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Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #2)

by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads Author)

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 68,717 ratings · 6,352 reviews

The astonishing #1 New York Times bestseller.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, 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 i...more

Hardcover, 360 pages

Published July 13th 2010 by Scholastic Press

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Aug 17, 2010 Janina rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, romance, read-in-2010, paranormal, alternating-pov, cliffhanger, music, not-for-me, given-away, series-lost-interest

Hm. When this book arrived, I wasn't so sure if I should read it right away or if it would be better to wait for the final book of the trilogy, Forever, to be available. In the end, I was simply too curious ;).
But a small warning: This book ends on a major cliffhanger.

Altogether, the book wasn't bad - rather slow, though - but it was one of those sequels that wouldn't really have been necessary in my opinion.
While I wasn't totally ecstatic about Shiver, I definitely would have remembered it as...more Hm. When this book arrived, I wasn't so sure if I should read it right away or if it would be better to wait for the final book of the trilogy, Forever, to be available. In the end, I was simply too curious ;).
But a small warning: This book ends on a major cliffhanger.

Altogether, the book wasn't bad - rather slow, though - but it was one of those sequels that wouldn't really have been necessary in my opinion.
While I wasn't totally ecstatic about Shiver, I definitely would have remembered it as a beautifully written stand-alone book with an ending that made me hope for a better future for the two main characters. It didn't need a sequel.

Now, in Linger, the whole story seems to move backward instead of forward: Grace suddenly feels sick, and it is indicated that she can't escape her destiny to be a wolf much longer (Seriously, why exactly now?). Sam struggles with his new-found life and also with the young wolves Beck has brought with him from Canada.
The only aspect that added something new was the introduction of Isabel's and Cole's point of view, which made the story more fresh and interesting.
I already liked Isabel in Shiver and although Cole is a rather uncomfortable character, making those close to him suffer with his self-destructive beheaviour, I couldn't help but like him as well.

What really infuriated me though were Grace's parents. They suddenly get the idea that they should keep an eye on their teenage daughter because her boyfriend is clearly having a bad influence on her. Sure. And they do it in exactly the way that makes children hate their parents for not taking them seriously. I'm really not sure why they behaved the way they did - maybe there will be an explanation in the next book - but to me, it felt like a rather weak plot device to make Grace and Sam's relationship more difficult and add a forbidden flavour.

All in all, I couldn't shake the feeling that some of the conflicts here were only created to have something to write about, therefore only three stars from me.
But I have to admit that I'm going to read Forever nevertheless (I suppose a normal reaction concerning that cliffhanger), I simply want to know how the story progresses.

Edit: I've decided to remove a star here. Now that it's been a while, my curiosity to read the sequel has diminished and I'm actually not the slightest bit interested in the story anymore. I think Grace's and Sam's relationship - and let's face it, that's the only thing these books are about - has never really resonated with me.
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51 likes · like · see review

May 28, 2012 Morgan F rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, series, werewolves, 2010, goodreads-author, own, multiple, romance, read-2010, medium-sized, read-2012, re-read

It's about time I write this review.

I wasn't blown away by Shiver, but that doesn't mean I wasn't eagerly waiting for Linger. I seem to be in the minority here, but I liked Linger more than I did Shiver.

I still don't understand Sam though. I've decided not call him gay anymore, because he makes it abundantly clear that he loves Grace. So instead, I will just call him feminine. I mean this boy
1. bakes bread
2. reads German poetry
3. writes sappy love songs
4. cooks
5. folds paper
6. is sensitive (ak...more It's about time I write this review.

I wasn't blown away by Shiver, but that doesn't mean I wasn't eagerly waiting for Linger. I seem to be in the minority here, but I liked Linger more than I did Shiver.

I still don't understand Sam though. I've decided not call him gay anymore, because he makes it abundantly clear that he loves Grace. So instead, I will just call him feminine. I mean this boy
1. bakes bread
2. reads German poetry
3. writes sappy love songs
4. cooks
5. folds paper
6. is sensitive (aka moody). And not in the sexy-never-know-what-hes gonna-do way, but in the oh-no-hes-crying-again way.
Seriously, this boy would get eaten alive in any high school. I still like Grace though. She's neat. Smart and savvy.

But I am glad its not just those two anymore. If I had to read another 350 paged sappy lovefest between those two, I wouldn't be able to take it. So I'm glad for the new POV of Isabel and Cole. I've always liked Isabel. She's ballsy but not invulnerable. I like how she isn't portayed as perfect. And then there's Cole....I won't even try to hide the crush I have on him. *shrugs* I have a thing for damaged rock stars. It was interesting to see the whole situation through their eyes. It kept the story fresh, and I didn't get confused when ever there was a shift in perspective. And I don't care much about Isabel and Cole as a couple. That's not really necessary.

And of course I was pissed at the parents. Not because they did what did in itself, but because they did it without precedent. Its kinda like when my mother let my dog run around the yard just after installing the electric fence. My dog was running around, not a care in the world, unaware that a few feet away was an underground wire that would shock her if she came near it. My dog was not aware that the boundry existed, which is why it was made all the more cruel when she got zapped.

The writing, as usual, was good. There is something so delicate about it that sets the mood for the story. The story would be absolutely suckish if the writing wasn't so good, which is probably why I was able to tolerate the slow pace.

