Going into The Raven Boys I wasn’t really sure what to expect. There was no way I could have missed the out pouring of love that happened when it was first released back in September. So many people, whose opinion I trust, assured me it was amazing. But I was apprehensive. I always find Stiefvater’s books pretty hit or miss. I didn’t care for Shiver in the slightest but I was floored by how good The Scorpio Races was. How I will react to her novels is always a mystery to me, so I was understandably a little nervous when I finally picked this book up to read with the Forever Young Adult book club. I was immediately struck by how unique the writing felt. Similar to how she wrote for The Scorpio Races but with a little something more. With each new book I can definitely see how Stiefvater is maturing as a writer. The Raven Boys is a very detailed and poetic work. It’s the kind of writing I love. The kind of writing that makes me want to whip out my post it notes and pepper the pages so I can never forget the passages I adore. However – that being said, at times I did feel like she was getting a bit flourishy. “Red as a dream”? Dear Maggie that is simply not a thing. But it is a fine line between poetic and flourishy and all in all she walked the line quite well. One of my favourite quotes/examples: “My words are unerring tools of destruction, and I’ve come unequipped with the ability to disarm them.” But enough about the writing. What about the story itself? I read, on average, over 200 books a year. So believe me when I say something is unique, it really has to be unique. I loved the history of the ley lines and Glendower and I may or may not have requested some books about these topics from the library because I am just so fascinated! It’s not something I’ve ever read about before and the unknown is always more exciting than the overdone. I also really enjoyed that you can’t put an official label on this book. It has spells and psychic abilities but it’s not quite fantasy. It has spirits and talking trees but it’s not quite paranormal. It’s the kind of book that I named my blog for – it’s more than just magic. It’s haunting and spooky and an absolutely delicious mystery. The only thing I really have against this book is that there may be a few too many characters. No, there’s definitely too many characters in this novel. And you meet them all at once. It felt like you were dropped right into the middle of an ongoing story, and it took me longer than I expected to find my footing. In particular the amount of people living in Blue’s house. It could be that they will all become important later on, but within just The Raven Boys it felt crowded and at times a little annoying. There were also a few characters, who were important yet felt very shallow/one-dimensional. While people like Gansey, Adam and Ronan are incredibly fleshed out and believable, others like Declan and Welk felt like they were going through the motions of advancing a particular plot point. I would have liked to know more about them as I am a total character junkie and always want to see the layers of any major player. This includes Blue! She is central to everything going on but when I was finished the book I felt like I knew next to nothing about her. I did really like Gansey, although I’m not completely enthralled by him. It felt like I was missing some key to understanding his personality, but from the way Stiefvater set things up I am confident that key will come in subsequent books. Much to my surprise my favourite character was Adam. When I started reading I didn’t take much notice of him, but as the story went on he was constantly challenged and growing. He was a fascinating character to watch and I became very attached to him very quickly. Recommendation: The Raven Boys is a beautiful book and one that I will treasure for a long time to come. It may not be as appealing to those who love fast paced adventure stories as it is slow to reveal itself. But it keeps you entertained with gorgeous prose while you wait! Highly recommended to fantasy fans, those who like a bit of magic in their stories or simply those looking for something different to blow them away. Other quotes I really liked and just had to throw in here: “Gansey had once told Adam that he was afraid most people didn’t know how to handle Ronan. What he meant by this was that he was worried that one day someone would fall on Ronan and cut themselves.” “Where do you live?” Adam’s mouth was very set. “A place made for leaving” “That’s not really an answer.” “It’s not really a place.” This and other reviews at More Than Just Magic (http://morethanjustmagic.org)

Stiefvator is a great author. Like Shiver and The Scorpio Races, it starts off pretty slow and I mean it. But once you get into it, it's great. I love all the characters, - Especially Gansey - and the fast pace and character development made me fall in love with the characters. They're all complex and there's always a lot more to their personalities. Give it a try. I don't know when it happens, but when it started getting interesting, I couldn't put it down. Love it and can't wait for the sequel.

This book is wonderfully crafted. There is so much going on that it's hard to put it down. Very excited to see where the series will take us.

