I’m going to try hard to be objective and coherent in this review, but I make no promises because I love this book to a ridiculous degree and it’s hard not to just post, “ZOMG I LOVE IT, READ IT AND TALK ABOUT THE FEEEEEEELS WITH ME.” But since I really do want people to read this book (and the rest of the series!), I will give coherency a go.
Blue Sargent is sixteen years old and the only girl born into her family with no psychic abilities. She does, however, amplify the psychic abilities of those around her. So once a year Blue goes with her mother to an abandoned church to write down the names of the spirits that walk the corpse road, the names of people who will die within the next twelve months. But tonight is different for two reasons. First, Blue is at the church with her Aunt Neeve instead of her mother and secondly, Blue sees a spirit. He will not tell Neeve his name but tells Blue eventually that it is Gansy. She cannot see his face but can tell that he is a young man about her age and that he is wearing a Aglionby Academy (the super exclusive local prep school) sweater. When Blue asks he aunt why she can see this particular spirit, Neeve answers, “Either you’re his true love or you killed him.”
This leaves Blue in something of a conundrum because, after being told her whole life by every psychic that she ever met that if she kisses her true love, he will die, she has sworn off both kissing and boys. Aglionby boys (called Raven Boys for the embalm on their sweaters) in particular, since a lifetime of growing up poor in a town that caters to the privileged, wealthy students has left her with the opinion that Aglionby boys are bastards. But she soon meets a group of four friends and her opinion begins to change, at least about these particular Raven Boys. There’s Adam, a quiet, proud scholarship boy who Blue thinks is very pretty; Noah, the sweet one; and Ronan, who might actually be a bit of a bastard but whose father’s recent murder wins him some leeway. Then there’s Gansy. Richard Campbell Gansy III. He’s old money, his mother a Senator and his family privileged beyond Blue’s imagining. He’s also obsessed with finding an ancient Welsh king he believes is buried on a local ley line. Blue can’t help but be fascinated though she can’t imaging kissing Gansy, let alone falling in love with him.
As I mentioned, I adored this book. It hits many of my favorite tics. Strong female characters who have good relationships with other women, people who are good fucking friends to each other, found families, humor, sass, well thought out plots, well built fantasy world, and just, I love this book. If you like any of those things, please read this book and then come talk to me about feeeeeeeeeels. Woo!
