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Friday, February 8, 2013

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater Review

Synopsis:
There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before


Review:
I won't lie, before I even picked up this book I had been going back and forth on it. This was just not a book that was calling to me.

Eventually reading it won out, mainly because I am a huge fan of the author, I hadn't had a chance to read any of her YA works, I Am not really sure if there is any YA Work done by her...
Anyway, thanks to getting stranded in Ohio for the anime convention because of some bad food poisoning, this book won out.

It wasn't a bad read either, it made me regret dragging my feet when it came to cracking open the pages.

It had a unique take on the ghost and witches, even if it was a little bit predictable, but it is hard to surprise me any longer. The ending panned out like I expected it to but the work put into the description and lay out made it worth pushing through the book.


I think one of the most fascinating aspects of the book where the charachters, they were so well rounded and they seemed to have such personality it was like walking down the street and peeking into someone else's life. I also loved the creativity that came along with many of the names, or the fact that Blue, our heroine, is not allowed to kiss anyone due to a prediction that the one she falls in love with and kisses will die. 

I definitely enjoyed it and wished it was a part of the books that grace my shelves. Once again the author did not disappoint. This page turner will leave you glued to your seat and begging for more at the turn of the last page.


Rating:
4.5 Raven's out of 5 Raven's (Really good)

Spellbinding by Maya Gold (ARC Review)

Synopsis:
 There's more than one way to be powerful . . .

It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.

Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.

A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.


Review:
I am not completely head over heals when it comes to this book. It isn't poorly written, nor does it grab my by the heart strings and keep me invested right up until the finish.

I enjoyed the information that was given about the Salem Witch Trials, and how the girl was pushed into a certain direction because of a homework project that set everything into motion, it definitely puts it into focus about how fate can work and if one string is plucked the rest can trickle into places.

The witch aspect in the book however was kind of bland, this seemed more like teenage drama and a show I would see on The CW or another sitcom show. The same can be said about the characters, the fell a little flat and predictable for me.

There is that insecure little witching, who discovers her powers and with it the power of self esteem who is suddenly seen in a better light, who is dealing with the typical trouble in the family with daddy getting a new girlfriend.

There is that dreamy jock all the girls wants who is invested in that horrible mean girl with her two best friends who are just as mean and decide to pick on the girl who doesn't know herself yet.

There is the geeky best friend who still gets the guy she wants because of how golden she is.

It was a good read, but it was one that I easily could have said what was written on the next page


Rating:
3 Raven's out of 5 Raven's (It was ok.)

Disclaimer


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of numerous Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by the Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*