Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The Raven Cycle #3)
By Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Recommended Ages: 16+ (for language)

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things, though, is how easily they can be lost.

Friends can betray.
Mothers can disappear.
Visions can mislead.
Certainties can unravel.

The Gist:

I really like this series, even though the beginnings are always slow. I think the story and fantasy element created by the psychics and Glendower legend pulls me in every time. In Blue Lily, Lily Blue, more is revealed about the mysteries surrounding Glendower and we get to meet characters more closely connected to Glendower. We grow closer to the Raven Boys (and girl) and get to know a new set of adversaries.

I always worry once we get a few books into a series that the author might start throwing in random things in an attempt to keep things exciting and interesting, but ultimately don’t serve the plot.  This is not at all what happens in this third installment. Plenty of exciting things happen and they all revolve around one thing: finding Glendower.

What I Liked:

I’m so fascinated by the way Maggie wove the mythical legend of Glendower into modern day times. Gosh I want it to be true so bad! I want lay lines to exist and to be able to visit Cab’s Water! This series is just so centered around this beautiful magical place on Earth and it’s really why I love it so much. It makes Earth feel magical.

There is a lot of character development in this book, especially with Adam. Each of the Raven gang has really come into their own.  A story without character development is boring and frustrating. This book are neither of those things (well, maybe the very beginning is a tad boring). As they brave a new set of challenges together, like finding Blue’s mom or figuring out who and where the sleepers are, they learn what it means to rely on each other and what they’re willing to do for each other.

The romantic tension between Blue and Gansey is so beautifully agonizing. I surprise myself by how invested I am in these two considering they can’t even kiss! A testament of good storytelling I guess. But if you love the wonderful pain that comes with waiting for a couple to finally get together, then you will love Blue Lily, Lily Blue.

I love Maggie’s writing. It’s all so beautiful.  Her descriptions are more real to me than most books I read. And it all sounds so elegant. I wish I was half as fancy as Maggie’s writing.

What I Didn’t Like:

I’ve noticed a pattern with this series in that it usually takes me a good 20% of the book to start to get interested. Once I’m in though, I’m all in to the very end. I just wish it didn’t take so long to get amped up. That’s basically it

LunasLuckyRating: 4/5 Lunas