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Shiver (Shiver, Book 1)
Shiver (Shiver, Book 1)
Shiver (Shiver, Book 1)
Audiobook10 hours

Shiver (Shiver, Book 1)

Written by Maggie Stiefvater

Narrated by Jenna Lamia and David Ledoux

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

From a dazzlingly talented young writer, a haunting and original supernatural romance in the vein of TWILIGHT.

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.

Editor's Note

For Twilight fans...

Those on Team Jacob will find much to love in the “Wolves of Mercy Falls” trilogy. A bittersweet romance between a human girl and a wolf boy both in danger of losing their humanity.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 1, 2009
ISBN9780545222464
Shiver (Shiver, Book 1)
Author

Maggie Stiefvater

After a tumultuous past as a history major, calligraphy instructor, wedding musician, technical editor, and equestrian artist, Maggie Stiefvater is now a full-time writer and New York Times bestselling author of the Shiver trilogy, The Scorpio Races, and The Raven Boys. Her debut series, the Books of Faerie, is published by Flux. Maggie lives in the middle of nowhere, Virginia, with her charmingly straight-laced husband, two kids, four neurotic dogs, and a 1973 Camaro named Loki. Follow her on Twitter at @mstiefvater, and visit her online at www.maggiestiefvater.com.

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Reviews for Shiver (Shiver, Book 1)

Rating: 3.8012654381363244 out of 5 stars
4/5

3,477 ratings402 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    3.75 starsGrace was bitten by wolves when she was 11 years old. She recovered, but for the past 6 years, she has had a fascination with one of the wolves, who she still sees in the woods behind her house. When a boy at school is killed by wolves, Grace is worried for them, as she doesn't want them hurt. Sam is human and a wolf; he changes with the cold or heat. He has been watching Grace, even as a wolf, ever since she was bitten. With people now afraid of the wolves, and now that he (as a human) has met Grace, he doesn't want to turn back into a wolf, but he's not sure how long he can hold it off. It was a little slow to start, but I thought it really picked up in the second half. I quite liked it, and plan to continue the trilogy. It had a bit of a different take on werewolves, with the heat vs. cold as an example, so that was kind of interesting, too.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Ever since she was a little girl, Grace has been visited by a wolf in the woods behind her house. This particular wolf seems to appear every winter and has the most amazing yellow eyes. After wolves attack one of her classmates, Grace's wolf appears to her one night... as a human. Sam. And Grace knows that she loves him. But she also knows that she's going to lose him. For as the temperature drops, Sam's days as a human are drawing to a close. And to be together, Grace and Sam have to be willing to risk everything. This is a beautifully written novel with a strong romance and non-annoying characters. I'd hand it to Twilight fans in an instant. Highly recommended for fans of paranormal romance.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    It was an ok book but unfortunately it reminded me more of the Twilight series than anything else. Though the new way in looking at hoe the werewolf are and how they fit into our modern world really was interesting. The struggle these two had to go through and the betrayal that they had faced. But even if it sort of showed a Twilight quality it was still better than it all the same.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Somewhat sappy YA romance with awkward musical interlude. I liked the werewolf premise though other parts of the story seemed less believable. I liked the dual narration and plot holes may have occurred because I was half asleep (audiobooks are for bedtime!) I did like it enough to check out the next one sooner or later...
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A nice, poetic story about a young girl, bitten by wolves many years ago, who falls in love with a wolf/boy. Even though bitten, she does not shapeshift into a werewolf and love needs to find out soon how she did it before he turns into a wolf forever.This story is well written and very imaginative. A great read!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    It's been a while since I read this book however I remember it being a decent novel. At points I couldn't put it down while at others I wanted to skip ahead because I found it a little too dramatic, a little too over the top. I would still recommend it to someone however I don't think I'd be interested in rereading it myself.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    i liked it, but i wasn't compelled to instantly go out and buy the next one (even though all 3 books in the series were literally at my finger tips) I will probably read the rest at a later date and reevaluate my stance on the series as a whole
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very good YA read. I would have loved this in my younger days, and quite enjoyed reading it now. I'm going to have to track down some more of this author's work :)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I enjoyed this one. Some passages were very difficult to read-- there were some graphic descriptions of violence against animals. However, those descriptions were important to the story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The beginning of Shiver pulled me into the story quick, and I wanted to see what would happen. Grace and Sam were memorable characters, with unique baggage in their past that made them very likable and interesting. Then the story developed into a teenage love story. I was disappointed, not wanting it to be another typical YA romance book, but I stayed with it.

