The raven boys

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve, Blue. Either you’re his true love, or you killed him.”

Blue Sargent comes from a family of psychic fortune tellers, except she has no spiritual powers of her own 👻👻. What she does have is the ability to amplify the abilities of those around her. Because of this, every year on St. Mark’s Eve, Blue accompanies her mother or another relative to an old church where they see the spirits of people who are going to die within the next year 💀💀. But this time, for the first time in her life, Blue sees a spirit herself—a boy around her age. And that’s where her story begins.

Then there’s Gansey 🤓🤓, a wealthy student at an equally prestigious school—the exact type of person Blue usually dislikes. Along with his friends Ronan, Adam, and Noah, Gansey is searching for the legendary Welsh King Glendower, whose resting place they believe is connected to mysterious magical energy lines known as "Ley Lines". Their search gradually pulls Blue into their world, where secrets, supernatural forces, and their own complicated pasts begin to intertwine.

This was... interesting, to say the least 😦😦. Definitely a different kind of fantasy and, unfortunately for me, a very confusing one. I went into this knowing not to expect the usual courts, faes, kingdoms, tournaments, and other familiar fantasy elements, but I still spent more than half the book with major question marks floating around my head 😵😵

The two paragraphs above explaining the story? I had to watch other people's reading vlogs to make sure I actually understood what was happening. I was that confused 😅😅. By the second half, I FINALLY started putting the pieces together, but I still needed to make sure I hadn't completely misunderstood the book. If that doesn't tell you how lost I felt, I don't know what will 🤣🤣

So let's get the complaints out of the way first. The biggest problem for me was the pacing of the information. The story itself is genuinely unique and intriguing, and the first chapter immediately grabbed my attention. But after that, it felt like the story almost came to a stop 🤨🤨 Things were happening, but I often had no idea what was happening or why it mattered 🤷🤷 Because the supernatural elements are so specific to this story, I think I needed a little more explanation and grounding.

If you understood everything easily, good for you 👍👍 I, unfortunately, spent a large portion of this book feeling like an idiot 😅😅

Another thing that bothered me was how long it took for Blue to properly become part of the Raven Boys' group ⏳⏳ I knew from very early on—like, one thing I knew for sure in this entire book—that she was eventually going to meet Gansey and become involved with them, so I was basically just sitting there waiting for that moment while simultaneously trying to understand everything else that was going on 🤔🤔

Usually, characters meeting later in a story wouldn’t bother me this much, but I was already so confused and this was the one thing I knew for certain was going to happen. Having to wait so long for that moment only made it harder for me to stay invested 😂😂

Gansey had a sense of incredible rightness. She was right like Ronan had been right, like Adam had been right, like Noah had been right. 

I was honestly very close to DNFing this book. The only reason I didn't was because I'm stubborn as hell, I hate DNFing books, and I've heard nothing but praise for this series. I can happily say now I’m glad I didn’t DNFed it 👍👍

My final complaint is the implication of something romantic between Adam and Blue 🤮🤮 I love both characters, but I HATE when a female lead takes romantic interest in someone else within the same friend group when it's painfully obvious that person isn't her endgame 🤦🤦 It feels awkward and unnecessary to me, which is exactly why I usually stay far away from love triangles ❌❌

And let's be honest, it is painfully obvious that Blue and Gansey are the endgame. We did not need those romance crumbs between Blue and Adam. Every time they were a little too close for my comfort, I found myself rolling my eyes 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Now, onto the things I actually loved 🥰🥰 Once I started understanding what was happening, I really enjoyed how unique the story was. The supernatural mystery, ley lines, psychic abilities, Glendower, and all the strange little details make this feel very different from the fantasy books I usually read 💯💯 And the plot twists were fantastic. Even tiny events that seemed unnecessary at first eventually connected to something else in a surprisingly seamless way. Seeing those pieces fall into place was incredibly satisfying 🤩🤩

The characters were another strong point. Blue's mother and aunts were amazing. I had my doubts about some of them, and somehow I was both right and wrong at the same time 😂😂 They each felt distinct and played their roles well, and I enjoyed the dynamic between the women in Blue's family.

Adam and I have a complicated relationship 🤔🤔 I like him, and I genuinely felt sorry for the life he has had to live. His inferiority complex and his complicated relationships with the other Raven Boys make complete sense considering his circumstances. That said, I didn't like how often he let his anger get the better of him, especially when it came to Gansey 😠😠 He knows Gansey genuinely wants nothing but his safety and happiness, yet he still uses Gansey's words against him when he's angry.

That being said, I have to remind myself that I'm an adult and Adam is still a teenager. His emotional immaturity and lack of control are understandable, and I think he has a lot of potential for character growth. Honestly, all of these characters do 👌👌

Ronan is... a very strange boy. He's rude, difficult, and definitely not someone I'd want as a friend in real life, but I can't deny that he is interesting 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️. Despite his attitude, his loyalty to the people he cares about is obvious. His relationship with Gansey is strangely heartwarming 🥰🥰, and the hints that he's keeping secrets from the rest of the group have me very curious. I especially want to learn more about his past and what made him the person he is now.

Noah is my sweet baby boy. I adored him 💕💕 What happened to him was heartbreaking and genuinely shocking. I had to pick my jaw up from the floor because I absolutely did not see that coming 😨😨 It's been a while since a twist managed to shock me that much, and I loved it. He is precious and must be protected at all costs.

And then we have Richard “Dick” Campbell Gansey III. Yes, that's his full name. 🤣🤣 I laughed way too much when I learned that. Gansey was simply amazing. He's weird in the best possible way, and somehow he manages to be effortlessly funny without even trying. His obsession with finding Glendower somehow makes him even more endearing. I especially loved how hard he works for his friends 🥺🥺 Despite having people around him, there was something lonely about Gansey that really stood out to me. I don't think the others always understand just how deeply he cares about them or how much he does for them. 

“I guess I make things that need energy stronger. I'm like a walking battery."

"You're the table everyone wants at Starbucks," Gansey mused as he began to walk again.

Blue blinked. "What?"

Over his shoulder, Gansey said, "Next to the wall plug.” 

Knowing that his life is at risk is already becoming my ongoing nightmare for the rest of this series. I need this boy alive, happy, and surrounded by his found family. That's all I'm asking 🙏🙏

Lastly, Blue. I really liked her 🥰🥰 She's observant, calm, and brave enough to follow what she believes is right. I also loved how naturally she eventually fit into the group, almost as if she had always belonged there. If we ignore the unnecessary romantic implications between her and Adam, I have very little to complain about when it comes to Blue. And I desperately need her and Gansey to get closer. Like, right now, please and thank you 🔥🔥

Overall, The Raven Boys was a very intriguing but confusing introduction to the series. It took me a long time to understand what was actually happening, and that nearly made me DNF it. But once everything started coming together, I could finally appreciate how unique the world, mysteries, and character dynamics are. I definitely understand now why this series has so many devoted readers, and I'm curious to see where the story goes from here. See you in the next book's review 👋👋