So so back when I was a wee newbie blogger in 2010 there was this blog I fell in love with immediately. It was called The Crooked Shelf and it was run by a sassy Brit who had fantastic taste in books and wrote some of the best reviews ever. We became friends and even got to hang out at BEA 2011…and had the best time ever. Seriously.
And then she stopped blogging…which was the saddest thing ever for so many of us because her voice was one of the best and early on I aspired to BE like Carla in the way that I just wanted to have my own distinct voice — whatever that was. It was definitely a hit to the blogosphere for many of us oldies when she left.
And now, through a Twitter conversation about missing her as a blogger, I introduce you to Carla’s Corner where Carla will take over my blog sporadically whenever she feels like it and talk about what’s she’s reading and HAS to talk about! I’m excited to have her voice back in the blogosphere and for people who didn’t get to know her back in the day to get the chance to!!
So first up?? It is only fitting that Carla reviews a Maggie Stiefvater book. Fun story: The one and only time I saw Carla lose her shit and become a 12 year old little girl was when she met Maggie Stiefvater at BEA. It was the cutest moment EVER and her and Maggie hugging and talking made me all teary because it was one of Carla’s all time FAVORITE authors!!
So take it away Carla…
Blue Lily, Blue Lily by Maggie Stiefvater
Book #3 of The Raven Cycle series (I’ve read, loved and reviewed book 1)
Release Date: October 21st – Scholastic Press
* This book was downloaded from Netgalley for review consideration.
Carla’s Thoughts:
Blue Lily, Lily Blue is simultaneously the best book I have ever read and also the worst.
Let’s start with the best.
Trying to explain or describe how much I love Stiefvater’s writing is like trying to count all of the stars in the sky; impossible, incredibly brain aching and needing calculations and equations that my mind just isn’t capable of fathoming. I’ve never really been that good at math.
Her words are a dream come to life, like Ronan himself has plucked them out of his dreams and handed them over. The characters, they come to life, never once drifting off into slumber like those cows in the barns. The words don’t sleep like dream things do when they’re not dream things anymore, they roar like the pigs engine. They pull handbrakes turns and skid right into your heart, then come to a juddering stop and stay there.
The character development is soft and sure and strong. Ronan is still as sharp, shiny and cutting as the edge of a knife but everyone knows that sharp things don’t always stay so sharp. Gansy is still full of wonder and hope and light but everyone knows lights eventually dim until they sputter out completely. Blue is still small and full of yoghurt and truth. Adam is still rustling leaves and springy moss. And Noah is as still as grey and smudgy as a charcoal drawing dropped into a puddle. And yet they are so completely different, as wondrous as the legend of Glendower himself. We’ll never really know them, this little quartet of strange teenagers and I’m glad of it because things that hold that much magic should never really be knowable.
I won’t say anything about the plot because I don’t want to spoil but know this; you can dream of welsh kings and girls with spiky hair and boys with peppermint leaves in their mouths but you can’t ever dream a story so full of magic and suspense and heart guttering mind numbing terror. It’s a dream that only Stiefvater can create for us and I can’t wait stop slip into what’s bound to be a momentous conclusion to the story of blue and her boys and their sleeping welsh king.
You will be so full of dreadful glee that you’ll laugh as manically as Ronan. You’ll worry and fret just like Adam and you will stride forward towards the end just like Gansey (walking ~is~ only for normal people after all). But most of all you hope beyond hope that their story doesn’t end how it started; with a young boy in his Aglionby uniform, his shoulders soaked with rain and the words “that’s all there is” just like Blue.
Have you guys read this one? Started this series?? Let us know what you think! Also, say hi to Carla!! 🙂
Connie says
Hi Carla! 🙂 Fantastic review~ (although I have to say I didn’t understand the “full of yoghurt and truth” part; does the character really like eating yogurt, or is this a British term I don’t know ((I’m from America)), or am I just missing something? xD)
*lowers head in shame* I haven’t actually started reading this books… *prepares for backlash*
I really want to, though! I’ve been hearing lots of positive things, and the synopses of the books all sound great. I’ll definitely mark this as a high priority since you love it so much (:
Jamie says
I’ve only read book 1 (AND LOVED IT) and Carla’s review is making me super excited to keep going!! So I vote you go read it, Connie! 🙂
Carla says
hey Connie – thanks so much!!! think the yogurt comment is a bit of an inside joke for the character 🙂 sorry if that was confusing.
YOU MUST READ THEM IMMEDIATELY. They’re incredible. Hope you love them as much as I do.
Allie @ Little Birdie says
Oh dear God this review is EVERYTHING. It makes me so sad I wasn’t around back in The Days of Carla (yes, that’s what I’m now dubbing it!).
That Blue yoghurt thing killed me a little because it reminded me of the scene where Gansey eats the bits because she doesn’t like them. And, man, my heart cannot take it.
I am so happy this book is clearly everything I anticipated it would be. I know when I read it I’ll be as full of wonder and sadness and glee as you were. And maybe, however foolishly, perhaps even hope for a better ending than the beginning. Because as you said, it can’t end the way it started. It just can’t.
🙂
Jamie says
I WISH YOU WERE AROUND IN THE DAYS OF CARLA!!! Those were some gooood days! ALSO, between Carla’s review and your comment I’m like UHH I NEED TO GET TO THE DREAM THIEVES!!