    Glad I did - the story turned around and became a more complicated weave of personalities and relationships, riddled with regret and forgiveness. The end was nicely done. Overall a decent YA novel about first love, relationships with parents, and friendship bonds.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book! Yes I say it a lot but if it's true it's true.The characters are compelling. The story of Grace and Sam has a poetic flow that sweeps you from page to page. I wanted to bundle Sam up and take him home with me. There are so many parts throughout the whole trilogy that are heart wrenching. With so many werewolf stories out there, it is difficult to stand out from the pack. Yes pun intended. Shiver manages to do so from the first few pages. The seasons, the love story, the loss... You have GOT to read this.I've read the whole series several times now and something new always comes to light. Another piece falls into place or another question forms. The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy has become one of my favorites. It you enjoyed these books you might want to check out The Dire Wolves Chronicles by Alyssa Rose Ivy. It has a similar tone and texture.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I have to say I really enjoyed it. I was pulling for Sam & Grace throughout the whole book. It was a sweet love story, the kind of thing girls fantasize about. I'm hoping the next book continues with Sam & Grace and I'm worried that it'll be someone else's story.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I picked this title up after reading reviews calling it the werewolf version of Twilight. Since the movies have ruined Edward's original book character for me, I thought I'd give this book a try.

    I had high hopes of a comparable story with a likable cast, but it just never happened. Sam & Grace lacked depth and never pulled me into the relationship as Bella and Edward did. And the parents? I wish they would have just been left out, rather than portrayed as so naive and self-centered (the kitchen scene completely irked me). The remaining characters proved of little value.

    I'm a little curious to see how the entire storyline will play out, but this series is just a filler for me, nothing more.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Really great book :) I can't wait for the next one.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Really captivating
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    As a little girl, Grace is attacked by a wolf pack. She miraculously survives, carrying with her afterwards the memory of one wolf in particular. Afters years of spying the wolf in the woods at a distance, and developing a deep-felt passion for wolves' survival as a whole, Grace and the wolf finally edge closer; And then Grace meets Sam, with his intense yellow eyes...

    Shiver is a love story about a girl and her dog. Okay, not her dog, but a boy who happens to be a werewolf. And they are both teenagers, which means plenty of angst and earnestness expressed by words spoken, words unspoken, song lyrics and meaningful looks. The story recalls all the adolescent fervor in which everything is a matter of life and death. Of course, in this modern fairy tale, this is quite literally true. There is the obvious body count as victims of wolf attacks appear; but there is also the slide away from human life into a final change into the lupine form after years of lycanthropy. The whorl of emotions and the immediacy of the pace recall the classic story of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Like R&J, the drama of Shiver plays out between the principals, young lovers who determine their own fates, driven by the force of their own feelings. Their worlds devolve around them, relegating others to the roles of supporting characters and; the reader becomes mesmerized by the ephemeral nature of each moment between the the two paramours.

    Jenna Lamia and David LeDoux are the narrators of Shiver, reading passages from their characters' respective points of view as Grace and Sam. Each voices their character with the all the whiny pathos the characters warrant. At times, David LeDoux sounds a bit more experienced than an eighteen-year old should; but overall Jenna Lamia and David LeDoux strike all the right notes, recalling what it was like to be young and in love and; trying to take control in the maelstrom of their lives.

    Redacted from the original blog review at dog eared copy, Shiver; 10/24/2011
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I wanted to move this down to 3 stars for the similarities to Twilight and then I figure, I'll let it slide. I mean I did read it in 2 days so something engaged me right? Hard to pinpoint what though. The characters were okay although I felt some got the short stick in way of development. The plot was interesting maybe. I suppose it fits in my theory the werewolves are the new vampires in YA paranormal romance.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I owe this a real review, but don't think I'll ever get to doing it. Quick review of this title? I didn't like it very much. The writing style didn't agree with me at all and I felt that a lot of the emotions the characters felt were just too sudden. I can take supernatural romances where there is an instant connection (I love those!), but this... Everything seemed far too instant. Not my favorite title.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Stiefavter seems determined to do for werewolves what the Twilight saga has done for vampires. She offers a very interesting take on werewolf lore. Mostly romance, little horror. The characters are quite lively and likeable. Engaging and fun.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    a quiet, intimate story that reads like a slower (i.e., somewhat more boring) version of 'twilight', only with werewolves instead of glittery vampires. there's no sense of tension or urgency until near the end, at which point it gets much better than the teen angst that went before. if the 2nd in the series expands off the high point, it will be well worth checking out.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I liked this a lot more than I'd expected to. Sure, the characters aren't the most dynamic I've ever read, and sure, the prose tends toward the flowery, but on audio those things don't matter so much.

