Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Synopsis:
The Longing.

Once Grace and Sam have found each other, they know that they must fight to stay together.
For Sam, this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace, it means facing a future that is less and less certain.

The Loss.

Into their world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is
wrestling with his own demons embracing the life of a wolf, while denying the ties of being human.

The Linger.

For Grace, Sam, and Cole, life is a constant struggle between two forces --
wolf and human -- with love baring its two sides as well. It is harrowing and
euphoric, freeing and entrapping, enticing and alarming. As their world falls apart,
love is what lingers. But will it be enough?

My Review:
At the beginning of 2010 I set out to complete one item on the list of things I must do before I die: Read 50 books in one year. As of August 4th, 2010 I did it!!! It just so happens that the very first book I read in my mission to complete this task was Shiver which is the prequel to Linger. So that means Linger was my 50 book-I just love how that turned out!

OK, on to the book review. I really liked this book! The cover along I thought was so beautiful and fitting to the story and I love that the text is also in green just like the cover. Maggie has a way of painting a beautiful picture in my imagination with her rich descriptions in terms of her character’s of emotions and the physical world in which they inhabit. This story continues with Sam and Grace and the wolves of Mercy Falls after Sam became a boy again for good this time. I like that we get a look into Sam’s world and what life was like for him growing up alternating between being human and being an animal. I love that his room was covered in paper cranes of all shapes, sizes, and colors and they all tell a story about Sam and his experiences.

I don’t want to spoil the story for those who have not read it (so stop reading if you don’t want anything revealed) but I will say that I can’t believe we are left hanging at the end not knowing what is going to happen to Grace and how Sam and Grace’s relationship will survive considering the circumstances. Until the next book comes out this story is an open door that I am anxious to close. Read it!