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bookswithbreck's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Gun violence
Minor: Medical content, Violence, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Alcohol
gardenofroses's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book just as much as I thought I would. I struggled at first with staying focused on it BECAUSE I was so excited. Sooo... I decided to annotate this book to help gather my thoughts and it was the best decision I've ever made. Maggie Stiefvater's writing is everything! She's so charming and funny. It's so easy to create her writing into life. I especially loved her descriptions of the Raven Boys and Blue. She was able to represent platonic relationships that still transcended beyond normal friendships. There was a sense of intimacy between the boys themselves as well as with Blue that made you feel like there was something bigger going on that we as readers were lucky to witness. All this made me feel weirdly attached to them, all I wanted was for their friendships to stay strong and for no one to come in between them.
This is why towards the end I felt terrible anxiety because I knew Adam had just made a super important decision that took a huge part of who he is away which will then lead to a change in the dynamic of the Raven Boys and Blue. This is definitely the catalyst for the change between Adam's friendship with Gansey and Blue.It will push Gansey closer to the boy that Blue is supposed to fall in love with and Adam farther from the boy Blue initially loved.
As for Ronan that last line is definitely going to be prominent in the whole second novel...like boy you got Chainsaw from your dream?! I also loved reading the small moments where we'd see Ronan show just how much he actually cares about his friend and other things, like his protectiveness and loyalty towards Gansey/Adam as well as Chainsaw. I also want to know more about what happened to his father because you can tell it's eating at him and he needs to tell someone before he fully self-destructs. I hope we get to know more about his character in the next novel.
Gansey...I want to protect him with all my heart he is the sweetest little bean. I feel oddly attached to him and I think it may be because he reminds me slightly of myself, like his need to research and to learn as well as feeling like he needs to do something with his life to make his second chance worth it. And I just absolutely love his loyalty to his friends even when they don't appreciate him or his efforts.That's around the only time I cried throughout the whole book when he realized that his friends had become his home and he needed them, but he felt like they didn't need him because they never accepted his help or they would just walk away from him leaving him behind. It is definitely going to hurt if he's the one Blue is supposed to kill.
Noah, well I definitely didn't see his plot twist coming but we definitely need to learn more about him in the next novel as well. I also love his and Blue's friendship dynamic it was too cute. Besties <3
Now...Adam...*sigh* he is definitely a complex character. He is definitely very prideful and has values that are definitely non-negotiable which is why it hurt so much when he gave those up at the end of the book in return for something else. It's scary to think about just how much he really lost and just how different he's going to be. There was no going back from that decision and he definitely lost something big within himself for that. A huge sacrifice.
As for Blue, I don't really feel for her much as a character. Her friendships with the other boys are great but as a character, there wasn't much to unpack. At least not in this first novel. Most of her character centered around the prophecy, how her family was connected to the boys, and the boys themselves. Not too much complexity of thought for her character in comparison to the boys. I hope that changes as the series progresses.
These are my overall thoughts (: 4.5/5 Stars
This is why towards the end I felt terrible anxiety because I knew Adam had just made a super important decision that took a huge part of who he is away which will then lead to a change in the dynamic of the Raven Boys and Blue. This is definitely the catalyst for the change between Adam's friendship with Gansey and Blue.
As for Ronan that last line is definitely going to be prominent in the whole second novel...
Gansey...I want to protect him with all my heart he is the sweetest little bean. I feel oddly attached to him and I think it may be because he reminds me slightly of myself, like his need to research and to learn as well as feeling like he needs to do something with his life to make his second chance worth it. And I just absolutely love his loyalty to his friends even when they don't appreciate him or his efforts.
Noah, well I definitely didn't see his plot twist coming but we definitely need to learn more about him in the next novel as well. I also love his and Blue's friendship dynamic it was too cute. Besties <3
Now...Adam...*sigh* he is definitely a complex character. He is definitely very prideful and has values that are definitely non-negotiable which is why it hurt so much when he gave those up at the end of the book in return for something else. It's scary to think about just how much he really lost and just how different he's going to be. There was no going back from that decision and he definitely lost something big within himself for that. A huge sacrifice.
As for Blue, I don't really feel for her much as a character. Her friendships with the other boys are great but as a character, there wasn't much to unpack. At least not in this first novel. Most of her character centered around the prophecy, how her family was connected to the boys, and the boys themselves. Not too much complexity of thought for her character in comparison to the boys. I hope that changes as the series progresses.
These are my overall thoughts (: 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Minor: Gun violence
nicamooch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was far too slow for me for the first 30% (I felt like I was fighting to get through it) but I got invested when Blue and Gansey (finally) properly met 😂
I’m not typically one for slow paced character driven books but there’s a quirky feel to this book and its characters that all ended up growing on me. The character development and their relationships with each other were interesting (especially Adam and Gansey’s ðŸ˜).
I also can’t remember the last time I got a little spooked by a book either! The Chapter 28 twist reveal was so good 🥲
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Murder, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Vomit, Ableism, and Classism
adamustdie_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
started very slow, but ended very fast. immaculate worldbuilding. all of the characters were three dimensional which i appreciated a lot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Minor: Classism, Death of parent, Cursing, and Vomit
tylercrow's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Classism, Alcoholism, and Injury/Injury detail
thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Upon reread I find myself even more in love with this book than I was initially. Objectively, I can see the flaws in it (particularly, as many others have noted, the plot leaves something to be desired); however, this book (and the series as a whole) hits on so many of my specific loves (sentient forests, found family, matriarchal family structures, lyrical writing, creepy little towns etc...) that those flaws don't really bother me. I love this world and these characters so much, and I'm so excited to continue my reread of the series and finally get to the spin off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Kidnapping, Classism, and Cursing
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
atlas_shruggs's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Blue tried not to look at Gansey's boat shoes. She felt better about him as a person if she pretended he wasn't wearing them."
-
This book holds my heart so fiercely in it's hands, and I love every bit of it. Coming back to the start of this series, my love for it is reawakened in full force. I fell in love with all the characters, the scenery, the writing, all over again. The slow pacing surprised me a bit, in my memory it felt like such a fast pace, but I savored every minute of it. The eerie yet beautiful atmosphere of the writing really pulls you into the book and makes you feel like you're really there, in Henrietta, exploring and experiencing everything right alongside the Gangsey. I also can't really pick a favourite character or couple, I just love everyone so so much.
I honestly want to start rereading <i>The Dream Thieves</i> immediately, but alas it will have to wait.
-
This book holds my heart so fiercely in it's hands, and I love every bit of it. Coming back to the start of this series, my love for it is reawakened in full force. I fell in love with all the characters, the scenery, the writing, all over again. The slow pacing surprised me a bit, in my memory it felt like such a fast pace, but I savored every minute of it. The eerie yet beautiful atmosphere of the writing really pulls you into the book and makes you feel like you're really there, in Henrietta, exploring and experiencing everything right alongside the Gangsey. I also can't really pick a favourite character or couple, I just love everyone so so much.
I honestly want to start rereading <i>The Dream Thieves</i> immediately, but alas it will have to wait.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Death, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Blood
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