The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, Book 2)

The Dream Thieves is the kind of book that makes me want to write a book report & analyze all that it is & the world happening within it. It is a world so carefully constructed that I can believe it is my own, despite the magic & mysticism. It is simply such a well put together story, a sewing table cluttered with a mess of colorful, unique, seemingly disparate threads of all shapes & sizes; threads that have been left to their own devices that weave & wend, loop & lap, twisting endlessly, wrapping around & around until they seem hopelessly entwined, carelessly tangled into a complicated, impossible-to-undo knot. But the trick is that when you go to pull it tight, where that messy, ugly knot should be, instead you realize it's formed a perfectly beautiful bow, or an afghan crocheted of images, or a sweater woven in technicolor dreams. The Raven Cycle has floated around my periphery for some time, but due to the large amount of mixed reviews on Amazon, I had been hesitant to read it. I bought book 1 with an Xmas gift card, & ended up ordering the remaining 3 before even completing that first book, so gripping was it that I knew I'd have to know more. The Raven Boys introduced the town of Henrietta, & the world of the Aglionby "Raven Boys"-- Gansey (Richard Campbell Gansey III, "just Gansey"), Rowan Lynch, Adam Parrish, & Noah Czerny. Also appearing is Blue Sargent, the only female in a family of psychics without the sight. I suppose you might call Blue our heroine... & she is just as tough & independent & flawed & imperfect as you could want a protagonist to be. In my opinion, though, there's no one hero\heroine\protag-- it's an ensemble cast that frankly wouldn't work nearly so well were you to remove or replace even one of the cleverly crafted characters. They, & their corner of the world, are written as a lovely structured mess, full of bits & pieces that sometimes seemed so disconnected but yet all managed-- masterfully-- to come together. In new & surprising ways. Emphasis on surprising, as this book kept me guessing & caught me off guard repeatedly (& I read a heck of a lot, which means I tend to guess twists with decent reliability. Not in this book). At no point did I know what was coming, or what to think. All in all, it was an incredible story, with pages full of-- I don't know how else to say this-- life, LIFE, distilled to it's most basic, underlying beauty. Like something you would see or hear or feel or think on an acid trip, with all of the vibrant details that implies. I didn't think it would be possible for me to like the second book as much as the first (you know how the sophomore slump seems to go...) but I was totally wrong on that regard. I can hardly express how impressed I am with The Dream Thieves. It expounds on The Raven Boys in all of the very best possible ways; a tale of such intricacy & nuance that it renders it's excellent predecessor a mere outline, a black & white line drawing, leached of color, missing those parts most important; a skeleton that it has come to fully flesh out. Book 1 introduced these quirky characters & welcomed me into their world; book 2 has identified each of them as individuals, their heads & hearts filled with poignant thoughts & powerful feelings that burn so brightly most real people would appear dull & two-dimensional in comparison. Maggie Stiefvater's prose expresses these characters so intimately that their thoughts & feelings, hopes & desires, dreams & ambitions, flaws & phobias, fears & failures & fascinations with things unknown have become my own. I am there with them every step of the way. Quite simply, I have never read another book like it-- no, like them (as I've so far read a pair of books; or a quartet, technically. Assuming the remaining 2 works live up to these high standards I'm developing... I think they will😊). I don't know where it's going but it promises to be an interesting ride, & every one of these kids is my ride or die (though Ronan & Gansey are of particular appeal...& I feel traitorous to the others just saying that)! Here's the thing about that ride-- from page 1 it's a wildly teetering whirlwind, no safety belts in sight. Their reality is sprinkled liberally with our world's idea of madness: psychics & secrets, prophecies & mysteries & magic & dream-walking, murder minded monsters & malevolent masks, trees that speak Latin & ghostly close friends, the awakening of a ley line & the slumber of an ancient king, tentative proof of time travel, the inevitable intertwining of their individual destinies depositing them at this point, here & now... each of them knowing but not-knowing that in fact they are the threads binding it all together... If it sounds crazy, it is. If it sounds hard to follow, it's not. You are so thoroughly sucked in it's as if you're living it yourself. But the best part of all that craziness, the curvebalIs thrown from nowhere & the staircases leadimg to nothing, is that I don't really even have to suspend my sense of disbelief. Not in the way a reader usually signs up for when reading a fictional novel based in fantasy & overflowing with the paranormal. As abstract & out there as the plot has gotten thus far, nothing has happened that is so far outside the realm of possibility as to render it preposterous. Not everyone will agree, of that I'm certain, but to my mind, it all seems to fit within the realm of their world as I