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adamparrishlover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
trintrin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content
friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Self harm, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Vomit
_teoeo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Update: I recently discovered Maggie Stiefvaters past racist and problematic comments and also learned about the racist joke(s) in this book, e.g.:
“Principles? Henry Cheng’s principles are all about getting larger font in the school newsletter,” Ronan said. He did a vaguely offensive version of Henry’s voice: “Serif? Sans serif? More bold, less italics.”
Blue saw Adam both smirk and turn his face away in a hurry so that Gansey wouldn’t see, but it was too late.
“Et tu, Brute?” Gansey asked Adam. “Disappointing.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Adam replied.
Adam made puerile jokes at Henry’s expense (He’s half Chinese? “Which half?”) and sniggered clannishly; Blue called them on it (“Jealous, much?”): Gansey told them to put aside their preconceptions and think about him.
Because of my point of view as a white reader I didn't saw them when I first read the books, but I want to acknowledge them now and encourage you to inform yourself about these issues, even if trc is one of your favorites.
Graphic: Death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse
hg_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
comraderowan94's review
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Murder
layn_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol
battybookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
With some age and time, I have gotten over this hate and I was really hungry for a YA around that time anyway (I can't remember but I believe I'd just finished something dark and adult and was in need of a change in pace). I'm probably very late to the train on these books, but I was suddenly hearing about them everywhere and I decided to try them. I remember seeing Stiefvater's work when I was in school but I think it was only the Shiver series, and I'm afraid I've yet to get into werewolf books.
This series has been fun. I'll admit, there isn't a single book in the series that I outright hated and Stiefvater does a really good job of making them all significant in some way or another. That being said. I was super sick of reading them and they are not as fulfilling as a standalone book where I can get that connection and the magical reading moment where the book speaks directly to me and changes me as a person in some fundamental way. I think series books might just not do this as much for me. They're basically a prolonged book so the time it takes to get to life-changing places takes longer. I really like the tone of these stories. I didn't overly love the characters at first but they've grown on me and I did enjoy the story/adventure they go on so that helped.
The Raven King in particular had some of the best moments in character development. I think the shifts in POV and the way Stiefvater unwound events and opened chapters in this story were purposeful and almost expert-level at points. I did not expect where things went, and while that's not a requirement for me, it was enjoyable to continually be surprised. And, the magical moment finally happened in this book! I can't remember (plus it'd be spoilers) what it was in particular but I know it was something Blue-related and I just felt I finally got her and her motives and perspective and could say, 'yes, this makes sense to me and I love it.' I was very happy once I got there and the rest of the book was a breeze from then on.
These books take a little while for me to get going with them. This is something I think might be with most series that you sort of get more of a roller coaster effect than a single slow build and then drop. The starts of each book felt long but once they get momentum they get going pretty darn fast. They're fun, fairly quick, and easy to read, and definitely great fantasy with familiar elements but funky enough to be something all their own as well. Another part I loved with these books, completely unexpected, was that people knew these books and would share things about them with me. I don't know if it's the YA-ness or their general popularity, but these books are better known than most of what I usually read. I got lots of little sweet tidbits from other students and strangers: stuff about their experiences reading these and I treasure those the most!
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Medical content, and Kidnapping