My Review: THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater
Monday, October 29, 2012 at 12:00AM 
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Goodreads Summary:
“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of theShiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.
My Review:
Among the many talents Maggie Stiefvater has, the one I believe she excels at the most, is how she captures the setting in her novels. She has this uncanny ability of making the reader experience all five of their senses, as they pour through her books - and THE RAVEN BOYS did not disappoint.
She also draws such animated characters, each one having a reason to be included. And I thoroughly enjoyed the various POV's she told the story through - something we're used to seeing from Stiefvater.
I was fascinated by the premise of the book around the ley lines and the quest the boys are on. And I was particularly absorbed in Blue's story - what a strange upbringing, what with her clairvoyant family - which was written in way that makes it seem so normal.
And then there's the twist - oh, the twist! I wasn't expecting that at all - and it's well worth reading this one to find out what it is, I promise.
I have been a long time fan of Maggie's books - from how vivid she wrote the scene in the candy shop, in SHIVER, to how nom-tastic the November Cakes seemed in THE SCORPIO RACES - and I'm for sure on board to take the journey with THE RAVEN BOYS, wherever they'll go next.
The YA Book Club is hosted by the greatness that is Tracey Neithercott, from over at Words On Paper. For the month of October, readers selected The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, as this month's read.
And the more, the merrier! If you'd like to partake in reviewing this month's selection - or jumping on board in the future - you can find all the details here: YA Book Club.
Reader Comments (4)
Great review. She really does have such an amazing ability with setting. You also got at something else I loved: despite the big cast, each character has a reason to be included. None are there as filler.
Great review, Erin! THE RAVEN BOYS was such a great read and I really can't wait for Book 2. It wasn't fast-paced, but it held my attention throughout regardless. I loved the boys so, so much and felt like they were fleshed out really well. Plus, the atmosphere was just awesome! I still haven't read THE WOLVES OF MERCY FALLS series yet, but I have the first two on my shelves just waiting for me. I think it's high time I dove in, don't you? :)
Ooh, this is definitely going on my must-read list. Thanks for the review, Erin!
I also love her different POVs. She does that so well!