Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
Scholastic Press (2010), Hardcover, 368 pages
Description
As Grace hides the vast depth of her love for Sam from her parents and Sam struggles to release his werewolf past and claim a human future, a new wolf named Cole wins Isabel's heart but his own past threatens to destroy the whole pack.
User reviews
LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
I give up. I just don't get it. I read this book start to finish and I still don't know what the plot is supposed to be (aside from being .. basically.. a repeat of Shiver maybe?)
So LINGER was much more confusing to me because of the multiple points of view. I liked it in Shiver - I thought it was
And.. instead of just one singer we now have two with the addition of Cole.
So I don't get it. I wanted to like these books because I've heard such fantastic things about them but instead I feel like I've just gone on a long, meandering walk and ended up right back where I started out having seen a bit of pretty scenery along the way.
So LINGER was much more confusing to me because of the multiple points of view. I liked it in Shiver - I thought it was
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one of the best parts of the book but the switch mid-chapters and looking at the story from four points of view was a bit much for me ... especially when it seemed to be all tragic teenager emotions.And.. instead of just one singer we now have two with the addition of Cole.
So I don't get it. I wanted to like these books because I've heard such fantastic things about them but instead I feel like I've just gone on a long, meandering walk and ended up right back where I started out having seen a bit of pretty scenery along the way.
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LibraryThing member stephxsu
Against all odds, Sam and Grace are now together. Sam has been cured of his wolf shifting, and for the moment he and Grace are simply happy with one another’s company, Sam writing his lyrics, playing his guitar, spending time with Grace, and basically not worrying about his inherited
However, bliss cannot last for long. The arrival of a new wolf, Cole, throws into question all that they thought they knew about the wolves, and something long dormant in Grace begins to wake up and make her really sick. It seems that there is more to being a wolf than any of them knew, and it is up to these unlikely allies to unravel the mystery in order to save their own lives.
Told from four characters’ points of view, LINGER lacks action and movement, but its breathtakingly gorgeous writing, character development, and romance will have fans of SHIVER squealing with delight, thoroughly satisfied and craving more.
Maggie Stiefvater has an envious way with words. Reading LINGER is like submerging yourself in exquisite poetry: the language flows off the page and whispers its way through your bloodstream, all the way into your heart. Some books rely on the strength of their plots and ideas to carry the story; Maggie Stiefvater has her words.
At the same time, that was my biggest issue with LINGER, the one I had with SHIVER as well: I found the story lacking…well, heart, I guess. Grace and Sam’s love is so all-encompassing, so beautifully expressed, that it’s almost stifling, no matter how many songs they write and science problems they ponder (or whatever Grace’s other interests besides Sam are). I I found myself sighing with frustration every time the two of them were in a scene together, so eager was I to move on to other scenes in which they didn’t appear together and suck all the vivacity out of everything.
Thankfully, Grace and Sam are the only ones who are so rigidly defined by their love for one another, leaving me free to enjoy the points of view of secondary characters such as Isabel, Grace’s slightly obnoxious friend, and Cole, a sardonic newcomer with a troubled past. Even the new narratorial POVs are not enough to stave off this series’ painstakingly slow pace. Maggie seems to enjoy taking her time with her words and mundane events. The upside of this is that new characters like Cole are fully fleshed out in a way few secondary characters introduced in the second book of a series ever are; the downside is that, unless you’re a diehard SHIVER fan, the book is all too easy to put down.
My interest in this series, however, is redeemed by Maggie pulling off another fantastic ending, one that will make your tongue wag in anticipation of the third book. In fact, despite the slow plotting, LINGER does very much up the stakes—in an extremely startling, yet gratefully welcome, way—for Grace and Sam’s world. It satisfies SHIVER fans’ craving for more beautiful writing and romance, and keeps the story turning by adding in these new, yet not entirely arbitrary, elements. My feelings toward LINGER are mixed, but Maggie’s authoress powers are undeniable, and fans of Grace, Sam, and werewolf romance will be far from disappointed.
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responsibilities as leader of the wolf pack.However, bliss cannot last for long. The arrival of a new wolf, Cole, throws into question all that they thought they knew about the wolves, and something long dormant in Grace begins to wake up and make her really sick. It seems that there is more to being a wolf than any of them knew, and it is up to these unlikely allies to unravel the mystery in order to save their own lives.
Told from four characters’ points of view, LINGER lacks action and movement, but its breathtakingly gorgeous writing, character development, and romance will have fans of SHIVER squealing with delight, thoroughly satisfied and craving more.
Maggie Stiefvater has an envious way with words. Reading LINGER is like submerging yourself in exquisite poetry: the language flows off the page and whispers its way through your bloodstream, all the way into your heart. Some books rely on the strength of their plots and ideas to carry the story; Maggie Stiefvater has her words.
At the same time, that was my biggest issue with LINGER, the one I had with SHIVER as well: I found the story lacking…well, heart, I guess. Grace and Sam’s love is so all-encompassing, so beautifully expressed, that it’s almost stifling, no matter how many songs they write and science problems they ponder (or whatever Grace’s other interests besides Sam are). I I found myself sighing with frustration every time the two of them were in a scene together, so eager was I to move on to other scenes in which they didn’t appear together and suck all the vivacity out of everything.
Thankfully, Grace and Sam are the only ones who are so rigidly defined by their love for one another, leaving me free to enjoy the points of view of secondary characters such as Isabel, Grace’s slightly obnoxious friend, and Cole, a sardonic newcomer with a troubled past. Even the new narratorial POVs are not enough to stave off this series’ painstakingly slow pace. Maggie seems to enjoy taking her time with her words and mundane events. The upside of this is that new characters like Cole are fully fleshed out in a way few secondary characters introduced in the second book of a series ever are; the downside is that, unless you’re a diehard SHIVER fan, the book is all too easy to put down.
