Holy crap! How unexpectedly amazing. Just goes to show, never judge a book by its tag line, no matter how sappy. Admittedly, I did just that. From the tag line alone I had a preconceived notion of what I thought this book would be like. I expected simple writing, I expected tropes galore, I expected not just a love triangle but maybe even a love square!

I've never been more wonderfully wrong about a book. The fact is, I clicked with this book from the get go, and I loved every page of it.

What a nice surprise it is to read a YA book that doesn't feel like every other YA book on the market. This, my reader friends, is something special.

Characters
There's a lot of main characters.
There's Blue, Gansey, Adam, Ronan and Noah. Normally with a narrative that flits between this many POV's, there inevitably at least one that I don't like.
Not in this case. Nope! Loved them. Loved every single one of them to the point where I feel protective of these little dysfunctional darlings.

They were all feisty in their own way and the combination of such oddbods works way better than it sounds like it should. Their personalities are 'top shelf', as Gansey would say, and they each had a chance to shine and really prove themselves a worthy part of the story. Their abiding loyalty for one another is refreshing and heart- wrenchingly dear.

Each one of them is complexed and developed to perfection. I feel like I know them all so we'll, but at the same time not nearly enough. There's so much more to learn, so many more layers to peel back. I found them all so fascinating that I think I would've enjoyed this even if the plot was rubbish . . Which it wasn't, btw.
Speaking of which . . .

Plot
I've never read a book about ley lines before, much less a YA book about ley lines. It's a pretty interesting subject (if you're that way inclined) and mixing it up with the historical Glendower story gave the book an almost 'Arther and the Grail' feel.

I loved the supernatural twists that were thrown in here and there, it added another level of depth. And what an interesting ending statement from Ronan; yet another layer to an already enigmatic story.

The whole Barrington Whelk plotline is yet another example of the detailed layers to this book. It gives a sense of history behind the legend of the ley lines, makes it something so much more than just Gansey's obsession.

And I loved that, although Blue came from a family of psychics, she had no power herself other than to heighten other psychic or supernatural energies. It makes her useful, but not too over conveniently useful, if you know what I mean.

Another point I loved that I need to mention and stress upon is, there's no romance! Yes, of course it's hinted at with the whole 'kiss your true love and he'll die,' thing, but it's a much more subtle, slow-burning, 'will they-wont they' kind of romance. I expected love triangles, maybe even insta-love. And I'm happy to report there's neither.

This is a perfect exams of doing romance right. Subtly hint at it and leave us wanting more. By this point, I'm ready for the romance. Bring it on.

Setting
There's quite a handful of interesting settings going on here.
Henrietta is meant to be a sleepy little town in Virginia with impressive supernatural/electromagnetic engery, hense why Gansey is there at all. It's right on the middle of a significant ley line Gansey's using to track Glendower.

There are several places of notable interest for such activity, such as the church and the wood Cabeswater, and I liked how these places were recurrent and prevalent throughout, never forgotten. It started with the church and it ends with the church, seemingly coming full circle. It was an important setting and I'm glad it wasn't neglected after the St Mark's Day scene at the beginning.

Also in this little town we find Aglionby Academy, a private boys school for the super rich. I hope we get to see a bit more of Aglionby in future books, it seems like such predominant aspect of the raven boys and their friendship. I'd love to see some backstory to how they all met and how they became friends.

Writing Style
The writing clicked with me immediately. I couldn't even tell you what it was about it, but it simply clicked. I sped through each chapter, not even skimming, just finding it incredibly ease to read.

I think the flow of the writing and the pacing had a lot to do with that. It felt so ease to read from one page to the next, never slowing down. Even the more 'quiet' moments in the book didn't feel slow. This was just a genuinely well paced book with short chapters and mini cliffhangers at the end of most. It's no wonder really, that I pretty much spent all weekend reading until it was finished. I even read in the car, despite the likelihood of car sickness. Literally un-put-downable.

I also like the way each character spoke. They announced their presence on the page simply by speaking. Y'know how some characters can have the same 'voice'? Well, these guys didn't. Each one was identifiable through there dialogue, expressions, mannerisms. I never got confused which boy was speaking because it always seemed obvious.

Terrific writing, really.


Final Impression
Well, I think the fact that I put the first book back on the shelf only to pick up the second book instead probably says it all.

Haven't felt this excited about a YA series in a few years now and it's restored my faith that there are still some out there breaking the mould and defying expectations.

And lucky, lucky me, there's still three more for me to read.