I wanted to like this book; I really did. However, I really just struggled reading, The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.
Therefore, I gave The Raven Boys 2 out of 5 Stars. The novel started off great and kind of perfect for Halloween. Blue and her Aunt Neeve are hanging out in a graveyard on St. Mark's Eve (April 24th) seeing the dead, or those that would be dead soon. Blue doesn't necessarily have any supernatural powers, except enhancing other's powers, unlike her family; Blue's mother, Maura, and aunts are all psychics. So, it's an interesting night in the graveyard when she can see and talk with her first ghost.
Basically, Blue is a quirky girl that keeps to herself. Gansey is a rich boy that goes to an all elite boy's school, Aglionby, therefore being called a Raven Boy. A forbidden love and teenage angst ensues.
However, after a decent start that had me intrigued and interested the book started to dwindle. I found myself struggling to read and pick the book up. I feel the typical Young Adult/Teenage read of quirky girl and forbidden love has been done all too many times, and the supernatural aspect of it and storyline just wasn't grabbing me enough. In my book it started off with a bang and ended with a putter.
This young adult paranormal fantasy read is quite clean and best for 7th grade and up. Those that love the paranormal love stories, vampire love stories, City of Bones fans, or Stiefvater fans may find this book right up their alley.
Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal:
"Blue was born into a psychic family with the misfortune of having no psychic ability of her own. However, her presence helps others "see" more clearly, which has led to every psychic she's ever met predicting that if Blue were to kiss her true love, he would die. Not interested in boys yet and especially repulsed by the snooty lot at Aglionby Academy, she decides to simply never kiss anyone. When she has her first clairvoyant experience, it's not as thrilling as she had hoped. She sees that Gansey, a boy from Aglionby, will die within the next year. She can't get him out of her mind, a task made impossible when she meets him and his three friends. The Raven Boys, as Aglionby students are called, rope her into helping them with their mission: to locate a ley line. The line of energy could possibly connect them to the past and to the legendary "sleeping" Welsh king, Glendower, who will grant the one who awakens him a reward. Their quest puts each of them in harm's way, made more imminent when Blue finally starts to feel as if her kiss of death is going to be a real problem. First in a planned quartet, The Raven Boys is an incredibly rich and unique tale, a supernatural thriller of a different flavor. The cinematic feel paces the novel well, and the many pieces of the story unfold with grace. The complicated relationships between the Raven boys and Blue are not of the standard main character/love interest variety and makes the curious plot all the more enthralling. Fans have been salivating for Stiefvater's next release and The Raven Boys delivers."
I really did want to like the book; it got great reviews on GoodReads and Amazon. However, it just wasn't an original and gripping read..
Though, maybe you felt differently.
Did you read it and love it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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