Blue Sargent is your average, ordinary 16 year-old teenager, except that she has a unique extra-sensory ability. She can "make things louder" or amplify another person's psychic talent. For her mother and her psychic clan, this ability can come in handy when they are doing psychic readings. Blue and Maura live in Henrietta, Virginia with Maura's best friends, Calla and Persephone, as well as Blue's cousin, Orla. They are all psychics. Maura's half-sister, Neeve (a renowned television psychic), also recently came to stay with them. Blue was told from a young age that kissing her true love would result in his death. Is this her mother's way of keeping her daughter chaste, or is it a real warning to be heeded? Richard "Dick" Campbell Gansey III is a "Raven Boy," so named by the crest of the raven on his school uniform. He attends the esteemed Aglionby Academy, and his family is extremely wealthy. He keeps a leather-bound journal filled with drawings and notes about finding "ley lines," which are invisible lines that intersect and create areas of powerful psychic energy. Gansey is obsessed with finding Glendower, a legendary king who is rumoured to bestow one wish to the first person who finds him. He is the ringleader of his group of friends that include Ronan and Declan Lynch, brothers from another wealthy family, and Adam Parrish who comes from a poor family with an abusive father. His family could never afford the tuition fees, but Adam is able to attend on a partial scholarship while paying the rest of the fees himself from his employment earnings. The last boy in the group is Noah, who is quiet and has a "smudgy" face. On St. Mark's Eve, Blue and her Aunt Neeve go to Corpse Road which is a place where the psychic energy is very strong. It is an annual event which Blue normally does with her mother so that they can meet all the spirits that are fated to die within the coming year. Blue cannot communicate with the spirits directly or even see them, but her special gift allows the psychic who is with her to be able to do so. In past years, Maura would call out the names of the spirits to Blue to write down so that they could remember them if any of these people came to Maura's house for a reading so that she could forewarn them of their impending death. Blue is awestruck when a teenage boy heads directly for her. Not only can she see him, but she can also talk to him. Neeve tells her that there are only two reasons why a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark's Eve: Either she is his true love, or she killed him. Blue meets Gansey and his gang when they come to dine at the restaurant where she works. Blue and Gansey seem to get off on the wrong foot, and Blue does not care much at all for his superior attitude. Gansey accidentally leaves his journal behind, and Blue takes it home for safe-keeping with the intention of returning it to him. Gansey contacts Maura for a reading and, when the Raven Boys come, the psychics get very strong vibes from the boys. Maura is not willing to help Gansey and his friends find Glendower, but Blue feels compelled to do so. Will she regret her decision? I really like Blue's character. She is stubborn and doesn't put on airs for anyone, not even Gansey and his rich friends. She is unimpressed with Gansey's wealth, and she is not afraid to say so. Gansey is an unusual fellow. What could he possibly hope that Glendower could grant him that he doesn't already have? He actually owns a warehouse, where he lives with Ronan and Noah. Despite his wealth, he drives an old Camaro - his pride and joy - that is always breaking down on him. If it wasn't for Adam, who taught Gansey how to do minor repairs, I am sure the car would not be running! You would think that Gansey is a spoiled, rich kid but he really isn't. He is very polite and tries not to rub people the wrong way, although Blue sometimes misinterprets his intentions. Gansey looks out for his friends and takes care of them, especially Ronan who is a bit of a loose cannon. Ronan's father was killed, and he knows something about his death that he is not sharing. The secret gnaws at him. Adam has a huge chip on his shoulder because he is the "odd man out" so to speak because he comes from a blue-collar family. He is a model student and is determined to succeed. He hates it when Gansey wants to help him out, and he wants so much to be on par with his friend. He views himself as Gansey's "pet project" and feels pitied by Gansey. I honestly don't think that Gansey feels this way at all. For me, the story was really slow going for about the first third of the book. However, Stiefvater drew me into the story with her character development. The more that I learned about the characters, the more I liked them and cared about them. I found the plot to be unique and interesting although slightly confusing at times, but I wish that the beginning of the book would have moved along a bit faster.

