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kylielace'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
5.0
First time reading this book again. I really loved it.
The characters are the always the strongest part. Ronan more mature and fleshed out, figuring out who he is. Loved getting Declan’s POV and learning more about him. Matthew finding out he is a dream was done beautifully. The new characters Jordan and Hennessy are so complicated and enjoyable to learn about. The dream revival was nice. I do wish we would have learnt more about Hennessy’s other girls.
As for the moderators and visionaries… I don’t like any of them lol.
I loved seeing Adam. Seeing their relationship development is great and adorable. And the text/call with Gansey & Blue was nice.
I remember not liking the 2nd book as much. I guess we will see.
Graphic: Suicide
360loverpenguin'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
3.5
Graphic: Suicide
em_of_swags'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
4.75
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, and Blood
Minor: Body horror and Vomit
verito2805'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
4.75
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide attempt
queer_bookwyrm'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? It's complicated
5.0
Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater is book one in The Dreamer Trilogy. I don't even know how to start this review. Maggie has done it again, and apparently she has taken over my life this year. Now I just need to find a paperback edition of Mister Impossible.
This book takes place after the events in The Raven Cycle. Gansey and Blue have left on a road trip and Adam is at Harvard. Which leaves us with a very lonely, and more broody than usual, Ronan. We also get way more of Declan this book, and from the bland fun sucker that was the Declan we got in the Raven Cycle, we now have a reason to care about him. I am confused and conflicted, because now I care about Declan and just want him to be happy and without burden.
We also follow Hennessey, another dreamer, who only dreams copies of herself; and Farooq-Lane, a dreamer hunter who is searching for the dreamer that has been prophesied to end the world. It was fascinating getting a look at another dreamer and how that affected her. It was great seeing the interplay between Hennessey and Ronan, and you get the sense that Ronan is way more in control than we've seen him be.
I love Maggie's writing so much. She's so good at writing about abstract concepts and dreams in a way that makes you visualize them without even understanding what that would look like in reality. There are just so many themes and messages in this book, that I can't list them all. I don't even know if I understand them. I seriously need to get my hands on Mister Impossible, which I'm told will destroy me. Bring. It. On.
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Blood
danaslitlist'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
5.0
Call Down The Hawk (CDTH) is everything The Raven Cycle (TRC) is and isn't. There's moments in CDTH that make you remember the flavor of TRC, but in its entirety it manages to stand alone. One of the main aspect of the book that I loved the most was that it felt as if it was written for the fans of TRC who had grown up since the first series had concluded. It was more mature, a bit darker, a bit more in everything. Maggie has a great gift for writing for a large variety of readers ranging from young adult to new adult audiences.
It isn't so much a fantasy as TRC. Call Down The Hawk is instead more focused on the realities of our every day world and how Dreamers and Dreamkillers, as well as those stuck in between are forced to function knowing that magic is so deeply rooted around them. The themes are heavier and the stakes feel higher. Where I described The Raven Cycle as "Stand by Me" meets "Buzzfeed Unsolved", Call Down The Hawk feels more reminiscent of an action/detective movie meets TRC.
I love the new characters so much and that was one of my biggest fears going into this series. It's impossible to not compare characters from a previous series, especially ones that had such a huge impact on Ronan's story. But the new additions are fleshed out and so complex that I didn't find myself missing the Gangsey. The expansion of the world of dreamers was everything I had hoped it would be and seeing how there are so many other sides to the coin that is Ronan was enjoyable. It was also a pleasure to have more of an inside look into Declan and Matthew.
I understand for some fans of the Raven Cycle, that the changes in terms of how this book is written (though I'd argue it is so distinctly Maggie Stiefvater) and the theme changes could lead to feeling let down. But I think it's important to remember that this series, while connected to TRC, is not supposed to be a cut out of that series. This is the world of the Lynch Brothers and The Henneseys, of Farooq-Lane and the Visionaries. And I think in that regard it is perfect in every way.
Please check out the content warnings as mentioned above, some of the themes are darker and may be triggering).
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent
msradiosilence'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? It's complicated
4.5
Read my full review at: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/call-down-the-hawk.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Trafficking, and Alcohol
our_bookish_reads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Also, Maggie Stiefvater did it again! I got sucked right into this story, just like TRC and do NOT regret a thing! The world, the characters, the story, multi-POV, new characters mixed with existing ones from TRC! GOD DAMN IT YOU'RE FUCKING BRILLIANT!
There is so much going on in this one!
My reactions were as goes:
Oh shit!
Matthew, oh, my heart. 🥺 I'm not crying, you are. 🥲
What!?
Oh my gods!
Gasp!! Oh fuck!
*shocked face* 😲😮
*almost crying*🥺
*sad face*😞😟
Well shit, I did not see that coming.
Now if I can get Cloud Library to cooperate, I can start Mister Impossible!
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Gun violence, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Murder
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Because this is a spin-off of The Raven Cycle, we already know all about Ronan Lynch and his dreamer abilities. While he's one of the most popular characters in the original series, I never really found myself connecting with him, and I much preferred the other members of the cast. In this book, I was a huge fan. There was a vulnerability and intrigue to him that didn't exist for me before and I loved that he became a leader of sorts in this story.
In addition to that, there's a much larger focus on the other Lynch brothers, who I was always incredibly curious about. Declan was this kind of shady, shifty shadow figure in the other books, but this one gave him a story and a purpose. I was very drawn to him and could understand why Jordan Hennessy was as well. And of course, who doesn't love Matthew? I mean, that's literally his biggest personality trait: he's lovable. So, it came as no surprise that I found myself tearing up a bit during certain moments with him towards the end of the book.
JORDAN HENNESSY. This girl is a new favorite character for me, for sure. I am completely and utterly fascinated by her. She's the result of OG Hennessy's dreams going awry (or really, the fact that Hennessy has no idea how to dream in the first place, something that was also fascinating) and she has her own personality and life outside of her creator. I longed for her to experience freedom and I'm hopeful that at some point, she achieves that during this trilogy.
Honestly, I flew through this book because it had the same "edge of your seat/what's going to happen next" quality of The Raven Cycle, but with a lot more explanation - something I really, really needed! I can't wait to pick up Mister Impossible to see what these characters get up to next!
Graphic: Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Gore
limiwh'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
4.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Suicide, Blood, and Death of parent