Review of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater's

Some how I missed the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater.  Yet, I was so drawn to The Raven Boys, partly because of the beautiful cover which left me with so many questions that I wanted answers to.  


Synopis from Goodreads:  
“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.


Although I don't typically read much YA, I loved the premise of Raven Boys and had to read it.  If Blue was to kiss her true love, he would die. Knowing this, how can Blue prevent it from happening?  Will she still fall in love? Initially, I found the story was less about Blue and more about Gansey. These beginning parts about ley lines and setting up Gansey's quest were less interesting to me.  Where I really got caught up in the story was the interesting mix of characters and the friendships that they developed. The difficulties Ronan and Adam were facing really drove the story for me and kept me reading. Kinda reminded me of Dead Poets Society some how.   I can see the series going in interesting directions with all of the characters. Plus, I'm hoping to get back to the original premise of Blue's families prediction for her in future installments in the series.   Favorite quote, "Today, Blue thought is the day I stop listening to the future and start living it instead."
  
Review copy from the Public Library.