understand it-- & ours, in some cases, as well. Those undertones of ancient wisdom, a collective consciousness, an exploration of energy-- all things I find plausible, particularly the power of ley lines & the possibility that they slumber. I find that these ideas add an edge of the philosophical & serious. This isn't the only dip into the deep end that I've noticed, either, as the disparities in the situations of Blue & the boys-- uber-rich Gansey, the soon-to-be Senator's son who doesn't recognize his own rudeness in certain monetary situations; Adam, who grew up in a trailer in Henrietta & has worked 3 jobs to pay his way at exclusive Aglionby for the chance to escape Henrietta, his own personal hell; Blue, whose lack of sixth sense makes her feel blind in a house full of seers; Noah, a ghost whose visibility & tactile function is tied to the whim of the newly wakened line; & Ronan...this book is Ronan's most of all, the title comes from him, speaks of his secrets & those of his father. These are the same secrets that got his father killed, but that may prove a missing piece in the overall puzzle the group seeks to solve (each with their own reasons & hoped for outcomes, of course-- even if they are in direct contradiction to the others'). Then there is the sexual tension between Ronan & his arch-enemy\mirror-image, Kavinsky. Their attraction is lovely & realistically portrayed, & ends up as heartbreaking as any literary love affair ever is. Maggie Stiefvater's masterful manner of weaving this tragic love story deserves more praise than I can lavish upon it here. Bottom line is that I have rarely read a more beautiful book, & I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here, although I can't help but feel that what is to come will run me through the emotional wringer in ways I have yet to comprehend. If you haven't read it, grab the Raven Boys & start reading now. It will take you on a journey unlike any you've ever experienced.

"What is real?" Maggie Stiefvater has officially soared to the top of my list of word masters of modern young adult literature. She is a master! Whether you enjoy this story or not, there can be no debate about her ability to paint pictures through words and create nuances in her characters that reverberate through you as you read. This is not a story that is a quick read. Most will not just pick it up one day, breeze through it, and finish it in a night. You just can't. Every word seems important ... significant in some way. Even when you aren't exactly sure how everything fits together you just know that somehow these words you are reading MATTER. So it took a lot longer to finish this one than I am accustomed to take as I read. It wasn't for lack of enjoyment. It was just because I wanted to make sure I was getting it. I needed to internalize every word, every scene, every thought of these wonderfully layered characters. Maggie has a way of conveying an idea about her characters through her words that shows more in one sentence than many authors are able to do in a page. I loved being immersed in this story ... in her words. Masterful! As for the actual story ... I can hardly explain it in a way that will truly convey what is actually occurring. There were times in this story where I felt as if I was in the middle of the movie Inception. Reality became blurred. Things that seemed real were not. Things that were in dreams became real. How did it fit together? I'm not even sure that that is totally clear by the end of the book. There is still much to learn. This is a complicated story that requires all brain cylinders moving to capture. It is a story that leaves you wanting to take notes at times so that you can revisit it in the future to try and determine the significance of different symbols and scenes. It is complicated enough that there will be some who don't have the patience to wade through everything. There were times when I thought that I might not have the patience to do it. But I pressed on, and I feel like I was rewarded for my diligence. There are so many layers to this story that no single review can give it justice. If you are looking for a unique story that keeps you thinking I highly recommend it. Now, for some short bullets about things I thought about the story: Blue: Wonderfully quirky. In a bind that would test the strongest of us, the future promise that her true love will die if she kisses him creates some amazing scenes in this story as she gets closer and closer to these Aglionby boys. Gansey: Seemingly perfect, but underneath a layered boy with struggles and insecurities. He seems more real to me in this book, less obsessive regarding his quest. One of the best almost-kiss scenes I have ever read. Adam: All I could think about Adam through this story was, "Bless his heart." So many troubles, too much pride, so few moments of joy. Bless his heart. Noah: Still a fleeting part of the story most of the time. I can't say much about him except to say that he and Blue have one of the most beautiful/tragic scenes I have read in a novel in a long, long time. So beautifully written. I shed a little tear for poor Noah. Ronan: Ronan and his dreams take a starring role in this story. I really love Ronan's character ... not because he is so good, but because he is so nuanced. He can be scary and grumpy. He can seem uncaring and hard. And yet he is full of so much caring and love at times. He really is a good, good person, but he has so much