Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Scholastic Press (2014), Edition: 1st, 400 pages
ISBN
0545424968 / 9780545424967
Description
Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs. The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.
User reviews
LibraryThing member krau0098
I got a copy of this book to review through Netgalley. This is the third book in the Raven Cycle and I really enjoyed it a lot. These books continue to be a bit dreamy in writing style and this book is once again told from many viewpoints. The fourth book in this series is due to release out late
Blue’s mother has disappeared and Blue is desperate to find her. In seeking her mother she learns about a prophecy. Supposedly three sleepers are hidden in Cabeswater; two need to be awoken and the other should be left sleeping at all cost. Gansey is still desperate to find Glendower, the lost king, and the crew figures out that Glendower is one of these sleepers. Adam is trying to cope with the deal he made to become part of Cabeswater and is learning to communicate with Cabeswater. Their search leads them deep into the caves and crevices of Cabeswater unraveling secrets that might be better left untouched.
I would not recommend starting the series on this book. There is just too much going on here. The last book was very much Ronan’s book, this book was a bit harder to pinpoint. Adam is in the story quite a bit, so this might be more Adam’s story. We do learn quite a bit more about Adam and his dad. However, Blue is in the story a lot and most of the story is about the search for her mother.
Ronan isn’t in the story as much, he still plays a role but he is much more in the background. Ronan spends the majority of the book off at the Barns doing mysterious things by himself. Gansey is also in the story a lot. He is still a bit of an enigma to me; mostly he seems like a pretty bland character but every once in a while he has some very intense moments that make him a lot more interesting. There are also a lot of emotionally packed Gansey/Blue moments in this book...much more than in any previous book. We also finally get to meet Gansey’s mentor.
Blue’s family continues to flitter in and out of the story just like in previous books. There are a couple new characters as well, Greenmantle and his wife Piper. These two have reasons of their own for tracking down Glendower. They end up being tied into the story of the mysterious Grey Man.
The plot is well done and, although it at first seems a bit scattered, things are starting to come together nicely. The story does end on a pretty awful cliffhanger, so just a warning to those who hate cliffhangers (does anyone actually like them?)!
I continues to enjoy Stiefvater’s slightly dreamy and ambiguous writing style. There is some beautiful description in here and some wonderful thoughts and conversations between characters. It’s tough to explain but these books always make me feel warm and snuggly, while still being a little odd and creepy. Stiefvater’s writing style is just so distinctive that every time I pick up a book by her I feel like I am reading an old friend.
Overall a very well done continuation of this series. This book is more magical realism than outright magic, it is a bit ambiguous and dreamy at times as well. However I continue to really enjoy the quirky characters and am enjoying how this story is unfolding. I also loved reading about all their underground explorations. Recommended to those who enjoy paranormal YA or to those who are fans of Stiefvater’s writing style in general.
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2015.Blue’s mother has disappeared and Blue is desperate to find her. In seeking her mother she learns about a prophecy. Supposedly three sleepers are hidden in Cabeswater; two need to be awoken and the other should be left sleeping at all cost. Gansey is still desperate to find Glendower, the lost king, and the crew figures out that Glendower is one of these sleepers. Adam is trying to cope with the deal he made to become part of Cabeswater and is learning to communicate with Cabeswater. Their search leads them deep into the caves and crevices of Cabeswater unraveling secrets that might be better left untouched.
I would not recommend starting the series on this book. There is just too much going on here. The last book was very much Ronan’s book, this book was a bit harder to pinpoint. Adam is in the story quite a bit, so this might be more Adam’s story. We do learn quite a bit more about Adam and his dad. However, Blue is in the story a lot and most of the story is about the search for her mother.
Ronan isn’t in the story as much, he still plays a role but he is much more in the background. Ronan spends the majority of the book off at the Barns doing mysterious things by himself. Gansey is also in the story a lot. He is still a bit of an enigma to me; mostly he seems like a pretty bland character but every once in a while he has some very intense moments that make him a lot more interesting. There are also a lot of emotionally packed Gansey/Blue moments in this book...much more than in any previous book. We also finally get to meet Gansey’s mentor.
Blue’s family continues to flitter in and out of the story just like in previous books. There are a couple new characters as well, Greenmantle and his wife Piper. These two have reasons of their own for tracking down Glendower. They end up being tied into the story of the mysterious Grey Man.
The plot is well done and, although it at first seems a bit scattered, things are starting to come together nicely. The story does end on a pretty awful cliffhanger, so just a warning to those who hate cliffhangers (does anyone actually like them?)!
I continues to enjoy Stiefvater’s slightly dreamy and ambiguous writing style. There is some beautiful description in here and some wonderful thoughts and conversations between characters. It’s tough to explain but these books always make me feel warm and snuggly, while still being a little odd and creepy. Stiefvater’s writing style is just so distinctive that every time I pick up a book by her I feel like I am reading an old friend.
