YAB Review: 'Forever'

Today’s post comes to us from Youth Advisory Board member Skyanne, a book buff who recently read “Forever,” the third novel in Maggie Stiefvater’s series Wolves of Mercy Falls. Just like the previous books “Shiver” and “Linger,” “Forever” is filed with action packed events, romance, and shocking moments. But it’s not just another wolf story as Skyanne explains…

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YAB Review: ‘Forever’

First Impressions?

I’ve been a fan of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series since “Shiver” was released in 2009. So, for me, there was a lot of excitement and anticipation for “Forever,” and that left me with high expectations. As I presumed, “Forever” jumped right into the action on the first page.

When were you hooked?

To say that I was hooked from the first page is not an exaggeration. “Forever” dived right back into the lives of Sam and Grace. The action picked up considerably a few chapters in, with a near-death experience or two, and the entire novel maintained a fast-paced. The relationship between Sam and Grace was so sweet and perfect that it made me want to cry at times and those romantic moments during high-tension scenes were definitely a favorite of mine.

Sum It Up…

“Forever” is a direct continuation of the previous Wolves of Mercy Falls books, “Shiver” and “Linger,” and may be even better than its predecessors. Stiefvater’s strength still lies in her lyrical prose and realistic characters. All of the characters, from Sam and Grace, to Olivia and Cole, progress and develop so much. During the course of “Forever,” Cole and the others are continuing their search for a cure to becoming a wolf but the answer doesn’t come easily and there is more than one near-death experience involved. While there is less focus on relationships than there was in the previous two novels, a few tear-jerking moments still remain. Stiefvater really shocked me with a few twists that I did not see coming. The only negative to the novel was that Stiefvater mentioned several things from previous books that I could not remember clearly, and did not explain them, which sometimes left me confused.

Final Verdict?

“Forever” is a must-read for fans of “Shiver” and “Linger.” Anyone that has not read them should definitely pick them up before reading “Forever” but should expect to be hooked on the series from the beginning. “Forever” ends on a note that leaves the reader both satisfied and yearning for more. Overall, it’s a novel I highly recommend!

About Skyanne

Skyanne Fisher was the girl skipping school in fourth grade to stay home and write. Now in high school, Skyanne still spends most her time writing. She also reviews books and writes for her school paper. She’s obsessed with foreign cultures, loves cities, and can’t stand small towns. It’s her goal to be fluent in multiple languages and she hopes to major in writing at Columbia College Chicago. In the mean time, she spends her time daydreaming about the days when she’ll be traveling the world.