Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Remember us, so sing the dead, lest we remember you

James Morgan has an almost unearthly gift for music. And it has attracted Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and then feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. James has plenty of reasons to fear the faeries, but as he and Nuala collaborate on an achingly beautiful musical composition, James finds his feelings towards Nuala deepening. But the rest of the fairies are not as harmless. As Halloween—the day of the dead—draws near, James will have to battle the Faerie Queen and the horned king of the dead to save Nuala's life and his soul.

Review:

After my whirlwind reading of The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, I decided I might as well read Ballad, the only other book of Maggie’s I had not read, as well. To the tell truth I was blown away, as not only was it incredibly well written but it also contained an original and exciting plot.

Ballad continues the story of James and Dee but with James center stage and Dee as a secondary character. James has just arrived at Thornking-Ash, an exclusive music school, and at first, James feels relatively bored at the school. His bagpipe instructor ends up being a bust, his roommate is no better, and things between him and Dee are worse than ever. However, everything changes when Nula, a soul-snatching faerie, arrives. He knows Nula is no good, especially given what happened last year, but he cannot help but be drawn to her. Before he knows, James begins to develop a friendship with Nula and to help her overcome her past troubles. There are forces working against them, though, ones that would like nothing better than to take Nula away from him. Will Nula and James be able to save everything before it is too late? Only time and more pages call tell in this exciting novel, which is sure to entice nearly anyone.

James is one of the types of characters I adore reading about, as not only does he ooze charm but also sarcasm as well as wit that continually had me laughing aloud. I especially enjoyed seeing his relationship with Nula develop, as not only was it sweet and reasonably paced, but it also caused the type of character development I enjoy seeing. Ballad included Nula’s POV as well, which was a great addition to say the least.

The plot in this was nothing short of fabulous as well. I am not usually one for novels involving faeries, but Maggie gives them and their world such a creative twist that it is hard not to love everything involved with them. I especially enjoyed learning more about Nula and her faerie abilities, and I liked the development Maggie put into Dee’s story as well.

As mentioned before, Maggie’s writing is another high point of Ballad. As I have said numerous times before, her writing never ceases to amaze me. It is perfectly captures the character’s feelings and desires, bringing them quickly to life right in front of the reader. Seriously, the more I read her books, the more I come to appreciate and see her immense talent.

Romantic, unique, and hilarious, Maggie Stiefvater’s Ballad is a book you simply cannot miss. In addition, if you’re already missing the Wolves of Mercy Fall trilogy and haven’t read this one yet, reading this is the perfect way to feel a little less sad about that series ending.

Grade: A+

Ballad is now out!

Source: Publicist at Flux

Sidenote: If you haven't read Lament yet, I suggest you start with this one instead. You don't need to read Lament to understand what's occurring for the most part, and in a lot of ways, it's much, much better than Lament.

Giveaway: Maggie Stiefvater's Forever

Thanks to the lovely people at Scholastic and Big Honcho Media, I have two copies of Forever (my review) as well as a two Forever keychains to giveaway away to two lucky winners!

About the Book:

In Maggie Stiefvater’s SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Scholastic has also recently launched an online community called This Is Teen to connect readers with their favorite YA authors and books. Visit their page on Facebook for all the latest news on Maggie Stiefvater and Forever: www.facebook.com/thisisteen.

Book Trailer:



Official Giveaway Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older
~ Must have a US Mailing Address
~ To enter the giveaway please fill out the following form
~ This giveaway will close on August 4, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER.*

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

In Maggie Stiefvater’s SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Review:

After reading Shiver and Linger in less than two days, I started Forever right away, dying to know what would occur next. Would Sam and Grace find a way to be together? Would Cole find the cure? Would Isabel and Cole ever get together as well? There were a myriad of questions in my head. Thankfully, Forever answered the majority of them and provided yet another addition of the Wolves of Mercy Fall series I adored.

It's been a couple of months since Grace turned into a wolf, leaving Sam, Isabel, and everyone else behind until the summer. In the meanwhile, Sam has been picking up the pieces Grace left behind, and counting the days until his summer girl becomes his once again. Cole, on the other hand, has been working on the wolf cure, hoping this time he will get it right finally. Then the day comes...Grace becomes a human for the warm season once again. However, there's danger in the air, as Isabel's father has declared all the wolves will be dead in a couple of weeks. Knowing they can't let the wolves lose their lives, Grace, Isabel, Sam, and Cole team up to save the day, but will their plan work? More importantly, will they be able to find a cure before it's too late? Only time and more pages can tell in this fast paced conclusion!

Just like in the two previous additions, one of my favorite aspects of Forever was the characters. All four main characters grew and developed more than ever. Sam begins to overcome his fears, and becomes stronger because of it. Grace is dealing with her new wolf half with new feelings towards it, ones she didn't think she would have- I enjoyed seeing how this played into her character. Isabel begins to become a little less ice queen-ish, and once again, that wit and sarcasm is out for all to see. More development is given into Cole's past, and he begins to become just a little more human.

More importantly, the relationships and friendships they have formed do much of the same- grow and thrive. I loved seeing more into Grace and Sam's relationship, even if there was some sulking involved. Cole and Isabel also begin to move in the right direction, and I loved that- it probably was one of my favorite parts of the book!

The plot in this was also fantastic, especially the last hundred and so pages. For the majority of the book, I had no clue how everything was going to end, and I liked that a lot. Maggie's writing was yet again beautiful and stunning- once again painting a vivid picture. This book even made me cry a little in some places, especially towards the end- I still get a little sad thinking about it!

