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chelseazhao's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Review from 2013
THE FEELS.
Maggie Steifvater is a brilliant author and can engulf me in every fictional world she creates. I loved this book and her characters, especially Blue, Gansey, and Noah, were brilliant, realistic, and mesmerizing. I experienced every emotion that Blue felt, and I wanted to be in the world of the Raven Boys. I did not want to put this book down and was actually wishing that it was longer. I cannot wait to read the next book. I want to see what will happen.
THE FEELS.
Maggie Steifvater is a brilliant author and can engulf me in every fictional world she creates. I loved this book and her characters, especially Blue, Gansey, and Noah, were brilliant, realistic, and mesmerizing. I experienced every emotion that Blue felt, and I wanted to be in the world of the Raven Boys. I did not want to put this book down and was actually wishing that it was longer. I cannot wait to read the next book. I want to see what will happen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Suicide attempt
kathryn1003's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Lovely book, one of my all time favorites. Just reread for the third time- it's a funny but heavy hearted mystery with a big side of romantic angst. Sometimes it's sad, sometimes it's hilarious, but mostly it's thrilling from start to finish!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt
anaheeta's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Ok so this was a reread [march 2024]. I first read this book in July 2016.
This will always be my favorite. My favorite EVERY thing. Series, fantasy, characters, settings, writing style. Maggie Stiefvater you brilliant brilliant woman, you have written me (yes, me specifically!) the perfect characters to love.
This is the perfect mix of whimsical and twisted magic, ghosts and ley lines, murderous professors, emotional things happening (you will cry multiple times by the time you finish the series).
It reads like a magical realism set in West Virginia, but it’s much more than any one sentence can describe. The first book is an introduction into the characters and their beautiful found family. There’s incredible amounts of references and foreshadowing implemented throughout the books. The pacing is a bit slow, but this is the only time I didn’t mind that, it matches everything perfectly. There are so many beautiful descriptions, heartbreaking lines, funny comments, and heartbreaking character backstories that will make you fall in love with the series. The series has such a huge emotional and mental hold on me, that it can wreck me for days or weeks, so read if you are a fan of pain like I am.
(I shall soon create a great playlist for this book)
This will always be my favorite. My favorite EVERY thing. Series, fantasy, characters, settings, writing style. Maggie Stiefvater you brilliant brilliant woman, you have written me (yes, me specifically!) the perfect characters to love.
This is the perfect mix of whimsical and twisted magic, ghosts and ley lines, murderous professors, emotional things happening (you will cry multiple times by the time you finish the series).
It reads like a magical realism set in West Virginia, but it’s much more than any one sentence can describe. The first book is an introduction into the characters and their beautiful found family. There’s incredible amounts of references and foreshadowing implemented throughout the books. The pacing is a bit slow, but this is the only time I didn’t mind that, it matches everything perfectly. There are so many beautiful descriptions, heartbreaking lines, funny comments, and heartbreaking character backstories that will make you fall in love with the series. The series has such a huge emotional and mental hold on me, that it can wreck me for days or weeks, so read if you are a fan of pain like I am.
(I shall soon create a great playlist for this book)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping
Minor: Suicide attempt, Blood, and Alcohol
rookeatsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Classism, and Murder
Minor: Suicide attempt, Gun violence, and Self harm
jojo_fiction_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
4.5 stars
“‘Is that all?’ she whispered.
Gansey closed his eyes. ‘That's all there is.’”
Blue Sargent comes from a family of psychics, but her own abilities are limited to amplifying the powers of others. On the feast of St. Mark, while helping her aunt speak to the spirits of those who are to die within the next 12 months, she sees a spirit for the first time. The spirit of a boy named Gansey. The problem is, when a non-seer sees a spirit, it means one of two things: they are either their true love, or they are the ones who kill them.
Gansey is a student at the elite private school Aglionby. Despite the prestigious lifestyles of those around him, Gansey is only interested in one thing: finding the lost tomb of the Welsh King Glendower. He and his friends, Adam, Ronan and Noah, take their search to the local psychic’s home. There, these mysterious boys and their quest draw Blue in, and their fates become tangled together in a web full of mysteries and magic.
————————————
This wasn't my first time reading this book. I had tried when I was younger when it was just getting popular, but I guess I was just too young to fully absorb what was happening. However, I am so glad I decided to give it another shot.
This book was really good! However, it was a bit slow plot wise at the start. Stiefvater takes her time making sure we are properly introduced to the characters, and their dynamics with each other, before really moving us along to focus more on the plot. Now, I personally love character based stories, so I didn't mind the slow start to the action. But if you are someone who likes a little more focus on plot/action as opposed to the characters, this might not be your cup of tea, or it just might be harder for you to get into.
In terms of the style, Stiefvater has such a wonderful way with words that really draws you in. I love books that make me feel enveloped by a feeling of magic and mystery and The Raven Boys makes even the more mundane aspects of the town feel like it is covered in magic.
I also enjoy it when fantasy books have a magic system that is off putting and doesn't make logical sense all the time. It's not all sunshine and rainbows. In this case it's ghosts and spirits, stepping out of linear time, and trees that speak Latin to you.
Stiefvater gives us characters that we can't help but love. They all have good intentions, and care deeply about each other, but are dealing with different levels of pain or toxic environments that cause them to make decisions that often clash with each other. The friendships are really what sell this story. The playful dynamics that start with the 4 boys are increased when Blue joins the mix. All of these characters are closed off in one way or another, and I can't wait to see how they slowly open up to each other and further flesh out these already amazing characters. My only critique of the characters is that of Blue’s characterization. I'm not quite sure how I feel about her, but the way she is portrayed can sometimes come across as “not like other girls”. Which could just be due to the trends that were around when this book was released, but I'm still hoping she will become more developed as the series goes on.
My only critique of the book’s writing itself would be the difference in pacing from the beginning and the end, as I mentioned before. By putting such a focus on the characters in the beginning, when the plot starts to pick up it is a noticeable change that might be jarring to readers.
All in all, I can't wait to read the next book, especially since we get to see more of Ronan’s character (who I have a feeling will become my favourite character).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Murder, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Death, and Gun violence
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
ladythana's review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Child death
Minor: Suicide attempt and Classism
readwithsarah's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wasn't sure what to expect going into this series and it wasn't quite what I thought, but I enjoyed it! The plot is interesting and I like Blue's character. The vibes are a lot darker than I initially thought, but I was intrigued and engaged throughout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Minor: Suicide attempt and Death
takarakei's review
adventurous
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A good start to a series. I knew going in that this is a “vibes” book which helped, and it’s a relatively fast read. Even so there’s a couple chapters I was confused by being included that seem to be extraneous. Overall a lot of short chapters which I like.
This gave me definite call backs to The Whispering Dark which I feel like is a lesser known ya fantasy stand-alone that if you liked this you would probably love.
I look forward to continuing the series as I hear it gets better with each book.
This gave me definite call backs to The Whispering Dark which I feel like is a lesser known ya fantasy stand-alone that if you liked this you would probably love.
I look forward to continuing the series as I hear it gets better with each book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Murder, and Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Misogyny, and Suicide attempt
kitfkat's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Murder
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Whew the girlies weren't lying, this did a number on my brain synapses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide attempt