Review: Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1), by Maggie

Shiver
By Maggie Stiefvater
Publication Date: August 1st, 2009 (Scholastic Press)
Hardcover, 392 pages
Genre: Fantasy; Romance; Paranormal; Supernatural; YA
Source: Library

DESCRIPTION:

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.

Sam has lived to 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.

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.

—from goodreads.com

REVEIW:

Shiver started off slow, as most books to, but it was so painstakingly slow and so in depth detail-and-imagery-wise that I wanted to blow my brains out by page 35 and give up on reading it.  However, if you can get past page 50, you're in luck because it gets much better. :)

The main character's "friends," Olivia and Rachel were really annoying and didn't really have elements to their character. They were just hose friends-who-aren't-friends-percieved-as-the-typical-highschool-girl's-best-friends.

Grace, the main character, is obsessed with the wolves living in the woods behind her house after she is mauled by them (that's a little...strange. I guess we love the things that nearly kill us). I found Grace relatable at the beginning of the story. I don't know why. Perhaps because she's characterized as this introverted and strange outsider. I say I found her relatable at the beginning of the story because she changed after Sam, the love interest, came into her life, and after that I didn't like her.

All of the characters changed after Sam came into the book as a human. Grace's character became watered down, and she faded toward that Seventh Circle of Hell for unbelievable characters. It was like Hush, Hush, or Twilight, or Jace and Clary in The Mortal Instruments series: after the love interest of the main character is introduced, the characters lose personality and the book seems to SUPERFICIALLY circle more around the depth of the "relationship" rather than the way the two characters in that relationship change. How can you make a relationship deep without highlighting character personality changes and making other characteristics bolder? You can't. That said, the romance in the book was the typical cuddle-in-bed-together-steamy-make-out-sessions, without any real personality.

Sam's character was watered down also, but he never really seemed to have a solid personality anyway. A bit of his background is given, horrible things meant to make the reader pity him, and it works. I feel awful for him. Sam's background stories were groundbreaking-earth-shattering, whatever you wish to call it, and wholly satisfying, but his character was just flat somehow, which was really disappointing after reading his powerful life story. :(

Olivia and Rachel's characters improved, I'm proud to say. :) 

Isabel (another supporting character) improved also. Through the whole book Isabel was mean, but there were little nuggets in there where she could be sympathized with an even adored. If I had to choose my favorite character, it would be her. She's just so determined, resourceful, and intelligent even though her striking beauty would make you believe she's stupid.

The plot was fresh and captivating, and the ideas that made the plot up weren't overly imaginative. They were just right. :)

I just LOVE Maggie Stiefvater's writing style! It's so poetic and lyrical and descriptive, and although the style draws on the story and makes it slow in the beginning, her style adds to the middle and end.

The ending—it was cute. Truly. Well, actually the ending was suspenseful, then tense, then sad, then happy, the cute. A rainbow of emotions. However, not all of the characters get their way...

RATING: