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Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)

Maggie Stiefvater

Start date: March 1, 2011

Finish date: March 31, 2011

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What Members Thought

Jun 21, 2010 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, 2016

Sad how long it took me to read this book, and certainly no reflection on how good the book is. I admit I picked this book up at the library in an attempt to fill the void I was feeling because I couldn't get my hands on The Raven Boys. I loved this book. I loved the pacing of it. I loved how each chapter began with the temperature, it carried a storyline all its own. Definitely recommend. ...more

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Dec 12, 2010 Logan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed-library, shifters, paranormal, young-adult

First impressions: I read the first few chapters of this book in a writing class, so that experience definitely influenced my impressions when I picked up the book this time around. Stiefvater sets up the story really well, introducing us to the dual perspectives of Grace and Sam that will carry us through the rest of the book. Her writing style is staccatoed and almost poetic at times, and she lets us know immediately that Sam's yellow eyes and the temperature will be important elements of the First impressions: I read the first few chapters of this book in a writing class, so that experience definitely influenced my impressions when I picked up the book this time around. Stiefvater sets up the story really well, introducing us to the dual perspectives of Grace and Sam that will carry us through the rest of the book. Her writing style is staccatoed and almost poetic at times, and she lets us know immediately that Sam's yellow eyes and the temperature will be important elements of the story.

Lasting impressions: There are some gruesome moments in this book. The encounter with the dogs, Sam's parents, people getting shot - not for the faint of heart. I was caught off guard by the amount of violence and it certainly stuck with me long after I put down the book. I'm not usually so affected by that kind of thing, but for some reason this story had me squirming at the level of brutality present at times.

Negative impressions: The story didn't really kick in gear for me until the last quarter of the book. I loved the beginning, thought the ending was solid, but the middle really dragged. I wasn't a big fan of the back-and-forth narration switches. I thought Grace was a little too quick to accept Sam's wolfiness (for lack of a better word). It also irked me that Grace's parents were basically written out of the book so Grace had a good excuse to spend all of this time with Sam. There didn't seem to be much conflict in the relationship with her parents, and the fact that they were never around bothered Grace, but not in any way that really affected the plot. It read like a device necessary to get them out of the house instead of a symptom of some larger issue.

Overall impressions: I loved the concept of temperature being responsible for Sam's shifting. Sam was by far the more interesting character to me. His backstory really drew me into the world, from how he was turned to how he came into his current pack. He had this long, complicated, tortured history that I connected with, and it made me understand his choices. I'm not sure I can say the same thing for Grace.

Grace annoyed me more than anything. She basically falls in love with a wolf, with the added bonus that he turns human sometimes. She never notices Sam as Sam, only Sam as wolf. Her relationships with her parents and friends are all strained, and none of her interactions with them make her the least bit likable. She was too self-absorbed for my taste.

Once I got through the slogging middle, the plot really picked up and I got really caught up in the race against time and temperature. I loved the way it ended, and it worked well as a stand alone novel, so I'm curious what the sequels will be about. Stiefvater has an interesting writing style, and the short chapters make it easy to flip pages, so I will probably read Linger. ...more

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Dec 24, 2010 Marla rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: with-reservations, challenged, young-adult, series, romance, paranormal, fantasy, shape-shifters, overrated, mixed-reviews

Another story of a nerdy, basically friendless girl (her 2 bestest friends seemed to be friends of convenience) falling for a paranormal boy. I didn't hate the story, but it was too slooooww and I didn't love the romance.

I finished the series and in hind sight would I read it again? Maybe. There were some good moments (like the 2nd book), but overall a disappointment of a YA romance and werewolf series. I expected much better given the high ratings.

Likes:
* Switching POVs
* Grace and Olivia recogn ...more

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May 21, 2010 Kat rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

While i was reading this book I read a review that said it was like team Jacob version of twilight. Well said! It's not as addictive as twilight... Could be the writing style and that I did read and enjoy twilight first. I will however read the sequel Linger in hopes the fates have turned and it won't be as sappy as shiver. To be continued... ...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Darcie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: rate-3, audio

I finished this after picking it up and putting it down. I liked the story a lot. But it did remind me of the twilight series some - so that was a little disappointing. I did like it enough that I am going to finish the series...but that is also part of my compulsion that I have a lot of difficulty starting a series and not finishing it! :)

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