Review: The Dream Thieves

Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Date of Publication: September 17 2013
Pages: 448
Series: The Raven Cycle #2, sequel to The Raven Boys
Source: Complimentary ARC

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

AMAZON / GOODREADS

 
Review:

It's a shocking thing when you have something great, and then it gets even greater. I can't help but smile because I loved it. The Raven Boys is so incredible that it's outstanding that The Dream Thieves is even better.

I've been trying to understand what makes these books so magical. There is no magic formula; there is beautiful writing, the type where each sentence should be savoured. There are these characters that are heartbreaking and raw. Most of all, there is emotion. Maggie Stiefvater has a gift, and that's the ability to write the emotions, the subconscious truth, of everything.

Reading The Dream Thieves was a completely otherly experience. It was like a reverie, one passage leading to another to form a story that completely engrossed you. At any given moment there was simple humour, the type that exists always, even when you're too upset to see it. There was also the possibility that any paragraph at any given point could induce tears. One of the most emotional scenes for me was one scene that was perfect. It wasn't flawless, or unrealistic. It was awful and full of want, with a secret that would always hurt the two characters, but there was one moment where none of the awfulness mattered. Those moments are some of the best in life, and Maggie Stiefvater's ability to write them truly is one of her greatest assets.

The Dream Thieves begins as moreso Roman's story, but it's really the story of everybody. There are so many different elements like the characters and the demons each of them face. Their strength is remarkable, especially considering what they go through. Maggie Stiefvater somehow made me love every character even more, and even pity the villains.

Gansey is still my favourite, and now I think I might have to elevate him to the status of one of my all time favourites. He's so real, from this mannerism he has of putting his thumb on his bottom lip, to his wire frame glasses. He's charming and inspiring to read about. In The Dream Thieves, everything seems to be falling apart and Gansey can't fix it, no matter how much he tries.

There's also Blue's awful prophecy. If she kisses her true love, he will die. Blue isn't as prominent in The Dream Thieves as she was in The Raven Boys but her character never failed to impress as well. She has this spunk to her and her relationship with her mother in particular is a highlight of The Dream Thieves.

Adam has his own issues. Reading about him is confusing. He made his sacrifice and now he has to live with it. Adam doesn't know what to do with his life. He doesn't know what he really wants, but he tries so hard anyway. He never feels like he's enough and his story feels particularly dark. Adam makes choices I wasn't happy with, but it's not impossible to see where he's coming from. If any character most deserves a hug, it should be Adam.

I left Ronan last because he is the star in The Dream Thieves. I wasn't sure what to make of Ronan in The Raven Boys, but let me tell you, he's just as wonderful as any one of these characters. Ronan is not approachable. He's violent and angry. There is a darkness to him that might make him harder to love at first glance, but the more I read of Ronan, the more I realize how much I love him too. Ronan is honest and lost. He is unshakeably loyal to his friends and his dreams were terrifying.

There were many more characters and storylines like Mr. Gray and Maura's that I would love to explain how wonderful they are, but I'll leave that to the reader.

The Dream Thieves encompasses many things, but the main storyline is Roman's dreams. Or rather, his ability to make them a reality. This unique gift doesn't come without a price, or without others that covet it. There is a fair bit of mystery, and as much as The Dream Thieves explores characters deeply, it also tells a story. The ending is shocking and I'm a bit sad I finished this book so fast because I want more. That doesn't mean The Dream Thieves isn't satisfying. It is very much so, it's just that once you get a taste of a story like this it's extremely hard to let go.

I loved this book. I want to reread it and locate every single amazing quote. I want to fall even deeper in love with characters and the charms of beautiful Henrietta. It's hard sometimes to express yourself, and I'm trying so hard to make people understand how much I enjoyed The Dream Thieves. It's right up there in the best of YA. It's on my all time favourites. 5 hearts.

-P.E.