So I liked it, and definitely have a few questions. Forever needs to come NOW. (less)

55 likes · like · see review

Jul 24, 2010 Amelia, the pragmatic idealist rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, ya-kids-teen, scholastic, own, paranormal

While reading Linger, I kept thinking, "Wow, I really like this. This is awesome. But I still like Shiver better..." And I kept that sentiment up until the last few chapters. Then it ended. And now, I have to say that I like both books EQUALLY. I agree, Linger's ending isn't entirely out of the blue, and I actually had my suspicions that the story *would* end "that way," but my reading experience was still enjoyable and engrossing.

I do think it's fair to say that the tones of Linger and Shiver a...more

21 likes · like · see review

Jul 25, 2011 Maja rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, werewhatevers, readalong, favorites, glistening-fangs, made-me-cry, male-pov, role-models, amazing-writing, reviewed-in-2011, books-with-soundtracks, own-a-dtb

5.5 stars

You know that feeling when you’re floating on water? All your senses are dampened, you are weightless, careless and completely relaxed. There aren’t any loud sounds, you are safe, perfectly happy and everything else seems a mile away... That’s EXACTLY how Maggie Stiefvater’s writing makes me feel. I want to hug this book and never ever let it out of my sight.

Grace and Sam are finally together, but they live in fear. They are constantly afraid that things will go back to the way they we...more 5.5 stars

You know that feeling when you’re floating on water? All your senses are dampened, you are weightless, careless and completely relaxed. There aren’t any loud sounds, you are safe, perfectly happy and everything else seems a mile away... That’s EXACTLY how Maggie Stiefvater’s writing makes me feel. I want to hug this book and never ever let it out of my sight.

Grace and Sam are finally together, but they live in fear. They are constantly afraid that things will go back to the way they were before, and unfortunately, it’s not something either of them can control. There are several new wolves in the woods and it’s up to Sam to take care of them all now – the old and the new. In addition, Grace’s parents finally started noticing things and decided to start honing their parenting skills.

Linger brings us two additional POVs. We get to see some of the events through the eyes of Isabel, to whom we were introduced in Shiver, and Cole, one of the new wolves. The two of them are so very different from Sam and Grace and having four POVs instead of two brought amazing balance to the story. While this would certainly bother me in Shiver, I was thrilled by it now.
That doesn’t mean that I like Grace and Sam any less. In fact, if I had feelings for those characters before, it was nothing compared to how I feel about them now. They are both beautiful and strong in their own way. I’ve noticed that my favorite quotes usually come from Sam’s chapters, although Grace has her moments, too. There’s a reason for that, of course. Sam is just the type of gentle soul I can start loving in a heartbeat, and after all, he’s supposed to be good with words. There isn’t a character in YA literature I could ever love more than I love Sam. A look in his eyes is all it takes to make me cry!

I did my best to find a flaw in Linger – this may sound odd, but I wanted to have at least one small thing to complain about because I thought it would add credibility to the rest of my review. I tried my best and failed miserably. Oh, I’ve read my friends’ reviews but I simply don’t agree with any of them. The first half was not slow for me, it was soft and beautiful. Isabel and Cole weren’t irritating, they were troubled and interesting. The prose wasn’t purple, it was… I already said that, didn’t I? I could go on and on for days, but it wouldn’t do much good. This is the second book in a series that needs to be read in order. If you liked Shiver, you are going to like Linger too, I have no doubt about it.
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28 likes · like · see review

Aug 24, 2010 Phoebe added it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'll admit--my biggest problem with Linger is likely irreparable. Because I truly believe, from the bottom of my heart, that this book, sequel to the phenomenal paranormal love story Shiver, should not exist.

Shiver told a complete story. And though it had its flaws--slight, largely inconsequential and hardly detracting from its poetic style and heartfelt romance--the concluding reunion of its two narrative characters, Grace and Sam, was an emotionally satisfying conclusion if I ever read one. Th...more

13 likes · like · see review

Jul 28, 2011 Lora rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: g-ya-paranorm, favorites, series-still-follow

In the second installment to the Wolves of Mercy Falls series: Sam is having trouble believing in his cure, Grace is acting strangely and feeling like she doesn't fit into her own skin anymore, and a new wolf is in Mercy Falls: Cole, the once lead singer of a popular rock band, NARKOTIKA, is dealing with the issues of straddling the line between man and wolf. But honestly? He'd rather stay a wolf than deal with the problems that come with being human.
Meanwhile, Isabel, the girl who had to deal w...more

14 likes · like · see review

Oct 02, 2010 Jasmin rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA romance readers

Shelves: contemporary-romance, contemporary, fiction, paranormal, paranormal-romance, romance, reviewed-by-me, werewolves, young-adult, two-stars

Maggie Stiefvater has a divine way with words. She describes things in vivid detail that had the ability to enchant anyone. She concocts beautiful colloquies that leaves the reader in raptures.

I am a reader.

So why the hell am I giving the book Linger, which was written by an exceptionally talented Maggie Stiefvater, two stars if I'm all praises at her writing?

What the hell went wrong?

Well, I honestly don't know either, but despite the writing being lyrical as most goodread users put it, the book...more

42 likes · like · see review

Sep 18, 2011 Kira rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: awesome-ya, favorites, ya, werewolves

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Let me start by saying that Shiver was something of a rollercoaster ride for me. And no, not because I threw up all over the place. And no, not because I had to be a certain height to read it. And no, not because once it was over in a matter of seconds, I felt drunk and cheated out of my thirty dollars and three hours in line.

It was because reviewing it broke my back. I wanted to say that I didn't like it, because I came this close to putting it down and not picking it back up again. The middle...more

20 likes · like · see review

Feb 27, 2011 Riv rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2nd-of-series, reviewed, favorites

Originally posted at: rivreads.blogspot.com

I was a little tentative to start Linger because of the multiple points of view. As you know, instead of Shiver's two characters-Grace and Sam-we have four; the original two along with Isabel and Cole.