churning inside him. I could psychologically study him for days. Blue's family: I ADORE these ladies!!! Mr. Gray: What an amazingly written bad guy. I started the book scared to death of him and his capabilities. I ended the book sympathizing with him and rooting for him to succeed. My favorite kind of bad guy. One of many lines in the book that I enjoyed immensely: There was that heavy silence that sometimes happens when a hit man enters the room. I don't know why I liked that line so much. It just made me chuckle for its quirkiness, especially because of where it occurs in the scene where it appears. As with The Raven Boys, I ended this book completely confused about the last line. What in the world was that all about? I hate finishing a book confused. I feel like I should know what it means. Yet I don't. Erg! But I have great faith in Maggie that I will soon be brought into the light so that I can understand the newest developments. I can already tell that this series will be one that I will want to immediately re-read once I finish it so that I can catch all of the hidden meaning in actions and scenes once everything comes together in the end. I can't wait to have it all play out. Give this series a try if you are looking for amazing writing that will make you think deeper and richer. Four stars!

Oh. My. Gosh. I loved The Raven Boys, but The Dream Thieves totally blew me away. It was amazing. It was more action packed with higher stakes, but in the elegant and beautifully written way that is Maggie Stiefvater. I remember thinking while reading The Raven Boys that the plot seemed so impossible to solve. How on earth can we already know that Blue will fall in love and kill her true love and that person will be Gansey? How on earth can the Blue I know fall for the Gansey I know? And how can they all survive this quest? How will this end? What could possibly happen next? And what does it all mean? This story is so deliciously unpredictable, magical, and absolutely complicated. I love it. I love the layers and beneath all of the plot layers are the character layers and their own motivations. This is such a good story. I love the characters. I love how complicated and real they are. Their personalities just hit you in the face when you read the book and you just can't help but love them for who they are. I feel their pain, hope, angst, and heartbreak. If The Raven Boys felt more like a paranormal romance at first, if only on the surface, The Dream Thieves feels more like a fantasy. There's more darkness and more power surging through Henrietta and the characters are less on a small supernatural quest and more on a path where their choices and loyalties are incredibly important. This isn't just about Blue and the death of her true love. This is about everyone. The world. Everything. And, wow, Maggie Stiefvater has this way of making characters fall for each other that just makes me melt. In her books, there's barely a touch, an acknowledgement, or a whisper, but you just feel so much intensity and you get to watch these characters fall in love with each other's whole soul and motivation and drive and everything. It's so incredible. I can't give a detail of the plot of The Dream Thieves away because it feels wrong to, but it is very, very good. I loved it even more than The Raven Boys. I highly recommend this series, this particular book in the series, and basically anything by Maggie Stiefvater.

Spoilers if you haven't read The Raven Boys yet! Ten Likes/Dislikes: 1. (+) Ronan, the protagonist - I always thought Ronan was a really well done "bad" boy so to speak. His tortured past, his anger, his violence, his tough attitude, and his tenderness - all of this felt so very palpable, so very real to me in ways that other stereotypical presentations did not. As with Gansey, Ronan presents a facade to everyone else - that he doesn't care, that he doesn't need anyone. But he does. His pain and past are as skillfully explored and textured as the unveiling of his sexuality and the small acts of kindness that he'll perform. His emotional growth is sure-footed and astounding - from near-the-edge to fully fledged hero. If you were not a fan of Ronan in the first novel, you'll be sure to understand and empathize with him in this one. 2. (+) World-building - Have you ever been curious about street racing? I have. On occasion, I hear drivers zooming on the street below, and I'll find drag marks the next day. What happens during those races? Well, Maggie Stiefvater not only makes that environment come alive but also the nightmarish dream environment that Ronan explores and the dreamy magic behind the powers of ley line and Cabeswater. I don't read a lot of magical realism, but Maggie Stiefvater makes me want to believe in magic, believe that magic is real with the world she's slowly building. Plus Stiefvater has introduced even more subtle details to highlight the opportunities that privilege offers - truly yet another wonderful exploration of class. 