Audio Book Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

This is a YA story with strong, sometimes dark, magic elements.

The Raven Boys
by Maggie Stiefvater
Read by Will Patton

Young Adult Ages 12+ • 11 hrs. • Unabridged • © 2012
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Teens, YA
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

"Do you believe in magic?" Answer that after you've listened to the first title in Stiefvater's new Raven Boys series. Narrator Will Patton takes you into a world of psychic powers, legends of the Welsh King Glendower, and the ley lines (mystical energy fields) that transect a sleepy Virginia town. Patton inhabits young Blue Sargent, who is raised in a family of psychics but whose own power amplifies what others see or sense. Blue is justly wary of the boys from the elite private academy, known as the Raven Boys. Listeners, like Blue, are fascinated and snared by the quest for Glendower led by Raven Boy Gansey. Patton is masterful with the suspense and the mysticism and seductively plays the emotional line of real and imagined events. Don't miss this compelling listen, and pray that Will Patton has already signed on for the other titles of the series. R.F.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2012]

Review:
Blue is a teen who has been raised by a psychic mother and two other eccentric female relatives. Blue isn’t psychic but her presence amplifies the skills of the others. Blue’s mother has drilled into her how she can’t trust boys… not only because they are male but also because of a unique reading for Blue herself and what will happen to the first boy she loves.

The Raven Boys are mostly wealthy young students of the local elite academy. The strongest of these boys, Gansey, gathers others around who need his help even as they resist his handouts and leadership. Gansey is stubbornly set on finding the ley lines that will lead to Welsh King Glendower and a legendary favor.

But Gansey isn’t the only one seeking the powers of the lines and the favor of the legend. And at least one of these seekers is willing to try any ritual and go to any lengths to be the first to find the lines.

I really liked the Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Ms. Stiefvater so I have been meaning to try this. I liked Blue and her strange family. I also liked the varied Raven Boys and was surprised by the revelation of one of the characters. The rival seeker is an evil man and poses great danger. The story is a bit disjointed, as it jumps among the characters and scenes. Still, it is very entertaining. I may not get the rest of the series as I enjoy werewolves more than relying on magical elements. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy stories about ley lines and magic – some good, some bad.

Audio Notes: I thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Will Patton. His voice is whispery to fit the magical tone and he delivers the characters with good personality, emotion and energy. I am glad I listened to this.

Source: 2013 SYNC.This qualifies for 2018TBR, Audio Book and Alphabet ("R" title) Challenges.

Audio Book Review and Giveaway: A Morning for Flamingos by James Lee Burke

This is solid detective/crime entertainment.  

Morning For Flamingo by James Lee Burke

Read by Will Paton

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; abridged edition edition (December 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671736116
• ISBN-13: 978-0671736118

Genre: Detective Mystery
      My Rating: 4.25

Description:
A Cajun cop infiltrates the mob... but is he too close?

Clutching the shards of his shattered life, Cajun detective Dave Robicheaux has rejoined the New Iberia police force. While transporting two death-row prisoners, Dave is wounded and his partner killed -- reopening the doors to a past he would have rather kept closed.

Now he's trailing a killer into the heart of the Big Easy's underworld. Increasingly possessed by his undercover role, Robicheaux surprisingly forms an intimate bond with a Mafia don. Embroiled in a world of drug dealers, prostitutes and double-crosses, Robicheaux must still confront his most dangerous enemy -- himself.

Rich with fascinating characters and dramatic plot twists, the audio debut of James Lee Burke and his Cajun detective Dave Robicheaux recalls the best of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe -- tough, complex and thoroughly entertaining.

Review: I really enjoy this detective character and the slow draw of Will Patton’s narration


Dave Robicheaux has had some rough times in his life. He grew up in rural Louisiana with an alcoholic father, his mother having abandoned them. He ran into trouble as a New Orleans Police Officer, he struggles with demon memories from the Vietnam war and when his wife was murdered he spent a good amount of time sunk in a bottle. Now he works as a detective in the quieter town of Iberia. But somehow trouble still finds him.

Reluctantly Dave agrees to go undercover and return to New Orleans for a sting on the local Mob and drug dealers. Part of what he is seeking though is a chance to take out the vicious man who murdered his partner. The story is full of action with a troubled kid from the hood, a nasty murderer, a slick mafia don, an old sweetheart, and more. There are twists and double crosses that leave Dave treading water just to keep his head up (literally).  There are dark emotions with Dave continually fighting depression, and there is soft and sultry romance.

This is an earlier book (#4) in the Robicheaux series and I have listened to later stories.   Robicheaux is a tormented, broody and complex character. Although he doesn’t necessarily play (or work) by the rules, he is a good man seeking justice.  Even though the crime world created is dark and gritty, I do enjoy the word pictures that Burke creates. Maybe you can get a feel for the prose by the opening paragraph:

We parked the car in front of the parish jail and listened to the rain beat on the roof. The sky was black, the windows fogged with humidity and white veins of lightening pulsated in the bank of thunder clouds out on the Gulf.

Will Patton does a marvelous job narrating the story with his soft, dark, sultry southern accent. He is a master storyteller. There are some fowl words, common to this type of crime novel. If you like gritty crime mysteries and dark Louisiana ambiance this is a great listen and a great series.

xxx

Well - I thought this book was part of the Friday Pick Giveaway list #20 but I realize it is not. It was one I grabbed from my box at home so I get to give it as a giveaway here. :-)
Plus I am adding a giveaway for a used 1990 print copy of book  #3 from the series:  Black Cherry Blues: A Dave Robicheaux Novel

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE AUDIO BOOK OR THE PRINT BOOK:

***PLEASE BE SURE TO SPECIFY IF YOU ARE ENTERING FOR THE AUDIO, THE PRINT OR EITHER. THERE WILL BE A WINNER FOR EACH -TWO WINNERS.

1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest that you find there. Please leave your e-mail!

2.   For an extra entry tell me if you have read this author and what you think about his books.  If you have already read either of either or both books tell me about it and if you win this giveaway you may pick from the review or ARC books and I'll award the cassette/book to another winner.

3. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

4. For two extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Five total entries possible.)
It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open US and Canada only.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on June 10, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.