Friday, November 14, 2014

The Raven Cycle Tarot Tour + Giveaway: The Death Card


Today I have the pleasure of being part of a very special blog tour celebrating The Raven Cycle series, one that showcases the many, many talents of Maggie Stiefvater. Maggie is not only a gifted writer and storyteller, but also an extremely skilled artist as well, and this tour shows her skills off to a spectacular degree. Each stop on the tour features a tarot card drawn by Maggie herself, complete with a reading of that card and its application to the Raven Cycle series by the participating blogger. Before I reveal the Death card, here's a little more about the Tarot Tour:

The tarot is a divination system that uses a deck of cards to gain insight. Most decks are comprised of 78 cards divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana, with each card being symbolic of an energy or spiritual truth. The Major Arcana are known as the “trump cards” because they impart messages of greater weight and significance than the Minor Arcana.

The Raven Cycle Tarot Tour features the Major Arcana, with each stop on the tour revealing one of the 22 cards as designed by Maggie Stiefvater, and will use that card to reveal the past, present and future of The Raven Cycle series.

You can find the full schedule (November 1st-22nd) and list of participating blogs below, be sure and check them all out for more tarot cards, readings, and chances to win!

And now, I give you Death:

DEATH


PAST

Unsurprisingly, the Death card is "the most feared and misunderstood of all the cards in the Tarot deck". While that aspect of it is not part of the meaning of the card itself, I think the concept of misperception and misunderstanding plays a critical role in The Raven Boys.

Upon cracking the spine, we are almost immediately made aware of a prophecy featuring Blue and Gansey, one that foretells that she is either destined to fall in love with him or to be the one who kills him. For much of the book then we can't help but wonder about the very nature of prophetic statements, so seemingly telling but also vague and open-ended at the same time, inspiring fear and anxiety due to the sheer number of possible interpretations. Much as Death is misunderstood, telling not of literal impending death at all but rather change and transition, the prophecy concerning Blue and Gansey is feared for all its unknowns.


PRESENT

"Death is symbolic of the ending of a major phase or aspect of your life that may bring about the beginning of something far more valuable and important."

Each of the characters in the Raven Cycle series undergo a number of changes, some minor and others major, as the series continues, trying to come to terms with their various abilities (particularly Ronan and his highly unusual gift of being able to bring pieces of dreams into reality) while also treading lightly as the nature of the friendships within the group continues to transition with Blue in the mix.

"Death is an indication that you need to learn to let go of unhealthy attachments in your life to pave the way to a fuller, more fulfilled life of deeper meaning and significance. Death teaches you to let go of outworn and outgrown ways of life and move forward."

The four boys in particular are likely to have this card laid in front of them should they sit down down to a reading, each of them with a past they're struggling to overcome in the hopes of emerging stronger on the other side. Gansey constantly battles his privileged upbringing and the differences between his life and those of his closest friends, Adam's abusive home life and past affects his every decision and action in the present, Ronan's history has shaped him into someone dark and defiant who dares the world to come at him, and Noah is perhaps in a more constant state of flux than any of the other three.

Quote source

FUTURE

"You may be reluctant to let go of the past or you may not know how to make the change you need. You are still carrying harmful aspects from the past that may interfere with the opportunity you have for a new beginning. You are refusing to accept change and you are resisting any element of change that may arise in your life. As a result, life has stagnated and you are feeling ‘stuck’ in limbo."

The Death card has a lot of intriguing implications for the next book in the series, forcing us to ask ourselves difficult questions about each and every character. Will they be able to overcome the the hardships or horrors of their pasts, freeing themselves from baggage that prevents them from seeing clearly? Will the misunderstanding that goes hand in hand with this card in particular be indicative of how Blue and Gansey move forward? Will they allow themselves to be caged by the words of a prophecy, or will they fight to give what has been foretold a meaning of their own choosing?

Quote source

• • • • • • • • • • • 


http://dialedin.com/scholastic10/maggiestiefvater/ravencycle


Mystery, Romance and the supernatural combine in this series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.
Book 1: The Raven Boys

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them--until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her. His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

Book 2: The Dream Thieves

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....

