Rated YA-MA discussion

(view spoiler)[Once Mr. Gray started interacting with Maura I soooo badly wanted him to flip sides. So, when he did and he killed his brother, I was EXTRA devestated when she ended up disappearing!

And everyone is talking about the kiss between Noah and Blue, but what about the not-kiss between Blue and Gansey. That broke my heart too!

Lastly, I absolutely loved the way that Ronan's sexuality was revealed. It was done slowly, casually, and while people are talking about his 'crush' on Gansey, I dont' really think he felt that way about him. He specifically thought 'brother' in that scene with Kavinski. Also, Mr. Gray got a sense of brotherhood from Gansey and Ronan too. Plus, I loved that Ronan was the LAST character people would expect to be Gay. It was like she absolutely thumbed her nose at stereotypical 'gay' male characters and I absolutely LOVED it. (hide spoiler)]

gaaaaahhh

(view spoiler)[
ok... so, Ronan! I didn't even consider the reveal. It was done so... how do I put it... with little brouhaha(?) It's sensitively done and more felt as a result because it wasn't just his 'main' thing. I LOVED that. At first, that dream girl figment of his; I was thinking something's going to happen there, right? *silly me*

Then Noah! and Blue... Noah's barely in this, but him saying what he did, had me so saaad for him. And them doing what they did... then switch to Gansey! It's the (view spoiler)[non-kiss (hide spoiler)] that pushed this to a fiver for me. o.O...

And darn it... Blue's family! They're all so odd but they're her odd. I loved every one of them... even I didn't get them.

My god, but this woman can write.) (hide spoiler)]

I know, it was (view spoiler)[ handled so casually. Just that one little conversation with Kavinski. It was exactly how it should be, just casual.

BOTH the kisses, well the kiss and the non-kiss were planned so perfectly. The pain from Noah's making the non-kiss with Gansey that much more heartbreaking.

And YES, lmao. every time I read the ladies at 300 Fox Way I get images of Practical Magic. They're almost... enchanting, lol.

The scene with Orla in the boat had me cracking up.

She can WRITE! She's slowly creeping up there as a favorite of mine, with Ness, Green and Marchetta, lol. So long as she keeps this up! (hide spoiler)]

I just read this last week. It was such a great book! I wish the romance was a little stronger, though. Because, quite frankly, I'm confused as to who she really likes.

LOL, After Dream Thieves I'm pretty positive it's (view spoiler)[all about Gansey (hide spoiler)]. I love a romance, but my favorites are the slow building ones.

Megan wrote: "I just read this last week. It was such a great book! I wish the romance was a little stronger, though. Because, quite frankly, I'm confused as to who she really likes."

(view spoiler)[ Gansey! I was hoping for Adam at first, thinking that book crushing on the perfect one would be... so common of me. then flipped because liking the underdog was likewise common. then started totally digging The RicH kid because darn it he isnt perfect (none of them are) but him and Blue made more sense... and that non kisss is STILL on my mind two days after!!!! (hide spoiler)]

On fanmode: Forever made me like her. Scorpio Races made me love her. Raven Cycle is making me slightly obsessed over her!

wendy, Even if i didnt do SR on audio ( I won a signed ARC a couple of years back; was stoked, raced through it, finished it and then immediately ordered a hardback) i think you should. so many people say it's a great version.

Isamlq wrote: "Megan wrote: "I just read this last week. It was such a great book! I wish the romance was a little stronger, though. Because, quite frankly, I'm confused as to who she really likes."

[spoilers re..."

Oh, Scorpio Races is one of my favorite audio books ever. I don't know if I would have liked it half so much if I hadn't heard it.

Amazon had The Raven Boys for $2 this week on kindle so I snagged it. I'm excited to find out what all the fuss is about.

I've never been very good with audio books. My ADD causes me to tone out when I'm listening to long speeches or talking. No matter how hard I try I find myself zoning out.

And, Isa, I soooo absolutely agree with you about (view spoiler)[Gansey! In the first book there were a few scenes with Adam that I felt my heart flutter over, but there was nothing at all that compared to her and Gansey. That non-kiss was the most tragically romantic thing I've read in a while in a book! (hide spoiler)]!