Wow. How do I begin with this book? So the start was really really confusing. But when I got into the book, It all made sense and it wasn't confusing after that. I loved how the author described the scenes and the characters. Now the characters I fell in love with. They were so amazingly described and I just couldn't belive it. The plot was just...wow. It was just so well described and unique! The settings were amazing too. I loved how well described they were and how unique they were! I can't wait to read the second book! :D

I only learned of Maggie Stiefvater's book signing event at the local Chapters bookstore 2 days before the date of said event. I immediately picked up a copy of The Raven Boys but I was worried that I would not finish reading it. It turns out that I found the book easily captivating and finished reading it within the day! And wow! I absolutely adored this book. Initially I thought that this book was full-on romance, given the early introduction of Blue and her true love and the consequences of her kissing that true love. What I didn't expect was for the love story to be subtle. Each character was given an adequate portion of story to tell, and let me tell you, each one was very special. I especially loved the brotherhood between the Raven Boys. Though unrelated and very different from each other, they are good as brothers. And despite Gansey being the clear ringleader of the group, he didn't strike me as annoying or bossy. He cared about each one of his boys and did everything he could to help them deal with their troubles.. Blue is also a heroine you'd easily admire. She's one of the boys, smart and loyal to family. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes solid friendships, magic, and tortured souls.

I knew this was going to be a stunner but I was not prepared for the amazingness of The Raven Boys. It sailed past my every expectation and has sky-rocketed on to my all-time favorites list. This was a beautiful, alluring, captivating book, and I still can’t get over it. I want to read it over and over, to be lost in this story and never find my way out. Maggie Stiefvater creates enchanting characters in all her books, and The Raven Boys is no exception. I have said it once, and I’ll no doubt say it tons of times: I adore broken, characters and The Raven Boys are as fractured as they come. They have so much depth, and heart and I can’t help but love every piece of them. The Raven Boys were a broken bunch, and they were beautiful, stunning people, each held together by a dream and a seemingly unbreakable bond. My view of Adam varied throughout the book, but overall I was definitely a fan. He was a very sweet, complex character and one I kept cheering for. I loved his determination, and passion, although I was slightly frustrated by his pride. At the same time, I knew my frustration was simply an outsider’s perspective, and that being in his situation would give me a much different opinion. Ronan is...well, he's Ronan. A haunted soul whose dark past seems embedded in every move he makes. I think he could seem a bit off-putting to some readers, but I loved him with abandon. I want to know more about him, to peel back his armour and see what lies beneath. Noah was a mysterious character. He had a shy, calming personality, and something magical about him that I was fascinated with. I wanted to know his story, and what his role in the ley line hunt truly was. But of all the characters, I think Gansey captivated me the most. Gansey. Oh my Gansey. Gansey was also the character I connected with the most. Constantly searching for more, hoping to find a nugget of magic and beauty in this world. I’ve always been the kind of person that wants to know, to learn as much as I can, and to find some sense of meaning and purpose in this world. Watching Gansey on his quest to find the ancient king, to find something more to life, and to fulfill his desperate purpose was both heart-breaking and enchanting. When he was explaining his quest I felt fascinated. I clung to every word he said, and even found myself researching the historical tops online (I have to see those Nazca Lines for myself one day). I wanted to join him on his journey to find Glendower, and the meaning of the ley lines. I felt myself utterly obsessed with it, just like him. I could also see that part in Gansey that was just broken, and I wanted to desperately to help him fix it. To help him complete his quest and stand right next to him as he unlocked the secrets he was desperate to know. I don’t think I’ve felt just a deep connection to a character in a long while, and it was honestly amazing. Gansey is everything I’ve always wanted in a character, and I’m so happy to have read about him. Then, of course, there’s Blue. Her fascinating home life and strange power kept me intrigued through the book. As did the strange prophecy that seemed to be woven into most of her life. I loved her determination, and enthrallment with the magical ley lines. She wasn’t a protagonist that was going to just stand back and watch the scene, but rather dive in and be a part of the action, which was great to read about. This wasn't an unputdownable book. I set The Raven Boys aside, hung out with friends, watched Masterchef, and went along with my life. But, each and every time I picked up that book I was welcomed back with open arms. I slipped right back into the story with no sense of time in between readings. And the story was brilliant. I loved the idea of the ley lines (which I’ve heard of before, but not in so much detail), the quest for Glendower, the theme of the ravens woven in and every other magical aspect of the story. I wanted to immerse myself in this world, because I was so captivated from it. Maybe it’s just my pure love of myths and legends, but this story was just as beautiful to me. Maggie Stiefvater has a way of turning simple phrases into extraordinary prose. I was amazed, as I always am, but her pure talent when it comes to writing. The words flowed together so well, I found myself sitting back stunned at points. I love amazing writing, and Maggie Stiefvater never disappoints. If you love…well, if you love all things amazing in books you’ll love The Raven Boys. It is a purely amazing novel, and I can’t wait to read it again and again. I don't think I've done this book justice with my review. Read it. It's the best way to see for yourself what I've tried to convey with my jumbled thoughts.

