The Raven Boys

 Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater 

“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.

 *****

I've read other Maggie Stiefvater books and enjoyed them so when i saw The Raven Boys at the library i decide to give it a try.  After reading the jacket cover i became intrigued and by all the good  reviews it has received.Soon though I  realize that the plot had very little to do with what this synopsis describes.I thought that it would focus on  Blue and Gansey's romance and on her possibly killing him with a kiss with a little adventure and mystery tossed in.The story was more to do with a hunt for an ancient king who will grant a favor to the one who wakes him then any one love life though it was mentioned every now and then.

 Blue Sargent is a non-seer but has the gift of being able to amplify other seers powers. On the Eve of St. Mark’s Day Blue's mother who is a clairvoyant but also typical mom is her own way sits watch over the churchyard all night. To watch the ghosts of those that will be passing over in the next year.This year while ther Blue sees a boy named Gansey and the only time a non seer sees someone is if its true love or they killed them.I liked Blues character she was strong,loyal and sweet.The characters in the Raven Boys were well thought out and i liked how they all felt so real.The dynamic of Blues house  was  interesting and everyone living there is so eccentric.The story starts out from Blues perceptive then alternates between Adam,Gansey and Barrington Whelk.
The raven boys who invade Blues life include Gansey, who is obsessed with the supernatural he's the ringleader.Then there's Adam whose desperate for a life outside what he knows and is determined to get there on his own. Ronan is next he's angry,blunt,can fight and is probably my favorite raven boy so far.He seem like a loose canon whose  anger hides untold regret but is always there for his buddies. Last but not least is Noah  a troubled but sweet soul who is always grubby looking and seems to knows more than he lets on.:his back-story breaks my heart a bit.

The Raven Boys is a book filled with depth and emotion and was definitely a page turner for me.I'm hooked and can't wait for the next one to arrive so i can get my hands on it.By the end of the story  I had so many questions and not enough answers.This book will intrigue any one if they give it a chance.5/5