Carla says
the fact that The Days of Carla became a thing because of this comment is the BEST THING. I wish you was around too! I’m so very glad you got the yogurt joke! and YES to the Gansey eating the bits part. I refuse to believe he will ever cease to exist. I refuse!!
Please please find me on twitter and let me know what you think when you’ve read it! I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Allie @ Little Birdie says
Oh, God. Don’t even talk about the potential of him not existing. IT CANNOT HAPPEN. The world will not function without Gansey. Heck, RONAN won’t function without Gansey. (I’m I’m pretty sure I won’t either!)
Haha, I definitely will. I doubt I’ll be as eloquent as you were though. I imagine once I’ve read this it’ll be all capitals and exclamation marks and nothing even slightly coherent.
Nadia says
Hi Carla! Nice to meet another Maggie fangirl!
Awesome review! 😀
I CANNOT WAIT TO READ THIS BOOK. I NEED IT LIKE AIR. NOWNOWNOW.
Was it scary/creepy ? I can’t help but think it will be a bit because of Maggie’s trailer and what you mentioned about terror. Oh god.
Carla says
HEY NADIA.
Right back atcha! I thought you should know that I’ve been singing no air for the past few days thanks to this comment.
No, it’s definitely not scary – it’s a tiny bit creepy but not enough to like make you sleep with the lights on or whatever. I am a total WIMP so trust me when I say it didn’t scare me in that sense, more like i’m so utterly scared of what will happen to the characters.
Meg says
YAY CARLA! HI CARLA! Though I was not around when The Crooked Shelf was a thing, I have quickly become ferociously obsessed with Carla on twitter so YYAAAAYYYY CARLA’S CORNER.
Ahhh, Maggie fangirlishness and completely losing your shit in her presence. I am familiar with this.
“Trying to explain or describe how much I love Stiefvater’s writing is like trying to count all of the stars in the sky; impossible, incredibly brain aching and needing calculations and equations that my mind just isn’t capable of fathoming.” Carla, seriously, are we the same?
I’m going to be serious right now, I have chills. BRA-FUCKING-VO. Seriously, Carla, this is probably the most beautiful review I’ve ever read. It is so exquisitely perfect for the book, the series, Maggie in general, I am in awe.
You are a marvel and I’m so glad you’ll be posting here with Jamie.
Carla says
MEG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can assure you that the obsession is just as fierce on my side too. I am becoming concerned that we are actually the same person or maybe some freaky Friday stuff has happened because HOW DO WE LIKE/FEEL/SAY/DO all the same things.
And thank you so much for all your lovely words. I told you so on twitter but YOU MADE MY EYES ALL WET AND STUFF. you’re brilliant and I’m glad I stalked you on twitter. Best online decision I have ever made; well, except for this one.
Morgan @ Gone with the Words says
Dying dying DYING to read Blue Lily, Lily Blue! I’m glad I only have 3 more weeks to wait! I reread the first two books last week and it was the best decision ever. Loved your review Carla, it was so effervescent and full of the spirit of the books. And I’m SO GLAD it was spoiler free! I’m glad to hear they are all as Ronan-y, Blue-sy, Gansey-ish, Adam-ish, and Noah-ish as before. They really are amazing and strange character and I feel like I have no idea how their hunt for Glendower will ultimately end up. I do hope beyond hope that it doesn’t end how it began. The masochistic part of me things it would be brilliant circular storytelling though… but no. Must. Keep. Gansey!!
Carla says
Morgan, I know the feeling because I feel like all I do is wait for Maggie books to be published. THANK YOU. this comment made my day. Going to start calling my personality effervescent from now on. YAY SPOILER FREE REVIEWS. as some one who will cut you if you spoil a book, I think all reviews should err toward being cautious because being spoiled sucks.
THEY MUST KEEP GANSEY. What would we even do with ourselves if they didn’t?
Dana @ The Nerdy Journalist says
The Raven Cycle is one of the most unique and phenomenally written series I’ve ever read. Maggie’s writing is absolutely haunting. Her characters, her plots, her everything can’t be compared to others.
I’m dying for Blue Lily, Lily Blue. The trailer chilled me to the core and stopped my heart. Goosebumps!
Carla says
I agree with everything you’ve said! she is just completely incomparable.
Isabel says
I am dying for this book!
Carla says
not long to go!!! trust me, it’s worth the wait 🙂
Isabel says
I just read an ARC of it and loved it!
Susan says
Thanks for the review. I cannot wait to get my hands on this one!
Carla says
I bet you can’t! and you’re welcome 🙂
Heather @ Beyond the Aisle says
Maggie Stiefvater is my favorite living author (I got to meet her at the VSRA conference a few years back!) and I’ve loved this series so far. I made the mistake of reading The Raven Boys when I was at home alone at night and it terrified me.
Carla says
you people are MY people 🙂
Heather @ Beyond the Aisle says
Oh, and I’d love to follow Carla on Twitter. May we have a link?
Jamie says
She’s @loltergeist and GAH i meant to link. Thanks for reminding me!!!
Alexa S. says
YAY CARLA! It’s so fun that you’ve got this little corner to share your reviews, and I can’t wait for more. That being said, I LOVED your review of Blue Lily, Lily Blue. It was one of my most-anticipated titles this year! The way you’ve described the book in your review? Sheer perfection. It makes me want to dive in immediately. I’m so excited to jump back into Stiefvater’s world, with her characters and her beautiful, beautiful writing!