Blue Lily, Lily Blue: Book Three (The Raven Boys Cycle)
“He was awake; he was dreaming.”
Sometimes it’s best to let the sleeping dreamer lie.
Blue Lily, Lily Blue was a whirlwind of a story. The third book in the Raven Boys Cycle; Blue Lily, Lily Blue was focused on a number of things. Unlike Dream Thieves, whose focus was mainly on Ronan, this third book centered around *Adam Perrish’s training as Cabeswater’s hands and eyes with a thrilling touch of Gansey’s and Blue’s decidedly forbidden affections.
The cover – with the Dream Thieves, the cover clearly showed you that the main storyline will focus on Ronan Lynch. Contrastly, with Blue Lily, Lily Blue, the cover clearly shows Blue with her wild hair accompanied with Liles. I believe that since the story was drawing closer to Blue’s importance to the group and who she is as a psychic’s daughter, it gave more reason to place her on the cover rather than Adam Perrish.
As a side observation, when introducing or speaking about Adam to an outside person, Gansey always without fail, says Adam’s full name. To a point where I believe Adam, himself, is starting to notice and question it. I hope that at some point Gansey will explain to Adam, why he does this. Also at the begin of the last chapter, Adam does it to himself admitting that “Adam Perrish is awake.”
Blue Lily, Lily Blue had introductions to a lot of “new” characters. Even if we knew of a person on a secondary level, this book brought them to the forefront, like Malory, Greenmantle and even people the cave itself offered up. There were so many different points of views, that at some point I put the book down because I was simply tired of the mental run around. It didn’t last too long, though, the story was definitely good enough to move past whose point of view was who’s and keep reading along.
I will say this book had plenty of hurt to go around. I was crying, cringe and shaking my head through most of the book. Hoping that my hope made it through the pages and gave the characters what they needed.
I’ve carried this book around for at least two months because I started into the pages with the assumption that this was to be the last book in the cycle. However, as I drew closer to the end of the book I realized that I had more new questions and character then answers, with less and less pages to have them answered. It is amazing me how well throughout and extensive this Maggie series is. I am a genuine fan of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and this Raven Boys Cycle is a clear difference in tone and direction. I have yet to see any similarities between the two series, to the point where I sometimes forget that Maggie Stiefvater wrote the book in my hand.
I am thoroughly excited for the four books in this cycle called, The Raven King. Even though I’ve made this assumption before, I will still say I believe this is the conclusion of the Raven Boys. I am preparing to stand corrected if Maggie pulls the fifth installment from this series.
The Dream Thieves: Book Two (The Raven Boys Cycle)
Well, that was a whirl when end to The Dream Thieves!
This second installment of The Raven Boys provided both. With the blossoming of Gansey’s and Blue’s impossible love and the final battle of dreams with a life on the line, this had me delving in the feels at 12 AM on the night of the Super Blood Moon. I think it was a good way to spend the evening.
So, it took me maybe 3 months to get through this book, and not for lack of thrill, but the fault of my slow reading habits. I imagine it will take me the same amount of time to read the third book, “Blue Lily, Lily Blue.” Of which, I went straight to the bookstore to acquire after work that Monday (today).
The Dream Thieves, was centrally focused on Ronan and his secrets; with highlights of Blue’s and Adam’s relationship, Maura’s developing crush, and Gansey being Gansey. You could identify the subject of this book from the way the first book ended and the cover art chosen for book number two. I started out a bit sad that it wouldn’t be focused on the beloved Gansey, but midway in, I found that the character of Ronan and the other Lynch brothers was worth knowing.
“There are three kinds of secrets.” This was the driving theme to book two. Discovering and uncovering secrets that a person wanted to hide, a secret they didn’t know they were hiding and a secret that had gone forgotten. The promise of learning a new secret kept each chapter interesting and far boring. Although, I did have to stop and tweet about chapter 56. For so many reasons, Stiefvater blew my mind with that one. A one-sentence chapter can hold such meaning and I wasn’t ready and I didn’t know what to make of it! The adrenaline rush that piled up from the last 50 pages, seems to be trademark Ronan Lynch chaos, and I was grateful to be apart of it.
All in all, The Dream Thieves, was a necessary in-between, character building story. From the beginning to the, what I assume to be, conclusion of the trilogy story. If there is a fourth book I will absolutely lose my poor reading mind. Have mercy Maggie, please.
The Raven Boys: Book One (The Raven Boys Cycle)
So I had the first book in my possession since I completed the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, that had to be around 2012. Did not know it was going to be a series at first. Believe it or not, I delay reading a book depending on how much time I think I may have to devote to it as a journey.
