The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle Series #1)
4.4
362
5
1
Paperback
USD
10.5
$10.50
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780545424936 |
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| Publisher: | Scholastic, Inc. |
| Publication date: | 07/30/2013 |
| Series: | Raven Cycle Series , #1 |
| Pages: | 416 |
| Sales rank: | 14,107 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d) |
| Age Range: | 14 - 17 Years |
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The Raven Boys
4.4 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
362 reviews.
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The Raven Boys is a story that is full of fantasy and supernatural occurrences that actually originate from factual, real life beliefs that I actually looked up after finishing the book. However, with this stellar and rich plot, The Raven Boys has a cast of unique, individualistic characters that you can’t help but fall a little bit in love with and also be jealous of their friendship and want to be a part of their posse. Four boys, The Raven Boys, the name given to boys who go to Aglionby, the private school for rich kids, are what the story revolves around, along with Blue, the girl that somehow triggers everything around them.
I honestly think what landed this book in my top books of 2012 list are the characters, their friendship with each other, and how the four boys, even with their differences and their distinct personalities, mesh so well together and would do anything for each other. Then enters the psychic’s daughter, Blue. She’s destined to either fall in love or kill one of these four boys, and we find which one at the beginning of the novel. Also, prophecies from all psychics have warned her about kissing the love of her life because with that one kiss, death will do them part. Blue quickly becomes a part of their group and I really liked how there are no lies, deceits, and backstabbing happening between them.
Blue ends up getting close to someone but who is NOT the Raven Boy we were promised in the synopsis and that our hearts, well at least mine, has been dying to get them together. But I must warn you, if you are expecting romance to be the leading theme, or even the secondary theme, then you are mistaken. The first theme is most definitely the boys’ obsession with finding out the ley line (click on the link to find out more about Ley Lines) and finding the buried one. The second is the friendship between them and how normal life still gets in the way of their quest to unraveling the supernatural that this world does indeed have. Maggie’s writing was so enchanting in The Raven Boys; I was holding my breath in so many scenes. I also somehow became as obsessed as the boys were in trying to find the ley lines. Also, Gansey, one of the boys, has totally stolen my heart. He was like the father of all the boys. He busted their butts when they weren’t studying, saved them when they got into fights, and vouched for them when they were going to get kicked out of school or were abused at home.
If you are not a fan of The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, then I still urge you to read The Raven Boys. This book is not in the least bit similar to the Shiver series. I honestly wouldn’t have guessed for the life of me that the same author wrote both books. I am so glad Maggie has decided to explore her own fascination in ley lines and create such a powerful and memorable novel that had me yearning to get my hands on the second book when the first hasn’t even come out yet!
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Let me just start off by making this clear: the synopsis of this book does not do the actual story justice. Not by a long shot.
Yes, Blue is apparently destined to kill her true love with her kiss, and yes, she meets four Raven Boys.
More than that, though, this book is about an eccentric family of secretive psychics and a non-psychic daughter, a journey to find a magical ley line, the legend of the Welsh king, Glendower, and the fierce friendship between four boys that is complex and heart-breakingly beautiful.
The best part of this book, for me, is definitely the friendship between the four Raven Boys.
You've got Gansey who is born with unimaginable privilege and harbors an obsession for finding the legendary Glendower. I loved the dichotomy of Gansey's character! On the surface he is the cookie-cutter rich boy, but beneath that there is this inexplicably complex nature, from his deep insatiable yearning for Glendower to his love and protectiveness of his friends. I wish I knew the right words to describe Gansey, but all I can tell you is that he is a truly unforgettable character.
"In the end, he was nobody to Adam, he was nobody to Ronan. Adam spit his words back at him and Ronan squandered however many second chances he gave him. Gansey was just a guy with a lot of stuff and a hole inside him that chewed away more of his heart every year.
They were always walking away from him. But he never seemed able to walk away from them."
Then you've got Adam, sweet and endearing Adam. He's a tortured hero who has been able to retain this rare kindness and gentleness about him despite the hell he grew up in. Adam comes from nothing and, like Gansey, yearns for something more, but he won't accept anything unless he's earned it himself.
"It means I never get to be my own person. If I let you cover for me, then I'm yours. I'm his now, and then I'll be yours."
Ronan is the bad-boy of the bunch; angry, intimidating, and downright dangerous. However, there is a concealed softer side of him, a side that may not be described as "kind," but definitely shows that he cares more about people than he seems to. His past is shrouded in mystery and I really cannot wait for the sequel to find out more about him!
"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."
Last, but certainly not least, is Noah, the most mysterious of the four--but just as endearing. Noah harbors a dark secret which plays an integral part in this novel, both in the the mystery of the book and in the relationships between the Raven Boys.
"Noah was a good bellwether for people. He was so shy and awkward and invisible that he could be easily ignored or made fun of."