Book 3: Blue Lily, Lily Blue

There is danger in dreaming. But there is even more danger in waking up.

Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers, and her problems have become theirs.

The trick with found things though, is how easily they can be lost.




• • • • • • • • • • • • 

MAGGIE STIEFVATER


Entertainment Weekly has called Maggie Stiefvater, “one of the finest YA novelists writing today.” Maggie Stiefvater is a writer, artist, and musician and the New York Times bestselling author of Shiver, hailed by Publishers Weekly in a starred review as, “a lyrical tale,” and by BookPage as, “beautifully written, even poetic at times, and a perfect indulgence for readers of all ages.” There are more than 1.8 million copies of the Shiver trilogy in print. Since publication, rights to thirty-six foreign editions of Shiver have been licensed. Linger, the second book in the Shiver trilogy, debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. The Scorpio Races (2011) was named to the following best of the year lists for 2011: Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, The Horn Book and Kirkus Reviews. In addition, The Scorpio Races was named a 2012 Michael L. Printz Honor Book by the American Library Association and a New York Times Notable Children’s Book. Time Magazine called, The Raven Boys, Book #1 in Stiefvater’s latest New York Times bestselling series The Raven Cycle, “A flirtier kind of horror-fantasy, aimed at teens clutching tattered Twilight and Sandman paperbacks....Stiefvater’s quirky prose has ample nerdy pleasures.” Stiefvater lives in Virginia with her family.


• • • • • • • • • • • •

GIVEAWAY


Thanks to the amazing team at Scholastic, I have a fantastic giveaway to share with you guys today! One lucky winner will receive a complete set of The Raven Cycle series (The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, and Blue Lily, Lily Blue) AND a limited edition Maggie Stiefvater Major Arcana tarot deck. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• • • • • • • • • • •

THE RAVEN CYCLE TAROT TOUR

Don't forget to check out all the other stops on the tour for more tarot reveals and epic giveaways (you can also follow the This Is Teen Pinterest page for daily tour updates)!

https://www.pinterest.com/thisisteen/the-raven-cycle-tarot-tour/

117 comments:

  1. id have to say RONAN and the way she can convey tons of feels in like a sentence!! Unicorn prose!!

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  2. My favorite Maggie book is a tie between The Scorpio Races and The Raven Boys.

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  3. My favorite is Blue Lily, Lily Blue! This is the only series I've read by her so far. :)

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  4. I've only read The Raven Boys so far, but I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. She is an absolutely phenomenal writer!

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  5. Hmm. I'd most love to read The Raven Boys.

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  6. I am looking forward to reading her Shiver series. I have the whole series just sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. Thanks for this great giveaway.

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  7. That death card is gorgeous. I need to read this series so bad. But the answer to the question ... All. But I really, really want to read The Scorpio Races.

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  8. I LOVED Raven Boys. It was one of the best and most original concepts and the characters were incredible.

    LOVE your interpretation of the card and how it will relate.

    Just in case rafflecopter shows my location outside US, I'm doing a semester abroad and would use my regular US mailing address.

    thank you so very much :)

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  9. All of The Raven Cycle so far. Can't wait for book four!

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  10. is this book the last one in the seires or there is more, i have the first book but didn't read it yet :)

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    1. Blue Lily Lily Blue is book 3. be careful reading these, as some spoilers can't be unknown!

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  11. Thanks so much for this great giveaway, Jenny! I have always wanted to read this series. I have read both Shiver and Lament and really enjoyed both!

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  12. I LOVE the Raven boys. I love the second book more, haven't gotten a chance to read the third yet, but I've heard its awesome. I'm reading Sinner right now and I love Cole and Isabel <3 Its so hard to choose a favorite

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  13. Is anyone else overly confident they'll win a deck?

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  14. What an interesting tour! I love the unique idea for sure. Tarot cards are so fascinating!
    I have read the books in her Wolves of Mercy Falls series but I honestly don't remember much from them. This is a series I want to start for certain, but I'm waiting for all the books to come out. Also, I'm not sure I can handle no kissing for so long in the books, Jenny!!