I ordered an autographed copy of Dream Thieves from the bookstore that handles that for Stiefvater, because I want to try for the special books that she did the airbrushed art inside. (She made beautiful artwork in three copies. One went to her bookstore in the UK, one went to her bookstore in Canada, and one went to her bookstore here in the states. They're being sent to people who preorder, chosen randomly, like Wonka and the golden ticket. I had to try.) And I can not WAIT for it to get here so I can stroke it, lmao.

I can't wait for the 17th for TDT! I was able to meet Maggie Stiefvater when she was on tour last year for TRB. She drew a raven for all the books she signed, and she gave an original artwork (I think it was the one of Gansey that appeared on TRB's book trailer) to the attendee who travelled the furthest to her book signing. It went to a woman who drove over two hours to get there. Lucky :)

Isamlq wrote: "Megan wrote: "I just read this last week. It was such a great book! I wish the romance was a little stronger, though. Because, quite frankly, I'm confused as to who she really likes."

[spoilers re..."

I've been anxiously waiting for TDT have not been disappointed yet with anything she has written. I have Scorpio Races in hardback on my absolute favorite loved books in my living room but now I feel like I need to listen to it on audio so I can see what that was like! cannot wait to get my hands on Dream Thieves

Oh my god, I can't believe I still haven't read this. *slinks off to read The Raven Boys*

ugh....I still have to wait a week and a half for it to come out. Then I can clicky clicky on all the spoilers.

I loved listening to the first book

I've only read the first book! I haven't been able to get the next one yet. Actually, I didn't realize it was out D:

I have read Scorpio Races and loved it! I plan to make November cakes for my birthday this year (my birthday is November 4th. Seems fitting). I'm glad she made a recipe in honor of that book!

Maggie Stiefvater has such an artistic way of writing. Her ideas are always well thought out and I enjoy them.

I have galleys for both of these sitting around unread. I just haven't been in the mood for a Maggie Stiefvater book. I want to participate in the excitements! :( Maybe I can talk myself into it this month.

You really should! It's awesome!

Also, the book isn't released until the 17th of this month. It's worth the wait!

I really liked The Raven Boys but I fell for The Dream Thieves.
(view spoiler)[ I absolutely adored the fact that Maggie Stiefvater used the Mr Grey plot line to propel the story and keep you interested while the Gansey - Adam - Blue relationship developed in the background. Often the second book in a series is a bit dull as the author focuses on character development - Mr Grey was the perfect antidote to this.
I'm also really excited about Ronan's development and finding out about his backstory. (hide spoiler)]

I listened to The Raven Boys on audiobook and it was really good. However, The Scorpio Races was one of the best audiobooks I've ever read. It also has a brilliant passage from Maggie Stiefvater at the end reflecting on the story. I love little authorial intent statements.

I wish that I hadn't read TRB or TDT. I wish I had of waited longer because it is going to be painful waiting for the next book! Xxx

I just read both of these!

I loved , but I didn't like at all, except for Ronan's parts. I agree about how (view spoiler)[his sexuality was revealed so casually and not a huge deal at all. (hide spoiler)] Other than that, it was boring.

When I read The Raven Boys, I loved the matriarchal aspect of Blue's home life. All of the females were witty, quirky, and mysterious. I enjoyed their reactions to Blue and her "friends." I liked the book, but the final line of the story hooked me! What an idea.

I read The Dream Thieves. Ronan was intriguing - his many moods and rumblings, yet the Gray Man also was a fascinating character animated by the Kinks and object nicknames. The book engaged me-then it suddenly ended! Now, I am stuck in the dead zone until the third one is published. Ugh.

What should I read next?

Are you looking for a similar type of book to this one, Maria?

The group read for November is now open.

If you need to talk about any major plot points (minor story details don't need to be tagged), please use this code to put your text inside of a spoiler tag and make a note of whereabouts in the book you're talking about so people know if they've read far enough to be able to click on the tag :

Who hoo! I cant' wait to see some of your reviews for this one. I love Raven Boys!

