Take Two: "Linger" by Maggie Stiefvater

We all do it, we read a book and we make an initial impression of it, whether it is a positive or negative impression it doesn't matter- just the fact that we make one matters. And sometimes the impression that we make can very well be impacted by factors outside of the book (ie. our mood while reading the book, other books we were reading at the time, etc.). We then reread the book (which I don't know about y'all, but I am totally a rereader) and notice things we didn't see the first time around, come to understand those characters who bothered us the first time around or just come away from the book with a totally different idea of how we feel about it. As mentioned, I am a rereader sort of person, whether I reread a book right after my initial time reading it, or months, if not years later, well, I don't think that really matters, what I think matters is that with time something about that book hooks us, reels us in, and forces us to once again pick it up. I thought that it would be interesting if I were to reread some books that I have previously read and/or reviewed to see if my initial impression of the book has changed, hence this new little feature I like to call "Take Two" (or in the case of this book Take Three or Four).

From Goodreads: "In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other.  Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack.  And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget."

The first time I read this book I didn't really care for Cole. Whatsoever. I just plowed through all of the parts that he was in because I wanted to get to the 'good stuff' AKA the romance between Sam and Grace, however, this time around I really took the time to pay attention to him, and boy, did I ever like what I saw read. In my review of "Shade" by Jeri Smith-Ready I stated, "Logan, Aura's dead boyfriend, is full of fiery passion and it is easy to get swept up by said passion, though he does have his asshattery moments that does leave a bad taste in your mouth," and I think that that statement entirely applies to Cole of this book. On the one hand he completely plays with Isabel's heart, but on the other hand he genuinely cares about Grace's outcome and does everything in his power to see her and Sam together forever.

Furthermore, the first time I read this book I figured that the plot would more so focus on Sam and him adapting to his new life, but when it didn't fully go in that direction, but more so in the direction of Grace and her transformation, I was completely taken by surprise (though a happy one at that) and every time I have read the book since then I am still shocked by what occurs. And I think that that is a mark of a good book, a book which allows you to feel something no matter how many times you may read it.

All in all, this book truly takes you on an emotional roller coaster and is a treat to read once again. While I typically do not like new characters being introduced to well established series (ie. Daniel in Cassie Clare's "Mortal Instruments" series), I didn't mind the introduction of Cole in this series.

Rating: 10/10

Memorable lines from the book:

"Isabel Rosemary Culpeper, are you even going to tell me what a naked boy is doing in this house?"
"What do you think? Isabel replied. "What do you think I'm doing with a naked boy in this house? Didn't Dr. Carrotnose warn you that I might act out if you kept ignoring me? Well, here it is, Mom! Here's me acting out!" (pg. 82).

"My parents had always been so careful with me, until the day they decided I needed to die" (pg. 91).

"Pick one, guys. Parents or roommates. You can't be one and then suddenly be the other" (pg. 220).

"It was a life I didn't want to leave behind" (pg. 338).