Review: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Reading Maggie Stiefvater's writing is akin to dreaming. Maybe I just tend to live and breathe in the books I read and this book is indeed about dreams, but that's what this book felt like.  A dream.  Every element of a dream, too.  From the enchanting visuals to the nightmarish monsters.  With her hypnotic words and her magical story, Stiefvater kept me engrossed and spellbound throughout the entire sequel.  She was able to transport me to a world I had never before seen but could clearly imagine through her expert storytelling.  I just love how perfectly she words everything.  A touch wasn't just a touch it "was a whisper in a language she didn't speak very well."  So beautiful! 

I loved that this book centered around Ronan who is so interesting and dynamic.  I was riveted with having a closer look into his thoughts and emotions because he has so much substance under the tip of his iceberg.  His character growth was stunning to witness.  Actually, all of the characters develop wonderfully.  Gansey, Adam, Blue, and Noah.  I saw sides of them that I was happy to discover they had.  Some surprising, and some I was hoping to find.  And the new character to come into Henrietta was just as interesting as the story.  The Gray Man was difficult to understand, but intriguing to follow and I enjoyed discovering what kind of person he was.  

If there's one thing this sequel was about, it's secrets.  Everyone has them and many of them come out in this sequel.  "Sometimes, some rare times, a secret stays undiscovered because it is something too big for the mind to hold.  It is too strange, too vast, too terrifying to contemplate."  The secrets uncovered in this book were both amazing and terrifying to discover.  Some of them were relieving and some were a complete shock.  But I treasured every discovery because I loved getting to know these characters more intimately.  I'm certain there are a lot more secrets left to be revealed and I can't wait to read them in the next installments.  Loved!

Review by Mary Munar 

P.S. 

a conversation between my friend, my brother, and myself:

<my friend begins to ask me what book I am reading and I answer describing "The Dream Thieves" and the premise revolving around Ronan.>

friend: Is there a love story?

brother: Of course, there's a love story.  She doesn't read books without romance.

friend: Haha! Is there a love story?

me: Duh! Of course, there's a love story!

<I continue to describe Blue and the prophecy of her true love.>

friend: Oh! That's sounds pretty interesting!

<brother nods approvingly>

conclusion: Romance makes books more interesting!