Shiver

Shiver
Maggie Stiefvater
Scholastic, August 2009
Paranormal romance (werewolves)

Just finished reading Shiver for the second time in anticipation of the July release of Linger (the second book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy). It was just as wonderfully amazing as the first time I read it last December. Maggie Stiefvater is an amazing writer and I am so very excited to see where the story ends in the final installment, Forever due out in 2011.

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. one yellow-eyed wolf - her wolf - is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Same has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... unitl the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human - or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. From Maggie Stiefvater's website.

The writing is absolutely amazing; the prose is beautifully crafted. Maggie knows exactly how to get you really "into" a scene, a moment, a feeling. The tone - the novel's core feeling - seeps from every scene. The longing Same and Grace feel for each other and their understanding that time is running out for them comes through every part of the novel. You can't help but hope that they will find a way to be together and Sam will avoid shifting.

Beyong the wonderful writing, the characters are all realistic and interesting. From the very beginning you're drawn into Grace and Sam's story. The novel opens with Grace being attacked by a pack a wolves. It's not a violent, introduction, as one might expect; Grace is calm and unafraid. immediately you want to know why she's attacked, why she's not scared, and who the yellow-eyed wolf who saves her is.

I especially enjoyed the narration shifts between Grace and Sam. By shifting the story between the two you are pulled into their story even more. These shifts aren't every other chapter, but are clearly carefully thought out as to whose viewpoint a moment would be best told through. The chapters vary greatly in length as well, which helps push the story forward and keeps the pacing from dragging in the middle.

Beyond the content, this book is one of the most beautifully designed I've seen. The cover is gorgeous; the blue graphic art with the red blood spot for the dot on the "i" all work perfectly. Plus the entire interior text is a beautiful dark, dark blue. So very pretty and original.

I absolutely loved this book and am eagerly awaiting the next two.

Get this book immediately and begin reading