The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

It's the annual re-read of Scorpio Races... sfjkldsafjkldsa
Also yes. Now I own the audiobook.
The pining. Just like...... The slow burn. The everyone knows that they're meant to be together except for them,
Also Sean being a specific brand of focused and devoted to Corr and just. fjkldsfjkldsa
Corr being an idiot for Dove. fjkldsasfjkld
I still want an epilogue or something....because I love more content and yes the book ends in a good spot, but like......more....
448 Pages

Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater

I love Maggie's writing style.
It was cool to see more of the triplets individual personalities, and more of Elinor's background.
Can we just protect the triplets
Feradach. just. Like... Can I follow them around please. 
I feel like Merida was ace-coded in this, and I love it. 
384 Pages

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

I love re-reading books because it means you get to pick up more of the details about the characters and the setting...and occasionally it means you get to read an archived tumblr post about who a character was having an off-screen relationship with, and it makes you question everything. 
Am I finally noticing that the setting is like...during the suffragette movement...yes... But I also like...don't want this to be set in the late 1800s, early 1900s...because then that means Sean and Puck are far away and like....I can't stand that. 
448 Pages

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

It is November which means I am reading The Scorpio Races.... I'm fine....Yeah no I'm not. Send help. 
STEVE WEST'S VOICE Y'ALL. TIS THE VOICE OF AN ANGEL AND I CAN'T. I CAN'T. I CAN'T. I CAN'T.
I love Sean and Corr together. fjkdslfsjklda
I say this every time, but I love Maggie's writing style.
I read a post about how Dove would have her winter coat (because November)...so picturing that fluff ball racing.
Puck and her relationship with confession #same
I love Sean making friends...A cute awkward Mr. Darcy sharing his feelings. Also George Holly. George Holly and Annie... I can get behind this ship. Like Church Bells by Carrie Underwood minus all the murder.
We stan Finn.
Tommy whyyyyy
But like.... I love Sean and Puck. And Sean and Corr. And Corr and Dove. And Dove and Puck..... And Puck and Corr.....LIKE WHY ISN'T THERE MORE FANART AND FANFICTION AND FANDOM. COME ON PEOPLE. THIS SLAPS.WHY ARE Y'ALL SLEEPING ON THIS BOOK...granted I was a horse girl, but like....still... THIS FRICKING SLAPS AND SEAN COULD STEP ON ME
Don't mind me, I'm a crying mess, and I'm dying alone. I love Sean and I love Corr and why can't I just be Puck.
416 Pages

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

I love Cole. He is hilarious. Can he just follow me around and narrate my life...
Also he is so angsty: 
Sophia is my spirit...or at least my younger spirit....
Leon and Cole bromance. It's beautiful.
When Cole says "glorious morning"

Cole is just so iconic, and I love him. He is so dramatic..... The birthday situation...yeah...
Isabel, baby. Honey. Love.
CHARACTER GROWTH Y'ALL. ALL THE CHARACTER GROWTH. MY BABIES.
That epilogue, though.
368 Pages

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Sam must be protected at all costs.
Insert THAT scene from Homeward Bound.
Cole is a toddler with a chemistry set. He is such a child. I love him.
Alexa, play "Streets of Gold" from Oliver and Company.
Fly Away Home vibes...
....I forgot that some specific things happened, and I had to text my mom to make me feel better.
390 Pages

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Cole. Just Cole.
Victor. The unsung hero.
I don't know why, but I'm really vibing with Isabel and all of her feelings.
My ship.
368 Pages

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I read these in high school (can you tell I'm rereading a ton of books from high school)
I don't remember liking Isabel (so maybe I just forgot how awesome she was), but I love her so much.
Sam is such a sweetie. I'm fine. I need more fanfiction of this boy.
416 Pages

Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater

Ronan, my cranky baby. I love you more than you love your cows.
Parcifal my angsty particular cinnamon roll who deserves to be protected
Adam, you brain, you wonderful Slytherin who has a heart of gold.
Ronan cares about everyone and I can't handle it. The way he sees the world speaks to me on a spiritual level....Like he cares about everyone, but he's only friends with a few people and those people are the people that he loves fiercely.
Declan deserves the princess fairy tale ending that he says he doesn't want or need.
I love Chainsaw. I want one.
.....Sargento...
I have some crack theories after the last chapter. Hit me up if you're interested.
480 Pages

Opal (The Raven Cycle, #4.5)

Opal by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novella is so authentic and undeniable. I almost didn't reread it, and now I could kick myself for considering skipping it. I think it's by far my favorite book in The Raven Cycle, and it's not even part of the original quartet, just a post novella. But it's just so creative and has so much voice. The raw honesty just bleeds form the pages, and I feel like I could read it a thousand times and never get enough of or learn enough about Opal.

I also love the almost voyeuristic moments of spying on Adam and Ronan in their private moments. She has none of the emotions and all of the heart that you could ever want in a fantasy character. I'm both delighted that Ronan dreamed her up in this fashion, as much as I am occasionally disheartened by it and all that she lacks that she wants. She's so inherently different and misunderstood, while she tries to understand the realities of the animal world and how those don't compare to the dream world.

I love this one.

Pages: 38

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chaotic perfection with just enough Henrietta charm to keep things grounded. Would have loved just a tiny bit more closure for a few characters, because I'm greedy, not because the story demands it.

Pages: 439

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
I have no words that seem right for reviewing the final book in this series. I have tried, but they are all wrong.

Listen to the audiobook, as Will Patton is a fantastic narrator.

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This time through, I have realized how much I enjoy Blue. She is such a strong and opinionated character, and I appreciate that. She has a lot of feminist values, which is a nice contrast, especially considering the significant number of important male characters in this series, many of whom have traditional Southern values and perspectives. She does a good job of reeducating her Raven Boys to see her as something more than just the girl they hang out with.

I do love me some Raven Boys, but Blue is equally admirable and enjoyable on the main character front.

Pages: 400

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
I’d watch these characters sit for a whole novel and discuss paint drying. That’s how freaking much I love them and everything they do and say and are to each other.

Luckily, this story contains an actual plot, so all the above is unnecessary. I just wanted you to realize that I’m not the best equipped to discuss the story line (nor will I), because when you’re in love with all the Raven Boys and desperate to spend just a bit more time in their world, it’s very hard to take off the blinders and worry about something as seemingly insignificant as story structure. ;)

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, #2)

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2019

I love all the new layers that appear and are exposed in the second book. Plus, I think that I missed some of the small moments in this book, particularly with Adam and Ronan. It's really easy to brush right by those understated interactions when you have no idea where things are headed with the broader storyline of the series. So I overlooked small interactions in the past that I now know were/are part of something bigger and worth paying attention to.

Pages: 439

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
I feel sure these characters are my neighbors and friends, for despite their issues and strife, I desperately want to be a part of their world, preferably within their inner-circle. This second novel was equally fascinating, and I can’t wait for the third! I listened to the audiobook which is superb. Something about the setting of this book makes me want to say words like superb, and it would be quite sufficient as a word choice and not at all pretentious, especially if I eased it out with a gentle Henrietta accent.

I highly recommend this series. You will appreciate the unexpected nature of these stories, as well as the carefully woven mysteries and gentle uncovering of truths.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#BecRereads2019

It was such a pleasure to revisit these old friends and make them new again. Also, my perspective on some aspects of this story seems to shift a bit as I age, so I love how that makes the story just a bit different every time I revisit it.

The Raven Boys continue to charm me, even though the majority of them could never be called charming. Will Patton's narration for the audiobook is beyond stellar, and I can't read these in print anymore. I have to listen to the Audible version, because Patton has become such an inherent element to the atmosphere of this story that I cannot accept it any other way at this point. It's audio perfection.

