The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, Book 4) by Maggie Stiefvater (Epub)

Description

The fourth and final installment in the spellbinding series from the irrepressible, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.

All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love’s death. She doesn’t believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.In a starred review for Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Kirkus Reviews declared: “Expect this truly one-of-a-kind series to come to a thundering close.”

User’s Reviews

From School Library Journal Gr 9 Up-The wait is over. The long-anticipated fourth and final volume in the engrossing Raven cycle is here, and it’s a doozy. If anything, it is even more steeped in dreams, magic, and possibility than the previous titles and none of the books’ ongoing dramas are simply resolved. The masterful Stiefvater juggles multiple plotlines, adds a few new ones, and keeps the pages turning. Most importantly, readers will continue to be invested in her rich and complex characters. The quest for the Welsh king Glendower is completed, but kings aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be. Gansey and his friends are now desperate to change what they have come to believe is his fate-to die before the end of the year. They also have to cope with the villainous forces of greed and corruption who descend on their town, RoboBees, and a power-hungry demon. And there’s that nagging curse that Blue will kiss her true love and he will die, and she’s increasingly certain that Gansey is her heart’s desire. Strange revelations about Blue’s father and the introduction of a new student, who proves to be a stalwart and trustworthy ally, all help to build to the breathtaking climax. Beyond the imaginative storytelling, the colorful cast of characters, and the looping subplots, Stiefvater has tackled big questions about life and death, power and personal responsibility, dreams and promises, and fate and destiny. VERDICT This is a series that is destined for greatness and The Raven King is a crowning achievement.-Luann Toth, School Library Journalα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Reviews from Amazon users, collected at the time the book is getting published on UniedVRG. It can be related to shiping or paper quality instead of the book content:

⭐ This review contains no major spoilers.I knew what I wanted from The Raven King: more magic, more friendship, more Cabeswater. I was worried over who might die and – more importantly – if my precious babies would have a chance at remaining lifelong friends, considering their socioeconomic differences and the different futures they craved. Would Adam make it to college? Would Ronan? Would Gansey die or – also bad – go on to be a grown-up President Cell Phone? If Blue couldn’t make it out of Henrietta, would her friends ever come back to visit, or would shame tear them apart? Et cetera.I didn’t care much about Glendower, magic wishes, or the caricature villains that have consistently been the weak point in the series. Having finished the book, I feel like Stiefvater had the same focuses that I had, which has triggered mixed results from readers.The Raven King is the creepiest of all four books. It deals with literal and metaphorical darkness throughout, and Stiefvater pulls out her best metaphors and similes to create a spine-chilling atmosphere. She paints settings like theater backdrops. In fact, there’s one memorable scene that takes place in a literal theater. Adam enters Aglionby, and “[i]nstead of returning to one of the academic buildings, he [slides] down the stairs to the theater’s side door.” As he walks down the hall (underground, alone, dark, creepy), he passes “many-legged animals made of stacked old chairs, strange silhouettes of stage-set trees, and depthless oceans of black curtain [that hang] over everything.” Nothing’s happened so far, but you know it’s going to, and it makes a great punch once it does.Then there’s the friendship/romantic bits. In one scene, Mr. Gray says, “I’ve been thinking a lot about Adam Parrish and his band of merry men.” Maura responds, “That’s a strange way of putting it. I would have said Richard Gansey and his band of merry men.” Depending on how you look at the story, different characters become central – which is indicative of how rich the inner lives of these characters are. They all have full arcs, and Stievater for the most part balances them beautifully, never shining one character too far in the spotlight and dimming out the others.Just as in previous books, however, the antagonists are underdeveloped and ineffectual. Too many chapters were devoted to villains I didn’t care about, and I could have spent more time with the protagonists I’ve loved for over 1,000 pages. Nevertheless, ‘the book could have been longer’ seems like the best of all complaints.My second reaction to finishing the book – after the immediate adrenaline rush – was disappointment. Disappointment might be inevitable with so many moving pieces of such a long series – especially when many of those moving pieces are so near and dear to my heart.Now, however, I’m three days into my book hangover and I still can’t start another novel. The conclusion offered me the best thing it could: Hope. There’s somewhere to go at the end, more things to imagine. The gangsey’s futures mattered to Stiefvater in the same way they mattered to me. Ironically, this is not all there is.’ The gangsey is going to stay in my head for years, and I know I’ll reread the entire series to spot how all the different plots parallel and intersect. I think that’s the best thing a concluding book can make you want to do.