Bounding realistic settings with mythology, Maggie Stiefvater takes elements from myths and legends, and turns them into her own world and creation. This is why I\m not surprised that Maggie Stiefvater has once again blown my mind. However, The Scorpio Races still have the throne of my heart (it's just SO beautiful!) but The Raven Boys was pretty close to steal it away from it. Yet, I think I have to admit that Maggie's new series is, as I said before, absolutely mind-blowing and I am pretty sure many readers will consider this novel Stiefvater's best work so far. The Raven Boys is written in a darker tone than any of Maggie's previous works. For instance, there is raw violence and some language that intensify the feeling of this novel towards a darker mood. I definitely loved reading this novel that feels so Maggie yet so new at the same time. Seriously, she never stopped surprising me! Told from 3rd person point of view, Stiefvater' s narration is so rich that provides marvelous and insightful perspectives during in each chapter. In addition, the whole concept of this novel was glorious! A girl who can see the spirit of people who will die withing the next year, a lost Welsh King, a doomed first love and so much more. Fantasy, romance, mythology, supernatural, action, mystery, drama and adventure all in one single book! I have no idea what Maggie will unveil in the second installment of this new overwhelming series that has wonderfully surprised me (and obsessed me), but there is one thing I am 100% sure about, Maggie Stiefvater will once again delight me with a substantial and solid narrative that will glue me to its pages. Characters are so important for me to love a novel (I'm pretty sure I'm not alone on this) and Maggie Stiefvater simply nails the creation of substantial characters. Blue, Gansey, Noah, Adam and Ronan have all a precious spot in my heart and probably many other readers will fall for them as hard as I. Intense, rich and complex, The Raven Boys is a phenomenal start for a new series! actually, I didn't expect any less from Maggie Stiefvater. She reached all of my high expectations and I have no doubt that the rest of the series will be as marvelous as this first installment (if not better!).

The Raven Boys received a lot of buzz before the ARC release at ALA, and BEA and rightfully so, Maggie is a gifted storyteller. She has this amazing ability to reinvent herself as a writer each time she begins a new series or writes a new book. The feel of The Raven Boys is completely different from her other novels, the pacing a little slower but from the beginning you know that it will build to something great. I loved the premise of the novel and was immediately drawn to Blue’s matter a fact way of dealing with people and the world around her. Though Blue is the main character, Gansey is really at the centre of the story and is what propels the reader forward. He is obsessed with discovering the location Welsh King Owain Glendower, believing he rests along Ley Lines…areas with paranormal activity. As much as I loved Blue and Gansey, I have to say that Adam was my favourite character. He’s the steadfast friend, who stands behind Gansey, adores Blue but has his own painful back story. There was just something about him that I could relate to. Beautifully written with so many wonderful surprises throughout; there were twists that I definitely did not see coming. A riveting first book in an expected series of four.

Upon reading The Raven Boys, it was not what I had been expecting. I expected more magic, less legend. That being said, once I finished the novel and let it sit for a day, I couldn’t stop thinking about it! Maggie Stiefvater’s writing continues to shine. Honestly, I’m such a Maggie fangirl and she puts words together like nobody’s business. But: I still don’t love the storytelling. I found it was unnecessarily convoluted and it lost my attention so much that I stopped trying to understand. Certain things weren’t explained at all, things that were an integral part of Gansey’s venture. So why did I give The Raven Boys 4 stars? Two things: The characters and the potential. I see this series only getting better and things becoming clearer and these characters, which I completely fell for, developing and the relationships becoming more solid. I really can’t wait to see Blue’s character develop through the series because while she has, as my mom says, chutzpah, I felt she was a bit overshadowed by the boys but that she has more to come. I also am anxious for more of Blue’s mother. There’s something eccentric and mysterious about her and I hope we get to learn about her past (especially with Blue’s father). The boys, though, oh how I loved all the boys. One of the most intriguing parts of the story for me was Blue’s home life. Aside from her mother, the personalities coming out of that house are astounding and probably some of my favorite parts took place between those five women. Despite my issues, I really do think that The Raven Boys will be a great series; it has potential, and I will definitely be reading the next installment.