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Dreamer Trilogy #2
Mister Impossible
Something is happening to the source of the dreamers' power. It is blocked. Diminished. Weak. If it goes away entirely, what will happen to the dreamers and those who depend on them?
Ronan Lynch isn't planning to wait and find out. Backed by his mentor, Bryde, he is ready to do what needs to be done to save the dreamers and the dreamed . . . even if it takes him far from his family and the boy he loves.
Jordan Hennessy knows she will not survive if the dreaming fails. So she plunges into a dark underworld in order to find an object that may sustain her.
Carmen Farooq-Lane is afraid of the dreamers -- which is why she's agreed to hunt them down. The closer she gets, though, the more complicated her feelings become. Will the dreamers destroy the world . . . or will the world be destroyed trying to eliminate the dreamers?
In the remarkable second book of The Dreamer Trilogy, Maggie Stiefvater pushes her characters to their limits -- and shows what happens when they start to break.
Ronan Lynch isn't planning to wait and find out. Backed by his mentor, Bryde, he is ready to do what needs to be done to save the dreamers and the dreamed . . . even if it takes him far from his family and the boy he loves.
Jordan Hennessy knows she will not survive if the dreaming fails. So she plunges into a dark underworld in order to find an object that may sustain her.
Carmen Farooq-Lane is afraid of the dreamers -- which is why she's agreed to hunt them down. The closer she gets, though, the more complicated her feelings become. Will the dreamers destroy the world . . . or will the world be destroyed trying to eliminate the dreamers?
In the remarkable second book of The Dreamer Trilogy, Maggie Stiefvater pushes her characters to their limits -- and shows what happens when they start to break.
340 pages, Hardcover
First published May 18, 2021
About the author
Maggie Stiefvater
62 books170k followersNew York Times bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Raven Cycle, and The Scorpio Races. Artist. Driver of things with wheels. Avid reader.
Maggie Stiefvater plays several musical instruments (most infamously, the bagpipes) and makes art in several media (most generally, colored pencils).
She lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband, their two children, many dogs, a bunch of fainting goats, and a mating pair of growly tuner cars.
Maggie Stiefvater plays several musical instruments (most infamously, the bagpipes) and makes art in several media (most generally, colored pencils).
She lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband, their two children, many dogs, a bunch of fainting goats, and a mating pair of growly tuner cars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,856 reviews
June 27, 2021
Pls just let Ronan Lynch live out his gay cottagecore dreams
Want to read
March 25, 2021Imagine someone asking you, "what are you reading?" and you have to sigh and mumble: "... Mister Impossible."
Want to read
November 8, 2019chief called and said this was it:
gansey, blue and ronan visiting adam wearing "harvard mom" shirts.
Stiefvater... please
gansey, blue and ronan visiting adam wearing "harvard mom" shirts.
Stiefvater... please
May 24, 2021
*4.75
Before reading it: ADAM PLEASE ANSWER THE GODDAMN PHONE
After reading it: what the actual f just happened?
Before reading it: ADAM PLEASE ANSWER THE GODDAMN PHONE
After reading it: what the actual f just happened?
Want to read
November 11, 2019please ma'am,,,,can I have,,,,an Adam Parrish perspective?
September 13, 2021
Let me preface by mentioning: this review is going to be a very passionate mess. Miss Stiefvater did not come to play—yet play with my emotions she sure did.
I tremble before middle books in trilogies. They tend to be the “I-will-not-hesitate-to-ruin-everything-and-everyone-you-love” instalments.
Mister Impossible left me bordering on unhinged; I’ve been so swiftly mindfucked by this book that—upon finishing the last page—I sat there for minutes on end nurturing a mind simultaneously blank from processing what just happened, and overflowing from the emotional whiplash brought on by the last few plot twists. I am in pain. Maggie needs to fix this, like, right now.
���───── {⋆★⋆} ──────
For years, Ronan Lynch has been my favourite fictional character of all time. How could you not love a gay cottagecore street-racing farmer with mild anger issues and a secretly massive heart? You can’t silly, because he’s the best (alongside his poor bisexual magician genius boyfriend Adam Parrish). Never did I expect to see Ronan’s character arc go down the route I think it is about to go down—his perspective delivered some of the most brutal gut punches I’ve felt from fiction in a while. Maggie Stiefvater is violently steering the vehicle, and us readers have no choice but to tag along for the relentless ride (that I very much hope will end nicely).
I loved the emphasized exploration of the autonomy of dreams! Jordan is my number one girlboss, and so seeing her navigate her newfound independence brought me endless joy. Her relationship with Declan made me grin like a fool on several occasions—their development was seriously immaculate. Also, I can’t believe that Maggie Stiefvater withheld the fact that Jordan and Henessy have British accents(!!), it makes me love them even more.
Seeing Declan grab hold of true happiness for (probably) the first time in his adult life broke my heart, then fostered the growth of three new hearts to replace it. And MATTHEW- it hurt to see him question his worth so often (he’s an angel), but I adored some of the conversations it opened up between him and Jordan. Dream to dream. That friendship is going to be elite.
Physical Bryde added so much flavour to this story. The dynamic between him, Ronan and Jordan was so odd and distinctive and strangely perfect. The trio’s every exchange left me wanting for more; it was almost intoxicating to experience the drastic highs and lows each dreamer experienced in the presence of each other, and how drastically their relationship changed from beginning to end.
────── {⋆★⋆} ──────
I could drone on and on about Stiefvater’s writing and atmosphere for ages. The Raven Cycle and now The Dreamer Trilogy demonstrate the most convincing portrayal of magic I have ever read. Each time I read something from her, it is like stepping into a world just a hairs breadth away from reality—or what reality could be with a tinge of magic. This series is going to do me in before the last book releases.
Here’s to the next year and a half of waiting in emotional turmoil! (I am clinking a mental glass at you all. The pain is real)! 🥂🍻
“Your Boyfriend Called, He Thinks You’ve Joined a Cult, Please Advise.”
I tremble before middle books in trilogies. They tend to be the “I-will-not-hesitate-to-ruin-everything-and-everyone-you-love” instalments.
Mister Impossible left me bordering on unhinged; I’ve been so swiftly mindfucked by this book that—upon finishing the last page—I sat there for minutes on end nurturing a mind simultaneously blank from processing what just happened, and overflowing from the emotional whiplash brought on by the last few plot twists. I am in pain. Maggie needs to fix this, like, right now.
���───── {⋆★⋆} ──────
For years, Ronan Lynch has been my favourite fictional character of all time. How could you not love a gay cottagecore street-racing farmer with mild anger issues and a secretly massive heart? You can’t silly, because he’s the best (alongside his poor bisexual magician genius boyfriend Adam Parrish). Never did I expect to see Ronan’s character arc go down the route I think it is about to go down—his perspective delivered some of the most brutal gut punches I’ve felt from fiction in a while. Maggie Stiefvater is violently steering the vehicle, and us readers have no choice but to tag along for the relentless ride (that I very much hope will end nicely).
“Self-hatred is an expensive hobby paid for by other people.”
I loved the emphasized exploration of the autonomy of dreams! Jordan is my number one girlboss, and so seeing her navigate her newfound independence brought me endless joy. Her relationship with Declan made me grin like a fool on several occasions—their development was seriously immaculate. Also, I can’t believe that Maggie Stiefvater withheld the fact that Jordan and Henessy have British accents(!!), it makes me love them even more.
“Do we have to do this everyday? Just say you want a therapist for your birthday.”
Seeing Declan grab hold of true happiness for (probably) the first time in his adult life broke my heart, then fostered the growth of three new hearts to replace it. And MATTHEW- it hurt to see him question his worth so often (he’s an angel), but I adored some of the conversations it opened up between him and Jordan. Dream to dream. That friendship is going to be elite.