Overall a very well done continuation of this series. This book is more magical realism than outright magic, it is a bit ambiguous and dreamy at times as well. However I continue to really enjoy the quirky characters and am enjoying how this story is unfolding. I also loved reading about all their underground explorations. Recommended to those who enjoy paranormal YA or to those who are fans of Stiefvater’s writing style in general.
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LibraryThing member Capnrandm
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
allthingsuf.com
Reminiscent of the many threads introduced in THE RAVEN BOYS, BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE once again widens the lens of this world to follow oh so many stories at once. With more of a focus on action than relationships, BLUE LILY covers
Plumbing the depths of the ley line, Gansey and his friends and their family and their enemies confront inexplicable magic at every turn. More than the story of Blue and her raven boys, equal importance is given to Moira and Mr. Grey's sundered love affair, to the motivations and depravity of the Greenmantle, and to portents and possibilities of what is to come. No matter how many allies work together, however, this part of the series is fraught with risk and uncertainty. There is no right answer, no amount of preparation that guarantees safety, and yet still they continue onward.
At the start of this series, the thought of Blue's curse or Gansey's death seemed unbearable. Here in BLUE LILY, danger is so thick and present that Gansey's sacrifice or a lost love feels terribly possible...and not the least of the risk. While not quite as singularly focused as THE DREAM THIEVES, BLUE LILY ramps up the urgency of The Raven Cycle, and reminds us that what comes next will not be simple, easy, or without pain.
Sexual Content: References to sex.
allthingsuf.com
Reminiscent of the many threads introduced in THE RAVEN BOYS, BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE once again widens the lens of this world to follow oh so many stories at once. With more of a focus on action than relationships, BLUE LILY covers
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significant ground, and yet, feels paradoxically shorter than its predecessors. Perhaps because there is still so much waiting on the other side of its cliff hanger ending.Plumbing the depths of the ley line, Gansey and his friends and their family and their enemies confront inexplicable magic at every turn. More than the story of Blue and her raven boys, equal importance is given to Moira and Mr. Grey's sundered love affair, to the motivations and depravity of the Greenmantle, and to portents and possibilities of what is to come. No matter how many allies work together, however, this part of the series is fraught with risk and uncertainty. There is no right answer, no amount of preparation that guarantees safety, and yet still they continue onward.
At the start of this series, the thought of Blue's curse or Gansey's death seemed unbearable. Here in BLUE LILY, danger is so thick and present that Gansey's sacrifice or a lost love feels terribly possible...and not the least of the risk. While not quite as singularly focused as THE DREAM THIEVES, BLUE LILY ramps up the urgency of The Raven Cycle, and reminds us that what comes next will not be simple, easy, or without pain.
Sexual Content: References to sex.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
Note: This is Book Three of The Raven Cycle, so the review necessarily contains some spoilers for Books One and Two, but no significant spoilers for this book.
As this is Book Three of a four book series, it would be impossible to review this as a standalone book. As a continuance though, it does
Briefly, the story is about two “families” in Henrietta, Virginia who join forces to find the remains of Owen Glendower, a medieval Welsh noble who disappeared from Wales after fighting the English for Welsh freedom. They all have come to believe Glendower’s body was brought to this area of Virginia which is rich in “ley lines” or trackways emitting a special psychic or mystical energy.
One of these families belongs to Blue Sargent, 16, who lives in a matriarchal group of eccentric and lovable psychics, all of whom are convinced that if Blue kisses her first love, he will die. Blue doesn’t think she has any powers herself except to provide - somehow - amplification of the clairvoyant conversations the others in her family have on a regular basis. But she does believe it would be dangerous for her to fall in love.
In Book One, Blue begins an improbable friendship with four boys from the elite Aglionby Academy, known as Raven Boys after the Aglionby emblem. She is not only drawn to the boys, but also to their quest for Glendower. Her relationship with them is “blinding, deafening, maddening, quickening” and now that she experienced a friendship like this, she wouldn’t want any kind.
The four Raven Boys are as much a family as any forged by blood. Richard Gansey III (called Gansey by the others) is the leader of them all - driven by the desire to find Glendower; caring; nurturing; generous to the others; endearing and earnest.
Adam Parrish, bitter over his impoverished past and his abusive father, is envious of those - like Gansey - who came from privilege and who can make their way in the world with confident ease. But in this book Adam seems to mature a bit and is determined to be “Adam” rather than "Adam-whose-behavior-is-a-function-of-a-bad-childhood." He strives to appreciate Gansey for being noble and kind, if oblivious and overly optimistic. Adam had thought he wanted Gansey to see how “filthy and violent, and profane, and unfair” the world was. But now, he feels protective of Gansey, thinking it would be preferable if Gansey could somehow keep his rose-colored vision of the world.
Ronan Lynch is as “sharp and dark and dissonant” as Gansey is “soft-edged and organic, faded and homogenous.” But Ronan has a heart as big as Gansey’s, even though he tries to cover up that aspect of himself. And most crucially, Ronan is The Greywaren, who can dream things into being.