My interest in this series, however, is redeemed by Maggie pulling off another fantastic ending, one that will make your tongue wag in anticipation of the third book. In fact, despite the slow plotting, LINGER does very much up the stakes—in an extremely startling, yet gratefully welcome, way—for Grace and Sam’s world. It satisfies SHIVER fans’ craving for more beautiful writing and romance, and keeps the story turning by adding in these new, yet not entirely arbitrary, elements. My feelings toward LINGER are mixed, but Maggie’s authoress powers are undeniable, and fans of Grace, Sam, and werewolf romance will be far from disappointed.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the second book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Stiefvater. The third (and final) book Forever is due out in July 2011. This was a good follow-up to the first book and fans of the first should find nothing to complain about with this book.
In this book we start where we left off in
I will say off the bat that I thought Shiver was creative and easy to read, but slow. The same holds true for this book. Stiefvater takes a very creative approach to werewolves and that creativity continues some in this book. We actually get involved in a bit of science behind the werewolf craziness and I liked that. I kind of missed having the temperatures listed at the beginning of each chapter, but they weren't as important since Sam is cured. The characters are very likable and complex and the dialogue is easy to read. There is just something about this book that draws you forward, I think it is mostly the question of Grace's illness and the threat of Cole.
I have some of the same complaints with this book that I had with the last book. It is slow. Not a ton happens throughout the book. Like in Shiver, we plod through the character's day to day life and very slowly the plot unfolds. There actually isn't a ton of plot to unfold, but somehow it still manages to be engaging. When I finished the book and thought back to what actually happened, really it wasn't all that much. Somehow Stiefvater makes it work for her though and adds in some beautiful prose that almost makes up for the lack of plot.
I also have to mention that I love that this takes place in my home state of Minnesota. Stiefvater does an excellent job of getting a feel for spring in Minnesota and the excitement that comes with the rising temperature.
Overall this was a good continuation of the series. I found it engaging and easy to read, but still thought it moved a bit slow and wished that the plot was a bit more complex. I eagerly await the conclusion to the series Forever.
In this book we start where we left off in
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the last book. Sam is cured, but now Grace is starting to have trouble with fevers and feeling ill. Isabel (whose brother Jack died while she was trying to cure him in the last book) spends a ton of time with Grace. Also some new wolves enter into the story; meet Cole St. Claire, a sexy guy with a mysterious past who seems all about causing trouble.I will say off the bat that I thought Shiver was creative and easy to read, but slow. The same holds true for this book. Stiefvater takes a very creative approach to werewolves and that creativity continues some in this book. We actually get involved in a bit of science behind the werewolf craziness and I liked that. I kind of missed having the temperatures listed at the beginning of each chapter, but they weren't as important since Sam is cured. The characters are very likable and complex and the dialogue is easy to read. There is just something about this book that draws you forward, I think it is mostly the question of Grace's illness and the threat of Cole.
I have some of the same complaints with this book that I had with the last book. It is slow. Not a ton happens throughout the book. Like in Shiver, we plod through the character's day to day life and very slowly the plot unfolds. There actually isn't a ton of plot to unfold, but somehow it still manages to be engaging. When I finished the book and thought back to what actually happened, really it wasn't all that much. Somehow Stiefvater makes it work for her though and adds in some beautiful prose that almost makes up for the lack of plot.
I also have to mention that I love that this takes place in my home state of Minnesota. Stiefvater does an excellent job of getting a feel for spring in Minnesota and the excitement that comes with the rising temperature.
Overall this was a good continuation of the series. I found it engaging and easy to read, but still thought it moved a bit slow and wished that the plot was a bit more complex. I eagerly await the conclusion to the series Forever.
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LibraryThing member patricia_poland
A disappointing follow-up to Shiver (Book 1). The author failed to clear-up where main character Sam had been when Grace thought he was dead in Book 1. The story took too long to get started - maybe about page 70 is when it picked up. Grace being sick throughout became boring - having a main
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character more or less out of the picture is disatisfying. So as not to give away the ending in this review, let me just say that the ending should have come sooner! Good things about the book: the introduction of rock-star-turned-wolf character, Cole, was interesting as was the fleshing out of Isabel's character and the possible relationship growing between her and Cole. Cole's scientific leanings as he begins to study on why/how they shift from human to wolf and back is also equally interesting and it is hoped that the author continues with this. Olivia, Grace's friend-turned-wolf from Book 1 is given just a tad space in Book 2 - almost as if the author had to go back and insert the part about the policeman coming to question Sam near the beginning of Book 2 about what he might know of Olivia's disappearance. All in all, this book was 'okay' whereas Shiver is one I consider a favorite. If there is a Book 3, I won't be rushing to read it. Also, what's with the green font? Not easy on the eyes - good old black type is best. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm12
Instead of a sequel, Linger feels a bit like a rehashing of Shiver, except some of the roles are reversed. It felt much more contrived to me. In the first book the main couple fights to find a way to keep Sam human. In the second it's Grace who is now showing signs of becoming a wolf.
Sam and
I still enjoyed reading Linger, but it didn't impress me. One of the new characters, Cole, is a selfish jerk that I couldn't make myself care about at all. Isabel gets a bit more of a voice in this second installment, but even that never seems to get below the surface. Instead of getting to know her better we just learn that she can't resist the charming Cole... who isn't charming.
I liked reading about Sam's struggle with becoming a leader, which felt real to me. On the other hand, Sam's songs and poems became annoying fast. I'm not a fan of the overly saccharine and found myself rolling my eyes when he would burst into song.
In the end, I think my major complaint is that Linger feels immature where Shiver feels mature. It lapses back into some of the teenage clichés the first one so deftly avoided. I'm not sure if I'll read the next one or not. I'm pretty forgiving with series and have found that the second book is often the weakest of the bunch.
