Growing up in a family of clairvoyants, Blue Sargent has been told all her life that if she were to kiss her true love, they would die. It’s a chilling prophecy, yet one that doesn’t bother Blue. Every year on St. Mark’s Eve, Blue accompanies her mother to the churchyard to survey the spirits who are fated to die soon. Blue never sees the spirits, as she lacks the psychic abilities the rest of her family was gifted with – that is, until this year. She sees the spirit of a boy who speaks to her. This interaction could mean one of two things: she killed him, or he’s her true love. Blue will go on to encounter him in real life, as well as his posse, who are known as the Raven Boys. Caught up in their whirlwind, Blue finds herself on a journey to find a lost king and the emergence of feelings that draw her to this boy and his inevitable fate.

Set as the first book of The Raven Cycle series, The Raven Boys is an incredible introduction to this intriguing world. It draws you in from the start and keeps you hooked till the very end. This world that Stiefvater crafts masterfully combines the supernatural with the paranormal and sets the perfect backdrop for an even better cast of characters. The characters are truly the star of this novel, every one of them having been written so beautifully and in a way that you can relate to at least one of them. They are the epitome of found family and are perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows, whose gang of crows mirrors that of The Raven Boys. An intricately crafted story with characters whom you are bound to fall in love with, The Raven Boys is the ultimate fantasy novel for anyone who finds solace in a good story.

Review by: Justina E.

Justina is a virtual volunteer at Sylmar Branch Library. She is an 11th grader at Granada Hills Charter High School.

—Dana Eklund, Sylmar Branch Library