Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

This is going to be a real bittersweet review because no matter how much I love this book, the series, the author and the lovely publishers I just can’t express my sadness at seeing such a wonderful series ending.  I’m going to really miss Mercy Falls and all its residents no matter what species they are.  I’ve loved this world and so I was very excited to not just read this but to have a good goodbye with all the characters and see them shine in the way they really deserved after all the great work Maggie has put into these books.

This follows on from the heart wrenching events and cliff hanger in Linger (so spoilers abound my dears) and when I say heart wrenching I mean that Maggie Stiefvater basically wrote a book that made my heart all soft and fuzzy and then gave it to Shelby the wolf as a chew toy.  It’s not Maggie’s fault that she writes so good because like an addict I keep going back for more because the mega lows are worth it for the truly wonderful highs.  Grace’s life is in turmoil now that everything has changed the shoe is on the other foot for Sam as he waits for his Summer Girl and becomes a shadow of himself while bad boy rocker Cole St. Clair (swoooon, I don’t care that Maggie says he isn’t a good boyfriend type; I WANT HIM LIKE WHOA!) is trying to play scientist and solve the wolf problem and not be too much of a stalker to Isobel.  Mercy Falls is still the picturesque and haunting town that lingers in your mind just as much as the biting cold weather.  

This book is really a race to find solutions and a race for time against all the odds for these four.  I just adored every second that I got to spend with these characters and by the third book the writing style and details have been established so you know what to expect really.  It is just so well written and the details of every breaking moment are FANTASTIC. Okay, okay; I’m gushing a tad too much but seriously these books are kick ass.  I’m a big Cole fangirl moment and I loved seeing him find his place in the world and working out what he really wants in life.  Plus there is one moment he has with Isobel that made me physically swoon like a damsel in a 1920s movie.  It bloody killed me and I feared reading more in case something awful happened within the next page or two to ruin the moment.

This was a perfectly woven ending to a series that is loved and had loved put into it and it was by no means faultless but the good outweighed any downsides you may find (if you can).  The final conclusion left me....not confused as such but wondering if there should be more but in a way being left to wonder and paint your own picture of what you think would happen or how things continue from where it ends.  You get answers to questions, action, romance, humour and more but still left with questions but that is probably the best way to leave such a well known and adored series and not disappointing fans.  Giving them some of what the fans want, giving them stuff they probably are less than happy with and giving them things you knew even thought you’d want but really REALLY do.

Farewell Sam, Cole, Grace and Isobel.  So long Mercy Falls and Thanks Maggie

Rating: 9/10

Published by Scholastic UK and is available to buy from here and all good book shops now