Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Series: The Wolves of Mercy Falls Book 1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 392
Book Source: Own purchase

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 again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Loved it, Loved it, Loved it! I was completely and utterly mesmerised by this hauntingly beautiful love story, I laughed, I cried and I didn't want it to end. Maggie Stiefvater has a gift, and that gift made "Shiver" feel real.

Written in  a beautiful, lyrical style, Stiefvater has created a unique world with her werewolves. Put away all your pre-conceived ideas of werewolves, the wolves of Mercy Falls are refreshingly different. Temperature brings on their shift, and they remain in wolf form for the winter. Their human personality is reflected in the wolf they become but that is all it is, a reflection, humanity is shed, names and memories are all but forgotten.

I loved Grace and Sam's alternating first person narration, it gave a sense of intimacy and perspective not often experienced in paranormal stories. Sam is gentle, sensitive, protective and sweet and his backstory is heartbreaking. Grace is strong, smart & independent, in an understated way, and she's also fiercely loyal and protective of her wolf. Grace and Sam are intensely vulnerable, and the overwhelming sense of "time running out" adds to the poignancy of their blossoming relationship.

She waited to change, and I waited to change, and we both wanted what we couldn't have.

I fell in love with both Grace and Sam and found myself yearning for a happy ending. The cast of secondary characters, Beck, Olivia, Isabel, Jack are all wonderfully drawn and they play an integral part in the story.

This isn't an adrenaline-infused, kick-ass ride, it's a wistful, romantic, bittersweet read with an undercurrent of suspense and unease that kept me captivated for the entire book. A beautiful blend of relatable characters, a slow almost sensual pace and a page-turning read, a truly magical combination. This is one of those stories that leaves you with butterflies in your tummy and tears on your cheeks and weeks later it makes you sigh as you remember the beauty.

The sequel "Linger" cannot come soon enough ~ July 2010 everyone!!

"This trailer was created by Maggie with hundreds of paper cut-outs and multiple photographic frames per second. Music composed & performed by Maggie Stiefvater & Kate Hummel."

And for some exciting news: Unique Features (associated with Warner Brothers) have acquired the film rights to "Shiver" - the Wolves of Mercy Falls on the big screen, I can't wait!

For the latest Maggie Stiefvater news visit her website or live journal or blog The World According To Maggie.

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.