3. (+) Romance - I don't think there's anyone else who can make me root for a romance that I know is doomed yet can't help but love. Ugh, I know that somewhere along the line, my heart is going to get broken. So there wasn't much romantic action in The Raven Boys. Does that change in The Dream Thieves? A little. And the slow-build? (!!!) I'm frustrated and in love with this portrayal all at once. 4. (+) Character Cast - If I've read your review, you've undoubtedly gotten a comment from me on how the CHARACTERS make this series. How Maggie's made all of them so real by enhancing their character quirks - how Gansey rubs his thumb along his lips, how Adam stays quiet, how Blue scowls, how Ronan curses over and over, how Noah's got that smudge on his face, how Persephone speaks in that quiet little tone, how Calla practices air yoga while mocking the boys, etc. All of these quirks especially show in Will Patton's reading (of The Raven Boys), and I'm sure they'll show again in this audiobook - and that's what also makes the series unique: that it provides enough information for Patton to give accurate and wonderfully realistic depictions of the characters. The only other writer who made characters feel this real (for me) is J.K. Rowling. Even better, this book not only expands on old characters like those in Blue's and Gansey's families (Gansey's primarily to continue the class tension in the first novel.) but also introduces us to some more like those in Ronan's family. 5. (+) Plot - This is Ronan's coming-of-age tale mixed with some of the series plots introduced in The Raven Boys. The main plot is his learning how to control his powers before X and X happens, and in order for that to happen, he's got to learn about himself and his family. The quest for Glendower, the problem of the ley line, and the ominous kiss prophecy for Blue are still there, but they get a lot less focus in this one.... yet in the end, Ronan's plot converges with the series plots in wonderfully unpredictable but beautiful ways. Again there's another open ending that'll leave you puzzled and frustrated but still eager for the next title, still eager to see how Maggie will complicate these plot threads even further. 6. (+) Villains - I was slightly disappointed in the villains of The Raven Boys. They were very real people, but Barrington Whelk was so pathetic, I had a hard time taking him seriously and Neeve was too mysterious for me to understand (her danger). The villains in this book? One of them is so ridiculously charming that I honestly can't compute the violence that he/she commits with his/her personality. Psychopath? Potentially. And yet somehow I'm still rooting for him/her? The other was damaged and used to great effect to highlight Ronan's own character growth. A foil but a dangerous foil. A wacky foil who you'll never be able to predict. 7. (+) Character Growth - The best part about this is that MOST of the characters grow in this novel even though it's primarily centered on Ronan. Adam, you remember what happened to him in the previous book? Well, he'll have to deal with the consequences. Gansey, you remember how Blue compares the vision of him at the beginning to how he seems at the end? Well, his facade is starting to crack. Blue, you remember how she wasn't quite sure of her place until she joined the boys? Well, that's even more evident now. Ronan will obviously have to deal with the problems his power presents... and the other characters? Maybe they don't grow so much as you learn more of their secrets. And my, what complex people they all are. 8. (+) Writing - Oh, how I love Maggie Stiefvater's writing. This woman is so talented. She can go from humorous to sweet to tragic in one scene. And always I shall repeat: no one can create as atmospheric of a mood as she can. Here's an example of the kind of scene she can set: "At that particular moment in time, Richard Campbell Gansey III was ninety-two miles away from his beloved car. He stood in the sun-soaked driveway of the Ganseys' Washington D.C. mansion, wearing a furiously red tie and a suit made of tasteful pinstripe and regal swagger. Beside him stood Adam, his strange and beautiful face pale above the slender dark of his own suit. Tailored by the same clever Italian man who did Gansey's shirts, the suit was Adam's silken armor for the night ahead. It was the most expensive thing he had ever owned, a month's wages translated into worsted wool. The air was humid with teriyaki and Carbernet Sauvignon and premium-grade fuel. Somewhere, a violin sang with vicious victory. It was impossibly hot" (255). 9. (+/-) Pacing - As I've said before, I do find character-driven stories to be paced slightly slower than others, and I think my perception of The Dream Thieves and its pacing was also affected by my preference for the plot in the first book. I just wasn't as captivated and it seemed the pacing was slow in the beginning -- probably for that reason, for that personal preference. 10. (+) The Cover - I still prefer the one for The Raven Boys, but having read The Dream Thieves, this one is so utterly appropriate that I cannot complain. (For those curious -- why I didn't like this one as much as The Raven Boys. This, I believe, is all personal preference. This book is executed wonderfully, but I'm more of a sucker for the tension that drove the beginning of The Raven Boys. And also a sucker for the quest plot vs. the harness-your-power plot.) Maggie Stiefvater has produced a sequel full of her usual charm and wit, beautiful writing and realistic characters--a sequel full of magic that's sure to enchant readers of all ages. Highly recommended. I can't wait to read the next book! PS - For those of you who have read The Dream Thieves, there's a wonderful discussion thread on Wendy Darling's Goodreads review. It made me realize that I'd missed some of the nuances in this story. So much fun to guess what'll happen in the future books.

