The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, Book 1)

By: Maggie Stiefvater

Narrated by: Will Patton

"There are only two reasons a nonseer 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 best-selling 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.

©2012 Maggie Stiefvater (P)2012 Scholastic Audio

Wow, so pleasantly surprised. Ready for more!!

I was expecting a mildly entertaining semi-supernatural thriller. Wow was I off the mark. This book was not only well written, but the story has complex and real characters - even those who aren't "real" - the quest is really very interesting and based upon existing mysteries. The chemistry between all characters is fantastic and lets you become involved with all of them and their friendships. The prose is rich without being bogged down and wordy - you can SEE the situations and almost smell the woods or dusty apartment. I also read Tarot and am always fascinated to read stories involving characters who wear that skin being portrayed with dignity and respect rather than the charlatans and grifters they are often painted as. Yep, really liked this one so much more than I thought I would and was so happy that there are more in the series - I want more of this group and their quest for the King. Will Patton is one of my FAVORITE narrators - he always imparts class and so much honeyed Southern charm to his narration - love to listen! Thumbs Up all around!!

VERY GOOD STORY, AMAZING PERFORMANCE !

As an audiobook listener, surely you must have had that feeling that a narrator is just right or not for an specific book.

In THE RAVEN BOYS the performance is so right that gives the characters a kind of depth, it takes you into the story and makes you jump or sight with relief.

The story itself is good, an interesting and new approach to magic and to the supernatural interweave with the protagonists mundane thoughts, feelings and lives. Always good and evil fighting to prevail in the human soul.
The combination of the story itself and its masterful performance kept me a bit anxious and not being able to stop the listening unless absolutely necessary till the end !

I know my review is over simplified but others before me have already said a lot with which I agree.I only want to insist that it is a very enjoyable production and worth your time and credit!

Aahh and a very nice surprise is the music, which i liked it, is composed and executed by Maggie Stiefvater.

11/10

Anyone that knows me really well... know that I have an unhealthy passion for books... In particular”audiobooks”... I think it’s a very “base” thing... storytelling, it’s how our personalities, wants, desires, and many other things are developed... from when we were very young we were told stories and those stories shape us.... humble opinion as always... If you’re looking for a book, and truly love words... the kind of writing that allows you to feel a breeze or smell something that manifests itself from your innermost memories or dreams... THIS book is for you... rarely does a book give me goosebumps as the words tumble out... A bit of a warning... I listen to books to accompany me throughout the day... so I can essentially do multiple things at one time... HOWEVER... not the case with this writing... one of the very few books I will buy in paper form... it deserves, actually demands my total attention. Hope you glean it’s subtle truth and smell the moss, and pie...

Sometimes...

Sometimes I hate the times we live in. And then sometimes Will Patton reads me stories.

Prediction: Top Contender for Odyssey Award...

If you could sum up The Raven Boys in three words, what would they be?

Atmospheric, original, literary

Have you listened to any of Will Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

My first Will Patton audio, but not my last!

Any additional comments?

Stiefvater's writing is as compelling and evocative as ever in this highly original psychological thriller. The narrator of this audiobook, Will Patton, is masterful at communicating each of Stiefvater's intricately drawn characters. The audiobook is atmospheric and beautifully dramatized, and, having attended the Odyssey Awards ceremony this past June at ALA in Anaheim and witnessing the caliber of the books and narrators who won recognition, I predict that Patton and Stiefvater will be among the top contenders for The YA Odyssey Award for excellence in audio production of a YA book.