Sam and
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Grace, who we got to know in Shiver, seem to play against character in Linger. Responsible Grace decides to throw caution and ambition to the wind, sweet-natured Sam is dealing with anger and frustration. Grace's parents', who are absent in every sense of the word, become incredibly interested in controlling their daughter's life. It just doesn't follow in the same vein as the first book. I still enjoyed reading Linger, but it didn't impress me. One of the new characters, Cole, is a selfish jerk that I couldn't make myself care about at all. Isabel gets a bit more of a voice in this second installment, but even that never seems to get below the surface. Instead of getting to know her better we just learn that she can't resist the charming Cole... who isn't charming.
I liked reading about Sam's struggle with becoming a leader, which felt real to me. On the other hand, Sam's songs and poems became annoying fast. I'm not a fan of the overly saccharine and found myself rolling my eyes when he would burst into song.
In the end, I think my major complaint is that Linger feels immature where Shiver feels mature. It lapses back into some of the teenage clichés the first one so deftly avoided. I'm not sure if I'll read the next one or not. I'm pretty forgiving with series and have found that the second book is often the weakest of the bunch.
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LibraryThing member Frazzletastic
Linger really danced to its own tune -- the overall tone and atmosphere of the book radically transitioned from a desperate, urgent love story in Shiver to a more passive, heart-breaking tale of four emotionally crushed teenagers that delves into the complexities of their backgrounds and
I only recently got a recommendation for the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, and by the time I got around to Shiver, Linger had come out. As a new reader, I was able to read the stories back-to-back, which I think really helped me fall in love with Linger. Reflecting on it, I realized that Linger barely had any transitions from its prequel. The reader is suddenly thrust into a story with characters that are already molded and barely summarized. Sure, that's the way series are meant to be read, but what about all the readers that didn't re-read Shiver before picking up Linger? Don't they deserve some love? Also, I didn't like that we got lengthy descriptions of Mercy Falls and the intricacies of the teenage mind, but barely any character descriptions. I kept having to refer back to old passages to re-claim the way a character looked.
One thing that really bothered me was the timeline for Linger. I'm a bit obsessive compulsive with time and I've gotten used to actually having a timeline in a story (e.g. Harry Potter or House of Night). A school isn't always required for a timeline -- months are great, too. But in Linger, all we have are seasons. I was a bit frustrated at the beginning of the series because I didn't know where I was compared to Shiver. There were a couple of places that said, "A few months" and then Grace had commented on making her New Years' Resolution, throwing me off balance yet again. After thinking on it, I realized it meant that Grace had made her Resolution a few months later, but it had been confusing, nonetheless.
The pacing was slow enough to frustrate/bore me at times. As a writer myself, I loved the fact that she incorporated a plethora of details about the world around her. Maggie's writing is phenomenal, and her prose was what drew me in initially (alongside the plot, of course). I love the fact that we get to read about the mundane aspects of the characters' relationships, as it gives insight to the characters, how they strengthen their bonds, and their overall personalities. However, it lagged. I kept getting up for breaks and my mind kept wandering to Facebook. The only time I was ever engaged in the book (to the point where I couldn't put it down) were the last forty or so pages.
The alternating POVs were a fresh contrast to Sam's and Grace's POVs. I'm not that fond of books with shifting POVs; however, I didn't mind it as much in Shiver or Linger because it gave us further insight to the budding relationships of our teenage lovers. Isabel and Cole had me laughing, empathizing, crying -- it was really engaging, and the pair almost usurped my love for Sam and Grace. Almost. I can say with a definite declaration, though, that Cole is now my new favorite character in this series.
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personalities. Sam and Grace are forced into fighting for their love, overcoming one burden, only to be presented with the next, all the while dealing with the pain of separation and the looming knowledge that something's happening to Grace that neither are willing to admit. Isabel, making a reappearance as a new POV, has her own demons to deal with: self-inflicted guilt over Jack, conflicting emotions over Sam and Cole, and her unwillingness to feel the pain that's subsiding within her. We're introduced to a new character, Cole -- a boy who chose the 'werewolf' lifestyle -- who turns out to be as damaged as Sam; he comes off as aloof, cynical, and cocky, but redeems himself towards the end of the novel.I only recently got a recommendation for the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, and by the time I got around to Shiver, Linger had come out. As a new reader, I was able to read the stories back-to-back, which I think really helped me fall in love with Linger. Reflecting on it, I realized that Linger barely had any transitions from its prequel. The reader is suddenly thrust into a story with characters that are already molded and barely summarized. Sure, that's the way series are meant to be read, but what about all the readers that didn't re-read Shiver before picking up Linger? Don't they deserve some love? Also, I didn't like that we got lengthy descriptions of Mercy Falls and the intricacies of the teenage mind, but barely any character descriptions. I kept having to refer back to old passages to re-claim the way a character looked.
One thing that really bothered me was the timeline for Linger. I'm a bit obsessive compulsive with time and I've gotten used to actually having a timeline in a story (e.g. Harry Potter or House of Night). A school isn't always required for a timeline -- months are great, too. But in Linger, all we have are seasons. I was a bit frustrated at the beginning of the series because I didn't know where I was compared to Shiver. There were a couple of places that said, "A few months" and then Grace had commented on making her New Years' Resolution, throwing me off balance yet again. After thinking on it, I realized it meant that Grace had made her Resolution a few months later, but it had been confusing, nonetheless.
The pacing was slow enough to frustrate/bore me at times. As a writer myself, I loved the fact that she incorporated a plethora of details about the world around her. Maggie's writing is phenomenal, and her prose was what drew me in initially (alongside the plot, of course). I love the fact that we get to read about the mundane aspects of the characters' relationships, as it gives insight to the characters, how they strengthen their bonds, and their overall personalities. However, it lagged. I kept getting up for breaks and my mind kept wandering to Facebook. The only time I was ever engaged in the book (to the point where I couldn't put it down) were the last forty or so pages.
