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Shiver
(The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1)
by
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.
Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back ...more
Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back ...more
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Hardcover, 392 pages
Published
August 1st 2009
by Scholastic Press
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Start your review of Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)

Jul 04, 2010
Kat Kennedy
rated it
it was ok
Recommends it for:
Insomniacs... no, sorry, even then it's too cruel.
Recommended to Kat Kennedy by:
The world. A very gender confused world.
I started reading this book and a curious thing happened. Suddenly my house was sparkling clean, my bills were filed away, I started playing Farm Story and reached level 13 in one day, I did my tax, I spent two hours chatting to the chatbott, Jabberwocky...Anything, and I mean ANYTHING to avoid the boredom of reading Shiver. Shiver, the story of a girl drastically into beastiality, only to find out her wolf lover was really a boy. As I read this book I had the strange urge to lock up my German s
...more

I read this book to the end so you don’t have to. Shiver should come with a Surgeon General’s Warning. I think all the purple prose has blacked out my eyes! Too bad the swelling didn’t prevent me from noticing the ginormous plot holes. And I need some aspirin because my head aches from clenching my jaw as I am certain all the sappy sweetness contained in this adverb infested book was injected straight into my molars. I am very much at a loss as to how this book has received so many glowing revie
...more

Here's how I imagine Stiefvater's meeting with the publishing house.
Stiefvater: I want to write a book about a girl who falls in love with a vampire!
Publisher: Sorry, Maggie. That's been done before. Read Twilight. It's terrible!
Stiefvater: Oh. I want to write a book about a girl who falls in love with a zombie!
Publisher: Sorry, Maggie. That's been done before. Read Generation Dead. It's terrible!
Stiefvater: Oh. I want to write a book about a girl who falls in love with a werewolf!
Publisher: Bin ...more
Stiefvater: I want to write a book about a girl who falls in love with a vampire!
Publisher: Sorry, Maggie. That's been done before. Read Twilight. It's terrible!
Stiefvater: Oh. I want to write a book about a girl who falls in love with a zombie!
Publisher: Sorry, Maggie. That's been done before. Read Generation Dead. It's terrible!
Stiefvater: Oh. I want to write a book about a girl who falls in love with a werewolf!
Publisher: Bin ...more

Stuck at home? Got some time on your hands? Want to start a long series? But you don't want a dud?![]()
Check out this booktube video all about which series are worth your time (and which ones aren't)!
Here's the Written Review!
2.5 Stars
To summarize: Boy loves girl. Girl loves wolf. Possible bestiality (new edgy YA twist?)![]()
Wolf is actually boy who loves girl.
Wolf turns into boy. Girl loves boy.
Kisses. Many kisses.
I stood on my toes and stole a soft kiss from his lips. "Surprise attack,"...more

Jul 30, 2009
Tatiana
rated it
it was ok
Recommends it for:
Twilight fans, especially those on Team Jacob
Recommended to Tatiana by:
YA Book club pick
To sum it up, this book should have been called "Twilight: Team Jacob Version." Why? Well, while I understand that the author wrote her first draft of "Shiver" before "Twilight" came out, still, the similarities are striking. A boring girl whose only personality traits are obsessing about her supernatural boyfriend, doing homework and cooking dinner for her parents - check; an emo supernatural boyfriend whose life revolves around his human flame, who plays an instrument and writes songs for his
...more

Jan 10, 2011
Wendy Darling
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
fans of A Certain Slant of Light
Lovely, lyrical, and achingly sad. Shiver is more introspective than most YA books and is sometimes criticized for being too slow or wordy, but I found it to be beautifully written, tragic, and a gorgeous take on werewolf lore. Sam's desperate struggle to hold onto his humanity is incredibly poignant, and his heartrending relationship with Grace is deeply emotional and sweet. It's a book that makes me cry every time I read it.
Sam cupped my face in his hands and looked me in the eyes. His eyes we ...more
Sam cupped my face in his hands and looked me in the eyes. His eyes we ...more

