Review: The Dream Thieves

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Man, this is such a random, totally bizarre series.

The ending of book one left a lot of questions (be wary of spoilers for book one, I'll only censor this book's spoilers) and I can't say this book really answered any of them.

I also just ... feel ... like ... it doesn't make sense?

I honestly can't seem to wrap my head around why this series is so frustrating, but I'm gonna try!

Part of it, I think, is because it's fantasy playing at being contemporary, and it just doesn't mesh right.

For example:
I still have issues with these super popular, typical rich-snob-type characters chasing magic and still being considered super popular. I mean, I kinda get it, coz I'm pretty in love with Gansey myself, but how does he retain alpha-male-of-the-town status when he spends so much time doing weird supernatural stuff? And why is no one else outside their group ever mentioned unless it's crucial to the plot? Also, what the heck was everyone at school thinking after the fallout with the teacher from the first book? (And did that actually get resolved then and there because I have no memory of it but grudgingly admit I have an awful memory)

I get really confused about their actual lives because it seems like it jumps all over the place to further the story but we never really get an idea about 'a day in the life of ...' because their lives don't exist unless it's a plot device. Blue worked, like, ONE shift in this book. Of course she's poor. Adam also has a lot of spare time for a guy who works three jobs and has a GIANT EGO to support.

There's also way too many people privy to their world of the supernatural. It's just too drastic a mix of normal and definitely-NOT-normal for it to make sense. (view spoiler)[For example, the fire dragon vs night horror battle at the end that hundreds of people witnessed cannot really be nullified by mentioning they're all off their heads. I don't buy that. That's too much of a blanket cop out. (hide spoiler)]

Guh, all this negativity is gonna give people the idea that I didn't like it. This would be a tragically false idea.

I actually enjoyed reading this as much as the first and it's basically because I have a book-crush on Gansey and I'm totally rooting for him and Blue to hook up. The magic stuff is weird but the Gansey-and-Blue stuff has me sighing like a schoolgirl getting a wink from that boy. Gansey is just such a beautifully complex character! He's also, um, A GENTLEMAN (ALL OTHER YA PLEASE TAKE NOTE) and he treats people with respect and compassion, while also giving them a bit of a ribbing and being charmingly cheeky. Plus he's got the do-anything-for-his-friends attitude that makes all the ladies (and some of the fellas) swoon. He is pretty much my reason for continuing with this series.

Blue is no Gansey but I like her feistiness and she's still pretty fun, and I kinda like her feminist rants although I do cringe sometimes. (view spoiler)[I also like that she finally gave Adam the flick. Damn, that dude is depressing. (hide spoiler)] I do get frustrated when she acts like a child, though! I mean, she's 16 or 17, right? Not actually 12?? (view spoiler)[Let me just have a little rant here about that kissing scene. What the french fry was that?? You don't just go experiment-kissing people! Even if they are dead! I mean, okay, this probably would have been more tolerable if she wasn't kind of dating Adam. Just because I don't like the guy it doesn't mean I think he deserves that kinda dis. He and Blue were clearly a thing but because Blue's over it she decides they're not? Sure, maybe it wasn't defined as exclusivity but still, I'm pretty sure Adam would have assumed she wouldn't go around kissing other people when she'd given him the impression she was kinda into him. Plus, what the heck does she mean she'd say yes if Noah was alive to ask her out?? HELLO! You're falling for Gansey, you fool!! Don't get Noah tangled up in your raging hormones as well, girl! That entire scenario just bugged me SO MUCH. (hide spoiler)]

Noah was ... Noah. Ehhhh. He's cute and sweet but he kinda takes a back seat in this one.

Up front is Ronan, the bad boy that everyone seems to love but I kinda barely tolerate. I like him okay, but I don't understand why everyone is okay with him acting like a jerk and treating them like crap. It's okay to pass off his bad attitude as 'that's how he shows emotions' but, mate, if you are acting like a jerk and talking like a jerk and doing jerk things then you're probably A JERK. I like his little soft spot for animals, though. I just get frustrated because he's such a contrary character and it's not believable to me. I think there's some kind of bridge between his extreme personalities that hasn't been properly written. (view spoiler)[His little bro-date with Kazinsky (am I even spelling that right? I don't care. That guy was a grade A douchebag.) seemed way out of character to me. You hate the guy and you wanna pummel him but you're happy to hang with him and take lessons? I get that it's a shared talent but there was actually zero conflict of emotions as it played out. That was painful for me. I was so mad at his disloyalty. (hide spoiler)]

Ahhhhhh Adam.

Now this kid is just a sad case. I feel for him, I get his backstory, and I understand, but MAN is he a tragic little guy. His damn pride is actually painful and his moping is a killer. I get so frustrated with him because he has such an incredible friend in Gansey and he just treats him horribly. I get the whole not wanting to be a charity case thing but he's so damn arrogant about it! Chill, mate! Trust your friends! Be a part of the crew, instead of pitying yourself for being on the outside!

...wow. I'm a horrible person.

I just get so mad that he can't see how much these kids care about his stupid ass. I hope he finds a way to heal in the next book.

Because, YES, OBVIOUSLY I now have to go buy a copy of the next book.

Now here's some spoilers I wanna discuss.

(view spoiler)[
1. What's the go with Niall Lynch's will? Did I read right that Ronan was supposed to get the house anyway? Did Ronan really never read that part or did I read it wrong??
2. The whole dream thief thing was weird, but fun. But also like really pretty complicated and glossed over at the same time. Also strangely convenient. And again, totally didn't gel with the contemporary vibe. Ronan's been magic his whole life? Hmmmmm.
3. Mr Grey was the most tragic hitman I've ever encountered. You call yourself the best but you fall in love with the first pair of 'nice ankles' you see? Paaaaaaa-thetic.
4. Are we really just ignoring the fact that Neve is missing?
5. Why do all the bad guys get killed off? Kazinsky was a douchebag but it was way too convenient to kill him off. Also, how annoying that he was also heavy into the supernatural stuff. Is anyone at their school actually just a regular kid??
(hide spoiler)]

It's such a messy series with things happening all over the place but it's also a bit of a guilty pleasure because as terrible as I believe it to be I'm actually kind of enjoying it. These raven boys are such a great cast of characters, even if they are poorly written in places. Gansey gets a full five stars, though. Did I mention I love that kid?

I wonder if the next one will be enough to cement my loyalty??


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