Maggie Stiefvater
Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 1)
Scholastic (US: 1st August 2009; UK: 5th October 2009)
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Sam Roth is struggling to remain in human form. When winter comes, he’ll change into a wolf and stay that way forever. After six years, Grace Brisbane has finally connected with him, and she can’t stand to let him go. And so begins a final desperate attempt to find a cure.
Maggie Stiefvater has put enormous thought into her werewolves, eclipsing in my mind Kelley Armstrong’s, who’ve been my mainstay for so long. The romance doesn’t work for me, and neither does the poetry, but I’m right-brained and clearly not creative.
Also, what is up with all the shoddy parenting? After what happened to Grace as a child, her parents should’ve glued themselves to her – it’s the logical reaction. Instead, they pull further away. A plot device to get the adults out of the picture so Grace and Sam can sleep together every night? And Grace goes on about how her parents just don’t want to be with her, but when her mother reaches out to her, Grace rejects her and sticks with Sam. She claims it’s too little too late, but her mum was trying to meet her halfway, and Grace just stuck up her nose. If you want attention, don’t be a bitch when you finally get it – just take what you can get.
As for Sam’s parents…it’s heartbreaking, of course. As for his adopted family of wolves…there’s some effed-up shiz there. Why he became a werewolf. How his irises have been yellow since birth (Logical Brain says no). Shelby – jealous wannabe-lover plots just don’t work for me; too over the top. Paul’s an intriguing character, though, and I’d like to learn more about the latest batch of wolves.
Isabel’s parents have issues, too. Her dad is a trigger happy gun nut, as are others in Mercy Falls, including Grace’s dad. I’m very anti-guns, or at least against citizens who use them, and this novel does nothing to dispel the stereotype/myth that America’s gun laws are rather free-range. Isabel’s mum works in a clinic for the disadvantaged, and there clearly isn’t any security going on in there.
The characters may not ring true, and some things seem rather convenient, but there’s no denying that Shiver is one hell of a page-turner, an addictive read. Linger’s July release can’t come soon enough.
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