Forever

Well. I have to say THE reason I am giving this book only 3 stars is because of the ending. If this were not the conclusion in this series, I would easily give it a 5. I cannot BELIEVE this series has ended with so much unfinished business. Really, Maggie? A 4th book could easily be conjured up with as many questions as I still have about this story. To be fair, the book is great, but the ending just leaves me hollow and desperate to know more about ALL of the characters and their relationships. I hesitate to say more about what is left unsettled, fearing I may ruin the read for fans of this series. Maybe Maggie Stiefvater will read this review and have mercy on us, and create book #4.

I adored Shiver and Linger, the first two book Wolves of Mercy Falls series, and I’ve been looking forward to reading Forever for awhile. Only, I didn’t love Forever the way I did the previous two and I can’t exactly explain why. It might be because I tend to like the first few books in a series way more than I like the last one. That aside, Forever seemed to lack the magic, the je ne sais quoi, that had made me swoon over the first two.

So what was it that I didn’t like? Hmmm. It wasn’t the writing. No, Stiefvater’s prose were as eloquent as always and the tone continued to be distinctly bittersweet with a hint of melancholy. The characters were their usual selves. Sam was a poetic, loyal, and charming boyfriend while Grace remained cute, smart, and independent. Their roles were reversed this time and it was interesting to see the difference in their perspectives. Isabel and Cole were the same, fickle and snarky, yet at times redeemable. Nothing changed there. The overall story was good and intriguing. I honestly can’t think of any other way it could have gone.

Maybe I didn’t like the way the story told. It started off slow and then seemed to drag a little. I felt generally unhappy while reading it. If there were moments of happiness they were quickly ushered out to be replaced by serious, sad ones. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect everything in a book to be happy and perfect all the time but I missed having moments that made me smile or laugh. There were some of those moments, but they were rare and I can’t think of any off the top of my head. The ending also lacked luster and things didn’t feel wrapped up.

If you have read the first two books in the series, you definitely should read Forever. I recommend rereading parts or all of Linger before reading Forever. I wish that I had. I still gave Forever four stars because I still liked it. The overall story was good and as usual it was very well written. I love Maggie Stiefvater and it pains me to say anything negative about her stories but I was really hoping for a lot more.

This is Stiefvater's best writing yet, although the story wanders aimlessly and repetetively at times, coming to a quick ending. Not her most cohesive and interesting work, but this author has talent. Worth finishing the trilogy if you enjoyed the first two books.

I have loved this story since I first read "Shiver". However, while I enjoyed this conclusion, I was not blown-away. I really enjoy Stiefvater's writing but I feel she could have done more with some of the "scenes" in this story...there were more "just okay" passages in between the more captivating scenes. (Example: I feel the final scene was just a little anti-climactic). I would have liked to see more spark and intensity between Sam and Grace, and I would have enjoyed seeing Sam grow and change just a little; becoming (at least a somewhat) more forceful young man. I'm not sure if (the author) is just trying to make the point that their relationship is just so deep that it's moved into a "zone" of comfortable and low-key. I am intrigued by the relationship between Cole and Isobel; and there were a couple of good unexpected twists involving other characters, also. As for the audio production, I feel it was mostly well done. Great voices were cast, except, (I'm sorry) I didn't feel the voice for Sam was spot-on. Just not my "preference" for what I think Sam would sound like in my head. In all fairness, I realize it seems it has been a challenge to cast this particular character "ideally". Sam is just one of those characters that it has been "tricky" to find just the right voice for. (Based on comments from other readers along with my own opinion).

I liked this book more as I got deeper into it, ultimately loving the last 1/3. Some of it was indeed repetitive to books 1 and 2, which is likely why I liked the latter part where the plot started to thicken. Parts of it brought tears to my eyes, and I loved the heartwarming ending.

Maggie Stiefvater has a wonderful imagination, the research she did while writing these books is evident. I fell in love with these characters

First let me say that the only reason I am reviewing this after not liking Linger is...I bought the series at one time. And you know what!! As much as I didn't like Linger (gave it one star) I was pleasantly surprised that Forever was so much better.
In this book Sam and Grace are together (well kinda) and now they have a to save the other wolves and themselves from hunters. With the mass hunting date approaching it brings a new urgency to the characters.
Like in all the other books I did not like Sam at all! What is the point in having a main male character that never makes a decision, creates songs and sings when stressed, and makes origami cranes with every piece of paper he runs across. MAN UP!! Sam has no qualities of the knight in shining armor coming to save the day at all. He is so sappy that it makes him weak. Every single decision he has to make is made for him by someone else. Whereas Grace is a strong character that has a very strong opinion about everything except her weak boyfriend. She is always pushing him, protecting him, and helping him.
Jenna Lamia (narrator) as always pulls off a great read of Grace and I would have loved to have her read Isabelle's part as well. She did a wonderful job! She did not read the book but became part of the book.
The only reason I like this book better than Linger is the element of the hunters coming after the wolves. For some reason that part of the book got me caught up in the story. Finally! I wasn't second guessing what was going on. I wasn't hating on Sam and the story was really interesting. The hunt of the wolves was well written and the author made it real. But it took a long long while to get there.
This is the best book out of the three in the series by far.

Others who have read/listened to the first two books.

No.

Loved the different characters, and I think these narrators pretty much nailed what you might expect the characters to sound like.

Anxiety. Too much babbling and not getting to the crux of the situation fast enough. It's like "OMG, enough already, let's move on". Way too dramatic and drawn out.

Not sure if I'll finish-- I've fastforwarded, stopped it, etc. I really liked the first two, but this one not so much. Love Cole and Isabelle, and it's the only thread that keeps me going in this one. From the reviews, it looks like I may finish out thoroughly disappointed.

My biggest problem with Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater is the fact that there's not a fourth book in the series (at least, not yet).

With Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1) and Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2), I enjoyed reading about Grace and Sam...the evolution of their relationship, love, and commitment. With Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3), I found myself just as interested in Cole and Isabel and how they were going to react - or not - to each other.

As it has become customary, Maggie Stiefvater's description of the most mundane sliver of light or floating air particle made me feel like I was standing next to the characters in the middle of the story. As talented as she is with creating a setting, she's just as amazing at building relationships. She understands life-long love grows gradually with one tiny moment at a time. As the invisible bystanders, she allows us to experience those wonderful instants alongside with her characters. With each action, she creates a timeless world of true love, loyal friendship, and unconditional family. Maggie Stiefvater never disappoints.

This is a great series, and I would highly recommend it to almost anyone.

T. R. Graves, author
Warriors of the Cross (The Warriors Series, #1)
Guardians of the Cross (The Warriors Series, #2)
Enemies of the Cross (The Warriors Series, #3)

Please read AND listen to this entire series. It is so well written and the narration is right up there with "Water for Elephants". The themes - love, death, lies, family, depression, jealousy and coming of age are timeless. This story is not just for kids.

And the writing ... oh, the writing! You will literally feel like you're in the room, or in the woods, or inside the character's head all the time. You will feel the cold, the biting wind and smell the almond, autumn scent of wolf.

Please join me in pleading with Maggie Stiefvater to write one more in the series ... I'm not ready to say 'Goodbye' to Sam, Grace, Isabel and Cole just yet. THIS IS MUST LISTEN!