Book Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

“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.

Published:  18th September 2012 
Publisher:  Scholastic 
Source:  Review Copy from Publisher
Series:   Book 1, Raven Cycle
Links:  Goodreads  /   Amazon.co.uk  /  Amazon.com       

My Review

7 out of 10

When I first heard about the story and just the simple premise that if the main character kissed her true love he would die, I knew I had to read this book.  I have to admit that this is the first book I have read written by Maggie Stiefvater and I really enjoyed her style of writing.  I have to admit that it did take me a bit of time to get into the story but once I did it was completely worth it. 

I absolutely loved the main character, Blue.  She is a very independent person who has been brought up in a world of clairvoyance.   Blue has a special power that comes in very useful with both her family and her new friends, The Raven Boys.  

What made this story very interesting for me is the hunt that Gansey and the Raven boys are on to try and find the leylines.  I loved the very interesting twist with what they find and what they have to do.  I could not put the book down until I found out what happened next...  

A really great start to a series, I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Best wishes

Debs :-)