These are two of my absolute favorite reads of 2013. I can't wait to see what everyone thinks. I have so many theoriessssss. Can't wait to discuss!

I really like the Raven Boys too. And we still have to wait for two more books! Do you think she'll stop at four?

Cinthia wrote: "I really like the Raven Boys too. And we still have to wait for two more books! Do you think she'll stop at four?"

Yep! It's definitely a 4 book series.

I'm just starting The Raven Boys.

So far it's ok but I'd like my kindle let me replace all Gansey mentions by any other name. The reason it's quite ridiculous, I know, but it happens that Gansey it's phonetically pretty close to 'ganso' (goose, in Spanish).
And to top it, Dick Gansey!

Obviously I won't ever rate a book by these things but sometime it hopelessly takes me out of it.

I'm still in the process of reading this. I'm about 2/3 through at chapter 25. Enjoying the oddness but the author has an unusual tone that I can't seem to latch onto. I felt the same about Scorpio Races.

LOL, I can see how that would be hard Sandra. I thought his name was odd, but after a while I started to like it.

She definitely has a very unique voice. I think it just works for me, (usually).

I'm eagerly following this thread and hoping for lots of spoilers to help jog my memory. I plan on starting Dream Thieves shortly for our End of the Year Challenge.

I remember that this was one of those rare books that caught me off guard. Usually it's easy to anticipate some of the twists and turns in a story but this one smacked me in the face sometimes.

It's been mentioned before that the recaptains blog has recaps of YA books in a series and I'm guessing they'd have a recap for this book, since it's fairly well known.

Jen wrote: "I'm still in the process of reading this. I'm about 2/3 through at chapter 25. Enjoying the oddness but the author has an unusual tone that I can't seem to latch onto. I felt the same about Scorpio..."

That's what makes me nervous about reading this. I didn't like Shiver all that much, and I liked Linger but it was sort of a "grow to love" type of thing because of a certain character. The author seems to put in a lot of filler scenes where not much is happening in the books I've read so far (no, I don't care if someone's sitting in a truck or a coffee shop shooting the shit for 2 chapters if it doesn't directly relate to the bigger picture), which leads me to believe that I just don't appreciate the style of writing in general. I totally get why so many people love the quiet details but my mind can wander if stuff isn't happening.

I'm still reading the book though because I'm curious!

Recaptains has a recap of the Raven Boys that Maggie Stiefvater actually wrote especially for the site! It's pretty hilarious if you read it and she teases about some things in the later books.

I hope you like it Stacia. I remember thinking it was kind of different in terms of writing, but I enjoyed the story. Even though it isn't particularly unique (boy goes on quest), it still felt different than the usual YA, ya know?

Nothing new to add, I agree with both of you!

I'm still at 25% with the feeling of the introductory pages. I fairly know Blue, Gansey, Adam and Ronan, and there's been nothing new about the ley lines for a while. However I have a hunch that this is going to change soon and I don't mind to have a look at this concept of boys on a quest because that's new for me (not in MG, but in YA).

Is it solely a male PoV? I like male PoV books if written right.

Stacia (lost interest) wrote: "Is it solely a male PoV? I like male PoV books if written right."

There are several POVs, not in first person. Some chapters you follow Blue, others it's one of the boys'POV (and there's also another POV like Whelk's).

I'm looking forward for them being together, though, because that will likely mean less introduction and more action.

I have only read the first 5 chapters of this book. It took me a minute to get used to her writing. I got a little lost when she bounced from one person to the next. Now, it is much better. I have a grasp on who's who. Can't wait to read more about Blue's family. What a bunch?!?!?! =0)

It's my first Stiefvater and I've just read Melina Marcheta who plays in a different league, and maybe that's why I'm not into it.

To ilustrate Stacia's point, just when I thought that this was moving on, she intruduces me a new character. She let's me know that she grips pencils childlike and her room smells like oranges or baby powder or maybe like a new textbook (pretty similar, all of them). But I haven't found out anything new in this chapter either. It could be cut out and the storyline would stay the same.

