Shiver

This book is almost too cute to be allowed. Sam is an adorable artistic boy, who's days as a human are numbered. Eventually he will become a wolf forever. Grace is a practical girl, who is fascinated by the wolf who saved her life when she was just eleven. By happy coincidence, that wolf happens to be Sam. The two kids finally a meet (as humans) and develop one of the sweetest relationships I have read in a while, despite or probably because their time together is limited. That being said, there is still a lot of scary things happening around them. And not all the wolfs are nice like Sam. The two kids have to work very hard to stay together, a tremendous feat for teenagers. And some of the other teenage characters inevitably make very stupid, selfish and deadly decisions. In other words, the characters are all delightfully flawed, and have to deal with their fantastic lives in a very realistic way. Ultimately, this is a book you can't put down until you know whether the sweet love story will end happily or with heartbreak.

The main characters are so 'Emo' it is almost funny. If you get past the angsty perspectives you may enjoy the story. It is a well thought out plot and the wolves' story is wonderful. I would push the green sample button before buying though because the two narrators are a little ... off? The female sounds about 15 and the man sounds like a 30 year old man imitating a teenage boy. At times it sounded as if he were mocking the character rather than trying to be the character. Really interesting story underneath all the angsty goodness.

I loved this book. It's a young adult romance. There was enough sexual tension to maintain a romance, and what sex there was was discrete.

The love of a girl for the pack of wolves in the woods behind her house had a bizarre twist, integral to the plot.

None of the book was very realistic, but it wasn't meant to be. Werewolves don't exist...but here they do. Most kids of completely incompetent parents don't learn independence and thrive, although resenting their idiot parents. But accept that these kids did, and you'll dive into this story! The ending is a bit abrupt, although there is NOT a cliff hanger and I can't wait for the sequel! I hope that the same two readers read it as well...I loved their voices, (the point of view switched by the chapter between the boy and girl) and how they lived the simple, yet lovely dialog! It was lovely to listen to.

At first glance, I thought this was going to be yet another YA insta-love romance. I was incredibly wrong… Never once have I loved a werewolf story this much! The combination of this great story with some amazing narrators made this experience unforgettable. And when I say amazing narrators, I mean it. Jenna Lamia and David LeDoux are so freakin’ talented! Not once do I think I have been so wrapped up in an audiobook.

I definitely was a little turned off at first by what seemed to be “insta-love” but upon further examination, I realized that it was more of a mutual curiosity/fascination between the two. That curiosity developed into a deep love: one that I found both believable and interesting. Not only did Sam and Grace have a very cute relationship, it was also extremely sexy at times. Maggie did a wonderful job making Sam a super sweet, sexy, and loyal male lead. It was easy to fall for him right along with Grace. Their struggle to be together really amped up the tension in this book, and at times I just felt so sorry for their situation… It was a combination of this struggle and Maggie’s writing that made this book so stunning.

Maggie’s graceful writing made it easy to savor every moment… For example:

"As the hours crept by, the afternoon sunlight bleached all the books on the shelves to pale, gilded versions of themselves and warmed the paper and ink inside the covers so that the smell of unread words hung in the air." – Maggie Stiefvater

There were bits like that in every chapter. Maggie’s writing is very emotionally-charged, but not once did I ever tire of it.

Overall, this was a great book! If you are a fan of werewolves and YA romance then reading this is a must! I highly recommend this audiobook. Nothing beats listening to Maggie’s poetic writing. I cannot wait to listen to Linger and continue this great love story!!

I heart Maggie Steivfater. She is incredibly creative, artistic, and musical. On top of that she writes beautiful fiction and Shiver is the perfect example of this. Sweet and moving, Shiver is a unique and magical love story that captures you from the beginning.

Shiver opens with Grace, as a little girl, being dragged from her back yard and mauled by the wolves that live in the forest behind her house. One yellowed eyed wolf protects her from the hungry pack and saves her life. Despite the attack, Grace feels a connection to the wolves, particularly the yellow eyed wolf that watches from the woods but the wolves of Mercy Falls are no ordinary wolves.

