When Linger was released last week, I was both excited and a bit cautious. Shiver, the first book in this trilogy, was amazing and, in my opinion, it set a new standard for teen fiction dealing with Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, and whatever. Would Linger live up to my expectations, or like many second, third and fourth books in a series, would it just rearrange the characters and problems ultimately telling the same story over and over? What a wonderful surprise to find that Linger is as compelling, beautifully written, and enjoyable as the first book.
Sam and Grace are still two teenagers grappling with teen problems as well as the new reality that Sam will no longer shift from human form to wolf. His internal struggle with this is amazingly believable. Grace is struggling as well, with a strange illness and with the angst of not yet being 18 and totally free to make her own choices. These are real teens who have teen problems, but who also have the determination to fight for what they want.
Isobel, a somewhat minor and unlikable character in the first book, becomes a major player in Linger. As with all of us, she too is a complex teenager whose façade of sarcasm and anger starts to crack, making her another real teen who is vulnerable and struggling with life. Stiefvater accomplishes this while retaining Isobel’s feisty approach to reality. And then there is Cole, a new character, as complicated and real as the others.
While Grace’s parents have previously been pretty nonchalant about Grace’s activities, in Linger they start reacting to some situations in a more stereotypical parental way. All of this makes all of them very real. Most people are much more complicated than they seem at first, and Maggie Stiefvater has created characters with whom we can all identify on multiple levels.
Linger is filled with subtle foreshadows and clues that let the reader speculate on the future of Grace and Sam. But somehow the author has provided just enough surprises as the reader reaches the conclusion of the book, to keep you both reading, wondering, and worrying about these people you have learned to like, respect, and love.
After reading the last page, I marveled at how much I enjoyed the book, on the one hand, and yet horrified on the other, that I would be wondering what happens to Grace and Sam and company and worrying about them until next year when the final book Forever comes out.
A book, that is well written and resounds with real people and their problems, while still creating a vivid fantasy world, is a rare treat.
Maggie Stiefvater will be speaking at the Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland St., Williamsburg, VA, 23185, on Friday August 13 at 7:00 pm. A book signing will follow. The program is free and open to the public.
Check the WRL catalog for Linger or Shiver
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