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  15. These cards just get better and better

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  16. Oh, those taro cards are so damn cool. The Dream Thieves is my favorite MS book so far. But Blue Lily, Lily Blue was pretty fantastic as well.

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  17. My favorite is The Dream Thieves. I have always been interested in dreams. I kept a dream journal for a while. I tried her Shiver series, but it wasn't for me. I would like to read The Scorpio Races soon.

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  18. I am quite sad that the giveaway is only open to the US... but the books are absolutely amazing and those I have! Just finished Blue Lily Lily Blue and I'm dying!! Cannot wait for the next book!!

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  19. The Dream Thieves is my favorite, so far. I love the thought of being able to bring back objects from my dreams!

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  20. I adore all of the Raven Cycle, but I think The Dream Thieves is my favorite. Holding out hope though that RB4 will be the best ever!

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  21. My favorite book is The Scorpio Races. It was amazing and I'm so happy that they may be making it into a movie!

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  22. My FAVORITE book has to be Shiver. It's what drew me to Maggie in the first place and I have been inlove with her writing ever since. :)

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  23. This is such a fun giveaway. I can't wait for the 4th book though I'm not sure I can deal with the death of Gansey...

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  24. I think, as much as I LOVE the Raven Cycle, my favorite is still my first love of hers... The Scorpio Races. Gorgeous and amazing.

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  25. It's a beautiful card! I haven't tried this series but I know I need to because I heard great things about it. Thank you for sharing!

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  26. I love all that I've read, but at the moment, Blue Lily Lily Blue is my favorite. So many feels!!

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  27. If pressed, I go with THE SCORPIO RACES. But only if pressed.

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  28. THE SCORPIO RACES is FOR SURE my favorite MS book. But, really I love them all. She is one of my favorite authors of all time.

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  29. MS is the only author for whom I can honestly say that I love ALL her books!

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  30. The Raven Boys because I haven't read many of her books yet.

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  31. I haven't read any of her books yet, but I heard such great things about this series and I can't wait to read them!

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  32. Urgh I've been procrastinating and haven't yet picked this one up *shakes head* BUT I PROMISE TO DO IT SOON JEN! I just don't know if my heart can take it.

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  33. Okay the card is kind of scary! I love this series.
    Thanks so much for sharing this with us Jenny! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

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  34. I think my two favorite books are The Scorpio Races and Sinner! But I love reading the Raven Cycle as well.

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  35. I'm loving the Raven Cycle so far!

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  36. My favorite is The Dream Thieves as I really like Ronan's character and seeing him (as well as Adam) develop. The Raven Cycle is such an incredible series.
    I LOVE this card.

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  37. Oh yes! I worry so much about what will be in store for them but at the same time I can't wait to find out! What a great giveaway and loved this post. Death never looked so good... :)

    My fave book so far is The Scorpion Races

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  38. The first book is the Shiver Series, since that is the only book I have read by her... and I loved it! So I cant wait to read more.

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  39. This tidbit:
    "will they fight to give what has been foretold a meaning of their own choosing? "
    gives me hope that they can choose their destiny somehow. I worry over how Blue and Gansey will find a way to be together, because it just HAS to happen! I have a physical copy of all but Blue Lily, Lily Blue (I have an e-copy) so I'd feel bad entering the contest, but thank you anyways! I do want a hardcover of BL, LB, though! Soon. :)

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  40. The Scorpio Races is my favorite Stiefvater book, but I think Sinner may be edging that out to the top.

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  41. My favorite book by Maggie Stiefvater is the Dream Thieves!

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  42. Have not read any books... Scorpio Races sound kind of okay to read.

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  43. I have read her Wolves of Mercy Falls series and The Scorpio Races. I really liked them. However, the Raven Cycle books are by far the best. I have a hard time choosing a favorite of the three books. It's tempting to say The Dream Thieves because of Ronan (my phone autocorrects that to "RONAN ;____;" now because I scream/cry/flail text my friends about this series.

