7 Things About The Dream Thieves

12:30 PM

The Dream Thieves

by Maggie Stievfater

E-book edition, 360 pages

Published 2013 by Scholastic Press

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If you could steal things from dreams, what would you take?

Ronan Lynch has secrets. Some he keeps from others. Some he keeps from himself.

One secret: Ronan can bring things out of his dreams.

And sometimes he's not the only one who wants those things.

Ronan is one of the raven boys — a group of friends, practically brothers, searching for a dead king named Glendower, who they think is hidden somewhere in the hills by their elite private school, Aglionby Academy. The path to Glendower has long lived as an undercurrent beneath town. But now, like Ronan's secrets, it is beginning to rise to the surface — changing everything in its wake.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25804763-the-dream-thieves

This book is really hard to review. Like really hard. I have so many conflicted thoughts about this book so I guess I'm just going to do a list review (which I've never done before!)

1. I need more Noah Czerny. It's ridiculous how rare his moments in this book is. I thought he's one of the raven boys?? But those moments when he appears are really precious, especially when Ronan threw him out of the window. I get why he rarely appears though.

“Ronan's bedroom door burst open. Hanging on the door frame, Ronan leaned out to peer past Gansey. He was doing that thing where he looked like both the dangerous Ronan he was now and the cheerier Ronan he had been when Gansey first met him. "Is Noah out here?"

"Hold on," Gansey told Adam. Then, to Ronan: "Why would he be?"

"No reason. Just no reason." Ronan slammed his door.

Gansey asked Adam, "Sorry. You still have that suit for the party?"

Adam's response was buried in the sound of the second-story door falling open. Noah slouched in. In a wounded tone, he said, "He threw me out the window!"

Ronan's voice sang out from behind his closed door: "You're already dead!”

2. I love the idea of taking things from dreams. It's not the first time being used, but the concept and the rules are really original.

3. I'm starting to understand the plot better. It's hard to understand while I was reading it, but as I reached the end I knew what happened. It's like the puzzle pieces just fit without I even realizing it. The pacing was a bit off at some points, but I think that's the beauty of Stievfater's books. They lulled you and enchating you to keep reading.

4. I don't know why, but out of the 4 Raven Boys, I feel nothing for Gansey. Isn't he the main character??? Shouldn't I love him? But seriously guys, is Gansey actually Glendower? It's been shadowed so many times with the whole "old and young", "time is circular" and other stuffs.

"It already has," Calla replied. Her eyes opened and fixed on Blue. "And it hasn't yet. Time' circular, chicken. We use the same parts of it over and over. Some of us more than others.”

5. Is every character named Adam doomed to have shitty character development? I didn't like his development in this book. He's just too angsty and stubborn.

6. We get to know Ronan better here, so yay! He seems to have barbed wire around him, so I'm really glad to see more of his past and his family. I connect and understand a whole lot more with him. I understand why he's so rude and angsty 99% of the time (except when he's with chainsaw). And can we see more Matthew please? He's just adorable!

“I know you think you're a punk," Declan said. "But you aren't nearly as bad ass as you think you are."
"Oh, go to hell," Ronan snapped, just as the alter boys broached the rear doors.
"Guys," Matthew pleaded. "Be holy.”

7. That being said, I also find a bit disconnected with the characters. I'm not filthy rich, I'm not quirky like Blue, I'm not dead like Noah, and I'm not on a quest finding a sleeping king. It's just... my life isn't as quirky as them, I find it hard to understand why or what they're thinking.

So yeah. I did enjoyed it, even though not as much as The Raven Boys. I'm excited to know what happened next though, so definitely going to continue on this series!

Tasya

8 comments

MaraMay 13, 2016 at 9:10 AM
I agree that the characters could be quite unrelatable at times (I felt the same way). BUT YES, NOAH. I WILL NEVER STOP LOVING NOAH. (And I loved that window scene too. xD)

I didn't feel attached much to Adam and Gansey either. However, I think you'll get to know about them more in the future books. Especially Noah. Noah gets more page time book by book. xD

Great review, Tasya!

Mara @ Mara Was Here
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Aila May 14, 2016 at 9:06 PM
I totally get where you're coming from, when you said you didn't connect to the characters tasya! Granted, they were easy to love and get emotional about, but I never saw myself in them. It made for a very detached read overall, which in my case was saved by the cool paranormal stuff going on. :) Awesome review!

- Aila @ One Way or An Author
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AliseMay 15, 2016 at 1:32 PM
"I'm starting to understand the plot better." This. The first time I read The Raven Boys I was like okay, I'm not sure what's going on but I LIKE IT. Now I'm beginning to actually get everything that is going on. Can't wait to see what you think of Blue Lily, Lily Blue ;)
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charlietanghoeMay 15, 2016 at 2:14 PM
I agree with everything in this review. Tbh I did not care for Gansey at all throughout the entire series. I found him so empty?? Idk. The plot is always wonky tbh. YES NOAH MY SWEET GHOST CHILD. I'm glad you enjoyed the book overall though! c:
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