The Raven Boys

Review Time! The Raven Boys is the first instalment in the Raven Cycle, the brand new series from the bestselling author of The Wolves of Mercy Falls, Maggie Stiefvater! I read this one last month and I just haven't gotten around to reviewing it. You can purchase a copy of the book from Fishpond | The Nile | Booktopia | Bookworld Thanks to Scholastic for the review copy!

(Goodreads) “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.

The Short Story? - The Raven Boys wasn't what I expected and it's probably not what you expected either! The blurb is extremely misleading ( and I'll talk about that in the review below) however it's every bit as unique and interesting as you would expect. Unlike anything you'll ever read, The Raven Boys is the perfect combination of magic and realism. Edgy, mysterious and eerily beautiful, The Raven Boys is a treat for everyone!

The Long Story? - It's always been a little bit of a hit and miss for me with Stiefvater because on one hand, her writing is absolutely brilliant because it's so unique but on the other hand, it's so unique that I can't find myself a comfortable pace to read at! I find myself struggling through the novel because her plots are so complex and I'm not the brightest lightbulb. However I always give her novels a try because more often then not, I come around in the end and enjoy her novels. This was the case with The Raven Boys. It wasn't love at first line but I *really* enjoyed the story. The plot was very complex and there is a strong sense of magical realism, it's a bit of a mind bender and the details are all very refined. The pace is quite slow but there is a lot to take in. The Raven Boys is definitely one of Steifvater's best works.

The characterisation really stood out to me because they came as a surprise. It was an unpredictable band of misfits. If you're expected hot boys who turn into ravens, you're definitely not going to find them in this novel. Gansey was an incredibly unique character, one of thing I love about Stiefvater's books is that she's very realistic about her characters and they don't depend on looks to get liked ( not saying that Gansey is not good-looking). I loved the flawed nature of Gansey, he isn't the most observant of people but his heart is in the right place and he has a fierce sense of loyalty. Blue was a very edgy and different character, she was tough but at the same time extremely vulnerable. Adam really spoke out to me because I'm a huge sucker for underdogs and Adam had it pretty bad. Ronan and Noah both had a lot of pull on the plot and in their own way connected with me. Honestly, a very well done job in the characterisation department.

The Raven Boys isn't a novel that is written to be sped through. It's a long novel and it's slow going but once you get into the book, it's really a very entertaining and different novel. The Raven Boys is definitely unlike anything I've ever read and combined with Stiefvater's prose and flair, it's a novel that everyone should read for the sake of reading because it's so unique. Extrordinary characterisation, a fantastic plot and paired with a blooming romance, The Raven Boys might not be for everyone but it's one to put on your radar!

What's it Worth? - Hand Over the Paycheck

Badass Bookie xx