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ashction's review against another edition
4.0
Alright gang, this one's a solid four stars. As anyone that knows my preferences understands, I really love Maggie Stiefvater, and - ultimately - I love this book, too. But it was definitely a tough one to get through!
When I first started, I was honestly kinda disappointed. This novel is written in a third-person omniscient POV that feels distinctly unique; in some ways, it's the sensible equivalent of Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, which is not a compliment. It's especially rough in the beginning, which I now suspect was due to simultaneous introduction of characters (in another particularly stranger way, doing the what (x) loves: ... what (x) fears: ... method). I could definitely see evidence of the language that I love from Maggie's writing, but between this new style, organization, and setting where things always seemed vaguely philosophical, I was really finding difficulty in loving this book.
I started it at home during Thanksgiving Break; today, I've finished it in anticipation for its due date during my winter break. I think, strangely, I left off at exactly the right point of exposition finally ending, and got a better opinion overall tonight from the remainder of the novel! Writing this review now, I also remember the difficulty and time it took for me to get into The Raven Boys, and I'm now wondering if this is simply a consequence of such expansive, rich world-building for Maggie that requires such extensive exposition. I'm not the biggest fan of that, but if it means that I continue to keep reading even better sequels, I'll no longer complain!
As far as the characters, I don't know that I truly felt connections on an individual level, but they all work well as an ensemble - which I LOVE. It's a very interesting story that I don't want to spoil, but if you find it dragging at first, keep going! The second half (or latter two-thirds?) were really well-paced, and the ending was lovely and philosophical in all the right ways. I'm eager to see how the story continues from here!
It's not my favorite book (and probably won't be my favorite in the series), but I think it's really worth a read and has an incredibly unique plot. I just want to see a little more of these characters outside of how they are viewed by everyone; often, we see a character through others' eyes and only in the end does that seem to shift. I hope it continues in book two!
When I first started, I was honestly kinda disappointed. This novel is written in a third-person omniscient POV that feels distinctly unique; in some ways, it's the sensible equivalent of Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, which is not a compliment. It's especially rough in the beginning, which I now suspect was due to simultaneous introduction of characters (in another particularly stranger way, doing the what (x) loves: ... what (x) fears: ... method). I could definitely see evidence of the language that I love from Maggie's writing, but between this new style, organization, and setting where things always seemed vaguely philosophical, I was really finding difficulty in loving this book.
I started it at home during Thanksgiving Break; today, I've finished it in anticipation for its due date during my winter break. I think, strangely, I left off at exactly the right point of exposition finally ending, and got a better opinion overall tonight from the remainder of the novel! Writing this review now, I also remember the difficulty and time it took for me to get into The Raven Boys, and I'm now wondering if this is simply a consequence of such expansive, rich world-building for Maggie that requires such extensive exposition. I'm not the biggest fan of that, but if it means that I continue to keep reading even better sequels, I'll no longer complain!
As far as the characters, I don't know that I truly felt connections on an individual level, but they all work well as an ensemble - which I LOVE. It's a very interesting story that I don't want to spoil, but if you find it dragging at first, keep going! The second half (or latter two-thirds?) were really well-paced, and the ending was lovely and philosophical in all the right ways. I'm eager to see how the story continues from here!
It's not my favorite book (and probably won't be my favorite in the series), but I think it's really worth a read and has an incredibly unique plot. I just want to see a little more of these characters outside of how they are viewed by everyone; often, we see a character through others' eyes and only in the end does that seem to shift. I hope it continues in book two!
zepeng's review against another edition
3.0
Maggie Stiefvater's book never fails me to transport me to another realm, a different world where I'm surrounded by owls, miracles, and pilgrims. I must say that it gives me the sense of warmth whenever I read the book, which is helped by her whimsical and beautifully description of the happenings in the book. Also, this is my first time reading (or listening) an audiobook! Despite only a few chapters, I do understand how audiobooks trigger a totally different feel and perception for books.
Despite that, I must say that I'm not too engaged with this book as compared to the TRC cycle. Hence, 3 stars only
Despite that, I must say that I'm not too engaged with this book as compared to the TRC cycle. Hence, 3 stars only
ollieoxnfree's review against another edition
2.0
I tried my best to listen to the audiobook but it was terribly boring. One day I may pick up the book and try again.
nightlight9's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bluebleeder2001's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
beccaj2180's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know what to say about this book, because something about Maggie Stiefvater's books leaves me speechless.
I know that last night as I was reading this, I wasn't in my room. I was in Southern Colorado, which is incidentally one of the coolest places I've ever been.
I also know that when it comes to world building - a term that is usually applied to fantasy worlds not our world - Maggie is the queen. I don't even know how she does it exactly. I just know that All the Crooked Saints and The Raven Boys had that in common in a way that I don't see often enough.
The only thing about this book that I noticed was that the character development that I also love had less time to ferment. Obviously this is because this book isn't part of a wider trilogy or quadrilogy or whatever (I'm assuming). Not that the characters weren't outstanding - because they totally were. I just think I could've lived in their world a little longer and not minded.
The depth of this story left me floundering last night, because I lived a whole life in that book and then came back down to earth. And if you couldn't tell, I read it in one sitting.
Anyway, I think I'm still processing, but this book was incredible, and I needed to say it.
I know that last night as I was reading this, I wasn't in my room. I was in Southern Colorado, which is incidentally one of the coolest places I've ever been.
I also know that when it comes to world building - a term that is usually applied to fantasy worlds not our world - Maggie is the queen. I don't even know how she does it exactly. I just know that All the Crooked Saints and The Raven Boys had that in common in a way that I don't see often enough.
The only thing about this book that I noticed was that the character development that I also love had less time to ferment. Obviously this is because this book isn't part of a wider trilogy or quadrilogy or whatever (I'm assuming). Not that the characters weren't outstanding - because they totally were. I just think I could've lived in their world a little longer and not minded.
The depth of this story left me floundering last night, because I lived a whole life in that book and then came back down to earth. And if you couldn't tell, I read it in one sitting.
Anyway, I think I'm still processing, but this book was incredible, and I needed to say it.
annie_bordeaux's review against another edition
3.0
the first half of this book is one of the most boring things I've ever read. it stayed boring tbh, but the writing was really unique (in a good way) and the concept was really good. there wasn't much dialogue or characterization which is probably what made me not like this too much, but I liked the concept enough to keep reading and I'm glad I did.
mousmoulo's review against another edition
every time i think about this book i am immediatelly overcome by a dreadful sense of complete and utter boredom. this is a very fancy way of saying that i don't give a single fuck about anything in this book and i haven't touched it in over 2 months, so off to the dnf pile it goes