The alternating POVs were a fresh contrast to Sam's and Grace's POVs. I'm not that fond of books with shifting POVs; however, I didn't mind it as much in Shiver or Linger because it gave us further insight to the budding relationships of our teenage lovers. Isabel and Cole had me laughing, empathizing, crying -- it was really engaging, and the pair almost usurped my love for Sam and Grace. Almost. I can say with a definite declaration, though, that Cole is now my new favorite character in this series.
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LibraryThing member LiDo0502
Most squeals are never as good as the books they follow but Linger is not like other squeals. Linger didn't rant and rave about love like most fictional romances do, everything seemed real and believable. The characters were down to earth and didn't seem annoying or whiny like others in such
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situations. They varying points of view gave the story a dimension and a finesse that many others may lack. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookescapest
This book picks up months after the last one ended. It doesn't even offer any closure to the last book, as to where Sam was while he was sick, what he went through etc. However you overlook that and jump into a new character Cole. Who I found it hard to sympathize with. I didn't understand the deep
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want to die, or how Beck had chosen him. I wish things were pulled in a little tighter, so that we the readers could understand him better. Grace is sick and therefore the books follow Sam, Isabelle, and Cole much more. It was slow moving in the beginning, but towards the end the new direction and focus of the book was much more interesting. I'll read the next book in the series, because it was left wide open again. But if the author wants us to continue to read, it is time to tie up the loose ends, and then move onto the next twist or turn. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookluvrmindy
Ugh! Can we get a true storyline here? I think I may have wasted my time reading this book, so much that I had to skim through a lot of description. I only liked that a new character was introduced.
If the ending of this book was the reason this book was supposed to be good, then Maggie Stiefvater
I think the whole book was dragging on, slowly working up to an ending that we already knew would happen. Blah! A good ending would have been that Sam was charged for the murder of Grace.
OK! I get it! They are all screwed up mentally so quit with the character whining! That was basically the whole premise of the book and then it ends. Whoop-dee-doo!
I would have liked it a lot better if the book was made in a short story. No more than 100 pages.
If the ending of this book was the reason this book was supposed to be good, then Maggie Stiefvater
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messed up by giving up the end in the Prologue. I think the whole book was dragging on, slowly working up to an ending that we already knew would happen. Blah! A good ending would have been that Sam was charged for the murder of Grace.
OK! I get it! They are all screwed up mentally so quit with the character whining! That was basically the whole premise of the book and then it ends. Whoop-dee-doo!
I would have liked it a lot better if the book was made in a short story. No more than 100 pages.
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LibraryThing member jenreidreads
Maybe I'm too old to be reading these books. In most of the reviews I'm seeing, it's "ooooooo, I have *such* a crush on him!!!!!!!!" Blah. The characters are too...emo? Stereotypical, at least. Oh, I'm a tortured rock star. Oh, I'm a tortured rich girl. Oh, I'm a tortured werewolf. Grace's parents
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particularly bother me. It does not feel realistic that they should act and treat her the way they do. The music lyrics got very tiring. And the "twist" ending was pretty predictable. Overall, meh. I'll probably end up reading the third book, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member salander_9277
After Shiver, I looked forward to Linger. This novel pulled me right back into Sam and Grace's world. However, things seemed to unravel for me during this story. All of a sudden Grace's parents care too much about her life after giving her complete independence. Cole's character is too classic
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"rockstar with a death wish" for my taste and falls too easily for Isabelle. The turn of events to keep Sam and Grace apart seem like a stretch. I will continue this series out of need to know how it ends but can say I won't be pre-ordering book 3. Show Less
LibraryThing member mountie9
The Good Stuff
* Her description of the landscape and the wolves is so breathtakingly lovely and realistic that you feel you could reach out and touch
* All the dialogue that comes out of Isabel's mouth
* The relationship between Grace and Isabel and the relationship between Grace and Rachel
*
* Fascinating storyline that keeps you wanting more and makes you impatient for book 3 to come out
* Cole, interesting new character with a fascinating back story
* The character development of Isabel
The Not so Good Stuff
* The ending of this particular book you could see coming from almost the 4th or 5th chapter. It was still a great ride, but you knew what was going to happen
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I never knew there were so many kinds of love or that love could make do so many different things. I never knew there were so many different ways to say good-bye."
"My colleague informs me that I spoke too strongly. I am watching Grace make Italian Food."
"Hick allergy. Isabel said. Grease allergy. Where I used to live, we had real coffeehouses. When I say Panini here, everyone says bless you."
What I Learned
* Being a wolf sounds pretty cool
* Sucks to go from wolf to human and back again
* Parents are almost always portrayed as selfish dufus' in YA, Than again when I was that age I thought my parents were dufus' too
* I'm very impatient -- when the hell is the 3rd book coming out?
Who should/shouldn't read
* Pretty good for anyone over the age of 13
* Not for the emotionally sensitive
* Fans of paranormal fiction
4.5 Deweys
I received from Scholastic in return for an honest review
* Her description of the landscape and the wolves is so breathtakingly lovely and realistic that you feel you could reach out and touch
* All the dialogue that comes out of Isabel's mouth
* The relationship between Grace and Isabel and the relationship between Grace and Rachel
*
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Stiefvater really understands those on the cusp of being adults. The confusion, the angst and well just the heightened emotional stages of young adults* Fascinating storyline that keeps you wanting more and makes you impatient for book 3 to come out
* Cole, interesting new character with a fascinating back story
* The character development of Isabel
The Not so Good Stuff
* The ending of this particular book you could see coming from almost the 4th or 5th chapter. It was still a great ride, but you knew what was going to happen
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"I never knew there were so many kinds of love or that love could make do so many different things. I never knew there were so many different ways to say good-bye."
