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guessgreenleaf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Body horror, Death, and Racism
imskylow's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
What the actual f**k?
All this build yp, all these books, for this?? For convoluted yet lackluster ending? And an ending we could have gotten long ago had Gansey only asked?
Holy hell, this finale makes this whole series feel like a fever dream. Blue's identity was nonsense and unnecessary. The focus on Adams family was disproportionate to the actual plot. Why does everyone hate Henry? Is he sophisticated or is he ditzy? It's like everyone, including the author is racist. l ate up the first few books because I was hoping for a big payoff but this was honestly upsetting. Feels like nothing in this series was planned and Stiefvater was just flying by the seat of her pants. Of course the prose is lovely and the dialogue fun but that's about it for this novel. What a disappointment.
All this build yp, all these books, for this?? For convoluted yet lackluster ending? And an ending we could have gotten long ago had Gansey only asked?
Holy hell, this finale makes this whole series feel like a fever dream. Blue's identity was nonsense and unnecessary. The focus on Adams family was disproportionate to the actual plot. Why does everyone hate Henry? Is he sophisticated or is he ditzy? It's like everyone, including the author is racist. l ate up the first few books because I was hoping for a big payoff but this was honestly upsetting. Feels like nothing in this series was planned and Stiefvater was just flying by the seat of her pants. Of course the prose is lovely and the dialogue fun but that's about it for this novel. What a disappointment.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
trintrin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
Oh… that… that was the most beautiful thing ever
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Gore, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Gun violence
Minor: Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism
mariebrunelm's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.75
At this point in the series, I entirely trusted the author for delivering a perfect ending, and I got it with The Raven King. It's not often that I read a series until the end. Usually I stop after volume 1. But when I first read The Raven Boys, I knew I was onto something special and so I found second-hand copies of volumes 2 to 4 and waited patiently for the right time to read them a few years later. 2023 was that time.
Evenin volume 4 Maggie Stiefvater weaves the now-familiar with the unexpected. I won't spoil you, but there are snippets of horror in there that creeped me out. And yet they were so perfect for the story. I'm really happy with this last volume in this weird, hard-to-grasp series with such endearing and human characters. I'll be revisiting Cabeswater in the future, that's certain.
Rep: gay character, bisexual character.
Evenin volume 4 Maggie Stiefvater weaves the now-familiar with the unexpected. I won't spoil you, but there are snippets of horror in there that creeped me out. And yet they were so perfect for the story. I'm really happy with this last volume in this weird, hard-to-grasp series with such endearing and human characters. I'll be revisiting Cabeswater in the future, that's certain.
Rep: gay character, bisexual character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Death and Kidnapping
Minor: Gun violence, Murder, and Racism
bi_n_large's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Classism, Abandonment, Grief, Murder, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, and Emotional abuse
_teoeo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I finished this book crying. Over the last 2 months trc were my comfort books and I'm so sad that I've finished them now. The books are really extraordinary, the hype and high rating more than deserved!! They are beautifully written and the characters, I just love them. Also Ronan as a gay character without it being a stereotype when the books are from 2012 - 2016??? Wowowo. I have to admit that some plotlines abruptly ended without a satisfying explanation e.g. piper?? how is it that glendower is dead?? what about gansey, what is it that cabbeswater had to make "different" about him so he can live again?? and that's the reason I'm rating it 4,5 instead of 5 stars. All in all it was really gut wrenching and heart warming and I'm so glad that I've finally read them! They really have a special place in my heart from now on!
Update: I recently discovered Maggie Stiefvaters past racist and problematic comments and also learned about the racist joke(s) in this book, e.g.:
Update: I recently discovered Maggie Stiefvaters past racist and problematic comments and also learned about the racist joke(s) in this book, e.g.:
“Principles? Henry Cheng’s principles are all about getting larger font in the school newsletter,” Ronan said. He did a vaguely offensive version of Henry’s voice: “Serif? Sans serif? More bold, less italics.”
Blue saw Adam both smirk and turn his face away in a hurry so that Gansey wouldn’t see, but it was too late.
“Et tu, Brute?” Gansey asked Adam. “Disappointing.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Adam replied.
Adam made puerile jokes at Henry’s expense (He’s half Chinese? “Which half?”) and sniggered clannishly; Blue called them on it (“Jealous, much?”): Gansey told them to put aside their preconceptions and think about him.
Because of my point of view as a white reader I didn't saw them when I first read the books, but I want to acknowledge them now and encourage you to inform yourself about these issues, even if trc is one of your favorites.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Murder, and Death
Minor: Emotional abuse
happilyeveralli's review
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
antonia_00's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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
4.0
It is difficult to rate this book. The first half lacked a lot of excitement but the second half was fantastic. The friendship between the main characters is beautiful and also the changes of the friends are great. But I’m a little disappointed with the ending... I don’t think it’s honorable compared to the book series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Gun violence
Moderate: Racism
nostarsleftinthesky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
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
i will never, NEVER get over this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Racism and Child abuse
limiwh'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Child abuse and Gun violence
Minor: Kidnapping, Domestic abuse, and Racism