ARC Review: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Hi Lovely People! 

In the midst of my busy college life, I had the time to experience and review The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater. I want to thank Scholastic for allowing me to read an E-ARC on Netgalley. The following review is completely honest and a bit contradictory because my emotions towards this story are captured in a personally unfamiliar paradox. 

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Publication Date: September 17th, 2013

Publisher: Scholastic 

Source- E-ARC on Netgalley

Rating: THOUGHTS OF GRAY STARS

My review:

Immediately after finishing review:

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater is both excellent and terrible. While reading, I felt both detached and impressed. The final pages urge me to forget the rough start and just remember the beauty of what I just read, the final surprise. To just remember the strong passion that erupted inside me as I was rooting for the Grey Man and Ronan in their individual quests. But I can't forget the many pages waiting for me to feel connected. The reading time where I just want to stop reading because the writing, though gorgeous and special, lack a sweet rhythm. 

Later in the day review:

If you were to ask me, “Which author do I wish I could write like? “, I would immediately say, “Maggie Stiefvater.”

Maggie weaves ordinary words in an mystical order that leaves behind a masterpiece. She is a master at the intricate rule of creative writing- to show instead of simply stating events.

Two instances:

“Was he unsaved? Would he have ever ended up any other way?” pg. 225 of my E-ARC

These words lit a fire within me that wanted to hug this character. A urge to do something, anything, to alleviate his pain and wishing along with anything his present state was unaffected by his past.

“The past was something that had happened to another version of himself, a version that could be lit and hurled away.”

This is an amazing metaphor that you will have to read this story to fully comprehend. The comma is in the perfect place. This sweet rendition brilliantly reveals a character reaching a euphoric state.

Both lines lingered in my mind because of the words are in all the right places. How can Maggie do this in every of her written lines? 

While every sentence is a rich diamond, a connective rhythm did not carry between the story and me throughout every page, every moment.

Some moments my connection to the story drifted. I found myself just reading to see what’s next, but not enjoying the process. The leaves of boredom did not stem from which character was narrating. Instead, the leaves grew from the slow events, the slow transgression to plot and confusion. These are the moments where I am thinking, “When can this story be over?” and “Maybe I should give up?”

Then, moments come where I am completely awake and aching. Moments where I am enthralled by the story, feeling pity, rage, astonishment, love. Suddenly, everything makes sense because I am thoroughly involved and understand what is inexplicably said and just pictured. Oh, that character is now ... Ahhhhh.

The characters are all the life force that strengthens this story. Adam touches me with his pain and longing for love. Gansey is gripping and strong, full of leadership and courage. Ronan is a loving brother and forgiver. Blue is rich of life.

Noah and The Gray Man are my favorite characters. They highlighted my reading journey.

Noah. I love the quiet guys. I wish upon a star that he will be the main Raven Boy in the next book. So much of him remains a mystery. I need his perspective. He possessed a staring role in my favorite chapter of the Dream Thieves.

When I first met the Gray Man, it was during a part of the story where I was completely detached from the story. I felt a rush of déjà vu, as heavy as water dripping from a waterfall. The rush felt like a throbbing neck, an injury that could result from strong pressure from water. A question emerged in my head, “Would he be a second Whelk?”

Thankfully he was not. He is more than he appears to be. He is neither good nor bad, neither unforgivable nor forgivable, neither lifeless nor energetic. He is a man with a thorn prickling inside him and above him. I desperately wished for the disintegration of that thorn.

This is a special read. It was a hard read. A read I would not re-read. A book you need to read. Read when you are ready to stick inclusively to the story with strong concentration.

Thanks for reading!