{REVIEW} The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Raven Cycle
Book: 1
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Rating: ★★★

Blurb from 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.


From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

My Reaction/Thoughts:

ISN'T THE COVER BEAUTIFUL?! I LOVE IT!

I really wanted to love this book. I really, really did! So much so that I felt like I was forcing myself to love it more than I actually was. Everyone on bookstagram and Booktube just raves about how amazing The Raven Cycle series is that I couldn't wait to get started and I have to say I was not impressed. It's not that I felt like it was bad — it wasn't — it just was okay. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. I think I just expected more because everyone hyped it up so much that I had really high hopes and they just weren't met. But I did enjoy it and am interested in what else will happen.

The thing I really liked about this book was the sweet Raven boys. Every single one of them was an unique puzzle piece and together they were a beautiful whole. I loved this group so much. Gansey is so entertaining to read because he is so adventurous and determined! I loved the way he looks after his friends and treats them like family. Because of Gansey's love and protectiveness over his friends, it kind of made me a little bit bothered by Adam Parrish. I understand that Adam is strong minded and wants to do everything himself. He doesn't like taking hand outs, but I hated how much he resented Ronan and Gansey just because they had money and he didn't. Sometimes I think it's a miracle he's even still friends with them if he is so bothered by what and where they come from.

“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.” 

On the other hand, I really, really liked Ronan. I think there is just so much more to him and I can't wait to learn more. I love his tough guy exterior and he is so interesting! And how sweet was he over Chainsaw, his pet raven?! And how cute is it that he named her Chainsaw!?

My favorite character is definitely Blue. I just find her so interesting and I love reading her perspective. I love her crazy clairvoyant family. I think they are so funny and great to read. I am really interested to see how her feelings for Gansey progress because we all know it's going to happen. She saw his spirit on St. Mark's eve and then there was the prophecy that she fears will come true when she kisses her true love. So I can't wait to see what happens! I am scared because I do actually ship her with Gansey so hard! I just love them together! It's so sweet and funny how sarcastic Blue is when she talks to Gansey.

“Watch for the devil. When there’s a god, there’s always a legion of devils.” 

This book is easily read and the plot is entertaining, but it is just "okay" to me. Nevertheless, I am reading the sequel The Dream Thieves to find out what happens next!