⭐ I gave this five stars because why not? I read all four books and I had to keep reading to the very end because once I started reading the first book in the series I had to know how it ended and there was no way for that without reading all four. I loved the writing, it was exquisite, and I loved the characters though the bad guy’s POV chapters were more a necessary evil than a part I enjoyed. I loved the way the relationships worked out and I loved the ending even though I had emotionally prepared myself for an ending I didn’t like. But there was definitely something lacking. I expected to be crying my eyes out at the end but I was completely unaffected.For such an “epic” love story, true love denied and hidden and finally realized Blue and Gansey were so disconnected. This didn’t feel YA it felt middle grade. They are eighteen for crying out loud. He really spent the night on the sofa? Come on.The same went for Ronan and Adam unless I was missing things. I don’t expect graphic sex scenes just.. Implied realistic behavior for their age.Why is this less than five stars? Because of the plot. The plot meandered and was about four times longer than it needed to be. There were tangent subplots that I didn’t care about and were probably about getting our heroes to act, something they didn’t do very often. The place where the book started moving towards the finale felt so abrupt and disconnected it was like somebody tapped the author on the shoulder and said “hey, remember you need to end this soon?” so she did.But it wasn’t the ending the series deserves.But hey if you have the time and patience and love well drawn characters and beautiful words then read this. Just understand the commitment before starting

⭐ The Raven King was an excellent ending to the Raven Cycle quartet. I cannot tell you how much I loved the Raven King, it was wonderful, magical, full of horror, mystery, friendship and adventure.I have been deeply engrossed with the Raven Cycle for years now and I have been waiting for a couple of years for the Raven King to be released in paperback (ugh I really do hate Scholastic-US paperback bindings) and when it finally was I swooped in and snatched it up.So the book starts of with a story and it continues telling the smaller part of the story of all of the different characters who are apart of the larger story. I got to see things from even more point of views and more revelations was revealed. Gansey is looking for a king, Blue is worried about true love, Ronan is trying to figure out his adult life as a Greywaren and Adam is trying to figure out how to be human and a magician. Plus there is an unexpected character that becomes an important part to the story that I couldn’t help but love. The end of the quest is coming closer and things are getting dangerous, old faces make an appearance and something dark is lurking in the shadows. The story is coming full circle and not everyone is going to make it, lets hope magic is enough.Maggie is a miracle worker and I am so grateful for this series. The Raven Cycle was something so magical and meaningful that it seems almost reverent. The story was unlike anything I have ever read. The characters are so full of life they come off the page and the complex relationships can’t help but remind you of yours. Maggie managed to blend unexpected magic into everyday life and that the quest to revive a lost king seem absolutely normal and totally adventurous at the same time. She has such a way with words in this series, there is something about her writing that sets her apart from everyone else, it was done so well that I was sadden that I could join these miraculous people on their adventure and be a part of their friendship.The Raven King was so fantastic, it was dark and I forgot what a horror-show it could be sometimes, I loved it so much. It was full of magic and wonder, of new friendships and problems that need to be solved. I can’t really describe how much I loved this book and all of the feelings that this book made me feel. I love the characters so much and it was such a unique story that I know it’s going to stick with me for a long while. I will miss these characters so much and not just the gang but the occupants of 300 Fox Way, Mr. Gray and others. The only solace I have it that Maggie has planned a spin-off series for Ronan Lynch and while I will miss the others I can’t wait for this book because Ronan is quite the character and I can’t wait to see what the Greywaren does next.