I felt like the plot buildup was a little slow. It started out awesome; I had high expectations. Then something happened that made me really excited, but then it died down again very quickly. The main problem was something wrong with Grace, and I felt like...more Originally posted at: rivreads.blogspot.com

I was a little tentative to start Linger because of the multiple points of view. As you know, instead of Shiver's two characters-Grace and Sam-we have four; the original two along with Isabel and Cole.

I felt like the plot buildup was a little slow. It started out awesome; I had high expectations. Then something happened that made me really excited, but then it died down again very quickly. The main problem was something wrong with Grace, and I felt like this problem wasn't emphasized as much as it should be. This could be done on-purpose, but I felt like I was ignoring it, just to find out it was the main problem.
Instead, I found myself focusing on Sam and his problem with Cole, which didn't turn out the way I expected it to. Look to the right for a line graph I made on the buildup.
On to Cole. He surprised me. He started off as this obnoxious kid, doing idiotic things and being an overall jerk. But...he was really intelligent. The intelligence doesn't seem to fit with the image I have of him; and I don't like it. It's fun to watch him not be a jerk though, like with Isabel...
Which brings me to the romance. In Shiver, Sam wanted to stay human so he could be with Grace; the romance was a key part of the book. In Linger, I felt like the romance wasn't emphasized like it was supposed to be. There was no "I love you" and only a bit of "I miss you" when Grace and Sam weren't together. There was also very little kissing between the two. This brings us to the Cole-Isabel relationship. I was led to believe that there was something there but...there wasn't.
One of my favorite parts of the book was when Cole showed some of his genius and came up with a theory about the werewolves. It put a whole twist on the generic idea of why werewolves (or at least these werewolves) are the way they are. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this part.
Overall, I think Shiver was better, but I enjoyed Linger too. I loved the ending, and now I'm dying for Forever. You may have heard "I now have to wait forever for Forever" so I'm going to spare you the cheesy lines. It was good. I look forward to Forever. I'm the type that when I finish a good book, I'm excited for the next because I liked it. But after a while, that initial desire fades a bit and my thoughts change to "I'm excited because I know I liked it." I know that I know that I want it. After reading Shiver, I felt this way about Linger; the initial desire is slowly fading as I await book 3. I hope you enjoyed the review, and weren't annoyed by the length.

OVERALL RATING: ****/ 4 and a half stars, but because I'm prejudice nice, I'll give it 5.

A little added bit:
In Shiver, I was hoping that Sam would go visit his parents in jail. He didn't. When I received Linger, I was looking forward to possibly meeting his parents. He didn't go to them, which left me with a feeling of disappointment. I doubt any of you are like this, but I was looking forward to meeting Mr. and Mrs. Roth. I sincerely hope that Maggie Stiefvater brings them into the picture in the final book.
One thing that irritated me immensely was Maggie's overuse of a certain character trait and plot developer.
Isabel and Cole had many heartfelt discussions. Every time, the character whose point of view it is does something like, "I wondered why I was telling him/her everything. It was because I knew s/he wouldn't care."
Every time they spoke, whoever was telling had the same thought: I'm doing it because Cole/Isabel doesn't care anyways, and won't feel bad for me.
Once or twice this is fine, but it got increasingly annoying as the book progressed.
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Aug 11, 2010 Linda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. After pretty much loving Shiver despite its flaws like the lack of plot and the bleeding-womb-incident, I was really looking forward to Linger. Well, I really hate to say it, but I did not love Linger. I tried to love it, but sadly, I just don’t. And here is why:

1. Plot
I did not care for the plot, or rather, the lack thereof. What little mystery and suspense there could have been never even gets a chance due to the spoilery prologue, that pretty much sums up the whole book. What Shiver lacked i...more After pretty much loving Shiver despite its flaws like the lack of plot and the bleeding-womb-incident, I was really looking forward to Linger. Well, I really hate to say it, but I did not love Linger. I tried to love it, but sadly, I just don’t. And here is why:

1. Plot
I did not care for the plot, or rather, the lack thereof. What little mystery and suspense there could have been never even gets a chance due to the spoilery prologue, that pretty much sums up the whole book. What Shiver lacked in plot it made up in mood and the ever present countdown in form of the dropping temperature. Linger, sadly, had nothing that managed to make up for the nonexistent plot.

2. The parents
I had no problem, with the portrayal of Grace’s parents in Shiver. Of course it was a little too convenient for them to always be absent, but let’s face it: parents like that do exist.
What I did not get was, why they suddenly disapproved of Grace’s and Sam’s relationship. In Shiver Grace’s father seemed relieved that she (finally) had a boyfriend and now he is against their relationship? Why? Would he rather his daughter had a new boyfriend every other week? And Grace’s mother loved Sam in Shiver. She even had this scene with him, where she identifies him as the one in a million that would choose love over lust. And they definitely bond over the arts. And now she is all “You’re in lust”? I don’t get it. If you put all the other parents in the mix, you really have to wonder if Mercy Falls is a shelter for abused and neglected teens. There was no sane or capable parent anywhere around and after a while that just gets old.

