley lines and the truth.
The plot is mostly driven by Gansey’s quest, by Blue’s predicted fate, and by the mystery behind what Wilkes did so long ago. It ends up being a mystery of ley lines, future deaths, and missing people. Some of the most interesting parts of the story are driven by how all of these somewhat flawed characters interact with each other.
The story starts a bit slow but picks up pace towards the end; almost all of Steifvater’s books are like this. The story was still engaging and interesting and I enjoyed reading it. The book is well written and the descriptions of settings are beautifully done.
Overall I enjoyed reading this story. It’s pretty much a paranormal mystery involving future deaths, missing persons, ley lines, and fate. The whole story is well put together and the characters involved are intriguing. I hope in the next book we get to dive deeper into the lives of these characters and learn more about the ley lines. Recommended to those who enjoy a character-driven paranormal mysteries. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
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LibraryThing member theindigoshelf
The Raven Boys has everything I've ever wanted in a young adult book: mystery, psychics, ghosts, a lovely character named Blue, treasure hunting, and boys that were unique and attractive. I would have died if I had read this when I was a teenager. I would be one of those fan-girls that makes poster
The Raven Boys is fictional, but it felt real. I was constantly thinking "Why can't the real world be like this?! Why can't there be true psychics and ley lines!?" I will admit, at first I wasn't sure if I would love it or even like it, but I just loved Blue's life and how things with the boys started to come together. The first chapter had me hooked. I loved Blue's name. I loved that her family was just a house full of women... I know what that's like. I also liked the uncertainty of whether Blue would really end up with Adam or Gansey.
Blue is a teenage girl who doesn't have much of a life other than being useful to her family of women psychics and creating unique clothes. Gansey is the rich boy in town. He has so much money that it buys freedom to chase his dream of finding "buried treasure". Then there is Blue's mother, her mother's sister Neeve, and Gansey's best friends: Adam, Ronan, and Noah. Each character is explained so well. I felt like I knew how each character would be in reality. The creepy one, the smart one, the rich arrogant boy, the loner, the protective mother.
There wasn't a dull moment in The Raven Boys. The stretch of time throughout all of the events was even realistic! I just felt that so many elements in this book were creative and fun. The treasure hunting and magic were what sealed the deal for me. It was definitely unique and exciting.
Then there is Ronan. Ronan is my first... okay second book crush. Of course, the first review I peeked at for Dream Thieves had a Ronan spoiler! Oh well. I am still looking forward to the rest of the series. (Dream Thieves was good by the way... I ran out and got it from the library after I finished this.) At least Gansey grew on me!
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boards and creepy shrines for Maggie. Fortunately, I am an adult... and I have learned to bottle up all of my emotions.The Raven Boys is fictional, but it felt real. I was constantly thinking "Why can't the real world be like this?! Why can't there be true psychics and ley lines!?" I will admit, at first I wasn't sure if I would love it or even like it, but I just loved Blue's life and how things with the boys started to come together. The first chapter had me hooked. I loved Blue's name. I loved that her family was just a house full of women... I know what that's like. I also liked the uncertainty of whether Blue would really end up with Adam or Gansey.
Blue is a teenage girl who doesn't have much of a life other than being useful to her family of women psychics and creating unique clothes. Gansey is the rich boy in town. He has so much money that it buys freedom to chase his dream of finding "buried treasure". Then there is Blue's mother, her mother's sister Neeve, and Gansey's best friends: Adam, Ronan, and Noah. Each character is explained so well. I felt like I knew how each character would be in reality. The creepy one, the smart one, the rich arrogant boy, the loner, the protective mother.
There wasn't a dull moment in The Raven Boys. The stretch of time throughout all of the events was even realistic! I just felt that so many elements in this book were creative and fun. The treasure hunting and magic were what sealed the deal for me. It was definitely unique and exciting.
Then there is Ronan. Ronan is my first... okay second book crush. Of course, the first review I peeked at for Dream Thieves had a Ronan spoiler! Oh well. I am still looking forward to the rest of the series. (Dream Thieves was good by the way... I ran out and got it from the library after I finished this.) At least Gansey grew on me!
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LibraryThing member bluesalamanders
Blue (I am disposed to like any character named Blue, of course) is the daughter of a psychic, in a family of psychics, although she herself is not one. Blue has two rules: Stay away from boys, because they're trouble, and stay away from Raven boys, because they're bastards. Yet somehow she's drawn
I wasn't sure about this book at first because as interesting a character as Blue is, it seemed she was right about the Raven boys. Except slowly, as she (and we) spent more time with them, they all turn out to be more than they seem. Also, the writing is excellent; Stiefvater's writing gets better with every book, and Raven Boys is no exception.
It is very much the first book in a series. There is no cliffhanger, but there is also some major plotlines that aren't resolved, and others kick off around the time the book ends. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel.
Will Patton as reader was adequate but not spectacular. He did a variety of accents well, but the different voices he used for Blue's mother and aunts (for example) were distracting at times.
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into an intricate mystery involving ley lines, a dead Welsh king, and four Raven boys.I wasn't sure about this book at first because as interesting a character as Blue is, it seemed she was right about the Raven boys. Except slowly, as she (and we) spent more time with them, they all turn out to be more than they seem. Also, the writing is excellent; Stiefvater's writing gets better with every book, and Raven Boys is no exception.
It is very much the first book in a series. There is no cliffhanger, but there is also some major plotlines that aren't resolved, and others kick off around the time the book ends. I'm definitely looking forward to the sequel.
Will Patton as reader was adequate but not spectacular. He did a variety of accents well, but the different voices he used for Blue's mother and aunts (for example) were distracting at times.
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LibraryThing member dgmlrhodes
I read the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater and really enjoyed it, so I was very excited when I received a complimentary copy of The Raven Boys from Goodreads First Reads!
After finishing this book, I had to think about it for a couple of days before I could rate it. Although it
Overall, this is a wonderful start to a new series!
After finishing this book, I had to think about it for a couple of days before I could rate it. Although it
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had an excellent opening, the book started off a bit slow for me. The first third of the book really lays out the ground work for the series. The second two thirds of the book picks up steam and is an excellent read. With her first trilogy, the writing is beautiful describing the scenary of the woods, etc. However, I felt the Raven Boys had much deeper characters, although the writing is not as beautiful as her first trilogy. Even the minor characters were fully developed and I felt a connection with each in this book. The book leaves many loose ends (since it is a series) yet enough mystery is solved to leave you feeling complete.Overall, this is a wonderful start to a new series!
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LibraryThing member kayceel
I LOVED THIS BOOK. Gorgeously written, spookily atmospheric, with an almost dream-like quality, including snarky psychics and tortured rich boys. I simply cannot get enough of Maggie Stiefvater's writing!
