Audio review of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle, #1)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Narrator:Will Patton
Published by: Scholastic Audio Books
Length: 11 hours / 10 CDs
Source: Library
Format: Audio
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble

Maggie Stiefvater has a way with words.  Her descriptions are like a creek the cascades gently over stones lulling you into a tranquility you'd never expect, especially in a novel like The Raven Boys.

This novel is filled with the mystery and all things ambiguous that revolve around magic.  Gansey is obsessed and though he believes other people possess magic, he wants proof.  Him and his unlikely crew of misfit boys devote their lives to solving this puzzle and along the way discover a connection with Blue as well. 

The characters in this novel are ones you are unlikely to forget.  Each one is unique with specific  personality traits that are not always likable, and yet work together seamlessly.  Maggie Stiefvater gives us glimpses into each of the character's lives as the story unfolds, explaining their histories and how they became involved in this adventure. 

Will Patton did an excellent job of narrating this novel. His accents seemed spot on for Gansy and had the perfect amount of pretentiousness that seemed to flow well with certain characters. With this novel following many characters, Will Patton had to capture not only multiple accents but also multiple personalities, which he did wonderfully.

As for the plot it started out a little slow for me, but soon picked up.  There are interweaving mysterious that seem to tangle all of the characters together into one big mess as well as new secrets being revealed along the way.  Maggie Stiefvater did an excellent job of keeping readers on their toes, by giving the unexpected and shocking with each new page.  While some of those mysteries are solved others are not, which seems sets the scene for the rest of the series.  I do wish that a little more action would have happened in The Raven Boys, along with a little romance, but I guess we will have to wait for the next book to see that.        

The Raven Boys was a great start to what I'm sure will be an addicting series. 

Review of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Published by: Scholastic Audio
Length: 12 hrs., 7 min.
Source: Library
Format: Audiobook
Rating: ★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

An action packed and thrilling adventure.  The Scorpio Races is a novel that will capture not only your attention, but your heart.  These water horses are like no other.  They are viscous and out for blood, but that makes the races all the more exciting.  While men are after Puck, because they don't wait a girl in their race, they are also aiming for Sean since he is the current champion and the one to beat.  The whole time you are wondering not only who will be at the finish line first, but also who will survive the race itself.     

The main characters, Puck and Sean have amazing chemistry.  Their romance is quite slow moving and in fact really innocent, but the way they act around each other, as if no one else on the Island really gets them, but they can see into each other's soul.  Puck's loud and outspoken, whereas Sean is a man of few words, yet inside they are both brave and courageous.  They have a way with horses that shows tenderness and wisdom.  They are thrown together under usual circumstances, and while their attraction grows they both know there can only be one winner.     

This novel is told in alternating view points between Puck and Sean.  It was interesting getting to see both sides of the events and to understand their growing attraction even before they do.  Steve West and Fiona Hardingham did a wonderful job narrating this book.  Their voices and inflections seems to fit the characters so well that I really thought I was listening to Puck and Sean tell their story.  Plus every time Steve/Sean said "Kate Connolly" I got a little chill. 

This was surprisingly wonderful read that is so much more than a story about waterhorses.  It's really the story of an island and a way of life.  

By the way, did anyone who read this story think that Puck's brother Gabe had a reason for leaving the island, mayhaps being in love with an inappropriate women?  Am I the only one who thought this?