3. The obsession
There is a thin line between love and obsession and in my opinion Linger came out on the obsession side far too often. In Shiver it was sweet, in Linger it was bordering creepy sometimes. It would be sweet when they missed each other while falling asleep. But the fact that Sam has to roam the house at night when Grace is not with him strikes me as pathological. There is also one passage when Cole is narrating where he mentions, how they both light up, when the other one is around. It’s almost as if the can’t cope with life without the other one, even if it is for two days, and that is just sad, not romantic.
The worst part was, when they both totally ignore the fact that Grace is getting worse and worse and refuse to talk about what this could mean. When they finally take actions it is almost too late and even then it took Isabel telling Sam to finally man up, before anything happened. That in itself is so immature that I have a hard time taking them seriously when they talk about college, let alone marriage.

4. Ending
The last thirty or so pages of Shiver I cried my eyes out. Here: nothing. We all new, what would happen in the end, so maybe that ruined it. Or maybe it was the whole hospital-weirdness: How one minute Grace is surrounded by like twenty members of the hospital staff and just in the moment when they figure out the problem she is alone in her room, while bleeding to death? Really? And the way Cole came up with the totally new werewolf lore practically out of nowhere? The worst part was, when they lifted Grace out of the window. Wouldn’t she be like hooked up to lots of machines that would go off as soon as you detach her? And what person in their right mind, let alone a doctor, would believe that a dying, bloodless girl could escape the hospital on foot, her healthy boyfriend unable to stop her?
Another thing about the end that bothered me was that I distinctly remember Maggie Stiefvater stating, that she herself did not care for cliffhangers and would write her books in a way that they could be standalones, even when part of a series. Well, this was the cliffhangeryest cliffhanger since Catching Fire, let’s leave it at that.

There are still things I liked about Linger, which is why I still give it two stars. The writing was overall beautifully poetic and I still care about the characters. I hope Forever will bring the series to a satisfying conclusion.
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Feb 20, 2011 Joyzi rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Peeps who don't mind plotless novels

Recommended to Joyzi by: Maggie Stiefvater

Shelves: disappointing-books, e-book, ya-books, fiction, author-was-possessed, reviewed, don-t-judge-me, book-series, author-american, paranormal-romance

I can say that Maggie still showed her talent of writing beautifully in this novel, the way she wrote it was really really good that it made the book tolerable despite its flaws. The book for me was okay it could be amazing but my problem with the book was it's completely plotless, plotless, plotless, and it was also extremely slow in pace.

I think the last part of the book was the only one that makes sense that I thought finally that...okay, somehow it has a plot and probably I would still be re...more

13 likes · like · see review

Aug 03, 2010 Miss Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, 2010

This one barley made 4 stars for me...

Sadness. Despair. Hopelessness. Depression. Impending doom. This is the tone of the second book in Ms. Stievfater’s Mercy Falls series. I absolutely loved Shiver, but the tone of Linger just brought me down. I should have been able to read this in one or two days, but it took a week because I kept putting it down.

Sam and Grace are still the main focus in this story. Sam is no longer a wolf, and things should be great right? Wrong. Sam is conflicted about los...more

15 likes · like · see review

Aug 02, 2010 Arlene rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, read-2010, weres-shifters, street-corner-pick, ya-paranormal, young-adult

Rating Clarification: 3.5 Stars

Let me start off by saying that I did enjoy the book Linger … for the most part that is. Grace and Sam are definitely a likeable set of characters and the overall plot has a strong dose of intrigue to it. However, I found it a bit too slow paced for the first 300 pages or so as our main character suffered through headaches, fevers, bloody noses and fatigue waiting for the inevitable to occur.

The multiple POVs had me skeptical at first, and I think Stiefvater could...more

10 likes · like · see review

Aug 01, 2010 Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: five-stars, own-physical

There are certain books that inspire me so tremendously, so irrevocably, that I know these books fuel the flames of my passion for reading and writing. Shiver, and now Linger, have joined these ranks.

Linger is the sequel to Shiver, and continues the bittersweet story of Sam and Grace, two lovers who fight for the right to be together. Sam stays sorrowful in the absence of Grace and desperately tries to avoid his past. Grace grows weak and frightful, while her hopes of a future with Sam dissipate...more

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Oct 02, 2010 Katieb (MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-i-own, mundie-moms-review, 2010-100-book-challenge, books-i-own, signed

I laughed, I balled, and I felt every emotion possible as I read Linger. I was so captivated by it that I literally could not put the book down until I was done reading it. Once I was finished, I wanted to read it again. Linger is literally one of my favorite reads and one I will read again and again. I adore Maggie's writing and the in depth world and characters she has created. She's left me feeling torn between who I like more, Sam or Cole.

Linger is one of those rare books where the author al...more I laughed, I balled, and I felt every emotion possible as I read Linger. I was so captivated by it that I literally could not put the book down until I was done reading it. Once I was finished, I wanted to read it again. Linger is literally one of my favorite reads and one I will read again and again. I adore Maggie's writing and the in depth world and characters she has created. She's left me feeling torn between who I like more, Sam or Cole.

Linger is one of those rare books where the author allows you to not only become part of the main character's lives, but one where you get to become a part of the supporting characters lives as well. I really enjoyed Linger being from 4 different points of view, as that broadened the story a lot more me. I was able see all different sides of the story, and what each person and wolf is dealing with and how they change and grow by the end of the book. I liked seeing each of the characters through someone else's eyes and getting to know the character's own personal stories.

Not only are Grace and Sam's point of views ones that will leave you sighing at times and other times grabbing for a box of tissues, but Cole and Isabelle's point of views are both humorous and heart breaking. Isabelle had me laughing out loud when Cole provided me with understanding why those who turn may like being wolves, when Sam didn't. Cole brought more realism to the story. I wonder how many people wouldn't love a new chance at a different life, when the one life you were living, wasn't worth living any more. I liked seeing the different point of views on being a wolf with both Sam and Cole, as they both viewed it so differently. That's what made it more real for me.

