Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2) by Maggie Stiefvater - Review

If wishes were dreams, and dreams could take you to a far off world, never to be seen, dreamed of, or loved again - would you go? Would you live in a world where, you stop, and something else starts, when you're not even sure what that something else is?

That's how I felt while reading Linger, and though I can't totally explain why, I will say it pulls on the heart strings, a little more than Shiver did for me, while still holding on to everything that makes Maggie Stiefvater's work so captivating! A jaw-dropping, epic, unique story that's just the right amount of angst, love, hope and desire to leave you wanting more...more.....more! Forever can't come soon enough for this reviewer.

Synopsis via goodreads:
In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, inLinger, they 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 Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves...and is nonetheless drawn to Cole. At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love--the light and the dark, the warm and the cold--in a way you will never forget.

Maggie Stiefvater, is one of those writers that captivates your attention, and though I wish I had, had time to reread Shiver before I started Linger, (I will be sure to when I read them again), I am humbled...Linger, as well as Shiver, are like poetry in motion, words take flight, pictures are painted, arranged into beautiful, flying birds, you're unable to stop.

Linger is an elegantly, beautiful continuation of Grace and Sam, the same beautiful people - Sam with his ever present beautiful soul, and Grace with her confidence and love. Each, adding to the other, never taking. This time the story has 2 new POV's, that of Isabel and Cole, they added so much to the story, things we could have never seen or know, came to life because of them...birds flew, waters raged and voices soared.

Linger will linger in my heart for a long time...and though this review makes little to no sense I am sure, I can tell you, I loved it - if you have not read Shiver, it's a must read - and Linger, well Linger, will linger in your heart, like a love that's so strong your no longer able to see, what's right in front of you.

Maggie Stiefvater is a talent, beyond this world, she writes in such a way that is beautifully lyrical, yet haunting and painful at the same time...

One thing that's WRONG with having read Linger early is that, I have to wait that much longer for Forever to come out...though I will be sure to read both Shiver and Linger together, when I get them both in my hot little hands!

Bottom Line – It's tough to review a 2nd book in a series, without giving away stuff from the first book, and the 2nd...So, I will say first, I wish I had had time to reread Shiver before I picked up Linger – not because it's tough to understand or break back into the story, but because honestly, I forgot who some of the characters were. After a while it clicked, but I think it would have been more powerful to read them together.

With that being said, Linger is - beautiful, remarkable, a must read! I enjoyed it more than I can tell you, and now the wait for Forever starts, I am not sure how I will wait to find out how this story comes together! Though I can only imagine it will be beautifully!

Maggie Stiefvater, IS a favorite author of mine, with the 4 books she has written, she's gotten all 5 mushrooms from me, nothing less for the one of the best! And with this sequel that's as good, if not better than the first – it's got me reeling! I give this one a 5 mushrooms and implore Maggie Stiefvater to NEVER, EVER stop sharing part of herself with the world!

Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2)
By: Maggie Stiefvater
368 Pages
Published: July 20, 2010 (Happy Book Birthday)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Received via an ARC Tour, for my honest review.

PS. I have already gotten my copy of Linger, it's out some places - I found my copy at Borders!!!