Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle, #3) by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Cycle #3: Blue Lily, Lily Blue
Classification: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Series: The Raven Cycle
Format: Hardcover; 400 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (October 21, 2014)
ISBN-10: 0545424968
ISBN-13: 978-0545424967
Author's Website:  
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher.


“I see things.” Adam’s eyebrows formed either concentration or uncertainty. “More than one thing. It’s like — like the animals at the Barns. I see things … sleeping.” 

“Dreaming,” Persephone agreed. 

As soon as he’d called her attention to the sleepers, they came to the forefront of her consciousness. 

“Three,” she added. 

“Three what?” 

“Three in particular,” she murmured. “To be woken. Oh, no. No. Two. One should not be woken.”

For years Gansey has been putting together his motley crew while searching for the ever elusive Glendower. Now beneath a mountain in a cave, the presence of three sleeping entities have been sensed. Could one be the man they seek? If so, who are the other two and why should one not be woken? If the wrong one does awake, what will happen?

One thing is finally clear--Gansey and his friends are a part of something big and Blue is right in the middle of it all.

“Queens and kings 

Kings and queens 

Blue lily, lily blue 

Crowns and birds 

Swords and things 

Blue lily, lily blue”

This is the third book of the Raven Cycle series, and I HIGHLY recommend you read the previous books. Each book builds upon the other, and if you don't read its predecessor, you'll be missing out on some pertinent information and facts. What I love about Ms. Stiefvater's books is, that by reading one of her stories, it's like entering into another world or another dimension of our own that you seldom wish to leave. They say a picture can paint a thousand words, likewise, a good book can generate a thousand pictures and make you feel as though you've entered another realm and that is exactly what Maggie manages to do.

Besides the phenomenal world building, Ms. Stiefvater's books make you think and consider everything that she throws your way, as well what she leaves out. She doesn't spoon feed the reader or the characters the answers, and they have to puzzle out what everything means or suggests. This, in my humble opinion, is a magical device that pulls the reader into the story and makes it appear interactive. I admit, however, there are some readers who prefer to sit back and let the author do all the work, and if that's the kind of book you prefer, this might not be the book for you. For you there are plenty of books out there that will let you veg out for several hours while you read. This one however will bring out your creative nature while stimulating your mind. So beware.

For those of you unfamiliar with the series, it is told in the style of the old fairy tales with a bit of the hero's journey added in, and the flavor of a coming of age story. Gansey, Adam, Ronan, Noah, and Blue are attempting to find "Owain Glyndr — Owen Glendower to non-Welsh speakers — a medieval Welsh noble, who had fought against the English for Welsh freedom and then, when capture seemed inevitable, disappeared from the island and from history altogether." Glendower is rumored to have had some magical abilities such as the power of invisibility, but that is not why Gansey is so obsessed with the ancient noble. Seven years ago Gansey should have died, but didn't. He was and is deathly allergic to bee/wasp stings and one day he literally stumbled upon a nest and was stung repeatedly. Instead of dying, which should have happened shortly thereafter, he heard a voice which stated, ‘You will live because of Glendower. Someone else on the ley line is dying when they should not, and so you will live when you should not.’ Gansey believes Glendower will grant a favor to whoever wakes him and that he was saved so he could wake the ancient warrior. This is his quest and by association that of his friends'.

The fairy tale portion comes into play via a few routes. First, you have Blue who comes from a line of psychics who has been told by, not one, but many psychics that if she kisses her true love, he'll die. Secondly, you have Cabeswater--a seemingly timeless, mystical, and magical place that exists upon the ley lines and at times disappears. It seems to exist outside our world with seasons that can differ from our own, has trees that can talk, and can alter its appearance depending on what it wants revealed or found. At times it appears to be a living entity. Lastly, we have Ronan, who isn't an average person; he's a Greywaren. He can take items out of dreams and make them real.

This book starts up almost a month from where The Dream Thieves leaves off. Maura, Blue's mom, has gone off in search of Blue's father and everyone is beginning to worry. With all that has gone on and Blue's senior year starting, they're wondering whether or not they should start looking for her for surely she wouldn't miss Blue's graduation.

With each book in the series we learn something new and significant about one or more of the friends Gansey has surrounded himself with. At one point, Gansey said that with each person who was added to his inner circle he felt a sense of rightness about it. Well, with this book there seems to be no doubt that each will play an important role in whatever will transpire, but now it's beginning to look like each was fated to do so. In this book we find out Blue, just as Ronan in the previous book, is more involved in everything than anyone could ever have imagined. We'll find out exactly who her father is and how he is connected to everything thereby connecting Blue. With what we learn in this book, I can't help but think that Blue may be the key to waking Glendower.

Besides learning more about Blue and her powers, we're also starting to learn more about Adam's connection to Cabeswater. I've been wondering since he made the deal to be its hands and eyes just what he'd gotten himself into, and we're slowly starting to see what that bargain entails. Originally I thought it was a foolish thing to agree to, but now I'm not so sure. While Ms. Stiefvater is no doubt holding information back, she's throwing us lots of breadcrumbs which keep us, the readers, fully engaged and wondering what will happen next.

Additionally, we finally meet the elusive Colin Greenmantle and he is nothing like I expected him to be. He's the man who hired Mr. Gray in the previous book to get the Graywaren. We're also introduced to several new characters including Greenmantle's wife, and I look forward to seeing how they'll effect things. Some seemed destined to shake things up.

I confess that I adore this series and couldn't help but give this book 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. I expect great things from Ms. Stiefvater's books, and she never seems to let me down. I adore the intricate web that the author is weaving, and I am totally ensnared. I am curious as to how this tale will end, but I'm nowhere near ready for it to be over. *Sniff* What's exciting is that we're finally starting to see some of the visions from the first book come to fruition, so it truly does feel like we're seeing the beginning of the end. FYI, this one ends in a cliffhanger and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.

Order of the Series:

Early Review of The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Boys #2) (Raven Cycle)

Classification: Young Adult (13 - 17)

Genre: Paranormal

Format: Hardcover; 416 pages

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc (September 17, 2013)

ISBN-13: 9780545424943

Notes: I received an Advanced Reader Copy at BEA (Book Expo America)

Secrets

Everyone one has a secret of one kind or another, but Ronan Lynch has many. Some are common, some are personal, and some could get him killed. There are things even his best friend, Richard Gansey III, doesn't know about Ronan, but all his secrets are about to be revealed as a killer makes Henrietta his hunting ground, and the Lynch brothers become his prey.

Power

Power is something most men desire. When the ley lines were awakened in Henrietta, people took note and a quest for unimaginable power is about to ensue. Things are about to be shaken up and the once safe little town will be safe no more.

   

     "Everything you've told him could apply to anybody. Anybody with a pulse has doubts. Anybody alive has argued with their brother or their father. Tell me something no one else can tell me. Don't toss a playing card at me and spoon feed me some Jungian bullshit. Tell me something specific."

  

     Blue's eyes narrowed. Persephone stuck out her tongue slightly, a habit born of uncertainty, not impudence. Maura shifted with annoyance. "We don't do specif--"

     Calla interrupted. "A secret killed your father and you know what it was." 

(Excerpt from The Raven Boys; Page 146)

This book picks up a month after where 'The Raven Boys' left off. We still don't know what Adam's sacrifice will cost him, but in 'The Dream Theives', we learn there will definitely be consequences for his actions. Originally when I read The Raven Boys,  I thought this series would focus primarily on Gansey, but after reading 'The Dream Thieves', I'm thinking it has more to do with Ronan. The first two covers both seem to be related in one way or another to Ronan and with this, the second book, being mainly about Ronan, I can't help but feel he will end up surprising us even more in the future. I'm not sure what the final books will entail, but I for one am glad there are at least two more books to the series. I just wish they were already done and released so I could read them. :)

In 'The Raven Boys', we learned some interesting facts about Ronan. One, he said the little raven he adopted named Chainsaw supposedly came from his dreams. We'll find out more about that aspect of Ronan in this book. Secondly, we knew there was something odd about Ronan's father's, Niall Lynch's, death and that will finally be revealed. We'll also find out why his father included such strange conditions in the will which forbid Ronan and his siblings access to their childhood home or coming into contact with their mother. Thirdly, we found out Ronan's tattoo does not appear to be a normal one. According to Gansey, it has significantly changed from when he first got it--a sickle exchanged for a raven's beak--that it has to hold some significance. Unfortunately, the issue of the tattoo isn't addressed, but from other things we learn, we do gain some idea of how this could happen.

Since the first book, I've worried that the friendship between the Raven Boys might be in jeopardy and after reading 'The Dream Theives', I still feel that way. Ronan, Adam, and Gansey all seem to have their lives going in three distinct directions but not in the same. I'll be curious to see how their friendship will fair in the next couple of books and if the quest to find Glendower will bring them together or rip them apart. In the end of 'The Raven Boys',  Adam was told by Maura, "You're avoiding a hard choice. Acting by not acting." It was obvious his home situation was not working, and he didn't want to take Gansey up on his offer to live with him. He didn't want to feel he owed Gansey anything and wanted to make his own way. I thought the decision Adam made to live on his own was the third option that Maura was suggesting that Adam hadn't yet considered. Now, I'm wondering if perhaps her suggestion of a third option is what inspired him to sacrifice himself at the end of 'The Raven Boys'? That decision seems to have put a wedge between him and Gansey. I'm hoping the next book will focus a little more on how that decision will affect Adam. We got a taste in this book, but I think that was only the beginning of what we'll learn.

