Book Review - Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Forever (published by Scholastic) is the last book of Stiefvater's The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. So my question is: did she close the series with a golden key?


SYNOPSIS:
"Grace," I whispered."This isn't how it ends."
"Sam has always loved Grace. As a wolf, he watched her from afar. As a boy, he held her in his arms. Now facing the possibility of a life without her, he will do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means facing his demons. Even if it risks everything he has. Anything, as long as their love can survive..."



REVIEW:
This series is, again, one of my favourites. There are many things that attracted me to it. One of which is the role reversal. Grace, the main character, is not your stereotypical damsel in distress. She's practical, straight talking, logical and almost not romantic at all. Sam, the male lead, on the other hand is sensitive, damaged, creative and an utter romantic. Then you have Cole and Isabel who discover kindness in despair and provide the best scenes and lines of this book.


To top it up you have the plot. In the first book being a wolf was something a little mystical, magical. On the second you find out there might be another explanation. Slowly the whole concept begins to sound less like an exceptional gift and more like a curse. There is very little I can say without giving it away, but the twist is amazing!


Stiefvater's writing is incredibly entertaining. The prose is smooth and the wit irresistibly funny. Oh! Don't think you get it too easy! There will be stances where you will run for the tissues unashamedly. She also flips the points of view in between a few of the characters so you get a rounder, more complete description of what is going on in all levels.


I don't really see a better end for the story, however, I feel like there was a lot that was left unfinished. The end is open and, although the odds are really good, you will never really know for sure. If I am honest, and I know someone out there will want to throw stones at me, Sam really annoyed me in this book. I was happy to see him working through his issues (and boy does he have issues!) but at the same time it was like: "Get hold of yourself already!" Having said that, different people grief and work through problems differently and Sam is just the opposite side of that spectrum to me. Hence why I don't really understand him.


To contrast that, probably knowing Sam came across as a bit of a wimp, Stiefvater teamed him with Cole. Ah Cole... *day dreams for a second*. Even though Cole can bit a bit annoying, he is a doer. Now, that I can understand. And I wanted him to get it together with Isabel so badly! Here is where I thought you didn't get the info. And I can understand why she did it. Cole and Isabel are not the main characters so their relationship shouldn't really take over, but I still wanted more! There are plenty of hints, but I'm not sure I'm good at those. In plain English: do they get together? Do they stay together? What actually happens when he turns up on her door step? I was almost frustrated not to have the answers.


All in one... the series is still fab and in a very different way from other current YA Wolf novels. It's definitely a little more of a chick lit version, albeit with a twist. And no, I couldn't explain it any more without giving the twist away so you just have to read it. And while you are at it, do read the Author's Note at the end. Stiefvater says some very interesting things.


MY FAVOURITE SCENE: 
   ISABEL:
   'Beneath me, the bed tipped and Cole edged closer. I felt him lean over me. His breath, warm and measured, hit my cheek. Two breaths. Three. Four. I didn't know what I wanted. Then I heard him stop breathing, and a second later, I felt his lips on my mouth. 
   It wasn't the sort of kiss I'd had with him before, hungry, wanting, desperate. It wasn't the sort of kiss I'd had with anyone before. This kiss was so soft that it was like a memory of a kiss, so careful on my lips that it was like someone running his fingers along them. My mouth parted and stilled; it was so quiet, a whisper, not a shout. Cole's hand touched my neck, thumb pressed into the skin next to my jaw. It wasn't a touch that said I need more. It was a touch that said I want this. 
   Cole sat back up slowly and I opened my eyes. His expression, as ever, was blank, the face he wore when something mattered.
   He said, "That's how I would kiss you, if I loved you"'

Book Rating: ****

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