#26 and #27 The Raven Boys and The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
The mission: leave a record of every book that I finish (and some that I don’t) in 2016
I’m not going to lie, I’ve been reading this series more out of a mix of stubbornness and amusement than any other motivation. I really enjoyed the Shiver and Lament books when I was a smaller person, but the Raven Cycle hasn’t really been holding up for me.
On the one hand, lyrical and mysterious magic! I like things with fey and will generally hold on just for that. On the other, a story about four boys in high school (plus Blue. Who’s fine, but not really enthralling, either, as a character). None of them are particularly empathetic for me as a reader, which is disappointing. Gansey, in particular, despite the author’s attempts to make him likable, tends towards the caricature.
I’m not even sure what to make, textually, of what’s going on with Ronan. Other than him having really terrible relationships all over the place.
Really, I’m just waiting for the moment that Gansey just is the dead Welsh King he’s looking for, due to Time Shenanigans, because there are very few things I wouldn’t expect from these books anymore.