Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater


Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls, book #1
Next book in series: Linger
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: January 1st, 2009
Hardcover: 392 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Own
Challenge: Off the Shelf, Book Blogger Recommendation, 350 page
Overall: 5/5

the cold. Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why. 
the heat. Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now. 
the shiver. For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.

First paragraph: I remember lying in the snow, a small red spot of warm going cold, surrounded by wolves. They were licking me, biting me, worrying at my body, pressing in. Their huddled bodies blocked what little heat the sun offered. Ice glistened on their ruffs and their breath made opaque shapes that hung in the air around us. The musky smell of their coats made me think of wet dog and burning leaves, pleasant and terrifying. Their tongues melted my skin; their careless teeth ripped at my sleeves and snagged through my hair, pushed against my collarbone, the pulse at my neck.

This is my second time reading Shiver. My first time reading it was in early 2010, I fell in love with it then and I think I possibly love it just a little bit more reading it the second time. This book is just....beautiful. The writing flows together almost lyrically and add in Sam's bit of poetry it fits together so well. The whole novel is told in alternating perspectives, between Grace and Sam. Sometimes I hate when books have that, but not with Grace and Sam. 

I love seeing how everything unfolds in the eyes of both Grace and Sam, their different points of view on everything and how they both feel about each other. 

This isn't just about werewolves, it's about doing absolutely everything to stay with the person you love. Even giving up your wolf side to become fully human. The love they have for each other, way before they truly ever met each other as human to human is just completely magical and beautiful.

The emotions in this book are so strong that you just have to feel them all too. I cried so much in this book that its ridiculous. Even this second time around. All of it just completely makes me utterly speechless.

Not only do I love Sam and Grace, but I love all the supporting characters too. Isabel, Rachel, Olivia. Especially Isabel. She has the perfect attitude of sarcasm and angst. 

If you haven't picked up this series yet, do it now. You won't be sorry! If you're in love with love, and werewolves, you'll be in love with this book. 

Cover: The cover is gorgeous. Simple, and gorgeous.  

Also, as a side note, if you haven't noticed Shiver's font is in blue, and not the normal black. And the second book, Linger, is in green ink. Which I think is absolutely cool!