Review: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

21 October, 2014 Reviews 20 comments

My problem with the Raven Cycle quartet is that it’s so good and I love it so much, I don’t know how to talk about it. I try and think of legitimate points of discussion and how to describe them in such a way that eloquently gets across what I want to say and also convinces you that seriously, you need to be reading these books, but it quickly devolves into all-caps keyboard smashing and unintelligible howling (merely yelling is for lesser books).

If I were going to talk about it, I would tell you the Blue Lily, Lily Blue is a spectacular, magical daydream with a touch of nightmare creeping around the edges.

I’d tell you that Maggie Stiefvater’s prose is so vibrant, so alive, so individually hers that it becomes a character in it’s own right. It’s like powering a ley line. She takes a series of random, unconnected elements and places them just so that they come alive in such a way you’re left wondering why you ever thought they were unconnected in the first place. I’d tell you that her writing does something to me, it hits a place in my brain/heart/soul that makes it completely irresistible. I wish her words were a tangible thing that I could hold close to me.

I’d tell you that this book is creepy. The series is building to it’s end, things are getting weird(er) and there is definitely something dark and ominous lurking about Henrietta. It’s amazing that such a slow, dreamy book could keep me so on the edge of my seat, but there were moments when I was not only genuinely afraid for the characters but had shivers and goosebumps and maybe eyeballed the shadows in my living room with not a small amount of nerves.

I’d tell you that this book takes an already intricately woven story and adds even more layers. The characters continue to grow and discover new sides of themselves, as all brilliantly rendered characters should. I’d tell you the relationships are so perfect, so poignant they’re razor sharp. They’re built in tiny moments: fingertips brushing in secret, midnight phone calls, an observation, some hand creme, a mix tape. I’d tell you the villains and side characters are given just as much depth and rich detail as the main cast, making the book seem so full I have a hard time understanding how so much can be contained in such a small package.

I guess I can talk about it.

This series reminds me why I love reading. Read The Raven Cycle, read Blue Lily, Lily Blue. I promise it’s worth it.

20 Responses to “Review: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater”

  1. Jancee @ Jancee Reads

    I have the same problem. I end up just saying something like “Here, go read this!” This series is really that good. Magical and creepy and fun and sad and all those things.

  2. Becca

    It’s funny, I read the first Shiver book and while I thought the prose was pretty, I wasn’t into it overall. It wasn’t until I was out of audiobooks to listen to that I came upon The Raven Cycle. I’m so excited to read the next volume!!!

    • Meg Morley

      I think Maggie’s writing has evolved mind-boggling amounts since the Shiver series. Don’t get me wrong, I liked those books, but the things she does with words these days are just incredible to me.

      (Also, EEEEEEEEEE!!! I HOPE YOU LOVE THE DREAM THIEVES! That one is my favorite, I think)

  3. Christina (A Reader of Fictions)

    Awwwww, poor wordless Megasus. I know this feel. Sometimes I just want to be like READ THIS. WORDS DO NOT WORK OKAY.

    Also, you are the best.

    And you rock leather jackets.

    And this review did not have spoilers that ruined the series for me, so good job with that.

    And you are loved.

    And vair vair relevant.

  4. Ishbel

    I have been so looking forward to this book for so long, but I have a really important interview on Thursday that I have been preparing non stop, so I am saving BLLB until I can give it the time and focus it deserves. I shouldn’t have even clicked on this review, but you are an absolute superstar for not giving away any of the plot or any spoilers and reminding me of what a treat this book will be!
    Thank you!

    • Meg Morley

      I APPROVE OF THIS SAVORING. Also, thank you! It’s really important to me to leave people unspoiled unless they specifically ask because YAY MANNERS AND STUFF. Good luck with your interview and I hope you love BLLB!

  5. Gillian

    “it quickly devolves into all-caps keyboard smashing and unintelligible howling (merely yelling is for lesser books).”

    WORD UP HOME SKILLET

    *admires you as you proceed to word every so wordfully*

    “I’d tell you that Maggie Stiefvater’s prose is so vibrant, so alive, so individually hers that it becomes a character in it’s own right. It’s like powering a ley line. ”

    I want to take a bath in this review

    ” had shivers and goosebumps and maybe eyeballed the shadows in my living room with not a small amount of nerves.”

    LIKE THAT ONE PART OMK OMK OMK FEARED FOR MY SOUL

    “They’re built in tiny moments: fingertips brushing in secret, midnight phone calls, an observation, some hand creme, a mix tape.”

    brb eyelids in my eyes

    “I guess I can talk about it.”

    *smashes keyboard and cries* *also snorts a secret snort*

  6. Liza @ Reading with ABC

    I adore Stiefvater’s writing and will read anything she writes. Her prose is lyrical and full of images and feelings. This series is amazing and it keeps getting better and better. I cannot help but want to save all the Raven boys. My favorite of her books is The Scorpio Races. Have you read it?

  7. Tatum

    i read the ‘built in tiny moments’ sentence and started crying. there is clearly no help for me

  8. Rosie

    Wow that cover is beautiful. I’ve heard of this series but I don’t know too much about it, your post reminded me to look it up on Goodreads and it sounds awesome. My tbr list just keeps getting longer and longer.

  9. Suzanne

    My heart stopped at quartet! I thought the series had five books in it!! *weeps*

    Can’t wait to dive into this book and I absolutely agree with you about the quality of prose. Stiefvater is quite possibly my favourite YA author.

  13. Renee Bookboyfriends

    I JUST FINISHED IT AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVED BLUE LILY LILY BLUE AND OMG THAT CLIFFHANGER!!!! I think that is about the most coherent review I have ever seen of ANY of the Raven Cycle books! My review on goodreads was like
    adkjsfhsaldjkhflasdjkhflakjsdhfkjsadf I CAN’T DEAL WITH THIS!
    and that was about it, as well as a lot of sobbing, caps locks and BOLD LETTERS!!!
    but omg isn’t this just the most magical amazingly written amazing twisting plotted series ever??? I almost go as far to say it is better than Harry Potter!