”I saw it. I saw her, in a way I’d never seen anything before.
And I stopped it.
I really liked this one, I really did and considering the many negative reviews I read I can’t help but wonder if I’m truly that easy to please. *lol* I guess the answer is “yes” because I definitely would read every single book Maggie ever wrote and if possible I’d even read her grocery list! I just love her writing style, the way she always manages to create an amazing atmosphere, how she weaves a mystery around it ...more
And I stopped it.
I really liked this one, I really did and considering the many negative reviews I read I can’t help but wonder if I’m truly that easy to please. *lol* I guess the answer is “yes” because I definitely would read every single book Maggie ever wrote and if possible I’d even read her grocery list! I just love her writing style, the way she always manages to create an amazing atmosphere, how she weaves a mystery around it ...more

Who is publishing these horribly written YA novels? Who? (every publisher, ever) And more importantly, why? (for tons of cash)
First off, I didn't finish this book. I couldn't finish this book. I couldn't get 1/4 of the way through, even though I have the audiobook. Actually not only is this book boring as hell but the audiobook was poorly cast (more on that later). This is another book I picked up because of the pretty cover. *kicking self, a lot*
I have to admit the premise sounded interesting ...more
First off, I didn't finish this book. I couldn't finish this book. I couldn't get 1/4 of the way through, even though I have the audiobook. Actually not only is this book boring as hell but the audiobook was poorly cast (more on that later). This is another book I picked up because of the pretty cover. *kicking self, a lot*
I have to admit the premise sounded interesting ...more

[read 4 | 2020]
Reading this book is like being swallowed whole by winter. It always brings back so many memories and I just 🥺 I leave with a lot of feelings. Sam's sweet softness will never stop breaking me into pieces, and just the themes of holding onto yourself, your humanity, being shaped by circumstance and being a product of your environment are intricately explored. I fully love it. It is so slow and thoughtful and loving. And the sensory elements! It has me craving winter and peppermint ...more
Reading this book is like being swallowed whole by winter. It always brings back so many memories and I just 🥺 I leave with a lot of feelings. Sam's sweet softness will never stop breaking me into pieces, and just the themes of holding onto yourself, your humanity, being shaped by circumstance and being a product of your environment are intricately explored. I fully love it. It is so slow and thoughtful and loving. And the sensory elements! It has me craving winter and peppermint ...more

Trolls: You are welcome to comment on my review. I won't delete your comments. Curse my name, curse my mother, I don't care. But please, don't forget to leave a comment. And make sure to send my review to all of your friends.
And the award for worst book of 2009 goes to: Shiver
What makes this book so bad, you may ask? Well, in layman's terms, I'm going to give a logical, detailed explanation as to why Shiver sucks--alliteration unintentional.
1. Grace
Grace has to be the worse heroine ever. Excuse ...more
And the award for worst book of 2009 goes to: Shiver
What makes this book so bad, you may ask? Well, in layman's terms, I'm going to give a logical, detailed explanation as to why Shiver sucks--alliteration unintentional.
1. Grace
Grace has to be the worse heroine ever. Excuse ...more

that fact that you guys (aka my GR friends) have given this book a collective average rating of 2.98 made me believe i was in for a pretty disappointing experience. so it feels strange to be on the other side of a minority opinion - to enjoy a book most seem to not like - as its usually the other way around.
although this isnt a perfect book by any means, i honestly think its entertaining enough. if you dont read too much into it (that a girl falls in love with a wolf before she finds out hes al ...more
although this isnt a perfect book by any means, i honestly think its entertaining enough. if you dont read too much into it (that a girl falls in love with a wolf before she finds out hes al ...more

I can sum this book up in one sentence: Beautiful writing that cannot make up for the Twilight-esque depiction of creepy love interest and boring main character.
I would, however, happily try out some of the author's other work and I just hope it doesn't focus so heavily on obsessive emo teen love.
...more
I would, however, happily try out some of the author's other work and I just hope it doesn't focus so heavily on obsessive emo teen love.
...more

This is a different take on werewolves, and I really liked it. Grace and Sam first meet when she is eleven, and attacked by his pack of wolves. He was a wolf and for some reason he didn’t understand, he saved her and took her away from the attack. Grace has been fascinated by this yellowed eyed wolf ever since. Her backyard touches the forest, so she is able to observe the wolves all winter.
These wolves shapeshift based on the temperature changes of the seasons. During summer, they are human an ...more
These wolves shapeshift based on the temperature changes of the seasons. During summer, they are human an ...more