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  44. My favorite has to be The Dream Thieves, although I also loved Linger.

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  45. Scorpio Races! I have recommended that book to family, friends, and people I've just met. It's one of my Favorite favorites. I also love Sinner; Maggie had said no more Mercy Falls, and then all of a sudden she announced it! That was and still is the most exciting piece of news I've ever read. And then for like a year there was all the anticipation of -will it be good, will it make me cry- And it was absolutely perfect. It's actual existence is still such a crazy amazing gift.

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  46. My favorite of her books, and that's a hard choice, is Scorpio Races. All have such amazing characters, but Puck and Sean -- amazing. Plus I love that it's a standalone so there's no waiting a year between books.

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  47. The Dream Thieves! Basically the entire Raven Cycle series is the best thing ever but that one stands out because I loved Kavinsky in all his rude and crude glory. :)

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  48. I first became familiar years ago with Maggie Stiefvater's work by way of finding Shiver quite by accident, at a time where I very badly needed an escape. From there, I was hooked. I'm partial to The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy because the imagery it left me with will always linger, but I have this with all her books--all had something that affected me so incredibly that it all lingers. The Raven Cycle, however, I'd have to say is my favorite now because--holy shit, have you read these books? Fucking great.

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  49. I loved The Scorpio Races. I read Shiver and Linger, and I just couldn't get into that series. I am obsessed with the Raven Cycle! Though Blue Lily, Lily Blue was sorely lacking in the Ronan department.

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  50. I cannot pick a favorite of the Raven Cycle...but, those are definitely my favorite books by her.

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  51. I've read The Raven Boys, Dream Thieves, and Shiver and so far Dream Thieves has been my favorite. I'm eager to pick up Scorpio Races though

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  52. I'd love to be able to read the first one. Thank you

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  53. I loved Shiver and I have been wanting to read her Raven Boys series and Scorpio Races. Thanks for the awesome giveaway

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  54. The Dream Thieves will always be my favorite because that was the book that made my friend gush about Maggie, which led me to go buy all of her books

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  55. I would love a chance to start this series! I've read such awesome reviews for it and I'm so excited for this awesome giveaway! Thanks so much!

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  56. Maggie always seems to outdo herself with each new published novel. Absolutely loving the Raven Cycle series!!

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  57. I love The Raven Boys but I also love her other series also, it's hard to choose which one I like the most. Thanks for the giveaway!! :)

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  58. I can't pick a favorite! I love all of her books so much. The Raven Cycle is probably my favorite of her worlds.

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  59. Raven Boys sounds amazing!

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  60. I've not read any of her books yet - and can't figure out how I missed them!!!! Therefore, I don't have a favorite. I'd definitely want to start with the first in the series!

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  61. I've wanted to read this series for what seems like forever. After I missed the release of the first book, I decided I'd wait. Now, I want to devour them all one after the other, like a box of very fine (sugar-free, since I can't have sugar) chocolates, savoring them, but devouring them, all the same.

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  62. I loved the Wolves of Mercy Falls series...but this series is turning out to be almost if not just as wonderful!

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  63. I'd have to say that I am most looking forward to reading The Raven Cycle and The Scorpio Races :) Thanks for the giveaway! Fingers crossed...

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  64. The Scorpio Races is my favorite Maggie book, hands down. I just finished a reread via audiobook and it was even better than I remembered. Blue Lily, Lily Blue comes in as a close second though.

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  65. I love the SHIVER series, but also her fairy series, LAMENT and BALLAD.

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  66. It's hard to choose. My favorite series is The Wolves of Mercy Falls, though probably my favorite book is Ballad...or Linger. I love them all.

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  67. My favorite is probably Shiver, since it was the first Maggie Stiefvater book I read. Obviously all her books are great, and she's getting better with every one, but there's something special about the first book you read by someone who becomes your favorite author.

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  68. I haven't read the entire series yet, only The Raven Boys, so I can only answer The Raven Boys. :P

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  69. Definitely The Dream Thieves, that book is dripping with characterization and symbols and "show don't tell" yaaaaas

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  70. Definitely The Raven Cycle!! Don't make me choose just one of them, omg. *_* I love them allllllllllll a crazy amount!

