Yes, I am finally posting this review. I picked this book up the day it was released without knowing what it as about really, and without having read anything else by Maggie, or having people around me to say, “Oh, Maggie Stiefvater wrote that, you should totally get it.” Pretty much I saw the cover and went, “Huh, that’s cool.” read the sleeve, and said, “Oh a wolf, cool. Okay.” Then bought it.
This book sealed the deal for me and I have been a fan ever since, reading both Lament and Ballad as quickly as I could get my hands on them.
I think this was probably the first book that really flipped back and forth between the main characters. I’ve read books since Shiver that did this and were released before Shiver, but this one introduced me to that style and I was happy to have Sam’s perspective.
The way Sam shifted was unique and I thought the backstory on how young he was, and what happened with his parents helped me to “feel closer” to him. He wasn’t just some boy that was a wolf, he was a boy with demons and that made him more real.
Grace was alright.
No, I’m kidding. I thought the fact that Grace’s parent’s neglection was there set it apart from most stories like this. Usually parents are non-existent, or dead, or abusive. But I liked how there scatteredness was actually a reason why Grace was how she was, was clever. Was that cryptic enough?
I thought that bit of info was clever. Very clever Mrs. Stiefvater.
I do have questions, of course, since this is a trilogy, I suppose that’s the point. Give me a little now so I’ll want more.
And I do.
Linger comes out July 20th, so we have to wait another 5 months, *sigh*
and now for the beautiful quotes I loved...
"You're beautiful and sad," I said finally, not looking at him when I did. "Just like your eyes. You're like a song that I heard when I was a little kid but forgot I knew until I heard it again." For a long moment there was only the whirring sound of the tires on the road, and then Sam said softly, "Thank you."
"Sam,' the girl said. “Sam.”
She was the past present and future. I wanted to answer , but I was broken.
"So, Grace, how's school?" I asked myself.
Dad nodded, eyes on the baby koala now struggling in the guest's arms.
"Oh, it's fine," I continued, and Dad made a mumbling noise of agreement. I added, "Nothing special, aside from the load of pandas they brought in, and the teachers abandoning us to cannibalistic savages-" I paused to see if I'd caught his attention yet, then pressed on. "The whole building caught fire, then I failed drama, and then sex, sex, sex."
Dad's eyes abruptly focused, and he turned to me and frowned. "What did you say they were teaching you in school?"
“You two are too cute,” the counter girl said, setting two cups piled with whipped cream on the counter. She had a sort of lopsided, open smile that made me think she laughed a lot. “Seriously. How long have you been going out?”
Sam let go of my hands to get his wallet and took out some bills. “Six years.”
I wrinkled my nose to cover a laugh. Of course he would count the time that we’d been two entirely different species.
“Whoa.” Counter girl nodded appreciatively. “That’s pretty amazing for a couple your age.
Sam handed me my hot chocolate and didn’t answer. But his yellow eyes gazed at me possessively—I wondered if he realized that the way he looked at me was far more intimate than copping a feel could ever be.
I crouched to look at the almond bark on the bottom shelf in the counter. I wasn’t quite bold enough to look at either of them when I admitted, “Well, it was love at first sight.”
The girl sighed. “That is just so romantic. Do me a favor, and don’t you two ever change. The world needs more love at first sight.”
I said uselessly, "Sam, don't go."
Sam cupped my face in his hands and looked me in the eyes. His eyes were yellow, sad, wolf, mine. "These stay the same. Remember that when you look at me. Remember it's me. Please."
“Please don't go."
