Release Date: August 1st, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format of Novel: Nook
Rating: 3/5 stars
Summary (from good reads): For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.
Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.
- - -
Normally I would fan girl about lycanthrope in Young Adult books. Almost to the point where a review like this one would be nothing, but everything a young teenage girl gossiping on how cute the characters and the whole plot was on point. However, this was a book I wasn't a huge fan nor was I disappointed in it. To me, this book was a flat plain on a developing hill.
Don't get me wrong, I love Maggie Stiefvater and her beautiful writing (aka Raven Cycle series) and her way to bring out characters in a entertaining way. But, for this book, I almost didn't finish it because I was muttering curse words at the lack of the lycanthrope I craved. The plot was completely flat, but it lingered in hope for a better continuation of the trilogy. However, what did drawn me into the book was her writing style and her idea of lycanthrope. I'd enjoyed how she made the curse more season related because I do think wolves are more associated with winter than summer. It was a great idea, but I wish there was more to it.
Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.
- - -
Normally I would fan girl about lycanthrope in Young Adult books. Almost to the point where a review like this one would be nothing, but everything a young teenage girl gossiping on how cute the characters and the whole plot was on point. However, this was a book I wasn't a huge fan nor was I disappointed in it. To me, this book was a flat plain on a developing hill.
Don't get me wrong, I love Maggie Stiefvater and her beautiful writing (aka Raven Cycle series) and her way to bring out characters in a entertaining way. But, for this book, I almost didn't finish it because I was muttering curse words at the lack of the lycanthrope I craved. The plot was completely flat, but it lingered in hope for a better continuation of the trilogy. However, what did drawn me into the book was her writing style and her idea of lycanthrope. I'd enjoyed how she made the curse more season related because I do think wolves are more associated with winter than summer. It was a great idea, but I wish there was more to it.
The characters were flat as well in my opinion. I didn't like how there wasn't any growth to Sam and Grace throughout the novel. I liked the romance between the two, but I wanted to see more other than the romance. As for the other characters, I think there were a little stronger than the protagonists, but perhaps there will be a better out look in the other two books.
Overall, I did enjoy the idea of the book, I just felt that this book was a slow debut to the trilogy. I'm not entirely sure if I'm going to read the rest of the series, but maybe I will in the near future because I do love Maggie Stiefvater as a author and I want to give the series another try because of my love for her writing. What did you all think of the book? Let me know in the comments below and I'll be back on Tuesday with another review.
Happy Howling!
