"Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater
Shiver @ AMAZON.com
Much like the Twilight books, Shiver is a romantic teen's novel about werewolves and humans co-existing in Mercy Falls, Minnesota. However, in this series, werewolf transformations are triggered from changes in temperature as opposed to phases of the moon or free will. Cold weather will lead to a wolf shift while warmth yields a human transformation.
The book is told from the perspectives of Grace and Sam, two teenagers. Grace was once bitten as a child but has never turned into a wolf. Sam was bitten by pack leader Beck who yearned for a son of his own after his wife passed away from cancer. Intrigued by Sam the wild wolf, Grace falls in love with the stranger watching her from the woods. One day, Sam crashes into her world after a gunshot wound causes him to change from wolf to human. The pair grow close together as she nurses her wolf-boy back to health. However, the relationship turns bittersweet as the father of one of her schoolmates has organized a wolf hunt. Meanwhile, Sam dreads each passing day knowing that he will eventually turn into a wolf and never become human again.
Shiver is more along the lines of romantic werewolf fiction aimed at the high school demographic. The story is in good taste without being being edgy or crude. Most of the action is found in the characters' minds as opposed to their actions. The books do tend to drag a bit when short poems are inserted, but it's not enough to destroy the plot in progress. The chapters are also labeled so the reader knows who is relaying the story at any given time. Stiefvater also describes the wolves vividly enough that the reader can imagine what these animals feel and smell like without going into the woods.
FINAL VERDICT: 7.5. Read this if you're more into werewolf stories revolving around relationships and teen romance as opposed to horror and grisly action.
Much like the Twilight books, Shiver is a romantic teen's novel about werewolves and humans co-existing in Mercy Falls, Minnesota. However, in this series, werewolf transformations are triggered from changes in temperature as opposed to phases of the moon or free will. Cold weather will lead to a wolf shift while warmth yields a human transformation.
The book is told from the perspectives of Grace and Sam, two teenagers. Grace was once bitten as a child but has never turned into a wolf. Sam was bitten by pack leader Beck who yearned for a son of his own after his wife passed away from cancer. Intrigued by Sam the wild wolf, Grace falls in love with the stranger watching her from the woods. One day, Sam crashes into her world after a gunshot wound causes him to change from wolf to human. The pair grow close together as she nurses her wolf-boy back to health. However, the relationship turns bittersweet as the father of one of her schoolmates has organized a wolf hunt. Meanwhile, Sam dreads each passing day knowing that he will eventually turn into a wolf and never become human again.
Shiver is more along the lines of romantic werewolf fiction aimed at the high school demographic. The story is in good taste without being being edgy or crude. Most of the action is found in the characters' minds as opposed to their actions. The books do tend to drag a bit when short poems are inserted, but it's not enough to destroy the plot in progress. The chapters are also labeled so the reader knows who is relaying the story at any given time. Stiefvater also describes the wolves vividly enough that the reader can imagine what these animals feel and smell like without going into the woods.
FINAL VERDICT: 7.5. Read this if you're more into werewolf stories revolving around relationships and teen romance as opposed to horror and grisly action.