I always expect sequels to fall short of the first book, but The Dream Thieves actually surpassed The Raven Boys, which I thought was just okay. Maybe it’s because the main conflicts and subplots from the last book finally come to a head in this book, or maybe it’s because we finally get in on some of the juiciest secrets of Henrietta (particularly the Lynch family). Or maybe it’s because the romance that Stiefvater so cruelly dangled in front of us in the first book (Blue’s true love will die if she kisses him, blah blah blah) actually goes somewhere instead of just unresolved tension between Blue and poor Adam. I’m not saying anything changes, but hey, I can feel the chemistry crackling between Blue and Gansey like electricity. Also, [SPOILER] Blue and Gansey share the cutest not-quite-kiss since Chuck and Ned in Pushing Daisies. God, it was heartbreaking. But anyway. In The Dream Thieves, we discover why the ley line keeps flickering in and out, who the Grey Man is and the location of the Greywaren, the reason Ronan’s mother is basically comatose, and how it is that Kavinsky can afford to keep crashing his Mitsubishi(s) in drag races. But what really draws me to The Raven Cycle, more than the wise-cracking characters and compelling mythology, is Stiefvater’s gorgeous prose. Even The Raven Boys, which I didn’t think was the greatest ever, was a pleasure to read simply because of its descriptions and imagery. Stiefvater can take a simple sentence about a kiss and tweak it just enough to leave you breathless: “The appetizers were delicious, not because of the kitchen but because all food eaten in anticipation of a kiss is delicious.” Stiefvater has also mastered the shift from character to character, to the point where even her characters’ inner monologues sound different. Adam’s is wry and sometimes bitter: “And just like that, the Gansey who Adam had befriended–the Gansey he would do anything for–vanished, and in his place was the heir born with a silk umbilical cord wrapped around his blue-blooded neck.” Ugh, her sentences. They make me swoon. (One last one, I promise.) “Streetlights fenced the asphalt, slashing reflections over the atomic orange hood.” My writing major is showing. Beautiful writing aside, The Dream Thieves‘s twin antagonists–The Grey Man and Joseph Kavinsky–heightened the book’s urgency and kept me from putting it down. The Grey Man, who actually turns out to be a pretty decent guy (for a hitman) with a crooked sense of humor, [SPOILER] falls for Maura Sargent in possibly one of the book’s most adorable plot twists. The best thing is, he’s not flirting with her just to get on Blue’s nerves. He actually genuinely likes Maura, and even though she knows he’s a hitman she treats him the same as if he’d been an insurance salesman. And then there’s Kavinsky. Crude and thrill-seeking, Kavinsky feeds on Ronan’s reckless anger. He constantly teases Ronan about his relationship with Gansey, and he may or may not be gay himself. [GIANT SPOILER] Ronan being gay actually made my life, though. The reveal was subtle and perfect in every way. Kavinsky’s destructive tendencies and sadistic nature make him the perfect foil for the Grey Man, and for Ronan, my precious sun and stars, who’s not nearly as vicious as everyone assumes. All in all, The Dream Thieves skyrocketed past The Raven Boys in terms of quality and enjoyability. It’s more fast-paced, delves deeper into the ley line mystery and the secrets in Ronan’s past, and finally breaks out the beginnings of the romance we were promised in Book 1. If you had any doubts on whether The Raven Cycle is worth continuing, let this review erase them: Book 2 is much better than Book 1, and hopefully Book 3 will surpass them both. Check out this review and more on my book blog here: https://ellectricbookreviews.wordpress.com/2015/04/19/review-of-maggie-stiefvaters-the-dream-thieves-the-raven-cycle-book-2/

Originally posted at Vampire Book Club The Dream Thieves picks up in the summer. The boys and Blue are out of school, and all are excited about the prospect of finding Glendower being that much closer since they activated the ley line. However, amid concern for Adam, and waiting to see what his promise to Cabeswater will mean exactly, the story turns to focus more on Ronan and his dreams. Ronan is the main narrator of this story, although everyone does get their own page time. We deal with Ronan’s secret about dreaming. It’s something his father was able to do, and Ronan feels in his entire being that it’s the reason his father was killed as well. His father died before Ronan could learn all there was to know about this talent so he has to rely on himself to figure it all out. He comes to find that there are others like him, but does he want to learn what they have to offer? We really get to know and understand just what Ronan is all about. In The Raven