The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Rating: 5 Stars
Blurb: “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. (more)

My Review:

Blue Sargent will kill her true love with a kiss, or so it was prophesied by the women in her family. The seers. And so when she sees a spirit on St.Mark's eve, it is clear that he is either her true love, or the one she will kill.

That can't end too well, and especially because the spirit happens to be a boy by the name of Richard "Dick" Campbell Gansey III. He is rich and attending Aglionby Academy, the local school for the rich, obviously. Aside from wealth, he has good friends, a not so nice car, insomnia, and a sick obsession with a lost Welsh King. I adore Gansey on so many levels. His characterization is astoundingly well formed, astounding to the point where I can imagine him right beside me, a solid human being.

Or perhaps the reason I feel connected to him, and the other's no doubt, is because Maggie Stiefvater has created such a thick atmosphere, I can almost feel the fog pouring out of the pages. As if I am there, and oh boy, the feeling is just breathtaking. I love that about this book, and the same effect was embedded inside her book, The Scorpio Races.

The plot is nicely paced, with enough to keep us on our toes yet simultaneously have us reclining on our chairs. The ideas are just extraordinary (really, they are), and the characters and setting are nicely built upon.

From the wit to the adventure and suspense, I would recommend this book to all and any. Do not be fooled into thinking that this is just another typical romance. It's not, it's so much more. It will keep you up at night, transforming the darkness outside to a forest in which an old king may lie, and the sweat on you to a warm Henrietta summer breeze. Read it. Just go and do it, you will not be disappointed.