Page: 409

PREVIOUS REVIEW:
Wow! I had no idea what this novel was about when I started, and it shocked me in a very good way. The concept is fascinating and unexpected. The characters are unique and surprising. Some of the plot twists blew my mind. It definitely took me to new and interesting places.

I listened to this on audiobook, and the reader is outstanding. I’m picky about being read out loud to, but I really enjoyed this audio. In fact, I think the excellent reading totally added to the overall experience. My favorite part of the story was the richness of the characters though. They were so captivating and strangely charming, even when they weren't necessarily being pleasant.

Opal by Maggie Stiefvater

Opal by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just happened across this newly released novella, which is from a favorite series (The Raven Boys), and I purchased it and devoured it. I am so obsessed with this world, and these characters, that revisiting them in any fashion was so enjoyable, but this novella has an especially unique perspective, since it's written from Opal's POV.

Opal is . . . yeah, sorry. I can't explain who or what she is, because I don't want to inflict a spoiler on anyone new to the series. But this is delicious. If Stiefvater wanted to write about these characters, sitting around in this setting, and just staring at each other, I would absolutely read that. And let's face it, she has such a way with saying so much with so little that I'd probably be mesmerized.

Anyway, word on the street is that there may be an upcoming new series about Ronan, and if so, I can't wait to get my grabby hands on that.

Pages: 38

All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is more of a 2.5 for me.

I wanted to love this, but I really struggled. It could have been me, as I listened on audio and perhaps was a poor listener. However, I rewound and rewound and rewound and rewound. This would just not keep my attention, and about 70% of the time, I had no clue who anyone was or what was happening.

Typically, I love Stiefvater. I think I could read Scorpio Races and the Raven Cycle a thousand times and never tire of them. They are so unique, and I tend to love her unusual approaches and unexpected worlds.

Unfortunately, it took me almost 15 chapters to really get into the story at all. I had to just force myself forward (through the pangs of despair and haze of denial), and it wasn’t until that point that I really started remember who anyone was. There’s also not any real plot that I’m aware of up until about 3/5 of the way into the story, and it’s a pretty weak plot at that. Or perhaps the plot is there but I was so overwhelmed by the style that I couldn’t even recognize or follow it.

The writing is extremely stylized, which typically I find interesting. Unfortunately, it’s stylized telling, instead of stylized showing. So be prepared to be told, told, told, told, told, told, told, and told again who everyone is. You’ll be told what they think. You’ll be told what they want. You’ll be told what they fear. You’ll be told who they are, in the prettiest and most unique sorts of ways. You’ll be told what their struggles are, but you’ll rarely be shown any of this, particularly in the first half off the book, which means it may not stick very well. None of it really stuck for me.

Every scene in the beginning feels basically like a new list of facts about yet another character, and I wasn’t interested in memorizing any of it. Some of the sentences sound beautiful in the moment, but they lack impact, since I now can’t match any of those sentences to any characters. And since I don’t want to memorize a list of beautiful sounding facts about way too many different characters that don’t really seem to be helping the story along, it’s hard to make connections and keep any of the details straight.

Yep. This was a major struggle, when I just wanted to be captivated.

The reason this still gets 3 stars is because the last half of the book is significantly better and more interesting than the first half. There were some really fascinating characters, once I could finally figure out who people were and why they mattered. But at the same time, I’m still pretty confused by the world and world building. It could be a delightful, imaginative world, but instead, it’s more of a tedious and confusing world. I think depth was sacrificed to pretty sounding and stylized sentences in this case.

HOWEVER, I typically love Stiefvater, and there’s something here that was interesting to me, at least in terms of the concept and a few of the characters. In case this is just me being inattentive, or failing to get what is great about this, I may go back and listen to this again on a better day and see if that changes my perspective. If it does, I’ll be sure to update this review.

Now, I’m going to go hug my pillow and wallow, because I absolutely hate it when I can’t love a book.

Pages: 320


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The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have no words that seem right for reviewing the final book in this series. I have tried, but they are all wrong.

Listen to the audiobook, as Will Patton is a fantastic narrator.

Pages: 448