Runner up Readers Choice: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

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Goodreads Book Description: “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

My Review:
Ever since I read and loved Shiver, I knew I had to continue reading more of this lyrical author's works. The Raven Boys was next on my list because it was the runner up to my blog's poll about which book I should read next.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater stars Blue, an eccentric girl who lives with an even more eccentric and magical family. Her relatives can tell the future, and they keep reminding her of one fact-- the boy she kisses will die. That just seems like a really awful thing to tell your kid, but I digress. A host of rich, popular guys from an affluent prep school nicknamed "Raven Boys," enter the picture. Blue sees one, Gansey, in a vision. She is told bluntly by her family that this either means he is her true love or he will die. Gansey is looking for ley lines (magical lines of energy in nature) to awaken a magical king who will grant wishes. I will say no more, as the secrets that are revealed are really fun to find out.

As you might imagine, I spent some time feeling very "blue" for Blue. She is a quirky and fun character, but her family really doesn't do her justice. I was glad when she got to break out of the mold a bit when she meets the Raven Boys. I admit, this was a slow starter for me. It reminded me of Graceling, a book I struggled with for months, and then right around 50%, it takes off and never looks back. At that point, I was hooked and couldn't finish it fast enough. If you can get through 50% of this book, which is enmeshed in character and world building, you won't be disappointed after that. There are some great reveals, and I don't want any of you to miss out on that.

But if you don't make it that far, I honestly don't blame you for putting it down. That is probably the biggest issue I have with this book.

Overall, a slow start, but at 50% picks up pace magnificently with amazing twists and turns that will only have you itching for Book 2.

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