Why is the book called 'The Dream Theives'? Well, I believe it comes from a method of stealing things from within a person's dreams. A method of going in, getting what you want, and getting right back out as quickly as possible. I'd say more, but I don't want to spoil anything for you.

Overall, I'm loving the world and story that Ms. Stiefvater is carefully creating. I look forward to seeing how she'll interlock all the books together, because I have no doubt we'll see how she set everything in place at the end. This one gets a 5 out of 5 roses from me.

Notes to keep you in the know:

I looked up greywaren and found out that it may be Maggie Stiefvater's real last name, but I'm not sure. She has a website from 2009 with the name greywaren in it: http://greywarenart.blogspot.com/ Maybe it's her maiden or married name? Drats! I wish I knew for certain. 

Order of series:

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

• Title: The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle)
• Classification: Young Adult
• Genre: Paranormal
• Format: Hardcover; 592 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (September 18, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 9780316126113
• ISBN-13: 978-0316126113
• ASIN: 031612611X
• Notes:  Library Loan
• 
  

Underneath the seemingly quiet town of Henrietta, Virginia, exists something powerful. Something which has remained undetected and dormant for hundreds of years that could grant the one who wakes it one wish. Two individuals are on a quest to find it. One is looking for the ley line, the other for a King lost many years ago. One seeks power. One seeks to return a favor or perhaps to verify that what happened years ago truly did. Their paths will cross and only one will come out alive.

Amidst the plotting and searching, a girl will become entangled within their fates. A girl with the ability to enhance a person's or place's magical powers. A girl who's paternal parentage will come into question. A girl who is predicted to kill her true love with a mere kiss...Perhaps love's first kiss? A girl who looks eerily like the one depicted on the Page of Cups. A card which keeps being drawn when the two individuals fortunes are being read. Coincidence or something more?

This was such a fun books. I always enjoy Ms. Stiefvater's books and this one was no exception. Four very different boys who are all friends are on a quest to find a lost King. A girl, who is new to the group, may be the key to finding him. While she effortlessly appears to assimilate into the group, she will undoubtedly create a little friction and tension between two of the boys, as we discover that, while she's attracted to one, another may be her true love, and it's been deemed that this will be the year she'll meet her true love.

Gansey is the leader of the pack, and the one who binds the others together. It is his quest to find Glendower, the lost King who supposedly disappeared without a trace hundreds of years ago. We don't find out the real reason for this quest until later in the book, so we don't know if he's just a bored rich kid who is indulging himself with a little archaeological mystery or if he's a bit eccentric.

Ronan is a rebel apparently without a cause. He seems mad at the world and is reportedly different from the boy he was prior to his father's death. Gansey once stated, "he was afraid most people didn't know how to handle Ronan. What he meant by this was that he was worried that one day someone would fall on Ronan and cut themselves." Ronan has a sharp edge to him. His father was murdered and the will forbade Ronan and his brothers from returning to their childhood home or having anything to do with their mother who has been comatose since their father's death. There is something mysterious about Ronan and he is a puzzle, but we won't be able to piece him together until the second book which is mainly about Ronan. It's Gansey's hope that, unlike Humpty Dumpty, this fractured individual will be able to be put back together again.

Adam is a the only one of the boys who isn't a trust fund baby. He's actually from Henrietta and has paid his way through the elite high school by working three jobs in the hopes of bettering his circumstances. When Blue asks him where he lives he states:
"A place made for leaving."

 "That's not really an answer." 
"It's not really a place.”

Adam comes from an abusive home. He's proud and refuses help from Gansey because he wants to make his own way, which is admirable, but may be foolish.

Noah is another mysterious individual. Said to be so extremely shy, quiet, and awkward that at times he seems invisible to others. He also has the uncanny ability to find things. Of the three friends Adam has, Noah was the one he worried most that Blue would not get along with, but amazingly she seems to coax Noah from his shell.

