Blue Lily, Lily Blue – Maggie Stiefvater

Release date: 21 October 2014
Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ – 10/10
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This book was probably my least favourite of the series, so I originally gave it 8/10, but then I finished it all and changed them all to 10/10.

It’s not often that when I sit down to write a review after finishing a book that I cannot think of a single thing to say. Blue Lily, Lily Blue left me somewhat stumped, however.

I can tell this series is eating away at my subconscious because when I’m not reading them, I’m thinking about reading them, or what could happen next, and how this event may tie into that one. I also managed to read the first three books in five days. This one I finished in just over 12 hours.

There is this ‘otherness’ to these books that I just can’t quite put my finger on.  It might have to do with the world building, but, rather much like Harry Potter (but probably more so), I feel like this is the kind of story that could actually happen in the real world and no one would notice.  I mean, look at all the things that have happened in the past three books and the people of Henrietta haven’t even blinked!  Between the electrical surges, the earthquake, the comet, the dragon, the numerous deaths – how are people not freaking out about supernatural stuff happening right now?

My views on the characters seem to change from book to book.  I still want more Blue and Gansey time (alone together), the two or three scenes in this book are just not cutting it for me. And I absolutely understand Blue’s angst and Gansey’s want – in fact, it just makes it better. (*Side note, I was listening to the perfect song by chance while they went for the drive on the new highway: Forces by Japanese Wallpaper perfectly sums up that scene.)

Ronan and Adam. I like them more now. I mean, I always liked Ronan, even when he was violent and broody. But this new Adam is good. They’re good for each other. The Church scene was messed up, but I think they’ll get through whatever happens in the next book.

Noah is… Noah. He has become this weird sideline character that knows all their secrets but isn’t around enough to affect any change in the plot. It’s a weird premise. I feel like the author lost her way with him. Maybe book four will change that. I hope so because he had such promise.

The 300 Fox Way women were certainly dealt a heavy hand in this book. Their role seems to be getting larger with each book, and the inclusion of Mr Gray, Gwenllian and Artemus will certainly add to that moving forward. I do hope someone can fill that void anyway.

The story in itself is intriguing in a way that I kept forgetting about the fated ending – likely because I knew it wouldn’t be at the end of this book. Also, Stiefvater seems to be starting to tie up loose ends of the overall story – things that occurred in the first book that I had seemingly either forgotten or glossed over have now come back into play in a more final way. Those threads that keep everyone tied together in the spider’s web are certainly being pulled now, and it will be interesting to see whether it ends in disaster or very neatly tied up. The story-telling is starting to border on Kaz Brekker genius (but not actually in his realm as I’m not sure anyone has that much foresight).

Truth be told, I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first two. It is becoming more action-packed and fast paced as we near the finale; however, I think it lost some of its magical flow. The writing is still smooth, certainly, but it doesn’t have that musical feel throughout the entire book. It is absolutely still there in the Gansey and Blue sections though – maybe that’s why I like them so much. However, I also feel like the change in writing is deliberate because of the events of the next book. I mean, we’ve always known how it ends, and the group are getting closer and closer to that point, and so we’re all on edge. This feeling is definitely lending itself through the writing because it’s making the reader feel slightly on edge too.

The worst part is, I desperately want to read the last book, but at the same time I am absolutely DREADING it. I want to hope, but I also don’t want to be crushed by the ending. What’s the saying? Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. That should be my motto every time I read a Stiefvater book!