Last but not least there is “smudgy” Noah Czerny, limited in what he can bring to the relationship but balancing it somehow.
The boys are endlessly interesting, and in Book Two, their struggles take over the plot, pushing Blue a bit into the background. Book Three, however, begins with Blue’s angst over the disappearance of her mother Maura more than a month earlier on a “mysterious personal quest.” Maura left only a cryptic note reading “Glendower is underground. So am I.”
Some new characters come into play in this book, all of them related in some way to the search for Glendower or The Greywaren. As most of these characters have ill intentions, the tension escalates, and the book ends with a cliffhanger.
Discussion: Stiefvater impresses as always with her flights of felicitous prose, capturing dreams and bringing them to life, perhaps in an analogy to what Ronan can do in fantasy. She writes of Blue:
"The stars moved slowly above her, an array of possibilities, and for the first time in a long time, she felt them mirrored in her heart.”
Sometimes her writing just pierces you with its evocative and lush imagery:
"Yellow apples, bright as butter, peeked from trees on one side of the drive. Some sort of blue flower, improbable, dreamed, ran amok through the grass on the other side.”
This book should not be read on its own, but rather as part of the entire series. But Book Three will draw you even closer to the characters, and you will be eager to see what happens to them next.
Evaluation: Maggie Stiefvater is an engaging storyteller who clearly loves her characters. The protagonists combine - each in a uniquely different way - a welter of hopes, dreams, hurts, and love. They sometimes behave badly, but all have the capacity for heroic virtue. The relationships among them are richly textured and satisfying for their realism as well as the way they tug on your heart. The author is so smooth at investing the everyday with the fantastical that you hardly realize it is happening. It just seems to be the way things are, or perhaps, like just another way to perceive the quotidian.
Rating: 3.5/5 (more a reflection of the book’s middle status than of its likability)
Note: You can listen to music inspired by The Raven Boys series and written by the multi-talented author here. Need a recap of the first two books? Maggie Stiefvater provided one here.
As this is Book Three of a four book series, it would be impossible to review this as a standalone book. As a continuance though, it does
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not disappoint. Stiefvater’s characters continue to unfold and evolve.Briefly, the story is about two “families” in Henrietta, Virginia who join forces to find the remains of Owen Glendower, a medieval Welsh noble who disappeared from Wales after fighting the English for Welsh freedom. They all have come to believe Glendower’s body was brought to this area of Virginia which is rich in “ley lines” or trackways emitting a special psychic or mystical energy.
One of these families belongs to Blue Sargent, 16, who lives in a matriarchal group of eccentric and lovable psychics, all of whom are convinced that if Blue kisses her first love, he will die. Blue doesn’t think she has any powers herself except to provide - somehow - amplification of the clairvoyant conversations the others in her family have on a regular basis. But she does believe it would be dangerous for her to fall in love.
In Book One, Blue begins an improbable friendship with four boys from the elite Aglionby Academy, known as Raven Boys after the Aglionby emblem. She is not only drawn to the boys, but also to their quest for Glendower. Her relationship with them is “blinding, deafening, maddening, quickening” and now that she experienced a friendship like this, she wouldn’t want any kind.
The four Raven Boys are as much a family as any forged by blood. Richard Gansey III (called Gansey by the others) is the leader of them all - driven by the desire to find Glendower; caring; nurturing; generous to the others; endearing and earnest.
Adam Parrish, bitter over his impoverished past and his abusive father, is envious of those - like Gansey - who came from privilege and who can make their way in the world with confident ease. But in this book Adam seems to mature a bit and is determined to be “Adam” rather than "Adam-whose-behavior-is-a-function-of-a-bad-childhood." He strives to appreciate Gansey for being noble and kind, if oblivious and overly optimistic. Adam had thought he wanted Gansey to see how “filthy and violent, and profane, and unfair” the world was. But now, he feels protective of Gansey, thinking it would be preferable if Gansey could somehow keep his rose-colored vision of the world.
Ronan Lynch is as “sharp and dark and dissonant” as Gansey is “soft-edged and organic, faded and homogenous.” But Ronan has a heart as big as Gansey’s, even though he tries to cover up that aspect of himself. And most crucially, Ronan is The Greywaren, who can dream things into being.
Last but not least there is “smudgy” Noah Czerny, limited in what he can bring to the relationship but balancing it somehow.
The boys are endlessly interesting, and in Book Two, their struggles take over the plot, pushing Blue a bit into the background. Book Three, however, begins with Blue’s angst over the disappearance of her mother Maura more than a month earlier on a “mysterious personal quest.” Maura left only a cryptic note reading “Glendower is underground. So am I.”
Some new characters come into play in this book, all of them related in some way to the search for Glendower or The Greywaren. As most of these characters have ill intentions, the tension escalates, and the book ends with a cliffhanger.