Boys he was mysterious, and here Maggie Stiefvater has managed to retain the mystery but subtly open up about who Ronan really is, and what is really important to him. Ronan seems to balance so precariously on the edge towards destruction that you just want to give him a little tip in the opposite direction. You don’t want him to falter. Have faith. Parallel to Ronan’s story is the mysterious “Gray Man” who pops into the narrative looking for an artifact called the Greywaren. Essentially it is an object that can pull items out of dreams. Little does he know the Greywaren is not necessarily an object but a person, and apparently he’s not the only one interested in finding it either thus revealing new groups of people that may have a stake in searching for Glendower. Adam and Blue’s fragile relationship is tested as complications arise from her prophecy and his promise to Cabeswater. Everyone can tell that something is different about Adam, and they view him as a bomb waiting to go off. Adam himself is scared of what is happening to him, he doesn’t know if it’s because of Cabeswater or if he’s becoming like his father. He wonders why Blue won’t let him kiss her, but she doesn’t want to reveal her secret in fear of the possibility that Adam isn’t her true love. At this point Blue is stuck between her feelings for whether or not she wants Adam to be her true love. If so, it could eventually mean his death, and if not……well let’s just say Blue may have to think more on what she’s feeling and for whom. Maggie Stiefvater starts out fittingly in the prologue when she states, “A secret is a strange thing.” I didn’t realize until I got to the end how everything would fit back together in that one phrase, or even one word “secret.” For, in fact, The Dream Thieves is filled with secrets both revealed to others and acknowledged to one’s self. The Dream Thieves truly outshines its predecessor taking us even further into the imaginative world and ultimate quest for Glendower and what it all means. While the main storyline is resolved the book does end on a slight cliffhanger where it’s not yet apparent what the consequences will be. As always, in this situation, now we have the problem of waiting a whole year until we find out what happens! You can definitely expect to see this one on my list of best books of the year. - See more at: http://vampirebookclub.net/release-day-review-the-dream-thieves-by-maggie-stiefvater-raven-cycle-2/#sthash.8fsh4kjL.dpuf

This book took me a little while to finish but that is not at the fault of the book itself. Once I was finally able to get some free time to really sit down and dig in, I had read two hundred pages before I'd even realized it. Stiefvater has this writing style that at first felt a little strange but once I'd adjusted to it, sucked me right in. She sneaks up on you, slowly drawing you in with carefully crafted sentences and little hints of whats to come. Then, before you realize it, it explodes in action and your heart is swelling with thoughts and needs and wants that you had never anticipated. There were scenes where I actually felt my heart pounding in my chest. She also has this way of introducing an extremely unlikable character and then some how tricks you in to adoring them. You clever, clever woman. This series has been amazing so far and I can tell right away that it is one I'm going to read a few times. There are so many layers woven in to the story that I know I will keep unearthing little secrets I hadn't realized where right in front of me. Gansey, Ronan, Adam, Noah, and Blue are all characters that have grown very near and dear to my heart, especially with the completion of this novel. Ronan and Adam seem to be the main focus of this novel. You get a little more in to Ronan's head, a better grasp on the mind of this delightfully wicked boy. I also love how you get to see the characters through the other's eyes, giving you elements of their personality that otherwise may have been missed. There is always more than the surface with these characters and its really refreshing. They feel solid, fleshed out, almost real. They are flawed and beautiful in their flaws. I just absolutely adore them. This book feels darker than the first, filled with fast cars, street races, drugs, and boys who can't resist trouble. Adam, sweet sweet Adam, has some darker elements in his personality as well. Honestly, I have to say that I appreciate the fact that the abuse Adam went through didn't end with the first book. Or rather, the effects of the abuse. Too often this gets used as a brief plot device or something to add a little flavor to a character, and once it seems to have served its momentary purpose, it vanishes. Adam clearly has some lingering damage. Then, of course, we get a bit more in to the whole Blue/Gansey ordeal but only just enough for a lovely tease. Easily worth the wait. That brings me to a new character that I've seen a ton of people talk about: Joseph Kavinsky. This is an extremely explosive character and there is just something about him I can't help but love. Not in the "oh he's such a good guy, so misunderstood" kind of way but in the way that I just really enjoyed his character and his role in the story. He is one of the main things that helps us better understand Ronan and just the dynamic between the two of them puts a bit ole' smile on my face. Its a great sequel to an awesome book and I can't wait to pick up the next one. Other book reviews done on parchmentjunkie.wordpress.com

