THE DREAM THIEVES by Maggie Stiefvater

Rating: A-

Release Date: 09/17/13

Synopsis:

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

My thoughts on the book:

The Dream Thieves is an excellent addition to the Raven Cycle series, and I thoroughly enjoyed delving back into the intricate and rich world that Stiefvater has created. More secrets are revealed and the characters grow and change throughout the course of the novel. The plot is complex and intriguing, and the sense of urgency surrounding the characters will keep you reading. However, some of the characters got on my nerves, and I wanted more Gansey and Blue. Still, this is one of my favorite books of the year, and I can't wait for the next installment. 

This is Ronan's book, and we learn all of his deep and dark secrets. Some of the things I saw coming and others completely shocked me. Stiefvater broke the mold when she created Ronan (which is funny because the Prologue talks about how God broke the mold after he created Ronan's father), and he is one of the most complicated characters I have ever read about. I enjoyed learning more about him, and I am glad that he got to tell his story, but I missed Gansey and Blue interactions. Sure, we had some, but I wanted more to happen with them. Gansey is so full of life that it's hard to believe he's only a character in a book. I'm completely enamored with him. Adam got on my nerves for the majority of the book, though he redeems himself quite nicely toward the end. Some of the new character additions surprised me, and while I enjoyed their stories, I still wanted more Blue and Gansey. Hopefully the next book will be theirs.

The plot is as complicated as Ronan is, if not more so. There were some parts in which I felt as lost as the characters were. However, Stiefvater does an excellent job of explaining things, and every explanation she gives is plausible. Therefore, I was able to achieve a willing suspension of disbelief, which is so important in a novel like this. The world-building is top-notch, and as the secrets of the Raven Boys, Blue, and her family are revealed, we learn more and more about how these puzzle pieces fit together to create this amazing and intricate world. Stiefvater has an extremely unique voice that you either love or hate, and I love it. I absolutely adore her storytelling method. She is able to completely immerse me in the worlds she creates, and that's something not many authors can do. The ending ties up Ronan's coming of age nicely but leaves room for a sequel. I can't wait to see what Stiefvater has in store for these characters next. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book and series to anyone. The story is as unique as the author's voice, and as the series continues, I can only imagine the characters and plots becoming even more enjoyable. You don't want to miss this series. 

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