In the cold, Sam becomes a wolf and in the heat, he is a boy. Split between two lives, human and wolf, Sam’s life is complicated. For years, he’s longed to talk to Grace and for her to know his secret.

When Sam and Grace finally meet, there is instant chemistry between them. Linked to each other for years, the two are captivated by each other and their love story warms your heart. Sam is empowered by his love for Grace, yet is disheartened to have met her so close to his final years. Torn by the thought of not being together, they search for a cure for Sam.

Eloquently told from the perspectives of the two main characters, Steivfater interweaves the many intricacies of Sam and Grace’s story. Through Grace, the reader experiences the mystery of the wolves and the real world events of Mercy Falls. Sam’s point of view brings to life the mythology of the werewolves, their challenges, and the remarkable woods in which they live.

Amidst an abundance of werewolf novels, Steivfater’s wolves are unique and imaginative while at the same time very believable. Her poetic prose and stunning love story make Shiver a must read. Linger and Forever are the next books in this enchanting series.

This was a decent story. It didnt have me dying to get back to it, but it was interesting in a kind of boring way. Its the typical young adult supernatural story thats floating around at present, but its sweeter. I didnt have any problems with the narrators-I listened to the male narrator in "Water for Elephants" in which he voiced a young man's voice, so I bought him as an 18 year old guy. The girl does have a young voice, but not once did I get weirded out or notice an age difference. I suppose I would recommend this to someone looking for that "in-between" book when you have a spare credit you dont know quite how to use. I didnt adore it, probably wont listen to it again, but still it passed the last few days enjoyably.

I really liked this book. The narration was good, and the story was even better. I really liked the male and female narrator switches depending on whose point of view that the book was currently being read from. This story definitely had me hooked, and I just had to take it everywhere with me until I finished it!

Grace's early encounter with the wolves in the woods just beyond her backyard created a connection. She dreams of the wolf, who seems to have saved her, and his striking yellow eyes. When he shows himself in human form, the questions and mystery with their surrounding love story take off.

The idea for how the wolves transform; are created; hunt; live together; and many more intracacies are fascinating. Steifvater has a different take on the werewolf genre. She's talented and in the candy store sequence, as a reader, you believe you can smell the sweets and feel the old wooden floor beneath your feet after hearing the tinkling bell on the shop door.

The only drawbacks are the narrator for Sam, who sounds like a thirty-something and how whiny and anguished the characters come across. There a few lazy holes in the overall story, for example, Grace's parents are so flighty they don't know if she's at home or has eaten.

Overall, this story is definitely worth a listen for YA enthusiasts, young or old, who enjoy wolfie love stories.

There are many things to keep you interested while you are reading Shiver.

First, you are constantly reminded of the temperature. By the end of the book, you are conditioned to need that 'clue' to help you know if the chapter is going to be a good one or a struggle for life. I will forever remember 15 degrees.

Second, the chapters are so short that you don't have time to become bored. It also makes everything seem very fast paced.

Third, the way Maggie Stiefvater describes smells is incredible. It reminded me of the way Erin Morgenstern visually described everything in The Night Circus (one of my favorite books).

Fourth, Maggie Stiefvater instantly bonds Grace to Sam by frequently reminding us that Sam is Grace's 'wolf'...solidifying our desire for them to beat the odds.

After coming off the The Hunger Games, this book was perfect. There is nothing too serious (i.e. no famine, war, or brutal murder). This book allows you to read for the pure and simple joy of reading...vegging...enjoying a great story created by a phenomenal author.

I should also mention that I LOVE the book cover.

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

I found it odd to have this put out by Audible Kids, since I had no idea from the description that that would be the target audience. I suppose I could see this being a teenage novel, but honestly, it is a great story, with great depth and characters. It is a little dark and moody, but not so much you can't enjoy it. It is a fresh take on werewolves, and well written. I love the two voice narration for the main characters, definately adds to the story telling. And there is a surprise interview with the author at the end, which was a plus.