So, book two. "Ronan & Co., Blue is still irrelevant, and is why Noah even here?" Despite the fact I had a better time with it than the first installment, I'm not comfortable giving it 4 stars. I think... If I don't think too much about this book and accepts whatever it offers, it is a fun read (if your definition of a fun read is the love, life, adventures of tormented and troubled young adults). Having reading the two installments consecutively, I smoothly immersed myself into the second book, I liked its surreal fusion between dreams and reality, thus I was forgiving with its leisurely pace. The narrative, with the limelight on Ronan and Adam, becomes darker and more dramatic as the boys' friendship and their life, among other things, are at stake. True to my last statement, Ronan is still my favorite, and my soft spot for him was what made the book likeable. His triumph over self-hatred and anger was nicely built and delivered. Besides, I'm glad that Adam also managed to come in terms with himself somewhat before he became a tiresome, self-pitying character. Character wise, everybody in this book is a trainwreck with serious inferiority complex and anger management issue. Except for Ronan and Adam, the rest of them became a bit more unhinged and undone towards the end. It makes sense within the plot-line, and I suppose the middle book is usually the point where conflicts are heightened so I'll leave my judgment on characterization for later installments. Having said so, I still have many problems with characterization in this book. Read at your own risk as it contains mild spoilers. + Blue is being conveniently destined for something more. She's just different. Even Gansey said so: "Well, she's not really a girl. I mean, sure, she's a girl. But it's not like when I was dating someone. It's Blue." + In spite of all the POV hopping, Blue is still marginally relevant while Noah has no purpose beside being the ley line reader. I like Gansey better but I think he is, like Blue, awfully underexplored, considering he's the guy who started the adventure and got everyone together. + Gansey's lack of confrontation with his friends, especially with Ronan for wreaking the Pig. It's not just about your friend broke your favorite belonging, it's about your best-friend betrayed your trust. I don't want them to fall apart, I just want them to talk it out, for Gansey to express his frustration. BTW, Gansey, no offense, but I think with that much money, you could do a lot of good deeds beside taking on an epic quest for a magical King. + Rivalry between girls for the attention of the guys, and the other girl--Orla--being a beautiful "attention-whore". + There is no sense of characterization with the Gray Man. And what is the reason for Maura's instant interest in the Gray Man beside he's a tall, dark, handsome, dangerous and tortured man? How, after admitting to killing Ronan's father, he still harbors a hope for a future in Henrietta is also beyond me. + The showdown between The Grayman--a professional hitman--with his sociopath brother was, incredibly, anticlimactic. My biggest concern is that this series deals with many heavy and serious realistic problems--domestic abuse, drug addiction, post traumas, violence, coming-of-age crisis, etc. thus it often walks a fine line between addressing the issues and (accidentally) glorifying or exploiting them. I myself got very uncomfortable in many instances through out the book; I somehow felt that the author just stacked up issues on the characters for the sake of melodrama.

This was such a good book, and continuation of this series! I cannot wait to read more of this series not any more from Maggie as she is such an amazing author! This book and the others in this series hit so close to home with how real the characters are, and make you wondering if magic is actually real... I’m absolutely in love with this series and these characters. Would highly recommend this book and this series to anyone.

Not going to lie, this book is WEIRD. Stiefvater brings her talent for metaphors and weirdness to another level in this one, and I can't wait to read it again at some point (I suspect soon) to pick up even more things that I might have missed.

