Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Published: July 12, 2011 by Scholastic Press
Received: gifted by Melanie

The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

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. {taken from goodreads.com}

Every so often you come across a series of books that becomes a part of your life.  The Shiver trilogy is one of those, for me.  I first read Shiver before book blogging was even a blip on my computer screen.  I then anxiously & painstakingly waited for Linger's release.  Not long after devouring the second book in this series, I began my book blog.  Both Shiver & Linger sat pretty, high on top of my shelf (I keep my prettiest books on the top shelf).  Months passed, more books were read & added to the shelf.  The looming release date of Forever, the final chapter in this trilogy, approaching.  I was just as anxious to read this book, yet terrified to see the series end.  Caught between wanting to read Maggie's final words about this story, and not wanting to say goodbye just yet - I was gifted with an early copy from a friend, and the decision was made for me.

If you've read the series, then you know this story is about more than just wolves.  It's a culmination of love, friendship, trust, independence, and bravery.  The characters are brought together by one common element, but just as easily torn apart by that mutual bond.  Maggie Stiefvater has a way with words.  Her writing is brilliant, poetic, lustrous -- only leaving the heart heavy by wanting more, more, more.  I never mark my pages in my books, yet I felt compelled to while reading Forever.  There were just too many moments, too many phrases, that I wanted easy access to so that I could go back and visit time and time again.

The tale of Sam and Grace is timeless.  Their love reminds me of an old married couple, who sit hand in hand, just as smitten with each other as they were the day they met.  In the author's note at the end, Maggie wrote, "Many, many readers have written me asking wistfully about the nature of Sam and Grace's relationship, and I can assure you, that sort is absolutely real. Mutual, respectful, enduring love is completely attainable as long as you swear you won't settle for less."

Take some time to let that sink in.  I know I needed to.

I spent the most time reading this book, than I have in a long while.  Aside from not wanting the story to end, I took the extra time in letting the words seep in to my soul and breath a life of their own. This story, these characters, this world, is beyond just a story for me.  It's literature at it's finest.  I knew Forever was going to challenge my heart, and that it did.  I feel like I'm saying goodbye to an old friend.  It's bitter-sweet, yet I know it's time to let go.  The beauty of books is that they never really go away.  I know that Shiver, Linger, and Forever will still be sitting pretty - high up on my shelf - any time I want to go back and revisit Grace and Sam.  Their story may have been written, but the amount of time I live it over and over again is endless.

Thank you Maggie, for chiseling a piece for yourself in this great big world of beautiful literature.