Update 2020:With my local library closed down, I’m stuck with the books on my bookshelf so I opted to reread my favorites. And it just hit me that I reread this book on April 24th aka the date that set off the gangsey! Coincidence? I think not.There’s nothing quite like returning to the first book in a series to discover the neatly laid path of easter eggs that will come to resurface in the books to follow in the series.The scene that hit me most was with the hollowed-out vision tree where Blue foresees her kiss with Gansey. I just recalled reading that for the first time wondering if it would be mirrored in the finale. How tragically beautiful that it was. Also, how has it been four whole years since I reread this series. That seems impossible when I remember so vividly opening the first book waiting to be impressed. Oh, how I was. My original review below says it all:“She wasn’t interested in telling other people’s futures. She was interested in going out and finding her own.”This review contains *spoilers*.I went into this book expecting to hate it, but I was truly surprised by it— right from page 1.I read the prologue before I went to bed and I had to convince myself to put it down because I knew if I wouldn’t, I’d be extremely sleep deprived the next morning. It was so good. And it was constantly on my mind the next morning, I kept thinking about that fateful moment when I could just sit down and read it. I finished The Raven Boys in 2 sittings (although reading it at night was extremely scary for me).This book follows the events of Blue Sargent. Every year, Blue 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. “There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve, Blue. Either you’re his true love,” Neeve said, “or you killed him.” “It wasn’t a night for her ordinary eyes. It was a night for seers and psychics, witches and mediums.”“In other words, the rest of her family."I loved Blue’s family. They captured my attention in the prologue and were the reason that I had to finish this book.I was so intrigued by them, they reminded me of my favorite family in The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender.I love it when I find books with families similar to The Strange and Beautiful family. There are also no words that can describe how much I appreciated Blue’s mother, Maura.“The predictions that came out of 300 Fox Way were unspecific, but undeniably true. Her mother had dreamt Blue’s broken wrist on the first day of school. Her aunt Jimi predicted Maura’s tax return to within ten dollars. Her older cousin Orla always began to hum her favorite song a few minutes before it came on the radio.”This book is mainly told from the perspectives of Gansey and Blue.Gansey is on a quest that has encompassed three of his closest friends: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.I love books where we get multiple main characters.But it took me a few chapters to get used to Gansey’s voice. His chapters felt a little slow-paced compared to Blue’s.Initially, the only thing that made his chapters more interesting was when Ronan showed up. I found his character to be a lot more compelling than Gansey’s. I really cared for Ronan (especially when he took care of his raven, Chainsaw)“What’s her name?” Blue asked. Holding her was frightening and lovely; she was such a small, tenuous little life, her pulse tapping rapidly against Blue’s skin.Adam answered witheringly, “Chainsaw.”The raven opened her beak wide, goggling even more than before.“She wants you again,” Blue said, because it was clear that she did. Ronan accepted the bird and stroked the feathers on the back of her head.“You look like a super villain with your familiar,” Adam saidRonan’s smile cut his face, but he looked kinder than Blue had ever seen him, like the raven in his hand was his heart, finally laid bare.”But the more I got into the story, the more my love for the characters grew. They all added something so heartbreaking to the story. The only time I remember really smiling (instead of crying) was when Gansey and Blue interacted with each other, they were so comfortable with one another and incredibly funny. I loved them. “Sorry that I’m late,” said the boy in front, with the square shoulders. The scent of mint rolled in with him, just as it had in the churchyard. “Will it be a problem?”Blue knew that voice.She reached for the railing of the stairs to keep her balance as President Cell Phone stepped into the hallway.Oh no. Not him. All this time she’d been wondering how Gansey might die and it turned out she was going to strangle him.”Blue was a great protagonist, she is one of the most unique females I've ever read. She is vulnerable but tough. She is clever but has moments of doubt. And her relationships with her family is heartwarming, especially with her mother.“Blue could’ve happily had any number of friends. And she had tried. But the problem with being weird was that everyone else was normal.So her family remained her closest friends, school remained a chore, and Blue remained secretly hopeful that, somewhere out there in the world, there were other odd people like her. Even if they didn’t seem to be in Henrietta.”And Adam Parrish broke a little piece of my heart. I was crying when I found out why Adam didn’t show up at school the morning after Gansey called him at midnight about Ronan being missing.And when Gansey came to check on Adam, I was just in tears. I was so emotional. That part hit too close to home.I had to put down the book for a few minutes just to try and calm down.(Trigger Warning: Domestic Abuse)“The ripped knees of Adam’s camo cargo pants appeared first, then his faded Coca-Cola T-shirt, then, finally, his face.A bruise spread over his cheekbone, red and swelling as a galaxy. A darker one snaked over the bridge of his nose.Gansey said immediately, “You’re leaving with me.”“It will only make it worse when I come back,” Adam told him.” But towards the end when Adam was confronted by his hideous father, and Ronan came to save Adam— there were tears just streaming down my face (I was so thankful that I was home alone).I love Ronan. And I’m so emotional.“His father bellowed something else at him, but it was into his left ear, and there was nothing but a roar on that side.“Do not ignore me,” his father growled. And then, inexplicably, he turned his head from Adam, and he shouted, “What do you want?”“To do this,” Ronan Lynch snarled, smashing his fist into the side of Robert Parrish’s face. Beyond him, the BMW sat, the driver’s side door hanging open, headlights illuminating clouds of dust in the darkness.”Ronan's reply broke me. The Raven Boys was definitely a book that astonished me with its beautiful writing style, memorable cast of characters, and complete uniqueness. I love books that can surprise me with how good and eccentric they are.Also, this song really fit the mood of the book for me.4.5 stars*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying The Raven Boys, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!* This review and more can be found on my blog.