Discussion: Stiefvater impresses as always with her flights of felicitous prose, capturing dreams and bringing them to life, perhaps in an analogy to what Ronan can do in fantasy. She writes of Blue:
"The stars moved slowly above her, an array of possibilities, and for the first time in a long time, she felt them mirrored in her heart.”
Sometimes her writing just pierces you with its evocative and lush imagery:
"Yellow apples, bright as butter, peeked from trees on one side of the drive. Some sort of blue flower, improbable, dreamed, ran amok through the grass on the other side.”
This book should not be read on its own, but rather as part of the entire series. But Book Three will draw you even closer to the characters, and you will be eager to see what happens to them next.
Evaluation: Maggie Stiefvater is an engaging storyteller who clearly loves her characters. The protagonists combine - each in a uniquely different way - a welter of hopes, dreams, hurts, and love. They sometimes behave badly, but all have the capacity for heroic virtue. The relationships among them are richly textured and satisfying for their realism as well as the way they tug on your heart. The author is so smooth at investing the everyday with the fantastical that you hardly realize it is happening. It just seems to be the way things are, or perhaps, like just another way to perceive the quotidian.
Rating: 3.5/5 (more a reflection of the book’s middle status than of its likability)
Note: You can listen to music inspired by The Raven Boys series and written by the multi-talented author here. Need a recap of the first two books? Maggie Stiefvater provided one here.
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LibraryThing member pwaites
Confession – I finished this in one sitting on the day it came out. I’ve been hesitating to write a review since because I sincerely don’t know how to capture all the things I love about this book and series.
First of all, Blue Lily, Lily Blue is the third book in Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven
The worst thing about Blue Lily, Lily Blue? The title, certainly. Everything else is practically perfect.
At the end of The Dream Thieves, Maura went missing. Blue, the Raven Boys, and the psychics of 300 Fox Way are obviously worried and start looking for her. But they’ve also learned that there’s more than one sleeper hidden in Cabeswater’s magic. There’s one to wake, one not to wake, and one in between…
One of the biggest questions I had going in was what would happen with Ronan. After the reveals with his character, I was eager to see what would happen with him (and with Adam…). Unfortunately, he does not have any POV sections in Blue Lily, Lily Blue (probably the second worst thing). On her blog, Maggie Stiefvater’s said that this is because Ronan’s sections tend to be overpowering, which does make sense. As a result, in this book he is mainly seen through Adam’s POV. I don’t want to spoil any aspects of the book but, I will say this… I don’t think the situation is completely hopeless.
In the review of The Raven Boys, I noted that Blue didn’t seem as appealing as some of the other characters. Reflecting on it some more, I think it was because before Blue Lily, Lily Blue she didn’t having the same sense as “wanting” as the others. However, this book explores Blue’s character more deeply than before. There’s one particular scene, when she’s sitting in the school counselor’s office, that really spoke to me. Turns out, Blue does have that feel of “wanting,” but she’s buried it deep down inside her because she believes her dreams are impossible.
Blue Lily, Lily Blue is leading up to the fourth and final book. Answers regarding Cabeswater finally seem to be arriving. Events are happening in quick succession, and the quest for Glendower is getting even more dangerous than before.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
First of all, Blue Lily, Lily Blue is the third book in Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven
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Cycle. This series has many twists and turns, and it’s imperative that they’re read in order. The first book is The Raven Boys and the second is The Dream Thieves. This review will contain spoilers for the first two in the series, so be forewarned.The worst thing about Blue Lily, Lily Blue? The title, certainly. Everything else is practically perfect.
At the end of The Dream Thieves, Maura went missing. Blue, the Raven Boys, and the psychics of 300 Fox Way are obviously worried and start looking for her. But they’ve also learned that there’s more than one sleeper hidden in Cabeswater’s magic. There’s one to wake, one not to wake, and one in between…
One of the biggest questions I had going in was what would happen with Ronan. After the reveals with his character, I was eager to see what would happen with him (and with Adam…). Unfortunately, he does not have any POV sections in Blue Lily, Lily Blue (probably the second worst thing). On her blog, Maggie Stiefvater’s said that this is because Ronan’s sections tend to be overpowering, which does make sense. As a result, in this book he is mainly seen through Adam’s POV. I don’t want to spoil any aspects of the book but, I will say this… I don’t think the situation is completely hopeless.
In the review of The Raven Boys, I noted that Blue didn’t seem as appealing as some of the other characters. Reflecting on it some more, I think it was because before Blue Lily, Lily Blue she didn’t having the same sense as “wanting” as the others. However, this book explores Blue’s character more deeply than before. There’s one particular scene, when she’s sitting in the school counselor’s office, that really spoke to me. Turns out, Blue does have that feel of “wanting,” but she’s buried it deep down inside her because she believes her dreams are impossible.
