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. 

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.. 

Shiver (Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)

Summary:

"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.
Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever."

Plot: Okay, I obviously see the Twilight similarities. Not just cause of the wolves, but because of the "insta-love" that Shiver has. It kind of takes you aback and is a little overwhelming, but the sensible parts of your brain should get over it. I liked that these aren't your average werewolves, and I want to learn more. There were some parts of the plot line that seemed off to me and I wouldn't say this is STRONG writing, however Stiefvater has a way with her writing that is genuinely beautiful. It always reminds me of a whispered song.

Characters: There are really only two main Characters Sam and Grace, everyone else might as well be the scenery. I liked both Sam and Grace and we get a pretty general understanding of who they are as people in Shiver, but I hope we learn more about them in the next 2 books. Same with the rest of the characters that were introduced. I am dying to know more about both Grace and Sam's parents.

Pros: Beautiful Writing Style and intriguing plot lines.

Cons: Felt Rushed and at times jumpy.

Final Thoughts:  I was definitely drawn into Shiver and I can see why the serious was very popular , but I want to see progression and growth in the series. Not just with the characters but in the writing as well.



If You Haven't Already....

HERE

In My Mailbox (47)

Hosted By The Story Siren 

 For Review 

Anatomy of A Single Girl By Daria Sandowsky

 Pantomime By Laura Lam 

 Gifts 

Where She Went By Gayle Forman 

The Fault In Our Stars By John Green 

The Mermaid Chair By Sue Monk Kidd 

Campbell's Favorite Recipes Cookbook 

Barnes and Noble Leatherbound Classics Collection

$50 B&N Gift Card 

Days of Starlight and Blood By Laini Taylor 

Shiver By Maggie Stiefvater 

The Raven Boys By Maggie Stiefvater

Meeting Maggie Stiefvater and John Corey Whaley

Hello!

So, this weekend I went to the Los Angeles Festival of Books I attended Saturday but was sick Sunday and couldn't attend all the awesome panels I had tickets for! One of those authors on the Panel was Maggie Stiefvater... So I was VERY pleased to find out that the next day (Monday) she and author John Corey Whaley (Where Things Come Back) would be at my local library. I enjoyed the listening to them talk about how they are as writers and giving advice for future writers and they were both beyond funny!

 When Maggie saw that my book was an ARC she said "Ah, you are a blogger, what's the name?" Then asked how long I had been blogging!.

The Scorpio Races Giveaway Winners!!!

Big Thanks To Big Honcho Media and Scholastic!

Winners!

Alexa from AlexaLovesBooks

and

YA Reader!

The Scorpio Races Giveaway!!!!

Big Honcho Media is Hosting The Scorpio Diaries Giveaway and they are giving away 2 books! 

We are doing the giveaway how we normally do it though here on The Lost Book Reports, RAFFLE!

Rules, Guidelines, Etc.

- Must be 13 or older

- US ONLY

- You don't have to be a follower

(but it will earn you an extra entry)

-To Enter, leave a comment with your name below.

-Tweet to @TheLBReports about the Giveaway to earn an extra entry

END DATE October 29th, 2011

Watch the book trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/tojCn2Y41ig

About the book:

From Maggie Stiefvater, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Shiver series (over 1.7 million copies in print!), comes a brand-new, heart-stopping novel.  With her trademark lyricism, Maggie Stiefvater turns to a new world where a pair are swept up in a daring, dangerous race across a cliff – with more than just their lives at stake should they lose.

4 starred reviews:

• “A taut, chilling, romantic adventure [that] comes to a pitch-perfect conclusion. Masterful. Like nothing else out there now.”

-          Kirkus, starred review

• “A book with cross-appeal to lovers of fantasy, horse stories, romance, and action-adventure, this has a shot at being the next YA blockbuster.”

-          Booklist, starred review

• “As a study of courage and loyalty tested… it is an utterly compelling read.”

-          Publishers Weekly, starred review

• “Stiefvater sets not one foot wrong as she takes readers on an intoxicating ride of their own.”

-          Horn Book, starred review

Learn more:

www.maggiestiefvater.com

www.facebook.com/thisisteen

 MY REVIEW of The Scorpio Races

The Scorpio Races

Summary:

"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"

Plot: The plot is a unique one and it holds a steady pace through out the whole book. I mean man killing horse from the sea is not a story line I have heard of in a book. And Definitely leans more towards the Adult part of Young Adult.

Characters: I liked both the main characters. They can through clearly, were different yet compatible and in general like able characters. Most the characters in the book can through like that too.

Pros: Unique and intriguing. Some romance.

Cons: Death, too much death for me, not sure where it was going.

Final Thoughts: For me this book grasped me right away, but I didn't know how I felt about it and even as I am done I still don't know I feel.  A lot of the time I was reading the book to see for it was going, not in a bad way... just curious. Like I said the plot was very steady and there was a connection where the main characters could either be platonic or romantic and it wasn't until that was clear where it was, that the book took a new meaning. But to me it ended short. Like I finally got really built up and invested in the story and it ends and as me saying "wait that is it?" If this book turns out to be a series, then I think the way it ended is fine, but if not then I am a little let down. I also think the book had a small direction, but I didn't live up to it. I don't all I say is I wanted MORE. At the same time I REALLY did like this book. My only other problem is I  can't handle animal death or cruelty in books. I just can't. If this is a series though, I will continue to read it.


Thank You To Big Honcho Media for giving this book to me for Review and The Scorpio Races is officially Published and For Sale Today!