These four boys are as different as could be, but they fit together like jigsaw pieces falling into place, balancing each other and keeping each other in check. Their relationship is complicated, but so compelling to read about, and before I could help it, I'd fallen in love with each of them.
I've read Stiefvater's Shiver trilogy and part of her Scorpio Race, and in The Raven Boys, her writing is still effortlessly gorgeous! Her descriptions are so vivid it's really like I'm in Henrietta, Virginia with its hot days, cold nights, and mountain air.
The only frustrating part of this book, for me, was the romance. Or lack thereof. As a romanceaholic, I crave that bit of romance in books and as I was reading this, I was constantly anticipating the emegence of the romantic element....but it never came! Not really. There was a slight blossoming of feelings, but for a story that emphasized how Blue was going to kill her true love, there really wasn't a whole lot of love present.
AND THAT'S OKAY.
Let me repeat: It's okay that there wasn't much romance. I still loved this book regardless. The story, the mystery, and especially the characters drew me in and kept me a willful prisoner for 408 pages.
Rating: 4.5 stars*
All in all: I. Need. The. Sequel.
I need it now! This book captivated me while I read and even when I finished, I could not get the story or the characters out of my head. So the question now is, how many "reallys" do I have to put before "recommend" to get you to read this?
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own
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I truly enjoyed reading this book. Let me just say that there is more to this book than what is explained in the synopsis. I am eagerly awaiting what will follow in their quest. I love the depth of the characters and the "magic" that comes alive.
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I am a big fan of Maggie Stiefvater’s stories. When I heard THE RAVEN BOYS was going to be book 1 in a series of four, I was a bit hesitant to read it. I was afraid that the end of each story would have cliffhangers with lots of unanswered questions. I was, as Stiefvater might say, revoltingly pleased this was not the case with THE RAVEN BOYS. There will obviously be the continuous theme of the search or hunt but the story in the first book has a nice and tidy conclusion. I am unfamiliar with the myth or legend (unless it is made up. In that case I feel silly for writing this sentence) of this story so I am excited to see where this series will end up. I recommend this story to anyone interested in an adventure set with magic, intriguing characters and fresh, unique plot. –Also anyone who is already a fan of the authors work will love this!
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Great book!, still prefer Fallen Angel (author is genie ems...i think) Just my opinion.
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I read a lot of "teen" books even though I am in my 30's. This book grabbed my attention from the beginning. The storyline was intriguing and there were a lot of surprises I didn't see coming. The foreshadowing was intense and I was left waiting anxiously to see how events would unfold. That being said, the ending was anticlimactic. I was disappointed. I would still recommend it because it was very interesting. I will read the second book in the hopes that something comes from the foreshadowing from the first book.
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After reading The Scorpio Races, I thought I knew what to expect from Stiefvater. Boy, was I wrong. That's not to say, Maggie's writing isn't as organic and eloquent as ever (it is) but the story is just WOAH! I was a little caught off guard by just how much The Raven Boys would stick with me, even long after I finished it. Maggie has a way with words and subtlety which is lacking immensely in the YA world. There are no cliches here. Her prose is nothing short of beautiful, her characters eclectic and her story enigmatic. The paranormal elements are grandiose but never overdone. She takes on strong character development, an intriguing plot and flowing prose, each one working well on its own but still balanced out by all the others. It's easy to lose yourself in it. This isn't a climactic, gunslinging thrill ride, by any means. Instead, the pace simmers to a slow boil, not so slow to be boring, but slow enough to let you digest everything that's going on. And when you take a deeper look you find that, much like The Scorpio Races, it's more a story about people. It's about the lure of magic and wealth and the temptation that it breeds. And the romance in it is sweet and builds at a slow, natural pace. As it should, it takes a back seat to everything else. There's no rush, no insta-love to be found. My favourite thing about the book by far though was the people. They are human instead of superhuman. With them, what you see is not what you get. You have to take your time and dig a little deeper. Get to know them. They are complex and you have to peel back the layers to get to the core. Maggie writes relatable characters who you genuinely feel for. If I have one criticism of the story, it's that it raises more questions than it does answers. So much is going on that we only have a short time to explore each avenue before we're taken down a new one. It's a lot to digest, but it's worth it. The Raven Boys is one of those books that, when you're done, the more you think on it the more it grows on you. It's contemplative, mysterious and complex and all around wonderful.
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I really, really, really enjoyed this book! I'm so glad I stumbled upon it! It was such a great story, full of colorful characters and true friends, albeit tragic and damaged.
If you enjoy a good mystery with a bit of magic, strangeness, ghost hunting, and psychics thrown in, then this is the story for you! But be warned the story is far from finished and I for one can't wait for the next installment!
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I did not enjoy this book like I expected to. I've read several other Maggie Stiefvater books, the most recent being, The Scorpio Races which is one of my favorites! This book was dark, heavy and less appealing to me but then again, I don't enjoy reading about mediums and witchcraft.
