The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, Book 1)

Maggie Stiefvater

Sep 2012 · Sold by Scholastic Inc.

About this ebook

An all-new series from the masterful, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

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.

Ratings and reviews

I first discovered this author from Scorpio Races and loved that book so much that I wanted to check out another by her. The Raven boys did not dissappoint. Like in Scorpio Races, a strong, character driven story line is what makes this book great. The writer has a strong nack for creating rich, multi dimensional characters. Rarely have I read a book that features a multi-character storyline where the writer has the talent to and has taken the time to flesh each one. I love Gansey and his friends. And Blue, our female protagonist, is wonderful. It's interesting watching her come into herself as the story progresses. I would say she has the most growth of any of the characters. My only criticism is that the ending came a little abrubtly for me. I felt like I was in the midst of a maelstrom and then suddenly, nothing! None of the plotlines that one really cared about was wrapped up in any fashion at all and that was a little frustrating after be engrossed in this story for so long. I assume this was purposeful as there are 2 more books planned in the series. I just wish at least one of my big questions had been answered. Still, this book is highly recommended.

This book is amazing. There's so much going on but it all fits together seamlessly weaving a rich universe. The story is self contained but leaves just enough loose threads to expand into the rest of the series. The plot is fantastic but the story is still character-driven. They're all so different and their distinct voices add valuable perspective.

This is my re-read of The Raven Boys, because I FINALLY got the opportunity from the lovely folks over at Scholastic India, to read the rest of the series, and it is SO MUCH BETTER than I remember it being! I initially read The Raven Boys two-three years ago, and I simply didn’t fully appreciate the eccentricities and personalities of each and every character in the book. All four boys, Blue, and Blue’s family are SO WELL DEVELOPED it’s hard to imagine them as anything less than real, sentient beings over fictional characters. This is probably because, this time round, I actually paid attention to the details and all of the MAGIC in the air around the Raven Boys instead of simply sitting around and wondering if Gansey was Blue’s True Love, and how he would somehow survive to give them the fairy tale happy ending. But first, what is The Raven Boys all about? Blue Sargent has been told, since the day she was born, that is she kisses her true love, she will kill him. A non-psychic in a family filled to the brim with them, Blue is on the search for irrefutable proof that the magic that has eluded her all her life is indeed, real. Gansey, Adam, Noah and Ronan are four boys – four troublesome broken Raven Boys – on a mission. They’re not just regular rich private school brats, but seek to wake up an energy filled line – a ley line – and find the ancient Welsh King Glendower, who has been buried on the line, who legend says will bestow a favour on the one who wakes him. As they boys bring Blue into the fold, none of them can deny the sensation that something bigger than them is starting, and that they’re in the centre of it all. Truth be told, I have fallen ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE with this realistic, magic filled book! I loved the problems that each of the Raven Boys faced internally – their shortcomings and their flaws – and how despite all their differences they managed to fit together like pieces in a puzzle. I loved the undercurrent of magic that followed every word and every scene in this book – I could tell that there was so much more going on than Blue and her Raven Boys knew at the moment – and I am so excited to learn about it all. Maggie Stiefvater’s writing is subtle, elegant and shows the depths of her imagination, and The Raven Boys is an ingenious book with the power to make magic feel real. I will currently cut short my ramblings and run away to read The Dream Thieves.

About the author

Maggie Stiefvater is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the novels Shiver, Linger, Forever, and Sinner. Her novel The Scorpio Races was named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book by the American Library Association. The first book in The Raven Cycle, The Raven Boys, was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year and the second book, The Dream Thieves, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. The third book, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, received five starred reviews. The final book, The Raven King, received four. She is also the author of All the Crooked Saints and Call Down the Hawk. She is also an artist and musician. She lives in Virginia with her husband and their two children. You can visit her online at maggiestiefvater.com.