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
LibraryThing member pollywannabook
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Maggie Stiefvater is not a writer. She is a magical creature who spins stories and creates worlds so real that readers can taste, touch, and breathe them in. THE RAVEN BOYS, the first book in the new Raven Cycle series, is a wonderfully strange tale that
There are no faeries, werewolves, or murderous water horses in THE RAVEN BOYS, but it feels every inch as captivating , thrilling, and just plain ‘Maggie’ as her previous books. What is does have is ghosts, psychics, and heaps of magic. The three protagonists are as disparate as can be: Blue, the lone non-psychic in her female only family; Gansley, the obscenely wealthy and privileged boy obsessed with unearthing a mystical legendary Welsh king; and Adam, the quiet but strong boy who works three times as hard as his affluent friends. There are other important characters, but these are the three who tell this story.
THE RAVEN BOYS was the first Maggie book that I didn’t read in one sitting. It took several chapters before the characters grabbed hold of me in the way I’ve come to expect from this author. There are numerous characters introduced right away and the ‘Raven Boys’ don’t officially meet Blue until chapter 6, so I was a little unsure of where the story was going up until then. But after about the first fifty pages, storylines began overlapping and Maggie’s unparalleled gift for creating flesh and blood characters sucked me in.
The bad news is that there is a cliffhanger–several actually–and the worse news is that the next book in the Raven Cycle won’t be published until 2013. It’s torturous to have to wait any amount of time for new Maggie Stiefvater books, but it feels doubly so because Blue, Gansley, and Adam are such rich and wonderfully flawed characters that it’s easy to imagine their lives going on without us. I can only hope that Maggie can keep up with them.
Sexual Content:
Kissing
Maggie Stiefvater is not a writer. She is a magical creature who spins stories and creates worlds so real that readers can taste, touch, and breathe them in. THE RAVEN BOYS, the first book in the new Raven Cycle series, is a wonderfully strange tale that
Show More
takes just a little time to sink into before running off with the heart and imagination of every reader fortunate enough to open it’s pages.There are no faeries, werewolves, or murderous water horses in THE RAVEN BOYS, but it feels every inch as captivating , thrilling, and just plain ‘Maggie’ as her previous books. What is does have is ghosts, psychics, and heaps of magic. The three protagonists are as disparate as can be: Blue, the lone non-psychic in her female only family; Gansley, the obscenely wealthy and privileged boy obsessed with unearthing a mystical legendary Welsh king; and Adam, the quiet but strong boy who works three times as hard as his affluent friends. There are other important characters, but these are the three who tell this story.
THE RAVEN BOYS was the first Maggie book that I didn’t read in one sitting. It took several chapters before the characters grabbed hold of me in the way I’ve come to expect from this author. There are numerous characters introduced right away and the ‘Raven Boys’ don’t officially meet Blue until chapter 6, so I was a little unsure of where the story was going up until then. But after about the first fifty pages, storylines began overlapping and Maggie’s unparalleled gift for creating flesh and blood characters sucked me in.
The bad news is that there is a cliffhanger–several actually–and the worse news is that the next book in the Raven Cycle won’t be published until 2013. It’s torturous to have to wait any amount of time for new Maggie Stiefvater books, but it feels doubly so because Blue, Gansley, and Adam are such rich and wonderfully flawed characters that it’s easy to imagine their lives going on without us. I can only hope that Maggie can keep up with them.
Sexual Content:
Kissing
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LibraryThing member usagijihen
You guys know I loved Stiefvater's last effort, "The Scorpio Races", and so of course when I heard about "The Raven Boys", I just had to read it. I mean, I HAD to. Would it get my heart racing the same way it did for the last book? In a way, it did, and in a way, it didn't - this book is a quieter,
The only issue I had with the book that brought down my rating was the length - as in, I feel like parts of it could have been cut and connected a bit better/in a more linear fashion for the reader to follow. I love Blue's adventure with her boys, but I do think some of it could have been cut and saved for another book, or an outtake, or something. And the mystery behind Noah, as well as the one behind Barrington Whelk (who loves this name and has two thumbs? this girl does!), could have been a bit more linearly connected, though it does get easier to see where things are going by the last third of the book.
Otherwise? This is a very different animal from Stiefvater's previous efforts - it's a little of everything she's done so far, along with a slow, simmering mystery that's both supernatural and worthy of Sherlock Holmes at the same time. Her worldbuilding, characters, and sensory imagery/language are all top-shelf, and Stiefvater's at the top of her game aside from my nitpicks about the length of the book. If anything, the area where I feel like she improved the most was creating this cast of five main characters (four raven boys and one Blue). She's done casts of characters before, but not at this large number. I feel here that she really grew in this area, just with the characters of the boys, how they moved, what they looked like, their backstories, how they acted - and they all knit back into the very strong worldbuilding that Stiefvater did. Good on you, Maggie - you did great here.
Though we do spend a lot of the book tramping around Virginia trying to figure out several mysteries at once (interwoven with delicate care by Stiefvater, though parts do get very slightly muddled in the sheer length of it all), there are still moments, and moments of absolute magic, moments that will have you wanting to burst out into the great outdoors and trying to find all of this magical realism in your own local park or nature preserve.
What's possibly the best part about this book is that it uses a pretty obscure (compared to most of YA paranormal) Welsh legend about a sleeping king. I love authors willing to take a chance on the unknown, and Stiefvater did very well with this. It left me panting after that second book - what will become of everyone, especially Blue's open-ended romantic future? Who does the king favor, now that the lines have been woken up? What will the boys do next? All of those questions that we're left with are great ones, and while they do leave you on a bit of a cliffhanger, the feeling of completion of this first volume in the series is pretty complete (as in, I'm comfortable with what happened at the end and am ready to move on). And without using a dire cliffhanger and nothing else, that's pretty hard to do. Stiefvater managed to do a fantastic job with that.
Final verdict? If you're looking for a a quieter, more thoughtful YA book this fall season, you can't do better than "The Raven Boys". It's out now from Scholastic in North America, so be sure to check it out. Its place on my best of 2012 list is very, very well deserved, and I definitely need that next book now!
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
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sneakier book than the fast-paced horse race that is "Scorpio Races", but that doesn't make it any less good. If you love epic bromances, pompous names, and obscure mythology retold into a new tale, you simply must read "The Raven Boys".The only issue I had with the book that brought down my rating was the length - as in, I feel like parts of it could have been cut and connected a bit better/in a more linear fashion for the reader to follow. I love Blue's adventure with her boys, but I do think some of it could have been cut and saved for another book, or an outtake, or something. And the mystery behind Noah, as well as the one behind Barrington Whelk (who loves this name and has two thumbs? this girl does!), could have been a bit more linearly connected, though it does get easier to see where things are going by the last third of the book.
Otherwise? This is a very different animal from Stiefvater's previous efforts - it's a little of everything she's done so far, along with a slow, simmering mystery that's both supernatural and worthy of Sherlock Holmes at the same time. Her worldbuilding, characters, and sensory imagery/language are all top-shelf, and Stiefvater's at the top of her game aside from my nitpicks about the length of the book. If anything, the area where I feel like she improved the most was creating this cast of five main characters (four raven boys and one Blue). She's done casts of characters before, but not at this large number. I feel here that she really grew in this area, just with the characters of the boys, how they moved, what they looked like, their backstories, how they acted - and they all knit back into the very strong worldbuilding that Stiefvater did. Good on you, Maggie - you did great here.
