priss 's review for:

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater

4.5

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: Complicated

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4.5/5. When I was a teenager, I was really very into Maggie Stiefvaders Shiver series. Also, back then, I devoured The Scorpio Races, but I never got around to reading The Raven Cycle series.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, when I saw The Listeners in the adult section at one of my favourite bookstores. I couldn’t wait to pick it up - and I’m glad I did.

The writing style is just as atmospheric and lovely as I remember from her other books, and I love that it’s steeped in realism (I never knew anything about this part of WWII), but has its own magical edge to it. The magical properties of the sweetwater were quite interesting to me, although I feel like it could’ve been elaborated on a bit more

, for example when June went into the Avallon IV, there is no further explanation on what happens and why she is so drained, just a vague understanding

. I liked June a lot, she’s a very practical person but also it’s shown very clearly why her staff trusts her so much. As for the other characters, I thought some were more likeable than others, which is probably not strange in a novel about war.

The love story between Tucker and June I found a bit… lacking, I could see the attraction between them but I just didn’t fully understand their connection, I thought it went a little too quickly perhaps.

All in all, it’s a wonderful book and I cannot wait to read more from Ms. Stiefvater. Perhaps I should give The Raven Cycle a try.