Scan barcode
kaulhilo's review
5.0
i can't believe it actually ended, i don't even know what the hell happened here
xeyra1's review against another edition
4.0
So, I have some mixed feelings about parts of this book even though I really liked others. Don't get me wrong, I really liked this book. But as a conclusion, it's both a fitting and a confusing one, with some threads hanging and some issues not explored enough but it does resolve enough stuff to be satisfying even if somewhat frustrating.
The writing style continues to be great. I really do love the way these novels have been written and the amount of parallels in them. I continue to love the women of 300 Fox Way, Blue is still my girl (really, it's been a while since I have liked a female YA protagonist quite this much, I always love her POVs), I really came to love Adam and Ronan a lot more than I did in the first book - that's great character development for those two across four novels - and even some of the new characters introduced or further developed were great, like Henry Cheng. There are particular relationships developed further in The Raven King that are a joy to watch and I loved a lot of the events going on as related to the unmaking being perpetrated by the sleeper that should not have been awakened. There were a lot of tense and thrilling moments in the novel, which is really all I ask in a book that I'm enjoying.
However, there were some issues that diminished my enjoyment a bit.
First of all, I think the introduction of a host of new characters, both here and the last novel, that didn't really lead anywhere (mainly Greenmantle, who basically had zero involvement with anything, Piper's father and his twins, the idea of a group of mystical artifact buyers...). I liked Henry Cheng's development, but he basically came into the story as if dropped in and became immediately important and relevant enough to be part of the 'group'. Who, to be honest, have been less of a group and more of a combination of duos and/or trios instead of a real group. Up until the end, when they united together to get shit done. And save Gansey.
Noah was so under utilized this time around. And the way the events with him ended up... I needed a lot more closure than what we got. Closure is actually part of what I feel was missing. The epilogue, in fact, was disappointing to me. I wish either the book had ended at the last chapter or the epilogue had been different, instead of little snippets of things that didn't really satisfy my need to know what happened after the last chapter. I understand the author ended the book in a way that made us want something more, even if we can't explain it, but all I wanted was at least some answers that we never got, some immediate reactions to events or at least reference to them...
Overall, this has been a great series and I'm really glad I got around to reading it because I did fall in love with a host of characters as I didn't think I would, and I'm looking forward to exploring more works from this author.
The writing style continues to be great. I really do love the way these novels have been written and the amount of parallels in them. I continue to love the women of 300 Fox Way, Blue is still my girl (really, it's been a while since I have liked a female YA protagonist quite this much, I always love her POVs), I really came to love Adam and Ronan a lot more than I did in the first book - that's great character development for those two across four novels - and even some of the new characters introduced or further developed were great, like Henry Cheng. There are particular relationships developed further in The Raven King that are a joy to watch and I loved a lot of the events going on as related to the unmaking being perpetrated by the sleeper that should not have been awakened. There were a lot of tense and thrilling moments in the novel, which is really all I ask in a book that I'm enjoying.
However, there were some issues that diminished my enjoyment a bit.
First of all, I think the introduction of a host of new characters, both here and the last novel, that didn't really lead anywhere (mainly Greenmantle, who basically had zero involvement with anything, Piper's father and his twins, the idea of a group of mystical artifact buyers...). I liked Henry Cheng's development, but he basically came into the story as if dropped in and became immediately important and relevant enough to be part of the 'group'. Who, to be honest, have been less of a group and more of a combination of duos and/or trios instead of a real group. Up until the end, when they united together to get shit done. And save Gansey.
Noah was so under utilized this time around. And the way the events with him ended up... I needed a lot more closure than what we got. Closure is actually part of what I feel was missing. The epilogue, in fact, was disappointing to me. I wish either the book had ended at the last chapter or the epilogue had been different, instead of little snippets of things that didn't really satisfy my need to know what happened after the last chapter. I understand the author ended the book in a way that made us want something more, even if we can't explain it, but all I wanted was at least some answers that we never got, some immediate reactions to events or at least reference to them...
Overall, this has been a great series and I'm really glad I got around to reading it because I did fall in love with a host of characters as I didn't think I would, and I'm looking forward to exploring more works from this author.
chloelundrigan's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
redvelvetpenguins's review
5.0
Waited so long for this book and honestly, I was slightly (or more) confused by it through out. Overall, I wish it never ended. I want to know about their lives after.
doomslugreads's review
4.0
Good series, though some things wrapped up a little too cleanly and some things felt like they didn’t wrap up at all. The pacing of this book was a little off for me, so it’s at. 3.5/4 stars. Third book was my fav in the series. Will likely read the spin off series with these characters soon.
annatherbook's review against another edition
5.0
I loved it! This series was a joy to read! I would have loved a bit more in the epilog and the kiss was not what I had expected. But over all I loved it all
ryleeallison427's review
4.0
...okay so that ending. I don't know what else to say but wow. My heart hurts that I won't get another complete book with these characters. I loved each an everyone so much and I'm happy to say that this will always be a favorite series. Always beautiful writing. Always captivating characters, and always in love with the whole thing itself.
faeriesparks's review against another edition
4.0
It hurts my heart that I'm not giving this book 5 stars. IT HURTS SO MUCH. But I couldn't ignore the few things that bothered me about this book.
I don't even know how to review this properly. I'll definitely be filming a booktalk to talk about more in-depth things, so I'm going to keep this quite simple.
I loved this book so, so, SO MUCH. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me happy. But I'm still left with so many questions. And I felt like certain things weren't explored enough? Maybe that's just me.
Before I had even finished the book I was already rereading favorite scenes ().
I am now left with a gaping hole in my soul and need to figure out how to move on with my life now that this series is over. I am in need of another entire book about events after The Raven King. Just saying. Get working, Maggie. Please.
I don't even know how to review this properly. I'll definitely be filming a booktalk to talk about more in-depth things, so I'm going to keep this quite simple.
I loved this book so, so, SO MUCH. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me happy. But I'm still left with so many questions. And I felt like certain things weren't explored enough? Maybe that's just me.
Before I had even finished the book I was already rereading favorite scenes (
Spoiler
PYNCH KISSESI am now left with a gaping hole in my soul and need to figure out how to move on with my life now that this series is over. I am in need of another entire book about events after The Raven King. Just saying. Get working, Maggie. Please.