Dec 29, 2017
Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell
rated it
did not like it
Shelves:
pnr-uf,
ya-ya-land

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There's an old joke about TWILIGHT that you've probably heard: that it's the story of a teenage girl's struggle between necrophilia and bestiality, hurr hurr hurr. Well, here in TWILIGHT: Team Jacob Edition - *cough* - I mean, SHIVER, Maggie Stiefvater takes that a step further by writing about a girl named Grace who has romantic feelings for the wolf in her backyard. And when I say "wolf," that's not short for werewolf - before she even ...more

6.5 stars!
I don’t know how to review a book that took my breath away. Shiver left me with a feeling of complete satisfaction, joy spiced with sadness - as weird and paradoxical as that sounds. I’m so grateful to have read this book after all…
There aren’t many books on my 'books that changed me' shelf. In fact, there were only seven until today. But Shiver deserved its place, and now there are eight. What’s so special about it? I’ll try to be polite and refrain from gushing, but it won’t be easy ...more
I don’t know how to review a book that took my breath away. Shiver left me with a feeling of complete satisfaction, joy spiced with sadness - as weird and paradoxical as that sounds. I’m so grateful to have read this book after all…
There aren’t many books on my 'books that changed me' shelf. In fact, there were only seven until today. But Shiver deserved its place, and now there are eight. What’s so special about it? I’ll try to be polite and refrain from gushing, but it won’t be easy ...more

I love this book as much now as I did back in the day! And I still want to be a werewolf 😉🐺

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
...more

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾


2.5. It was really only alright.
A little fact about me is I’m not a vampire person, or a witch person, or a people person (I’m not entirely sure where this is going, but it sounds quite personal). The last paranormal romance series I read was the Twilight saga after my parents told me I couldn’t read it (I did anyway.) So, I genuinely cannot count the years since I’ve touched a book like this. And I’m not a werewolf person either, for that matter. I don’t tend to fantasise about a boy who may wa ...more
A little fact about me is I’m not a vampire person, or a witch person, or a people person (I’m not entirely sure where this is going, but it sounds quite personal). The last paranormal romance series I read was the Twilight saga after my parents told me I couldn’t read it (I did anyway.) So, I genuinely cannot count the years since I’ve touched a book like this. And I’m not a werewolf person either, for that matter. I don’t tend to fantasise about a boy who may wa ...more

I probably should wait a little bit to write this review, but I can't! I guess I will start out with saying that this book drew me in from the moment I laid eyes upon it. The book cover is breathtaking. Even when I opened the first page of the book I was still taken back by how simple and beautiful it was. Yet, I can not judge a book just by its cover. I am not sure I can even find the words to describe how much I loved this book. It gave me an amazing feeling throughout the whole entire book. F
...more

The bestiality was definitely the most beautiful part of this story. It may seem obvious to you that such would be the case, but it was not obvious to me. I am not typically a fan of falling in love with dogs. There was truly something surreal and creepy about that part of this story that grabbed me, though. If only this had been a short story about one girl’s creepy obsession with wolves, I think I could have really liked it. It starts out with a ghostly beauty that is legitimately respectable.
...more

Note: After rereading this review, I decided to make some changes. While I stand by my opinions, I was unhappy with some of the ways in which I chose to voice them. The language of this review has been edited, however, the opinions are unchanged.
I read Shiver because it was recommended to me by someone who wasn't impressed with Twilight and insisted this was better. Well, it's not, although I wouldn't go as far as to say it's worse. Mostly, I was bored to tears by the lack of a solid plot and su ...more
I read Shiver because it was recommended to me by someone who wasn't impressed with Twilight and insisted this was better. Well, it's not, although I wouldn't go as far as to say it's worse. Mostly, I was bored to tears by the lack of a solid plot and su ...more

