I can't put my finger on it, but this book didn't quite live up to what I was expecting. Based on the development in the first and second books in the series, I guess I was expecting something more. That being said, I'd give it a 3.5; not quite a 4, but more than a three. ( )

This is a review of the whole Raven Cycle tetralogy:

This is a young adult, urban fantasy story, about a group of private school boys who are obsessed about searching for a medieval Welsh king who is supposed to be buried in Virginia, somewhere along a mystical "ley line", and about a town girl from a close-knit family of seers who befriends them.

The quality of the writing is high, the characterization compelling and the fantasy elements are imaginative and vivid. This is no Twilight, and Stiefvater can create a magical atmosphere and make the story compulsively readable.

The plot was not as accomplished as the setting and characters. I felt that the story did not need to be stretched over four books, and in each installment new adversaries had to be introduced, to play roles similar to those of enemies that had already been dealt with.

All in all, a rather enjoyable read. ( )

Lyrical, complex, funny, and satisfying—I'm totally hooked. I especially enjoy the darkly humorous noir elements that permeate book 2 and 3... wonderful genre-bending going on here. ( )

am i a whore why do i have a crush on adam noah ronan and gansey bro ( )

This one definitely felt like a middle book, but not at all boring like many middle books are. Action packed, fast-paced, and engaging, the only thing I found lacking was the depth of character explored in the first two books. Still awesome. Still not sure if I'm reading fantasy, horror, dystopian, supernatural, or a compendium on space-time theory.

But definitely read it! ( )