Blue is a proud Henrietta native and has always hated the overly rich, privileged, and pretentious Aglionby boys. Aglionby being the school which Gansey and his motley crew all hail from. Blue and Gansey get off on the wrong foot, but Adam, with his sweet and rather humble disposition manages to draw her into the tight knit group. That ends up being a boon for their quest as they discover that all Blue's relatives have psychic abilities. While Blue has no psychic abilities of her own, she does possess knowledge and information that they can use. Plus, she has the uncanny ability of being able to amplify any powers a person or place has.

In a way, this book reminds me of a coming of age story with a bit of a fairy tale mixed in. It's toward the end of the school year, and the following one might possibly be the last these friends are all together. After graduation, its very likely this group will disband and go their separate ways as they move on to college and other endeavors.  Glendower's story has a bit of a sleeping beauty type feel to it. He is reportedly a long lost king who slumbers waiting to be awaken. Gansey believes the king rests somewhere within the protection of the ley lines. Ley lines are sort of like fault lines of magical power which individuals can tap into and exist in various places around the world and connect spiritual places. I feel the quest to find Glendower will either end up bringing these friends closer together or tear them apart. I'm hoping for the former.

Why is the book called The Raven Boys? Well, the school mascot for Aglionby is a Raven. Therefore, Blue and others in the town of Henriette tend to call boys from the school Raven Boys.

I'd like to note that I liked the cover for this one. Here's the reason why--In the book there is a passage that says, "Ronan's smile cut his face, but he looked kinder than Blue had ever seen him, like the raven in his hand was his heart, finally laid bare." Now look at the cover. An artist who actually knew something about the book! Oh, in case you have another version, the one I'm talking about is the white one with a raven on it sporting a red area which I'm guessing represent a heart on it in it's chest. In addition, encircling the words The Raven Boys is the symbol for the ley line. I love it when the cover actually has something to do with the actual book. Below is the cover I'm talking about (in case Amazon changes it):

Overall, I gave this one 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. I enjoyed learning why Gansey is so obsessed with finding Glendower. I liked how diverse the cast of characters are and their quest not just for Glendower, but their quest to discover something more. To be part of something more. I loved the drama and mystery surrounding Barrington Whelk, the former Aglionby student turned teacher, as the author slowly revealed what happened to him years ago and how it relates to Gansey and his group today. I enjoyed the paranormal element introduced by the Blue's psychic relatives with their Tarot card readings along with the prediction that Blue will kill her true love with a kiss. Again it added a fairy tale type element to the story. The only thing that seemed a little off was the fact that a sacrifice made by one of the characters was never truly explained. It was implied there would be consequences because of it, but the subject was dropped as if never mentioned, and I found that rather odd. Hence, that is why I didn't give this story  5 roses. 

Pictures of what chainsaw may have looked like:
Baby Ravens:

 
Notes to keep you in the know:
In case you were wondering, Glendower was a real person: "Owain Glyndŵr or Owain Glyn Dŵr, (1349/1359? - 1416) was the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales (Tywysog Cymru). He instigated a fierce and long-running but ultimately unsuccessful revolt against the English rule of Wales. (...) On 16 September 1400, Glyndŵr instigated the Welsh Revolt against the rule of Henry IV of England. Although initially successful and rapidly gaining control of large areas of Wales, the uprising suffered from key weaknesses - particularly a lack of artillery, which made capturing defended fortresses difficult, and ships, which made their coastlands vulnerable - and was eventually overborne by the superior resources of the English. Glyndŵr was driven from his last strongholds in 1408/1409 and the last documented sighting of him was in 1412. He refused to accept a pardon and despite large rewards being offered, was never betrayed to the English. As a result, his ultimate fate remains a mystery." (wikipedia)

Order of series:

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

• Title: The Scorpio Races
• Classification: Young Adult (Ages 14 and up)
• Genre: Fantasy
• Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (October 18, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 054522490X
• ISBN-13: 978-0545224901
• Sexual Content: Contains kissing.

     "Fifty years ago, that was a man they killed up there, just like every year before. The man who will not ride."

     "Why?" I demanded...

     "Because...if you feed the island blood before the race, maybe she won't take as much during."

Every fall, beginning in October, as the time draws closer to November, the capaill uisce (pronounced CAPple ISHka)  rise from their watery home. These beasts look like horses, but do not make that mistake or it might just be your last. For ordinary horses they are not and they are as dangerous as they are beautiful. They emerge from the ocean hungry and ready to feed. Both equine and serpentine rolled into one. They'd sooner eat you than let you ride them. "They are every color of the pebbles of the beach: black, red, golden, white, ivory, gray, blue." With teeth razor sharp and eyes like a fish, they are predatory, graceful, fast, powerful, and fascinating all at once. Mid October, just weeks after their initial rise, marks the beginning of the Scorpio festival. It is the highlight of the island and it's main attraction is the Scorpio Races. A race of the waterhorses (aka capaill uisce). The ultimate race for the thrill seeker.

