Review Detail

My Thoughts:

Shiver has definitely made the list as one of my favorite books.

Shiver is one of the few books that left me absolutely speechless (not to mention bawling my eyes out). I was completely attached to the characters practically right off the bat. Grace is a girl that seems, on the outside, to lead a totally normal life. However, her parents, though alive, are never around. This has forced Grace to grow up and take responsibility for herself. One of her only comforts is the pack of wolves that live in the forest behind her house. She is a likable character that I wouldnt mind having a cup of coffee with, in the least.

Sam, oh Sam. Sa-woooon. Stupid in love? Check. Dark and mysterious? Check. Works at a bookstore? Check. Writes music? Check. Where do I sign up for one of those? Sam is a tortured soul that is forced to harbor a dark secret, even from Grace, in the beginning.

The pair are totally in love and completely dynamic. The chemistry between Grace and Sam left me wholly unaware that there were other characters in the book until those characters threatened what Grace and Sam had.

When I was forced to notice the other characters, it was easy to see that, while not as close to my heart as Grace and Sam, they too were dynamic. Graces group of friends acted like a real group of teenagers, while Sams pack behaved with the world-weariness and volatility you would expect.

Maggies writing style, whether in Shiver, Lament, or Ballad, always draws me in.
I love the dual points-of-view in Shiver, and not just how refreshing it is, but that there is an actual purpose to it. In my opinion, the emotions, memories, and ideas conveyed by both Grace and Sam would not have hit home as hard if Shiver had been written entirely in third person.

The Verdict:

Maggie Stiefvater draws you in the a no-nonsense quick start and sinks her claws in. There is no getting out of this story, even after the last page.