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

When It Happens

Review Time! When It Happens by Susane Colasanti was recently published in August here in Australia despite it being published in the US back in 2006. This is the first of Susane Colasanti's novels, it's also the first one of her novels that I've read although I do own another one of her novels! You can purchase a copy of When It Happens at Fishpond | The Nile | Booktopia | Dymocks |Angus and Robertson. Thanks to Scholastic for the review copy!

(Goodreads) An off-the-wall love story told in two voices. Straight-laced Sara dreams of two things: getting into her first-choice university and finding true love. Rock-loving slacker Tobey also dreams of two things: winning Battle of the Bands – and winning Sara. He is determined to make her fall in love with him. Tobey's quirky wit and big blue eyes are hard for Sara to ignore. But can a scruffy rock-star wannabe ever win the heart of a girl who’s both beautiful and brainy? Sara and Tobey's intense connection will have you rooting for them from the very minute they meet!

The Short Story? - I'm confused about how I feel about this novel. I enjoyed When It Happens without a doubt but somehow I feel like it wasn't the great love story that I was expecting. It was cuter and fluffier than what I expected. A very light contemporary romance, solid plot and great characters. I loved the alternating perspectives between Sara and Tobey. All in all, When It Happens wasn't what I expected but nevertheless it was very cute and very enjoyable!

The Long Story? - When It Happens in every way that counts was very enjoyable but it wasn't what I expected. Honestly, I had the novel pegged as a great heartbreaking love story and while it was a great love story - it wasn't heartbreaking. The plot was very light and fluffy. The love story was terribly cute and while there were bittersweet moments, overall the plot was very smooth. Normally those are the contemporary novels that really draw me in but I guess when I read When It Happens I wasn't really in that state of mind. I still thoroughly enjoyed it and I would highly recommend this book to fans of Elizabeth Scott and Lauren Barnholdt. The writing in this novel was beautiful and it was comfortable, the novel was set at a nice pace, it was easy to lose yourself into the story. I guess my only complaint, is that it wasn't what I expected it to be but it was a good surprise!

The characterisation is definitely my favourite part of the novel. Sara and Tobey were two very cute protagonists and the alternating perspectives really gave insight to their relationship and allowed readers to bond with them. Initially I didn't feel much of a connection to Sara and this is probably because the novel doesn't really go into the character's backgrounds. Right from the start, Sara was transforming into a better version of herself and through this journey I grew to like Sara, to understand her and to connect with her. Tobey is a huge sweetheart, I loved Tobey from start. His love for Sara was obvious and their relationship is one of those that will last forever and that is just TOO CUTE. Overall, great characterisation, supporting characters were great, antagonists were great - just a great cast!

In a nutshell, even though When It Happens wasn't all that I expected it to be ( starting to sound like a broken record!), from a none biast point of view, it was a really good book and I enjoyed it. It's light, fluffy and really cute, the characters have a great relationship and the romance is really authentic. There is a build up, there are ups and downs and there are those cute romantic declarations of love that really touched my heart. I really did enjoy When It Happens, it wasn't your typical love story but it was good different. It's a different that I would highly recommend to YA contemporary readers!

What's it Worth? - Squeeze Into the Budget/ Hand Over the Paycheck

Badass Bookie xx

Blood Red Road

Review Time! Blood Red Road by Moira Young is a 2011 Debut, it’s another one of them that I didn’t get around to reading until now and I guess better late than never right? I’ve read plenty of reviews on this book and most of them have said that it’s fantastic, therefore I had to see for myself. Thanks to Scholastic for the review copy ;)

(Goodreads) Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

The Short Story? – A post-apocalyptic adventure that blew my mind! Young has written a fantastic debut filled with action, romance and badass characters. A clever plot, a strong heroine and a romance like no other, Young has taken dystopian fiction to a whole new level! Different and entertaining, Blood Red Road is perfect for all the Hunger Games fans out there!

The Long Story? – Reading Blood Red Road actually took a little getting used to. To fit in with the perception that the people of the future are uneducated, the spelling and the punctuation is atrocious. There are no speech marks, so dialogue kind of runs together and you have to separate it. It was also a slow start, the action didn’t start until 100 or so pages into the novel however those first 100 pages were important to build-up the setting and the atmosphere. Young has bought in a lot barbaric behavior that suggests a social backwardness and a dystrophic setting. All I can say is that all the stops and starts I had with the writing and the start were SO worth! I couldn’t put it down. After the adventure was underway, there was not a single boring moment. It’s was one fight to another. Action-packed and absolutely heart-pounding. For Hunger Games fans!

The characterization suggests that these people are quite gritty. Along with their social backwardness, their clothes, their food and their manners have all suggested that people have reverted to how they lived in the Middle Ages. Saba was an ideal heroine, firstly because she actually did something (multiple somethings) that was heroic. Her attitude towards other people really improve throughout the novel, she starts off isolating herself from others, believing that she only needed her brother and throughout the novel she learns that it’s okay for others to help and that friends are necessary. It was a real 180 in the character development. Jack was a perfect love interest and journey companion. He is like the Jace Wayland of the future. He’s funny, he’s witty and he’s really sweet when he wants to be. I’m keen to see where the romance leads because it was really good!

Blood Red Road is a phenomenal debut about a journey to save ones brother in a dystrophic world. Filled with adventure, badass fights and romance scenes that make you want to swoon, Blood Red Road is a perfect combination of danger and adventure. Young has written a novel like no other (quite literally with the writing style :P) and has taken dystopian fiction to a whole new level! Two thumbs up!

What’s its Worth? – Hand over the Paycheck/Break out the Piggy Bank

Badass Bookie xx