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  71. I love both The Scorpio Races and The Raven Boys! I haven't read The Dream Thieves or Blue Lily, Lily Blue yet so they may trump both of those, but so far it's those two.

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  72. The Scorpio Races is probably my very very favorite. VERY difficult to choose though.

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  73. Although it has only been out for a little while, Blue,Lily is definitely my favourite book of hers so far. The emotions are so raw and gorgeous in the book and the way Maggie portrays them is heartbreakingly and thrillingly vivid. Also, this is my favourite book of the Cycle, character-wise. They've all grown so much into book three that it is a delight to see them so settled and yet to see all the ways they have changed.

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  74. Thank you for this wonderful contest. I just finished Sinner on audio and absolutely loved it, but I still think that Raven Boys is my favorite Maggie book as of now. I still have to catch up on the two follow ups and read Scorpio Races and Liesel and Po.

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  75. I'd say my favorite book my Maggie is Shiver :)

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  76. I WOULD LIKE TO TRY THE SHIVER SERIES. THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY! SHELLEY S. calicolady60@hotmail.com

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  77. My favourite is Linger ^.^ Cole <3

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  78. Unfortunately I haven't read any of her books but I would love to read the Raven Cycle. I've heard so many awesome things about these books and I would love to read them! I freaking love the covers! They're gorgeous :-)

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  79. My favorite book is a toss up between Blue Lily Lily Blue and Sinner. BLLB is insanely good and I'm not done with it. I listen to it in the car on the way to work and I only have about 2 hours of it and it's getting intense I'm scared for what will happen to me when it ends.

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  80. My favorite book by Maggie would be The Dream Thieves.

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  81. I'm a fan of The Scorpio Races. I'm really hoping the movie goes through and is well done.

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  82. I love The Wolves of Mercy Falls series.

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  83. My favorite would be The Dream Thieves. :) I loved seeing much more of Ronan and his development

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  84. I haven't read any of her books yet but I've heard some good things about The Raven Boys. They pretty much all look good tho! :)

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  85. My favorite Maggie Stiefvater book is The Dream Thieves!!

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  86. The Dream Thieves definitely!!

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  87. I haven't read any of her books yet but this is the series I'm most looking forward to! I've just heard so many good things about it

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  88. Can't wait to re-read the series! It's one of my all-time favourites.

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  89. Fantastic reading Jenny! I am always very worried about this card, particularly after Gansey's reading. I especially love this "Will they allow themselves to be caged by the words of a prophecy, or will they fight to give what has been foretold a meaning of their own choosing?" Gosh I hope so, I don't know if my poor heart can take anything else! :-)

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  90. It's really a tie between The Scorpio Races and The Dream Thieves. Puck and Ronan are my favorite characters!

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  91. My favorite Stiefvater book is Scorpio Races, but it is a close one to her Raven Cycle series.

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  92. I would love to read this books but I can't buy them right now :-( :'(

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  93. I haven't read anything by her yet, but I would absolutely love to read The Raven Boys!

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  94. My favorite must be The Raven Boys.

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  95. Very cool! Not going to enter since I'm going this giveaway myself but YAY!

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  96. I would like to start on the The Raven Cycle series

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  97. Besides the Raven Cycle, I love Sinner!

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  98. I have never read The Raven Cycle but I have heard so many brilliant things about it, I know I have to start it at some point! The covers are just beautiful as well <3

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  99. I adore the Raven Cycle so much, but it would be a close call with the Scorpio Races.

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  100. I must admit to loving the cover of the last book, so it intrigues me the most. If I could only read one, I suppose it would be that one because my feature co-host could fill me in on the backstory. She adored these books and convinced me that I needed to read them. Thank-you for this stellar giveaway contest. :)

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  101. My favorite MS book is Shiver; I love it! I am currently listening to The Raven Boys on audio and it's really good so far :)

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  102. I didn't care for Shiver but I've been dying to try something else ever since. This tour has me all over this series!

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