The Raven Boys Preview

Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she'd been told that she would kill her true love.
                      - First line of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

I've followed Maggie Stiefvater's blog ever since I read Shiver. I thoroughly enjoyed the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, which set me on the path to reading the Books of Faerie and Scorpio Races when it came out.

 On her blog today she announced a sneak preview of her new book - The Raven Boys.

You can read the first two chapters over at EW's Shelf Life. If you've liked any of her other stuff, it's worth heading over. I'll definitely be buying it.

The Scorpio Races

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Book - library

From Goodreads: It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

What I thought: I'm another who loved Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls series. I've read some mixed reviews about The Scorpio Races so approached it with trepidation - trepidation I am glad to say that was not needed!
One of my biggest fears when an author that I love starts a new book or series is that it will simply be the old stuff rehashed. I'm pleased to say that did not happen with this. The story was different, the characters were different - different issues, different tastes, different personalities. I was glad that there wasn't the over the top, overwhelming love story again, as much as I enjoyed it in Wolves. I really enjoyed this and will watch for more Stiefvater books.

Recommended for: those who enjoyed Wolves of Mercy Falls and want to read something different by the same author.


Challenges:  100+ Challenge,  For the Love of YA Challenge

Forever

Title: Forever
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Own

From Goodreads: The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy from Maggie Stiefvater. 
In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

What I thought: The conclusion to the Wolves of Mercy Falls. I had this pre ordered, but have taken my time getting around to reading it. I read some not so favourable reviews so have most probably put it off for a bit. Now, having read it, I was quite happy with it. It finishes the series off quite nicely, although I didn't find it as gripping as Shiver and Linger. The intensity of Sam and Grace's relationship just didn't seem to be there in this one, although there is no doubt their commitment to each other is there. As I said, a nice finishing.

Recommended for: those who like their teenage paranormal fiction to have a bit of quality about it!

Challenges:  100+ Challenge,  For the Love of Young Adult Fiction Challenge

Ballad

Title: Ballad

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Fiction 
Series: Book of Faerie
Audience: Young Adult 
Format: Book - Library

Synopsis: James and Dee have been selected to attend Thornking-Ash School, a boarding school for talented musicians. Nuala, a faerie who acts as a muse while stealing years off your life, is attracted to James, but he refuses to make a deal. Time is running out for Nuala, and, to make matters worse, she cares for James more than she should. James thinks Nuala may be able to help him get over Dee, Meanwhile, strange faerie things are happening and Dee may be in too deep. Both Nuala and Dee need saving, but James can only save one. Who will he choose...and will it be the right choice?

What I thought: I found a lot of parallels between this and Where She Went by Gayle Forman. Both have a music focus, both have relationships that need saving or mending, both have changed points of view from the female voice in the first book (Lament and IfI Stay) to the male voice in the second and both show the strengthening talents of the writers. What is interesting is despite these parallels, they are distinctively different books.

Just like Forman with Where She Went, Ballad was a more polished, tighter book than Lament. I also love the fact a Gathering of Faerie is different from the Wolves of Mercy Falls. I read Mercy Falls first and loved it, but something about Faerie sings to me. The story seems deeper, more substantial, darker and less “mainstream.” I really hope Ballad is not the last we hear of the Faeries.

Recommended for: Stiefvater lovers.

Challenges: A-Z Challenge,  For the Love of YA Challenge, 100+ Challenge 

Lament

Title: Lament

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Fiction 
Series: Book of Faerie
Audience: Young Adult 
Format: Book

Synopsis: Deirdre can see faeries. But these aren’t the cute, kind type you find at the bottom of your garden. No, these faeries are far from that. On top of that, there’s Luke, a rather attractive young man that Deirdre is infatuated with, but who has been sent by the faerie queen to assassinate Deirdre.

What I thought: Maggie Stiefvater is, of course, the author of the Wolves ofMercy Falls series. But before that, there was Lament, the first book in the Booksof Faerie. I’m always a bit wary of reading earlier books from an author after I have read and loved later books. (does that make sense??) Often it is quite obvious why the later book was the successful one. So I did approach Lament with a bit of trepidation. And you know, it’s not as polished as Wolves, it reads a little rougher, a little less smooth, but the further I went, the less I cared. The story crept up on you and drew you in. What is the faerie queen’s problem with this shy, gifted musician? Why is Luke spending so much time protecting her when he is meant to be killing her? Who is on her side and who isn’t?? All questions that keep you engaged and turning the pages.

 The second in this series, Ballad, was released the same year as Shiver. I look forward to reading it to see whether it is as raw as Lament or more polished. Should be interesting!  

Recommended for: those who have read Mercy Falls and wants to see what else Stiefvater can do.

Challenges: 100+ Challenge,  For the love of YA Challenge

Linger

Title: Linger
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Book (library)

Synopsis: Grace and Sam are learning how to live this new life together. Life however is not easy, especially when one of you use to be a werewolf! Sam is trying to work out how to be the new contact point for the wolves as they change. Now that Beck has change permanently, Sam feels responsible for the others, but he's not sure about the four new wolves in the pack, especially Cole. Can Grace and Sam have their happy ever after, or is that too much to ask.

What I thought: I have been waiting for this to come into the library for ages and admit to devouring it pretty quickly once it did. I do tend to avoid a lot of the current young adult paranormal trend. I read Twilight and thought it was great for it's target audience. To be honest, I don't get the whole adult obsession thing around it. However, Shiver and Linger kept getting rave reviews so I thought why not. For me, I find Stiefvater's writing to be excellent. Sure there is no indepth analysis of her characters to be had - but it is teenage fiction remember. The story flows, the characters are believable. I must admit in Shiver I though Grace's  parents were given the formulaic treatment of being absent to allow her to do pretty much whatever she wanted, but in Linger they came into play a bit more and it was good to see. I'm looking forward to the third one coming out and at that time will most probably revisit Shiver and Linger.

Recommended for: those who like their teenage paranormal fiction to have a bit of quality about it!

Challenges:  100+ Challenge, A-Z Challenge, For the Love of Young Adult Fiction Challenge

Shiver

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

I'd heard about this from so many blogs and it was all good so I knew I had to eventually give in and give it a go.

To tell you the truth, I was prepared to be disappointed. So often people rave about books and I just don't get it. Twilight was OK, not brilliantly written, but great for its teen target. However, by the end of the last book I was totally over it. I didn't even make it half way through the first Sookie Stackhouse book. So I approached this with great trepidation.

I liked it. In fact, I more than liked it, I really enjoyed it. I find Stiefvater such a better writer than Meyers. The story was engaging and even though Grace and Sam had that all encompasing, total love, soulmate thing going on that annoyed the hell out of me in Twilight, I found it easier to handle because I was enjoying the story so much more. I also feel there was more going on in this book with other characters having more of a role in the story. All in all I am looking forward to the second book.