literarywallflower's review against another edition
4.0
So I have to admit that I didn’t like this one nearly as much as I liked the previous two, but it was a nice ending to a great series. I don’t know what it was about this book, but it just didn’t hold my attention as well as Shiver and Linger, but I was so ready to know how it ended that I breezed through the end.
What I liked:
I would just like to say again that Cole St. Claire stole the show for me. Once he was introduced, he instantly became my favorite! I just love reading his chapters and love his character in general.
“Are you high? Why are you never wearing a shirt?”
“I sleep naked,” Cole said. He put both milk and sugar in my coffee. “As the day goes on, I put on more and more clothing. You should’ve come over an hour ago.”
The relationship between Cole and Isabel was dynamic from the beginning. Bad broken boy meets sad broken girl equals to perfection.
“Cole,” I said, “do you think I’m lovable?”
“As in ‘cuddly and’?”
“As in ‘able to be loved,’” I said.
Cole’s gaze was unwavering. Just for a moment, I had the strange idea that I could see exactly what he had looked like when he was younger, and exactly what he’d look like when he was older. It was piercing, a secret glimpse of his future. “Maybe,” he said. “But you won’t let anybody try.”
Cole’s voicemails were also just too great. He continuously makes me laugh with the ridiculous crap that he says.
“Voicemail #1: “Hi, Isabel Culpeper. I am lying in my bed, looking at the ceiling. I am mostly naked. I am thinking of … your mother. Call me.”
“Voicemail #6: “So, yeah, I’m sorry. That last message went a little pear-shaped. You like that expression? Sam said it the other day. Hey, try this theory on for size: I think he’s a dead British housewife reincarnated into a Beatle’s body. You know, I used to know this band that put on fake British accents for their shows. Boy, did they suck, aside from being assholes. I can’t remember their name now. I’m either getting senile or I’ve done enough to my brain that stuff’s falling out. Not so fair of me to make this one-sided, is it? I’m always talking about myself in these things. So, how are you, Isabel Rosemary Culpeper? Smile lately? Hot Toddies. That was the name of the band. The Hot Toddies.”
“Voicemail #20: “I wish you’d answer.”
What I disliked:
The parents again. Grace’s parents have serious issues on how to raise a child. I think that the way Grace reacts is totally and completely justified. As for Isabel’s parents… I feel like it is reasonable that they would be at wits end due to the loss of their son, but I think that her father takes his hatred for the wolves a bit excessive.
What I thought overall:
Although I didn’t love it as much as I loved the first two, it was a good ending. I don’t want to spoil it, but I will just say that I approve of the ending. I am sad the series is over, but I am so so stoked to read the Cole spin-off. It was a fantastic series and I am so glad I was able to read it. Do I recommend reading it? Yes.
What I liked:
I would just like to say again that Cole St. Claire stole the show for me. Once he was introduced, he instantly became my favorite! I just love reading his chapters and love his character in general.
“Are you high? Why are you never wearing a shirt?”
“I sleep naked,” Cole said. He put both milk and sugar in my coffee. “As the day goes on, I put on more and more clothing. You should’ve come over an hour ago.”
The relationship between Cole and Isabel was dynamic from the beginning. Bad broken boy meets sad broken girl equals to perfection.
“Cole,” I said, “do you think I’m lovable?”
“As in ‘cuddly and’?”
“As in ‘able to be loved,’” I said.
Cole’s gaze was unwavering. Just for a moment, I had the strange idea that I could see exactly what he had looked like when he was younger, and exactly what he’d look like when he was older. It was piercing, a secret glimpse of his future. “Maybe,” he said. “But you won’t let anybody try.”
Cole’s voicemails were also just too great. He continuously makes me laugh with the ridiculous crap that he says.
“Voicemail #1: “Hi, Isabel Culpeper. I am lying in my bed, looking at the ceiling. I am mostly naked. I am thinking of … your mother. Call me.”
“Voicemail #6: “So, yeah, I’m sorry. That last message went a little pear-shaped. You like that expression? Sam said it the other day. Hey, try this theory on for size: I think he’s a dead British housewife reincarnated into a Beatle’s body. You know, I used to know this band that put on fake British accents for their shows. Boy, did they suck, aside from being assholes. I can’t remember their name now. I’m either getting senile or I’ve done enough to my brain that stuff’s falling out. Not so fair of me to make this one-sided, is it? I’m always talking about myself in these things. So, how are you, Isabel Rosemary Culpeper? Smile lately? Hot Toddies. That was the name of the band. The Hot Toddies.”