Though we do spend a lot of the book tramping around Virginia trying to figure out several mysteries at once (interwoven with delicate care by Stiefvater, though parts do get very slightly muddled in the sheer length of it all), there are still moments, and moments of absolute magic, moments that will have you wanting to burst out into the great outdoors and trying to find all of this magical realism in your own local park or nature preserve.
What's possibly the best part about this book is that it uses a pretty obscure (compared to most of YA paranormal) Welsh legend about a sleeping king. I love authors willing to take a chance on the unknown, and Stiefvater did very well with this. It left me panting after that second book - what will become of everyone, especially Blue's open-ended romantic future? Who does the king favor, now that the lines have been woken up? What will the boys do next? All of those questions that we're left with are great ones, and while they do leave you on a bit of a cliffhanger, the feeling of completion of this first volume in the series is pretty complete (as in, I'm comfortable with what happened at the end and am ready to move on). And without using a dire cliffhanger and nothing else, that's pretty hard to do. Stiefvater managed to do a fantastic job with that.
Final verdict? If you're looking for a a quieter, more thoughtful YA book this fall season, you can't do better than "The Raven Boys". It's out now from Scholastic in North America, so be sure to check it out. Its place on my best of 2012 list is very, very well deserved, and I definitely need that next book now!
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
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LibraryThing member cinnamonowl
I read Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls series, and I while I was like, yeah those were ok and told a good story, I was never completely enamored. For me, it they felt like good books but I didn’t love them or feel the need to tell anyone to read them. The Wolves of Mercy Falls series was
I was very immersed in this world of Henrietta, Virginia, and ley lines. I love character driven books, and I found all the characters in Raven Boys and their quirks to be so endearing. Blue, Gansey, Noah, Adam, Ronan – all were my favorite character. Except I did like Adam just a little bit more, best of all.
Blue’s mother and her mother’s friends are all psychics. They all live together, and work there as well. All have their own specialty. Blue is the only one who can’t see the future, but she does have her own special gift. Every year Blue and her mother go to the corpse road, where they meet the spirits of the people who will die within the next twelve months. Blue has also been told that she will meet her true love, and her kiss will kill him. She also has a rule, to stay away from Aglionby boys, which are the boys who attend Aglionby School.
The book begins with Blue going to the corpse road, but from the start things are different. Instead of her mother, she goes with her mother’s friend Neeve – and immediately things take a turn for Blue. Something occurs that night which never has before. This event winds up taking Blue on a different path, changing her life around. She breaks her rule, and befriends Raven Boys – Gansey, who is obsessed with ley lines, the supernatural, and finding Glendower; Adam, who is a hardworking, quiet, practical scholarship student, Ronan who is troubled and tough, and finally Noah, who is distracted and “smudgy”. They are on a particular quest, which Blue joins. I felt every main character in this story was interesting, complicated and complex, and I wanted to know more about all of them.
Along the way, you find their path has many different branches and mysteries. Eventually all lead to the same place. And of course, the ending leaves you hanging! I really loved this book – I have to know what happens next!
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very hushed feeling to me, silence, a warm house with the hiss of a radiator in the background, a tea kettle rattling on the stove that has quite reached a boil. The Raven Boys is different - it is more alive and vibrant, tension slowly building, like a bonfire. I wanted to huddle around this book until I read it all – I made the mistake of starting it at 10 pm on a work night, and around 1 am had to physically remove it from my presence so that I could get some sleep. I just really connected with this book where I had not before with any of Stiefvater’s other books.I was very immersed in this world of Henrietta, Virginia, and ley lines. I love character driven books, and I found all the characters in Raven Boys and their quirks to be so endearing. Blue, Gansey, Noah, Adam, Ronan – all were my favorite character. Except I did like Adam just a little bit more, best of all.
Blue’s mother and her mother’s friends are all psychics. They all live together, and work there as well. All have their own specialty. Blue is the only one who can’t see the future, but she does have her own special gift. Every year Blue and her mother go to the corpse road, where they meet the spirits of the people who will die within the next twelve months. Blue has also been told that she will meet her true love, and her kiss will kill him. She also has a rule, to stay away from Aglionby boys, which are the boys who attend Aglionby School.
The book begins with Blue going to the corpse road, but from the start things are different. Instead of her mother, she goes with her mother’s friend Neeve – and immediately things take a turn for Blue. Something occurs that night which never has before. This event winds up taking Blue on a different path, changing her life around. She breaks her rule, and befriends Raven Boys – Gansey, who is obsessed with ley lines, the supernatural, and finding Glendower; Adam, who is a hardworking, quiet, practical scholarship student, Ronan who is troubled and tough, and finally Noah, who is distracted and “smudgy”. They are on a particular quest, which Blue joins. I felt every main character in this story was interesting, complicated and complex, and I wanted to know more about all of them.
Along the way, you find their path has many different branches and mysteries. Eventually all lead to the same place. And of course, the ending leaves you hanging! I really loved this book – I have to know what happens next!
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LibraryThing member 4sarad
Oh my God... seriously an excellent book. There's just something magical about Stiefvater's writing. You just get so sucked into it all. I was almost distracted by her wording at times, but in a good way. I'd read a sentence and have to stop and be like, "EXACTLY! I'm the exact same way!" or I'd
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just sit there reading the same sentence over and over again marveling at its depth or humor. I tried to read it slowly to make it last, but of course I only lasted two days. The book literally JUST came out. How long must I wait for the sequel?? Show Less
LibraryThing member ewyatt
Blue had always avoided Raven Boys, boys who attended the exclusive Aglionby prep school in her town. It didn't help that her whole life psychics had been telling her that when she kissed her true love he would die. Things just seem to happen when Neeve, Blue's aunt, comes to town and a group of
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four Aglionby boys enter her life. All of them look for a ley line, corpse road, that will lead to a mythical sleeping king and unleash power. Stiefvater includes much backstory for each of the teen characters, each of whom has their own fair share of problems in the real world. But they are all tied together in their quest for the supernatural. While this episode wraps up a few arcs, there is plenty of the story left to be told in upcoming episodes. Show Less
LibraryThing member vcg610
Blue Sargent is a high school student whose family heritage seems to be extra sensory perception and the ability to see the future of individuals who come to her mother and aunts for readings. Blue herself does not have the gift, but her peculiar ability is to magnify the abilities of the psychics
Throughout her childhood, Blue has been reminded that she will cause her true love to die, which becomes a potential dilemma only when she meets some young men who attend Aglionby, a local prep school for the children of the rich and powerful. She becomes involved in their unlikely quest to discover the spiritual pathway that will uncover hidden mysteries and somehow bestow power on whoever makes the discovery.
Her first encounter with one of the young men comes in a grave yard near the ruins of an old church. She has accompanied her aunt on April 24, St. Mark's Eve. On this particular evening, a psychic will be able to see the spirit of those who are not yet dead, but will be dying within the next 12 months. Members of the community are willing to pay good money to be forewarned that they or a family member are among that group. Blue has accompanied her mother in the past, and has never actually seen the spirits herself, but wrote the names her mother called out to her. If her mom didn't recognize the person, she would ask them their name. Blue's presence sometimes enabled the person's spirit to hear and respond to the psychic. But on this night, Blue actually sees a spirit and realizes with a shock that he is wearing the sweater of the Aglionby Prep School. When she asks his name, he answers, "Gansey. That's all there is."