Cole's character seemed to be such a pivotal one. I liked that he was the one who was there for Sam, when Sam couldn't stand him. Sam and Grace's relationship is amazing. I love their sweet moments together. I felt their joys and sorrows and if I say anything else, than I'll be spoiling the book, which is a little tempting as there's so many things to talk about. I will say that Sam and Grace both showed an inner strength at various times in the story that will pull at your heart. The ending may leave you yelling, crying and turning the pages hoping to find out what happens next, only to realize we have to wait for Forever's release.

Linger kept it's believability, which I really enjoyed. I think sometimes authors lose the chemistry and the draw they had for me in their first books, when they write their second books and then find it again in their third books. For me, Linger didn't lose that at all. It took what Shiver had and took it to the next level. Linger is a gripping, emotional roller coaster ride I didn't want to be done with when it came to an end. Now I'm left wondering what will happen to Grace, Cole and Sam in the next book. The ending left me very curious as to which direction Forever will take. (less)

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Apr 08, 2010 Kay Fraser rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: unreleased

How do you start the review of one of the best books you have ever read?
Do justice to it? I'll do my best.

Linger is the story of Sam, Grace, Isabel with the introduction of a new character to the mix Cole.

I don't believe in spoilers. I believe in telling people the reasons why this book is such a need for readers of the genre. Here it goes. Words describing what to expect.

Grace: Changing, Unpredictable, Strong, stoic, beautiful as ever, In pain, loving, considerate, and for the first time extre...more

11 likes · like · see review

Aug 15, 2010 Violet Sakura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: wolves-of-mercy-falls

This was the SADDEST book, I'd ever read, it was so sad, I wasn't even looking forward to finishing it, as I was already guessing that this was not going to end good. The book was so sad, that even little happy moments between Sam and Grace were shadowed by the atmosphere.
I think Maggie Stiefvater was in a VERY SAD mood while writing this book!!!
Poor Sam. I wn't the next book soon, so that I know, he and Grace are going to be OK...

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 28, 2011 Cory rated it 2 of 5 stars

I tried. I really did. I liked Isabel, but Grace and Sam were assholes.

If I'm ever bored, I might write a Sam/Isabel fic where she kicks his ass, he apologizes for being a whiny emo dipshit, and they get together like Embry and Leah, leaving Grace/Bella alone to ogle a puppy dog or something. But I doubt I'll ever get that bored.

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 03, 2012 Callista rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonurban-contemp-fantasy, four-star-novels, ya-paranormal-romance, werecreatures

This one definitely lives up to the promise of the first. It's a page-turner for sure, emotionally gripping. At times it felt to me as if there were a few too many point of view switches to get four characters' viewpoints in, but it made the picture more complex to add Isabel and Cole to the mix. Overall, it's still a better book than most of the other YA PNRs I've tried. The author employs some clever, poetic phrasing, descriptions and ways of looking at things that never would've occurred to m...more This one definitely lives up to the promise of the first. It's a page-turner for sure, emotionally gripping. At times it felt to me as if there were a few too many point of view switches to get four characters' viewpoints in, but it made the picture more complex to add Isabel and Cole to the mix. Overall, it's still a better book than most of the other YA PNRs I've tried. The author employs some clever, poetic phrasing, descriptions and ways of looking at things that never would've occurred to me. There are plenty of teenage angst and frustration, but somehow the emotions don't come off as melodramatic.
This time, it was Grace's predicament that was worse than Sam's, although he did plenty of suffering, too. Her self-absorbed parents finally got a clue; but while I'm usually against the kind of teenage rebellion Grace does, her parents are so annoying, so hypocritical, so too-little-too-late that I really disliked them and couldn't really blame Grace for doing what she did.
Sam was still too 'emo' at times, but he wasn't one-note. He let some of his less-nice qualities show when dealing with Cole and reacting to Grace's parents, and it was nice to see some backbone. The way the author depicts the scars of his emotional and physical trauma is vivid.
Isabel was snarky and crafty as usual and more damaged than ever. Rachel's dialogue is absolutely hilarious. It's nice to see a YA PRN in which a girl has actual friends. Isabel started out as more of a frenemy, but the further into the messy situation everyone gets, the more of an actual friend she becomes.
Cole was an interesting new development. That situation didn't go how I figured it would at all. He's already developing a growth arc. Additionally, with him, the author showed she could write a male character with more edge. I did wonder if Cole was set up as a deliberate contrast to Sam--they're both musical but one is emotionally deadened while the other is sensitive, one is a scoundrel and the other is a gentleman--or if there will be something more subtle going on in the third book.
My expectations for volume three are high.(less)

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Oct 20, 2011 Lissa added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, love-this-boy

Disappointed.

Nothing really happened.

Sam was far too self-centered. I know he was going through some shit because of what happened in the first book, but that's no reason not to notice your girlfriend, the supposed love of your life, is getting really sick.

