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The Raven Cycle #0.2
A Very Declan Christmas
"I’ve done a holiday short for the last few years. Here’s another one from the Raven Cycle universe." - Maggie Stiefvater
4 pages, ebook
First published December 24, 2018
About the author
Maggie Stiefvater
66 books172k followersNew York Times bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Raven Cycle, and The Scorpio Races. Artist. Driver of things with wheels. Avid reader.
Maggie Stiefvater plays several musical instruments (most infamously, the bagpipes) and makes art in several media (most generally, colored pencils).
She lives in Virginia with her husband, their two children, many dogs, a bunch of fainting goats, and an irascible tuner car.
Maggie Stiefvater plays several musical instruments (most infamously, the bagpipes) and makes art in several media (most generally, colored pencils).
She lives in Virginia with her husband, their two children, many dogs, a bunch of fainting goats, and an irascible tuner car.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
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December 25, 2018a short cozy tale of dysfunction and magic in the Raven Cycle universe: http://maggiestiefvater.com/a-raven-c...
November 2, 2019
You don't understand my love for Declan Lynch.
No, no, shhhhh ..
You don't.
No, no, shhhhh ..
You don't.
June 5, 2019
You know you have a pynch fanfiction problem when you read a canon short story /written by the actual author/ and think: oh, this reads just like fanfiction!
In all realness though, this story was just so cute. I felt like in the main series Declan's storyline disappears even though it looks like it is going to be something in the Dream Thieves. So it was nice to see him making an appearance. Either way, from what we do see of him we can see that he is misunderstood (but at the same time, understood?) by Ronan. And I loved getting to see their brotherly childhood and relationship from this age. I can't imagine how challenging it must be to have an otherworldly upbringing but be slightly disconnected from it all yourself...
It was short, it was sweet, it was well written and it was the ending that I expected and was happy to see. Great short story!
In all realness though, this story was just so cute. I felt like in the main series Declan's storyline disappears even though it looks like it is going to be something in the Dream Thieves. So it was nice to see him making an appearance. Either way, from what we do see of him we can see that he is misunderstood (but at the same time, understood?) by Ronan. And I loved getting to see their brotherly childhood and relationship from this age. I can't imagine how challenging it must be to have an otherworldly upbringing but be slightly disconnected from it all yourself...
It was short, it was sweet, it was well written and it was the ending that I expected and was happy to see. Great short story!
December 26, 2018
declan lynch did a few things wrong but we shouldn't hold them against him cause he was trying his best and his life is literally a horror movie.
October 25, 2019
Apparently people are still sleeping on Declan Lynch; the big brother that's been through hell and would still do anything for his brothers.
This novella is demonstration enough of how disconnected Declan felt from his family as a kid. He was the only person in the house that was anything except magical. We get to see the way he interacts will little Ronan during Christmas, which was heartwarming.
The Lynch brothers will always be close to my heart <3
This novella is demonstration enough of how disconnected Declan felt from his family as a kid. He was the only person in the house that was anything except magical. We get to see the way he interacts will little Ronan during Christmas, which was heartwarming.
The Lynch brothers will always be close to my heart <3
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December 25, 2018i scream
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July 12, 2019I genuinely have no idea what I just read. I literally don’t know if even Maggie herself understands what she writes.
Anyway, only one phrase matters in this:
I’d like a bird army, Ronan said.
Ronan Lynch and I are one person thanks.
Anyway, only one phrase matters in this:
I’d like a bird army, Ronan said.
Ronan Lynch and I are one person thanks.
October 27, 2020
i can fix declan lynch
December 26, 2018
I'll never get enough of TRC universe! Another amazing new short story from the series!
December 27, 2018
"Declan was tired of managing secrets. There was nothing brilliant about dreaming for the one left awake."
Good short story about Declan's childhood and Christmas.
Still a too brief short story but definitely better than the previous two since it gave a bit more, and actually added something new to the Raven Cycle Fandom 👌🏻
Good short story about Declan's childhood and Christmas.
Still a too brief short story but definitely better than the previous two since it gave a bit more, and actually added something new to the Raven Cycle Fandom 👌🏻
June 1, 2021
Very good short featuring Declan. I find myself feeling sorry for the boy surrounded by dreamers and dreams, just trying to live a normal life.
December 26, 2018
*4.5
All the feels.
Poor Declan. This made me appreciate him more than ever - I forgot how much he had to deal with, how much he fought to protect his brothers.
I'd like to quote a review by jacobi: (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4...) "Declan Lynch did a few things wrong but we shouldn't hold them against him cause he was trying his best and his life is literally a horror movie." So true.
This made me feel so bad for Declan - things weren't easy for him. He did so much that we should be appreciating him for.
Damn.
All the feels.
Poor Declan. This made me appreciate him more than ever - I forgot how much he had to deal with, how much he fought to protect his brothers.
I'd like to quote a review by jacobi: (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4...) "Declan Lynch did a few things wrong but we shouldn't hold them against him cause he was trying his best and his life is literally a horror movie." So true.
This made me feel so bad for Declan - things weren't easy for him. He did so much that we should be appreciating him for.
Damn.
December 25, 2018
I am thisclose to rereading the series for the second time this year.
February 12, 2019
Holy, I had to look through other people's reviews to remember Matthew. Still, a lovely addition to the Raven cycle.
December 28, 2018
There was nothing brilliant about dreaming for the one left awake.
