Teaser Tuesday: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can participate! All you have to do is:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser this week is from:

Gansey always thought that, after dark, it felt like anything could happen. At night, Henrietta felt like magic, and at night, magic felt like it might be a terrible thing.

That's my teaser, what's yours?

Event: Maggie Stiefvater & Brenna Yovanoff at The Tattered Cover

Back in September, I was flicking through The Tattered Cover's website (per usual), when I saw two names that caused mixed emotions (not really, they were both excitement, honestly...); One, was Brenna Yovanoff. I'd been to Brenna's signing in Fort Collins in...autumn of 2010, I believe, when The Replacement had first come out, and I've seen her a couple times at The Tattered Cover in Highlands Ranch (although I've never been brave enough to go talk to her--The last thing I need to do is walk up to some random person and freak them out...ha)...and Maggie Stiefvater. Now, I have to admit, I kind of...sat there and stared at the computer for a couple minutes like a dunce, half expecting it to disappear. And when I showed Mel, I'm pretty sure I could've knocked her over with a feather (Mel is a fangirl, yes).

So, yes, those of you who might've been there, I was that girl with two tote bags filled to the brim at the front of the line chatting with Brenna, while my dad (the social butterfly) chatted it up with Satan (more on that later ;P). Do not worry, I got my punishments; as we were leaving the house, I managed to slip on a foot-step-upper-thingy-IknowithasapropernameIcan'tremember!-on-cars and turn my legs a charming shade of black and blue, and nearly twisting my ankle out of joint. So, at least you all know while I was holding up the line, I couldn't feel my legs. Woot pre-Karma...haha. After my Bella Swan moment, we were off!

(yes, it really was that chilly ^)

Now, let me tell you something. No one knows how very girly they are until they are downtown, on a Saturday evening, for the first time. I pride myself in not being a cliche girly-girl, but ugh. I was having issues. I know this sounds really tacky on my part, but I'd never been to The Tattered Cover on Colfax, and.... Okay.. Anyway.

Once I'd gotten in the store, however, there was a sense of calm. This place was huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge! Two whole floors, and if we weren't already running late (you would not believe parking...), I probably would've meandered around (and bought more books, like I really need them). But, as it was, we immediately tumbled down the stairs with my sore ankle, and awaited the signing.

Brenna Yovanoff (left) and Maggie Stiefvater (right)

I can easily believe Brenna and Maggie are critique partners (fact of the day). They were totally comfortable with one another, which made the event all the more enjoyable. They interviewed each other before taking questions from the audience, and Maggie was teasing Brenna good-naturedly for starting every question with, "In The Raven Boys,-". The girls were hilarious.

Maggie [right] showing us the shoe she has been taking on tour 

The girls read "dramatic" scenes from each others books, with Brenna as Gansey from The Raven Boys, and Maggie as Beelezebub ("a role I was born to play," says Maggie) from The Space Between. Maggie gave the audience an option-- They could read from "The Space Between," or they could read from, "Die Blumen des Schmerzes," the German edition.

"You all have to understand, Maggie is fluent in German while I...don't know any German." 

~Brenna Yovanoff

Maggie proceeded to tell us "the part about the bats," with a totally straight face, while everyone in the audience either giggled or died of confusion. For inquiring minds, I was in the in-between.

"'Schläger' means 'bat,' everyone. There. I've ruined the mystery of it." 

~Maggie Stiefvater

As they continued, Maggie told everyone she was nicknamed "Satan" in college. When an attendee asked the obvious question ("Why?"), Maggie answered honestly: "Well, I think it was because I played the bagpipes at all hours of the night..." ...'nough said, huh, ladies and gentlemen?

What I found to be a fun fact was, while both ladies have previous books out, the two books this signing was for, "The Raven Boys" and "The Space Between," were both books that took them the longest to write.

Needless to say, The Raven Boys and The Space Between have hiked their way to the near top of my reading list, and I can't wait to get started on them. Great signing!

Review: 'Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception' by Maggie Stiefvater

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception
Books of Faerie #1
By: Maggie Stiefvater
Published: On October 8th, 2008 by Flux

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand--one who can see faeries. Deirdre finds herself infatuated with a mysterious boy who enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of thin air. Trouble is, the enigmatic and gorgeous Luke turns out to be a gallowglass--a soulless faerie assassin. Sworn enemies, Luke and Aodhan each have a deadly assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is James, her wisecracking but loyal best friend. Deirdre had been wishing her life weren't so dull, but getting trapped in the middle of a centuries-old faerie war isn't exactly what she had in mind...

Let me start by telling you all that I have read this book 100 times if I've read it once. I don't reread books, people. I just don't. Sure, I'll flip through it again if and when a movie comes out so I can have it fresh in my mind (easier to complain that Hollywood-did-this-Hollywood-did-that that way), but I don't tend to miss characters so much that I stop reading my newly-purchased book (which is wonderful) to go back into this universe again. So this alone should tell you how good this is, but I suppose you want a real review, yes? But of course.

Lament is the story of Deirdre Monaghan, and how those psychopathic faerie peoples evilevilevil the Fae wants to kill her, which is very dramatic and frightening and gripping, but in all honesty...I think I love this book for Luke. I love Luke. I don't care if he's the villain, shh! I find him charming and wicked and absolutely lovely- Come on, who doesn't love a guy who will wander into the "despicable" girls bathroom, just to hold your hair back while you vomit? And still think you're worthy of the name, "Pretty Girl" afterwards? Tell me that is not awesome..

Ahem. Book. I love the story itself, too, guys, really. It is probably my favorite love story, story of the Fae, of all time. None of the characters are forgotten or brushed aside, none of them pointless, and I can say honestly there have been useless characters in many books I have read (this bothers me...)

It takes a lot to get me to love a book this much, and have no complaints. This book right here is the reason I am a fan of Maggie Stiefvater. This book secures me as a Forever Fan, and I will always have a copy of this book on my shelves. I recommend this book every which way :3

My Rating:

About The Author:

All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she was 22. She now lives an eccentric life in the middle of nowhere, Virginia with her charmingly straight-laced husband, two kids, two neurotic dogs, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki.

Follow Maggie on:
Facebook
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Website

"Waiting on" Wednesday: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're super excited about. This week, my pick is: 

The Raven Boys

Raven Cycle Book #1

By: Maggie Stiefvater

Publication Date: September 18th, 2012

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent 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, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: 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.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.


I think the plot line of this story sounds marvelous. Eerie and mysterious, like Maggie's other novels. Maggie is the author of The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, and "The Scorpio Races", both of which I am enjoying very much. Cannot wait to dive into this!


What book are YOU looking forward to?

Author Appreciation Day 17:The Marvelous Maggie Stiefvater

Today we're all about the genius of Maggie Stiefvater. I think she is one of the most talented voices out there in the young adult genre right now. ALL her books are amazing and heartbreaking while still making you laugh out loud at times. I just think she's fabulous! 

Maggie Stiefvater's Website

Maggie is the author of Ballad & Lament (her homicidal faerie books), The Wolves of Mercy Falls series (Shiver, Linger & Forever), The Scorpio Races & the upcoming Raven Boys series. I first found Maggie while browsing through Borders. I stumbled across Lament and read the synopsis and thought, hmm..homicidal faeries?? Sounds good! So I bought it & I was so glad!  Her writing is like poetry and she is such a gifted story teller that you fall right into the story as you're reading. You feel the characters' pain, joy, triumph, just everything as you read their stories. Another thing I love about Maggie is she's not afraid to give her characters a not-so-happy ending sometimes. Things never magically become perfect just because you've reached the end of the book. Don't get me wrong, I love a good happy ending as much as the next girl, I just appreciate the uniqueness of Maggie's style of not always happy, but interesting endings, too. 

My favorite book by Maggie, has to be Shiver, the first book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. It's the whole falling in love with the person you know you're supposed to be with forever thing, I think. Plus I love Sam just a little bit, he is an amazing character and his and Grace's love story is one of the best I've ever read. If you haven't read this book, give yourself a stern talking to and then go out and BUY it now!  I promise you won't regret it. 

Coming on September 18,  2012, look for The Raven Boys! You can preorder it now on Amazon.com!

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent 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, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: 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.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

I don't know about you guys, but I cannot wait to read this book!!