Linger

This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one.

Just a few months ago, it was Sam who was the mythical creature. His was the disease we couldn't cure. His was the good-bye that meant the most. He had the body that was a mystery, too strange and wonderful and terrifying to comprehend.

But now it is spring. With the heat, the remaining wolves will soon be falling out of their wolf pelts and back into their human bodies. Sam stays Sam, and Cole stays Cole, and it's only me who's not firmly in my own skin.
from maggiestiefvater.com

Beth says 4.5 Stars...

This wasn't quite as good as Shiver, however, it was still quite enjoyable. Again, I LOVE the design of the book. Come on, the text is color coordinated with the book (this time it's green!!). The book lacked a true air of mystery, despite attempting to project one. I could see almost all of the end coming from the very beginning. If it hadn't attempted to feel mysterious it would have worked better. The plot was well done, although there were a few moments that left me scratching my head. There was, however, a lack of urgency which made it really lovely. Things just flowed from one to the next without any feeling of being forced. It was also relatively well paced, without any dramatic changes in action speed. Stiefvater also pulls off writing from multiple perspectives effortlessly. It is helpful that the chapters are labeled (not going to lie here), but the characters have such unique voices that it's impossible to mistake one for another.

Speaking of the characters, Cole was a delightful addition. His issues and backstory make for fascinating reading, plus he's a perfect foil for Sam. Grace and Isabel compliment each other, and I appreciate the direction in which their friendship is moving. However, the most important relationship is Grace and Sam's, which shows no sign of becoming boring or weakening. It changed in this book, though, to be one almost like an older married couple. It had that feel of sweetness and understanding to it instead of just puppy eyes and hormones.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. There's no point in reading it without having read Shiver because it won't make any sense at all. If you liked the first one then you'll enjoy this. It elaborates on the werewolves and raises some unexpected questions about their existence. It's a relatively quick read, and thoroughly enjoyable. It's a paranormal romance that won't have you throwing a feminist ideals induced fit (well, not a bad one anyway). If you're looking for a bit of fantasy and romance without the insipid heroine this series might be for you.

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception

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.

from maggiestiefvater.com

Beth says 4 Stars...
This book was really interesting. I think that my favorite part was the writing. It was so lyrical and beautiful; at times it felt more like poetry than prose. It was mysterious and enthralling. That was what pulled me into and kept me reading the book. I also loved how the music became a major player in the story. It breathed even more life into the pages, and made the book more unique because of the type of music. The music was nothing common, no rock bands or pop princesses here. This novel dealt with the flute, harp, and the bagpipes. That's right - bagpipes. Nothing in the story was forced, but the plot tended to drag. At times I just wanted it to get a move on; the air of mystery became a little overblown and obscured an interesting plot. If a few secrets would have been revealed a little earlier the book would have been so much better. The characters were interesting, but I felt that they could have had more depth. However, I heard that a sequel is coming out, so that will offer the opportunity for the characters to develop. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am excited about the sequel!