Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

"Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she'd been told that she would kill her true love."  And so begins the tale of the Raven Boys.  Maggie Stiefvater has roped me into her web of stories from Mercy Falls trilogy to Scorpio Race to Books of Faerie trilogy; however, in Raven Boys is completely different and completely Maggie. 

The reader is introduced to Blue Sargent, daughter of the local psychic and completely devoid of any psychic ability, except that she can make others' energy stronger, she's like an antenna.  Thrust into this world of Virgina old money and magic, the reader learns of the Aglionby Prep School for all the old money sons.  Not only do we have the dynamic of the Southern blue blood versus the everyday person, but also MAGIC!!! 

Our main characters are Gansey (old money/leader of group/obsessed with Ley Lines), Adam ("white trash" trying to get a better life), Ronan (old money/shark like), Noah ("smudgy"/never hungry/cold hands/shy) and finally Blue (will kill her true love with a kiss/antenna for psychic energy/the missing link to the group.)  Blue unwittingly meets Gansey in the cemetery during St. Mark's night, where the soon to be deceased march along and Blue's mother or aunt record the names of those that will pass away in the up coming year.  This creates a catalytic journey in figuring out if Blue has something to do with Gansey's death or if there is something bigger going on. 

The book was full of past/future betrayals, mystery of the Ley Lines (magic lines through the earth that have a other worldliness about them.), bonds of friendships, nervousness of true love and hope for absolution.  I don't think there is a person out there that can write a great review of this book without giving something away, because Maggie did a wonderful job of weaving in every character to each other/ to other past actions and finally to the story of Glendower, which is the basis of what is driving Gansey. 

All you need to know is that this is one loopy, bumpy ride of 4 friends looking for the lost King Glendower's body in Virgina.  These four friends become close to Blue and as it turns out not everyone in their town is as innocent as they seem and not all the characters really know each other's darkest secrets (except maybe Gansey and Blue)!

5 stars!