I received this book for free from the Book Expo America in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie StiefvaterPublished by Scholastic Press on 17 September 2025
Source: Book Expo America
Goodreads
The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!
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...
If you haven’t started this series: Feel free to read my review of The Raven Boys. Both books have the same atmospheric prose and a deliciously slow journey toward something you really don’t want to happen. What you need to know going in is that while each book has it’s own plot, they don’t stand alone. I realize this can be frustrating, but each book left me both satisfied and desperate for more. For me, Maggie Stiefvater is one of the few authors who can pull this off.
If you’ve read The Raven Boys: The Dream Thieves is just as hauntingly beautiful as The Raven Boys, but it is also more intense. I had so many feelings while reading that I’m still trying to figure out how to feel now that I’m done.
What I’ve loved most about this series is that it constantly surprises me in a way that makes me stop and completely shift my perspective on everything that is going on. This is a book that needs to be read spoiler free. What you should know going in is that while this novel does bring us closer to finding Glendower, the focus shifts to Ronan. I said this in my review of The Raven Boys:
Ronan, you are going to break my heart and make me love you for it, aren’t you?
I should move to 300 Fox Way, because I’m psychic. Ronan grew on me in The Raven Boys, especially when I revisited the story a few months ago. The Dream Thieves put us inside his head and it is a place that I loved being. He has officially taken his place as my favorite Raven boy.
If you’ve read The Dream Thieves: E-mail me, because I will never grow tired of discussing and theorizing about this book.
Favorite moments: There is a kiss, which is funny and silly and, then, of course, bitter sweet. I won’t tell you who is doing the kissing, but it is not the kiss we saw in the tree vision in the first book. Actually, for all of the not kissing that is happening in these books, everything has a particular amount of swoon.
WTF Moments: Kavinsky. Let’s leave it at that.
Overall: These are desert island books. I wanted to reread The Dream Thieves as soon as I finished it and I’m not sure I’ll ever get over it.
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Steph says
Eeeep, all of the reviews for The Dream Thieves have had me reaching for the book. IT WILL HAPPEN SOON. This sounds so amazing and I know Maggie Stiefvater will do all sorts of crazy things to my heart. So, so excited!
P.S. I’ve been MIA from blogging, so hi! Love the wordpress switch! 😀
Samantha @ Reading-AndCoffee says
The Raven Boys is out in paperback now, so I finally picked it up. I don’t know why I haven’t started it yet. Also, LOVE the new review format!
Lauren @ Love is not a triangle says
Love the way you wrote this. YES to all. Also, I read this in July and still have not reviewed it. AHHH. Like you, I’d rather just discuss it with people who’ve read it too. RONAN you slay me.
Heather @ Buried in Books says
Okay, so I’m waiting for the audio book of Dream Thieves so I can let Will Patton lull me with his Southern drawl. I didn’t actually like Ronan in The Raven Boys. Was it because of the way I heard his voice? Hmm, I wonder. I picture him as a dark haired taller thinner, bald (or with a buzz cut) Sean Penn with that scowl. So angry. I know why, but don’t really. I’ll be interested to hear the voice Will Patton uses. I wouldn’t have chosen to hear the story from his voice.
Steph, damn girl you are knocking these reviews out of the park! So excellent again! I’m gonna have to get my own copy of Raven Boys and will discuss DT with you when I listen to it. Amazing review again!
Heather
Jen @ YA Romantics says
Ah … I loved this. Ready to talk spoilers with you on email. And LOL — I agree with Heather. I listened to Raven Boys and then read it and I loved will Patton’s narration, except that he did one of the 300 Fox Way women (Penelope?) in this really weird falsetto that drove me nuts. Otherwise .. perfection.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics
Christina @ Allodoxophobia says
I love this - short, sweet and teasing! Thanks for discussing theories with me