"My colleague informs me that I spoke too strongly. I am watching Grace make Italian Food."
"Hick allergy. Isabel said. Grease allergy. Where I used to live, we had real coffeehouses. When I say Panini here, everyone says bless you."
What I Learned
* Being a wolf sounds pretty cool
* Sucks to go from wolf to human and back again
* Parents are almost always portrayed as selfish dufus' in YA, Than again when I was that age I thought my parents were dufus' too
* I'm very impatient -- when the hell is the 3rd book coming out?
Who should/shouldn't read
* Pretty good for anyone over the age of 13
* Not for the emotionally sensitive
* Fans of paranormal fiction
4.5 Deweys
I received from Scholastic in return for an honest review
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LibraryThing member BookWhisperer
Maggie Stiefvater has outdone herself again. This is the sequel to the last years release of Shiver. A very original story about a girl and her wolves. Only this is a werewolf story unlike any other. Linger expanded the cast of characters that I found to be refreshing. I have concluded that I
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believe this story to be even better than the first book, and am anxious to read the third and final book. Grace and Sam have a love like no other that I never tire of reading, although I was overcome by the events produced in Linger. Cole being the newest main character of this story was a exhilarating addition, and I feel made this book what it was. I look for him to be a permanent fixture that continues in the third book. This three books series is very unusual and does not follow the a typical structure of werewolf books giving it a independence from the normal stereotypes. This is a must read that will not disappoint. Show Less
LibraryThing member edspicer
It was really good and is very interesting. There is a lot of action which keeps you interested. AHS/MK
LibraryThing member MyBookAffair
I loved Linger!! Sam and Grace are one of my favorite couples and Isabelle is such an amazing character. The addition of Cole was fabulous. This book left me heartbroken. I loved Shiver but I felt Linger was even better.
LibraryThing member ABookwormsHaven
I cannot even explain how excited I am to have gotten an ARC of this. I have actually had it since March, thanks to the wonderful owner at The Fountain Bookstore, but I still pre-ordered a signed copy of my own! Ok, so onto my review of Linger. If you don’t know (which if you don't know this book
Linger picks up where Shiver left off, Sam is trying to adjust to life as a human and finds that he is still in denial over never becoming a wolf again. Grace is trying to be with Sam as much as possible, keeps getting frequent headaches, and has to deal with her overprotective parents who are not so happy with how serious Grace is getting with Sam. While we are on that subject, Grace’s parents are driving me crazy! They have been absent pretty much her whole life and now is the time they decide to pay attention? They jump to all the wrong conclusions and just get in the way throughout this story, I was rooting for Grace to just tell the off.
In Linger we also get the introduction of a new character Cole, who is running from his past and finds that becoming a wolf becomes the perfect escape for him. Cole becomes one of the narrators in this story along with Isabel, Grace and Sam. So in Linger we have four narrators, which gives the reader multiple perspectives and really paints a complete picture. I also like getting inside Isabel’s head in this one, she becomes the surprising voice of reason in the story.
The only downside to Linger for me was that I felt like I never really got a moment a “happy” moment for Sam and Grace like we did in Shiver. Get your minds out of the gutter, I just mean I felt like we never get to see them just happy for more than a page or two. There was so much going on that they don’t really have down time and I missed that. It probably has a lot to do with all the conflicts that arise in their lives, but I still missed just seeing Grace and Sam happy. I also feel like the ending happened in fast forward, which was good because I kept reading and could not put the book down, but on the downside I was left seriously wanting at the end. Which come to think of it might have been Maggie’s point, to leave us wanting more.
If you liked Shiver then you should pick up Linger and see how the story continues to develop. Sam and Grace are still the main focus but Cole definitely shakes some things up, especially for Isabel. I eagerly await the final book in this series, Forever, to see what happens to all of the characters.
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I think you might have been living under a rock) Linger is the second book of a trilogy, the first book being Shiver. I loved the tone of Shiver, it was sweet and innocent and so hopeful. The tone of Linger is quite different, it feels melancholy and you can almost see the despair dripping from the pages of the book. I am not sure if everyone feels that way after they read it or if Maggie even intended it to read that way but that is how I felt after I finished the book. That does not mean I did not like it, I did, it just had a sad undertone. Linger picks up where Shiver left off, Sam is trying to adjust to life as a human and finds that he is still in denial over never becoming a wolf again. Grace is trying to be with Sam as much as possible, keeps getting frequent headaches, and has to deal with her overprotective parents who are not so happy with how serious Grace is getting with Sam. While we are on that subject, Grace’s parents are driving me crazy! They have been absent pretty much her whole life and now is the time they decide to pay attention? They jump to all the wrong conclusions and just get in the way throughout this story, I was rooting for Grace to just tell the off.
In Linger we also get the introduction of a new character Cole, who is running from his past and finds that becoming a wolf becomes the perfect escape for him. Cole becomes one of the narrators in this story along with Isabel, Grace and Sam. So in Linger we have four narrators, which gives the reader multiple perspectives and really paints a complete picture. I also like getting inside Isabel’s head in this one, she becomes the surprising voice of reason in the story.
The only downside to Linger for me was that I felt like I never really got a moment a “happy” moment for Sam and Grace like we did in Shiver. Get your minds out of the gutter, I just mean I felt like we never get to see them just happy for more than a page or two. There was so much going on that they don’t really have down time and I missed that. It probably has a lot to do with all the conflicts that arise in their lives, but I still missed just seeing Grace and Sam happy. I also feel like the ending happened in fast forward, which was good because I kept reading and could not put the book down, but on the downside I was left seriously wanting at the end. Which come to think of it might have been Maggie’s point, to leave us wanting more.