Grace kept secrets from people for no reason and I don't buy her parents' sudden turnaround from absentee to actually giving a fuck and grounding her and checking up on her and making all these rules and boundaries, yet still being absent. And...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Nick rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I think there was only one part of this book where I thought I would rate it below a 5. It was a very small part. Obviously it's always difficult for a sequel to be as new and exciting as the first book, but despite the similarities in the story (Shiver: Sam = Wolf, Linger: Grace = Wolf) it was definitely...new and exciting. I think at times I enjoyed the Cole/Isabel (IsaCole or Colabel- I don't know) storyline even more than the Grace/Sam (Sace? Gram? Uggh, no.) but the Grace&Sam still felt...more I think there was only one part of this book where I thought I would rate it below a 5. It was a very small part. Obviously it's always difficult for a sequel to be as new and exciting as the first book, but despite the similarities in the story (Shiver: Sam = Wolf, Linger: Grace = Wolf) it was definitely...new and exciting. I think at times I enjoyed the Cole/Isabel (IsaCole or Colabel- I don't know) storyline even more than the Grace/Sam (Sace? Gram? Uggh, no.) but the Grace&Sam still felt more important. And can I just say, I'm not gay, but I would probably turn gay for Sam, even if just for the fact he pretty much on his own redeems guys in YA. He's my favourite male character in any book, mostly because he isn't the stereotypical "I'm nice, now I'm not nice but I have a good reason, then I tell you the reason and I'm nice again, then I push you away for no reason, then you cry, then we make out" kind of character. Just like Shiver, the writing in this book is poetic, incredible, whatever other word you want to use.

The ending felt just a tiny bit rushed with Cole, brilliant Cole just coming up with something off the top of his head. Would've like to see the clues add up a bit more throughout the story. Maybe they did and I just didn't see them. And if Cole isn't really shifting that much, doesn't that mean he's gonna die? Like soon?

Anyway, can't wait for Forever to see what's actually happening with Olivia since she was missing in this book.

Edit 17/7: I just got Forever, read the first couple of pages and realised I had forgotten alot of the story so I reread this book. It was even better.

In my first review I said it was rushed that Cole seemed to just come up with the answer on the spot. Apparently I am not nearly as smart as Cole because the clues were adding up all the way through the book (not sure how I missed that).

What I also noticed this time around was Isabel's dynamic with Sam. She has this semi-crush born out of admiration for him. Not even one that I think she will act on (maybe she does in Forever), but it seems like she can't help but recognise his goodness. That was realistic to me. Most books would make that very black and white, boring, how one person likes one person or there is a love triangle and that's it, but things are never that simple. Just another one of the unique things I love about Maggie Stiefvater's writing.(less)

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Jul 16, 2011 Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone

Shelves: could-not-put-it-down-books, favorites, read-more-than-once, favorite-series, love-the-audio

My second reading. This is a just a beautiful story. The writing is not like any book I have read. It is a bittersweet emotional wonderful read and maybe even more amazing than Shiver where I met Sam and Grace.

I am editing my original review because I have completed the trilogy and have read this for the second time. If anything I loved it more the second time. The writing in this book and the others in the trilogy is just so beautiful it was good to be able to savor it without mentally looking...more My second reading. This is a just a beautiful story. The writing is not like any book I have read. It is a bittersweet emotional wonderful read and maybe even more amazing than Shiver where I met Sam and Grace.

I am editing my original review because I have completed the trilogy and have read this for the second time. If anything I loved it more the second time. The writing in this book and the others in the trilogy is just so beautiful it was good to be able to savor it without mentally looking ahead to find out what was going to happen. In the first book, Shiver, Grace met and fell in love with Sam. In the summer he is Sam, the boy with the strange golden eyes. In the winter he is a wolf and part of the pack that lives in the woods behind her house. As a child she was attacked and bitten and Sam saved her. Linger continues their story with beautiful and terrible things happening to these two who have a sweet and innocent love. I can't say enough good about Maggie Stiefvater's writing. It's more than prose, almost like a song or poetry. I don't mean that literally, but you would have to read it to understand. I really didn't want new characters to come into this book nor did I particularly want more of Grace's irritating friend, Isobel. However, the addition of Cole, a new wolf with serious issues, brought in a wonderful (and sexy)complex character. I found the style of having a chapter in the first person by Grace and then a chapter by Sam in the first book easy to get used to. I was a little skeptical when I discovered Linger was going to expand this to four characters, but it worked beautifully. The reader is inside of their heads as they are traveling together through this amazing story. It is almost painful to feel with Grace the fear that she has that she is losing herself and that somehow her body "needs" to turn into a wolf but can't. She wants to keep her fear from Sam and in a way he knows, but they don't want to face it since Sam was "cured" in the first book and will stay human. Cole and Isabel are a wonderful addition to this story and I loved Cole's interaction with Sam which at first was pretty contentious. This is the beginning of Cole's belief that just maybe he can figure out what causes the shifting from human to wolf and back and that there must be a way to stop or at least control it.

This author has used some interesting props to add visuals. A red coffee pot, origami birds, writing on a napkin....bits of Sam's songs that tell so much about him and not only his love for Grace but his fears as well. There is something very special about these images and how they are used in the book.

This book is mostly about four people - Sam, Grace, Isobel, and Cole. There are others , but it is focused on these four. They become very real and the book builds toward a climax that you see coming most of the way through the book, but the end has some very unexpected twists. I waited for a year for the next book and thankfully it is here (Forever) and as wonderful as I hoped it would be. (less)

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May 03, 2010 Amber rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who's a Sucker for a Werewolf Teenage Romance Novel

Shelves: dont-own, fiction, fantasy, i-read-in-2010, sci-fi, teenage, 3-stars, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Well, Shiver I thought was a very good book. And in a way, I guess Linger matched my expectations. NOTE: Just because I gave this book three stars doesn't mean I didn't like it, it means that I "liked it" according to the rating chart. Just FYI.

I got the advanced reader's copy from my teacher, who got it at a confrence. At first, I had no idea what Linger was. Then I found out about Shiver and immeadietly put it on my to-read list and my Christmas list. After I finished Shiver, I-of course-moved...more Well, Shiver I thought was a very good book. And in a way, I guess Linger matched my expectations. NOTE: Just because I gave this book three stars doesn't mean I didn't like it, it means that I "liked it" according to the rating chart. Just FYI.