“Voicemail #20: “I wish you’d answer.”
What I disliked:
The parents again. Grace’s parents have serious issues on how to raise a child. I think that the way Grace reacts is totally and completely justified. As for Isabel’s parents… I feel like it is reasonable that they would be at wits end due to the loss of their son, but I think that her father takes his hatred for the wolves a bit excessive.
What I thought overall:
Although I didn’t love it as much as I loved the first two, it was a good ending. I don’t want to spoil it, but I will just say that I approve of the ending. I am sad the series is over, but I am so so stoked to read the Cole spin-off. It was a fantastic series and I am so glad I was able to read it. Do I recommend reading it? Yes.
sandraagee's review
4.0
You know what I love about this trilogy? Each of the three books is different from the previous one as the story evolves. At the heart of the story arc, of course, is Sam and Grace's story and the deep love that connects them. But over the course of [b:Linger|6654313|Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1292482391s/6654313.jpg|6848948] and this final installment, [b:Forever|6068551|Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312474550s/6068551.jpg|6244926] the story turned into something bigger than young romance. And I love that.
There are perhaps fewer moments of breathtaking romantic beauty in Forever than were found in the previous books, and readers who fell into this series for these romantic moments will have to be content to explore other aspects of the wolf pack and their struggle to survive in the face of human scrutiny. But honestly, the trilogy needed this. Forever certainly did not suffer as much from the nothing-happens-in-the-middle-of-the-book syndrome as its predecessors did, and I think that this is because the story was able to branch out to deal with other relationships. Instead of getting the wolves in the context of Sam and Grace's love, we get their love in the context of the bigger picture. I like that.
Stiefvater's writing alone makes it more than worth it. It's just lovely, and every word is powerful.
My one complaint -
When I first read [b:Shiver|6068551|Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312474550s/6068551.jpg|6244926] I believe that I said that you could give this book to fans of [b:Twilight|41865|Twilight (Twilight, #1)|Stephenie Meyer|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1307515757s/41865.jpg|3212258]. Now that the series is concluded I would amend that statement: Give this trilogy to fans of Twilight who also want something more.
There are perhaps fewer moments of breathtaking romantic beauty in Forever than were found in the previous books, and readers who fell into this series for these romantic moments will have to be content to explore other aspects of the wolf pack and their struggle to survive in the face of human scrutiny. But honestly, the trilogy needed this. Forever certainly did not suffer as much from the nothing-happens-in-the-middle-of-the-book syndrome as its predecessors did, and I think that this is because the story was able to branch out to deal with other relationships. Instead of getting the wolves in the context of Sam and Grace's love, we get their love in the context of the bigger picture. I like that.
Stiefvater's writing alone makes it more than worth it. It's just lovely, and every word is powerful.
My one complaint -
Spoiler
I never really understood what Cole was doing to try to help the wolves. Something science-y, of course. But what? What the heck was in those syringes? This part of the story was sadly never as well-defined as similar situations had been in the previous books.When I first read [b:Shiver|6068551|Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312474550s/6068551.jpg|6244926] I believe that I said that you could give this book to fans of [b:Twilight|41865|Twilight (Twilight, #1)|Stephenie Meyer|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1307515757s/41865.jpg|3212258]. Now that the series is concluded I would amend that statement: Give this trilogy to fans of Twilight who also want something more.
naughtynicky's review
4.0
Forever is the final book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series.
The tables have turned and Sam has spent the winter human while his girlfriend Grace has spent the winter as a wolf.
Spring is just around the corner which means Sam & Grace can finally be reunited.
As the transformations from wolf to human are tied to the temperature Sam knows only too well how hard it will be for Grace to come back to herself and hold onto her human half.
Even when she can stay human Sam & Grace are not going to have things easy.
Grace’s parents are positive that Sam kidnapped/murdered Grace when she disappeared from hospital at the end of book 2.
Then there’s Cole St. Clair, the rockstar turned wolf, who is also a reckless genius. Cole wants to find a proper cure for werewolfism, and he’s more than happy to carry out dangerous experiments on himself.
There is also Shelby, the white wolf, who wants to kill Grace and fight her way to the top of the pack.
Isabel Culpepper warns Sam, Grace & Cole that her father is planning a way to kill all the wolves in the forest.
They all have to put aside their problems to work together to save their family and friends who are trapped in wolf bodies in the forest.
The ending is one you either love or hate (I loved it) as it doesn’t answer all the questions and while this is the last book, it leaves an opportunity for the story to be continued.