SCREAMING. THAT ENDING. omg I'm so glad I read this, and honestly I've been wanting to reread this series so I'll probably do that next year because I just love it so much *sobs*
SCREAMING. THAT ENDING. omg I'm so glad I read this, and honestly I've been wanting to reread this series so I'll probably do that next year because I just love it so much *sobs*
December 29, 2018
Sometimes you need a warm cup of hot chocolate and soft music, and sometimes all you need is a story about Declan Lynch protecting and watching out for his little brother.
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December 10, 2019 “Smile, little Declan. Don’t tell anyone about this secret.”
5 holiday stars. dam, this makes me want to read call down the hawk RIGHT NOW.
5 holiday stars. dam, this makes me want to read call down the hawk RIGHT NOW.
July 14, 2026
hahahahaa this is 4 pages long and im still counting it as a book towards my yearly goal 🥹 you cant stop me 🙏
i dont really like declan sorry 🙉
i dont really like declan sorry 🙉
December 25, 2018
Well.
Thanks for the emotions. Totally didn't need them.
Thanks for the emotions. Totally didn't need them.
December 29, 2018
4 🌟
Give me anything from The Raven Cycle Universe and I'll be happy 😍😍😍
Declan was such a good older brother though. Nial's favouritism messed that up :/
insta | twitter | blog | booksirens | duolingo
Give me anything from The Raven Cycle Universe and I'll be happy 😍😍😍
Declan was such a good older brother though. Nial's favouritism messed that up :/
__________________________
insta | twitter | blog | booksirens | duolingo
December 25, 2018
I’ve always had a soft spot for Declan ever since it was revealed that Ronan thought up Matthew because he wanted a brother to play with him; that realization killed me. Plus, he was protective of his brothers! But the comment of how he wasn’t either of his parents’ favorite was what really sold me. Jeez!
So it’s no surprise that I really loved this short story about him, and it is no surprise that I like and understand him even more! He deserved better.
So it’s no surprise that I really loved this short story about him, and it is no surprise that I like and understand him even more! He deserved better.
May 18, 2021
A story of four of the Lynches: Niall, the charistmatic father, Aurora, the dulcet bride, Declan, the eldest, and Ronan, the youngest but nonetheless natural heir to everything important Niall possessed.
January 13, 2019
how did i not know about this until now. Also how does maggie manage to make me feel such emotions with, like, one tumblr post
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FAVOURITE QUOTES:
🌌 "There was nothing brilliant about dreaming for the one left awake." 🌌
🌌 "Ronan was everything all at once. He was irascible and adoring, eager and reticent, joyful and furious. Niall had said once there was a saying about Irish weather: if you don’t like it, wait a minute.
That was Ronan." 🌌
🌌 "'Smile, little Declan', she’d say, and tousle his curly hair. There’s so much to smile about.'
There was a lot to be worried about, too, though." 🌌
🌌 "What do you want for Christmas this year?" Aurora asked.
'No more secrets', Declan thought. 🌌
------------------------------------
FAVOURITE QUOTES:
🌌 "There was nothing brilliant about dreaming for the one left awake." 🌌
🌌 "Ronan was everything all at once. He was irascible and adoring, eager and reticent, joyful and furious. Niall had said once there was a saying about Irish weather: if you don’t like it, wait a minute.
That was Ronan." 🌌
🌌 "'Smile, little Declan', she’d say, and tousle his curly hair. There’s so much to smile about.'
There was a lot to be worried about, too, though." 🌌
🌌 "What do you want for Christmas this year?" Aurora asked.
'No more secrets', Declan thought. 🌌
December 26, 2018
I really loved this. It was great getting inside Declan's head as a child and to see how his childhood influenced who he was as an adult. I felt bad for Declan and I'm hoping he gets more love in The Dreamer Trilogy.
December 26, 2018
Oh wow! I'm amazed <3 and I want so much more!
Ronan was everything all at once. He was irascible and adoring, eager and reticent, joyful and furious. Niall had said once there was a saying about Irish weather: if you don’t like it, wait a minute.
That was Ronan.
Ronan was everything all at once. He was irascible and adoring, eager and reticent, joyful and furious. Niall had said once there was a saying about Irish weather: if you don’t like it, wait a minute.
That was Ronan.
December 27, 2018
My whole heart MELTED. I was ill prepared...
December 5, 2019
My heart. Can you not, Stiefvater?
December 25, 2018
AWWWWWW I M SCREAMING 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
July 31, 2019
A Very Declan Christmas is prequel novella to The Raven Cycle and is told from the perspective of Declan, Ronan’s older brother, and recounts the story of how Ronan pulled Matthew out of his dreams.
Declan is such a complex character and when he was first introduced in The Raven Boys, I disliked him, but throughout the series, and especially in The Raven King when we see more of him, I started to understand his character more and why he was the way he was. And reading this novella really made me feel sorry for him and also helped me to again understand Declan’s behaviour towards Ronan throughout the series. And I’m officially announcing that I love Declan Lynch and that he needs to be protected at all costs, please and thank you.
“Declan was tired of managing secrets. There was nothing brilliant about dreaming for the one left awake.”
Declan is such a complex character and when he was first introduced in The Raven Boys, I disliked him, but throughout the series, and especially in The Raven King when we see more of him, I started to understand his character more and why he was the way he was. And reading this novella really made me feel sorry for him and also helped me to again understand Declan’s behaviour towards Ronan throughout the series. And I’m officially announcing that I love Declan Lynch and that he needs to be protected at all costs, please and thank you.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews