When I heard there was going to be a companion novel to the Wolves of Mercy series, I was ecstatic. I absolutely love this series with its fabulous writing and characters. After being disappointed by so many series finales this year, I really hoped Sinner would be just as good as the other books in the Wolves of Mercy series. And it is. Many thanks to Scholastic and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

Description: Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

Review: Sinner is light on the paranormal, but fully concentrated on the nuisance of human relationships. Readers familiar with the Wolves of Mercy series know that Cole St. Clair is the bad-boy frontman of the band NARKOTIKA. He had it all: good looks, stardom, money, women until it went all wrong when he began spiraling down a self destructive path and for many people disappeared on the face of the Earth. Now the prodigal musician returns to LA and the spotlight. He is determined to live a clean life, a chance at redemption, and perhaps a chance at love and happiness with Isabel Culpeper.
  As Cole tries to reinvent himself he is pursued by reality queen Baby North of SharpT33th.com who wants to chronicle Cole's possible comeback or failure on her reality show as he produces his first album since the band's demise. In order to accept his past and move forward, Cole must deal with the skeletons lurking in his closet. I know many readers have complained about the inclusion of a reality show, but I thought this metaphor for Cole fit beautifully. Cole has always been an enigma to me. He has two separate personalities, one on the stage with fake pretense, oozing confidence and charm and the second real version of a frightened, lost, vulnerable boy. Stiefvater plays with both aspects of his personality really well. I really wished we had a soundtrack that went along with this book since music plays a huge part of
  Similarly Isabel Culpeper one who can be easily classified as an ice queen with her cold personality, becomes a three dimensional character once we see past her rough exterior. She, too, is trying to come to terms with her demons, grief and a nasty parent divorce. She rages to be heard and seen, terrified of opening herself up to Cole who can so easily win and break her heart. In order to heal, they both must reflect on what truly matters in life and whether or not they are worthy of happiness and love. Stiefvater's worthy companion novel to the "Wolves of Mercy Falls" series is brilliantly written. Her characters and their plight come to life. The alternating chapters from Cole's and Isabel's points of view not only drive the plot, but also capture the intensity and vulnerability of these deep, but flawed, characters. This powerful and compelling story is certain to be a hit with fans of the series and bring new readers who have yet to discover this fabulous series.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, underage drinking and drug use as well as allusion to sex. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Lament by Maggie Stiefvater, Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, Dark Divine by Bree Despain

  Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls is my leading favorite YA werewolves series. What sets this series apart, in my opinion, is that it moves beyond the werewolf and human relationship and delves into the various aspects of our humanity. I highly anticipated Forever's arrival this year as I loved the previous two books, Shiver and Linger, and I was not disappointed at all. This review may contain spoilers for Shiver and Linger only.

Description (From Goodreads): 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.


Review: Forever is a poignant, beautiful, heartbreaking, and an incredible climax to Maggie Stiefvater's werewolf trilogy. I was looking for something close to a happy ending for characters that have suffered a lot in the previous books, but I discovered something even better and powerful: a novel full of hope and an extremely captivating book that I didn't want to end.
   Maggie Stiefvater's writing is fabulous. She is unbelievably gifted in creating scenes and especially emotions in such pitch perfect yet simple phrases that makes the reader ride on an emotional roller-coaster. I get so immersed in her world that I find it hard to imagine these characters don't exist in real life. The internal struggles of the characters only add to this depth and tug at your heart strings.
  Unlike many other paranormal romances that I've read, the Wolves of Mercy Falls is a series that is driven by first and foremost by its characters. I fell in love with Grace and Sam's relationship in Shiver, I wanted Isabel to find healing in Linger, and I couldn't help but by smitten by the reckless and snarky rock star that is Cole St. Clair.
  Stiefvater doesn't shy away from putting her characters through strife in her books. Emotions are raw, real, and gritty. There's no sugarcoating. People just don't die in order to move the plot along or build suspense, but they leave a residue for the remaining characters, who grieve and search for healing.
  There isn't much of a plot in Forever.  The book begins right where Linger leaves off: Grace is a werewolf for half of the book, and Sam misses her desperately. Isabel is depressed, though she won't admit it to anyone, let alone herself. And all the while, the threat of Tom Culpeper and his desire to get rid of all the wolves is looming. What drives the plot forward and builds nail biting suspense is the fact that Tom Culpeper actually gets his wish: the government comes in to stage a massive hunt to exterminate all the wolves in Mercy Falls, meaning everyone from Beck to Grace are all in danger. So Sam and Cole must come up with a plan to save the wolves before they're all murdered.
  The magic of this series is the development of the various relationships. The devotion and love between Sam and Grace, who have fought so hard for their love, the romantic tension between Cole and Isabel, and surprisingly, the budding friendship between Sam and Cole. I love the fact that all of these characters are not one dimensional. They are severely wounded from their own tragic pasts. In a way, I think Stiefvater uses the wolf as an allegory for the inner demons these characters are fighting to either control and in some cases accept and move on. Amazingly, characters who are neglected by their birth families, either by choice or by fate, they manage to to find solace in one another and creating a community of their own. 
  In midst of the angst, pain, and self discovery, there is an abundance of romance. There are short glimpses of the affection between Sam and Grace that maybe might have made me almost cry once or twice. And every time Cole and Isabel are together, you just feel the collision of personalities and the crackle of sexual tension. 
     I sobbed in Shiver and Linger for different reasons. In Forever, I really thought I would finish the book dry eyed, but that was before I reached the last few chapters of the book and they just seemed to pour out of me. I know many people were disappointed with the book's ending, but I really don't think it could have ended any other way. We are given clues as to what happens next, but most importantly a feeling of hope that our characters will be just fine.

