"What she wanted was to see something no one else could see or would see, and maybe that was asking for more magic than there was in the world." 
 "They filled the hallway to overflowing, somehow, the three of them, loud and male and so comfortable with one another that they allowed no one else to be comfortable with them. They were a pack of sleek animals armored with their watches and their Top-Siders and the expensive cut of their uniforms. Even the sharp boy's tattoo, cutting up the knobs of his spine above his collar, was a weapon, somehow slicing at Blue." 
 Buddy read 
 with the lovely, Kainat. (thanks for putting up with fangirling) 
 In towns run by power, there are people who will seek it. 
 When the abilities are supernatural, people will be drawn. 
 Blue and her family of psychics live in Henrietta, a place known for it's ley lines and powerful supernatural frequencies. 
 The Raven Boys have always meant trouble, but Gansey is seeking something more than the rest of his peers. 
 Blue doesn't believe in true love, as she's been told all her life that she will be the death of them. 
 That's until she meets Gansey, the first spirit she's ever seen on St. Mark's Eve. 
 It could only mean two things, she killed him, or he's her true love. 
 As she's drawn to this boy she's vowed not to love, Blue accompanies the Raven Boys on their quest to wake a mysterious King from his eternal sleep. 
 Along with the other Aglionby boys, Ronan, Adam, and Noah, the four of them embark on a mission much bigger than all of them could imagine. As things fall into place and mysteries unveil, Blue and the Raven Boys must find a way to wake the king before someone else does. Once awaken, the king grants the individual a favour. 
 In things that power lie, there will always be evil. 
 Will they reach their goals before the latter? 
 I'd like to start off by saying three stars is not a bad rating. It only means that it was an alright novel, only missing a few components. 
 Characters: 
 Blue: 
 "She wasn't interested in telling other people's futures. She was interested in going out and finding her own." 
 Gansey: 
 "Gansey knew he had to make a difference, had to make a bigger mark on the world because of the head start he'd been given, or he was the worst sort of person out there." 
 "The journal and Gansey were clearly long-acquainted, and he wanted her to know. This is me. The real me" 
 Ronan: 
 "In my head." Ronan's laugh was a sharp jackal cry. 
 "Dangerous place," commented Noah. 
 Adam: 
 "Adam had once told Gansey, "Rags to riches isn't a story anyone wants to hear until after it's done." 
 Noah: 
 *Insert quiet yet sly remark* 
 Now onto the discussion of how I felt about this read. First of all, I'd like to list the things I enjoyed about it: 
 Before I started this novel, I didn't pay much attention to the description. I indeed did not notice the "you will kill your true love" and the angst warning. If anything I'm glad I didn't. Though from the thesis, it may sound like a teenager trying not to fall in love, romance was probably one of the lesser aspects of it. This novel was purely just world and character building. There was some romance, but it was ever so light. 
 At first I was annoyed with this "you'll kill your true love", "that's your true love", and "don't kiss anyone", routine. Once you get past the first couple of chapters, things start to ease off that topic a little more. 
 The character and world building were beautiful. I was able to see inside each protagonist and feel a connection or emotion to them. The world building was difficult at first, as it is with any new series, but the author did well in introducing ideas without information dumps. We were taken on a entertaining adventure as we got to dive into the world, allowing us to feel excited as we got to know the settings. 
 I can't say that none of the characters weren't complex. They all had many layers to them, neither were they attempted to be made "perfect" or sinister. Even with the villain, you were able to see their perspective. Though I wasn't found of the "villain", I felt bad for them. 
 The entire "true love" complex was nicely done here. Unlike in other novels, where the label "soul mates" is just thrown around in excuse for lack of chemistry, it was not the case here. I was actually able to feel a connection between the two love interests(or at least future love interests). While reading TMI, I thought the entire "Clary and Jace are soulmates" talk was cute, but in this novel, I felt that the two interests were truly meant for each other. 
 That may seem like a very short list of things I found likable, but the characters were a main part of it all. 
 Now, to get into more of what my problems were: 
 First of all, the writing. 
 During the start of the novel, I highlighted and took notes of all the issues I was having with the writing. At some point I gave up and accepted that stammering sentences were a thing. 
 "Still, surely she could have guessed from the massive stone great hall and the parking lot full of cars that spoke German that it wasn't the sort of school that they could afford." 
 Any other punctuation like additional commas, maybe cutting a part out? 
 How about: 
 "From the massive stone great hall and the parking lot full of cars that spoke German, Blue knew that it wasn't the sort of school they could afford." 
 Now doesn't that sound better? 
 Then there was the constant name dropping. On one page I counted Blue's name mentioned eight times, all while this third person view was focused on Blue. 
 Honestly the perspective switches in the first chapters of the book were overwhelming and confusing. I'd like to at least get used to one character before flying to another. Then again, I can't complain much since this novel was dedicated to character development. 
 A lot of the mystery was taken out as we were taken into the "villains" perspective during the start of the book. I think it would of been a great plot twist if we were given hints that someone else was after waking Glendower as well. 
 There were also times where I had to accept that things would be described as milkshakes: 
 "Pages and pages were browsing. Blue ran her fingers over the varied surface. Creamy, thick artist paper with a slender, elegant font. Thin, browning paper with spidery serif. Slick, utilitarian white stock with an artless modern type. Ragged-edged newspaper in a brittle shade of yellow." 
 Is she reading the journal or making love to it? 
 If you didn't finish reading that quote, I don't blame you. 
 Pacing was a huge problem for me, as I found myself tired throughout. I reached 50% and only just got to see the group arranged. The entire premises may have been to build the world for us to understand better in future novels, but that isn't an excuse for the lack of action. 
 Overall: 
 I loved the characters and they're the main reason I'll continue on with this series. I'd love to see what the author will do with them, since I can already see things beginning to take place. 
 If you liked this novel more than I did- or you didn't, you should check out Kainat's review of it here