If you liked Shiver then you should pick up Linger and see how the story continues to develop. Sam and Grace are still the main focus but Cole definitely shakes some things up, especially for Isabel. I eagerly await the final book in this series, Forever, to see what happens to all of the characters.
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LibraryThing member LitChick26
LINGER does just what the title says it will, it lingers. Granted, I just finished the book, but I still feel the sensation of reading it as I'm writing this review. I can still hear Sam's heartbreaking lyrics pulsing through my head and the pain I felt when I realized I was on the last page.
For
I also love the way Maggie gives each character an individual and definitely "their own" voice. The four different perspectives could have made the book, let's just say it, awful! But it ended up making it brilliant. I found myself more invested to the characters because I knew what and how they were thinking. I would be in Sam's perspective wanting to know what Grace or Cole were thinking and then BAM I would get to!! Isabel also provided great comic relief in highly stressful situations, which I loved. Isabel is so different from Grace, just as Sam is so different from Cole and yet they all are so perfect together that they thread an amazing and compelling story.
With all this talk of characters, I don't want to forget the plot. At the beginning of the story, I thought I knew what would happen, but then the ending was so different from my original ideas. This said, there was a lot of foreshadowing as to what would happen in the end. But looking back there was no way around that, because the final result wouldn't make sense without the buildup.
I'm so happy to say that I loved this book and I can't wait for FOREVER! I'm so anxious to see how Grace and Sam's story ends!
For
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me, SHIVER was my favorite book from last year, so LINGER had a lot to live up to. I'm so happy and excited to say that LINGER surpassed all my thoughts about SHIVER. I loved everything about this book, even the sort-of cliff-hanger ending. The new werewolf Cole brought a new feel to this series that I think it needed, that and his labored relationship with Isabel. I LOVE COLE! Haha, just had to say it! He gave the reader a different view on the life as a wolf and allowed us to see Sam out of Grace's eyes. Even though we have Sam's perspective, its good to see a character from an outsider's view and Cole provided that. Grace's and Sam's relationship also seemed more real because you saw realistic opinions of others about them, like those of Rachel and Isabel, and FINALLY, her parents! I also love the way Maggie gives each character an individual and definitely "their own" voice. The four different perspectives could have made the book, let's just say it, awful! But it ended up making it brilliant. I found myself more invested to the characters because I knew what and how they were thinking. I would be in Sam's perspective wanting to know what Grace or Cole were thinking and then BAM I would get to!! Isabel also provided great comic relief in highly stressful situations, which I loved. Isabel is so different from Grace, just as Sam is so different from Cole and yet they all are so perfect together that they thread an amazing and compelling story.
With all this talk of characters, I don't want to forget the plot. At the beginning of the story, I thought I knew what would happen, but then the ending was so different from my original ideas. This said, there was a lot of foreshadowing as to what would happen in the end. But looking back there was no way around that, because the final result wouldn't make sense without the buildup.
I'm so happy to say that I loved this book and I can't wait for FOREVER! I'm so anxious to see how Grace and Sam's story ends!
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LibraryThing member teharhynn
I liked the book, and the characters, and I couldn't have been more ready to see more of grace's story with Sam, but this wasn't as much a stand-alone plot as the last one. I think this was more a bridge between the last one and the next. I want to know what happens, and now we're probably going to
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have to wait another agonizingly long year. Show Less
LibraryThing member ldelprete
The year long wait for this second installment of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series was definitely worth it. I dont want to wait another year for Forever to come out. I want to read it now. Let me start with the fact that Maggie has a way of writing that is pure genius when it comes to her
Now onto Cole. Here Maggie was pure genius. The path which she took him from start to finish was amazingly believable. At no point did I ever feel that any of his story was stretched or impossible. His role in this story became clear pretty early for me but I did not expect the inner journey and transformation that occurred in him.
Where Shiver was warm and endearing, Linger was torment and heartache. Each equally drawing and captivating. I found that I was on edge more with Linger and still didn't want to put it down. This series is the most intimate read out of all the YA I have read. It just feels familiar and reads like it could be happening next door.
I kind of anticipated an ending similar to the one she provided but never saw the journey she would take me on coming at all. The details are amazing and its the middle of her stories that get you hooked. I am left sitting here shaking my head simply amazed and in awe. Pure Genius. Can't wait for Forever!
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characters. Her stories read like the everyday life in her world. It is so intimate like the reader is watching from a window unknown by the characters. It's like being part of their lives but as an invisible spirit that can neither influence or change things, simply observe and feel all the emotions that her characters are going through. I find them all in this story to be amazingly relatable. Grace is further developed into a strong yet fragile protagonist. The balance that Maggie gave her was amazing. None of her thoughts or choices ever felt plastic. Sam is amazing. He is deep and damaged but so artistic. He is like melting chocolate. I love his musical inclinations. Its amazing how his mind works in lyrics and his life simply is grace. No complications with her, just love. Like breathing. Now onto Cole. Here Maggie was pure genius. The path which she took him from start to finish was amazingly believable. At no point did I ever feel that any of his story was stretched or impossible. His role in this story became clear pretty early for me but I did not expect the inner journey and transformation that occurred in him.
Where Shiver was warm and endearing, Linger was torment and heartache. Each equally drawing and captivating. I found that I was on edge more with Linger and still didn't want to put it down. This series is the most intimate read out of all the YA I have read. It just feels familiar and reads like it could be happening next door.
I kind of anticipated an ending similar to the one she provided but never saw the journey she would take me on coming at all. The details are amazing and its the middle of her stories that get you hooked. I am left sitting here shaking my head simply amazed and in awe. Pure Genius. Can't wait for Forever!