I got the advanced reader's copy from my teacher, who got it at a confrence. At first, I had no idea what Linger was. Then I found out about Shiver and immeadietly put it on my to-read list and my Christmas list. After I finished Shiver, I-of course-moved on to Linger.

Linger was an awesome book for many reasons-I thought that the first 100 pages or so were amazing. They were great. They were what I was looking for. The dialouge drew me in, there was great conflict, I loved it, and I loved Rachael's meltdown. Maggie Stiefvater, you are a very talented writer, and everything you write is very descrpitive.

That being said, I think that was part of my problem with the book. Towards the end I found that in a way some of the paragraph's were just repeating after the first sentence. I found myself trying to skip paragraphs in order to get to the dialouge. I think that this 350+ page book could have been 240.

On another note, I thought there was too many POV changes. And maybe not too many, but they were too frequent. Like, sometimes it'd be on Cole, one of the new wolves, and he'd say something to Grace that would sound like something Sam would say. A lot of times I had to look back at who's POV it said it was so that I could get eveything straight.

And the ending.

Oh the ending. I swear, I saw it coming since like page 150. It was very predictable, and I felt that Maggie dragged it out. I knew it had to happen, it was just a matter of when.

In a way I found myself finishing this book becuase I was currious as to how the book would end for the characters, not because the writing was a spectacular wonder. Same with the next book. I am going to read it becuase I hope it will blow Linger away and I am very currious about Sam, Grace, Isabel, Cole, and surprisingly Olivia, who got like zero air time in this book-which I was slightly dissapointed in. She was in the first few pages and then she quickly dissolved, coming back ever-so-often like the coffee taste in a frapachino. It doesn't last.

Also, I thought there was waaaaaaay too much "romancey" type of stuff in this book. In the other book, I felt adventure, more with romance on the side. However, in this instalment, I felt like all we were talking about was Sam and the Bristbanes end on end. I mean really, that's not really what I went into this book caring about. Sure, I love and can feel the love between Sam and Grace, but I wasn't even feeling love in this, more like an obsessive thing about making love. It was everywhere. It was rather dissapointing and that being said it was a lot more..........hm........difficult to get through.

So, Maggie, job well done, but I'm crossing my fingers that your next feat will blow this one right out of the water.(less)

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Oct 01, 2012 Carla rated it 5 of 5 stars

To be quite frank, this isn't really a review. To call this a review would be a big fat lie, because reviews are there to convey how a book made you feel, shed light on its flaws and perfections and to make the reader understand what you took away from the reading experience. I can't do this. I don't think I have nor will I ever able to be objective about Maggie's writing. She's an author I have followed way before I started blogging, and to me, her words are magic. So, I suppose I should feel s...more To be quite frank, this isn't really a review. To call this a review would be a big fat lie, because reviews are there to convey how a book made you feel, shed light on its flaws and perfections and to make the reader understand what you took away from the reading experience. I can't do this. I don't think I have nor will I ever able to be objective about Maggie's writing. She's an author I have followed way before I started blogging, and to me, her words are magic. So, I suppose I should feel silly doing this, but strangely it's quite fitting. Instead of a review, I am writing a love letter to Maggie, though obviously not in the creepy "i'm going to stalk you forever and ever" way, more like why I love her writing so much.

Dear Maggie.

I know you probably get lots of fan mail from your readers, but I bet you don't get many love letters. I was lucky enough to snag myself an advance copy of Linger from an amazing blogger (Sharon Loves Cats.....what what!!!) and even though I was dying to tear through its pages, I took my time. It took me little under two months to read this book, because its like the difference between a five star a la carte meal and an all you can eat buffet. One you tear through and eat as much as you possibly can, and maybe even be left with a serious tummy ache. The other you savour and take your time with. This is what this book was like for me, like a glorious meal that I never wanted to end. There are approximately 1033322 words in the English Language, none of these could come close to describing just how heartbreakingly beautiful this book is. I could eat these words every day and never feel hunrgy.

Your writing is like magic. It makes me want to wrap myself around every word you write and get lost in them. It's like poetry in motion, like a giant wave that comes and gathers you up and sweeps you away. Your writing makes me want to write, your stories make me want to believe that anything is possible. The way the story manages to weave from heartbreakingly beautiful and poignant to painful and haunting is seamless. I never once doubted the route this story took, even when it seemed impossible for a path to be formed from nothing, I followed you down it and relished every single step. Your stories make me believe in love, love that is all consuming and powerful and real, love that transends all boundries, yet keeps you as you and him as him.

The characters you create to me is like watching people form from nothing but words on a page. From Sam, who is broken and damaged, yet hopeful and strong. To Grace who is fierce and loyal, yet scared and afraid. To Isabel who is frustrating and demanding, yet endearing and vulnerable. To Cole who is well, Cole. The way their stories interlinked and sneaked up on you, each one tangling up together like an embrace is something I could never forget. It was like pure magic. Pure magic poured from pen to paper into the pages of a book. I never thought you would be able to make me fall in love with a book as much as I did with Shiver, and yet I stand here corrected. Beautiful.

Yours Faithfully,

Carla.(less)

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Mar 22, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

I love Maggie. I pre-ordered Lament after reading something on Maggie's blog and I feel in love with her writing.... the rest is history.

The Wolves of Mercy Falls is very different than Maggie's faerie book.... but they are just as fantastic! This is a great series and I cannot wait for the next one!