Rating: 5 stars


Words of Caution: There is some language, a couple of allusions to sex, and a few violent scenes. Recommended for Grades


If you like this book try: Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer, Trail by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

   I read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater last year and I absolutely loved it. When the book ended and my tears have dried, I didn't want to say good bye to the characters and hoped for a sequel. I was rewarded when I found out that Shiver is actually part of a trilogy called the Wolves of Mercy. I had to wait patiently until July 2010 for Linger, however, I was worried about the happiness of the main couple, Grace and Sam, knowing full well they would face some obstacles in the next book.
  Needless to say that when I got my own copy of Linger in the mail, I was excited. I wanted to read it right away, but then later changed my mind in reading it slowly and savoring it. I still finished it in a couple of days, because I just had to know how it ended. Linger is fabulous and I absolutely loved it! As soon as I finished the last page, I wanted to reread it again. There is no doubt that I will reread it again when the final book, Forever, comes out next July. Those who loved Shiver as much as I did will surely love Linger. Those who thought Shiver was okay, may not like Linger because it is like its title suggests slower pacing and not much action until the very last chapters.

Description: In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means leaving her good daughter reputation behind and parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his past and believing that his current state isn't a cruel joke, but most of all, figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix is Cole, whose own dark past has the potential to destroy the only family that Sam knows. And Isabelle, who is still struggling to cope with the death of her brother and is irresistibly drawn to Cole. Linger is a story of love, in all of its forms, and humanity.

Review: I loved Linger a little more than I loved Shiver, mainly because this sequel is much more complex than the first book. Though there is some recap in Linger, you really need to read Shiver first to appreciate Grace and Sam's relationship. 
    Linger is told in four alternating voices: Grace and Sam, which were introduced in Shiver as well as a new character, Cole, and Isabel, who moves from a supporting character to a main character. Although the points of view jumps in the story, I felt each of the characters had distinct voices, personalities, and held their own throughout the entire book. While this may seem at bit confusing to some, I found it very easy to distinguish and hear each character in my head.
  Steifvater's writing is excellent, beautiful, haunting, lyrical, and magical. She has the true talent of evoking such strong emotions of out her characters as well as from her readers. While reading, I could sense the character's vulnerabilities, their quiet waves of happiness, and their struggle to just hold on. What I love about this series is that none of the characters are perfect. They are all flawed in their own ways. Like Shiver, I was in tears in some places and had to reread several passages because they were just so beautiful. There are some scenes such as Cole and the deer that stayed with me long after I finished the book. 
  I also enjoyed reading from four different perspectives. Though the story revolves around Sam and Grace, it is nice to hear from Cole and Isabel who are also struggling with the same issues of guilt, love, and whether or not to embrace humanity. Isabel and Cole are interesting characters that compliment one another well. I found Cole to be complex yet at times frustrating, but I wanted to know more about him. 
  Although the pace of Linger is very slow, I didn't mind it at all. Actually, I was more interested on how all of these characters interacted with one another and how they grew. There were also lots of foreshadowing on how Linger ends, but I had to watch and read how everything unfolds. I still have questions and I'm a bit frustrated on the cliffhanger ending, but that is what makes a great sequel. Now I have to wait another year to find out how it all ends. Linger proves that this story is beyond a magnificent paranormal romance. It is a story about the complexities of love and humanity.



Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and hints of sexual innuendo. There is also references to drugs and alcohol use.

If you like this book try: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain