The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater Series: The Raven Cycle #2
Published by Scholastic Press on 17 September 2013
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 453
Format: Kindle
Source: Kindle Purchase
Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after....
The Dream Thieves is a darkly beautiful story, with intricate, full-grown characters who continue to grow and evolve throughout the various plot-lines.
As always, when reading a Stiefvater novel, I was immediately transported to another world, with vivid characters, a dark but promising story, a mystery and plot-lines that slowly but surely got weaved together to make a whole picture. I couldn’t even say what’s my favorite part of her writing – I love that the characters are so well developed, and that they keep evolving and changing as the story and the plot is moved forward. The Dream Thieves is both character driven and plot-driven, both are important, and play together to show the complexity of all that is going on.
Another thing I really love in this series is that most of the characters have parents. Not ever-present, but still guidance from adults, and they have been loved, so they have that confidence that comes from feeling cherished – all except Adam have this certainty and it makes them more real in my eyes. The Dream Thieves delved deeper into the mystery of Henrietta, and that of Ronan Lynch. It was amazing how things unfolded, and as a reader, I learned what the characters learned, and while some aspects could have been guessed, I definitely didn’t guess anything much in advance, it was as if Blue and her friends took me by the hand and brought me with them on their adventures.
Written in third person perspective, past tense, and with an omniscient narrator, we follow all of the important characters on parts of their quest – on others, we get what is being shared with the other characters, and that way, the readers perspective is switching as well – sometimes, I knew more than one character, but less than another, and this made me even more eager to continue reading to get to the center of it all. If you haven’t started reading this series yet, I can only ask you: Why not?!? Pick it up! Let yourself be transported and slightly transformed by the epic story-telling and multi-faceted universe Stiefvater has created for our pleasure.
“And you, Ronan,” Niall said. He always said Ronan differently from other words. As if he had meant to say another word entirely – something like knife or poison or revenge – and then swapped it out for Ronan’s name at the last moment.
Gansey added, “I would’ve thought you had more muscles. Don’t feminists have big muscles?” Decidedly not in love with him. “Smiling when you say that doesn’t make it funny,” Blue said.
The Gray Man clucked in disapproval. A locked door wouldn’t have kept him out, of course, but it was the thought that counted. Actually, the Gray Man wasn’t certain he believed that. It was the deed that counted.
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
I want to read this series eventually. Her writing is poetic and picturesque.
Nice review!
Maggie’s writing is simply fantastic 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Sophia Rose!
Twitter: ailynk
i think ronan’s story is my fav so far
I agree, I love Ronan’s story, too, Ailyn. But I have to say I find all of the characters to be very intriguing and distinct.
I remember seeing that you had a good time with the first book so it’s great to see it continues with the second one there!
And the third and the fourth are just as good, Melliane!
Okay, I think I’ll finally start this series this summer. I honestly can’t believe I’ve put it off for so long.
It’s SO good, Christy! The prose is gorgeous, and the story is breath-taking!
I love Maggie’s writing as well, Lexxie. And I *will* get this series read! (I still can’t believe I haven’t read it yet) The Dream Thieves seems like an incredible addition to the series and I like that all the characters are so well-developed. Maggie excels at character development, I think. And I’m not at all surprised that she can mix a character driven and plot driven story…I just can’t wait to see how she does it! 😉
Happy Wednesday, wife! My mother-in-law arrives this afternoon…I’m wondering when it’s really all going to hit me. I think I’m still living in denial. I’m not ready for one of my birds to leave the nest yet! Anyway, I hope you’re having a wonderful day! Miss you! <3 **BIG HUGS**
Maggie definitely excels at character development, and her whole world-building is extremely well done, too, Brandee. Uh oh… I hope you’re all ready for graduation, and that you will still be able to enjoy summer with all your birds at home… <3 I miss you so much! *BIG HUGS*
You know I have nothing but love for this series but I have a soft spot for this book especially because I ADORE Ronan! Getting into his head and getting to learn more about his past and his powers was a real treat for me. Honestly though? I adore ALL of the characters here and Maggie Stiefvater’s writing is sublime ♥ SO HAPPY you’re loving these too my friend^^ xxx
Ronan *sighs* I agree, he’s very well done, and seeing things his way was a treat. Maggie Stiefvater is so amazing! All of her characters make sense to me, and I really don’t have anything negative to say about The Raven Circle.
Twitter: kbaby81
I really need to get a move on with this series. I was just telling another blogger that I am gonna try it this weekend, if nothing else grabs my attention.
Lekeisha, this series just gets better with each book! I hope you’ll enjoy the Dream Thieves 🙂
Everyone loves Maggie and her books. I really need to put them on my MUST READ list, ASAP. (PS, your commentluv module isn’t working.)
Oh you should! Her prose is just amazing 🙂
Thanks for letting me know about the commentluv. I think I’ve been able to fix it 🙂
I’m reading this one now! It’s quite good, but I’m not too far into it yet. I’m fascinated by Rowan though, so it’s great that this one focuses a lot on him.
-Lauren
Ronan is awesome! So complex – and the storyline just keeps getting more complex as well 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you think about it once you finish reading, Lauren!
Damn, everything I read about this series makes me think I need to get on it right now! I’m waiting to see if my elibrary will get all four books so that I can binge if I end up liking it 🙂 It does sound great though, what with the amazingly developed characters and complexity. I love when things all interweave because that’s what I love about series. And it’s nice that there are actually parents involved. Fantastic review!
Oh I hope your elibrary have all four books! I read the first book last year, but then, I binge-read the three next ones just before I left for BEA 😀 So, so good!
I think this book is my favorite in the series, but I haven’t read The Raven King yet. I really came to like Ronan after The Dream Thieves. He seemed more like a real character. More complex. Great review!
Oh my goodness, Tiffany! The Raven King is AWESOME! I agree, getting to know Ronan better was definitely a plus, because he seemed like an a-hole at first… Now, not so much.
Twitter: Mlsimmons
I still need to try this series. It has been on my TBR list for a while. Glad you’re enjoying it.
Ronan is my favourite character so I really enjoyed this book and getting to know more about him. I think he’s as precious as Adam at times, its particularly clear in BLLB 🙂