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lisaesmee's review against another edition
3.0
Loved reading this. Blue is amazing, so is Gansey. I really liked the paranormal stuff and I already ordered the second and third book from the library. Can't wait to read them and see what'll happen with Blue's prediction. I hope that the story won't develop a love triangle.
treeandme's review against another edition
5.0
ughhhh this was so good!!!!! it took me a while to get into it but it just got better and better. There were so many moments when I was like OMG I did not see that coming and that ending... I can't wait to start the Dream Thieves.
evireads's review against another edition
5.0
reading the physical book made me realise how awful the audiobook was
maria_rb's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book in a series, so while it has somewhat of a conclusion, it sets up for a longer story. I loved most of it, but don't feel satisfied since it stops... Until the next book.
itsnatalie_z's review against another edition
4.0
Another great book by Maggie Stiefvater and I know it sounds crazy but all of her books give me kind of a cozy feeling (which probably is because her books are perfect for reading while cuddling in bed with a soft blanket and some tea).
What surprised me more was that I actually said "What?????!!!!" out loud (which happens rarely) when there was a plot twist including one of the characters in the book, I mean I had a feeling that something was off but I'd never been so off about a plot development. xD
I'm not sure yet if I'll continue the series immediately or if I'll wait until the final book is out, but I know for sure that I can't wait to see how the story develops.
What surprised me more was that I actually said "What?????!!!!" out loud (which happens rarely) when there was a plot twist including one of the characters in the book, I mean I had a feeling that something was off but I'd never been so off about a plot development. xD
I'm not sure yet if I'll continue the series immediately or if I'll wait until the final book is out, but I know for sure that I can't wait to see how the story develops.
digitaltempest's review against another edition
4.0
Read more reviews @ The Bibliosanctum
After much hemming and hawing and promises of getting around to it, I am the last one here at the BiblioSanctum to finally get started on this series. Its availability on Kindle Unlimited was the final push that I needed to try the series.
Each year, Blue Sargent spends St. Mark’s Eve at a ruined church helping her clairvoyant mother record the names of people who will die in the next twelve months. Blue is unable to see the ghosts herself, but she amplifies the powers of people who have psychic abilities. This year, however, is different for two reasons. It’s the first year that Blue has spent St. Mark’s Eve with someone other than her mother, and it is the first year that she has seen a spirit of one of the soon-to-be dead. The spirit’s name is Gansey, and he’s a student at a local pre-Ivy League boys school, Aglionby. To Blue, boys are trouble enough, but Aglionby boys are bastards. But Blue finds herself drawn into the world of Gansey and his friends–Adam, Noah, and Ronan. Compounding to her problems, Blue is also burdened by a warning from every psychic in her life. She’ll kill her true love with a first kiss, and as she was told the night she saw Gansey’s spirit:
“There are only two reasons a nonseer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love… or you killed him.”
This is my first outing with a Maggie Stiefvater book, and after reading some synopses on her other books, I think this was my best introduction to her writing. Stiefvater excels in many areas with this book. The story takes a little time to jumpstart itself. However, it is never dull, and it certainly lays the groundwork for a thoughtful story. Her handling of the supernatural elements are done in a way that could make them almost believable if placed in a real world setting while retaining that magical allure. She’s taken typical genre tropes, such as the “rich boy meets poor girl” and the “tormented bad boy,”and weaved into these familiar stories a complexity and nuance that both young adults and adults can appreciate. While I would’ve enjoyed just a little more depth of character for some of her characters, she does a fair job of presenting characters that you care about, characters that have their flaws and strengths. You love them. You cheer them. You get angry with them. One thing that kind of irked with me with the story, as far as character is concerned, is that the main antagonist felt so weak in the grand scheme of the story. This person had weak motivations, weak intentions, and no substance. I dislike antagonists that I can only feel apathetic toward at best. Antagonists should pull emotions from me I didn’t even know I had. Finally, as a history nerd and supernatural buff, the coupling of history and the supernatural kept my interest. This was almost Arthurian in a way without being about King Arthur.
As for the narration, I have a bit of mixed feelings about Will Patton’s narration. I feel his voice is both perfect and imperfect for this book. I enjoyed the almost hushed tone he used for the overall book However, parts of the book are narrated so brilliantly and other parts of the book, his narration felt jarring, a clash of tone and words. Funny thing is I can’t say whether there were more brilliant parts or more clashing parts, but it doesn’t turn me off to the narration. This is probably just another case of a narrator that I need to spend much more time with before I decide if I truly like them or not. One high praise I have for him is that I enjoyed his Southern accents, which I can be really finicky about as a Southerner myself. In fact, I enjoyed most of the voices he did for the characters in this book.
This book was quite a pleasant surprise, I didn’t expect to get as involved with as I did, especially since I wasn’t drawn to this book. However, the books I don’t feel any particular way about are usually the ones that manage to really capture my interest and imagination. Stiefvater has created something amazing with this story, and that ending certainly prods readers to seek out the next book.