So, Linger.... my three favorite characters are all present... Grace, Sam and Isabel.... plus one new addition that is sure to leave a lasting impression... Cole. (Oh la la) The thing that "makes" th...more

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Jan 15, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got my little hands on an ARC of this.
Oh.... mah.....gawd.
Ms. Stiefvater has very well given me a full on anxiety attack once again!! But WOW did she pump this up a few notches! Still, had moments of absolute sweetness to moments where tears welled themselves up in my eyes to moments where I was concerned my blood was going to actually, literally, boil.

One major change from Shiver is that you aren't following a simple little love story of just two people to say that this is happens "after" is...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Sunny in Wonderland rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: personal-read

After the popularity of Shiver which was in the top five books published in 2009 according to 'Goodreadsers', I was surprised to find Linger listed as number 20 for 2010. I've continued reading the series not necessarily because Shiver was so phenomenal, but because I like closure. And as usual, 'Goodreadsers' were right. This installment didn't quite live up to its predecessor.

When last we left Mercy Falls, the story was told from the shifting perspective of Sam and Grace. In Linger we get an a...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Taneika (Flipping Through The Pages...) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, faves

More of my reviews can be found at Flipping Through the Pages!

Let me just begin with by saying HOW FREAKING AWESOME IS THE GREEN PRINT?? And there is red print in the final book :D hahaha! Thankyou Jordon for buying this wonderful hardcover set for me :)
At first I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this book. I thought it was going to be similar to the first, just another paranormal love story but I loved it! It did take me awhile to actually get into the book in the first place, but I think this has mo...more

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Aug 15, 2011 ♫ נєηη - ѕσυℓ σƒ ѕσυη∂ ♫ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: covers-i-♥, novel, series, supernatural

This is possibly one of the most annoying and distracting books I have ever opened in my life. Who the hell makes all the font green!? >_< Doesn't Maggie Stiefvater know that she has ADHD readers?

{After reading}

Linger was up to my (very low, I must say) expectations. It was okay—let’s just leave it at that.

Still, Maggie Stiefvater’s writing is beautiful. It’s lyrical, flowing, and it reaches a whole new level of amazing. A lot of her imagery is vivid and so well described that it’s almost...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Linna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, cover-masterpieces, mildly-disappointing

Like the title may imply, LINGER never really takes off in plot direction. Instead, it seems more like a meandering interquel between SHIVER and the yet-to-be-released finale, FOREVER. Nevertheless, Stiefvater's gorgeous writing remains lyrical and lovely as ever, making the most mundane activities beautiful with the most descriptive prose you’ll come across in YA romance. It’s only a matter of how patiently you can read about the mundane for the brief moments of action spread as sparsely, as li...more Like the title may imply, LINGER never really takes off in plot direction. Instead, it seems more like a meandering interquel between SHIVER and the yet-to-be-released finale, FOREVER. Nevertheless, Stiefvater's gorgeous writing remains lyrical and lovely as ever, making the most mundane activities beautiful with the most descriptive prose you’ll come across in YA romance. It’s only a matter of how patiently you can read about the mundane for the brief moments of action spread as sparsely, as lightly, as paw prints in the snow. (Wow, did I really just write that? Ah well, it ain't as bad as that one leaky womb incident... :P)

The added narrators were wonderful, adding POVs and more depth to the story. It gives us a breather from the ultra-sweetness of Sam and Grace, which is perfect enough as a whole book can’t change their feelings for each other… Nor can it further develop from where it started. Because they’re already head over heels for one another and the only things that lay in their path seem like obligatory obstacles. Parents—wait, no, being grounded? Surely the two could have worked their way through such barriers with a little less melodrama. It pales in comparison to their real problems, that being the foreshadowing of Grace’s fate… after all.

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

LINGER is about contrast, wherein a new werewolf struggles to stay a wolf, while Sam had always wanted to remain human—it’s also about how Sam revels in his new-found humanity while Grace struggles to keep hers. And what sets these books apart from all the werewolf offerings popping up in YA lies in the excellent characterization (because, you have to admit, the plot is a bit of a let-down). Sam isn’t a bad boy; his sensitive, emotional, musician side endearing to a fault. And Grace complements him perfectly, aloof, serious, but quietly understanding.

Cocky, handsome, and a little dangerous, Cole was the most fascinating character, and ones who’s narration I was the most captivated by. There’s a very beautiful and painful moment involving a deer (nothing like Harry Potter, mind you) in the woods, around the middle of the book, and it left me as haunted as it did Cole. Isabel also stood out with her cutting voice that hid, surprisingly, inner weakness.

LINGER reads a lot like SHIVER. It pulls you in with a swift beginning, but the middle is drawn-out and a little tiring to read. The ending is startlingly reminiscent of the first book, as well, and it leaves us desperate for the resolution, which is sure to be as breathtaking as its companions. We can only wait, as patiently as Sam must, to discover the secret, the cure, for the wolves’ shifting and the secrets (or the logic) behind it all.
(less)

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Stiefvater's Book...: Linger	29	9	Jun 13, 2013 11:08pm
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About Maggie Stiefvater

All of Maggie Stiefvater's life decisions have been based around her inability to be gainfully employed. Talking to yourself, staring into space, and coming to work in your pajamas are frowned upon when you're a waitress, calligraphy instructor, or technical editor (all of which she's tried), but are highly prized traits in novelists and artists. She's made her living as one or the other since she...more

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Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception (Books of Faerie, #1)

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“This is a love story. I never knew there were so many kinds of love or that love could make people do so many different things.

I never knew there were so many different ways to say goodbye.” — 682 people liked it

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