I really wasn’t sure what to expect from The Raven Boys.  Maggie Stiefvater has been a lingering presence in my particular realm of literature for a great deal of time, with friends and favorite reviewers working their way through her books at a rate that ensured that her name was popping up constantly.  I’ve read much about her and her work (the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy in particular), and I long ago came to the conclusion that I would have to eventually give her a try.  Her books always seem to be met with a great deal of mixed thoughts and feelings, from praise to scorn and everything in between.A word of warning: The above plot synopsis does not do the actual story justice.  This is a very good thing, because it’s the synopsis that, while interesting enough to convince me to pick up the book to begin with, gave me some reservations at the start. 

Some novels are debatable in their quality.  Sometimes a novel can be like junkfood, but completely satisfying.  Other novels are clearly made of better stuff though less able to hold the simpler demographic.  Speechless has the happy coincidence of being made of better stuff, but clearly satisfying on a simpler level.

Throughout my entire life, my father has had one reoccuring expression.  This doesn’t include his, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right” speech which I’ve heard a thousand times and, YES, DAD.  YOU’RE RIGHT. But his other thing that he says to me all the time in the hopes that I’ll eventually listen: “God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason.  Use them in that ratio, girl!”

Now that one I’ve never paid much attention to but I recognize the value in it.  However, Chelsea Knot really gets it.  One day her gossipy, thoughtless ways deeply and negatively impact another human being and she takes responsibility for it in a story that is worth telling and worth reading. 

Regardless of whatever else I say in this review – Such a Rush is a good book.  Well-written, funny, smart, heart-touching.  I devoured this novel in a matter of hours.  I ignored family on Christmas day to read it – which is okay, because they’re used to that.

But this doesn’t mean it was a perfect read.  Leah was brilliant but, other than Mr Hall’s brief appearance, she was the singularly likable character in this book. Smart, focused, complex, interesting – everything you want out of a main character except not a single other character in this book deserved to bask in her presence let alone be her friend or date her.

Ready to meet the grand poobah of douchebag love interests?  You thought Daemon from Obsidian was bad?  You thought Daniel Grigori or any other of those dudes was bad?  In my opinion Grayson Hall would probably mop the floor with them. 

We The Book Bloggers

Do solemnly swear that we are up to no goo… wait.  That’s not right.  Every year hundreds, thousands, millions of readers eagerly await the sequels to their favourite books.  The result of not having a sequel available for reading can be dire.  Readers experience anxiety, heart-break, painful impatience severe and crippling jealousy of beta and pre-readers.

Keeping people in this state is cruel and therefore, we the bloggers, demand the following sequels immediately.  The consequences of not meeting these demands are dire and may include desperate begging, pleading, crying, whinging, subtle author stalkation over social media, personal griping and unrelenting weeping.  It is in everyone’s best interests if we are able to receive our much needed book aid immediately to calm our troubled souls.

Therefore, the following books must be delivered up to us immediately.  Please sign the following petition by commenting.  May the ARCs be with us.

Welcome to our Top Cuddles of 2012 Giveaway Hop! Did you have a good holiday? Get any good books? No? Did your family once again misunderstand your love of literature and get you useless gifts that screams “Convenience store purchase on Christmas Eve”? Yeah, I’m sure we’ve all been there. Or maybe you just want a chance to win some awesome 2013 titles? Well, this giveaway is for you! We have a bunch of great blogs participating in the hop, so be sure to visit them and see what they are giving away as well!