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tracilynn33's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence
elizmoe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
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.
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ronan was the perfect character to center the spin-off on for obvious plotting reasons (the fact that Dreaming as a magic thing was only part of the conflict of The Raven Cycle kind of blows my mind and also makes me very happy it gets more page time in this trilogy), and also because i intensely needed more gay irish catholic goth shit in my life.
as for the new characters, jordan/hennessy is so compelling to me. art/forgery and also forging of the self…i don’t even have anything intelligent to say i just really really enjoy that storyline.
not too crazy about carmen at the moment but i am intrigued to see where the trilogy takes her, as i’m certain her slightly boring/by the books/singly motivated personality is nothing more than a set up.
also, making me feel something about declan besides disinterest or disparagement? an absolutely insane feat. hats off to you, Maggie, for writing the most annoying antagonist for Ronan only to turn around and deftly justify his garbage personality and make him someone truly empathetic. no one is doing it like her!!!
Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
billyjepma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
But the central protagonist is a mostly one-note character whose perspective is so shallow that I almost dropped off entirely in the second act. Ronan Lynch is a perfect supporting character—he adds the right kind of tension and dimension to an ensemble that steals the spotlight without fully claiming it. But as the protagonist, his shortcomings become distracting. I like where he ends up at the end of this book, so I have hope for the following two books, but I was bored by him here, especially considering how interesting his supporting cast is. Every other character is so cool and engages with the dangerous, fantastical world Stiefvater dreamt up in unexpected ways. It’s exciting stuff, and thankfully, all of that comes to the forefront in time for the thrilling third act. The various storylines finally come together and Ronan gets to work off other characters, which is where he’s at his best.
My trepidations aside, I’m excited for more and even more excited to see Stiefvater lean harder into the wilder, almost cosmic fantasy (horror?) she’s been teasing us with.
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment
triley's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Violence, Blood, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder
imds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
em_of_swags's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, and Blood
Minor: Body horror and Vomit
onemamareads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
verito2805's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide attempt
botanicalprofanity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater is book one in The Dreamer Trilogy. I don't even know how to start this review. Maggie has done it again, and apparently she has taken over my life this year. Now I just need to find a paperback edition of Mister Impossible.
This book takes place after the events in The Raven Cycle. Gansey and Blue have left on a road trip and Adam is at Harvard. Which leaves us with a very lonely, and more broody than usual, Ronan. We also get way more of Declan this book, and from the bland fun sucker that was the Declan we got in the Raven Cycle, we now have a reason to care about him. I am confused and conflicted, because now I care about Declan and just want him to be happy and without burden.
We also follow Hennessey, another dreamer, who only dreams copies of herself; and Farooq-Lane, a dreamer hunter who is searching for the dreamer that has been prophesied to end the world. It was fascinating getting a look at another dreamer and how that affected her. It was great seeing the interplay between Hennessey and Ronan, and you get the sense that Ronan is way more in control than we've seen him be.
I love Maggie's writing so much. She's so good at writing about abstract concepts and dreams in a way that makes you visualize them without even understanding what that would look like in reality. There are just so many themes and messages in this book, that I can't list them all. I don't even know if I understand them. I seriously need to get my hands on Mister Impossible, which I'm told will destroy me. Bring. It. On.
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Blood