Blue Lily, Lily Blue is leading up to the fourth and final book. Answers regarding Cabeswater finally seem to be arriving. Events are happening in quick succession, and the quest for Glendower is getting even more dangerous than before.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
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LibraryThing member aliceoddcabinet
I liked the book quite well, moves the series forward in a good solid way. Stiefvater has a way with characterization, and a knack for creating a good ensemble. I was more aware than usual of the "blue jeans/cell phones" realism in this book, which I understand is a FEATURE, not a BUG. It's not
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that these things are "bad" or "done badly", they are just not elements I particularly care for in books. Another reader would rate this much higher, and I would recommend. I look forward to reading the next installment Show Less
LibraryThing member cablesclasses
Silly me, but not knowing that this was the 3rd and not the last book in the series, I ripped through this one anticipating the tying up of loose ends. Not happening!
The ley line fluctuates in and out of strength as does the relationships of Blue and the Raven boys: Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah.
The ley line fluctuates in and out of strength as does the relationships of Blue and the Raven boys: Gansey, Adam, Ronan, and Noah.
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The hunt for Blue's mother dominates the storyline of this installment as does the hauntingly and ubiquitous Mr. Gray and his former employer. A few new characters surprise and begin twisting the plot, preparing us for the final installment coming in 2015. Read away with anticipation and excitement! Show Less
LibraryThing member Yogiboo
Amazing! Loved the ending even though it was inevitable. Love all the characters and the writing and imagination is superb. Best book I've read in a while.
LibraryThing member ethel55
I felt as confused as one of the new characters when I began the third novel in The Raven Cycle, it had just been a tad too long since I read the others. After finding a good synopsis of The Dream Thieves I remembered why all roads seem to lead below ground. Blue's mother Maura is missing, gone
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underground for an indeterminate amount of time. Gansey is still looking for the burial tomb of Glendower, as the ley line changes and charges with Adam's help. I always find myself wanting more about a particular character, after all, this title would make me think this book would be all about Blue. But Stiefvater does a superb job with this ensemble cast and the books reflect how much Blue and the Raven Boys rely on one another in the search for Glendower. Perhaps suffering from third book-it is, a lot of the movement in the book seems to be setting us up for the next one. I really enjoyed returning to Fox Way, and always wish we could learn more about the women that live there. The addition of both Gansey's mentor Dr. Malory and a local named Jesse Dittley was fantastic. Show Less
LibraryThing member kornelas1
The third book in The Raven Cycle series continues the mystical search for Glendower along the ley lines in Virginia. It seems like every time the gang comes close, they come away with only another puzzling riddle. Unlike the previous books, this one does not have a single character focus and
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spends time illuminating the experiences of all the members of the gang. Ronan is still experimenting with the abilities granted to him as the Greywaren, and trying to figure out a way to wake the creations of the previous Greywaren that have gone to sleep in his absence. Adam is nervously counting down the days until he appears in court to testify over his accusations of being abused by his father, afraid to ask for support from his friends in case they think less of him. Blue is desperately trying to cope with the mysterious disappearance of her mother and decipher the secrets that may be hidden in her last cryptic message in order to bring her back. Gansey continues the frantic search for Glendower, caught up in the years old obsession of finding the lost king and receiving the granted wish in return for waking him. Together with Noah, who continues to flicker in and out of existence as the ghostly smudge of the boy he was once, the gang pools their wits and expertise to complete their quests which all seem to be tied up together, before everything else unravels around them. For all its focus on plot, this book somehow misses the magnetism that the other books had. The characters in going about their separate activities create a narrative that feels disjointed and less than fulfilling, and somehow ignores the context provided by the previous two books, except for the idea of Glendower. Each of the personalities that have grown dear in the previous parts of the series thus seem less personable and what happens to them seems only as engaging as they are as plot devices, rather than a coherent and compelling story. Thus, this piece of the series is the weakest to date, but still works to advance the overarching plot. Recommended for additional purchase. Ages 14 and up. Show Less
LibraryThing member Debra_Armbruster
I have got to hand it to Maggie Stiefvater! She spins a great yarn!
If you tuned in for the stunning conclusion, I am sorry to burst your bubble. The Raven Cycle is not a trilogy; and I am thrilled about that! I could read these characters for another three books and be happy. Stiefvater keeps it
A great series to pick up and well worth the read!
If you tuned in for the stunning conclusion, I am sorry to burst your bubble. The Raven Cycle is not a trilogy; and I am thrilled about that! I could read these characters for another three books and be happy. Stiefvater keeps it
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fresh and interesting. Be prepared for more creepiness, death, unconsummated love (I have theories about characters other than Gansey and Blue!), and a bit more cursing than in the past - if you are bothered by such things.A great series to pick up and well worth the read!
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LibraryThing member Jael112
I remember the uncertainty I felt when picking up The Raven Boys a few years back because I was new to Maggie Stiefvater's work. The blurb was interesting, the story even more so and I was immediately pulled in. I didn't quite enjoy The Dream Thieves as much, so it was with equal parts of
This book is an extremely light and easy read, a strange combination of lighthearted humour and deep contemplation that somehow complemented each other perfectly. It's perfect for when you want something to read at the end of a stressful day to unwind yourself (though there's a huge risk you might end up staying up all night to finish the book!)