Mar 28, 2014
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition

**1.5 stars**
I'm just going to come right out and say it:
This book is emo bullshit.
I listened to 8 hours of this story on audiobook before DNFing this at 75%. That is 8 hours of my life that I will never get back.
I know I'm in the minority here. I'm accepting it. However, I just can't see why people are so enamored with this book. I'll get all of my frustration out now by explaining a few of my main issues with this book. **Some minor spoilers ahead**
1) The whole "I shift when it's cold" premi ...more

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1), Maggie Stiefvater
The Wolves of Mercy Falls is a series of four novels, located in the genres of romance, fantasy and young adult (YA) fiction, written by Maggie Stiefvater.
Shiver begins against the backdrop of winter, with the character of Grace Brisbane at age 11, who has been pulled from her backyard tyre swing by a pack of wolves. Saved from their attack by a yellow-eyed wolf, the 6 years following consist of Grace routinely watching the edge of the wood ...more
The Wolves of Mercy Falls is a series of four novels, located in the genres of romance, fantasy and young adult (YA) fiction, written by Maggie Stiefvater.
Shiver begins against the backdrop of winter, with the character of Grace Brisbane at age 11, who has been pulled from her backyard tyre swing by a pack of wolves. Saved from their attack by a yellow-eyed wolf, the 6 years following consist of Grace routinely watching the edge of the wood ...more

I'M SO TIRED OF READING BOOKS WHERE THE LOVE INTEREST GUY IS BETTER THAN THE FEMALE PROTAGONIST!
i don't know what evil entity is out there encouraging this stephenie meyer, twilight-esque phenomenon of writing female characters with NO DEFINING FEATURES so that you can "feel like the main character" but it's stupid! go read a choose your own adventure book if that's what you're into, nameless nightmare being! i want my badass female characters back and that shouldn't be a specific genre i have t ...more
i don't know what evil entity is out there encouraging this stephenie meyer, twilight-esque phenomenon of writing female characters with NO DEFINING FEATURES so that you can "feel like the main character" but it's stupid! go read a choose your own adventure book if that's what you're into, nameless nightmare being! i want my badass female characters back and that shouldn't be a specific genre i have t ...more

Shiver is narrated by the alternating points of view of Sam and Grace, two unbelievably different people drawn together by the power of love and devotion. When Grace was little, she was attacked by a pack of wolves but miraculously survived due to a certain yellow-eyed wolf's protection. Now her growing fascination is fixated on the wolves of Mercy Falls.
Sam isn't a human for as long as he would like to be. When the temperature drops and winter arises, he painfully transforms into a wolf. Howeve ...more
Sam isn't a human for as long as he would like to be. When the temperature drops and winter arises, he painfully transforms into a wolf. Howeve ...more

Apr 02, 2015
Kai Spellmeier
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
finished-series,
owned
“The world needs more love at first sight.”
When I first read this (years and years ago) I totally fell in love with Maggie Stiefvater. I don't know what did it for me, but this just made me feel good. It's a perfect snuggle-up-on-a-rainy-autumn-day book.
The plot wasn't overly exciting, but I think it was the writing and the characters that I enjoyed (especially Isabel).
This series is so completely different from The Raven Boys . You can clearly see how much experience and skill Maggie gained thr ...more
When I first read this (years and years ago) I totally fell in love with Maggie Stiefvater. I don't know what did it for me, but this just made me feel good. It's a perfect snuggle-up-on-a-rainy-autumn-day book.
The plot wasn't overly exciting, but I think it was the writing and the characters that I enjoyed (especially Isabel).
This series is so completely different from The Raven Boys . You can clearly see how much experience and skill Maggie gained thr ...more

So the story goes with Grace, a simple girl, who is protected by wolves that hang out around the woods near her backyard.
First of all:

you have wolves near your house?
YOU BETTER RUN
I don't know what kind of idea the author's trying to pull but trying to create a bold main character by saying she ain't afraid of wolves is pretty darn unimpressive to me.
See, the normal human wouldn't stay at a house like that, much less live there.
Unafraid.
By a freaking pack of wolves.
A message to you, Grace: ...more
First of all:

you have wolves near your house?
YOU BETTER RUN
I don't know what kind of idea the author's trying to pull but trying to create a bold main character by saying she ain't afraid of wolves is pretty darn unimpressive to me.
See, the normal human wouldn't stay at a house like that, much less live there.
Unafraid.
By a freaking pack of wolves.
A message to you, Grace: ...more

**3.5-stars**
Ahhhh, young love. Isn't it grand?

You know the story, the tale as old as time:
Girl meets wolf.
Wolf and girl fall in love.
Angsty things happen.

