The Literary Huntress: maggie stiefvater

The Raven Cyce Book Tag

After a lot of rave reviews and hype, I finally read The Raven Cycle Series by Maggie Stiefvater earlier this year. And while it doesn't end up as one of my all time faves, I do loved it. The dream like quality, the characters, the welsh legend it incorporates, the dreamy sleepy town... They're just perfect. It's also pretty spooky, so after tagged by Erin more than 3 months ago (sorry Erin!) I think this is the perfect time to do this tag! Let's just get started.

1. In the books, Maura is the relaxed mom that is Blue’s friend more than an actual mother. Who is your favorite mom character?

Arguably, Narcissa and Lily could fit this category, but while we know Lily would do all the things Molly do to Harry in the alternate universe where Neville is the Chosen One, in this universe she's actually, well, dead. As for Narcissa, she loved Draco so much but she didn't have the courage to OPENLY defies Voldemort until the very end. Also she spoiled Draco too much so I don't think she would be mother of the year in terms of education.

I'd steal Erin's answer (and probably everyone's answer of this question) and go with Molly Weasley. The way she cares for her family, but also take care of Harry, Hermione and the rest of the order. I think she knew from the first time she met Harry how much danger she puts her family in- after all, Harry is The Boy Who Lived. And yet she still took care of him for years, even join the fight and openly defies Voldemort. She's also embodies the stereotypical mother: fussy but loving. I can't think of a better fictional mother to go against Molly.

Here's a little bonus to give you feels:

2. Adam wanted to go to Aglionby so he could one day escape where he came from. Have you ever dreamt of living somewhere else? Where?

I used to want to live in Greece. I mean the beaches??? Have you seen them? Not to mention my obsession with ancient greek. But for my whole life, I always wanted to live in either Spain or Vatican. The architecture, the culture, the language.... I'm in love.

3. In the second book we meet the Gray Man. He is a hit man who loves poetry. Name a book that you thought was going to be one thing but turned out to be something else.

MISS PEREGRINES HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs. I initially thought it was a creepy book because of the cover? But it's not scary at all, only about magical realism filled with monsters. The pictures inside the book are pretty creepy though...

4. Gansey has searched most of his life for a buried king who is promised to grant one wish. What is one wish you would ask Glendower?

I don't know really, there are a lot of things I wanted in this life, but I think I would like to ask for gratitude for everyone. Because when you have gratitude you'll learn how to be content and happy with what you have right now, and I think it could help a lot of people to make them see how blessed they are actually and just.stop.whining.

5. In this series you get to see Greenmantle as a fleshed out character but also as a villain. Name your favorite villain.

I tend to fall for the villains so I have a lot of villains to choose for! Crowley, Bellatrix, The Darkling, Moriarty, Loki, and so on. I don't have any favorites, they're all my evil babies!

6. Blue’s got her Raven Boys. Who makes up your bookish team?

I would say Shahrzad and Khalid, Percabeth, Nikolai Lantsov and Will Herondale (you see what I did there hehe) All of them are awesome fighters and love stories, except for Percy maybe, but you can't have Annabeth without Percy right? Also, watching the banter between Nikolai and Will would've been fun!

7. Ronan is a bad ass with a sensitive side. What book have you read that was action packed but had beautiful emotional scenes as well?

THE LAST OLYMPIAN by Rick Riordan. Honorable mentions include GODDESS by Josephine Angelini and CLOCKWORK PRINCESS by Cassandra Clare. They are all a series finale, and it's all about battle time so it's non stop action and strategizing from first page to the near end. And emotional scene? You've got plenty of deaths to get yourself emotional trust me.

8. Noah has a heart of gold. Who has touched your heart recently?

Um.. idk? Not much happened in my life right now so I don't really know...

9. Calla is a woman who speaks her mind and puts her foot down when necessary. Who is your favorite strong female character?

Credit to whoever made this. If you know please don't hesitate to contact me!

Without a doubt, Shahrzad Al-Khayzuran. She has a quick mind and sharp mouth, so her ability to fight with her mind and words are undoubtable. In addition to that, her archery skill is amazing! She's beauty, she's grace, and she would nock an arrow in your face.

10. Chainsaw is an awesome Raven boy pet. If you could have one “exotic” pet…what would it be? What would you name it?

I'd love to have a phoenix please! And I would name him Nikolai after Nikolai Lantsov.

I tag:

Cait @ Paper Fury (because Stiefvater!)

And all of you who loves The Raven Cycle!

12:30 AM
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Book Review: The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

4 stars

The Raven King

by Maggie Stiefvater

E-book edition, 400 pages

Published April 26th, 2016 by Scholastic
✰✰✰✰

The fourth and final installment in the spellbinding series from the irrepressible, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.

All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

In a starred review for Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Kirkus Reviews declared: "Expect this truly one-of-a-kind series to come to a thundering close."

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17378527-the-raven-king

"This was the year he was going to die.”

Here we are. After 4 books and countless broken hearts, we're finally at the end. I finally brace myself and read this book. And I have to admit, it was both dissapointing and amazing as a finale.

I'm really thrilled that the pace really picks up in this book. It wasn't as slow as the other books on the first half, and it picks up even more on the second half. So many things are happening I literally speed reading my book because I can't wait to know what happened next.

The stakes are also getting higher, with the Demon awakened on the last book. It basically has affected all the women in 300 Fox Way and the sleepy old town Henrietta. It's really creepy watching the Demon hurt everyone and everything, and there are so.many.deaths. We could see how literally the whole town (maybe more) is at stake in this book!

The writing style is as gorgeous as ever. The whole experience is just surreal because of the way Maggie writes it. It's like, the whole Raven Cycle journey, I've been suspended between dreams and reality and watching everything unravel.

The relationship between the characters is really my favorite thing about this book. We could see how much they care for each other, how far they'd go to save each other. I love the friendship, but sadly I feel nothing for the romance. I mean, I feel something for Adam/Ronan, but nothing for Blue/Gansey. I guess that's because I also don't care for Blue and Gansey individually (sorry guys!)

Now here's a list of some things that I disliked about this book.

The Grey Man story in this book doesn't have a statisfying ending.
What the hell is actually happened with Noah in this book? What was the point of him staying for so long? Does he give his life for Gansey or what? SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN.
I've said it before, and I will say it again: Noah Czerny deserves better. All this time he's been treated as a supernatural EMF. Whenever something bad happening, Noah would go bad. His talking moment with the boys are really small, and it's like he's not even part of the gang in this book!
I know I said I want to know more of Henry Cheng, but that doesn't mean like this! It's like he's replacing Noah as the 4th member of the group!
So... if Gansey is not Glendower, than how come his voice could command the dead? Who's the voice that talking to him all those years ago when he was dying?? AND DON'T SAY MAGIC. I want an explanation of what actually happening and what is Gansey for real, and saying it's magic is such a lazy explanation.
Also, what the deal with the deathly blue kiss? What makes it so deadly? She kissed him and that's it? He's dead??? No explanation AGAIN??

So overall, I think it's a pretty statisfying ending. It has so many holes sure, but it was a pleasant experience reading and wandering around in pursuit for the dead welsh king.

12:00 PM
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Book Review: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

4 stars

Blue Lily, Lily Blue

by Maggie Stiefvater

E-book edition, 416 pages

Published October 21st 2014 by Scholastic Press

✰✰✰✰

The third installment in the mesmerizing series from the irrepressible, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.

There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.

Mothers can disappear.

Visions can mislead.

Certainties can unravel.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23216567-blue-lily-lily-blue

This is a long overdue review of BLLB. I want to posted this review not too far with my review of The Raven King. And I guess because I've been putting it off for too long, now I'm just kind of don't know what to say. I'll just put up a list of what I think about BLLB.

TRK review will be up around next week, so stay tuned.

The pacing in this book definitely picks up, and so many things are happening. Part of it is also because the addition of the new characters. But we all know it's heading into the epic finale in the final book!
The friendship between the boys is so heartfelt in this book. They would go at really great length to save each other. I love how Ronan and Gansey came to Adam's trial. And Adam finally accepting the friendship wholefully instead of thinking it as a charity!
Ronan and Adam grew on me. I dislike Adam in The Dream Thieves, but I really like him in this book. I love how he embraces himself, Cabeswater, the friendship, and turn it into strength in coping with real life and his father. It's also interesting seeing the progress of Ronan Lynch. If the Squash Song is real I would've memorize it terrorize everyone with it.
I'm sorry, but I have to say I don't like Blue in this book. I liked her because she could stand up to herself and takes no shit from anyone. But in this book, she just becomes a "firecracker" and rude to everyone. She's just... let's say that I think she's difficult in this book. I get that her mother dissapears, and it adds stress to her. But she doesn't have to snap and being rude to the people that's the closest to her....
WHERE IS NOAH. I can't believe how lacking he is in this book! It's like he's not even part of the gang...
I want to know more about Henry Cheng. I get this feeling that he will be important in the next book.
Death oh death... WHy Maggie... The characters she killed in this book are my favorites *sobs*
So many thing happening in the last few chapters! The cave is my favorite part in this book. It feel so unreal (I mean, the whole book is unreal but it just feels more otherworldly.)
And finally, please don't stone me, I don't care about Blue's boys problem. I feel nothing for Blue and Gansey. I really don't. I'm sorry.