I stand by my original claim that The Dream Thieves is my favourite book in this series so far, although I change my reasoning. I previously put my love for this book down entirely to the characters - it is, after all, a highly character driven story. But the reality is that what makes this book so incredible is an amalgamation of things. Conceptually, it's extraordinary. A boy who can pull things out of his dreams; a Graywaren; a dream thief. From the very first page we know he has three secrets, and this leads to the overarching themes of truth and lies, love and loss. Ronan Lynch has experienced all of these things in one way or another. The language used is intoxicating. With the race scene, for example, I felt entirely immersed into the danger and the thrill of the race. And that's what all writing should do - overwhelm your senses, dragging you into the story. This is something that Maggie Stiefvater knows how to do very well. Every word needs to be fully acknowledged to see the beauty of them placed side by side, and I picked up on so many new things after reading this the second time around at a slower pace. The characters are so beautifully tragic. Ronan is bursting with secrets that are destroying him, Adam is doing everything to change the path predestined for him, and Gansey is hunting desperately to unravel the mystery that will finally give his life meaning. There's just something so human about how broken these boys are which makes their story so enthralling. Everything about The Dream Thieves screams excitement and adventure. The characters, the antagonists, the story, the mythology - I'm in love with it all. Diversity Note: features a gay protagonist. Warnings: mentions of past child abuse, blood, suicide, death

Me gustó qué en este libro se profundizara más a los personajes y sus relaciones, la narrativa nunca decepciona y deja pie para más historia, me encanto la trama de este segundo libro y llegar a conocer más a los personajes.

Ah, I've waited so long for this, so long. And the wait was definitely worth it, because this did not disappoint. After receiving the news that my pre-ordered hardcover copy wouldn't be delivered until next Monday — meaning, almost a week after its release, I actually went ahead and bought this on my kindle yesterday. And I read and read until I really couldn't anymore because I had to study for exams and do homework and all that. And I only did so grudgingly, tearing myself from this book. I always looked down to see which page I was on, but not in the way of "When does this finally end?", but rather more in anxiety and nervousness because I didn't want it to ever end. Let me just quickly start with writing. I loved it so, so much, I am very much in love with Stiefvater's writing style. I could just eat her writing and I'd literally read anything written by her, be it even her grocery list. Let me quote things like, "his smile was bulletproof", which are just so nice and at the same time bizarre similes and they are absolutely perfect to describe what they want to describe. Her word choice is absolutely flawless. And then we have beautiful, melodic things like, quote, "the bass thundered through Blue's boots." I just.. wow. Amazing skill. I am in awe. I could sit here and gush over how much I love her writing style all day long. Ah, and the characters. As you might remember, there was lots of build-up to them in The Raven Boys, so I guessed this would be mostly plot only. But boy, was I wrong. While there was a lot of action and so much plot, there wasn't any shortage of character development and character arcs either. And yes, while the book did mostly focus on Ronan, we also learned a lot about Adam and Noah, as well. Blue and Gansey didn't get as much attention, but I think they will get more of that in the next two books, so it doesn't really matter. Stiefvater has built an amazing and wonderful set of characters with these series and I loved seeing them evolve in this second book. Adam exploding and redeeming himself, Noah coming to terms with and talking about himself, and Ronan was the very highlight of this book. This is what I call character development extraordinaire, I am so impressed with how much Ronan has pushed himself during the events of this book. At the end of The Dream Thieves, he is so vastly different from the Ronan we got to know in the prequel. Also, there are some new characters that are awesome and we even get some character arcs for characters like Maura, or Persephone. I didn't expect that at all, and it was a very welcome surprise. Plot was so artfully done. Not knowing who is the real antagonist until the last 70 pages, and always wondering what is going to happen next. I love to be kept guessing, and I held my breath the whole time. There are some questions still left unanswered and some that weren't even really touched at all during this book, but there's still two more chances coming for them to get answered, so I'm not that worried yet. Just let me say that I'm both satisfied and craving for more at the same time after having finished this. To conclude, I can honestly say this couldn't have been more perfect. Not in any way. A very successful sequel to a breathtaking series, and I absolutely can't wait for more. The wait is going to keep me on my toes again, I'm sure. Sigh.