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A review by xladyxdreamer
Król Kruków (The Raven Boys) by Maggie Stiefvater
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
The Raven Boys was an odd experience. On one hand I really loved the first few chapters of the book, setting up the characters individually and mentioning how it's all leading up to them actually meeting was really cool to read about. And I liked this set up with these characters. The further this went tho, the more problems I saw in it.
Some of the characters (Adam) were actually so fucking annoying to read about. And I feel like a lot of their actions in context to the scene they were in, was written in such a strange way? Like I don't know, something especially during that final sequence (with no stakes btw, it came and went and I was just like... okay?) felt so off and I cannot put a finger on what specifically. That ending overall seemed like it came out of nowhere.
The thing about this first book is that even in the middle of the book you're like 'no way does any of this go anywhere in this book'. It's actually just pure set up and I don't think I've ever experienced a book like that. I've read series before obviously, but all of them successfully set up the world, told a story it wanted to tell in book one and there was enough left to continue it further without the first book being just filler. It was such a strange reading experience when I realised this felt like that.
The magic system in this was also set up so weirdly, it's not even unpolished it feels unfinished. There's some semblance of ideas but it kind of goes to shit sometimes and it feels like the writer was just throwing shit at a wall. It doesn't seem purposeful like it does in fantasy books with magic systems I love (The Gilded Wolves/Mirror Visitor come to mind as great examples).
Even with that much negatives to say, I do own the whole series (Ily Casey, will thank you for it forever) and besides all that annoying aspects I had a decent enough time that I will continue reading these books. If not for the actually good comedic moments then to give this series another chance and see what direction this is all heading in.
Different note, but I fucking love these covers for this series. The main reason I was interested in picking it up and I cannot stop looking at them even now. Great job Polish publishers, as always <33
Some of the characters (Adam) were actually so fucking annoying to read about. And I feel like a lot of their actions in context to the scene they were in, was written in such a strange way? Like I don't know, something especially during that final sequence (with no stakes btw, it came and went and I was just like... okay?) felt so off and I cannot put a finger on what specifically. That ending overall seemed like it came out of nowhere.
The thing about this first book is that even in the middle of the book you're like 'no way does any of this go anywhere in this book'. It's actually just pure set up and I don't think I've ever experienced a book like that. I've read series before obviously, but all of them successfully set up the world, told a story it wanted to tell in book one and there was enough left to continue it further without the first book being just filler. It was such a strange reading experience when I realised this felt like that.
The magic system in this was also set up so weirdly, it's not even unpolished it feels unfinished. There's some semblance of ideas but it kind of goes to shit sometimes and it feels like the writer was just throwing shit at a wall. It doesn't seem purposeful like it does in fantasy books with magic systems I love (The Gilded Wolves/Mirror Visitor come to mind as great examples).
Even with that much negatives to say, I do own the whole series (Ily Casey, will thank you for it forever) and besides all that annoying aspects I had a decent enough time that I will continue reading these books. If not for the actually good comedic moments then to give this series another chance and see what direction this is all heading in.
Different note, but I fucking love these covers for this series. The main reason I was interested in picking it up and I cannot stop looking at them even now. Great job Polish publishers, as always <33