Maggie Stiefvater begins a series for young adults that incorporates magic, psychic power and an unseen but powerful presence in the small town of Henrietta, Virginia. The town sits atop a ley line, a spiritual path that circles the world. It's exact location is unknown, but energy is stirring, and there are a number of individuals who want the power that will come with awakening the ley line, and the Welsh king who is thought to be buried near by.
Gansey, it turns out, is obsessed with finding the ley line and has involved his friends, Adam, Ronan, and Noah in the quest. Soon Blue is a vital part of the search team. We eventually find out why Gansey has taken on this quest and why it is important to each of his friends. And it is not long before we realize they are not the only ones looking and there are some who are willing to kill to wake up the power that waits just below the surface of the earth.
The Raven Boys is Book 1 of The Raven Cycle, so there is thankfully more to come as this exciting, multi-faceted story, unfolds.
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just by being physically present with them when they are at work.Throughout her childhood, Blue has been reminded that she will cause her true love to die, which becomes a potential dilemma only when she meets some young men who attend Aglionby, a local prep school for the children of the rich and powerful. She becomes involved in their unlikely quest to discover the spiritual pathway that will uncover hidden mysteries and somehow bestow power on whoever makes the discovery.
Her first encounter with one of the young men comes in a grave yard near the ruins of an old church. She has accompanied her aunt on April 24, St. Mark's Eve. On this particular evening, a psychic will be able to see the spirit of those who are not yet dead, but will be dying within the next 12 months. Members of the community are willing to pay good money to be forewarned that they or a family member are among that group. Blue has accompanied her mother in the past, and has never actually seen the spirits herself, but wrote the names her mother called out to her. If her mom didn't recognize the person, she would ask them their name. Blue's presence sometimes enabled the person's spirit to hear and respond to the psychic. But on this night, Blue actually sees a spirit and realizes with a shock that he is wearing the sweater of the Aglionby Prep School. When she asks his name, he answers, "Gansey. That's all there is."
Maggie Stiefvater begins a series for young adults that incorporates magic, psychic power and an unseen but powerful presence in the small town of Henrietta, Virginia. The town sits atop a ley line, a spiritual path that circles the world. It's exact location is unknown, but energy is stirring, and there are a number of individuals who want the power that will come with awakening the ley line, and the Welsh king who is thought to be buried near by.
Gansey, it turns out, is obsessed with finding the ley line and has involved his friends, Adam, Ronan, and Noah in the quest. Soon Blue is a vital part of the search team. We eventually find out why Gansey has taken on this quest and why it is important to each of his friends. And it is not long before we realize they are not the only ones looking and there are some who are willing to kill to wake up the power that waits just below the surface of the earth.
The Raven Boys is Book 1 of The Raven Cycle, so there is thankfully more to come as this exciting, multi-faceted story, unfolds.
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LibraryThing member YABReviews
What if a chance encounter brought you in contact with the people that you swore you would never be around? That is what happened with Blue Sargent. Her family is one that has supernatural gifts. Her mother is clairvoyant. She lives with two other women who are also clairvoyant. Not that she
The caveat in all this is that because she sees the boy’s spirit on St. Marks Eve on the corpse road, it means he will die in the upcoming year. She is told that there “are only two reason a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Marks Eve. Either you’re his true love…or you killed him.” This doesn’t make Blue too happy. Ever since she was little, she has been told that she will kill her true love with a kiss and because of this, she’s never kissed anyone.
The boy that she sees is Gansey. When she asks him his name, he tells her “that’s all there is.” She is so shocked about seeing him that she doesn’t understand it at first. She soon realizes that he is a boy from the local Aglionby Academy, the school for the rich boys. They are called the raven boys because on their uniform, their sweater had a raven emblem on it. That is the first instance in which she sees Gansey, but it isn’t the last. In a “coincidence,” Gansey and his friends schedule a reading with Blue’s mother. She isn’t too happy with them and tells Blue that if she ever sees them again to run the other way.
Gansey, on the other hand, is searching for something. He is into old legends and wants to find the ley line in Henrietta to find the resting place of a Welsh King with the help of his friends, Ronan, Adam and Noah. This is a big undertaking and Gansey spends a lot of his free time on it. During this investigation, his path intersects with Blue’s. What will happen between Gansey and Blue? Why did she see him on the corpse road?
I was really excited to read this book as soon as I heard that Stiefvater was writing a new series. That was even before I read the synopsis of it. I loved the Shiver series and was hoping for another one that enveloped me in the plot like that series did. I wasn’t disappointed with The Raven Boys. I loved it! Just from reading what the book was about, I knew that it would be something I’d be interested in. One of the things that I love best about Stiefvater’s writing is that you can really get into her characters. I can see how Blue wouldn’t like the Raven Boys from some of the stories. On the flip side, I can also see the good in them.
As far as whether or not Gansey and Blue will get together and will she kill him, well, this IS the first book in a series. Did you really think the answer was going to be given away that quickly? I will say that there are a lot of clues in The Raven Boys about their relationship and where it is heading. I like how she shows that the characters are real by the things that they experience. You’ll understand that more after you read the book.
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doesn't have gifts, her just isn't as obvious as the others. She magnifies their gifts whenever she is around them. One of the jobs that her mother and the two other women do is write down names of the spirits that they see at the church on St. Marks Eve and because of Blue's gift, she accompanies them. Blue never sees the dead. Except this time she sees a boy.The caveat in all this is that because she sees the boy’s spirit on St. Marks Eve on the corpse road, it means he will die in the upcoming year. She is told that there “are only two reason a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Marks Eve. Either you’re his true love…or you killed him.” This doesn’t make Blue too happy. Ever since she was little, she has been told that she will kill her true love with a kiss and because of this, she’s never kissed anyone.
The boy that she sees is Gansey. When she asks him his name, he tells her “that’s all there is.” She is so shocked about seeing him that she doesn’t understand it at first. She soon realizes that he is a boy from the local Aglionby Academy, the school for the rich boys. They are called the raven boys because on their uniform, their sweater had a raven emblem on it. That is the first instance in which she sees Gansey, but it isn’t the last. In a “coincidence,” Gansey and his friends schedule a reading with Blue’s mother. She isn’t too happy with them and tells Blue that if she ever sees them again to run the other way.
Gansey, on the other hand, is searching for something. He is into old legends and wants to find the ley line in Henrietta to find the resting place of a Welsh King with the help of his friends, Ronan, Adam and Noah. This is a big undertaking and Gansey spends a lot of his free time on it. During this investigation, his path intersects with Blue’s. What will happen between Gansey and Blue? Why did she see him on the corpse road?
I was really excited to read this book as soon as I heard that Stiefvater was writing a new series. That was even before I read the synopsis of it. I loved the Shiver series and was hoping for another one that enveloped me in the plot like that series did. I wasn’t disappointed with The Raven Boys. I loved it! Just from reading what the book was about, I knew that it would be something I’d be interested in. One of the things that I love best about Stiefvater’s writing is that you can really get into her characters. I can see how Blue wouldn’t like the Raven Boys from some of the stories. On the flip side, I can also see the good in them.