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LibraryThing member ShellyPYA
Sequel to Shiver. Sam has stopped shifting permanently, but now he's in charge of the pack of new shifter that Beck chose to replace him. One of them, Cole, is a former rock star who decided to become a wolf to escape, but for some reason he's not shifting like he should. Meanwhile, Grace is not
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well, and she thinks it may be her body trying to shift but unable. Cole's hypothesis about her sickness may mean changes for all. Show Less
LibraryThing member kissmeimgone
An amazing book, from the very beginning. Just as good as the book before it, Shiver. This book makes you question..will you take advantage of the fact you're alive and live day to day like it's really your last? In the end, this book left me in tears...I recommend this book to everyone. A very
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good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member khager
I really liked Shiver, but I loved Linger. Completely, utterly adore it.
Shiver (spoiler) had an incredibly happy ending. Obstacles were overcome and Sam and Grace were together.
Linger? More obstacles, even harder to overcome. You know things are bad when the fact that Grace's parents now hate Sam
We also get two new narrators--Isabel and Cole. Cole's a new werewolf and is one of the more damaged people in the world. Isabel is bitter and jaded and all sharp angles and "don't get too close" vibes. (I love Isabel.) They're immediately drawn to each other, but of course, it's complicated. (And it has more to do with their two personalities than the fact that he's a werewolf and she isn't.)
I thought Linger was just fantastic. :) I can't wait to read the third book, and I hope things go better for Grace and Sam.
Shiver (spoiler) had an incredibly happy ending. Obstacles were overcome and Sam and Grace were together.
Linger? More obstacles, even harder to overcome. You know things are bad when the fact that Grace's parents now hate Sam
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and don't want him anywhere near their daughter is actually the least of their problems.We also get two new narrators--Isabel and Cole. Cole's a new werewolf and is one of the more damaged people in the world. Isabel is bitter and jaded and all sharp angles and "don't get too close" vibes. (I love Isabel.) They're immediately drawn to each other, but of course, it's complicated. (And it has more to do with their two personalities than the fact that he's a werewolf and she isn't.)
I thought Linger was just fantastic. :) I can't wait to read the third book, and I hope things go better for Grace and Sam.
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LibraryThing member ericajsc
Amazing. Beautiful. Lyrical. All these words have been used to describe Maggie Stiefvater’s writing, but even those words pale in comparison to her writing. It is in a category of its own, and I cannot help but be awestruck when I read her books. I feel as if she leaves every part of herself on
At the end of Shiver, Sam and Grace got their happy ending. But, alas, nobody gets a happy ending in the first book of a trilogy. They are truly, deeply in love, and their connection is so honest and deep that it would not be believable for something as trivial as another person to come between them. As Sam struggles to believe that he is cured, that he doesn’t have to leave Grace behind anymore, there are other, more human concerns threatening to separate them: Grace’s parents. If there is anything that could make me love Sam more, it’s that he faces this with such understanding and maturity, even though all he wants is to spend every moment he can with Grace. “I can see it from their point of view. That’s the problem… If I were them, I’d be furious.” Sam is so contemplative that, even through all of his own desires, he is able to see the other side of the argument. However, the fact that there is definitely something wrong with Grace, the absolute love of his life, forces him into a position in which he must choose between the girl he loves and respecting her parents. It doesn’t seem like a difficult choice, but the repercussions for Sam could be disastrous.
While Sam is introspective, Cole is impulsive; while Sam is modest, Cole is arrogant. Now, I love Sam, and in real life he would win the battle between the two boys every time. But in this book, Cole trumps Sam. It’s true; I found myself wishing more of the story focused on him. He’s got that whole rock star, devil-may-care, screw you and your entire family attitude, and that’s interesting on a completely different level than Sam. And, like pretty much every guy in the history of the world who’s like that, he’s got so much backstory that I want to read that book. Of course, with Sam and Cole being oceans apart in personality and outlook on life, there’s plenty of conflict between them. Cole seems to be the only person that Sam is unable, or unwilling, to understand.
Oh, yeah, there are girls in the book, too. There’s Grace, of course, who doesn’t know what is happening to her but knows that something is happening, something that seems to be wolfish in nature. And then there is Isabel. I love Isabel for the same reasons I love Cole: she brings a damaged tempestuousness to balance Grace’s cool and (mostly) calm manner, and she does it well. When the world around them seems to be spinning out of control, Isabel is the one who slaps them around and tells them to do something about it other than sit there and watch it happen.
I will now admit that I was a bit worried when I picked up this book because, from what I’d read of what happens with Grace, I thought it sounded like it could come across as forced just for the sake of creating drama. Rest assured, it doesn’t. Not at all. In fact, though the readers are kept in suspense for much of the book, where this particular plot thread leads is one of the aspects I admired most about the book. It works brilliantly.
Poignant storytelling, deeply developed characters, and innovation combine in this book to create another extraordinary chapter of this series.
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the page, holding nothing back, and I think that’s why this series resonates with so many readers. Shiver felt personal and magical, and after reading it people wanted more. Linger definitely delivers.At the end of Shiver, Sam and Grace got their happy ending. But, alas, nobody gets a happy ending in the first book of a trilogy. They are truly, deeply in love, and their connection is so honest and deep that it would not be believable for something as trivial as another person to come between them. As Sam struggles to believe that he is cured, that he doesn’t have to leave Grace behind anymore, there are other, more human concerns threatening to separate them: Grace’s parents. If there is anything that could make me love Sam more, it’s that he faces this with such understanding and maturity, even though all he wants is to spend every moment he can with Grace. “I can see it from their point of view. That’s the problem… If I were them, I’d be furious.” Sam is so contemplative that, even through all of his own desires, he is able to see the other side of the argument. However, the fact that there is definitely something wrong with Grace, the absolute love of his life, forces him into a position in which he must choose between the girl he loves and respecting her parents. It doesn’t seem like a difficult choice, but the repercussions for Sam could be disastrous.