“Mary, please strike me deaf until the state line,’ Declan said, checking his mirrors, changing lanes, driving safely. He felt Matthew was taking all this a bit far. Declan had put his identity crises on hold multiple times for the greater good. Matthew had only been asked to do it once.”
Physical Bryde added so much flavour to this story. The dynamic between him, Ronan and Jordan was so odd and distinctive and strangely perfect. The trio’s every exchange left me wanting for more; it was almost intoxicating to experience the drastic highs and lows each dreamer experienced in the presence of each other, and how drastically their relationship changed from beginning to end.
────── {⋆★⋆} ──────
I could drone on and on about Stiefvater’s writing and atmosphere for ages. The Raven Cycle and now The Dreamer Trilogy demonstrate the most convincing portrayal of magic I have ever read. Each time I read something from her, it is like stepping into a world just a hairs breadth away from reality—or what reality could be with a tinge of magic. This series is going to do me in before the last book releases.
Here’s to the next year and a half of waiting in emotional turmoil! (I am clinking a mental glass at you all. The pain is real)! 🥂🍻
January 10, 2022
“what fresh hell is this title?” gansey asked pleasantly.
July 10, 2021
3.5
After not being the biggest “Call Down The Hawk” fan, I was a little sceptical about continuing this series. Stiefvater’s legendary writing and wit propped up a book that contained what I felt had no plot and little characterisation. What’s nice about Mister Impossible is that it’s (a) another Maggie Stiefvater book and (b) everything’s back on track. Well, nearly everything.
After escaping the clutches of the Moderators, Bryde, Hennessy and Ronan are on the run, testing their dreaming abilities to a degree never seen before. Meanwhile, Declan Lynch, Matthew and Jordan are on the pursuit of a mysterious item which could be the key to ensuring there is a future for them all…
(I don’t really think that last part made sense, but I’m trying to avoid *spoilers*).
One problem with Stiefvater that I struggle with (and this stretches back to The Raven Cycle) is her lack of plot. And before you come at me with “WoOoOh, it’s about the journey, not the destination,” sorry, guys I didn’t take a ten-hour flight to Bora Bora to end up in a port in Wales (I do love Wales though, so if someone wants to give me a genuinely sh*tty place, I’m open to it).
So, to scour the pages of this book and see actual links coming together in surprisingly intuitive and interesting ways, I knew this was an upgrade from CDTH. Ronan, Bryde and Hennessy, as well as developing their skills, are looking for a solution to eradicate the Lace – the impending entity that looms in Hennessey’s dreams and may lead to the end of the world. Unless, perhaps the dreamers have a hand in it too.
One thing that intrigued me about this trio was the fact these characters teeter on a morally grey edge. Often, we’re offered up heroes who are nearly always right, since they’re the protagonists. But this gang sometimes ethically questionable things – and they actually have reasons to do it. There’s a plotline involving the ley lines which I enjoyed just because there’s good debate around it – who’s right and wrong in this situation?
I felt…indifferent to Ronan in this book. I mentioned this in my CDTH review, but I’ve felt a bit out of touch with him in this series compared to The Raven Cycle. I think once again it’s because he’s not a teen and he’s veering more down that morally grey arc which honestly, is welcome. I don’t think I’ve met another character like Ronan in fiction, so even if I’m not personally attached to him, I still have to praise the uniqueness of him and his characterisation.
Hennessy is like the meaner half of Jordan. Unlike Ronan, she’s not a master dreamer and she’s battling the omnipresence of the Lace. There are aspects of her I like. I think Maggie made an effort to insert some wit and quirkiness into her which divulges her from the others. She slowly becomes more desperate throughout this book as Bryde’s guidance doesn’t always help her. I understand her actions as a character. She’s not my favourite and she’s quite flawed, but when you suffer under the bulk of something as heavy as the Lace, along with the murder of your clones who were like sisters and just the total disassociation with reality that stems from being a dreamer, I’d be annoyed too.
Also, Bryde. Uh, yeah, he’s there anyway.
Bryde is so bland. In the last book, he gave kind of mysterious “I am the cool, all-knowing, alt father you wish you had.” In this book, he advises to Ronan and Hennessey, but I thought it was kind of meh for the most part. He’s like one of those cheap self-help gurus you find on YouTube who you stop listening to because you realise their advice isn’t anything you don't already know. I mean in context of me. It sounded like he was trying to be a lot more philosophical and deep than he actually was.
This doesn’t apply all the time though. Sometimes he’s actually useful and there are characteristics of him I find interesting, characteristics which I can’t go into because *spoilers*. He was a let-down I have to say. I was waiting to be invested in him and then I never was.
Let’s swap over to our other trio, what I deem, our light-hearted trio because there is sometimes happiness in their lives! Declan, Jordan and Matthew are out there looking at art, making art, having relationships (not Matthew).
While, once again, they didn’t stand out to me, they are better than their CDTH counterparts. I wasn’t a fan of Declan’s boring act and Matthew’s cuteness act and thankfully, they’re both toned down in this book. Declan’s developing relationship with Jordan was kind of sweet and Matthew develops into what I see is more of a normal human being. I honestly really liked Declan in this book. He was cute and I was like "is this a personality?" Turns out yes. Obviously, Declan's always been a good guy but it's nice to dig into his thoughts more.
A lot of their storyline actually focuses on art, something I’m unskilled at but I find terribly interesting to read about. Maggie’s love of art shines through in this book, as well as the subplot it involves. I think this was the most intriguing concept to read, which once again, I won’t delve into further because *cough* spoilers, but things like this are why I liked Stiefvater. She has a unique brand which I think differs from YA (if you count this as YA) at the moment.
The Moderators remain as boring as ever. Well, I take that back. I find them cool as an agency and their goals are relatively understandable, but the representatives of them that we get, Carmen and Lilliana have no personality. Lilliana’s powers are explained a bit more. She ages from a teen to middle-aged to elderly every time she receives a vision, but it doesn’t really go beyond that besides her having a previous knowledge of future relationships. Some of Carmen’s chapters are written uniquely style-wise, and while I liked them, it still doesn’t count as making her interesting.
To get to the crux of my review: In my opinion, the book is well-written and readable, yet I felt completely indifferent and unattached to it.
I’d give it a 3.5 since it was well-written, there wasn’t anything I actively disliked but there was a certain lack that has made me feel let down. I fell in love with Maggie’s writing with The Raven Cycle. Each of the main five were unique individuals with flaws and strengths and intriguing storylines. While the plot didn’t lead to a satisfying finish, each book seemed to have a purpose. If I were to suggest the Raven Cycle as a colour, I’d say a mystical blue or green found in a forest shaded in the afternoon. With Ronan’s trilogy? Beigey-brown.
The characters don’t feel like people. They feel more like themes coughed on a page, kind of artificial and scrubbed up in a presentable way. I can give a gist of each character’s personalities but can’t find anything in particular I like about them. I like them more in thought than on paper.
Similarly, the plot, while it's there, is going to be left so unexplained. I snuck into Maggie’s recent AMA on Reddit and she confirmed this is the finish for the series. No further stories for the Gangsey, which is sad enough, but there will be so many elements of this series left unexplored in regards to the Visionaries and Dreamers and other things which have popped up in this trilogy only to be brushed over. Even in this book, there are things mentioned and left unexplored and, no, I don’t really find it fun to leave them to my imagination when “them” refers to pretty much everything.
I lowered my rating from 4 since this book feels quite filler, but then, honestly this whole series does. It’s advancing the world in a way that doesn’t feel fulfilling or satisfying. You can see I’m struggling to write a review because it’s been a month since I’ve read it and I can’t remember anything besides a brief summary of the story and certain scenes. That says to me this was a book that doesn’t stand out.
A good thing was the writing. It was still pretty much as cool as ever. As we all know, Maggie’s got a penchant for crazy ideas and the dreams supplemented a lot of them. Nitpicks also included the writing. Sometimes it felt quite jerky and confusing. Honestly, some of the last few chapters lost me but perhaps that was because I was in a rush to finish it. Like whatever happened with Hennessey at the end, I’m only guessing. I don’t really know.
Eek. This book hasn’t left much a dent on my mind. I know I’m reading this out of loyalty to The Raven Cycle, but I don’t know if I’ll be pushed to pick up another Maggie book when she’s so undependable as plot writer (not a storyteller. She’s got that nailed). While I thought it was an improvement on CDTH, I personally think it will be divisive. To me, it was a bit of a colder, more distant story but pulled some ways back on track when subplots started showing up and lines started being connected.
Just for those who solely came for Gangsey and Pynch. Barely a mention. Adam was only involved for a chapter or two. I do think he’ll have a bigger role in the next book but I do think it’s strange Ronan’s boyfriend is so absent. I’ve a feeling the next book will be super explosive, which is encouraging to think about, but I do wish this book had invested more time in being entertaining and making the characters feel a bit more genuine. Will this be worth it? Only time will tell.
Alas, a Pynch quote to soothe your worries and finish this muddled review!
Ronan didn’t care to think about this. It gave him the same vibe he used to get back at the Barns some nights, when he got trapped in one particular train of thought, where he imagined he and Adam had been together a very long time and then Ronan died of old age or bad choices and Adam found someone else and later they all three were reunited in the afterlife, and rather than getting to spend the rest of eternity together, Adam had to split his time between Ronan and this stupid usurper he’d fallen in love with as a widower, which completely ruined the point of Heaven. And that was before Ronan even got to worrying if Adam made it to the afterlife at all, with his agnostic tendencies.
Until next year or whenever the next one is released. Bye dudes.
...........................
*Keeping this, because it's a gem.*
Maggie, do you realise if you put more Ronan and Adam in this book then you will be financially stable forevermore since I will (a) pay all of your bills, (b)do everything you ask, (c) busk and sing Squash Song on the streets just to earn a pittance for more Pynch content?
Just saying.
(Obligatory mention that this is some sexy cover)
After not being the biggest “Call Down The Hawk” fan, I was a little sceptical about continuing this series. Stiefvater’s legendary writing and wit propped up a book that contained what I felt had no plot and little characterisation. What’s nice about Mister Impossible is that it’s (a) another Maggie Stiefvater book and (b) everything’s back on track. Well, nearly everything.
After escaping the clutches of the Moderators, Bryde, Hennessy and Ronan are on the run, testing their dreaming abilities to a degree never seen before. Meanwhile, Declan Lynch, Matthew and Jordan are on the pursuit of a mysterious item which could be the key to ensuring there is a future for them all…
(I don’t really think that last part made sense, but I’m trying to avoid *spoilers*).
One problem with Stiefvater that I struggle with (and this stretches back to The Raven Cycle) is her lack of plot. And before you come at me with “WoOoOh, it’s about the journey, not the destination,” sorry, guys I didn’t take a ten-hour flight to Bora Bora to end up in a port in Wales (I do love Wales though, so if someone wants to give me a genuinely sh*tty place, I’m open to it).
So, to scour the pages of this book and see actual links coming together in surprisingly intuitive and interesting ways, I knew this was an upgrade from CDTH. Ronan, Bryde and Hennessy, as well as developing their skills, are looking for a solution to eradicate the Lace – the impending entity that looms in Hennessey’s dreams and may lead to the end of the world. Unless, perhaps the dreamers have a hand in it too.
One thing that intrigued me about this trio was the fact these characters teeter on a morally grey edge. Often, we’re offered up heroes who are nearly always right, since they’re the protagonists. But this gang sometimes ethically questionable things – and they actually have reasons to do it. There’s a plotline involving the ley lines which I enjoyed just because there’s good debate around it – who’s right and wrong in this situation?
I felt…indifferent to Ronan in this book. I mentioned this in my CDTH review, but I’ve felt a bit out of touch with him in this series compared to The Raven Cycle. I think once again it’s because he’s not a teen and he’s veering more down that morally grey arc which honestly, is welcome. I don’t think I’ve met another character like Ronan in fiction, so even if I’m not personally attached to him, I still have to praise the uniqueness of him and his characterisation.
Hennessy is like the meaner half of Jordan. Unlike Ronan, she’s not a master dreamer and she’s battling the omnipresence of the Lace. There are aspects of her I like. I think Maggie made an effort to insert some wit and quirkiness into her which divulges her from the others. She slowly becomes more desperate throughout this book as Bryde’s guidance doesn’t always help her. I understand her actions as a character. She’s not my favourite and she’s quite flawed, but when you suffer under the bulk of something as heavy as the Lace, along with the murder of your clones who were like sisters and just the total disassociation with reality that stems from being a dreamer, I’d be annoyed too.
Also, Bryde. Uh, yeah, he’s there anyway.
Bryde is so bland. In the last book, he gave kind of mysterious “I am the cool, all-knowing, alt father you wish you had.” In this book, he advises to Ronan and Hennessey, but I thought it was kind of meh for the most part. He’s like one of those cheap self-help gurus you find on YouTube who you stop listening to because you realise their advice isn’t anything you don't already know. I mean in context of me. It sounded like he was trying to be a lot more philosophical and deep than he actually was.
This doesn’t apply all the time though. Sometimes he’s actually useful and there are characteristics of him I find interesting, characteristics which I can’t go into because *spoilers*. He was a let-down I have to say. I was waiting to be invested in him and then I never was.
Let’s swap over to our other trio, what I deem, our light-hearted trio because there is sometimes happiness in their lives! Declan, Jordan and Matthew are out there looking at art, making art, having relationships (not Matthew).
While, once again, they didn’t stand out to me, they are better than their CDTH counterparts. I wasn’t a fan of Declan’s boring act and Matthew’s cuteness act and thankfully, they’re both toned down in this book. Declan’s developing relationship with Jordan was kind of sweet and Matthew develops into what I see is more of a normal human being. I honestly really liked Declan in this book. He was cute and I was like "is this a personality?" Turns out yes. Obviously, Declan's always been a good guy but it's nice to dig into his thoughts more.
A lot of their storyline actually focuses on art, something I’m unskilled at but I find terribly interesting to read about. Maggie’s love of art shines through in this book, as well as the subplot it involves. I think this was the most intriguing concept to read, which once again, I won’t delve into further because *cough* spoilers, but things like this are why I liked Stiefvater. She has a unique brand which I think differs from YA (if you count this as YA) at the moment.
The Moderators remain as boring as ever. Well, I take that back. I find them cool as an agency and their goals are relatively understandable, but the representatives of them that we get, Carmen and Lilliana have no personality. Lilliana’s powers are explained a bit more. She ages from a teen to middle-aged to elderly every time she receives a vision, but it doesn’t really go beyond that besides her having a previous knowledge of future relationships. Some of Carmen’s chapters are written uniquely style-wise, and while I liked them, it still doesn’t count as making her interesting.
To get to the crux of my review: In my opinion, the book is well-written and readable, yet I felt completely indifferent and unattached to it.
I’d give it a 3.5 since it was well-written, there wasn’t anything I actively disliked but there was a certain lack that has made me feel let down. I fell in love with Maggie’s writing with The Raven Cycle. Each of the main five were unique individuals with flaws and strengths and intriguing storylines. While the plot didn’t lead to a satisfying finish, each book seemed to have a purpose. If I were to suggest the Raven Cycle as a colour, I’d say a mystical blue or green found in a forest shaded in the afternoon. With Ronan’s trilogy? Beigey-brown.
The characters don’t feel like people. They feel more like themes coughed on a page, kind of artificial and scrubbed up in a presentable way. I can give a gist of each character’s personalities but can’t find anything in particular I like about them. I like them more in thought than on paper.
Similarly, the plot, while it's there, is going to be left so unexplained. I snuck into Maggie’s recent AMA on Reddit and she confirmed this is the finish for the series. No further stories for the Gangsey, which is sad enough, but there will be so many elements of this series left unexplored in regards to the Visionaries and Dreamers and other things which have popped up in this trilogy only to be brushed over. Even in this book, there are things mentioned and left unexplored and, no, I don’t really find it fun to leave them to my imagination when “them” refers to pretty much everything.
I lowered my rating from 4 since this book feels quite filler, but then, honestly this whole series does. It’s advancing the world in a way that doesn’t feel fulfilling or satisfying. You can see I’m struggling to write a review because it’s been a month since I’ve read it and I can’t remember anything besides a brief summary of the story and certain scenes. That says to me this was a book that doesn’t stand out.
A good thing was the writing. It was still pretty much as cool as ever. As we all know, Maggie’s got a penchant for crazy ideas and the dreams supplemented a lot of them. Nitpicks also included the writing. Sometimes it felt quite jerky and confusing. Honestly, some of the last few chapters lost me but perhaps that was because I was in a rush to finish it. Like whatever happened with Hennessey at the end, I’m only guessing. I don’t really know.
Eek. This book hasn’t left much a dent on my mind. I know I’m reading this out of loyalty to The Raven Cycle, but I don’t know if I’ll be pushed to pick up another Maggie book when she’s so undependable as plot writer (not a storyteller. She’s got that nailed). While I thought it was an improvement on CDTH, I personally think it will be divisive. To me, it was a bit of a colder, more distant story but pulled some ways back on track when subplots started showing up and lines started being connected.
Just for those who solely came for Gangsey and Pynch. Barely a mention. Adam was only involved for a chapter or two. I do think he’ll have a bigger role in the next book but I do think it’s strange Ronan’s boyfriend is so absent. I’ve a feeling the next book will be super explosive, which is encouraging to think about, but I do wish this book had invested more time in being entertaining and making the characters feel a bit more genuine. Will this be worth it? Only time will tell.
Alas, a Pynch quote to soothe your worries and finish this muddled review!
Ronan didn’t care to think about this. It gave him the same vibe he used to get back at the Barns some nights, when he got trapped in one particular train of thought, where he imagined he and Adam had been together a very long time and then Ronan died of old age or bad choices and Adam found someone else and later they all three were reunited in the afterlife, and rather than getting to spend the rest of eternity together, Adam had to split his time between Ronan and this stupid usurper he’d fallen in love with as a widower, which completely ruined the point of Heaven. And that was before Ronan even got to worrying if Adam made it to the afterlife at all, with his agnostic tendencies.
Until next year or whenever the next one is released. Bye dudes.
...........................
*Keeping this, because it's a gem.*
Maggie, do you realise if you put more Ronan and Adam in this book then you will be financially stable forevermore since I will (a) pay all of your bills, (b)do everything you ask, (c) busk and sing Squash Song on the streets just to earn a pittance for more Pynch content?
Just saying.
(Obligatory mention that this is some sexy cover)
Read
November 10, 2020Pre-order FAQ:
Release date: 5/18/21
Signed copies: every copy pre-ordered from One More Page Books & More is signed and comes with exclusive art (personalization is also possible): https://www.shoponemorepage.com/maggi...
Doodled copies: I debated this a long time. My heart said yes, my hand said no. Sorry, guys.
Owlcrate box & UK Covers: these are publisher decisions so I don’t know yet, but I’ll let you know when I do.
I really love this book and this insane series where I get to do what I want, so thanks to everyone who is coming along for the ride.
Release date: 5/18/21
Signed copies: every copy pre-ordered from One More Page Books & More is signed and comes with exclusive art (personalization is also possible): https://www.shoponemorepage.com/maggi...
Doodled copies: I debated this a long time. My heart said yes, my hand said no. Sorry, guys.
Owlcrate box & UK Covers: these are publisher decisions so I don’t know yet, but I’ll let you know when I do.
I really love this book and this insane series where I get to do what I want, so thanks to everyone who is coming along for the ride.
December 16, 2022
I have an enemy on the loose.
You see, my favorite YA series ended, and then it got a spinoff, like a beautiful wonderful gift from the gods specifically designed to help me, personally, avoid the worst part of life: endings.
And the spinoff, sure, followed my least favorite characters and had an awful title and an even worse cover, but then somehow I loved it.
And then it got a sequel!
And yes, the sequel had the worst title and cover I have experienced in my short life, making the last book seem like a work by Ocean Vuong (great titles, famously) in comparison, but it also took place in my favorite city (Boston), centered around my favorite place (the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum), and was chock full of the kind of art and culture and history fun facts I'm obsessed with.
So...a dream scenario.
And then I did not like it at all.
In fact this is easily my least favorite Extended-Raven-Cycle-Universe book and possibly my least favorite Maggie Stiefvater book. Even the terrible boring corny vampire ones had a certain charm.
To create such a perfect situation only to destroy my hopes and chances of happiness is, to put it simply, nemesis behavior. Person responsible, come forward, so we can begin a life of nefariousness and malfeasances.
This is just not a good book.
It's fragmented as hell. There are about a hundred perspectives, and none of them have a strong or unique voice. The plot was completely incoherent, with no real pacing or time to connect to any characters or story-lines. Relatedly, the new characters felt flat and dry, and even our Old Standard established characters felt wrong.
And yes, I will be reading the next one.
Bottom line: This was bad. Now I'm onto more important issues (read: vengeance).
---------------
pre-review
the worst cover yet, the worst title yet, and the worst time i've had yet.
review to come / 2 stars
---------------
tbr review
turns out these books can have horrible covers and humiliating titles and i'll just...keep reading them
You see, my favorite YA series ended, and then it got a spinoff, like a beautiful wonderful gift from the gods specifically designed to help me, personally, avoid the worst part of life: endings.
And the spinoff, sure, followed my least favorite characters and had an awful title and an even worse cover, but then somehow I loved it.
And then it got a sequel!
And yes, the sequel had the worst title and cover I have experienced in my short life, making the last book seem like a work by Ocean Vuong (great titles, famously) in comparison, but it also took place in my favorite city (Boston), centered around my favorite place (the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum), and was chock full of the kind of art and culture and history fun facts I'm obsessed with.
So...a dream scenario.
And then I did not like it at all.
In fact this is easily my least favorite Extended-Raven-Cycle-Universe book and possibly my least favorite Maggie Stiefvater book. Even the terrible boring corny vampire ones had a certain charm.
To create such a perfect situation only to destroy my hopes and chances of happiness is, to put it simply, nemesis behavior. Person responsible, come forward, so we can begin a life of nefariousness and malfeasances.
This is just not a good book.
It's fragmented as hell. There are about a hundred perspectives, and none of them have a strong or unique voice. The plot was completely incoherent, with no real pacing or time to connect to any characters or story-lines. Relatedly, the new characters felt flat and dry, and even our Old Standard established characters felt wrong.
And yes, I will be reading the next one.
Bottom line: This was bad. Now I'm onto more important issues (read: vengeance).
---------------
pre-review
the worst cover yet, the worst title yet, and the worst time i've had yet.
review to come / 2 stars
---------------
tbr review
turns out these books can have horrible covers and humiliating titles and i'll just...keep reading them
Want to read
October 31, 2019
January 25, 2024
Mister Impossible takes place after the events of Call Down the Hawk, where Ronan and Hennessy, along with the mysterious Bryde, escape the clutches of the Moderators. As they tap deeper into the power of the ley lines in order to make Dreamers stronger, the lines blur and it becomes more and more difficult to answer the ultimate question of all: will the Dreamers save the world, or will they destroy it?
This book was a wild ride from start to finish and as I turned the last page, I was trying to figure out if I had any idea what was going on. The answer is hell no. Similarly to Call Down the Hawk, I was trying to figure out what was going on, but having reread the first book in the series and understanding it more, I think I might benefit from another read of Mister Impossible so I can truly understand just what the hell happened in this second instalment. I find it a little difficult to review this book because I feel so much happened but at the same time it feels like not much actually happened at all? But I enjoyed every single minute of reading this book. There’s something truly addictive about the plot of this series, which was unlike my experience of reading The Raven Cycle where I was more invested in the characters over the plot. But for the Dreamer trilogy, I’m equally invested in both. I have to say though, unlike Call Down the Hawk, where I feel as if a similar amount of time was dedicated to both the characters and the plot, I felt like Mister Impossible was more plot focused, with not as much attention paid to the characters. And I understand that some things have to be sacrificed to draw greater attention to other parts of the story, but I would have liked to see a tad more development for some of the characters, which I’ll get to later.
After Call Down the Hawk, I had so many questions. I feel like Mister Impossible took me on a rollercoaster which then added so many more questions. And the only thing I have to say at the end of it all is: what the actual hell is going on? Throughout the whole story, I got this feeling that Stiefvater was nudging Bryde closer and closer to the role of a morally gray character, in that we can see that what he is doing is beneficial, but perhaps not beneficial to all. But then its revealed, and I kid you not I nearly had a heart attack reading these scenes, that Ronan dreamt Bryde? And then my questions increased. How did Ronan not know that he dreamt Bryde? Because when he dreamt Chainsaw, he knew that he had taken her from his dreams. So does that mean that everything that Bryde is doing, isolating Ronan from his friends and family, potentially destroying the world, is something that Ronan wants to do subconsciously? I wanted to know more about Bryde but each thing that was revealed left me with even more questions about him. I feel like when I try and think about it too much I get confused and frustrated but also excited because I feel like there are so many questions I want answered and plot points I want resolved that I have really high expectations for the third and final book in this trilogy. Like I have so many questions. What the hell is going on with the Moderators? If they are dream creatures, who the hell dreamt them? Why did Jordan not fall asleep? What does Bryde actually want?
This book really took every single character on a journey and it was entertaining to watch but I can’t help but feel like I wanted more. I really, really enjoyed reading this book but at times it felt like it was teasing by offering me a small bit of what I wanted, almost dangling it in front of me, but not fully delivering it all. But the things I said I wanted to see after reading Call Down the Hawk were delivered such as more of the development of the romance between Declan and Jordan, more Matthew and more development of Carmen Farooq-Lane’s character. All of these were such great aspects that I’m going to talk about in more detail but I feel a great sense of satisfaction that everything that I wanted after reading Call Down the Hawk was delivered in Mister Impossible. Like can we please just talk about what an absolute sweetheart Matthew is and how much he deserves to be protected at all costs? I wanted more of him and Stiefvater gave us a Matthew POV? We are not worthy. But seriously Matthew’s point of view was such a gift from god because it was everything I wanted it to be and more. I love Matthew and I love the journey that he goes on in this book and I absolutely love his relationship with Declan and also his new friendship with Jordan, which was just the perfect addition to the story.
In my review of the first book in the series, I mentioned that although I liked Carmen as a character, I wanted more from her, and this book delivered, although I do feel as if she wasn’t in it enough and I found myself wanting more chapters from her perspective. Carmen is such an interesting character because I had a feeling that she was going to defect from the Moderators and do her own thing but the way she went about it I wasn’t expecting and it surprised me and made me realise that I don’t actually know everything about her as a character. Also, this romance between her and Liliana? I didn’t even know I wanted it until now. The queer content in this world is so powerful and it’s here to stay. But like I said before, although I enjoyed more of an exploration of Carmen’s past and more development of her character arc, I can’t help but feel like it wasn’t enough. I want to see more of her because she’s now one of my favourite characters in this series. And I also don’t know what her end goal is.
And my favourite aspect of this book was the development of the relationship between Declan and Jordan. This is one of the best things about Call Down the Hawk and the way it was developed in Mister Impossible was just, chef’s kiss. Declan is such an interesting character and the way that he has spent his life trying his best to protect his brothers just makes me want to cry. The sacrifices that he’s given and the life he has put aside just to make sure his family is safe. Every time I think about Declan, I want to cry and give him a hug. But the romance between him and Jordan. Oh my god this is the best thing in the entire world and I just want more, more more. It was SO good. The scenes these two have together are just so well written and the way they bond over art and stories and unpacking each other’s lives and exploring what makes each of them the way they are. Stiefvater has really given us a gift here and I just can’t get enough of it. And I love the fact that we see Declan letting more of his guard down and opening up and falling in love. It makes me so happy to see and I want nothing but the best for these two. They have to be endgame or I’m gonna riot.
Although I mentioned that Mister Impossible felt like it had less of a focus on the characters, I still think that the dynamics between the characters are so interesting, such as the ones between Bryde, Ronan and Hennessy (I want to know more about Hennessy’s motivations, like why did she switch sides at the end? What does she want?) and those between Hennessy and Jordan, whose relationship is explored a little more in a way that makes you understand both of their individual characters further. Also, it’s a crime that Adam wasn’t in this book as much. I wanted so much more of him because I love his character. I get that this is the Dreamer trilogy and it’s centred more around Ronan, but I’d honestly love to see a cameo of Gansey, Blue and Henry. Stiefvater, please. Just give me a cameo, even if it’s a small one. Just reunite the gang so they can help Ronan stop making bad decisions. Because what the hell is Ronan even doing? I don’t think he even knows himself.
Overall, Mister Impossible was such a wild ride from start to finish and if you asked me if I could tell you what happened in this book, the answer would would be no because I have absolutely no clue myself. But the plot was addictive, the characters will forever and always have my heart and I’m both incredibly nervous and incredibly excited for the final book because I just know it’s going to destroy me.
i have to wait till 2021 for this?
“Watching the black-feathered bird rise above the three of them in this strange warm place filled him with a feeling he couldn’t describe, one he’d been feeling more and more since they’d fled. It was like a fullness. A presence, a realness. Before, he had been hollow, drained. No, draining. Becoming empty. And now there was something inside him again.
That enormous, warm feeling was charging up inside Ronan again, big enough now that he could tell what it was: Belonging.”
This book was a wild ride from start to finish and as I turned the last page, I was trying to figure out if I had any idea what was going on. The answer is hell no. Similarly to Call Down the Hawk, I was trying to figure out what was going on, but having reread the first book in the series and understanding it more, I think I might benefit from another read of Mister Impossible so I can truly understand just what the hell happened in this second instalment. I find it a little difficult to review this book because I feel so much happened but at the same time it feels like not much actually happened at all? But I enjoyed every single minute of reading this book. There’s something truly addictive about the plot of this series, which was unlike my experience of reading The Raven Cycle where I was more invested in the characters over the plot. But for the Dreamer trilogy, I’m equally invested in both. I have to say though, unlike Call Down the Hawk, where I feel as if a similar amount of time was dedicated to both the characters and the plot, I felt like Mister Impossible was more plot focused, with not as much attention paid to the characters. And I understand that some things have to be sacrificed to draw greater attention to other parts of the story, but I would have liked to see a tad more development for some of the characters, which I’ll get to later.
“It had been so long since he’d wanted something to happen, instead of wanting something to not happen. He’d forgotten what it felt like. It was equal parts great and terrible. It burned.”
“They were going to change the world. They were going to change their worlds. There was no going back. Was he doing this? He must be. What had he been made for, if not for this?”
After Call Down the Hawk, I had so many questions. I feel like Mister Impossible took me on a rollercoaster which then added so many more questions. And the only thing I have to say at the end of it all is: what the actual hell is going on? Throughout the whole story, I got this feeling that Stiefvater was nudging Bryde closer and closer to the role of a morally gray character, in that we can see that what he is doing is beneficial, but perhaps not beneficial to all. But then its revealed, and I kid you not I nearly had a heart attack reading these scenes, that Ronan dreamt Bryde? And then my questions increased. How did Ronan not know that he dreamt Bryde? Because when he dreamt Chainsaw, he knew that he had taken her from his dreams. So does that mean that everything that Bryde is doing, isolating Ronan from his friends and family, potentially destroying the world, is something that Ronan wants to do subconsciously? I wanted to know more about Bryde but each thing that was revealed left me with even more questions about him. I feel like when I try and think about it too much I get confused and frustrated but also excited because I feel like there are so many questions I want answered and plot points I want resolved that I have really high expectations for the third and final book in this trilogy. Like I have so many questions. What the hell is going on with the Moderators? If they are dream creatures, who the hell dreamt them? Why did Jordan not fall asleep? What does Bryde actually want?
“Matthew stared at his hands. “What if Ronan made me this way? What if he made me how I am?”
“So what if he did?” She took his hand and jiggled it. “Why do you think Declan’s got his curls? Why do you think Ronan’s an asshole? We all get handed things from our parents. We all have bodies that obey rules that we deal with. We’re not as different as you think.”
This book really took every single character on a journey and it was entertaining to watch but I can’t help but feel like I wanted more. I really, really enjoyed reading this book but at times it felt like it was teasing by offering me a small bit of what I wanted, almost dangling it in front of me, but not fully delivering it all. But the things I said I wanted to see after reading Call Down the Hawk were delivered such as more of the development of the romance between Declan and Jordan, more Matthew and more development of Carmen Farooq-Lane’s character. All of these were such great aspects that I’m going to talk about in more detail but I feel a great sense of satisfaction that everything that I wanted after reading Call Down the Hawk was delivered in Mister Impossible. Like can we please just talk about what an absolute sweetheart Matthew is and how much he deserves to be protected at all costs? I wanted more of him and Stiefvater gave us a Matthew POV? We are not worthy. But seriously Matthew’s point of view was such a gift from god because it was everything I wanted it to be and more. I love Matthew and I love the journey that he goes on in this book and I absolutely love his relationship with Declan and also his new friendship with Jordan, which was just the perfect addition to the story.
“When the kiss was done, Liliana said, “What are you going to do instead? I will come with you, of course.”
But Farooq-Lane’s voice didn’t waver as she replied, “Save the world.”
In my review of the first book in the series, I mentioned that although I liked Carmen as a character, I wanted more from her, and this book delivered, although I do feel as if she wasn’t in it enough and I found myself wanting more chapters from her perspective. Carmen is such an interesting character because I had a feeling that she was going to defect from the Moderators and do her own thing but the way she went about it I wasn’t expecting and it surprised me and made me realise that I don’t actually know everything about her as a character. Also, this romance between her and Liliana? I didn’t even know I wanted it until now. The queer content in this world is so powerful and it’s here to stay. But like I said before, although I enjoyed more of an exploration of Carmen’s past and more development of her character arc, I can’t help but feel like it wasn’t enough. I want to see more of her because she’s now one of my favourite characters in this series. And I also don’t know what her end goal is.
“This was perhaps what Declan liked the best about all of this, about Jordan Hennessy: She could handle herself. He’d never had anyone in his life who didn’t need him to manage, guard, chastise, protect. He’d never had an equal—he’d never even known he wanted an equal, and now that she was there, he liked it.”
And my favourite aspect of this book was the development of the relationship between Declan and Jordan. This is one of the best things about Call Down the Hawk and the way it was developed in Mister Impossible was just, chef’s kiss. Declan is such an interesting character and the way that he has spent his life trying his best to protect his brothers just makes me want to cry. The sacrifices that he’s given and the life he has put aside just to make sure his family is safe. Every time I think about Declan, I want to cry and give him a hug. But the romance between him and Jordan. Oh my god this is the best thing in the entire world and I just want more, more more. It was SO good. The scenes these two have together are just so well written and the way they bond over art and stories and unpacking each other’s lives and exploring what makes each of them the way they are. Stiefvater has really given us a gift here and I just can’t get enough of it. And I love the fact that we see Declan letting more of his guard down and opening up and falling in love. It makes me so happy to see and I want nothing but the best for these two. They have to be endgame or I’m gonna riot.
“She longed for the Hennessy in the car, the one who thought she didn’t care about anything. What a splendid liar she was. She cared about everything.”
Although I mentioned that Mister Impossible felt like it had less of a focus on the characters, I still think that the dynamics between the characters are so interesting, such as the ones between Bryde, Ronan and Hennessy (I want to know more about Hennessy’s motivations, like why did she switch sides at the end? What does she want?) and those between Hennessy and Jordan, whose relationship is explored a little more in a way that makes you understand both of their individual characters further. Also, it’s a crime that Adam wasn’t in this book as much. I wanted so much more of him because I love his character. I get that this is the Dreamer trilogy and it’s centred more around Ronan, but I’d honestly love to see a cameo of Gansey, Blue and Henry. Stiefvater, please. Just give me a cameo, even if it’s a small one. Just reunite the gang so they can help Ronan stop making bad decisions. Because what the hell is Ronan even doing? I don’t think he even knows himself.
“Ronan Lynch, what do you want?”
He took a deep, shuddering breath. The fire was burning everything except for them.
“I want to change the world.”
Overall, Mister Impossible was such a wild ride from start to finish and if you asked me if I could tell you what happened in this book, the answer would would be no because I have absolutely no clue myself. But the plot was addictive, the characters will forever and always have my heart and I’m both incredibly nervous and incredibly excited for the final book because I just know it’s going to destroy me.
i have to wait till 2021 for this?
October 17, 2022
ok. what the fuck
this was great, don't get me wrong. definitely five stars. but WHAT!!!!! i have so many feelings.
i keep sitting down to write an actual review but my brain is just !!!!!!!!!!
need more time to process. and maybe a reread.
this was great, don't get me wrong. definitely five stars. but WHAT!!!!! i have so many feelings.
i keep sitting down to write an actual review but my brain is just !!!!!!!!!!
need more time to process. and maybe a reread.
January 23, 2023
❀ blog ❀ thestorygraph ❀ letterboxd ❀ tumblr ❀ ko-fi ❀
A brief summary: Mister Impossible = 300 pages or so of mindfuckery
Mister Impossible may be Stiefvater's trickiest novel. I inhaled it in just a day and part of me knows that I need to re-read in order to truly absorb everything that went down. This is the kind of novel that leaves you feeling pretty devastated. It seemed like nothing and everything was happening. Plot-wise, well...Ronan, Hennessy, and Bryde go galavanting across Virginia while committing ecoterrorist acts. Sort of.
Ronan and Hennessy are pretty chaotic characters who have a predilection for self-destructive behaviours and self-loathing (a great combo). Ronan's chapters in Mister Impossible are particularly elusive and extremely unreliable. I read somewhere that Stiefvater's said that this trilogy was about the stories we tell ourselves and ouch...that is exactly what we are getting in Mister Impossible. This was as intense as The Dream Thieves but far more brutal. Things don't get better, people don't always learn from their mistakes or know how to break away from vicious cycles...I don't know, this has me rambling already. Ronan is such a conflicted (and conflicting) character and I found myself wanting to shake him because he does and says some really fucked up shit and whisk him away from Bryde and anyone else who hurts/messes with him.
Declan, Jordan, and Matthew's chapters were welcome respites. Matthew is struggling to adjust to the fact that he is a dream and is understandably sick of being treated like a child by Declan. I really liked how Jordan and Declan's relationship developed, their scenes were truly a salve to my weary soul. Their chemistry, their light banter, their art talk. I just loved them together.
The narrative is very much about self-divide, art, forgery, reality vs dreams, miscommunication (or even 0 communication), loneliness, chronic illness, and not so great coping mechanisms. A sense of unease permeates the narrative, Ronan’s chapters were especially anxiety inducing.
The writing was Stiefvater-levels of clever (funny, exhilarating, surreal, fairytalesque), the pacing was relentless (even if nothing seems to happen...tis' a mystery how she does it), and the characters are as compelling as they are frustrating (Ronan, please, stop breaking my heart).
SPOILERS
And that ending,ｗｔｆStiefvater, who told you to go all Fight Club/Mr. Robot on us?
“Your Boyfriend Called, He Thinks You’ve Joined a Cult, Please Advise.”
A brief summary: Mister Impossible = 300 pages or so of mindfuckery
Mister Impossible may be Stiefvater's trickiest novel. I inhaled it in just a day and part of me knows that I need to re-read in order to truly absorb everything that went down. This is the kind of novel that leaves you feeling pretty devastated. It seemed like nothing and everything was happening. Plot-wise, well...Ronan, Hennessy, and Bryde go galavanting across Virginia while committing ecoterrorist acts. Sort of.
Ronan and Hennessy are pretty chaotic characters who have a predilection for self-destructive behaviours and self-loathing (a great combo). Ronan's chapters in Mister Impossible are particularly elusive and extremely unreliable. I read somewhere that Stiefvater's said that this trilogy was about the stories we tell ourselves and ouch...that is exactly what we are getting in Mister Impossible. This was as intense as The Dream Thieves but far more brutal. Things don't get better, people don't always learn from their mistakes or know how to break away from vicious cycles...I don't know, this has me rambling already. Ronan is such a conflicted (and conflicting) character and I found myself wanting to shake him because he does and says some really fucked up shit and whisk him away from Bryde and anyone else who hurts/messes with him.
Declan, Jordan, and Matthew's chapters were welcome respites. Matthew is struggling to adjust to the fact that he is a dream and is understandably sick of being treated like a child by Declan. I really liked how Jordan and Declan's relationship developed, their scenes were truly a salve to my weary soul. Their chemistry, their light banter, their art talk. I just loved them together.
The narrative is very much about self-divide, art, forgery, reality vs dreams, miscommunication (or even 0 communication), loneliness, chronic illness, and not so great coping mechanisms. A sense of unease permeates the narrative, Ronan’s chapters were especially anxiety inducing.
The writing was Stiefvater-levels of clever (funny, exhilarating, surreal, fairytalesque), the pacing was relentless (even if nothing seems to happen...tis' a mystery how she does it), and the characters are as compelling as they are frustrating (Ronan, please, stop breaking my heart).
SPOILERS
And that ending,ｗｔｆStiefvater, who told you to go all Fight Club/Mr. Robot on us?
May 20, 2021
4 Stars ⭐️ for now
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
July 13, 2021
7/12/2021: This was the most UN-Stiefvater book I’ve ever read by Stiefvater. 3 stars.
2/4/2020 Just finished Call Down the Hawk so now I’m sitting here staring at the title-less, cover-less sequel wanting more. More Lynch, more Lynch brothers, more Pynch 😭
12/28/2019
Cover, cover will you be prettier than your older sibling?
2/4/2020 Just finished Call Down the Hawk so now I’m sitting here staring at the title-less, cover-less sequel wanting more. More Lynch, more Lynch brothers, more Pynch 😭
12/28/2019
Cover, cover will you be prettier than your older sibling?
Want to read
February 15, 2021WHAT THE HELLLLLLLLLLLLL??!!!
*spits out coffee and hyperventilates*
How could I miss that this has a title, release date and even a cover?!!!
Also how did we get from “Call Down the Hawk” to “Mister Impossible”??!!
I’m a mixture of happy and confused now and I’m not sure which emotion will win.
Just ignore me while I lose my .... AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
(to be continued)
*spits out coffee and hyperventilates*
How could I miss that this has a title, release date and even a cover?!!!
Also how did we get from “Call Down the Hawk” to “Mister Impossible”??!!
I’m a mixture of happy and confused now and I’m not sure which emotion will win.
Just ignore me while I lose my .... AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
(to be continued)
May 30, 2021
This book took a long time to find its way. Far too long, honestly.
Most of it is convoluted, pretentious, repetitive, and sorry to say, but truly: emo to excess, to the point of being unfocused and void of identity.
The character arcs aren’t well developed so everything that happens feels random and pulled out of a hat (not to say other places). More specifically, this trilogy was presented as a Lynch brothers-focused, and especially Ronan-focused spin-off, but his character arc is the worst of the bunch: he is barely recognizable and also barely present, though he is mentioned a lot. The chapters featuring him are sorely lacking in... Ronan-ness.
(Declan and Matthew are slightly better, and their chapters are the only thing that made this book bearable.)
If Maggie wants us to believe that this is what, who, Ronan is now, she really should have done a better job at showing us how he got here.
Truly, this is such shallow work, it is heartbreaking. (In the midst of overwritten tomes, this is severely underwritten.)
The Raven Cycle was clever, well-thought-out, and with excellent characterization. This is a spin-off that is supposed to be once again character-centric but in which narration is so devoid of the characters’ personality that most of it just made me wonder WTF I was reading.
Not to mention how flat and uninspired the dialogue is. What?? Maggie is the queen of sharp dialogue. WTH is going on?
(And before some of you come at me with swords drawn, ready to defend Maggie, saying that of course it’s different silly, it’s a different series and you need to judge it on its own merits, let me say this: I know it’s a new series, but a spin-off is by definition somewhat derivative so expectations of similar style and narrative thread are kind of justified, mes amies.)
The last 100 pages were better, the best of the book (even though some of the mind fuckery was slightly over the top and had me rolling my eyes.) But overall, this book just makes me wish Maggie had left these characters alone and just done something new, something with no connection and no expectations, something that would garner no comparison. Because once you know what an author can do, you expect it again — even if in new forms, new shapes, new stories. This is definitely not it.
2 1/2 STARS
August 28, 2021
This series was made for me. This is one of those series that makes me think I should never take a crack at writing one of my own, because the best of the best already exists.
That said, I’m sure it’s not for everyone. I think some people could get annoyed with the flowery writing and the constant changing of the worlds “rules”. But I’m not annoyed. I’m in awe.
As the series continues, I have zero qualms about my raven boys inspired tattoo.
That said, I’m sure it’s not for everyone. I think some people could get annoyed with the flowery writing and the constant changing of the worlds “rules”. But I’m not annoyed. I’m in awe.
As the series continues, I have zero qualms about my raven boys inspired tattoo.
May 18, 2021
How in the fuck does one rate this???
It was very good. I hated it.
Okay. I'm going to woman up and say it. This read like 340 pages of filler.
I enjoyed it and it wasn't boring (which was my main issue with CDTH).
The prose was trademark Maggie Stiefvater wonderfulness.
I like Declan Lynch now. That's a thing.
A Matthew Lynch POV?? We're not worthy.
But like.
I feel like this book could've been bonus content on the author's website while we actually wait for the next installment in this series.
It was very good. I hated it.
Okay. I'm going to woman up and say it. This read like 340 pages of filler.
I enjoyed it and it wasn't boring (which was my main issue with CDTH).
The prose was trademark Maggie Stiefvater wonderfulness.
I like Declan Lynch now. That's a thing.
A Matthew Lynch POV?? We're not worthy.
But like.
I feel like this book could've been bonus content on the author's website while we actually wait for the next installment in this series.
June 21, 2024
Ronan "I didn't drop out of school for this" Lynch you will always be famous
Want to read
November 9, 2020this is the worst fucking book title i’ve ever seen maggie sweetie what were you thinkin
Want to read
November 10, 2020Imagine going to the library and having to ask for MiStEr ImPoSsIbLe
May 12, 2021
ok- its not out yet so i’m not going to say too much about my thoughts.
i did really enjoy this, even though i’m like 98% sure that nothing happened the entire book lmao
MATTHEW SUPREMACY AS ALWAYS!!
and now i will sit here in distress knowing i have to wait 18 months for the next one. i love this universe and the love i have for ronan is undying wbk.
i did really enjoy this, even though i’m like 98% sure that nothing happened the entire book lmao
MATTHEW SUPREMACY AS ALWAYS!!
and now i will sit here in distress knowing i have to wait 18 months for the next one. i love this universe and the love i have for ronan is undying wbk.
April 16, 2023
Estaba muy ansiosa por comezar y continuar con esta historia, sobre todo después de la primera entrega, la cual nos dejó con esa confrontación y desenlace... necesitaba saber ¡qué iba a ocurrir después!
Debo admitir que esta entrega no me ha decepcionado, es más ha superado mis expectativas. Continúa la misma línea del primer libro, es decir, seguimos conociendo y descubriendo secretos de los nuevos personajes: Jordan, Hennessy, Camen y Bryde; además, se introduce a un nuevo personaje, Liliana, quien contribuirá a dar un vuelco a la trama. Y por último, pero no menos importante, tenemos más información en relación a los hermanos Lynch y, desafortunadamente, muy poco de Adam.
La historia se sigue centrando en Ronan, quien es el protagonista de la trilogía, en sus procesos internos, específicamente, en cómo siente que puede encajar en el mundo con sus poderes, sin sentirse excluido y encerrado; más bien cómo puede llegar a desarrollar un sentido de pertenencia en su círculo cercano; y con este concepto juega la autora; jugando tanto con los personajes como con los lectores.
También desarrolla, un poco más, el personaje de Mathew, hermano menor de Ronan, en cómo va admitiendo y adaptándose a la información que se le ha develado, respecto a su historia de vida. Me gusto mucho como la autora fue construyendo a este personaje, otorgandole una evolución paulatina, logrando con esto que uno llegue a empatizar con él.
Qué decir de Declan, personaje que me caía mal en la tetralogía anterior, y que a través de esta historia he llegado a tenerle cierto cariño; entendiendo su modo de actuar, así también, comprendiendo la forma y todo lo que ha perdido o renunciado tratando de proteger a sus hermanos y familia.
Y por último, de nuevo Maggie me deja con un final épico, donde derrumba todas mis teorías previas; ¡entregando un vuelco de la historia en 360 grados!
¡¡¡Necesito procesar ese final y leer pronto la continuación!!!
Debo admitir que esta entrega no me ha decepcionado, es más ha superado mis expectativas. Continúa la misma línea del primer libro, es decir, seguimos conociendo y descubriendo secretos de los nuevos personajes: Jordan, Hennessy, Camen y Bryde; además, se introduce a un nuevo personaje, Liliana, quien contribuirá a dar un vuelco a la trama. Y por último, pero no menos importante, tenemos más información en relación a los hermanos Lynch y, desafortunadamente, muy poco de Adam.
La historia se sigue centrando en Ronan, quien es el protagonista de la trilogía, en sus procesos internos, específicamente, en cómo siente que puede encajar en el mundo con sus poderes, sin sentirse excluido y encerrado; más bien cómo puede llegar a desarrollar un sentido de pertenencia en su círculo cercano; y con este concepto juega la autora; jugando tanto con los personajes como con los lectores.
También desarrolla, un poco más, el personaje de Mathew, hermano menor de Ronan, en cómo va admitiendo y adaptándose a la información que se le ha develado, respecto a su historia de vida. Me gusto mucho como la autora fue construyendo a este personaje, otorgandole una evolución paulatina, logrando con esto que uno llegue a empatizar con él.
Qué decir de Declan, personaje que me caía mal en la tetralogía anterior, y que a través de esta historia he llegado a tenerle cierto cariño; entendiendo su modo de actuar, así también, comprendiendo la forma y todo lo que ha perdido o renunciado tratando de proteger a sus hermanos y familia.
Y por último, de nuevo Maggie me deja con un final épico, donde derrumba todas mis teorías previas; ¡entregando un vuelco de la historia en 360 grados!
¡¡¡Necesito procesar ese final y leer pronto la continuación!!!
December 27, 2021
I believe it's safe to say that most of my Goodreads friends know I'm going to review every Maggie Stiefvater book I read. After all, I'm her #1 Fan in Richmond.
But, this one is hard. Or maybe it's just me, since I'm stuck on several different reviews right now. Book-Review-Writer's-Block?
RTC
But, this one is hard. Or maybe it's just me, since I'm stuck on several different reviews right now. Book-Review-Writer's-Block?
RTC
December 12, 2023
I still get chills whenever I see "Ronan-centered"
March 4, 2022
I went in with low expectations because I didn’t love Call Down the Hawk. But based on the ending of book 1 I saw potential for this series to improve and WOW did it ever. This was far better than I could’ve imagined and recaptured some of that feeling I had while reading The Raven Cycle.
I won’t say much about this book because it is the 2nd in a series, but this book truly gave me *feels* which is not something I usually experience while reading. I care so much about Ronan and all the people around him, and I love how this series is giving us more time with Declan and Matthew (Matthew in this installment especially!!!).
All in all one of the better 2nd books in a series I’ve read and I am DYING for book 3.
I won’t say much about this book because it is the 2nd in a series, but this book truly gave me *feels* which is not something I usually experience while reading. I care so much about Ronan and all the people around him, and I love how this series is giving us more time with Declan and Matthew (Matthew in this installment especially!!!).
All in all one of the better 2nd books in a series I’ve read and I am DYING for book 3.
November 1, 2021
“It doesn't matter how you got here. You are here.”
nice recommendation if you ever want to see your favorite character become a selfish dickhead just because of his daddy issues.
this book made me realize how much of the quality about The Raven Cycle series was only about the characters and not about the stories. 'cause i didn't like how the characters acted in here and i immediately hated the whole book. hate might be a strong word but i very much disliked it. the story was boring for the most parts, i skimmed a lot of it to be honest. every chapter with Bryde, Ronan and Hennessy felt like torture because it was the same thing over and over again. Ronan didn't act like Ronan in this book at all. personally i felt like the one thing he always had was morals, even if it were his own. i don't know why he's a selfish serial killer who wants to start the apocalypse now all of a sudden.
the thing i dislike most about spin-off series is the desperate try of keeping the old characters out of it makes the story looks silly. you're telling me Ronan is about to start the apocalypse and no one's calling Gansey? yea right.
i will still read the third installment but only to finish this series. i'm not very hopeful.
nice recommendation if you ever want to see your favorite character become a selfish dickhead just because of his daddy issues.
this book made me realize how much of the quality about The Raven Cycle series was only about the characters and not about the stories. 'cause i didn't like how the characters acted in here and i immediately hated the whole book. hate might be a strong word but i very much disliked it. the story was boring for the most parts, i skimmed a lot of it to be honest. every chapter with Bryde, Ronan and Hennessy felt like torture because it was the same thing over and over again. Ronan didn't act like Ronan in this book at all. personally i felt like the one thing he always had was morals, even if it were his own. i don't know why he's a selfish serial killer who wants to start the apocalypse now all of a sudden.
the thing i dislike most about spin-off series is the desperate try of keeping the old characters out of it makes the story looks silly. you're telling me Ronan is about to start the apocalypse and no one's calling Gansey? yea right.
i will still read the third installment but only to finish this series. i'm not very hopeful.
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