As far as whether or not Gansey and Blue will get together and will she kill him, well, this IS the first book in a series. Did you really think the answer was going to be given away that quickly? I will say that there are a lot of clues in The Raven Boys about their relationship and where it is heading. I like how she shows that the characters are real by the things that they experience. You’ll understand that more after you read the book.
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LibraryThing member arthistorychick
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
4/5 stars
Source: Netgalley
The Raven Boys is my first Maggie Stiefvater book and man, am I glad I started here. This is just my kind of read with drama, lots of history, mystery, murder, magic, and a tiny little bit of budding romance. For Blue Sargent several
The boys of Aglionby Academy are known as the raven boys thanks to the presence of the bird in their school’s crest and on their perfectly pressed and totally pretentious school uniforms. The so-called raven boys are the ultra-rich, ultra-snobby, ultra-entitled buttholes who attend the ultra-exclusive Aglionby Academy. For Blue, these assumptions have almost always proven true and been more than enough reason for her to stay the heck away from all of them. And then one day she meets Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah and nearly every assumption she has ever had about the raven boys gets blown out of the water. Here’s the rundown:
Gansey: I sort of love Gansey. He is very rich (and sort of oblivious about money), very smart, driven by his quest, and one of the most compassionate people in the entire cast of characters. Gansey feels responsible for Ronan, Adam, and Noah and often sacrifices his own needs and comfort in order to better support and/or protect them. Though Gansey has no (revealed) magical and/or psychic abilities, he does have an uncanny knack for finding things of myth and legend that no one else has ever been able to find. The current quest: find the long-lost tomb of the Raven King, Owen Glendower.
Ronan: WOW! This guy has some seriously stunning anger management issues most of which are directed toward his now-dead father and domineering older brother, Declan. Ronan is kind of scary but throughout the novel has moments of true kindness that are as unexpected to him as they are to the reader. These moments of kindness endear him to the reader but his overall role in the plot (and future installments) is still a bit unclear.
Adam: this is a character who elicited all kinds of mixed emotions for me. Adam is by far the poorest of the raven boys (and is painfully aware of this) and is only at Aglionby because of a partial scholarship. Inexplicably, Adam has become involved with Gansey, Ronan, and Noah and their quest to find the Raven King. I like Adam’s determination to work hard and earn his way in the world but his stubborn nature and pride often cause him to make some seriously stupid choices.
Noah: this is the character that can’t really be discussed without offering up some super-spoilers and I just won’t do that to you. You can thank me later. Suffice it say, I like Noah and was pleasantly surprised by him and his role in the plot.
The quest for Glendower’s tomb is all-consuming and is the thing that brings Blue into the raven boy’s world. Each of the group has something to contribute to the quest and without one another nothing would be accomplished. The early instances of the entire group coming together are uncomfortable for everyone and bring me to the only real complaint I have about this book. While I generally like Blue, her attitude toward Gansey and Ronan and their money really gets very old, very quickly. We get it, they have money and you have an attitude about it; suck it up, Buttercup!
The bottom line: Although this story takes a bit to gather its momentum once it gets going it sort of steam rolls right on through to the end. There is such a mix of elements with the psychic, magic, and paranormal elements that you never really know what element is going to come into play next. The pacing toward the end and the twists and turns are both informative and interesting and will keep you turning the pages. Most of the big plot questions are answered by the novel’s end but it is clear this series is not yet complete and the search for Glendower’s tomb will continue!!
4/5 stars
Source: Netgalley
The Raven Boys is my first Maggie Stiefvater book and man, am I glad I started here. This is just my kind of read with drama, lots of history, mystery, murder, magic, and a tiny little bit of budding romance. For Blue Sargent several
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things have always been certain: 1) she is not psychic like every other member of her immediate and extended family; 2) she will never, ever become entangled with a raven boy and; 3) she must never ever, ever, ever fall in love for the moment she kisses her one true love, he will die. That blows! The boys of Aglionby Academy are known as the raven boys thanks to the presence of the bird in their school’s crest and on their perfectly pressed and totally pretentious school uniforms. The so-called raven boys are the ultra-rich, ultra-snobby, ultra-entitled buttholes who attend the ultra-exclusive Aglionby Academy. For Blue, these assumptions have almost always proven true and been more than enough reason for her to stay the heck away from all of them. And then one day she meets Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah and nearly every assumption she has ever had about the raven boys gets blown out of the water. Here’s the rundown:
Gansey: I sort of love Gansey. He is very rich (and sort of oblivious about money), very smart, driven by his quest, and one of the most compassionate people in the entire cast of characters. Gansey feels responsible for Ronan, Adam, and Noah and often sacrifices his own needs and comfort in order to better support and/or protect them. Though Gansey has no (revealed) magical and/or psychic abilities, he does have an uncanny knack for finding things of myth and legend that no one else has ever been able to find. The current quest: find the long-lost tomb of the Raven King, Owen Glendower.
Ronan: WOW! This guy has some seriously stunning anger management issues most of which are directed toward his now-dead father and domineering older brother, Declan. Ronan is kind of scary but throughout the novel has moments of true kindness that are as unexpected to him as they are to the reader. These moments of kindness endear him to the reader but his overall role in the plot (and future installments) is still a bit unclear.
Adam: this is a character who elicited all kinds of mixed emotions for me. Adam is by far the poorest of the raven boys (and is painfully aware of this) and is only at Aglionby because of a partial scholarship. Inexplicably, Adam has become involved with Gansey, Ronan, and Noah and their quest to find the Raven King. I like Adam’s determination to work hard and earn his way in the world but his stubborn nature and pride often cause him to make some seriously stupid choices.
Noah: this is the character that can’t really be discussed without offering up some super-spoilers and I just won’t do that to you. You can thank me later. Suffice it say, I like Noah and was pleasantly surprised by him and his role in the plot.
The quest for Glendower’s tomb is all-consuming and is the thing that brings Blue into the raven boy’s world. Each of the group has something to contribute to the quest and without one another nothing would be accomplished. The early instances of the entire group coming together are uncomfortable for everyone and bring me to the only real complaint I have about this book. While I generally like Blue, her attitude toward Gansey and Ronan and their money really gets very old, very quickly. We get it, they have money and you have an attitude about it; suck it up, Buttercup!
The bottom line: Although this story takes a bit to gather its momentum once it gets going it sort of steam rolls right on through to the end. There is such a mix of elements with the psychic, magic, and paranormal elements that you never really know what element is going to come into play next. The pacing toward the end and the twists and turns are both informative and interesting and will keep you turning the pages. Most of the big plot questions are answered by the novel’s end but it is clear this series is not yet complete and the search for Glendower’s tomb will continue!!