At the same time, I get happy when I wait to read a book because that gives the author time to catch up in the series before I jump in.
One of my first thoughts when starting this book was, “playing with the questionable line diving psychics awareness and witchcraft. Am I going to half to stop reading this as a Christian.?”
I decided to let the story tell me how it was going to develop. I’m glad I listened.
Maggie Stiefvater’s writing style in this book was interesting to me. At any given chapter she would bring a character’s POV to the forefront with a third person writing. This is interesting because it has been awhile since I’ve read a YA book that wasn’t in the third person.
My overall thought of this first book is a complicated and enjoyable reading. When the author gives you the tragic news that you will lose a beloved character in the beginning of the book before you even get a chance to fall in love with him or her, you have little choice but to read on in hopes that there is a chance that character will live. Think Flenn Rider in Disney’s Tangled. You kind of forget that he explain this story ended in his death.
There were several plot thickening agents as you read on. Like the real reason behind Blue’s half Aunt’s arrival, Gansey’s inexplicable control over these three lost boys, why the kiss will be his undoing and mostly WHO’S VOICE WAS IN THE WATER.
Stiefvater’s has to recapture me as a reader in a different way from when I first encounter Shiver.
I finished the first book in the late morning of a Friday night and I immediately regretted not picking up the second installment when I had the chance. Rest assured that I twitted this to Stiefvater so she knew my plight. The very next afternoon I went to the bookstore to pick it up and dive in.
When I noticed the cover of book two, I was reminded of the last line Ronan drop before the period. “I took Chainsaw out of my dreams.”
…I think I might be hooked on this series.
Marcelo in the Real World
I am glad I downloaded this audiobook on a whim while at work. Marcelo in the Real World is not apart of my typical genre, but I think that’s what makes me appreciate stories like these more.
Francisco X. Stork, depicts the life of a young adult who is medically diagnosed with autism, Marcelo Sandoval. Marcelo attends a private high school that assists students like him through the curriculum, social cues, and appropriate behaviors. Marcelo also works part-time with horses at his uncle’s ranch, training them to help people with autism. Due to his “odd” form of autism, Marcelo takes parts in medical test and trials with his doctor. Marcelo had planned to work full time with the horse during the summer and return back to his high school for his senior year, however, his father had a different plan. Marcelo’s father wanted Marcelo to be more adaptive to the world around him, so that he may be prepared for life outside of high school. So Instead of training horse, Marcelo went to his father’s law office to work in the mailroom with a girl named, Jasmine.
Marcelo’s father wanted Marcelo to build relationships, complete office tasks and become more attuned to society. By the end of the summer, Marcelo was able to rise to his father’s expectation. But after Marcelo found a picture of a girl, whose face had been badly damaged from an accident, Marcelo also uncover a different side of his father Marcelo never expected.
Stork’s novel is written in the first person, even so, Marcelo speaks about himself in the third person and rarely uses pronouns unless he is asked to (hence my wording in the previous paragraph). I imagine this can be very difficult to read, but it was portrayed well by audiobook narrator, Lincoln Hoppe. His voice was easy to settle into and he had a natural accent on the Spanish words/sentences.
The story begins as Marcelo is attending one of his medical tests. This was a little jarring and difficult to focus on while also trying to work, but I can appreciate the “hit the ground running” approach. Stork got to the point with this story, which is why I try to read complete novels in between trilogies and series. The dialogue between character was not drawn out or have overly exposition. At times, Marcelo gives context to the person’s words by describing their expressions and referring back to what he was taught at his high school regarding that particular look. He may not always know the direct reason behind the expressions, but he is clear to the audience. With this, Stork gives you a glimpse at how challenging it can be with autism in even a short person-to-person interaction. As the audience, you go by Marcelo’s pace and thought process, where we think we may know a quick, social norm answer, the main character seeks out guidance and further explanation. To help him process, Marcelo goes to a Rabbi on a weekly basis, despite not being Jewish.
I really enjoyed how easily Stork was able to incorporate spiritual and religious practices into the plot without being heavy or judgmental. As a spiritual person, I found this to be refreshing because with some books you can feel the disapproval of religion rolling off the pages. Stork does a great job with balancing Marcelo’s special interest in religious text, sacred prays and spiritual counseling.
Stork’s novel was highly enjoyable; at some points, I didn’t want Marcelo to be apart of the “real world.” The reality of people and their decisions and cruelty to others can be hard to swallow and I didn’t want it to change Marcelo. However, like all of us at some point, Marcelo had to step out into this world. In doing so, he realized a few things about himself and who he wants to be.
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork receives 4.5 stars from this reviewer.
byLadyBug 