    I'll pick up the sequel on audio when it comes out, too, most likely.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Let me get it out there that Shiver is not just Twilight with wolves. But it doesn't escape completely from the stigma of its predecessor. There is quite enough of teen drama to go around. The plot is saved by Sam's struggle to stay human while nature and his past keep trying to reclaim him. This sad, sweet story is worth every minute of listening. Audio Notes: Jenna Lamia, who voices Grace's parts, is an excellent reader who was perfect for the role. David LeDoux (Sam), is equally as good at reading, but I don't think that his voice fit the role. His has a rougher edge more suited to reading murder mysteries or really anything that doesn't involve romance, and his voices for female characters was a little disturbing. I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, and somehow I feel like I wouldn't have enjoyed the story as much if I had read it. It felt more like watching a movie instead of an actual book. Let me get it out there that Shiver is not just Twilight with wolves. But it doesn't escape completely from the stigma of its predecessor. There is quite enough of teen drama to go around. The plot is saved by Sam's struggle to stay human while nature and his past keep trying to reclaim him. This sad, sweet story is worth every minute of listening. Audio Notes: Jenna Lamia, who voices Grace's parts, is an excellent reader who was perfect for the role. David LeDoux (Sam), is equally as good at reading, but I don't think that his voice fit the role. His has a rougher edge more suited to reading murder mysteries or really anything that doesn't involve romance, and his voices for female characters was a little disturbing. I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, and somehow I feel like I wouldn't have enjoyed the story as much if I had read it. It felt more like watching a movie instead of an actual book.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Before I rip into the novel, I want to say that there were many things about this book that I quite enjoyed. There is no doubt in my mind that Stiefvater is a good writer and her prose is lyrical and at times haunting. The concept of the werewolves and the setting were both fascinating in my opinion as well.

    The problem in my eyes, was that the plot, such as it was, was very, very thin. There seemed to be vague hints of a real plot here and there, but most of the time I felt like I was reading about Sam's fight against the cold- over and over again. There were some interesting plot elements that were thrown in here and there- Beck, Isabel, Jake, Olivia- but they never seemed to coalesce into a unified plot, rather they just seemed to be thrown in at will to fill the pages.

    Most of the characters were somewhat filled out, even though Grace fell quite flat to me. Grace's obsession with the wolves struck me as bizarre and kind of creepy, particularly since she didn't know what they really were at the beginning.

    I thought Sam was the most interesting of the cast of characters. Sam loves language and poetry and words- writing (godawful) lyrics in his head- and his struggle with his animal nature is one which involves his desire to keep his "words" and not have to leave them behind and succumb to his baser instincts. I thought Stiefvater captured that nuance brilliantly.