The characters are full of life, each of them so similar yet so different. The amazing thing about this book is how different characters have different perspectives on the same thing, hence the depth and personalities of the characters vary depending on whose PoV the story was being told from. It's done very subtly in the book so that it doesn't scream right into your face but it's there nonetheless if you know to look.
As many reviewers mentioned, the 3rd book focuses a lot more on Adam. I guess Adam's the kind of character that most people will either love or hate. As someone who grew up in a family of the low-average income group, I identify with Adam a lot.
The biggest issue I had with this book was Greenmantle. Greenmantle was supposed to be this super criminal mastermind. He's Moriarty. In many ways, he's cool. He's this funny, whimsical guy who is totally badass at the same time and he rock. But he had too little "screen time" and I felt like he backed out too easily. I'm hoping that he would make a comeback for later on. Another problem I had was the fact that many of the side characters introduced in this book felt unnecessary. Hopefully, we'll see more of them in Book 4.
All in all, a great book. Definitely recommend reading this.
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uncertainty that I picked up Blue Lily, Lily Blue. Suffice to say, I love the book.This book is an extremely light and easy read, a strange combination of lighthearted humour and deep contemplation that somehow complemented each other perfectly. It's perfect for when you want something to read at the end of a stressful day to unwind yourself (though there's a huge risk you might end up staying up all night to finish the book!)
The characters are full of life, each of them so similar yet so different. The amazing thing about this book is how different characters have different perspectives on the same thing, hence the depth and personalities of the characters vary depending on whose PoV the story was being told from. It's done very subtly in the book so that it doesn't scream right into your face but it's there nonetheless if you know to look.
As many reviewers mentioned, the 3rd book focuses a lot more on Adam. I guess Adam's the kind of character that most people will either love or hate. As someone who grew up in a family of the low-average income group, I identify with Adam a lot.
The biggest issue I had with this book was Greenmantle. Greenmantle was supposed to be this super criminal mastermind. He's Moriarty. In many ways, he's cool. He's this funny, whimsical guy who is totally badass at the same time and he rock. But he had too little "screen time" and I felt like he backed out too easily. I'm hoping that he would make a comeback for later on. Another problem I had was the fact that many of the side characters introduced in this book felt unnecessary. Hopefully, we'll see more of them in Book 4.
All in all, a great book. Definitely recommend reading this.
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LibraryThing member kissedbyink
Maggie did a fantastic job yet again building this fantasy world, based on Welsh legends. Some parts moved slowly, due to over describing, but I still enjoyed Blue Lily, Lily Blue.
LibraryThing member Aly_Locatelli
I can't get over how gorgeous the covers for this series are.
#bookporn
#bookporn
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Probably the narration has a lot to do with it, but I really like the atmosphere created in all the books in this series. And I have enjoyed the fact that each book really stands alone and has a different story to tell, despite the overarching storyline to the series. Blue is dealing with a missing
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mother and a growing love for a boy she can't love. And the search for the missing ancient king goes on ... Show Less
LibraryThing member sassafras
I love all the characters in these books. They are each well-defined with distinct personalities and character traits. I'm intrigued by the search for the ancient king and all the mysteries of the ancient history involved with the search, but it's the modern characters that give the book it's
More so than the previous books in the series, the ending of this book left me feeling like I needed more. I knew it was going to end before I was ready and I felt the resolution with Blue's mom was a little too easy and quick. That being said, I can't wait for the next book and to get back to reading about Blue and her friends.
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spark.More so than the previous books in the series, the ending of this book left me feeling like I needed more. I knew it was going to end before I was ready and I felt the resolution with Blue's mom was a little too easy and quick. That being said, I can't wait for the next book and to get back to reading about Blue and her friends.
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LibraryThing member Jaylia3
With a mesmerizing writing style and characters I wish I knew, this third book in The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater enchanted me just as much as the first two. I thought Blue Lily, Lily Blue was the last book of a trilogy until I got to its final pages and it became clear there is still more
I have a special fondness for non-magical characters in magical stories so I was thrilled to find that a lot of this book revolves around Blue, a relatively normal teenager in an all-female family of eccentric psychic women. Blue lives in the small town Virginia and almost against her will has become close friends with a disparate coterie of four boys (one wealthy, one poor, one plagued by living nightmares, and one dead) from the ritzy private school she’s spent most of her life distaining. Their quest to find and wake an ancient Welsh king continues, but other things keep getting in the way. Gansey’s hosting a fusty British ley line expert, Adam’s got his violent father to deal with, Ronan’s trying to protect his younger brother, Noah’s having a hard time staying corporal, and Blue’s mother is off on some kind of adventure of her own, maybe to locate the father Blue’s never seen, leaving Blue to wonder if it’s time to start worrying about her.
