Justine's Thoughts: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Linger
[The Wolves of Mercy Falls - book 2]
By Maggie Stiefvater

Source: Won
Pages:  360
Book Description:

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

A quote:

I never knew there were so many ways to say good-bye.

Thoughts:

Expectations: It has been such a long time since I’ve read Shiver that I almost forgot what had happened in the story. So reading the description made me a tiny bit confused. Who’s Cole? I wondered if he was a character I missed from Shiver. No, it turns out he’s a new one, who I’ve come to really like. But throughout reading Linger, I remembered everything about Shiver. It took some remembering, of course, but I ended up loving Linger almost more than I did with Shiver.

About Setting: The small town of Mercy Falls. What I picture? A similar setting to Twilight’s Forks, Washington. It makes sense since there’s woods and what feels like gloomy days. It is Springtime in Linger, however, so the days are brightening but are sometimes filled with rain.

About Characters: I love Sam and Grace and their heartbreaking relationship, but the ones that steal the show are Cole and Isabel. Each of them illuminated in this novel. The way they shone to me individually and together made me so attracted to them. Cole’s character is broken and he covers this up by creating a steel mask of cynicism. Not to mention he is trying to escape from his past. Isabel on the other hand is dealing with a great loss. With the two on a crash course, they’re meant to grow with the help of the other. Also, a similarity or pattern that I find in all the major characters is that they’re all experiencing pain. That’s what makes this series such a pull-at-your-heartstrings kind of book.

About Plot: New hardships come in between Sam and Grace. It feels as though not much happens in Linger though I was fine with it. It sort of prolonged the inevitable that was always there between Sam and Grace, with the addition of a sub-plot (Cole). It is in the end when I could finally see where the trilogy is headed. The writing is absofreakinglutely beautiful. I can’t get enough of it. It makes my heart squeeze, especially with all that angst. I love me some heartbreaking stories.

Overall Rating: Y Y Y Y Y
Linger was perfect after Shiver and there is still so much to know about everything. Forever, here I come!

Justine's Thoughts: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver
By Maggie Stiefvater

Pages:

390

Book Description:

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, Sam 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 ... until 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.

A quote:

Books are more real when you read them outside.

Any thoughts:

What a fantastic, heartbreaking tale! Maggie Stiefvater creates a world in which I would most definitely like to live in. Werewolves, passion, friendship and mystery. All in all, it’s one heck of a novel that you must read!

I’ll start with the writing. I can simply describe it in one word - beautiful. The way Stiefvater describes the scenery captures my heart because I’m the type to appreciate nature through photography. The fact that she also included a character who loves photography made me so very happy. Because of Stiefvater’s writing, I was able to feel the characters and their emotions, especially Sam. He’s an emotional character who can think of lyrics at the top of his head. He’s so poetic and great that I often found myself swooning over him.

Sam and Grace...They are one amazing couple. Since the chapters switch narration between Sam and Grace, we are able to understand both sides of the relationship, which is why I just love them so much! They have tons of memorable moments together and I would smile and squeal every time.

The plot had me at hello. I already knew from the very start that I was going to love this novel. Though I have never read a story about werewolves, I’m certain that I will be reading more of them. Stiefvater’s take on werewolves is something that is unique, however, which is a very good thing, as I was fully engrossed. They are sad creatures, but I would have to say that they are my favourite creatures (out of the fantasy world).

The ending is enough to satisfy me though I am still curious as to what actually happened. But I would recommend reading this book all the way. It is now one of my favourites and I absolutely can’t wait to read Linger!