⭐ The GoodMy goodness this one is hard to review especially trying to avoid any spoilers so it will be very vague on purpose. OK so I didn’t even want to start this series because the blurb in the first one suggests that a character will die and I’m just not alright with main characters dying so I decided not to even put myself through that. I did though. I read it. I will say that this series ended on a note that felt right. It is an amazing journey with some very well developed characters that continue to grow in each installment. This one shows different sides of characters that you think you already know by this point. You don’t know though. Not until you’ve read this one.I loved how every thread was brought together and we got some great wrap ups. I love how there were still surprises and crazy twists to throw at us. I love how even if you went into this expecting something, it was still a little shocking when it happened. The story moves at a wonderful pace. We get a more in depth look at characters that were just briefly mentioned previously. I was a fan of the addition of Henry especially since there was a lot less of Noah.Then there’s Ronan and how he is so much more open. How he’s accepting Blue and they’re bonding a bit. Their little moments together were some of my favorites. There’s Gansey with his NEED to wake the sleeping King. He has the drive to accomplish something more and then the ability to realize his life is already something more. Adam has a huge character realization for which I was glad. I especially loved seeing him let go of his past hurts. Blue…I don’t think there’s any way that I would’ve held it together the way she did.The BadThe repetition of certain things, while they were in essence proving a point, got a little on my nerves after a while.The RomanceThere was some great romantic parts in this one. Again, no spoilers, but it was big on romantic love, new beginnings, and life-long friendships.ConclusionRaven King is a great conclusion to a magical series. It was full of drama, action, magic, character growth, and mystery. It was everything you expect and everything you couldn’t possibly. Definitely recommended.

⭐ To be honest, I came away from this book a little disappointed. The pacing of it felt really off — things that should have been really important were sped through. I felt that both Blue’s relationship with Gansey and the climactic scene (which has been foreshadowed since practically page 1 of the first book) both went really fast and was robbed of its ultimate meaning through a rather unclear example of deus ex machina. I also was confused about the sudden prominence of Henry Cheng in this book. He seems like a nice enough person, but . . . was he just a plot device? Some kind of metaphor about how to live with magic? After three books’ worth of the Raven Boys and Blue, Henry seemed shoehorned in at best.This is not to say that I didn’t enjoy The Raven King. I did, especially the developing relationship between Adam and Ronan. And though I know others have felt that the Big Bad was almost comical, taking a strange and rather too specific form, I found it (and the descriptions of its evildoings) absolutely terrifying. And of course there’s just the immensely satisfying experience of being in the world the author has created.I think this book ultimately felt rushed — there were a few plot points that were never tied up (Gray Man, what happened? Also, lingering questions about Blue’s curse, and Glendower, and Gwenllian, and Blue’s mom, and . . .) and the important scenes and relationships were not given as much time as they deserved. I’m sad for my time in Henrietta to end. I wish we could have spent a little longer.

⭐ The Raven King is surprising and not surprising at the same time. There are certain pivotal moments one can see coming from a mile away but when they finally arrive, they do so unexpectedly. There is more joy in this book and yet more sorrow. When I say I love this series, I do not love it in the sense that I love chocolate, thunderstorms, or traveling. This love is like recollecting your favorite dream, one that you long to slip back into and stay for hours. I’ve never read anything like The Raven Cycle before, and I don’t think I ever will again.

