REVIEW - "The Raven Cycle": Urban Fantasy Meets Mild Horror
Urban fantasy meets mild horror at the crossroads of teen fiction in an epic of Camaros, Welsh kings, boat shoes and psychics that will surprise you with its complexity and depth.The Raven Cycle is a wild, magic filled adventure in the Virginian countryside which will make you question what you truly know - both about your best friend and your worst enemy. On first sight, an urban fantasy romance with a quirky turn, the Raven Cycle offers not only current and wise commentary on classism, sexism, racism, homophobia, popular culture, the struggle of parental expectations and a sharp sense of humor, but also much needed honest observation of the ordinary battle of existence as a teenager in modern day America.
The Raven Boys, the first book in the four book cycle, is a breakneck paced introduction to the main cast which as readers laughing as much as they shiver with the accuracy and truth with which Maggie Stiefvater unfolds the story of four very strange boys and the non - psychic girl who discovers them. The book opens the line, "Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she'd been told that she would kill her true love." Intended to draw readers in, it almost made me put down the book and walk away instead. I've read the "I'm going to kill my true love" story so many times I can practically recite every twist and turn. However, I ground my teeth and pushed through because a group of my friends had been pestering me to read this book for months and I felt I owed it to them to at least make it through the first chapter before I dismissed it as trash. The first chapter came and went without me noticing. By then, the book had already worked its spell.
Unlike so many urban fantasy books, this is not some high school reincarnation of Percy Jackson. Beyond the cover lies in wait not a gushy romance, not a action filled, characterless urban fantasy adventure, but a compelling plot woven through with some of the best characters I have read in a long time. From confident but haunted Gansey, who searches for a reason why he is alive, to practical and discontented Blue, who longs for "something more". From the troubled but thoughtful Adam, who, no matter how far he runs, cannot escape the shadow of his old home, to brooding and creative Ronan, who street races to escape a reality which is less real to him than most. And finally, quiet, lonesome Noah. Each has a secret and a purpose which you would never guess when you first meet them.
The Dream Thieves is the enchanting second book in the series. It opens with a musing on secrets, the ideal way to begin a book about the nature of secrets and their keepers. Though the story continues to feature all four cast members in an ensemble style, the narrative twists itself around Ronan, everyone in the book, Ronan included, seeking the answer to the plaintive prayer he whispers in the church, a desperate question every teenager asks themself, “What am I?”
It develops Ronan, both as an individual character, and the role he plays in the group of five companions, deliciously. The Dream Thieves pulls readers into the world of deals, schemes, street races, hit men and nightmares that fill Ronan’s troubled mind, laying out a story as beautiful and mysterious as a dirt path you follow into the forest. Ronan’s story and struggle are as epic, delectable, and full of stunning literary vistas as the greater tale they are just a small piece of.
Without a doubt, this is the most captivating and intriguing book in the series and, though not easy to separate from its companions, could be a fantastic stand alone novel as well. It is also my personal favorite not only because of the amazing craft of the writing itself but also because of the theme of dreams within dreams, which I, as a dreamer myself, appreciate.
Ronan’s life -- and the lives of his companions -- are as tangled and treacherous as the hooked tattoo that adorns his back and shoulders, lurking beneath his sweaty tank-top. This is a book that you should not miss.
Blue Lilly, Lilly Blue is the third and least approachable book in this series, being both a slower read and more cryptic and backstory rather than plot driven than the first two books. Though it is still very worthwhile for the development of the characters and plot, if you are not deeply invested in the story and cast, it can feel like an unnecessarily long slog through overwritten plot and forced character interactions.
The Raven King is the nonstop finale in this four book cycle. Though when viewed individually, it is a fantastic book, it can feel unsatisfying as an ending. Throughout the book Maggie Stiefvater continues to elaborate on the world and its inhabitants, which makes for a fun and interesting read, but only adds to the feeling of unfinished business that the ending of the book causes. This fourth book is spread thinner than the others and I, for one, felt sold a bit short by the ending. Don’t mistake me -- I greatly appreciate an ending that does not totally lay the tale to rest, letting it fester and grow in your mind, taking on a life of its own in your dreams. However, I expect some fundamental things to be very clear, and in this conclusion, some crucial plot points were left misleadingly open to interpretation.
Overall, it was still a very exciting, intriguing and fun book to read, even if it did not quite match the splendor of the earlier books in the Cycle.
In conclusion, I would say that the Raven Cycle is a beautiful, complicated series that is absolutely worth checking out.