Best scenes so far, at page 97 (view spoiler)[at old church where Blue sees Gansey and at the church, with an endearing Ronan drunk, taking care of a baby raven (hide spoiler)]

Sandra wrote: "It's my first Stiefvater and I've just read Melina Marcheta who plays in a different league, and maybe that's why I'm not into it.

To ilustrate Stacia's point, just when I thought that this was mo..."

Gansey and Ronan were by far my fav characters

At chapter 16, 40%. I'm glad that this is getting better. (view spoiler)[Adam's life adds up some depth to the story plot. I was already convinced by Ronan's. And the raven boy's reading scene was really unputdownable. (hide spoiler)]

I think the Raven Boys really make the story. I love all 4 of them.

I'm 10% in. I like the boys so far. It's the audio version read by Will Patton. He's a good narrator.

Wendy F wrote: "I think the Raven Boys really make the story. I love all 4 of them."

Noah? I don't like him at all. At 50%: (view spoiler)[If Adan get suspicious I think it must be because of him. At least I'm a bit, after all his suddenly show-ups. Now that you said you love the four of them I guess my suspicion might be unfounded (hide spoiler)].

BTW, I'm enjoying it much better now.

I don't want to say too much, but definitely come back and post about it when you finish because i'd love to discuss.

Just finished! I liked the last third of the book best. I felt like it had the most ACTION.

I agree with you Stacia and Sandra...while I appreciate the details, I do, really, some times I feel like saying PLEASE MOVE ON! because sometimes there is only one small action towards a plot point over 2-3 chapters. The descriptive writing is beautiful but it can plod along.

It felt very much like a world building, foundation book for the series.

Also, I did the audiobook with Will Patton - he was great - the only voice I didn't like was Ronan's. I think I have been spoiled by the Jennifer Ehle narration of Clockwork Angel... She had the best narration I've heard.

Also thanks for the tip on the Recaptain's entry - will definitely check it out!

The first half of this book is a lot of setup. It can feel verrrry slow. Once I got to about 60%-ish, I think, I started to get really invested. What I realized, after finishing The Dream Thieves, is that all that setup actually means quite a lot. There are many clever things Maggie has sewn into the books that you wouldn't think twice of on first reading but a careful reading afterward can uncover. I can't wait to read Book 3 just to see what previously may have seemed irrelevant in Books 1 and 2 that were in fact anything but. I really just love stories like that.

I'm at 60% and the book has really grown on me. If the last third it's the best part, I surely be jumping into The dream thieves as soon as I finish this!.

(view spoiler)[The dreaming tree scene was fantastic. Blue's dream was to dream for. Not that I thought that Adam would be her true love, really. However I'm still surprised that Adam's dream was to kill Gansey and not his father. Can't stop think about it. (hide spoiler)]

Oh! Are we reading Dream Thieves too? I thought we were just reading the first book? I clicked on the first post with a spoiler and was like "oh no! I havent read that book!"

Jen wrote: "Oh! Are we reading Dream Thieves too? I thought we were just reading the first book? I clicked on the first post with a spoiler and was like "oh no! I havent read that book!""

Indeed I was also tempted to click on that spoiler but because of the date I guessed it could be related to book 2. The group reading it's just for Raven Boys but I'll continue coming here if I start TDK next.

I really enjoyed this book - but so far, I've loved all of Stiefvater that I've listened to. She tends to have really good voice actors for all her audiobooks.

I enjoyed all the characters she created, and the plot gripped me right from the start. I keep thinking about (view spoiler)[the scene where Blue sees Gansey's spirit and how downtrodden he seemed when he said "that's all there is" (hide spoiler)]

R. wrote: "I really enjoyed this book - but so far, I've loved all of Stiefvater that I've listened to. She tends to have really good voice actors for all her audiobooks.

I enjoyed all the characters she cr..."

Oh I agonized over what that means. What could it possibly mean?! That simple line over many other things really just gets to me.