The ending...there's been some debate it whether or not it was too open-ended, just the right amount, or some cases a little too tied up. I'm somewhere between just the right amount and too open-ended. I liked that Maggie left some questions up in the air with just the right amount of hope and I can see why she did it, but in some ways, I wish some clearer answers were provided.

Regardless, Forever is yet another amazing addition to the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. I'm going to miss Isabel, Cole, Sam, and Grace, but I'm still holding out for a continuation someday. Until then I'm eagerly awaiting Maggie's future books, starting with the already buzzed about Scorpio Races. 

Grade: A- 

Forever is now out!

Source: Publisher/Publicity Firm- thanks Chelsy at Big Honcho Media/Scholastic!

Mini-Reviews: Shiver & Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

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.

Review:

Shiver is yet another one of those books that I bought ages ago due to all the fabulous praise it had been getting as well as my love of Maggie's previous book Lament. However, not until recently did I pick it up and try it. I was blown away to say the least...and now I am beginning to feel bad about not reading this series sooner.

Werewolves are not my favorite topic in YA by far. I have never really seen the intrigue behind them, because to me they have always been furry, vicious beast so seriously what is there to love about them? However, Shiver changed this for me, as not only did I love seeing how the wolves’ world worked but how it tied into the plot in many fabulous and unique ways.

The characters in this were another great aspect. I instantly adored and rooted for Grace because not only do we share one common love (books), but she's also someone you can't help but like, as while she's shy and timid, she's also fierce and protective of her friends if it comes down to it. Sam, on the other hand, has faced his own problems in this past, and because of it, he still comes off as lost and distant, but that did not stop me from liking and rooting for him as well. His relationship with Grace was also another high point, and it was actually one romance in YA, that I actually found believable and realistic, even given the somewhat fast-paced nature of it. It just worked perfectly to say the least for some reason.

Last but not least, Maggie Stiefvater's writing ROCKED in this. She has such an amazing way of bringing out vivid pictures as well as intense feeling in her writing- it is almost poetic in a sense. To tell the truth I loved every single moment of it!

Romantic and beautifully written, Shiver is well worth a read for a variety of reasons. Don't pull a Lauren, and take forever to read it. Instead, pick it up now, as I am sure you will love it just as much as me, especially if you are in any way a romantic.

Grade: B+

Shiver is now available!

Source: Bought

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Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

In Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, 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.

Review:

After reading Shiver, I dove into this one not even ten minutes later, because if I knew one thing it was that I wasn't going to wait another million years to read this one. Thankfully, Linger was even better than Shiver, as not only did it introduce some fabulous new main characters as well their own POVs but even more development into a series I'm starting to adore even more!

In Shiver, Sam and Grace's star-crossed romance was introduced, and in Linger, it continues with even more steam. As I said in my review for Shiver above, I really adore the relationship Sam and Grace have because it's surprisingly real, in my opinion. I can honestly see the connection between them as well as how much they adore and love each other- it's more than just lust to say the least.

In Linger, Isabel and Cole, a new werewolf, were introduced, and I have to say I'm starting to like their characters even more Sam and Grace's. I love how blunt and sarcastic Isabel is, and Cole, a former rock star, is even more so that way. Together they were simply hilarious with their witty banter, and with the obvious sexual tension between them, I'm now rooting for an Isabel and Cole relationship!

The writing in Linger was even more beautiful than the writing in Shiver amazingly enough, and when tied to together with all the twists and turns as well as that shocking ending, it provided quite the punch, in my opinion.

Fabulous, witty, and well written, Linger is yet another satisfying addition to the Wolves of Mercy Falls series!

Grade: B+ 

Linger is now out!

Source: Publicist- thanks Natalie!

To find out more about Maggie and her books, visit her website. 

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. When a mysterious boy enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of nowhere, Deirdre finds herself infatuated. Trouble is, the enigmatic and conflicted Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin – and Deirdre is meant to be his next mark. Deirdre has to decide if Luke's feelings towards her are real, or only a way to lure her deeper into the world of Faerie.

Luke isn't her only problem. A sinister faerie named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Long-time enemies with a common goal, Luke and Aodhan carry the same assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is her best friend James whose devotion has been teetering precariously on the line between friendship and love for months – a feeling that Dee doesn't quite reciprocate. It's Luke she can't stop thinking about: Luke, who was supposed to kill her immediately but hasn't. Luke, who cannot refuse the Queen's orders without paying an unimaginable price. Deirdre ultimately must confront the Faerie Queen before she loses everyone she loves.

Review:

After hearing fantastic thing after fantastic thing about this novel and it's writer, I finally decided to give it a chance and I'm so glad I did! Since, Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception is a spellbinding novel filled with a descriptive and fast paced plot along with some characters I really enjoyed reading about.

As mentioned briefly above, I adored the world Maggie created in this, simply because it was interesting to see what kind of world the Faerie lived in along with their system of government.

Also, Deirdre was a great character to read about. Because not only was she easy person to relate to, but I loved how she grew throughout the novel from being shy to a brave heroine who would do anything for the people she loved. Oh, and don't even get me started on Luke! He was definitely dream worthy even if he didn't have the best intentions in the beginning. Lastly, some of the secondary characters such as James, Deirdre's grandmother, and some of the Faerie were great adds, too.

Even though the plot was one that continually kept me my toes, there was one thing I wasn't to keen on. What exactly? Well, the ending. It was just a bit too bittersweet in my opinion, but I am always one who wants the happiest ending for the characters even if it's not very realistic. :)

Overall, Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception is a fantastic read for this fall season! I'm really looking forward to reading Maggie's other novels, Shiver and Ballad.

Grade: B+/ A-

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception is now out!