So overall, I really like this book! I think it's my second-favorite in the series. Except for my problem with some characters and plot, it's a fantastic and magical world that would transport you to Henrietta and makes you want to explore underground caves!

12:00 PM
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7 Things About The Dream Thieves

4 stars

The Dream Thieves

by Maggie Stievfater

E-book edition, 360 pages

Published 2013 by Scholastic Press

✰✰✰✰

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!

12:30 PM
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Book Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

4.5 stars

The Raven Boys

by Maggie Stievfater

Ebook edition, 312 pages

Published September 2012, by Scholastic Press

✰✰✰✰.5

“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.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25804723-the-raven-boys

WOW. I know a lot of people were raving about this series, saying it's unique and whimsical, but I'm not expecting this! I've read Wolves of Mercy Falls series, and I really enjoyed it. It's one of those series that is slow paced, but the beautiful and poetic writings makes you slowly fall in love with it. The magical and magical writing really stick to me the most, and I'm glad to say that The Raven Boys gives me the same feels.

“Aglionby Academy was the number one reason Blue had developed her two rules: One, stay away from boys because they were trouble. And two, stay away from Aglionby boys, because they were bastards.”

The story take place in the sleepy old town of Henrietta, where everything is ordinary and boring, except for Blue's family. The description of the sleepy town and the unique life Blue's living is really interesting.

Even though there's nothing much happening in this book, plot-wise, but the character are so unique and entirely different from each other. Blue is just so confident with herself, Gansey is just really nice, and I could understand why he's so desperate in searching the sleeping king. Ronan is like wearing layers of barbed wire around himself, but seeing him with Chainsaw really melts my heart. Adam is typical I guess? Typically mundane, with normal problems like money, grades, and family problems compared to the others. I hope to get to know him better in the next book. But Noah. Oh my. He's my favorite. He's a precious cinnamon roll that has to be wrapped with fuzzy blanket and protected from all the evils in the world. BUT THEN THE REVELATION COME.

I was really in shock when I read it, I literally threw my phone a way (it's a good thing I was reading on bed) and e-mailed my friend. How could I fall in love with someone spoiler who has been dead even before the story starts??? I think I have a thing for dead characters *cries*. spoiler ends.

My brain really doesn't compute. But other than that? It's fantastic. The other-worldly-ness of Cabeswater makes me want to visit the place myself.

I knock the half star because I was a bit confused about what happened, but overall I really really pleased with this book. It's such an amazing series starters and I can't wait to read The Dream Thieves (and re-read this book for more understanding.).

12:30 AM
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The Raven Cyce Book Tag

1. In the books, Maura is the relaxed mom that is Blue’s friend more than an actual mother. Who is your favorite mom character?

2. Adam wanted to go to Aglionby so he could one day escape where he came from. Have you ever dreamt of living somewhere else? Where?

3. In the second book we meet the Gray Man. He is a hit man who loves poetry. Name a book that you thought was going to be one thing but turned out to be something else.

4. Gansey has searched most of his life for a buried king who is promised to grant one wish. What is one wish you would ask Glendower?

5. In this series you get to see Greenmantle as a fleshed out character but also as a villain. Name your favorite villain.

6. Blue’s got her Raven Boys. Who makes up your bookish team?

7. Ronan is a bad ass with a sensitive side. What book have you read that was action packed but had beautiful emotional scenes as well?

8. Noah has a heart of gold. Who has touched your heart recently?

9. Calla is a woman who speaks her mind and puts her foot down when necessary. Who is your favorite strong female character?

10. Chainsaw is an awesome Raven boy pet. If you could have one “exotic” pet…what would it be? What would you name it?

Book Review: The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

Book Review: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

7 Things About The Dream Thieves

Book Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

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