⭐ Okay, can we just agree that amount of mind sorcery in the last 50 pages is INSANE. Like Noah? NOAH WHAT?Meanwhile, the rest of the book before all that was…?? It wasn’t boring or uneventful, it just felt like for the most part to be running in place before finding the right traction. Also, Maggie most certainly has a thing for adding in extra characters. Following the previous books we get a new villainous force. But here’s the thing, we don’t need them?So many of these characters could be cut out or merged into preexisting people. I love Henry, don’t get me wrong but I don’t see any major plot affecting damage if he were to just not be around. Unless he continues into the Ronan series?As a whole this series is such a five story worthy being. The last book left me spinning (I’m still spinning and it’s been a week later??). After I finished, I had to put it down and just stare out into space. And I have yet to fully wrap my head around it.Maggie leaves so much to desire for in terms of answers and just needing more. Cause that last line about adventures to still be had is !!YES!!All qualms aside let’s just go over my favorite things in this book:- The toga party because Gansey x Blue feels. I’m pretty sure I swooned.- More of Blue driving the camero.- THE KISSES. (This is not the spoiler you think it is). The descriptions for the first two were so lovely. The impact of rain and then cold night drives. I’m jello.- Ronan and is thing for Adam’s hands.- Adam and Ronan pretty much being gay dads to orphan girl (you’re not allowed to fight me on this, that’s just what they are).- Henry’s “should we spilt up or is this a horror movie?” line (and all his other fabulous one liners)- NOAH. NEVER FORGET NOAH.- The other camero, ah HA HA.-Orphan Girl gets a name and I was all tears in the eyes excited.Okay, I will now pour over fan theories.

⭐ I read the Raven Cycle books after I discovered Maggie Stiefvater through the Wolves of Mercy Falls. This series is entirely different but just as magnetically written. It felt like the wait for Raven King, the finale, was FOREVER because I am impatient and had to know how the story ended. This author is a master at writing characters you can form deep attachments to, who are experiencing or a part of supernatural shenanigans but without an alt universe. I have loved every book I’ve read by this author, which is all the books that I’ve found that she’s written. Not once have I met characters that don’t engage me in the feels. No one story is like the other. Each book is amazing in its own right. From relaying the inner narrative of each player, to perfect attention to detail that ushers you into the story, you’re engaged from the first page.Now I’ve got my kids avidly devouring this particular series.

⭐ I’d been waiting for this book all year, and I wanted to love it. Unfortunately, although the prose was as lovely as usual from Stiefvater, the plot and pacing needed work. The ending felt rushed and depended on hastily introduced, new magic rules that should have been established earlier in the series. The ending also involved a major character who was only introduced in this book and suddenly became best friends with Gansey and super-important out of nowhere. He had a corny sidekick, RoboBee, that took me out of the story with its odd name. The stories of some characters were wrapped up to a satisfactory extent, but others, like Maura and Mr. Gray and Noah, felt forgotten. Some of the magic began to feel silly to me, rather than mysterious and otherworldly. I finished the book because I’d invested so much in the series and because the prose at the page-level was still captivating in places. Overall though, the book made me feel like the author didn’t plan out the whole series ahead of time and decided to insert certain magic rules and characters belatedly to make the plot work out.

⭐ From the beginning this series has been special to me and I have been obsessed with it for the past three years. Now, facing the end of it, I can’t believe it is over and I will try to piece together some cohesive thoughts for a review.First of all, this exceeded all my hopes. I loved this wrap up to bits and I’m so happy. So so happy.When facing the end of a series you love, it is a hard thing to go into it confident things will be ok. The biggest fear I faced heading into this finale was disappointment. I was ready for death and feels but it is the execution of the wrap up that strikes fear into my reading heart. Especially after the many threads Maggie wove into the story at the end of BLLB, I was afraid the ending would be too unwieldy and big for me to feel satisfied at the end.This book felt different though. As I turned the pages, each choice felt weighted and leading toward the end. I could feel the ending coming and there was a darker, more sinister tone to this whole book. It turned out to be a beautiful finale and I am in awe of Stiefvater’s work. Her writing style is one of my favorites and her planning obviously supreme. I feel like I knew what was coming, but I was still stepping into the dark.There were a few loose ends, but it is impossible to wrap up every detail. I also had a little trouble fitting the time line of this series together even after finishing this book. I think after a reread of the the entire series it may make more sense, but as of right now I am confused. Those were my only complaints. This series wrapped up beautifully. The characters make this series and their development throughout this series is phenomenal. I loved this book.I will stop gushing about it now.

Keywords

Free Download The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, Book 4) in Epub format
The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, Book 4) Epub Free Download
Download The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, Book 4) 2016 Epub Free
The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, Book 4) 2016 Epub Free Download
Download The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, Book 4) Epub
Free Download Ebook The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, Book 4)