Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on April 24, 2012 | 3 Comments


Review: Shiver by Maggie StiefvaterShiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls #1
Published by Scholastic Press (6.1.2010)
Genres: Romance, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Paperback, 390 pages
Source: I own it
Buy on Amazon


4 Stars

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.

My thoughts

I was not a wolf, but I wasn’t Sam yet, either.

I was a leaking womb bulging with the promise of conscious thoughts: the frozen woods far behind me, the girl on the tire swing, the sound of fingers on metal strings. The future and the past, both the same, snow and then summer and then snow again.
A shattered spider’s web of many colors, cracked in ice, immeasurably sad.
“Sam,” the girl said, “Sam.”
She was past present future. I wanted to answer, but I was broken.
 
I read this one for the first time a couple years ago, and I enjoyed it just as much the second time as I did the first. It’s a quick read and something I highly recommend for all you werewolf lovers (like me) – it has an interesting fresh take on werewolves! There wasn’t much happening plot-wise because it’s mainly a love story. And although it’s not the kind of love I typically like reading (as in, the love/hate kind with plenty of sarcastic conflict), it’s still just as sweet. 
 
The characters are good but not great. They are pretty well-developed and have their own personalities but at times I forgot whose perspective I was reading. I did like that switch, though (between Sam’s and Grace’s POVs). I also liked how it gave the degrees Fahrenheit at the beginning of each chapter – awesome!
 
The romance was well done. Some people could view it as instaluv, but it was still convincing because technically they had already known each other…even though Sam was a wolf. But the fact that they jumped right into it didn’t bother me at all (and believe me, I’m picky about that). 
 
While this book isn’t really spectacular per se, it’s still something that I could read again and again. I like the general feel of the book and the desperation of Sam’s resistance to the Change. And again, I’m a big fan of werewolves so that earns major brownie points!
 
Side note: The writing is blue!! I love it!
 
quotes
Grace’s father had feet the size of a yeti, so I tramped into the woods with all the grace of a polar bear in a dollhouse.
 
“So Grace, how’s school?” I asked myself. Dad nodded, eyes on the TV. “Oh, it’s fine,” I continued, and Dad made a mumbling noise of agreement. I added, “Nothing special, aside from the load of pandas they brought in, and the teachers abandoning us to cannibalistic savages-” I paused to see if I’d caught his attention yet, then pressed on. “The whole building caught fire, then I failed drama, and then sex sex sex sex.”
 
assessment
Plot: 3/5
Writing style: 5/5
Stiefvater’s prose is beautiful!
Characters: 4/5
I like them, but I don’t quite love them.
World-building: 4/5
Pace: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
I love this cover because it’s fairly simple and the title draws your eyes’ attention. And the wolf of course :)
 
Overall rating: 4/5 starfish
A wonderful love story that I definitely recommend!
Jessi (Geo)

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