Reviews

If anyone's read any book in The Raven Cycle, then you know how impossible it is to describe exactly what happens, exactly what joke was so funny, exactly what scene was so endearing and heart-wrenching without having to explain the context of that scene, and then the context of the scene before it, otherwise the scene will make no sense.

Something I've noticed about Stiefvater's work is that everything happens in moments like breezes. It's impossible to catch one, and even more impossible to describe what it looked like exactly if you manage it. So I'll review this book in a few points that will illustrate my general thoughts.

- Gansey is my one true love, and whatever hardships I've had with these books in the past, Gansey will always be the one worth reading for.

- Dude. I hated Adam and Ronan SO MUCH in the first and second book, ESPECIALLY the second book. Reading the second book put me off reading the third for a year, but man oh man, the way they've grown and developed and we've gotten to see more of Ronan - it has me changing my entire outlook on the second book. More Ronan, please. Always more Ronan.

- Blue is so cute. She's so kind, but also smart. Her anger, for some reason, doesn't get on my nerves like it would with other characters. She's just so loveable to me, and she was a total badass in this book. Absolutely loved her.

- I loved Jesse Dittley, and that's all I'll say on that.

- The friendships in this were to-die-for.

- Gansey and Blue. No one talk to me.

- Adam and Ronan. That's all I'll say on that.

- I cried a lot. A lot.

Anything else? Umm. No, I don't think so. I do know that I'll be waiting a bit to start the last book, just because I'm not ready to leave this world and the characters. I also know that there's something very surreal about Stiefvater's work. It's immersive, but it's also not? It's too poetic, too pretentious sometimes, and that constantly yanks me out of the story. It doesn't always do a good job with describing what we're looking at, and sometimes it describes things a little too uncomfortably vividly.

The characters, though, and the atmosphere of Henrietta and Cabeswater and, most importantly, 300 Fox Way, more than make up for it. I can't wait for the series finale, it's definitely one that promises to properly wake you up.

beechito's review against another edition

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4.0

4.75 i am so in love with this series

alienor's review against another edition

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5.0

"Ronan kept going, his voice louder. "No. Do you hear me, Cabeswater? You promised to keep me safe. Who are we to you? Nothing? If you let him die, that is not keeping me safe. Do you understand? If they die, I die, too."

➊ To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Ronan takes the first place hands down even without having any chapter from his point of view. Actually, after the intensity of [b:The Dream Thieves|17347389|The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, #2)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1477103777l/17347389._SY75_.jpg|21598446], getting to observe him through other's eyes (who am I kidding : through Adam's) was so so so satisfying. I want more, though.

➋ [b:Blue Lily, Lily Blue|17378508|Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle, #3)|Maggie Stiefvater|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1477103826l/17378508._SY75_.jpg|24170141] will be forever remembered as The Book Where I Finally Love Adam. Shocking, I know, given how much I wanted to slap his whiny ass in the previous books (sorry not sorry). First his evolution is freaking interesting on its own (who doesn't like a Magician with Slytherin-ish potential now tell me? Okaaaay, I might be *a little* subjective. Look at my profile! *waits patiently* Now you get it) and secondly I just can't ignore that 90% of his scenes are shared by The Boy Who Dreams Baby Ravens. Duh.

"With a savage smile, Ronan shoved the cart off the kerb and belted towards the BMW. As they picked up speed, Ronan called out a joyful and awful swear and then jumped on to the back of the cart himself. As they hurtled towards the BMW, Adam realised that Ronan, as usual, had no intention of stopping before something bad happened. He cupped a hand over his nose just as they glanced off the side of the BMW. The unseated cart wobbled once, twice, and then tipped catastrophically on to its side. It kept skidding, the boys skidding along with it.
The three of them came to a stop.
"Oh, God," Adam said, touching the road burn on his elbow. It wasn't that bad, really. "God, God. I can feel my teeth."
Ronan lay on his back a few feet away. A box of toothpaste rested on his chest and the cart kneeled beside him. He looked profoundly happy. "

➌ I'm gonna throw a PYNCH on there, because I'm redundant like that. Seriously, though. SE-RIOU-SLY. 80% of my favorite quotes are reformulations of something like... meanwhile, Ronan and Adam kept disappearing together.*Almost* every favorite scene stars them : the BARN. The CHURCH. The GROCERY STORE. Oh. My. Gosh. From the shortest looks and grips to the most adorable and heartbreaking interactions, these boys put my heart into overdrive.

#Can't Compute
#ISHIPIT.ISHIPIT.ISHIPIT.

"Light, or something like light, reflected off it onto Ronan's chin and cheeks, rendering him stark and handsome and terrifying and someone else. Then he blew on it. His breath passed through the word, the mirror, the unwritten line.
Adam heard a whisper in his ear. Something moved and stirred inside him. Ronan's eyelashes fluttered darkly.
What are we doing -"

➍ Granted, we can say what we want about these books, about the confusion of their plots and the true love bits and Mallory's dog (okay sorry dog, that wasn't called for), but the beauty of the relationships pictured will forever make them special for me. The loyalty despite the doubts, the trust - even if sometimes begrudgingly given at first - the support and the BANTER between Blue and her boys is EVERYTHING. Honestly? They're just all kinds of amazing and a little heartbreaking.

"Ronan's arms were still locked around her; she felt them quivering. She didn't know if it was from muscle strain or worry. He had not even hesitated before grabbing her.
I can't let myself forget that."

You better not is the only thing I will say.

"The door cracked open..."

You know what I mean, guys. The FEELS.

➎ ♪ SQUASH ONE, SQUASH TWO, S-♫

➏ Greenmantle and Piper. Erm- this is the moment I'm supposed to feel bad for loving the villains, right? But-but-b- they're funny! Who am I to resist them tell me?

➐ JESSE THE YELLER. BECAUSE HIS CURSE IS BADASS TOO. ALSO, I HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR CHARACTERS WHO USE CAPS. BECAUSE OF REASONS.

➑ There's nothing better than late night calls, don't you think? (here's the moment 99% of my friends think, FUCKING FINALLY, ANNA! Oops)

➒ Calla and the Pretty One's argument. Or is it Richie Rich? I can never remember.

➓ It's official : there's nothing like a Raven Boys reread to make yourself feel a special kind of stupid; so many hidden details that came to light, I can't even. Really, though : how in the world did I miss so many things the first time? HOW? Was I high or something?

Oh, nope. [a:Maggie Stiefvater|1330292|Maggie Stiefvater|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1587234813p2/1330292.jpg]'s plot is just way more layered and complex than I first imagined. Or, I'm smarter now (somehow I doubt it) (it's been 2 years, not 2 decades)

Sigh. Now I wait.

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ambular_rose's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

pagewraith's review against another edition

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4.0

On this reread I was so struck by just how much the characters are coming of age in this one. Over and over again the Gangsey are realizing that they don't really know each other or themselves as much as they thought, and are relearning each other. So lovely!

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