Book Review: The Dream Thieves

The Dream Thieves

By: Maggie Stiefvater

Published by: Scholastic Press

Release date: Sept. 17, 2013

Genre: YA paranormal

 448 pages

Buy it at Amazon, IndieBound or Barnes & Noble

Source: purchased by reviewer

I must agree with my friend Jen: a Maggie Stiefvater novel is like dark chocolate, in that just a little bit is deeply satisfying. I, however, believe that if a little of a thing is good, then a lot is downright fantastic- so I devoured this book in the week of its release, and I am not a bit ashamed.

I read book 1 when it debuted a year ago, and since I’ve read a lot since then, my memory of characters and plot was a little fuzzy at first. It didn’t take long for me to remember, but if you are able to skim a bit of The Raven Boys before starting The Dream Thieves, I would recommend doing so. You don’t want memory holes to compromise the experience.

This volume picks up where the last left off: Blue and the Boys are in search of Cabeswater, which they believe is the location of Glendower, the lost Welsh king. What began as Gansey’s quest has surely become an adventure that each of the friends can call their own. While Noah was the central focus of book 1, book 2 belongs to Ronan.

Ronan’s story- his secret- blooms as the exploits continue. We learn about his family, as well as his talent. We learn more about his relationship with Gansey: how they became friends and why Gansey tolerates Ronan’s terrible temper.

Stiefvater gives a couple of new lenses through which to view Ronan and his friends. First is the Gray Man, a hit man in search of the Greywaren. The Gray Man is not entirely villainous; he is quite pleasant in conversation, and is able to connect with characters in ways that avoid unnecessary unpleasantness. The second new addition to the cast of characters is another Aglionby student named Kavinsky. This boy is reckless and insufferable and entirely crazy. Kavinsky becomes a catalyst for Ronan, and the two are a dangerous combination.

I am guessing, since the first two books in the series have focused on Noah and Ronan, that the last two will focus on Gansey and Adam. If I am correct, I think the best bits of the series are yet to come. Those two are my favorites of the four boys, and I am eager to hear more of their stories.   

Summary:

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

FIVE Starred Reviews!

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...