Waiting on Wednesday, #56

Waiting on Wednsday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. WOW spotlights upcoming releases that you are dying to read and can't wait to get your hands on!

The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater
(Raven Cycle, #1)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Pre-Order: Amazon

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.
From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shivertrilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

Why Do I Want It?

It's Maggie Freaking Stiefvater! Do I really need to explain why I want it?? I haven't read The Scorpio Races yet, sadly, but I love her Wolves of Mercy Falls series. She's on my author-watch list where I have to read EVERY single book that she puts out. And this one? Oh, this one sounds AMAZING! More than Amazing. A girl named BLUE who has a CLAIRVOYANT MOTHER. A group of hot brothers known as The Raven Boys?? Sounds like trouble, but oh so good trouble. 

What are you waiting for?? Is this on your TBR list as well? No? Oh, well then ADD IT! =D

Forever, by Maggie Stiefvater

Forever, by Maggie Stiefvater
(The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3)
Author Info: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Youtube
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Hardcover: 386 pages
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 6 days
Source: Giveaway
Challenge: Off the Shelf, TBR Pile, Book Blogger Recommendation,
Rating: ★★★★
To learn more about my rating badges, click here!

In Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

 I've been dying to read this since I finished Linger. I won my copy from Ashley (from What's Your Story?) not long after it came out, and even though I wanted to read it as soon as it came in the mail, I was afraid to! I didn't want this trilogy to end. I didn't want to say goodbye to Grace and Sam. This is one of my top favorite young adult series.

Even though I'm happy with how Forever ended, I still wish there were another book in the series. I'd love to know what happens after this. After everything they've went to with their relationship and the wolves.

This series is so beautifully written, and so beautifully described and so real, that I just didn't want this to end. I cried so hard after I read the last line and realized there wasn't another chapter. I could of swore there was!

Maggie is a fantastic author, I will definitely be getting my hands on her other books as soon as possible. I really need to catch up and read The Scorpio Races. I'm so inspired by her writing. It both inspires me, AND makes me want to chuck all my writing and curl into a ball. Her descriptions are amazing and just so..poetic. Her writing truly is beautiful. At least what I've read of it. The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy is.

I'm not going to say much about anything with this book because it's the last in a trilogy and I don't want to give away any spoilers to those who decide to read this review before starting the series. So I'm just going to say that the characters are amazing. Even those who annoy you. Cole annoyed me so bad in Linger, but I loved him. I'm glad I got to learn more about him and read more from his point-of-view in this one. Also, Isabel. =) She really made me mad in the first book half the time, but she's become on of my favorite characters.

And you can't forget about Sam. Oh, Sam. He's definitely my number one favorite. He's so sweet and caring and he'd rather take care of others, even Cole, than do things for himself. Things to make himself happy. He's definitely one of my top YA dream guys. *le sigh*

Overall, I'm sad it's over, but it was a really good book. I'm going to miss this world. If you haven't read the series yet, or you have read the first two books, but not Forever. READ THEM/IT! Now! It's a great series and the writing is beautiful. Maggie is definitely an idol of mine.

My reviews for the first two books in the trilogy:

                                

Waiting on Wednesday #15

Waiting on Wednsday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking The Spine.

WOW spotlights upcoming releases that you are dying to read and can't wait to get your hands on!

Note: All my links go to Goodreads, the author's website, and the publisher's website.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: October 18, 2011

Pre-Order: Amazon

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

Do I really have to explain this one? It's Maggie Stiefvater. End of story.

What are YOU dying to get your hands on this Wednesday??

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

 Linger by Maggie Steifvater


Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls, book #2
Read my review of Shiver. 
Next book in series: Forever
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Hardcover: 360 Pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Source: Own
Challenge: A-Z Challenge, Off the Shelf, Book Blogger Recommendation, 350 Page
Overall: 5/5

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, inLinger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.
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.

First Paragraph: This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one. 

Oh. My. Gosh. I don't even know what to say! And how many times have you seen me say that on this blog? Ha ha. I just finished Linger about ten minutes ago. I cannot believe the ending! I want to scream! My mind cannot wrap around all of this. I really wish I had Forever in my hands right now. This is going to bug me until I finally do get to read it. 


Maggie Stiefvater has done it again. Linger was amazing. Not as good as Shiver, but almost! Still five stars. The writing in this sequel was beautiful and lyrical just like the first, but has a little bit more of a darker edge. 


And just like the first novel you are able to get in the heads of Sam and Grace, but they aren't the only ones this time around! You are able to get into Isabel's head and a new character, Cole. I enjoyed reading Isabel's point of view and Cole's, as well! I have loved Isabel from the beginning, she's among my favorite characters. At first I didn't like Cole very much, but I definitely do now! I was able to get to know him a lot throughout the book. 


I can't wait for Forever! The ending left with a huge cliffhanger! VERY huge! I NEED to know what happens. I cried at the end for Sam and Grace. Fate is against them, but they aren't ready to give up! It's so tragic and beautiful and it leaves you breathless. 


Overall, this was amazing and is definitely my favorite wolf series out there. 

Cover: Just as amazing as the first. :)

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!