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LibraryThing member mikitchenlady
Looking at other reviews of this book I'm somewhat stunned at the length of most of the reviews. They make sense in that this is a complicated book, with carefully described characters and an intriguing plot. I'll try to be brief. Blue lives with her mother and a group of other female psychics in a
There's a lot going on here - this will not be a quick pick or a casual read for a student who is "just looking for something to read". Characters are well drawn with their own issues, perhaps a little too involved. I was wondering how Stiefvater would pull it together and then, oh yes, it's a series. Not uncommon in YA literature these days, but I admit to being disappointed - I'd like books to be able to stand on their own, at least the first one should (think Harry Potter, The Hunger Games - those books could have stood on their own had the others that followed never been written - The Raven Boys could not). It's hard to get into - again, making it a tougher sell in a world where many teens lack the patience to get into a book if it doesn't catch them. Basically, it boils down to this - good book, great characters, intriguing plot, not sure who will read it at my school except for fantasy and Steifvater fans.
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Virginia town which is home to Aglionby Academy, a boys prep school, and avoids all contact with the Raven Boys, as they are from another world than the townies. On St. Mark's Eve, a night where Blue ordinarily sits with her mother to watch for ghosts of those to die in the coming year walk the ghost road, she sees the not quite alive, not quite dead being of Gansey. She's been told all of her life that her first love/first kiss will die, and even with that premonition over her head, she becomes friends with Gansey and his roommates/friends Noah, Adam and Ronan. Gansey with buddies in tow has been following ley lines in search of a mythical king and magical powers. Against her mothers wishes, Blue begins helping the boys, suspecting that the ghost road is a ley line, and discovering her own power and other truths along the way.There's a lot going on here - this will not be a quick pick or a casual read for a student who is "just looking for something to read". Characters are well drawn with their own issues, perhaps a little too involved. I was wondering how Stiefvater would pull it together and then, oh yes, it's a series. Not uncommon in YA literature these days, but I admit to being disappointed - I'd like books to be able to stand on their own, at least the first one should (think Harry Potter, The Hunger Games - those books could have stood on their own had the others that followed never been written - The Raven Boys could not). It's hard to get into - again, making it a tougher sell in a world where many teens lack the patience to get into a book if it doesn't catch them. Basically, it boils down to this - good book, great characters, intriguing plot, not sure who will read it at my school except for fantasy and Steifvater fans.
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LibraryThing member Bduke
I can't really rate "liked it" on anything that had the horrible language this book did, but if you took all the cussing and crudities out, I would have really enjoyed it. Usually when a book has this much bad language in it I just stop reading it, but I have this in my middle school library so I
The story of this book was a little strange, but it was supposed to be. It had kind of a haunting feeling (which you will learn later is very real). The characters were all fascinating, and I would hope that the author will delve more into each or their back stories in succeeding books in the series (which I won't be reading). By reading the synopsis of this book, you would think it was going to have a big romance. It doesn't. What it does have is a captivating look at the relationships between the different personalities. It is chock full of eccentrics and off-the-wall people who somehow manage to be endearing. I'm quite sure this book will garner many awards this year, and if it wasn't for the bad language I would really recommend it. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it for anyone. If you want to read the same sort of haunting, weird, beautifully written book, read "Chime" by Franny Billingsley instead.
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thought I should know what is in it. While reading, I kept picturing Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory when someone wakes him up.... "Danger! Danger!". I would never have let my teenagers read a book with this kind of language. When I read something from my school library, I put tiny pieces of tissue in the pages that have bad words so I remember how much there was. This book couldn't close properly by the time I was finished. We now have parental advisory stickers on CD's that have horrible language, why can't they do that with YA books as well? However (my rant being over), I enjoy the writing of this author - it just flows. I haven't read "The Scorpio Races" yet, but I have read the Mercy Falls series, and they had the same beautiful flow of words without all the "f" bombs. The story of this book was a little strange, but it was supposed to be. It had kind of a haunting feeling (which you will learn later is very real). The characters were all fascinating, and I would hope that the author will delve more into each or their back stories in succeeding books in the series (which I won't be reading). By reading the synopsis of this book, you would think it was going to have a big romance. It doesn't. What it does have is a captivating look at the relationships between the different personalities. It is chock full of eccentrics and off-the-wall people who somehow manage to be endearing. I'm quite sure this book will garner many awards this year, and if it wasn't for the bad language I would really recommend it. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it for anyone. If you want to read the same sort of haunting, weird, beautifully written book, read "Chime" by Franny Billingsley instead.
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LibraryThing member sarazaske
What would you do if your kiss was fatal? Never kiss anyone, right? Sixteen-year-old Blue knows that she’s fated to kill her true love with a kiss. She knows this because everyone in her family is a psychic. Everyone except her. But when she actually sees the spirit of her true love in a church
I’ll admit it. I chose to Raven Boys because it appeared on a lot of best of 2012 YA lists. It topped one of them, in fact, as having the best prose. And it does. This book is incredibly well written. As a writer, I want to study it because Stiefvater manages to use unique description and characterization without being heavy handed—a nice trick.
The premise is intriguing because you know she’s just got to meet this boy. And Stiefvater knows how to hook a reader from page one, even the prologue, a device I don’t usually like, is gripping.
I didn’t like the love interest at first. A privileged, super rich boarding school boy, he’s hard to relate to. He and his friends are simple stereotypes, but Stiefwater quickly gives each of them a secret that makes them real and riveting characters. And she doesn’t shy away from detailing the magic world of the book.
My only complaint is the end. I don’t want to say too much because I still highly recommend Raven Boys—but this book isn’t whole by itself. I do like series, but I felt let down by the conclusion of this book, obviously the first book in a series—it leaves too many unanswered questions.
And Raven Boys just came out in 2012 so now I have to wait a really long time to see if the answers are in the next one. And that’s not a very nice trick.
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graveyard, everything changes, and there are no simple solutions.I’ll admit it. I chose to Raven Boys because it appeared on a lot of best of 2012 YA lists. It topped one of them, in fact, as having the best prose. And it does. This book is incredibly well written. As a writer, I want to study it because Stiefvater manages to use unique description and characterization without being heavy handed—a nice trick.
The premise is intriguing because you know she’s just got to meet this boy. And Stiefvater knows how to hook a reader from page one, even the prologue, a device I don’t usually like, is gripping.
I didn’t like the love interest at first. A privileged, super rich boarding school boy, he’s hard to relate to. He and his friends are simple stereotypes, but Stiefwater quickly gives each of them a secret that makes them real and riveting characters. And she doesn’t shy away from detailing the magic world of the book.
My only complaint is the end. I don’t want to say too much because I still highly recommend Raven Boys—but this book isn’t whole by itself. I do like series, but I felt let down by the conclusion of this book, obviously the first book in a series—it leaves too many unanswered questions.
And Raven Boys just came out in 2012 so now I have to wait a really long time to see if the answers are in the next one. And that’s not a very nice trick.
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LibraryThing member TheMadHatters
Blue Sargent's mother is clairvoyant. All of her family have supernatural powers. Blue has no power of her own except that of amplifying the powers that others possess. She meets a boy named Gansey and is drawn into his life and the quest he is persuing
LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: This wonderfully dark world is filled with words that are sharp and unique, complementing the emotions that are felt throughout the pages.
