The stakes are high in this one, for Blue especially, as her mother has gone missing. She’s underground, figuratively and literally, and no one can find her. SHIT IS GETTING REAL, Y’ALL.
Not only is Blue dealing with the loss (misplacement?) of her mother, but her feelings for Gansey are getting harder to ignore. The two are playing with fire, really, growing closer and trying to hide it from their friends and themselves. They still can’t kiss, due to Blue’s prophecy that she’ll kill her true love if she kisses him, and the fact that they’re being so careful (though at times carefully careless) speaks volumes about their feelings for one another.
They’re not the only ones trying to ignore their feelings, though! Ronan’s feelings for Adam are gloriously, wonderfully just THERE on display (and am I so HERE for this) but Adam is going through some all caps SHIT. He’s moved out of his parents’ house, after an altercation with his father left lasting effects on his body and his psyche. He’s living in a ramshackle little room over a church, though Gansey would rather having him living with he and Ronan. Adam’s got to make his own way, though, and he’s now doing it without the hope of Blue’s affection, something both feel uncomfortable about but neither seem to be that disappointed in. Adam, at some point, realizes that he’s the apple of Ronan’s glaring eye and would probably have more time to think about what that means if the world wasn’t currently crashing down around them.
Because the hunt for Glendower is ramping up, placing them all in very real danger. Enough danger that they don’t have time to focus on who wants to be kissing whom. They have their priorities in order, is what I’m saying.
Blue and her Raven Boys have been told that there are three Sleepers underground, and that they must not wake one of them. The other, we suppose, is Glendower himself, leaving the third a mystery (for a time, anyway). They are busy hunting caves in the area, hoping to either turn up Glendower or Blue’s mother. Blue also has her friend Mr. Grey looking out for her, which is good because his old boss, Colin Greenmantle, has come to town with his wife, Piper, in tow. (I found these two alternately hilarious and annoying but mostly hilarious.) Greenmantle wants The Greywaren, which we found out in the last book was Ronan himself. Ronan and Adam take it upon themselves to deal with the Greenmantle problem, with disturbing results. I mean. Real disturbing, you guys.
Along for the ride is Gansey’s elderly friend, a Glendower scholar named Malory (and his service dog, who I can only assume is adorable because DOGS ARE SO GOOD). This novel is clearly moving the pieces into place for the final novel, The Raven King, which I am now just itching to read. I don’t want to say I’m Deathly Hallows levels of excited for it but it’s pretty damn close, which I did NOT see coming.
TOMORROW YOU GUYS.
I pretty much thought this was a pretty frustrating bridging book when I read it last year, but liked it SO much more on a re-read. Reading the whole series together as one long work is so much more rewarding, even though I liked each of the books seperately as well. I am SO excited and worried about The Raven King. I can’t remember the last time I had such a mix of butterflies and queasiness roiling in my stomach. The worst thing is that I’m really busy with work at the moment, so even if I get to start the book tomorrow, I won’t have time to really indulge in just devouring it.
I legit just threw a mini tantrum because the book comes out tomorrow and I have to work late so I won’t get to binge read it. Life is so unfair sometimes. ?
I should probably re-read to refresh the details but I’m going to use your review as a proxy because there is NO WAY I’m going to wait when that book shows up tomorrow :) I totally forgot about Ronan and Adam!
I love everything Stiefvater is doing with this series. Like Malin I worry that she won’t be able to wrap things up in a satisfying way because there are SO MANY FANTASTIC BALLS IN THE AIR.
I have faith though. I was blown away by Scorpio Races (also by Stiefvater), and had the same fear going into the third act and she NAILED it. Have faith guys! It’s gonna be great fun :)
I looooooooved Scorpio Races! That and the Raven Boys boys really grabbed me and I’m super into them, but I tried two of her other series and just couldn’t get into them. I can’t wait to finish this series!
I just want all the appropriate couples to kiss and for no one I love to die (at least not permanently) and for it all to be happy in the end! Is that too much to ask? I want Ronan and Adam kissing and I want Blue and Gansey kissing and I don’t want to be doing essay feedback, but being a grown-up and having a job and an actual conscience and work ethic sucks. If I worked at an office, where 25 people wouldn’t be affected by my “being sick”, I would totally fake food poisoning tomorrow so I could read all day.
WHAAAT?!? Amazon says my book shipment has been delayed.
NOOOOOO!
One of the few things that got me through the day was being able to read the book on my way to and from work, during breaks between lessons and lesson planning and while I was having my dinner. Unfortunately teaching requires a certain presence of mind and alertness, or I’d be tempted to stay up until stupid o’clock and read well into the night. Also, the husband and I are seeing Captain America: Civil War tomorrow evening, and I don’t want to fall asleep in the cinema.
Ooh, I am so jealous that you’re seeing it early! I hope it’s so, so good, I’m excited to see it.
Delayed, WHAT THAT IS NOT FAIR.
Yes, yes, to all of this! I want everyone I care about to make it through but it seems unlikely, yeah? I’M SO SCARED.