While Sam is introspective, Cole is impulsive; while Sam is modest, Cole is arrogant. Now, I love Sam, and in real life he would win the battle between the two boys every time. But in this book, Cole trumps Sam. It’s true; I found myself wishing more of the story focused on him. He’s got that whole rock star, devil-may-care, screw you and your entire family attitude, and that’s interesting on a completely different level than Sam. And, like pretty much every guy in the history of the world who’s like that, he’s got so much backstory that I want to read that book. Of course, with Sam and Cole being oceans apart in personality and outlook on life, there’s plenty of conflict between them. Cole seems to be the only person that Sam is unable, or unwilling, to understand.
Oh, yeah, there are girls in the book, too. There’s Grace, of course, who doesn’t know what is happening to her but knows that something is happening, something that seems to be wolfish in nature. And then there is Isabel. I love Isabel for the same reasons I love Cole: she brings a damaged tempestuousness to balance Grace’s cool and (mostly) calm manner, and she does it well. When the world around them seems to be spinning out of control, Isabel is the one who slaps them around and tells them to do something about it other than sit there and watch it happen.
I will now admit that I was a bit worried when I picked up this book because, from what I’d read of what happens with Grace, I thought it sounded like it could come across as forced just for the sake of creating drama. Rest assured, it doesn’t. Not at all. In fact, though the readers are kept in suspense for much of the book, where this particular plot thread leads is one of the aspects I admired most about the book. It works brilliantly.
Poignant storytelling, deeply developed characters, and innovation combine in this book to create another extraordinary chapter of this series.
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LibraryThing member ewyatt
The wolves of Mercy Falls are back. Sam is wondering weather the cure will really take and how much responsibility he still has to his pack. While Grace seems to become more and more ill, new wolf, Cole, is introduced. I liked this book better than the first installment of the series, and at the
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end it left me hanging to find out what will happen next. Show Less
LibraryThing member Awesomeness1
It's about time I write this review.
I wasn't blown away by Shiver, but that doesn't mean I wasn't eagerly waiting for Linger. I seem to be in the minority here, but I liked Linger more than I did Shiver.
I still don't understand Sam though. I've decided not call him gay anymore, because he makes
1. bakes bread
2. reads German poetry
3. writes sappy love songs
4. cooks
5. folds paper
6. is sensitive (aka moody). And not in the sexy-never-know-what-hes gonna-do way, but in the oh-no-hes-crying-again way.
Seriously, this boy would get eaten alive in any high school. I still like Grace though. She's neat. Smart and savvy.
But I am glad its not just those two anymore. If I had to read another 350 paged sappy lovefest between those two, I wouldn't be able to take it. So I'm glad for the new POV of Isabel and Cole. I've always liked Isabel. She's ballsy but not invulnerable. I like how she isn't portayed as perfect. And then there's Cole....I won't even try to hide the crush I have on him. *shrugs* I have a thing for damaged rock stars. It was interesting to see the whole situation through their eyes. It kept the story fresh, and I didn't get confused when ever there was a shift in perspective. And I don't care much about Isabel and Cole as a couple. That's not really necessary.
And of course I was pissed at the parents. Not because they did what did in itself, but because they did it without precedence. Its kinda like when my mother let my dog run around the yard just after installing the electric fence. My dog was running around, not a care in the world, unaware that a few feet away was an underground wire that would shock her if she came near it. My dog was not aware that the boundry existed, which is why it was made all the more cruel when she got zapped.
The writing, as usual, was good. There is something so delicate about it that sets the mood for the story. The story would be absolutely suckish if the writing wasn't so good, which is propbably why I was able to tolerate the slow pace.
So I liked it, and definitely have a few questions. Forever needs to come NOW.
I wasn't blown away by Shiver, but that doesn't mean I wasn't eagerly waiting for Linger. I seem to be in the minority here, but I liked Linger more than I did Shiver.
I still don't understand Sam though. I've decided not call him gay anymore, because he makes
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it abundantly clear that he loves Grace. So instead, I will just call him feminine. I mean this boy 1. bakes bread
2. reads German poetry
3. writes sappy love songs
4. cooks
5. folds paper
6. is sensitive (aka moody). And not in the sexy-never-know-what-hes gonna-do way, but in the oh-no-hes-crying-again way.
Seriously, this boy would get eaten alive in any high school. I still like Grace though. She's neat. Smart and savvy.
But I am glad its not just those two anymore. If I had to read another 350 paged sappy lovefest between those two, I wouldn't be able to take it. So I'm glad for the new POV of Isabel and Cole. I've always liked Isabel. She's ballsy but not invulnerable. I like how she isn't portayed as perfect. And then there's Cole....I won't even try to hide the crush I have on him. *shrugs* I have a thing for damaged rock stars. It was interesting to see the whole situation through their eyes. It kept the story fresh, and I didn't get confused when ever there was a shift in perspective. And I don't care much about Isabel and Cole as a couple. That's not really necessary.
And of course I was pissed at the parents. Not because they did what did in itself, but because they did it without precedence. Its kinda like when my mother let my dog run around the yard just after installing the electric fence. My dog was running around, not a care in the world, unaware that a few feet away was an underground wire that would shock her if she came near it. My dog was not aware that the boundry existed, which is why it was made all the more cruel when she got zapped.
The writing, as usual, was good. There is something so delicate about it that sets the mood for the story. The story would be absolutely suckish if the writing wasn't so good, which is propbably why I was able to tolerate the slow pace.
So I liked it, and definitely have a few questions. Forever needs to come NOW.
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Awards
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Nominee — 2012)
Language
Original publication date
2010-07-13
Physical description
368 p.; 8.5 inches
ISBN
0545123283 / 9780545123280
Local notes
Grace and Sam must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves but is drawn to Cole.
Still very predictable. This one is printed in a dark green type face, which is pretty cool though.
Still very predictable. This one is printed in a dark green type face, which is pretty cool though.
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