Opening Sentence: Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she’d been told that she would kill her true
The Review:
I’m a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater. I’ve read most of her books, if not all. There may be one that I haven’t read, nor do I have it in my personal library, but I can’t remember what the title is at the moment. I received a copy of her latest, The Raven Boys, and I couldn’t get over the interesting cover. Brush strokes created a dark raven, colored in dark and dire colors against a white background. The font used is plain as day, which I think added to the simplicity and intrigue. I loved it, and I couldn’t wait to start reading The Raven Boys.
Steifvater’s The Raven Boys is her latest series. Told in a multi-point-of-view, The Raven Boys is a story about the dark lore of death and the afterlife. The lives of four teenage boys showcase this mysterious story, linking their lives to the legend of Glendower, unexplainable powers, and the life beyond. As a commonality, they encounter another young life, a girl, who lives a life on the other side of the spectrum, but with a gift that the boys need. Together, they walk the fine lines of good and evil to find the legendary Glendower, to hopefully be granted a wish. What they don’t expect are the dark evils that reveal themselves while doing so.
The Raven Boys has 5 distinct characters. There is Blue, who has a very talented psychic family, but does not possess any similar powers. Instead, she is somewhat of an amplifier, bringing others’ powers to a magnified and heightened level. Blue is used to strange and abnormal. Another significant character is Gansey. From a rich and prominent family, Gansey is filled with independence and free-will, only a benefit afforded to him due to lack of worry and stress. He is smart and well-rounded, but often naive to reality and how the “other half” live. Gansey is obsessed with the legend of Glendower, for reasons yet unknown.
Ronan is the dark, tall, and brooding character, who is ill-tempered and quick to act. He is unapologetic for his actions, and mostly has a laissez-faire attitude towards life. He is secretive, yet surprisingly loyal when the time calls for it. Ronan is the darkest one of the bunch, but you’ll find out why. Adam is the one that I didn’t expect to belong to this group of wayward boys. He is the straightest one of the bunch, the one with the moral compass and the conscience, but is often swayed by the camaraderie he has with the rest of the group. Adam comes from a different type of family, one that is not as privileged nor kind. For that Adam is the stronger one of the group, having to overcome so much more than the others. And then there’s Noah. He is the most curious one, by far. He is mysterious, enigmatic, and every other type of adjective there is along those lines. As a reader, I didn’t find out that much about him in the beginning, so it was interesting to slowly discover him, chapter by chapter.
Stiefvater’s world is dark, definitely. Teetering towards almost scary and creepy, The Raven Boys is filled with many world-building elements. From the prestige of an Ivy-League private boarding school to the haunted graveyard, The Raven Boys fills the pages with descriptions and details. Words are sharp and unique, complementing the emotions that are felt throughout the pages. Secrets, lore, and historical references add an additional element to the story, one that beautifully pieces the story together.
Stiefvater has always been a favorite when it comes to writing and her work on The Raven Boys is no exception. There was degrees of passion, obsession, and compulsion, which I all felt as I read throughout the story. There were a few areas that I didn’t care for, but they were momentary lapses of time, quickly overlooked by the next wonderful scene. The characters each have their own depth and level of complexity, but together they all made sense. Stiefvater created wonderful characters, no, people, to tell her story, and I loved getting to know each and every one of them.
Notable Scene:
Gansey pulled open the door to the sidewalk. No sign of Adam. Guilt for calling him out for a false alarm was beginning to settle in. Though…he wasn’t entirely certain it was a false alarm. Something had happened, even if he wasn’t yet sure what. “Where did you say you found that bird again?”
“In my head.” Ronan’s laugh was a sharp jackal cry.
“Dangerous place,” commented Noah.
Ronan stumbled, all his edges blunted by alcohol, and the raven in his hands let out a feeble sound more percussive than vocal. He replied, “Not for a chain saw.”
Back out in the hard spring night, Gansey tipped his head back. Now that he knew that Ronan was all right, he could see that Henrietta after dark was a beautiful place, a patchwork town embroidered with black tree branches.
A raven, of all the birds for Ronan to turn up with.
Gansey didn’t believe in coincidences.
FTC Advisory: Scholastic provided me with a copy of The Raven Boys. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: This wonderfully dark world is filled with words that are sharp and unique, complementing the emotions that are felt throughout the pages.
Opening Sentence: Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she’d been told that she would kill her true
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love.The Review:
I’m a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater. I’ve read most of her books, if not all. There may be one that I haven’t read, nor do I have it in my personal library, but I can’t remember what the title is at the moment. I received a copy of her latest, The Raven Boys, and I couldn’t get over the interesting cover. Brush strokes created a dark raven, colored in dark and dire colors against a white background. The font used is plain as day, which I think added to the simplicity and intrigue. I loved it, and I couldn’t wait to start reading The Raven Boys.
Steifvater’s The Raven Boys is her latest series. Told in a multi-point-of-view, The Raven Boys is a story about the dark lore of death and the afterlife. The lives of four teenage boys showcase this mysterious story, linking their lives to the legend of Glendower, unexplainable powers, and the life beyond. As a commonality, they encounter another young life, a girl, who lives a life on the other side of the spectrum, but with a gift that the boys need. Together, they walk the fine lines of good and evil to find the legendary Glendower, to hopefully be granted a wish. What they don’t expect are the dark evils that reveal themselves while doing so.
The Raven Boys has 5 distinct characters. There is Blue, who has a very talented psychic family, but does not possess any similar powers. Instead, she is somewhat of an amplifier, bringing others’ powers to a magnified and heightened level. Blue is used to strange and abnormal. Another significant character is Gansey. From a rich and prominent family, Gansey is filled with independence and free-will, only a benefit afforded to him due to lack of worry and stress. He is smart and well-rounded, but often naive to reality and how the “other half” live. Gansey is obsessed with the legend of Glendower, for reasons yet unknown.
Ronan is the dark, tall, and brooding character, who is ill-tempered and quick to act. He is unapologetic for his actions, and mostly has a laissez-faire attitude towards life. He is secretive, yet surprisingly loyal when the time calls for it. Ronan is the darkest one of the bunch, but you’ll find out why. Adam is the one that I didn’t expect to belong to this group of wayward boys. He is the straightest one of the bunch, the one with the moral compass and the conscience, but is often swayed by the camaraderie he has with the rest of the group. Adam comes from a different type of family, one that is not as privileged nor kind. For that Adam is the stronger one of the group, having to overcome so much more than the others. And then there’s Noah. He is the most curious one, by far. He is mysterious, enigmatic, and every other type of adjective there is along those lines. As a reader, I didn’t find out that much about him in the beginning, so it was interesting to slowly discover him, chapter by chapter.
Stiefvater’s world is dark, definitely. Teetering towards almost scary and creepy, The Raven Boys is filled with many world-building elements. From the prestige of an Ivy-League private boarding school to the haunted graveyard, The Raven Boys fills the pages with descriptions and details. Words are sharp and unique, complementing the emotions that are felt throughout the pages. Secrets, lore, and historical references add an additional element to the story, one that beautifully pieces the story together.
