There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel. 

My Review

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Pages: 391

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: October 21 2014

Series: The Raven Cycle #3

Source: Library

I feel like the more of Maggie Stiefvater I read, the more I start to understand her writing. I've often called Stiefvater's writing atmospheric, haunting, blah blah blah but this time, a different work came to mind: quirky.

Stiefvater's writing, characters, and world is quirky. The prose is charming and funny; warm, and inviting. There is a sense that Stiefvater is in complete control. There are metaphors, and patterns, and it is done with an astonishing control.

Now, what can I say about the characters that I haven't said before?

Except that the characters still change in little ways, and their relationships change with them. Adam is probably my favourite change. It's remarkable to see his growth as he becomes more comfortable with the person he is to everyone else. Adam is rebuilding himself on new foundations, and he's growing up from a scared boy to a man. He has come so far, and I loved his tentative assuredness, and his acceptance of who he was.

Gansey is showing signs of weakness, but that doesn't make him any less awesome than ever. Still, I'm getting a little worried for him. Don't you break my heart, Stiefvater.

I'm a little surprised with my deep love for Ronan. In fact, I wanted more of him in this book! #MoreRonan2015 It's not that he wasn't there. It's just that in The Dream Thieves, he rocked the story and he wasn't as focal in Blue Lily, Lily Blue. This time, the story was more balanced.

And I suppose the biggest part of Blue Lily, Lily Blue is Blue. Blue is always a little out of my centre of attention because I find the boys more interesting than her, and that's not a comment on her character. I loved Stiefvater's character development for Blue. Blue is considering college, she misses her mom, she acts out, and is arrogant but in the best teenage way. I really like Blue's fiestiness.

Now, if we have to talk comparisons, I will say that The Dream Thieves is still my favourite of the series (and of Stiefvater). Something about the rawness of Ronan's story appealed to me. The style of Blue Lily, Lily Blue feels a little different, and you can tell that something is happening.

And here is the part in my review where I check Goodreads and realize there is only one more book. Ohmygosh there is ONE more book left. JUST ONE.


via GIPHY

Can we talk about this? Because I've barely finished any series in the past few years and I've kept up with this one.

AND IT'S ENDING.

I'm so lost. What do I do in life if I don't have another book of Gansey and Ronan and Blue and Adam to look forward to? What else is there?

Before I read The Raven King *sobs* and write my series review (oh please, we all know that the last book reviewed in a series is always a series review), I'm just going to take a moment and try to remember the characters as they are right now, on the precipice of tragedy. I will remember their friendship, and their unique relationships, and the personal challenges they have all overcome.

-P.E.

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.