The body of the story seemed very wordy (for lack of a better term) and I often felt like I was reading an Alice Hoffman novel. The alternating POV's were confusing at times because I wasn't sure who was speaking, causing me to have go back and reread sections which is both time consuming and annoying.
The characters themselves weren't bad and I enjoyed their personalities, witty banter and sense of humors but that was about it. The plot didn't hold my interest and I don't really see the need to spread it out over several books.
Having said all of that, not every book will please every person and I'm OK with that. I've no doubt that The Raven Boys will have many fans but I'm just not one of them. (insert frowny face)
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"The Raven Boys" is a story about wants, magic and friendship filled with gorgeous writing.
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about describing The Raven Cycle series is "character study", because to me that's what it's mostly about. Sure, it is a story about a group of teenagers in search of a dead Welsh King, but the way Stiefvater writes giving each of her characters their own space and story with so much as a sentence, you can feel the research and heart that was put into this novel.
I don't think anything I write will do this AMAZING book justice, so you will have to believe me and see for yourself.
Maggie Stiefvater is a master storyteller and this book it's just further proof.
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It was a really good book and of course I would recommend it it pleased me and I hope it does to you. I am only 13 so this is a good teen book. Adults may find it werid and a little boring. I would recommend the scopio races.
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It was a good book. Not what I was expecting, but good nonetheless. I prefer the Wolves of Mercy Falls, but in my opinion, I read based on romance. That's why I didn't like this one as much; it lacked romance. There was some, but not enough for me to give it 5 stars. Don't get me wrong, the plot is very addictive, just not what I necessarily wanted from Maggie Stiefvater.
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This book sucks you in, and stays with you long after you turn the final page. Once I got into it, there was no turning back. The characters were adictive, and the plot cretive and enticing! I can't wait until the next one, but until then I'm going to look into some of this authors other books!!! =D
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Great book, it is interesting from start to finish and im in love with the characters all really especially the raven boys cant wait for the next book
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In general I liked the book, but as I noticed that as I was reading I wouldn't really want to read about the teacher who killed his friend (forgot the guys name). To be honest I'm not a big fan of books that are told in three or four people. I find it irritating and I find myself skimming through that chapter to get to the next one.
Also it seemed towards the end of the book it was like she ran out of pages and hurried to sum it all up in two chapters. I found the last sentence of the book leaving me hanging and a little annoyed.
Don't get me wrong the book was good, just this book I found a little slow for me but seeing as I read book one I will be reading the ones to come of the series just to see what happens to the four boys and Blue.
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This book is fantastic. I was unable to put it down, so I finished very quickly. Which of course leaves me begging for more! Sequel please!! But two things you should know about this book is that you don't have to be really into sci-fi to like it and it is much deeper than just the description! There is so much more to it than what you would stereotypically judge it to be like. And it's an all new type of magic that hasn't been tampered with yet. No twilight or Harry Potter knock off here if that's what you were worrying about! (I love both by the way!) But honestly this book is an exciting page turner that will keep you interested the whole way through and dying for the next one.
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Great mix of supernatural and reality. Main character has a healthy and loving relationship with her mother, which is a rarity in young adult literature. The story is thrilling and suspenseful, with a good dose of mystery. Maggie Stievater just keeps getting better.
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Stiefvater's greatest accomplishment has been to create endearing and deeply flaws characters who are young but self-aware in a way that most YA characters are not. A love story wrapped in the guise of an adventure, a potential reader might mistake this for a romance. It is, and it is not--this is a story based on the love of people who choose you over everything else. A found family forged by blood and dedication and a stumbling earnestness--that's what sets this book apart from other YA novels in the same genre. I'd strongly recommend all readers of YA lit to try this one out!
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I didn't get past through first few chapters because I was bored out of my mind with the annoying characters.
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It was a fun read filled with mystery and left me excited for the next book!
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I really enjoyed reading The Raven Boys. It was filled with mystery, magic and adventure.
The Raven Boys had a great plot that was well written. It had some unexpected elements and twist to the story. And I loved the combination of psychic elements, ghost, magic and more!
Gansey and his friends are on quest to discover a king and Blue is somehow connected to it. Together they try to find out where the king is buried but someone else is also searching for the king too.
I loved the characters. The friendship between Gansey, Ronan, Adam and Noah was real and truly something great. I also liked how Blue fit in with them and clicked immediately. Blue's family; Maura, Persephone, Orla and Calla were also as interesting and unique as Blue.
I really loved diving into The Raven Boys and can't wait to see what Blue and the raven boys do next!
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The plot didn't grab me, but I would read anything, ANYTHING with these characters in it. I tried the audiobook, but enjoyed actually reading the physical book much, much more. Highly recommend this series.
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Can't wait to read the sequel.
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