The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater Publisher: Scholastic Press
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Pages: 416
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.
There are so many paranormal and fantasy books in YA that it can be difficult to find a book that is truly unique. Personally, The Raven Boys is unlike anything else I have read before. The plot is unpredictable, and includes a lot of back story- which I always appreciate!
The characters are what really makes this novel stand out. They are each unique and intriguing in their own right. I enjoyed reading about the closeness between each of the characters. Their relationships were very complex, and came across as extremely genuine. I would honestly be willing to read any novel that included this set of characters regardless of the storyline!
I really enjoyed these opening credits made by WimzeeVids, so I just had to share!
It took me quite awhile to get in to this one! It wasn't until around 100 pages in that I really starting to enjoy it. In the beginning you may feel like putting The Raven Boys back on the shelf, but in my opinion it is worth sticking with it! It really does get fascinating.
While this book had a unique take on forbidden love, I do find the whole concept boring and overdone. The romance is not what I enjoyed about this novel. Thankfully, The Raven Boys is about much more than romance, and even if you despise themes of forbidden love, I do not think that this should deter you from giving The Raven Boys a chance.
“She wasn't interested in telling other people's futures. She was interested in going out and finding her own.”
“He strode over to the ruined church. This, Blue had discovered, was how
Gansey got places - striding. Walking was for ordinary people.”
“Adam had once told Gansey, "Rags to riches isn't a story anyone wants to hear until after it's done.”
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