Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3) in Shiver Series Re-read

Jun 17, 2012 Dawn Nicholson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Where do I start?.. I have lived and breathed 'Mercy Falls' since beginning this trilogy and now I am grieving. Sam and Grace's love was so beautiful to me, that connection, something rarely seen. They had something I wished I had found in life. Again I will say I love the way Maggie Steifvater makes you feel so intimately close to the characters and the situations their in. 'The Wolves of Mercy Falls' is very special to me and im missing them already. ...more

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Apr 04, 2014 Madeleine rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, read-2014

Why, Maggie Stiefvater, must you be so perfect?

Reading this series is like looking at a beautiful and perfectly painted piece of art: You are left feeling entirely satisfied, aching for something just as lovely, and with the deep thought process that always surfaces after encountering something so incredibly perfect and moving in nature.

Sam and Grace's love story is perfect. To love and be loved so flawlessly is something everyone aches for and something everyone is able to identify so wonderfu Why, Maggie Stiefvater, must you be so perfect?

Reading this series is like looking at a beautiful and perfectly painted piece of art: You are left feeling entirely satisfied, aching for something just as lovely, and with the deep thought process that always surfaces after encountering something so incredibly perfect and moving in nature.

Sam and Grace's love story is perfect. To love and be loved so flawlessly is something everyone aches for and something everyone is able to identify so wonderfully with in this story. Everyone wants to fall in love the way Sam and Grace do, and I think it's very sad that few people ever get the opportunity to do so.
Then there's Cole and Isabel, whose love, I think, few people would say is the same sort of beast as what Sam and Grace have, but I hardly think that matters. Sam and Grace is that rare, beautiful, true love variety and Cole and Isabel's love is the kind more of us seem to stubble upon: frustrating, infuriating, and yet at times, sweet, endearing, and enjoyably humorous. If I can't have what Grace and Sam have, I will very happily settle for what Cole and Isabel have. Their relationship may take a little bit of work on both of their parts, but at the end of the day they (usually) bring out the best in each other and, after all, more often than not, love does take a little bit of work.

I also love her settings. I shamelessly admit that after reading about Sam and his cranes, I started folding my own little collection. I have plans to hang them from my ceiling too, once I feel like I've assembled a sizable flock. Actually, while I'm on this track of honesty, let me confess that really, I want Sam's room and as soon as I am able, I am redecorating according to his example. It'd be nice to have Beck's whole house, but I think it's best to start with the little things.
Boundary Woods is also a nice place. She describes it in some many different ways and places that it feels like a big place in my head. When Sam and Grace are walking around the peninsula the pack moves to, I could picture that in my head. It was a very nice sort of place. I hope the wolves are happy there. I can very easily picture them being happy there.
I like the piano room too. Even though it showed up for like, three pages, it too is a very nice sort of place. In my dream home, I believe I shall add that piano room, just to make me happy. (Like Isabel, I don't really play piano).

So besides the relationships and settings, there are the individual people. Here's what I have to say about them (and as Rachel so strongly encourages I will summarize because the explanation is far too long otherwise.)
I love Maggie's female characters. I love how they are never afraid to do what needs doing and to say what needs saying even when they are afraid. I love how Grace is calm and practical and it someone every reader can aspire to be and I love how Isabel never lets anything (or anyone) deter her from what she believes she needs to do. I love Rachel's whimsical nature and the steadfast friend that's underneath the surface. If I had to choose one person who I was most, it'd be Rachel. Followed by Grace.
Then there's the boys, who have basically ruined my chance of ever finding a boyfriend because how will I ever locate someone who is as kind, and considerate, and honest as Sam? (the fact that he plays guitar, writes such beautiful lyrics, and really digs German poetry also adds to his attractiveness, which, from what I understand, is already pretty high. If Sam didn't already have Grace, I would date him, because he is perfect.) And Cole, who, while still having many flaws, is generally a pretty good guy. Yes, he is broken, but it's a good sort of broken that will be fixed with time and Isabel's love (which I very strongly believe in). Cole is a genius, which is admirable, he is musical, which is attractive, and he is funny, which makes me happy. I love how he plays with his Mustang. Possible most hysterical scene in this entire book is when he and Isabel and cramped under the counter at her mom's clinic, her mom has walked in, found them there, decided she doesn't even want to begin to try and comprehend what is going on, and Cole is just silently laughing and running that Mustang up and down Isabel's arm. Seriously, It's the best.
Beck is morally ambiguous, which is a good representation of life I think. Things aren't always black and white, but somehow they turn out in the end.

Overall, I am glad I own this book. I am glad I have it to keep with me forever. I honestly hope that one day, Maggie and I will be able to sit down over scones and discuss it in it's entirety. Because it really is a masterpiece, and what more can we ask for? ...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Heather Bridson rated it liked it

A friend gave me this book. I liked the realistic wolves in the series. I'm a sucker for a werewolf book usually, but this one kind of let me down. The end seemed like it was just lumped together. It wasn't very fun to read. I had to read it because I like the story, but the way the different parts of the book were set up as parts from each person's viewpoint. But, the story was good, just not quite up to my expectations. ...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Elle rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, werewolves, supernatural, romance, young-adult, own-a-copy

I'm torn. I want to give this four stars but the ending leaves me in pain. I want to know how things turn out. I want to know what else Cole gets into. Speaking of Cole, LOVE him. I'm not sure how he came out of nowhere and becomes my favorite character. This book wouldn't be as good without him. He totally makes it awesome. Seriously though, I can't even... the ending. *sigh*

It was good. Not great because I kept putting the book down and going back to it days later. I didn't have the undying ne ...more

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May 17, 2014 Jeanne rated it really liked it

I really do love the series but the ending. I want to know what happens?!! that's it! ...more

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Jun 28, 2014 Georgana rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, urban-fantasy, ya-fangs-wings-ghosties-etc, books-that-rock, fantasy, contemporary-romance, mature-young-adult, fave-authors, series, awesome-playlist

I hate all the bellyaching about the ending. I understand when you get attached to characters and want to know EVERYTHING. I get it. I know I've enjoyed the Epilogues of several popular series of which much of my time and emotions had been invested. But why should we be spoon-fed for this one? It was different than the others. That was its charm. A quiet, intelligently written story. There is no ending. That's the point. It was only the beginning.

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