The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1) in What's the Name of That Book???

Jan 15, 2015 Wealhtheow rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, ya

Blue grew up in a family of psychics, but she's never seen anything magical herself--until one night she sees the spirit of a boy who will die in the next 12 months. Hoping to warn him of his impending death she tracks him down, only to find out that he is on a quest to find a lost Welsh king. Interested by his magnetism and obsession, Blue uses her knowledge of ley lines to guide him toward Glendower.

Although there are five main characters, I had no problem telling them apart. They are each im ...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Punk rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, good-more-than-once

Blue lives in a house full of psychics. Every year on St. Mark's Eve, she goes to a ruined church with her mother while the coming year's dead file by and her mother asks them their names. This year, for the first time ever, Blue sees one of the spirits herself, a student from the exclusive boys' school in town, and now she can't stop thinking about how he's going to die.

I really enjoyed this. It's well written, with quiet, spooky magic, found family, and characters that stand out instead of ble Blue lives in a house full of psychics. Every year on St. Mark's Eve, she goes to a ruined church with her mother while the coming year's dead file by and her mother asks them their names. This year, for the first time ever, Blue sees one of the spirits herself, a student from the exclusive boys' school in town, and now she can't stop thinking about how he's going to die.

I really enjoyed this. It's well written, with quiet, spooky magic, found family, and characters that stand out instead of blending together. Gansey's completely improbable, for so many reasons, but the text seems to be aware of it, and tries its best to explain him; in the end, he's still pretty improbable, but I'm okay with it. I like him and how much he cares about his friends, how proud he is that they're on his team. Blue is also awesome, smart and sensible and brave, and I like how she fits into the group of boys and the hint of tension it causes when she first joins their search for the ley lines that Gansey's convinced slice through the little town of Henrietta. You see, Gansey's in high school, and relocated himself to Henrietta in order to search for a dead Welsh king. So...I think you can maybe understand what I meant when I said he's improbable.

The narration jumps around a lot, and some of it felt unnecessary, and sometimes I briefly forgot who was acting as narrator, but I liked the different perspectives it added to the story, though it does mean you know who one of the bad guys is before everyone else does, which, I don't know, maybe Stiefvater could have found a more subtle way to do that. Otherwise, she does an excellent job of dropping clues throughout the story so that you get a sense that something's off, but you're not exactly sure what, so when she does finally explain (or at least gives you another piece of the puzzle) it's something you've been expecting—not a trick, but a twist she put time and effort into developing—which is very satisfying to me as a reader. I like to be kept in suspense, but still feel like I'm in on things, and Stiefvater balances those competing desires expertly.

Recommended.

Contains: references to past suicide attempt; domestic violence and child abuse; descriptions of wasps; life-changing injury. ...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Kate rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, age-ya, signed-copies, 2013

I bought a signed copy of this book, but actually listened to the audiobook.

Blue has been told her whole life by her psychic family that the first boy she kisses will die. One night on the Corpse Road, when one can see the future dead, she sees a boy who calls himself Gansey. When Gansey and his friends Adam, Ronin, and Noah, keep showing up in her life, Blue finds herself drawn into their circle and Gansey's quest to find Glendower, an ancient king he believes is buried on a ley line.

At first ...more

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Jan 02, 2016 Trin rated it really liked it

Shelves: mythology, ya, american-lit, fantasy

Rereading this, all I have to say is: this book wins at foreshadowing.

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Oct 22, 2013 martha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: speculative-fiction, audiobook, year-2015

Well, I see why people like this series! Nicely fleshed out characters and complex sets of relationships. And creepy cool magic as a bonus.

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Sep 20, 2012 emily rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-physical, young-adult, fantasy-urban-fantasy, 2011-to-2015, demons-possession-paranormal, audiobook, 2020, cozy-comfort-reads, addictive, 2023

2023 note : Man, this series endures really well.

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Sep 18, 2013 Nadine in NY Jones rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio, paranormal, young-adult, people-named-neve-niamh-lily-nadine, series-i-don-t-love-but-keep-readin

This is the absolute best audiobook I've ever listened to (it even edged out Neverwhere!), but most of that is due to the fantastic reading voice of Will Patton. Wow!

(I may misspell a few names, since I listened to it, I'm guessing a bit.)

There were a few little things I didn't like about the plot, and I found the ending to be wholly unsatisfying because it did not resolve the issue that opens the book. On the other hand, I am incredibly sad that it is over.

Things I liked:
Will Patton!! Okay, I ...more

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Oct 23, 2014 Kelaine rated it really liked it

Shelves: teens, mystery, ghosts, urban-fantasy

Boarding school boys meet psychic girl, with ghosts, murder, and ley lines thrown in for good measure. First in a series. Lovers of urban fantasy should try it.

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Jan 29, 2013 Jess rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2013

If I was judging purely on the last quarter of the book (and admittedly, I can sometimes get carried away and do just that) this would earn five stars. However, although I enjoyed The Raven Boys right the way through, it was one of those books that I enjoy whilst I'm reading... but then kind of forget to pick up again. It took a while for the plot to really get going - mainly because of the brilliant character development (especially for a YA novel). I'd still heartily recommend it - just bear i ...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Emma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, bea

Blue's family trades in predictions that range from the non-specific to, for Blue, the very explicit warning that she will kill her first love.

That's never been a problem since Blue doesn't believe in love or much care for boys, particularly the so-called raven boys from the Anglionby school who walk around her small town like they own it.

As the only non-clairvoyant in her family, every year Blue takes down the names of souls she cannot see on the corpse road while her family watches them pass. ...more

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