Wait, is that not how the story usually goes?
In Shiver, we follow two perspectives, Grace, a girl low-key obsessed with the wolves in the woods behind her house, and Sam, a werewolf. Sam has golden eyes and beautiful fur that Grace is instantly drawn too because...gold.

Seriously though, this is a love story between a girl and the werewolf ...more
Ahhhh, young love. Isn't it grand?

You know the story, the tale as old as time:
Girl meets wolf.
Wolf and girl fall in love.
Angsty things happen.

Wait, is that not how the story usually goes?
In Shiver, we follow two perspectives, Grace, a girl low-key obsessed with the wolves in the woods behind her house, and Sam, a werewolf. Sam has golden eyes and beautiful fur that Grace is instantly drawn too because...gold.

Seriously though, this is a love story between a girl and the werewolf ...more

Someone please tell me The Raven Boys is nothing like this book. Or else Stiefvater and I are done.
When you pick up your first book by an insanely popular author, you naturally have some expectations. Or at least expect a good story. But this was bizarre and so Twilight-esque, I could hardly try convincing myself that it would end better.
The only redeemable quality was the writing. And the only reason I picked up this book in the first place was Sam, the male lead. He’s apparently my fictional ...more
When you pick up your first book by an insanely popular author, you naturally have some expectations. Or at least expect a good story. But this was bizarre and so Twilight-esque, I could hardly try convincing myself that it would end better.
The only redeemable quality was the writing. And the only reason I picked up this book in the first place was Sam, the male lead. He’s apparently my fictional ...more

When I made the decision to reread Shiver and its successor, Linger, in preparation for this trilogy's conclusion, Forever, I honestly got little butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it.
I originally read Shiver back in October of '09, and it hit me like nothing had before — and nothing has matched it since. Shiver mixes some of the sweetest, most realistic and heartwarming characters with a wonderfully chilly and melancholy atmosphere and it is written with stunningly lyrical prose. If ...more
I originally read Shiver back in October of '09, and it hit me like nothing had before — and nothing has matched it since. Shiver mixes some of the sweetest, most realistic and heartwarming characters with a wonderfully chilly and melancholy atmosphere and it is written with stunningly lyrical prose. If ...more

Picked up a copy of Shiver last night, sat down to read it, and did not get up until 2am, when I finished it. I went in expecting an eerie, bittersweet love story and that's exactly what I got. Shiver is told from alternating viewpoints, and you will easily fall in love with the characters of Grace and Sam. The writing is lyrical, the descriptions are breathtaking, and you can acutely feel the longing between the two teens, and their desperate struggle to keep Sam from changing. The ending was p
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Addicted to YA: Wolves of Mercy Falls Quotes | 9 | 503 | Jan 12, 2021 08:02AM | |
Play Book Tag: [Poll Tally] Shiver (The Werewolves of Mercy Falls, #1) – Maggie Stiefvater - 3 stars | 1 | 6 | Oct 30, 2020 11:41AM | |
Chat | 3 | 15 | Oct 15, 2020 01:00AM | |
YA fangirls: Have you guys started Shiver | 7 | 21 | Jun 08, 2020 09:19AM | |
Tallinna Keskraam...:
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12 | 15 | Mar 22, 2020 05:58PM |
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New York Times bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Raven Cycle, and The Scorpio Races. Artist. Driver of things with wheels. Avid reader.
Maggie Stiefvater plays several musical instruments (most infamously, the bagpipes) and makes art in several media (most generally, colored pencils).
She lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband, their two children, many dogs, a bunch ...more
Maggie Stiefvater plays several musical instruments (most infamously, the bagpipes) and makes art in several media (most generally, colored pencils).
She lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband, their two children, many dogs, a bunch ...more
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