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A review by lonaargh
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
5.0
Take a young girl from a not quite normal family, a rich boy obsessed by a Celtic lord, a poor hick who has a special connection to a very special place, a perpetual angry young man with powers you can only dream of, and a boy who doesn't quite belong in this world.
Mix these character in with an urban fantasy plot filled with intrigue, history, mythology, love, and of course death. Finish this recipe with razor wit and a quick dialogue that'll leave you wanting for more, and serve it all in a series of four books. That's what Maggie Stiefvater did with her The Raven Cycle series.
"Blue lily, lily blue" is the third title in the series. Blue's mother is missing, the boys meet a new Latin teacher at school who isn't quite what he seems, Gansey is still struggling with his search for Glendower, Ronan en Adam join forces to avert the looming danger this new teacher brings along. And Noah? Well, Noah is something else entirely.
Just like the previous two titles, "Blue lily, lily blue" is an extremely good read. There is never a dull moment, but it manages to not overwhelm despite this. Stiefvater utilizes plottwists and relatable character to ensure that each page you're reading is a new adventure. The characters are truly the strongest point of the books. They're relatable and lovable. While reading them I forget that they're mere characters in a book and am convinced that they're real persons. I worry everytime something happens that might put them in danger, and I breathe a sigh of relief when it turns out they're fine. I cry whenever things are NOT fine. The tension and frustration between Gansey and Blue is tangible, a real heartthrob over a forbidden love.
The urban fantasy setting of the series makes the story enjoyable for those who aren't all that fond of the default fantasy elements like magic and monsters. Urban fantasy takes our own world and sprinkles fantasy over it without contorting the world we know, focusing mostly on the overlap between our own world and the fantasy world. The fantasy never really takes the frontstage, but provides an enjoyable atmosphere instead. Another good example of urban fantasy books (and another Must Read) is the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. [b:Rivers of London|9317452|Rivers of London (Peter Grant, #1)|Ben Aaronovitch|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1401385034s/9317452.jpg|13552476]
Putting down "Blue lily, lily blue" for mundane things such as sleep and work seemed impossible and I finished the book in a day or three, I enjoyed every minute of it. An absolute must read for every fan of mythology and a sprinkling of romance.
Mix these character in with an urban fantasy plot filled with intrigue, history, mythology, love, and of course death. Finish this recipe with razor wit and a quick dialogue that'll leave you wanting for more, and serve it all in a series of four books. That's what Maggie Stiefvater did with her The Raven Cycle series.
"Blue lily, lily blue" is the third title in the series. Blue's mother is missing, the boys meet a new Latin teacher at school who isn't quite what he seems, Gansey is still struggling with his search for Glendower, Ronan en Adam join forces to avert the looming danger this new teacher brings along. And Noah? Well, Noah is something else entirely.
Just like the previous two titles, "Blue lily, lily blue" is an extremely good read. There is never a dull moment, but it manages to not overwhelm despite this. Stiefvater utilizes plottwists and relatable character to ensure that each page you're reading is a new adventure. The characters are truly the strongest point of the books. They're relatable and lovable. While reading them I forget that they're mere characters in a book and am convinced that they're real persons. I worry everytime something happens that might put them in danger, and I breathe a sigh of relief when it turns out they're fine. I cry whenever things are NOT fine. The tension and frustration between Gansey and Blue is tangible, a real heartthrob over a forbidden love.
The urban fantasy setting of the series makes the story enjoyable for those who aren't all that fond of the default fantasy elements like magic and monsters. Urban fantasy takes our own world and sprinkles fantasy over it without contorting the world we know, focusing mostly on the overlap between our own world and the fantasy world. The fantasy never really takes the frontstage, but provides an enjoyable atmosphere instead. Another good example of urban fantasy books (and another Must Read) is the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. [b:Rivers of London|9317452|Rivers of London (Peter Grant, #1)|Ben Aaronovitch|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1401385034s/9317452.jpg|13552476]
Putting down "Blue lily, lily blue" for mundane things such as sleep and work seemed impossible and I finished the book in a day or three, I enjoyed every minute of it. An absolute must read for every fan of mythology and a sprinkling of romance.