Stiefvater has always been a favorite when it comes to writing and her work on The Raven Boys is no exception. There was degrees of passion, obsession, and compulsion, which I all felt as I read throughout the story. There were a few areas that I didn’t care for, but they were momentary lapses of time, quickly overlooked by the next wonderful scene. The characters each have their own depth and level of complexity, but together they all made sense. Stiefvater created wonderful characters, no, people, to tell her story, and I loved getting to know each and every one of them.
Notable Scene:
Gansey pulled open the door to the sidewalk. No sign of Adam. Guilt for calling him out for a false alarm was beginning to settle in. Though…he wasn’t entirely certain it was a false alarm. Something had happened, even if he wasn’t yet sure what. “Where did you say you found that bird again?”
“In my head.” Ronan’s laugh was a sharp jackal cry.
“Dangerous place,” commented Noah.
Ronan stumbled, all his edges blunted by alcohol, and the raven in his hands let out a feeble sound more percussive than vocal. He replied, “Not for a chain saw.”
Back out in the hard spring night, Gansey tipped his head back. Now that he knew that Ronan was all right, he could see that Henrietta after dark was a beautiful place, a patchwork town embroidered with black tree branches.
A raven, of all the birds for Ronan to turn up with.
Gansey didn’t believe in coincidences.
FTC Advisory: Scholastic provided me with a copy of The Raven Boys. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member kaydi35
I LOVED this book. My husband won it on Goodreads first-reads for me. Even though I'm quite a bit above the targeted age for the book, I couldn't put it down. All the characters were well developed and perfectly formed to integrate with each other. I loved the twists and turns as well as the
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developing romance. I can hardly wait for the second book. Please hurry, Maggie!!! Show Less
LibraryThing member aimless22
A good story about budding friendships, psychic information, and murder mysteries. Blue is sixteen and has lived with her family's psychic business all her life. It has been foretold that when she kisses her true love, he will die. So she has been playing it safe all her life. Then she meets,
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Gansey, Adam, Ronan and Noel. Together, they learn more about ley lines, spiritual power and mystical places. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jaylia3
As usual, 16-year-old Blue is spending St. Mark’s eve in an abandoned churchyard waiting for the spirits of those who are destined to die in the next year. It’s not that Blue can see those walking spirits herself. Unlike the rest of her close knit, all-female family she is not a psychic, but
In tone and in the way it wrapped me into its world, The Raven Boys reminds me a little of the wonderful novel Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, though I’m not sure anyone else would see it that way. It’s set in the present day, not the era of the Napoleonic Wars, but The Raven Boys does involve the potential revival of ancient magic and there is a Raven King, who here is a long dead Welsh monarch that a group of private school boys is trying to reawaken. The private school boys mostly come from money, though each of the four have their issues and secrets, so when Blue and her decidedly not wealthy family of eclectic psychics get involved in the boys’ quest it makes for interesting character interactions and a great story. The females in Blue’s family also have agendas they aren’t sharing, some of which we only get hints of. I’m glad this is the first of a series because I would love to read more.
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because Blue somehow enhances the psychic powers of others, she is accompanying her aunt while she catalogs the names of the soon to be departed. Then this year something different happens. Blue sees and is able to speak with one of the spirits, a young man of about her age. Her aunt explains it this way--Blue can see the boy’s spirit either because she is his true love, or because she is going to kill him. Since Blue has been warned that if she ever kisses her true love he will die--her entire diverse psychic family agrees with this prophecy--it doesn’t make much difference either way.In tone and in the way it wrapped me into its world, The Raven Boys reminds me a little of the wonderful novel Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, though I’m not sure anyone else would see it that way. It’s set in the present day, not the era of the Napoleonic Wars, but The Raven Boys does involve the potential revival of ancient magic and there is a Raven King, who here is a long dead Welsh monarch that a group of private school boys is trying to reawaken. The private school boys mostly come from money, though each of the four have their issues and secrets, so when Blue and her decidedly not wealthy family of eclectic psychics get involved in the boys’ quest it makes for interesting character interactions and a great story. The females in Blue’s family also have agendas they aren’t sharing, some of which we only get hints of. I’m glad this is the first of a series because I would love to read more.
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LibraryThing member ethel55
This is a substantial read, full of lots of interesting twists and turns that was very unlike my last encounter with Stiefvater. Blue Sargent's house, at 300 Fox Way, is filled with women who are psychic, only she, at 16, is more of a source of battery power for her mom and relations, adding a
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richness to their readings if she is nearby. Henrietta, Virginia also boasts an exclusive male boarding school, Aglionby. Blue has been told her whole life to never kiss a boy, it's been foretold that if she kissed her true love, he would die. Led by a boy named Gansey, four boys from Aglionby, nicknamed The Raven boys, are on a hunt for a particular intersection of magic in Henrietta. Blue becomes involved with a search for ley lines, Welsh kings and a killer. Although the book comes to a somewhat natural conclusion, it is the beginning of a series and I will be looking for the next one this year. Show Less
LibraryThing member callmecayce
I think that Maggie Stiefvater's writing gets better with every book and it's quite good in Raven Boys. The world of the novel is similar to ours, but with magic of a sort. In many ways, Raven Boys is a ghost story. It's at times funny and others scary. It's also moving and thoughtful and Blue (the
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main character) and her Raven Boys are always fascinating. I am more than ready for the next book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookappeal
An uncharacteristically slow-moving and non-sensical story by Maggie Stiefvater. Though her books always contain elements of the supernatural, in the case of The Raven Boys the supernatural element is difficult to believe because it is so poorly constructed. Blue Sargent is not psychic but she is a
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kind of energy conductor for her psychic mother. Gansey is a Raven Boy - a student at a private boys academy who spends most of his time trying to find an ancient dead king. Blue "sees" Gansey on the corpse road, an indication that he will be dead within a year. He may also be her true love, which is unfortunate since Blue has been told for years that, if she kisses her one true love, he will die. Nevertheless, Blue decides to help Gansey and his 3 friends find the ley line of energy they seek, without any understanding of what may result. Not a spoiler but an example of the nonsensical -- at one point, the trees speak Latin and the poorest student in the group is the only one who knows enough of the language to translate. While Blue is very likable and the audiobook narration probably helped in keeping all the characters straight, neither the plot nor the characters were compelling enough to wait around for the sequel. Show Less
Awards
Soaring Eagle Book Award (Nominee — 2014)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2015)
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2017)
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (Fiction — 2012)
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (Nominee — 2015)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2015)
Bram Stoker Award (Nominee — Young Adult Novel — 2012)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Teen — 2016)
Lincoln Award: Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award (Nominee — 2015)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — Teen — 2015)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2014)
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Nominee — 2014)
Florida Teens Read Award (Nominee — 2014)
The Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2014)
Milwaukee County Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2014)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2016)
Evergreen Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2015)
Inky Awards (Winner — 2013)
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers (Nominee — 2014)
Rhode Island Teen Book Award (Nominee — 2015)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Top Ten — 2013)
CCBC Choices (2013)
Nerdy Book Award (Young Adult Literature — 2012)
OYAN Book Rave (2013)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012
Physical description
416 p.; 7.9 inches
ISBN
0545424933 / 9780545424936