The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1)

Summary:

"“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before."

Man oh man! Maggie Stiefvater knows how to write a book! She does it in such a beautiful and lyrical way. The plot is very unique, with a bi twist I didn't even see coming.

I really love most of the characters, especially Stiefvater gives us different character POVS so we can really see who they are as person and how they developed to the characters we see now. They only character who really gets on my nerves is actual Adam and basically it is because he is the biggest "chip on the shoulder" character ever and it gets so UNBELIEVABLY annoying.

I think Raven Boys to date, is Stiefvater's best book yet! She mixes creepy and paranormal with Young Adult perfectly. Raven Boys really would make a marvelous Halloween read. I would most definitely recommend Raven Boys to friends, especially) since it is a gender nuetral read. It isn't just told from a male point of view or just a female point of view. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Unique Character Names I Love

AH! I LOVE this topic! I am OBSESSED with Names. I am always adding names to my list (for future babies) , that I think are beautiful and unusual and a few are even, from books!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I was "Forced" to Read

In middle school and high school I was not as big of a reader and it was mainly because most of the books I was reading, I was forced to read. Which once forced usually made me enjoy a book less, then I probably would have.. had I chosen it on my own.

Random Fact: I was in Honors English my sophomore year and then switched schools my Junior and Senior year, where we read the same books, I had read in Honors...So, some people thought I was uber smart. 

1. 1984  - Honestly, I HATE this book.

2.  Like Water For Chocolate - Summer reading...I skimmed through it.

3. Of Mice and Men - Aw, I actually liked this one

4. The Bell Jar - Yea...

5. The Kite Runner - I know it is an acclaimed book, but I heard it is really graphic, so I never actually fully read it.

6. To Kill a Mockingbird - I get it is a classic, but I am kind of over it.

7. The Crucible - What Bitches.

8. The Joy Luck Club - I enjoyed this book, more then I thought

9. Island of the Blue Dolphins - I have read this book several times throughout my years and man oh man mixed feelings for sure.

10. The Outsiders - This just makes me think "Throwback!" 

Is It Okay, Not To Buy A Book At A Book Tour?

Today, I was going to post my review of The Raven Boys By Maggie Stiefvater, I mean I only finished weeks ago and have been meaning to get this review done forever ago! I am also currently reading Maggie Stiefvater's Dream Thieves (#2 in the Raven Boys Series). So, it is kind of ironic that while on twitter this morning I saw her tweet a post where she answered a question, that a fan has asked...

Basically, is it okay to show up to an author event and not buy the book they are promoting, but to bring other books from that author?

I clicked on it, because I wanted know her opinions on the matter, as this is something I have done myself (although not often). Her answer surprised me a little though and not because it was bad or anything, but because it made me look at the whole situation differently. I mean I honestly, thought she would say... as I assumed all authors felt. "Of course not! We are just happy you are reading our books and supporting us!" I don't know why, I just felt that would be most authors feelings on the subject. Like I said, her answer made me see a different view and I probably won't go to Author Events and Book Tours unless I can buy the book they are promoting. What really bothered me though, was a paragraph she wrote about ARC's which is something I am guilty of, but I have only done it once.. and that author I did it too... was Maggie Stiefvater!

"And finally, a note on ARCs. I don’t mind signing advanced review copies — a lot of bloggers come through the line with them, and I know they are a cool thing to have. But I didn’t get paid for them to be printed. And the publisher didn’t get paid for them. An ARC is a $6-10 promotional tool that is a privilege all of us industry people enjoy. It’s not a book. And it makes me sad if you love the book enough to have me sign your ARC*, but not a real copy. I won’t ever show my Deep Sadness to you while you’re in the signing line, but trust me, I’ll be weeping AngstBuckets on the inside. And while it merely makes me DeeplySad, for debut authors or authors with one or two books out, loving an ARC but not buying it can be the difference between a publisher signing them for another book or not."

Yup, I am guilty of that! The thing is, I had JUST watched a youtube video where I talked about meeting Maggie Stiefvater and meeting her and how this moment was my first real engagement with an author and how special that moment was for me. (See Here) Now, I think of this moment, and it makes me really sad, to know I made her feel this way. The ARC I had given her was The Scorpio Races, which was REALLY REALLY special to me, because The Scorpio Races was my first Unsolicited "big time" ARC. I was SO SO SO excited when I got it, because for me it meant I had made it as a blogger. So, when I had the chance to meet Maggie and get it signed I was so stoked. Especially, when she noticed it was an ARC and said "oh you must be a blogger" and asked me how long I had been blogging for, what the name of my blog was and so forth. It made me feel REALLY REALLY good about myself and as blogger it was a milestone for me. Now, unfortunately that memory is tainted for me, I am actually crying as I write this (I am extra emotional right now, not trying to be a drama queen about it).

What I want to know is YOUR opinion on whether or not it is okay, and are you guilty of doing this too? Discussion time.. 

In My Mailbox (Number What?)

Gift

Beautiful Ruins By Jess Walter

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children By Ransom Riggs

Bought

Halloween Night By Majoria Dennis Murray

Clifford's Halloween By Norman Bidwell

T.Rex Trick or Treats By Lois G. Grambell

NetGalley

Diamonds and Deceit By Leila Rasheed

Bird With The Heart of A Mountain By Barbara Mariconda

The Vigilante Poets Society of Selwyn Academy By Kate Hattemer

Georgetown Academy By Jessica Koosed Academy and Alyssa Embree Schwartz

Marie Antionette, Serial Killer By Katie Alender

Witchstruck By Victoria Lame

Halloween Books for Kids

I am kind of a holiday fanatic in general, and I grew up in a family where holidays were really celebrated. I have always wanted to carry on that tradition into my family and with my nieces and nephews... I don't get to do it as often as i'd like at the moment, but this year I am sending a little Halloween surprise to my 2 1/2 year old nephew. These REALLY cute bat PJ's i found on GAP kids and some Halloween books! 

1. Really who didn't grow up with Clifford? I loved that Big Red Dog and the halloween books were always my favorite. Especially, Cliffords first Halloween since he was cute tiny puppy at the time! Kids are bound to enjoy these books.

1. B&N, GR

2. B&N, GR

3. B&N, GR

2. Honestly, Angelina Ballerina started after my childhood, but I know she is a popular fictional figure and that young girls adore her. Since, most of these books are gender - neutral, I thought I'd add a more girlier book to the mix. Plus the illustrations look really pretty

B&N, GR

3. Black cats are a staple to Halloween, and it is fun to see a book centered around a Black Cat, that is scared or being scary. 

B&N, GR

4. Kid friendly Halloween Poems?! Say No More!

B&N, GR

5. You are bound to get your kids laughing with a trick or treating dinosaur!

B&N, GR

6. Phineas and Ferb have made a huge splash the past few years and have become beloved from kids to adults. I can bet that this Haunted Hayride will be full of fun and mischief.

B&N, GR

7. I am MOST excited about Halloween Night on this list, since it is the Halloween version of the 'Twas the night before Christmas and even a Monster Mash party!

B&N, GR

8. Arthur's Halloween is the perfect combo of fun and creepy. No, really the giant house on the hill.. SCARED me.

B&N, GR

9. Happy Halloween has 3 Berenstain Bears Halloween stories in them. Trick or Treat, Ghost Woods and Ghost Parade. Also, Berenstain Bears are always a good read for the vintage feel and wholesome lessons.

B&N, GR

Top Ten Tuesday: Best and Worst Series Endings

Best

This book and the ending made me LOVE the series! Totally had a book hangover from this one!

Talk about getting all your questions answered. I just didn't want it to end though!

Aw, Never have I cried SO much, from the perfection of the ending, the closure I was getting and from the sadness that an era was over.

Although, I totally WISH there was a 5th book, I was very happy with the ending to the Twilight Series.

Worst

AH! My feelings were totally toyed with the whole series and then to end it that way, was SUCH a betrayal!

Not the WORST ending, but still disappointed.

I didn't love Hunger Games but grew attached reading Catching Fire and Mockingjay was going to be my happy resolution and all the ending did was make me furious!

GAH! LOVED Elixir and wanted SOOOO much from this series and man oh man did this series let me down. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Turn-offs

here.

1. Political Slamming

Esp. when it is not essential to the books plot line. This instantly puts me in a foul mood.

2. Animal or Elderly Cruelty

It makes me SO unbelievably sad and angered and when it is in a book I can't handle it

3. No Love Connection

Not necessarily instalove, but when characters are forced to be together.. yet I don't feel the love and chemistry between them. How am I suppose to believe in it then?

4. Bad Covers

Superficial? Yes. But Ugly cover... chances are I won't read your book. Unless recommended to me.

5. When a Series Is Repetitive

And what I mean by that is, when I begin to read a book and you CONTINUOUSLY refresh me on what happened in the previous book. A little reminder is okay.. a summaries worth.. not so much! I am looking at you Richelle Mead! (although, I still love her books)

6. Quick Endings

Meaning.. I have read and received a lot of information, I am loving it and fully absorbed in the story, but I want answers too. Low and behold there is 20 pages left to the ending... and I think "no... please don't do this to me" and they do! They wrap up the past 250 pages of greatness into 20 pages and leave me fuming mad!

7. Predictability

Really, how annoying is it when you can see exactly where the plot line is going.

8. Overly Forgiving Characters!

This drives me bonkers! When there is a shitty friend and they get in a fight or whatever and then two pages later they have made up! No, that person sucks! DITCH THEM! Ala Mia and Lily. 

9. Blow-ups over Nothing

I hate hate hate when a character makes a mistake or there is a misunderstanding and the other characters. the presumed victim. Gets all judgy and doesn't listen and creates this big fight over something usually not THAT important. 

10. Vulgarity

Look, I can be vulgar, I can have a naughty sense of humor... but sometimes it is too much, like there is trying to be a shock factor. Especially, when the book is YA. Nope, I don't wanted to read about "fucking a guy and making him cum" consistently. I didn't even like typing that on here. This reason and reason #1 are why i stopped reading The Jessica Darling series. It just makes me cringe!