The following version of this novel was used in the creation of this study guide: Stiefvater, Maggie. The Raven King. Scholastic Inc., 2016. Paperback.

The novel begins with the prophecy that Gansey will die. The psychics of 300 Fox Way try to decide if there is any way to save him for Blue’s sake. Meanwhile, Gansey and Adam realize that Ronan has dreamed something big because Adam senses a disturbance on the ley line. Ronan accidentally brings Orphan Girl out of his dreams and asks Gansey, Adam, and Blue to go with him to meet his mother, Aurora, in Cabeswater. There, they learn that the forest is beginning to decay which corresponds with Ronan’s nightmares. They all decide they need to find Glendower before that happens. At home, Blue’s mother, Maura, tells her that she is not bound to Henrietta and encourages Blue to follow her dreams of travelling.

Then, Piper Greenmettle possesses one of the Laumonier triplets to tell her father that she is a part of something big. Her father is unwilling to meet with her as he blames her for troubles they had in the past.

On Raven’s Day, Gansey is invited to a toga party by Henry while Adam begins to lose control of his eye after becoming Cabeswater’s caretaker. Adam then confronts Blue about her relationship with Gansey as they have been trying to hide it from him. Here, it is revealed that Blue is cursed to kill her true love with a kiss and Adam thinks she will cause Gansey’s death. Adam angrily leaves and meets up with Ronan while Blue and Gansey go to Henry’s party.

As Maura finds the decaying soul of a former friend, Noah, Adam and Ronan realize that something is attacking Cabeswater. Ronan reveals that he actually dreamed up Cabeswater. They save Orphan Girl and leave Cabeswater.

At 300 Fox Way, Blue and Gansey find Noah possessed by an unknown creature. He warns them that something will kill them before attacking Blue. Gansey is able to command him to stop and Blue is taken to the hospital. There, Gansey tells Adam that he is in a relationship with Blue. Meanwhile, Piper kills her husband, Colin, using a wasp demon that saved her life. Then, Ronan’s brother Declan learns that something is coming to Henrietta.

After school, Henry introduces Gansey to RoboBee and says that he was supposed to befriend Gansey for his secrets with magic and illegal artifacts. However, Henry just wants to be friends. Gansey then meets with Ronan who is forced to speak to Declan and learns that enemies are coming to Henrietta. Ronan says he has to stay but asks Declan to protect his brother, Matthew. They all meet again at the Barns and come up with a plan to protect Ronan. Adam and Ronan kiss.

During this, Neeve begins to regret working with Piper and the demon. As the forest continues to decay, Neeve flees to try and contact the women of 300 Fox Way. Piper uses the demon to kill Neeve but Gwenllian gets part of her message. Adam asks if Gansey knows about Blue’s curse and Gansey admits that he thinks he is her true love.

The Gray Man kidnaps Henry, only to take him to Gansey and Blue. Laumonier finds them and Blue, Henry, and Gansey are able to escape. The demon begins to unmake Cabeswater which Gwenllian dreams about. She confronts Blue’s father, Artemus, for Glendower’s location, but he refuses to speak with her.

As Gansey, Henry, and Blue go to Gansey’s house, Ronan and Adam find the body of Ronan’s mother in his dream of Cabeswater. The Gray Man and Maura find them close to death and are able to wake them up in time. However, one of the Laumonier triplets arrives and the Gray Man shoots him to protect the others.

Blue convinces Artemis to speak with her and learns he was a tree when her mother found him. At night, Gansey follows Noah to Gwellian who encourages him to make a decision. Gansey leaves to find Glendower and runs into Henry. They follow a flock of ravens to the mansion where Gansey died seven years prior. Gansey finds a cave and the others quickly catch up to him. They find Glendower, but learn that he is dead. Gansey realizes that he has to sacrifice himself to stop the demon. Adam attacks Ronan and they are forced to tie him up as he is connected to Cabeswater and the demon that is corrupting it.

Henry’s mother, Seondeok, attends the auction for the demon. As everyone begins to hear the evil demon’s thoughts, Laumonier kills Piper.

After Adam dreams of his old mentor Persephone, he takes off his blindfold. The demon begins to unmake Ronan and Gansey convinces Blue to kiss him to stop the spread. It is revealed that it was Noah, and not Glendower, who saved Gansey seven years ago as his soul disappears. The group convinces Cabeswater to sacrifice itself to bring Gansey back as the demon is defeated.

Much later, Adam confronts his parents and realizes that they have no interest in building a life with him. He allows himself to move on. Henry, Gansey, and Blue all find a car that Ronan dreamed up for them and plan to go on a summer vacation. Lastly, Ronan returns to the Barns with Orphan Girl and plans to continue dreaming.