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happilyeveralli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
- 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
AN EPIC FINALE! It's no secret that I've fallen in love with THE RAVEN CYCLE. THE RAVEN KING was a sometimes iffy finale to what I can say is my current favorite series of all time. I loved that Henry has become a part of the group and that Noah was finally able to pass on after being tormented throughout the past two books and in general a tumultuous ghostly experience. I'm happy that Henry, Gansey, and Blue are hanging out. Happy that Adam is off to college. Happy that Ronan is free of Aglionby and is dreaming peacefully at his home which he loves. I hope Gansey and Blue work out, as well as Ronan and Adam. I hope Henry, Blue, and Gansey go to Venezuela. I wish nothing but happiness for them, as well as the women of Fox Way. These characters have become so near and dear to me in the past few months. I don't think I'll forget the feeling of reading these books for the first time whilst listening to the most perfect playlists. Discussing them with other people who are lovers of the series. Even though I have criticisms about the representation in this series and the way it unfolded, in the end, Maggie Stiefvater created a series that captured me and pulled me out of a reading slump. THE RAVEN CYCLE I will never forget you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Gun violence, and Medical content
Minor: Sexism and Racism
nannahnannah's review against another edition
4.0
Out of every new release this year, I was looking forward to this one the most! I love Blue and the Raven Boys. But after reading the epilogue and finishing it all . . . I dunno. I'm so conflicted.
The highlight of the book is definitely the addition of the character Henry Cheng. I am gonna try not to spoil much, but this guy is impossible not to love. He's charming, magical, well-crafted, and everything the Raven Cycle stands for. Plus, his difficulty with words and expressing himself verbally is something that's so relatable and made me want to hug him and (even) Maggie Stiefvater for including him.
Every character in this book is fully fleshed out and as real and lovable as in every other book of the cycle. The book is really about them: Blue, Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah, more so than the plot, to be honest. Therein lies the problem, I think. It focuses so much on those characters (except for maybe Noah, who could've had more page time) that the plot is lost, especially toward the last 1/4.
There's also so many characters that even among them all, some of them are lost and have endings that are a little bit unresolved. I wish things came together better for them, or that their arcs were better defined. But with just the sheer amount of people this cycle came to have, it's no wonder the climax and the last book ended up being a little messy.
I think in the end, I just wish the climax had more magic. And yeah, you could argue the entire climax was and involved magic. But what was left out was the magical feeling while reading and the magical feeling after putting the book down. I wasn't left with a contented feeling of closure or wonder. It was just "oh, okay, that's how it ends!" more than "WHOAAAA," which I was really hoping to have. Maybe I came in with too high of hopes, so I could've done this to myself. But there were just so many strands to come together, and I just don't think they did.
The highlight of the book is definitely the addition of the character Henry Cheng. I am gonna try not to spoil much, but this guy is impossible not to love. He's charming, magical, well-crafted, and everything the Raven Cycle stands for. Plus, his difficulty with words and expressing himself verbally is something that's so relatable and made me want to hug him and (even) Maggie Stiefvater for including him.
Every character in this book is fully fleshed out and as real and lovable as in every other book of the cycle. The book is really about them: Blue, Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah, more so than the plot, to be honest. Therein lies the problem, I think. It focuses so much on those characters (except for maybe Noah, who could've had more page time) that the plot is lost, especially toward the last 1/4.
There's also so many characters that even among them all, some of them are lost and have endings that are a little bit unresolved. I wish things came together better for them, or that their arcs were better defined. But with just the sheer amount of people this cycle came to have, it's no wonder the climax and the last book ended up being a little messy.
I think in the end, I just wish the climax had more magic. And yeah, you could argue the entire climax was and involved magic. But what was left out was the magical feeling while reading and the magical feeling after putting the book down. I wasn't left with a contented feeling of closure or wonder. It was just "oh, okay, that's how it ends!" more than "WHOAAAA," which I was really hoping to have. Maybe I came in with too high of hopes, so I could've done this to myself. But there were just so many strands to come together, and I just don't think they did.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
parisreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Blood, Gun violence, and Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
racheldianne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Drug use
izypup's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Confinement
Moderate: Death of parent, Blood, Death, and Animal death
Minor: Kidnapping, Medical content, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Murder, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, Stalking, Mental illness, and Cursing
nbreezy17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Suicide
hg_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
comraderowan94's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
5.0
This book was a fucking amazing read. I am still in shock and it makes me want to reread the entire series I'm just stunned by how beautiful this was. No words, just go read it and experience the magic of it all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence
Minor: Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Gun violence
lujisa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Murder, and Violence