After much hemming and hawing and promises of getting around to it, I am the last one here at the BiblioSanctum to finally get started on this series. Its availability on Kindle Unlimited was the final push that I needed to try the series.
Each year, Blue Sargent spends St. Mark’s Eve at a ruined church helping her clairvoyant mother record the names of people who will die in the next twelve months. Blue is unable to see the ghosts herself, but she amplifies the powers of people who have psychic abilities. This year, however, is different for two reasons. It’s the first year that Blue has spent St. Mark’s Eve with someone other than her mother, and it is the first year that she has seen a spirit of one of the soon-to-be dead. The spirit’s name is Gansey, and he’s a student at a local pre-Ivy League boys school, Aglionby. To Blue, boys are trouble enough, but Aglionby boys are bastards. But Blue finds herself drawn into the world of Gansey and his friends–Adam, Noah, and Ronan. Compounding to her problems, Blue is also burdened by a warning from every psychic in her life. She’ll kill her true love with a first kiss, and as she was told the night she saw Gansey’s spirit:
“There are only two reasons a nonseer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love… or you killed him.”
This is my first outing with a Maggie Stiefvater book, and after reading some synopses on her other books, I think this was my best introduction to her writing. Stiefvater excels in many areas with this book. The story takes a little time to jumpstart itself. However, it is never dull, and it certainly lays the groundwork for a thoughtful story. Her handling of the supernatural elements are done in a way that could make them almost believable if placed in a real world setting while retaining that magical allure. She’s taken typical genre tropes, such as the “rich boy meets poor girl” and the “tormented bad boy,”and weaved into these familiar stories a complexity and nuance that both young adults and adults can appreciate. While I would’ve enjoyed just a little more depth of character for some of her characters, she does a fair job of presenting characters that you care about, characters that have their flaws and strengths. You love them. You cheer them. You get angry with them. One thing that kind of irked with me with the story, as far as character is concerned, is that the main antagonist felt so weak in the grand scheme of the story. This person had weak motivations, weak intentions, and no substance. I dislike antagonists that I can only feel apathetic toward at best. Antagonists should pull emotions from me I didn’t even know I had. Finally, as a history nerd and supernatural buff, the coupling of history and the supernatural kept my interest. This was almost Arthurian in a way without being about King Arthur.
As for the narration, I have a bit of mixed feelings about Will Patton’s narration. I feel his voice is both perfect and imperfect for this book. I enjoyed the almost hushed tone he used for the overall book However, parts of the book are narrated so brilliantly and other parts of the book, his narration felt jarring, a clash of tone and words. Funny thing is I can’t say whether there were more brilliant parts or more clashing parts, but it doesn’t turn me off to the narration. This is probably just another case of a narrator that I need to spend much more time with before I decide if I truly like them or not. One high praise I have for him is that I enjoyed his Southern accents, which I can be really finicky about as a Southerner myself. In fact, I enjoyed most of the voices he did for the characters in this book.
This book was quite a pleasant surprise, I didn’t expect to get as involved with as I did, especially since I wasn’t drawn to this book. However, the books I don’t feel any particular way about are usually the ones that manage to really capture my interest and imagination. Stiefvater has created something amazing with this story, and that ending certainly prods readers to seek out the next book.
sholcomb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lurath's review against another edition
5.0
Stiefvater is one of the best writers I've discovered in recent years. Her writing invokes pure imagery without being bogged down by unnecessary fluff. The plotting and characters (even secondary characters) are superbly handled in this fantasy/exploration of age/friendship story -- some of the best I've read in YA fiction even though the summary of the book did not pique my interest much initially. I'd say the story starts slowly, but it does not crawl. Instead I would say "The Raven Boys" unfolds naturally, with interesting snarls and revelations throughout.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the dynamic relationships between all the characters. Blue and her "aunties", the boys, Blue and the boys, their respective families, and the setting and nature itself. Even the relationships the characters had with their cars hit me in the feels.
One of my favorite parts of the book is the dynamic relationships between all the characters. Blue and her "aunties", the boys, Blue and the boys, their respective families, and the setting and nature itself. Even the relationships the characters had with their cars hit me in the feels.
lucimoore's review against another edition
2.0
It’s not for me I’m not into this weird cult type dark academia genre it’s very odd Al of it was very odd I definitely did not enjoy it much but it is a lot like teh atlas six so if you liked that then read this and if you like this then read that I didn’t like the atlas six either so don’t get offended if it’s nothing like it
uarmybrina's review against another edition
4.0
lemme tell y’all i am SO glad i finally read this omg !!! i don’t normally read books in this genre so it took me a bit to get into it but i loved every moment.
stiefvater’s writing was so immersive and i was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
the world building, the five dollar words, my emotional support side characters, mwah so immaculate ! every turn and reveal was so wonderfully executed i cannot wait to get into the rest of these !! + thank u emi for the recommendation i had such a good time <3
stiefvater’s writing was so immersive and i was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
the world building, the five dollar words, my emotional support side characters, mwah so immaculate ! every turn and reveal was so wonderfully executed i cannot wait to get into the rest of these !! + thank u emi for the recommendation i had such a good time <3