Review: I'll miss you Forever

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars





Before reading the book

My eyes are tearing up just to look at this book. I can't believe the end is here. Is too soon! I keep repeating to myself but that doesn't change that this is the final book and I'm actually scared to read. Linger left me, well, lingering at the top of a cliff and I'm terrifying of falling.
But in the same time I really, really want, no, I need to know what will happen to Sam and Grace.
I guess I'll have to be brave and start to read it already came what may. For better or for worse.


After reading the book.

Reviewed on 09/13/2012


Once upon a time there was a boy that used to be a Wolf. And once upon a time there was a wolf that used to be a girl.
Everything that has a beginning must, sooner or later, meet its end. I know that, but I still feel sad seeing this one ends. From the first page of Shiver I found myself lost in the poetry of this story and I must confess, by the end of that same first page, I was in tears.
Now that I’m finish with the last book, I feel like I’m saying goodbye to a really good friend. A friend that thought me the wonders of poetry in a language I’ll never understand, but still has the power to move me with its rhythmic words. A friend that showed me the wonders of the woods, the senses of a wolf and the sweetness of a candy shop.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw Sam in his wolf form, and I’ll also, remember fondly the first time I saw his wolfish yellow eyes in his human form. The first time I touched his scars feeling the sadness built up in me like a river spilling up through my eyes. The first time he sang, the first time we kissed and the first time I lost him.
I also met Cole, who I instantly wanted to punch in the face, but that with time showed me a side of him, that I never knew existed. An unpretending and most of all, unfamous side. My lips still tingle from our last kiss and I can’t think of him without showing a furtively smile on my face.
I saw the world trough Grace’s eyes, and saw myself in a new light. A light that showed me how a family can be misfit, but still love each other. That freedom can be lonely and that parents don’t always know what’s best for their children. With her I’ve learned about finding yourself in the most unthinkable of places. I’ve learned that happiness is something you make. Even in the darkest time, you only have to find the stars in the night and everything else changes with it. With her, I learned to have hope.
I was with Isabel when she lost her brother and watched her family fall apart. I’ve listen to her talk about her numbness in the most painful times. I felt her sadness when she cried and cursed her for the cruel words she spoke without thinking. I cried for her and I hated her, but most of all, I understood her when she felt lonely and unlovable.
Even as I write this, my heart breaks for I’ll have to say goodbye to them. I’ll miss them all and I’ll always remember the time we spent together.

Ok, now that I babbled a lot, I’ll get to the facts about this wonderful book.

The Plot - Grace is now a wolf and something terrible is about to happen with the wolfs. Sam, Cole and Isabel need to find Grace and come up with a plan to save them, or they all going to die.

The Characters - Sam is more mature as all the other characters in this story, he changed. He is not that little boy anymore and his love for Grace is even stronger. Cole is more than just a famous singer in this story and, unlike the previous book, I actually get to know him better. Isabel is more than a Barbie now. In this story she turned into a real girl, complex and with issues. Grace also developed from this shy girl to someone that takes charge and makes decisions. Beck, he is the one that surprised the most. In this book he is shown in a totally new light. I can say that I get to really know more about all of them, and I was surprised with what I discovered.

The writing - This is important, so I’m going to ask you to pay attention to what I’m going to say. Her writing is like a warm spring day, when you are sitting on the porch watching the cars drive by and drinking lemonade. The breeze caresses your face and you have that sad and happy feeling inside you that makes you want to cry and laugh at the same time. Her writing is wonderful and I loved every second of it. Every detail has a point and is put there purposely. This book, this whole series, must be read with laziness and time. You must not rush or jump on your reading. You need to taste, think about what you’ve read and then go back to it. If you read it too fast, is not going to be as magical or as meaningful. If you don’t like a slow read, this book is not for you. However, I’ll let you know that you’ll be missing a lot.

The Audio Recording - One of the best I’ve heard so far, and I’ve heard a lot of audiobooks. The song in the beginning is so lovely I even went back to listen some more of it. Shelby’s voice is actually the author narrating it. That’s really cool. Sam’s voice is sweet just like him, and the parts that he sings melted my heart. He is narrated by Pierce Cravens. Grace’s voice was so, so, so sweet. Is the same narrator for Skitter in the book The Help and I must say, I LOVE her southern accent. Her name is Jenna Lamia. She is so sweet and gave Grace just the soft touch that I needed to visualize her with her blond hair and brown eyes. Cole has the sexiest voice ever. Just like a rock star should have. He is narrated by Dan Bittner. Isabel’s voice is narrated by the same girl that narrates Divergent, and I must say, she knows how to give voice to a strong character. Her name is Emma Galvin. Over all, I love them and I must say that the recording played big part of the fact that made me love this one so much.

Considerations - For those who read the two previous books and are on the fence to read this one, I must warn you that this may not be the perfect ending you were hoping for. If you want to read this to know what happens and see the wolf’s destiny, this will tell you. If you want to read this to know more about what turns them into wolfs, this will tell you. If you want to read this hoping for a perfect ending where everyone ends up happy, this will not make you happy. You’ll have some answers reading this and some will still be left behind. But that’s life. You’ll not always find the answers to all your questions. All I can say is that is a sweet end to a sweet and wonderful series, and no matter what would happen in this book, I would still end up crying my eyes out because is the end and no end will never leave me completely dry eyed. Not if I really love the book.