This year is unlike any other. Kate 'Puck' Connolly, wishes to keep her family together. She has just found out that her brother, Gabe, is leaving the island in two weeks. Perhaps to never return or be heard from again. In a moment of panic, trying to grasp at something that could keep him here if only for a few more days, she declares she will be riding in the Scorpio Races. She will be the first woman in the history of the races ever to do so.

Sean Kendrick watched his father die in a Scorpio race when he was just 10 years old. He was taken in and put to work by Benjamin Malvern, owner of the Malvern Yards. The business exports sport horses to the mainland. Every year just before the races a mysterious woman no one seems to know who is dressed as the mare goddess, Epona, drops a shell and the receiver is granted a wish. This year Sean, for the second time, is the recipient of the wish, but no shell is needed...
"The ocean knows your name, Sean Kendrick," She says. "Make another wish."
Sean, now 19, has won the last 4 of the 6 Scorpio races he's ridden in. He's the one to beat. The question is what does he truly want?

One girl wishes to save her family. 

One boy who wants to be free.

One race that could kill you.

One day that could be the answer to your prayers or the end of them.

One declaration and it all begins...

I will ride. By my blood.

I just adore Maggie Stiefvater's writing style. There's just something about it that endears me to her books. The little details she adds just make her characters and stories spring to life within the pages as I read. Sean doesn't easily make friends and tries to keep to himself. His mother had abandoned him and his father to the mainland when he was eight, looking for a better life. Once his father died, he was pretty much left to himself. He is quite yet insightful. He's strong yet vulnerable and though he might not realize it, lonely. He's also got a talent no other possesses. He's a waterhorse whisperer.

Puck, who has two brothers, is tough and determined. Her parents died years ago and her brothers and her horse, Dove, are all she has left. Once she makes up her mind about something she sticks with her decision.  Puck's mum used to tell her,"some things happen for a reason, that sometimes the obstacles were there to stop you form doing something stupid." Her father, however, would say, "sometimes it just means you have to try harder." Puck learned her lessons well and is not afraid to stand up for herself. As one spectator declared, "She bites!" That's figuratively not literally. lol Being the first woman to ride in the races makes her the target of a lot of unwanted negative attention. She'll need a tough shell and a little bite because many are not happy about her entry.

To the onlooker the Puck and Sean are seemingly the opposite of each other. Yet when you get down to the heart of them, they're very much alike--loyal, smart, and have a love for their animals which others might not understand. They both are easy for the reader to relate to and bond with.

Each will grow just a little during the festival. They will form a friendship and come to understand one another. On an island where everyone claims to know everyone else, no one truly knows Sean or Puck. They will come to care for each other, but only one can win the Scorpio Races.

Stiefvater starts out slow and steady with this one and then turns up the speed and action at the end for a big finish and winning tale. She adds some twists and turns that will have you sitting at the edge of your seat waiting to find out who will win and who will lose. I could definitely see this becoming a movie in the future. While this one is labeled 'Young Adult', I felt it had more of an adult edge to it. Hopefully, the Young Adult label won't make those over the age of 18 overlook it. This one gets 5 out of 5 roses from me. I highly recommend this one. A beautiful story with just a dash of romance. FYI, I was just searching to find something about Capaill uisce and found out Warner Brothers bought the rights to the movie. Congratulations Ms. Stiefvater!

Notes to keep you in the know:
According to Wikepedia, "In Gallo-Roman religion, Epona was a protector of horses, donkeys, and mules. She was particularly a goddess of fertility, as shown by her attributes of a patera,cornucopia, ears of grain and the presence of foals in some sculptures^[1] suggested that the goddess and her horses were leaders of the soul in the after-life ride, with parallels in Rhiannon of the Mabinogion. Unusually for a Celtic deity, most of whom were associated with specific localities, the worship of Epona, "the sole Celtic divinity ultimately worshipped in Rome itself,"^[2] was widespread in the Roman Empire between the first and third centuries CE." 
The above information found on wikipedia. To read the full account go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epona

"The kelpie is a supernatural water horse from Celtic folklore that is believed to haunt the rivers and lochs of Scotland and Ireland; the name may be from Scottish Gaelic cailpeach or colpach "heifer, colt".^[1]...The water horse is a common form of the kelpie, said to lure humans, especially children, into the water to drown and eat them." 
The above information was found on wikipedia. To read more about the kelpie go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelpie