Review of ‘The Dream Thieves’ (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater. Discover the haunting beauty of Ronan Lynch’s dream-filled world in this slower, more character-driven installment of the beloved fantasy series. While ‘The Dream Thieves‘ delivers Stiefvater’s signature lyrical writing and expands the emotional depth of the characters, it also shifts the spotlight away from Blue and Gansey—leaving fans like me both enchanted and longing for more of the series’ core dynamic. If you’re curious about Ronan’s secrets and ready to embrace a more surreal, atmospheric journey, this book will pull you in… even if it leaves you a little confused along the way.
‘The Dream Thieves’ by Maggie Stiefvater pulled me into Ronan’s dreams and left me intrigued, a little confused and wishing for more Glendower
Synopsis
Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after…
Review
When I picked up ‘The Dream Thieves’ by Maggie Stiefvater, I was so ready to dive back into the magical, slightly eerie world of ‘The Raven Cycle’. After falling in love with Blue Sargent and her chaotic group of raven boys in The Raven Boys, I was eager to see where their quest for Glendower would take them next. But this book? It surprised me in ways I didn’t expect—sometimes in the best ways, and other times… not so much.
First off, this is very much Ronan Lynch’s book. And while I adore Ronan now, I’ll be honest—it took me a while to warm up to him. I missed Blue. Like, a lot. Blue’s voice was such a huge part of what made the first book feel so special, and her quieter presence here left me feeling a little unmoored. But the deeper I got into Ronan’s story—the secrets of his dreams, his grief, his sharp edges—I started to get it. Ronan is fascinating. He’s angry and vulnerable and reckless, but there’s so much beneath that tough exterior. By the end, I genuinely cared about him in a way I didn’t expect when I first started.
Adam, though… oh, Adam. I adored him in ‘The Raven Boys‘, but here? He frustrated me. I get it—he’s going through a lot, and his stubbornness and pride are part of who he is—but it made it hard to root for him the same way. I found myself feeling a little distant from him, which was a bummer.
And Noah Czerny. Honestly, what can I even say? He’s still my favorite little ghost boy. Every time he appeared, I just wanted to wrap him in a hug. He’s such a quiet presence, but his moments always hit me right in the heart.
Oh, and Gansey! He was there, but not in the same way as in The Raven Boys, and I really missed him—kind of like how I missed Blue. He’s usually this steady, magnetic force pulling the group together, but in The Dream Thieves, he felt more like a background presence. I get that this was Ronan’s story, but I kept wishing for more of that Gansey charm and his determined, slightly obsessive quest energy. His quieter role left a bit of a gap for me, and I found myself craving those moments when he and Blue would exchange their subtle glances, or when he’d deliver one of his slightly over-the-top, but endearing, monologues about kings and dreams. Hopefully, the next book brings him back into the spotlight, because I’m not ready to let go of my Gansey love just yet.
Maggie Stiefvater’s writing? Still absolutely stunning. She just has this way of making everything feel poetic and strange, like you’re in a dream yourself. But… sometimes that dreamlike quality got a little too much for me. I was confused more than once, especially when it came to the dream sequences and Ronan’s powers. There were moments I had to pause and go, “Wait… what is actually happening here?”
Speaking of confusion, The Gray Man—the new character—completely threw me off at first. He just kind of showed up, and I was like, “Who is this guy, and why is he here?” But, plot twist: I ended up liking him. There’s something weirdly endearing about him, even though he’s this sort of morally gray, dangerous figure. He added an unexpected layer to the story.
The pacing, though… yeah, it’s slow. Slower than I expected. There were stretches where it felt like not much was happening, and I started to get a little impatient. Especially with the whole Glendower plotline—it felt like we made zero progress on that front. I kept waiting for some big revelation, but it didn’t come. This book almost felt like a detour, like a side story fleshing out Ronan’s world, while the main quest was put on pause. And I was kind of sad about that.
But despite all that, I closed the book feeling satisfied. Maybe not in a “wow, this changed everything” kind of way, but more in a “okay, I see where we’re going, and I’m ready for what’s next” kind of way. I’m especially excited knowing the next book shifts the focus back to Blue—I’ve missed her voice so much. And, of course, I’m desperate to see what’s up with Gansey and the whole Glendower situation. Like… please, I need answers!
Final thoughts
Overall, I’d give ‘The Dream Thieves’ a solid 7/10. It’s slower, it’s dreamier, and it’s not the most plot-driven installment in ‘The Raven Cycle’, but it deepens the characters in such an interesting way—especially Ronan. If you’re invested in these characters (and let’s be honest, I’m fully attached), it’s absolutely worth the read. Now, onto the next one—bring on more Blue, more Gansey, and hopefully, finally, some Glendower answers!
Rating
7/10
Details
- Trigger warnings: Violence, death, grief, substance abuse, parental abuse, mental health struggles, and some unsettling dream imagery.
- Representation: Queer characters, mental health themes (particularly around trauma and depression), and characters from lower-income backgrounds.
- Genre: Paranormal (young adult)
- Pages: 439
- Publication date: September 17, 2013
- Publisher: Scholastic Press
- About the author: Maggie Stiefvater is a New 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.
With love,
heavenlybookish 
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