Stiefvater manages to make me believe that all her wonderful characters with strange abilities (like manifesting objects out of dreams or communicating with forces of primeval magic) are flesh and blood real--even Noah who’s dead and wavers in and out of existence feels authentic. It’s an immersive, bewitching story and I’m very glad it’s not over.
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story to come, a very happy discovery. I have a special fondness for non-magical characters in magical stories so I was thrilled to find that a lot of this book revolves around Blue, a relatively normal teenager in an all-female family of eccentric psychic women. Blue lives in the small town Virginia and almost against her will has become close friends with a disparate coterie of four boys (one wealthy, one poor, one plagued by living nightmares, and one dead) from the ritzy private school she’s spent most of her life distaining. Their quest to find and wake an ancient Welsh king continues, but other things keep getting in the way. Gansey’s hosting a fusty British ley line expert, Adam’s got his violent father to deal with, Ronan’s trying to protect his younger brother, Noah’s having a hard time staying corporal, and Blue’s mother is off on some kind of adventure of her own, maybe to locate the father Blue’s never seen, leaving Blue to wonder if it’s time to start worrying about her.
Stiefvater manages to make me believe that all her wonderful characters with strange abilities (like manifesting objects out of dreams or communicating with forces of primeval magic) are flesh and blood real--even Noah who’s dead and wavers in and out of existence feels authentic. It’s an immersive, bewitching story and I’m very glad it’s not over.
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LibraryThing member ViragoReads
I really love the way the series is progressing.
This books has a bit more angst as Blue is worrying over her missing mother and her feelings for Gansey are getting harder to keep at bay. I love that was there was some growth from Adam who has finally realized what an idiot he has been. Ronin
They've made progress in finding the Raven King as well as Maura, but things are getting ever more dangerous for the group. All-in-all this was a great continuation of the series, and it sets up for the next book beautifully.
This books has a bit more angst as Blue is worrying over her missing mother and her feelings for Gansey are getting harder to keep at bay. I love that was there was some growth from Adam who has finally realized what an idiot he has been. Ronin
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is...well Ronin. He's a jerk, but he's a loyal jerk who cares about his friends more than he'd ever admit. And I love Jesse Dittley and the fact that he nicknamed Blue, 'Ant'! There are a few more characters in this book, but the main cast of characters does not get lost in the story, which is fantastic writing.They've made progress in finding the Raven King as well as Maura, but things are getting ever more dangerous for the group. All-in-all this was a great continuation of the series, and it sets up for the next book beautifully.
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LibraryThing member klack128
I think Blue Lily, Lily Blue has been my favorite in the Raven Cycle series so far. and I have truly loved them all. I felt, though,that in the latest installment, everyone and everything really started coming together. Blue and the boys each have very distinct roles in the search for Glendower,
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and the mysteries of Cabeswater, and those roles are finally becoming even more distinct and clear. Adding in Maura's disappearance, the addition of Malory to the activities in Henrietta, and a handful of new and very interesting characters, Stiefvater really breathed more life into the Raven Boys' journey. So many really important things happened, with Glendower closer than ever, and yet the question of what will happen when they find him just as mysteriously ever. I really can't wait to see the completion of Gansey's quest in the next book. Show Less
LibraryThing member passion4reading
Blue and the Raven boys have had one heck of a summer. Before they're due to go back to school, Prof. Malory, Gansey's former mentor joins them for a spell to further their hunt for Glendower, but the person they eventually free from their entombment is not the hoped-for king. Meanwhile, Gansey,
This third instalment of the Raven Cycle was fairly uneven in pace, with several chapters focusing on a particular character, while in others plot developments happened in quick and fast succession, not to mention with nail-biting tension, but as the characters are so well developed, I didn't actually mind. I guess the reader knows a little bit more than at the beginning of the book, while there are also still plenty of questions that remain unanswered. And all the time, THAT moment in Gansey's life is getting nearer and nearer, and the strain is beginning to tell on Blue (and me!). How on earth am I going to spend the next year until the final instalment is published? Please, Maggie, hurry up!
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Ronan and Adam have a new Latin teacher (with a rather different and altogether more dangerous side line). Several characters have a reappearance of sorts, while another departs, probably for good. And there's the mother of all cliff-hangers with the final words ...This third instalment of the Raven Cycle was fairly uneven in pace, with several chapters focusing on a particular character, while in others plot developments happened in quick and fast succession, not to mention with nail-biting tension, but as the characters are so well developed, I didn't actually mind. I guess the reader knows a little bit more than at the beginning of the book, while there are also still plenty of questions that remain unanswered. And all the time, THAT moment in Gansey's life is getting nearer and nearer, and the strain is beginning to tell on Blue (and me!). How on earth am I going to spend the next year until the final instalment is published? Please, Maggie, hurry up!
