Review: The Dream Thieves | Maggie Stiefvater

This Review contains spoilers.

“Sometimes, some rare times, a secret stays undiscovered because it is something too big for the mind to hold. It is too strange, too vast, too terrifying to contemplate.”  

Series: The Raven Cycle
Published: 2013, by Scholastic.
Pages: 450
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Magic, LGBT
Contains: Strong Language, Drugs/Alcohol, Violence, Death

‘The Dream Thieves’ is the second installment in the four book series of The Raven Cycle, and follows Ronan’s realisation that he’s the Greywaren – someone who retrieves items from dreams. However, drama ensues between him and known enemy Kavinsky, whilst Adam and Blue’s relationship crumbles under the weight of his personal demons and her self-doubt.

I understand the hype of this series, I really do. Maggie Stiefvater’s writing is so breathtakingly beautiful, with not a single line seeming out of place, and nearly every character seems so realistic. Every time I finish a chapter my desperation to be capable of writing like her grows.

The character progression in this installment is possibly the main reason why I adored this book from start to finish. Ronan’s character especially, progressed from realising his capabilities to learning to control them. At the beginning of the story, and from book one, Ronan was simply the edgy-angry-one of the boys, permanently prepared for conflict, and although, there’s still that element to his personality, this story explores other sides to his character. One of the main moments I realised this was his interactions with Adam, which has evolved fast in ‘The Dream Thieves’. Upon realising Adam was struggling to pay rent, he secretly began paying for him behind his back, and not once mentioned it. There was also the moment in his dream where he saw Adam put on a cursed mask and got injured, leading him to keep him away from it in reality, regardless of how he knew there was no possibility of it harming him anymore. These small, yet important sides to Ronan made me love his character even more, and appreciate the book as a whole.
However, Blue’s character gave me the opposite feeling. Although, she’s still a strong female protagonist and there’s multiple instances where she proves this, the love triangle between herself, Adam and Gansey was too cliche and eyerollingly-boring to ignore. Regardless, of how I’m aware of the fact that her condition is the main plot line of the series, I could sense the insta love a mile away. Plus, I still don’t care for Gansey; his dialogue is incredibly unrealistic for a teenager of his age and has hardly any personality, other than to be a mimic of Fitzgerald’s Jay Gatsby.
Blue’s Mother, Maura, However, is someone I adored so much more in this book, and discovering a little about her history left me desperate for more of her character. I adored her mysteriousness and her relationship with The Gray Man was adorable!

The story itself was slightly confusing at times, and I found myself taking breaks to refresh my memory on the quest, and remember the various terminology that I felt too stupid to understand. However, it didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the story overall. I feel as if the characters make up for any slight faults.

Overall, ‘The Dream Thieves’ did not disappoint, and I’ll definitely continue the boys’ story as soon as possible.

5/5