A review by e_lace
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

adventurous funny mysterious 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

4.0

I will always have a special place in my heart for the Raven Boys. There's just something about the like Ethel Cain-core Hana Yori Dango character study that's both incredibly nostalgic and  really fun to read. I think if you like fast cars, urban exploring in abandoned schoolhouse buildings, and rich people that seem to be so against their will, you will like this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse

Moderate: Blood and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism

A large part of this book that I maybe don't love is that, in typical fashion of like a 2000s/2010s ensemble YA novel, one of the character's defining traits is that he's poor and we know this because

no one will stop bringing it up despite the fact that it's also pointed out that Blue technically isn't rich either and he lives in a trailer park with abusive or otherwise absent parents

There is a more graphic abuse seen towards the end of the book

where Adam's father smacks him so hard that he cracks his head on a railing and partially loses his hearing

. It's just a little bit of violence but I think that could be upsetting for some.