The tables have turned and Sam has spent the winter human while his girlfriend Grace has spent the winter as a wolf.
Spring is just around the corner which means Sam & Grace can finally be reunited.
As the transformations from wolf to human are tied to the temperature Sam knows only too well how hard it will be for Grace to come back to herself and hold onto her human half.
Even when she can stay human Sam & Grace are not going to have things easy.
Grace’s parents are positive that Sam kidnapped/murdered Grace when she disappeared from hospital at the end of book 2.
Then there’s Cole St. Clair, the rockstar turned wolf, who is also a reckless genius. Cole wants to find a proper cure for werewolfism, and he’s more than happy to carry out dangerous experiments on himself.
There is also Shelby, the white wolf, who wants to kill Grace and fight her way to the top of the pack.
Isabel Culpepper warns Sam, Grace & Cole that her father is planning a way to kill all the wolves in the forest.
They all have to put aside their problems to work together to save their family and friends who are trapped in wolf bodies in the forest.
The ending is one you either love or hate (I loved it) as it doesn’t answer all the questions and while this is the last book, it leaves an opportunity for the story to be continued.
enchanted_reads26's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
2.75
It’s already starting off strong there’s multiple conflicts going on and not just what feels like diary entries. We’re starting to feel more for the characters and also the main conflict that drives the plot is very intense as well as the plot for the secondary antagonist. It’s picked up interest and then lost me for a bit.
cindeereads's review
5.0
I loved this book its the best kind of conclusion to this wonderful story that I have loved so very much. I loved how all of the characters have grown and developed they only got so much more interesting with so much more depth to them. I loved the story how it was written and how it developed into what it became it was the perfect way to end a very well written story. So overall I would say this is a really good book that finished off a trilogy well. This is a really good example of a wolf shifter book it is detailed and interesting.
Spoiler
The is about the main character Grace becoming a wolf and the other characters trying to find a way for her to be normal again.60itamas's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
megatronix's review against another edition
5.0
Alright, so, this book is tugging on my heartstrings because I didn't imagine I would ever be satisfied with an ending, but. This whole series is so full of love that it's hard not to love in return. Werewolves, quiet boys making music, loud boys making science, the best father-son relationship based on lies and pain and is still just so wonderful I can't even.
Also, I legitimately love the pack-family so much. For characters who have very little physical presence, they have so much PRESENCE and I love how mapped out they are. Stiefvater is so amazing with words and characters, and I'm so jealous of her talent to make amazing side characters.
I can't even bring myself to hate Shelby even though I really don't like Shelby. Why, Shelby?
Also, I legitimately love the pack-family so much. For characters who have very little physical presence, they have so much PRESENCE and I love how mapped out they are. Stiefvater is so amazing with words and characters, and I'm so jealous of her talent to make amazing side characters.
I can't even bring myself to hate Shelby even though I really don't like Shelby. Why, Shelby?
lucielawrence's review against another edition
5.0
Citová vydieračka... ktorá perfektne funguje. Zatiaľ čo prvé dve knihy sa v podstate vliekli, v tretej časti sa priam roztrhlo vrece s napätím a akciou. Záver ma zanechal v slzách; či už z udalostí, alebo z toho, že opäť raz končí niečo, čím som žila. Slzy som si utrela, stará známa prázdnota po skončení knihy ma bude trápiť ešte dlho, no s istotou môžem povedať, že Navždy bola z ďaleka najlepšia časť celej série. A ak ma moje knižné zmysly neklamú, Maggie to zakončila celkom výrazným cliffiekom, čiže v budúcnosti očakávam minimálne ešte aspoň jednu knihu. Skôr v ňu dúfam, ako ju očakávam. Všetko odo mňa, posúvam sa ďalej...
valeriew's review against another edition
3.0
Phew. I'm glad I finally finished this series. This book was better then the last one. Coles head was a lot better to be in. I'm glad it wasn't in SAMs head as much. I like the story. I wish there would have been a better ending.
marcopoloreads's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, I'm really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! So many of the characters grew on me, especially Cole; we got to see more of him and while I wasn't a fan of him in Linger, he becomes a really great character in Forever. Also, I found the death of one of the characters to be really obvious. I knew it was going to happen on page 100, and when we finally got halfway through the book, I found out that I was right. Grace and Sam's relationship felt more authentic this time around, and I had mixed feelings about the way Isabel and Cole interacted. The ending KILLED me; it as messy, and it really surprised me how things turned out. Overall, I strongly enjoyed this book!