    Ultimately, a comparison to Twilight must be made, and in contrast to the Twilight series, the supernatural abilities of the wolf pack seem sometimes to be more of a "disability" rather than a key to a rarefied, preternatural world which renders them aristocracts because of their immortality and impossible beauty. To me, that got old fast, as I think that many wish to enter the supernatural world in fiction as a form of escape from society's strictures and as a means of entering the mystery of the woods and the unexplained. In this novel, the werewolves are just as "trapped" in their existence as your typical angsty adolescent and while I can see the appeal to said demographic, for me, it got old very quickly.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Paranormal YA romance (girl loves werewolf) with less teen-angst-bullshit than most, and a good bit of self-awareness. My favorite lines were from her: "My wolf was a cute guy and he was holding my hand. I could die happy." and him: "I struggled to find something to say that wouldn't sound like the greeting of an interspecies stalker"
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When Grace was a little girl playing on her tire swing she got attacked by a pack of wolves. This was not an ordinary wolf attack though. One of the wolves in the pack saved her from the rest of them. She got away with only injuries, surviving it. Grace grew up watching this wolf outside the window every winter. These wolves turned out to be werewolves. When you got bitten by a werewolf, you turned into a werewolf. This is why it was peculiar that Grace was still human. The werewolf that saved Grace would see her in the summer, his name was sam. Soon they became acquainted with each-other and they were dating. He started to live with her without her parents knowing. They tried everyday to keep him warm, and prevent him from turning into a wolf. Because they thought it would be his last. Sam had always wondered why Grace was not a wolf. And so did every one else in the pack.Shiver was overall a very good book. It never has a moment the same as every other time in the book. I would recommend this book to someone else.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I don't read too much YA, but I have read enough to know that my favorite books are the ones that both older and younger can relate with, and that can be enjoyed by all age groups.Which brings me to my point: as a book targeted at young adults, Shiver is a pretty decent read in and of itself...but I think I would like it more if I was still middle to high school aged. The thing is, it's just soooooo cute and sweeeeeet and cloying and sentimental and ARRRGH. Basically, it's about a girl lamenting that her parents don't pay enough attention to her, and her ultimate romance with her werewolf boyfriend complete with the usual set of tribulations that often arise in such stories to keep the teen protagonists and their supernatural suitors apart. If you're looking to curl up on a nice quiet evening with a cup of warm cocoa and a little tale of puppy love, then this book is perfect! Me, I was probably expecting a little too much at the time and it ended up not being quite what I was looking for, which was a light read with hopefully a more complex story. Or hey, maybe the years have just jaded me!Anyway, vampires that sparkle and now werewolves that shift depending on temperature change. I thought that was quite interesting. Ah, young adult paranormal genre, what will you come up with next!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great book! Twilight-esque in theme, forbidden love. Just re-read it a second time, cried as much during the last 50 or so pages that I did the first time.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Who does not love a good Maggie Stiefvater book. I loved Shiver and cant wait to get my hands on the next one, Linger. I should not have waited so long to read it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I had low expectations of Shiver, because of how often it had been compared to Twilight (which don't get me wrong, I enjoyed even though it's not a silly book). Certainly, they are similar with their focus on young love, in which a girl falls for a supernatural creature. However, the comparisons pretty much fall off there. Grace's friendship with Sam goes back a long way. As a young girl, she meets him as a wolf, and for years after, they continue to watch each other -- she as girl, he as wolf, each longing for companionship, each wanting to shift and live as the other does. There is a mutual loneliness of both, which the reader becomes aware of because the author jumps back and forth between Grace and Sam's point of view. Also, both Grace and Sam are independent individuals outside of each other. For all their affection for each other and their sense of rightness when together, they also have interests and relationships that are not centered around romance. Both have ambiguous relationships with their parents, but have friendship to fill in the gaps. Grace has Rachel and Olivia, and Sam has Beck and the pack. I also really appreciated the twist on werewolves. Instead of stretching the supernatural to the ridiculous (sparkling vampires, anyone?), the author asserts that the change to wolf occurs because of the cold. The colder it is, the quicker the person begins to change. Furthermore, there comes a point when the wolf can no longer return to a human state. All of which presents logical enough reasoning for such a story and an interesting obstacle for the characters to overcome. The writing style also worked well for me. It was clean and even occasionally presented metaphors or turns of phrase that amused me. All in all, a good read, and the sequel, Linger, has jumped up on my TBR list.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I don't really know how I feel about this one. I was really excited to read Shiver when I first bought it, but I was a little disappointed. I think I was just expecting more. There were moments that I was into the story and moments where I put it down and struggled with picking it up again.I liked Grace, but I didn't love her. Overall, she was a bit boring. I didn't like Sam at all. He wasn't my type of guy and that mixed with boring Grace made for relationship that I really didn't care about. I wasn't buying the relationship anyway. They were completely devoted to one another, but I never understood why. I know Sam saved Grace when he was a wolf years ago but that's just it: he was a wolf. Grace never even knew he was a human, but the second she finds out she's suddenly head over heels? I like the tough, funny, more "bad boy", "manly man" type male characters. Sam is none of those and I thought it was weird he would randomly have lyrics in his head for everything. I'm sure these characters would and do appeal to many readers, they just aren't my personal cup of tea. Honestly, I was a lot more interested in the secondary characters like Isabel, Olive, and Beck.Outside the characters, however, I can find no fault. The writing style itself, while sometimes slow, is always clear, intelligent, and descriptive. Maggie Stiefvater can definitely create some beautiful head imagery. The plot and storyline I found very interesting and because of that I'll eventually read the next installment: Linger. The whole concept of the wolf pack was compelling and I had many questions; That's what got me to finish the story. I love a good love story though and on that end I was disappointed. Shiver was a lot more entertaining than some other books I've read this year and except for the characters the writing was quite well-done so I will recommend this book. While I didn't go crazy for it, I can see how some other readers would.