Book Review: The Raven Boys

Synopsis from Amazon:

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them–until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her.

His name is Gansey, 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 is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher 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 doesn’t believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

This book came out almost four years ago and I’m upset it took me this long to finally read it. Seriously, this is why I need more book nerd friends because who let me go this long without reading this series? Then again maybe this is a blessing in disguise because now I get to binge the books instead of having to impatiently wait for the next book (the last one comes out in five days).

Seriously though, this book was amazing. First, the characters are fantastic. I loved Blue and her dry humor as well as all the women who live at 300 Fox Way. They’re all incredibly quirky in the best way. And the Raven Boys! I loved them all, even Ronan. Actually, especially Ronan. Give me a bad boy who has a troubled past and I instantly fall head over heels. Ronan is perfect and I’m excited to see how his character will grow and change through the series. The other boys, Adam, Gansey, and Noah were also awesome although my feelings for Adam definitely changed from the start of the book to the end. I won’t say how because I don’t want to spoil anything.

And not only did Maggie Stiefvater create amazing characters but the plot was so well written. She wrote a twist that actually caught me by surprise. Let me tell you that after reading for so long I am rarely caught by surprise and she got me which I loved. I love the unexpected and this book was definitely unexpected. I also like that I still don’t know everything and that Maggie is slowly giving us answers but there’s still SO much mystery in the series. I have my suspicions and ideas on how everything will play out in the end but the fact that I don’t know makes this so fun.

Lastly, I really like that Blue can’t really be involved with any of the guys. Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely romance but nothing crazy because Blue is very limited based on the warning about what will happen to her true love. I’m also pretty sure a love triangle is brewing there but I also like that there’s just a genuine love between the Raven Boys and Blue and this won’t turn into a Peeta/Katniss/Gale (The Hunger Games) situation. If anything there may be a Jem/Tessa/Will (The Infernal Devices) type thing but I don’t even think that would be the case here. I think Maggie has put so much into this series that a love triangle would just feel so inconsequential that it couldn’t be the focus.

In summary, The Raven Boys was great and I’m now Raven Boys trash and proud. Definitely check out this series if you haven’t already. Also if anyone wants to fangirl over this series with me (no spoilers please!) let me know in the comments.

Borrow or Buy: Buy immediately!

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