The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, Book 2)

Wow. I mean - I don't have thoughts figured out to describe what this book did to me. It was a surreal experience, and I'm still in a hangover from it. Where the Raven Boys was grim, The Dream Thieves got progressively darker, and I LOVED it. There is just something about Stiefvater's writing that is addictive, makes me come back for more. The biggest surprise for me myself was the fact that even for a leisurely paced book which I usually tire of, I wasn't bored for even one second of this book. The aura of mystery was so intense I couldn't even think anything else other than the plot and the subtext. There were layers onto sentences, and beautifully hidden plot points. It wasn't easy even guessing at events and I gave up soon enough, and just enjoyed the ride. So, this book focuses on Ronan's and Adam's journey - Ronan delving into his ability to be a Greywaren and Adam figuring out the terms of his sacrifice. Meanwhile, Blue is figuring out her feelings, Gansey is trying hard to not lose his friends and Noah is, well, focusing on being here. The creepy element comes majorly from the psychics of the book - and the whole time is circular thing gave me chills. Actually, goosebumps was a constant companion to my reading. At times it was the quotes, at times it was the writing. Stiefvater turned mundane sentences into something magical - she doesn't write out certain things explicitly and figuring out what it really meant and what it meant for the story was quite fun. I could give examples but that would be too spoilery for this review and I don't do that. Moments I loved in the book - the kiss that was shared, the unexpected change of heart, Ronan's secrets (each one of them). I particularly loved how the dreamscape was described, and Ronan's nightmares were so beautiful etched into the writing. Kavinsky - what to say about this complex character! You hate him and then you kind of understand where he comes from. Gansey was kind of right about him but I feel Ronan could very well be like him, if we go by Gansey's theory of 'rich in affection'. All the characters are going through so much, and the author does a wonderful job of weaving their struggles into the plot. In the simplest words, all I can say is I adored this book and want to read it all over again. And that happens rarely for me, with my burgeoning pile of books to be read that threaten any such notion. But basically I am so eager for Blue Lily, Lily Blue!

“In that moment, Blue was a little in love with all of them. Their magic. Their quest. Their awfulness and strangeness. Her Raven Boys.” In one word, I will proceed to describe this BEAUTIFUL MONSTROSITY of a book: AAAAAAAHHHHHH. Like I said in my review of The Raven Boys, I had COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN how amazing this series was, the eccentricities and personalities of each of the characters since when I read it three years ago, and reading The Dream Thieves consecutively after was SUCH A LITTLE TREAT, and I need more. The Dream Thieves picks up a little time after when The Raven Boys ends, with the boys and Blue trying to find Glendower, and dealing with *spoiler alert* Adam sacrificing himself willingly to wake the ley line up and figuring out the repercussions, and Ronan trying to manage the monsters in his dreams, and trying not to bring them back to real life. While this book is slightly more angst-y, here are some of the things I LOVE: 1. MAURA SARGENT AND THE GRAY MAN: I didn’t really care for Blue’s mother in the first book (not because she was a BAD character, but because she didn’t really have much of a purpose in book one) but with the Gray Man in the picture (no spoilers on who he is. PFFT to all you people that love spoilers.) IT WAS THE CUTEST THING EVER, and the two of them pretty much overtook all my shipping capabilities! 2. RONAN LYNCH: I knew from book one that this BROKEN boy would undoubtedly be my favourite character in the series, and I LOVED HIM SO MUCH IN THIS BOOK, I just wanted to reach in (like the book was one of his dreams) and hug him close. (He probably wouldn’t have appreciated it much, but HEY.) Ronan’s powers, coming to terms with them, learning to use them and understanding that with great responsibility comes with his power was so BEAUTIFULLY done, I give Steifvater a standing ovation. 3. THE PLOT: I don’t think there’s a better way to combine magic and reality and complex characters that what Maggie Steifvater has done in The Raven Cycle. I ADORE that there is so much mysticism and magic and love and friendship and pride in the air, combined with a quest and the supernatural. It is the perfect blend of our dry realities and all the unseen everyday magic and I LOVE IT. Things that I didn’t love ALL that much: 1. THE ANGST: Unfortunately, there was a TON of angst and self-loathing and UGH SO MUCH PAIN in this book, that it felt a tad overdone (?) and I would have REALLY preferred more of the ACTUAL QUEST over all the ANGST, but I will take in it stride nevertheless. I’m going to sit here and slowly die until I get my hands on Blue Lily, Lily Blue, but I CANNOT recommend (throw in your face) this series more. A Magic Filled, Dream Like Masterpiece that will have you questioning the existence of your reality!

I love this book because you always ronan in as being a jerk and being a a****** in this book you actually get to see that he can be sweet sensitive you actually see why I gansey likes him and I think this is fabulously written I just hate it ended abruptly like the first. hell of a cliff hanger