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LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing
When this series began, all the characters seemed fairly ordinary. Now Noah has been revealed as a ghost, Ronan is learning to use his dream magic, Adam is on the path to becoming Cabeswater's magician, and Blue has realized that her ability to amplify psychics' powers stems from her mirroring
The adult characters are involved in the plot now, and I'm glad: I love Mr.Grey and the psychics. They're just as unique and delightful as ever. The antagonists are, as usual, less important than the magic and personal growth going on all around them. But the very unexceptionalness of their selfish blase entitlement is part of their horror. And the magic in this book is wonderful, with dream logic that twists and turns and may bite at any moment. I particularly loved the cave full of animal skeletons poised in flight.
The book ends on a huge cliffhanger, because of course it does. Curse you Stiefvater!
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magic. And in the background there is always Gansay, gentle and hard by turns, but always supporting them to be their best selves. In earlier books I had favorite characters, or thought that some characters' plots were more interesting than others. Now I like them all, and can't distinguish one from the other. My feelings are echoes of the characters' own: like most teenagers they were desperate to show themselves as individuals, but as their adventures continued they realized how much they wanted to stand with each other instead of apart. Independence is not the only virtue. This brings me to the romances: despite there being romantic and sexual tension between many of the characters, I don't feel torn between them. I like the characters all together, not split into dyads, and I hope the strong links of friendship and belonging between them maintain.The adult characters are involved in the plot now, and I'm glad: I love Mr.Grey and the psychics. They're just as unique and delightful as ever. The antagonists are, as usual, less important than the magic and personal growth going on all around them. But the very unexceptionalness of their selfish blase entitlement is part of their horror. And the magic in this book is wonderful, with dream logic that twists and turns and may bite at any moment. I particularly loved the cave full of animal skeletons poised in flight.
The book ends on a huge cliffhanger, because of course it does. Curse you Stiefvater!
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LibraryThing member Herenya
When I first read The Raven Boys I said it was "about a group of teenage boys - their friendships, their tensions and struggles, their unusual quest - and how Blue becomes entangled in these". However, now I realise that it focuses a bit more on Adam, who is dealing with an abusive father and
And so Blue Lily, Lily Blue belongs to Blue, whose mother has gone missing.
I love the writing: it's poetic, poignant, atmospheric, occasionally creepy or funny. I love the intensity of the friendships - and the very believable tensions that run through those friendships. Especially when friends are unable to solve each others' problems (as much as they wish they could).
I love the way, despite the magic and the dream-like quality it sometime has, the story is deeply conscious of class issues, and family issues, and the real life limitations that people have to deal with.
Blue was perfectly away that it was possible to have a friendship that wasn't all-encompassing, that wasn't blinding, maddening, quickening. It was just that now she'd had this kind, she didn't want the other.
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working several jobs to pay his school fees. The Dream Thieves, if it belongs to any of the raven boys, belongs to Ronan - Ronan, troubled and grieving for his father, who has the ability to "steal" objects from his dreams.And so Blue Lily, Lily Blue belongs to Blue, whose mother has gone missing.
I love the writing: it's poetic, poignant, atmospheric, occasionally creepy or funny. I love the intensity of the friendships - and the very believable tensions that run through those friendships. Especially when friends are unable to solve each others' problems (as much as they wish they could).
I love the way, despite the magic and the dream-like quality it sometime has, the story is deeply conscious of class issues, and family issues, and the real life limitations that people have to deal with.
Blue was perfectly away that it was possible to have a friendship that wasn't all-encompassing, that wasn't blinding, maddening, quickening. It was just that now she'd had this kind, she didn't want the other.
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LibraryThing member jen.e.moore
This is Adam's book, where he really comes into his own - I suppose by that logic the first was Noah's and the second clearly Ronan's (but the whole thing is so subtle I didn't really notice it until midway through the second). If this series has a flaw, it's that the characters are their own worst
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enemies but there are cartoon villains anyway; if Greenmantle and Piper weren't such delightful psychopaths I'd mind more. Show Less
LibraryThing member pennma05
This book has yet again reminded me how much I love Maggie Stiefvater’s writing. Everything is told in such flowing detail that losing yourself in the story is no problem at all. The characters feel like they are your own personal friends. This story was a bit centralized around Blue, which I
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loved because she is just so rad. It was interesting to see her character expand and come into her own now that she feels as though she belongs. She has seemingly found her place with her friends. The amount of adventure in this story reaches a new high and brings a lot of emotion to the table. Show Less
LibraryThing member waclements7
Wonderful. Each book is better than the last. Must start The Raven King!
LibraryThing member ladycato
Another solid, incredible book by Stiefvater. Their quest for Glendower takes surprising turns as Blue's mother goes missing and explorations in caves around the ley line yield some disturbing discoveries. Thank goodness my library has the full series--I have already started the next book!
Awards
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2017)
CCBC Choices (2015)
Nerdy Book Award (Young Adult Literature — 2014)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Teen — 2014)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2014-10-21
Physical description
8.5 inches