[Aimee W. Posts: 382 Status: Offline MADNESS]

I think it's because the eye wants to jump straight to that little red splat. I know mine did.

[m_stiefvater]

I don't think there is a Ballad one -- it just came out. Did you already read it, Raynbow?

[Larissa Posts: 668 Status: Offline Larissa]

I totally only just saw the wolf in Maggie's avatar.  Cool.

I just finished Ballad last night, and yes, it is most definitely a perfect Halloween book.    (That's the King of the Dead, but he's a lot less smiley).

[Raynbow]

I don't think there is a Ballad one -- it just came out. Did you already read it, Raynbow?

Oh, yes. In a day and a half. I loved it. I thought I would because I loved Lament so much, but it's always nice when the second book is as good as the first. The ending really seemed like there might be a third? Maybe...


ETA:

I don't think there is a Ballad one -- it just came out.

I just started a thread.

[m_stiefvater]

Oh, yes. In a day and a half. I loved it. I thought I would because I loved Lament so much, but it's always nice when the second book is as good as the first. The ending really seemed like there might be a third? Maybe...

Yay! I'm in that early desperate for reviews/ feedback stage that I get with every book, apparently. And yes, in my head there is mooooreee . . .

I just finished Ballad last night, and yes, it is most definitely a perfect Halloween book.    (That's the King of the Dead, but he's a lot less smiley).

LOL!!!!!

[Shannywriter Posts: 507 Status: Offline Believe in yourself and never give up]

  O0 Cool, I am glad others didn't notice the wolf right away.  SarahMax, I too love running my fingers over the words!  My next Amazon 'buy with one-click' (so dangerous for me) purchase will be Lament, Maggie.  Is that the first of that series?

[m_stiefvater]

  O0 Cool, I am glad others didn't notice the wolf right away.  SarahMax, I too love running my fingers over the words!  My next Amazon 'buy with one-click' (so dangerous for me) purchase will be Lament, Maggie.  Is that the first of that series?

Oh, man, yes, the one-click option is dangerous enough that I turned it off. And yep, Lament is the first. I hope you like it!

[amberlough Posts: 88 Status: Offline]

How did I NOT see the wolf?! I swear I wouldn't have ever noticed it if you hadn't mentioned it. Wow. That is the coolest, sneakiest cover ever.

[redheadedali]

I didn't see the wolf at first, either. I was reading the book on a flight home from NYC, and I just happened to glance down at the cover during my layover and was like, "Hey, look at that!"

[SarahMax]

So call me a total fooltard, guys... but I couldn't find Mercy Falls on the map of Minnesota. I found a lot of " -- Falls", but no Mercys.

Is it a fictional town?

[m_stiefvater]

So call me a total fooltard, guys... but I couldn't find Mercy Falls on the map of Minnesota. I found a lot of " -- Falls", but no Mercys.

Is it a fictional town?

TOTALLY fictional. But if it weren't, it'd be near Ely.

[SarahMax]

OH, ok. Because I found Duluth and thought... Alright, Mercy Falls should be around here somewhere...

I do remember seeing an Ely.

Out of curiosity, why didn't you choose an existing town?

[m_stiefvater]

OH, ok. Because I found Duluth and thought... Alright, Mercy Falls should be around here somewhere...

I do remember seeing an Ely.

Out of curiosity, why didn't you choose an existing town?

Well, originally, it WAS Ely, but I didn't live near there and I wanted to get it exactly right . . . which meant it had to be imaginary.

[SarahMax]

Good idea.

[Shannywriter Posts: 507 Status: Offline Believe in yourself and never give up]

Ok, Maggie, I bought Lament today, and Amazon said I just had to buy Ballad too, so I did, and another book.  Shhh, don't tell my hubby. 

'Fooltard', SarahMax?  Never heard that word, and now I think its my new favorite! 

[SarahMax]

^.^;

Good luck with your husband, by the way. Hopefully you won't need it.   
 

Oh, and Happy Halloween to all!!  Don't let the werewolves bite.

[m_stiefvater]

Ok, Maggie, I bought Lament today, and Amazon said I just had to buy Ballad too, so I did, and another book.  Shhh, don't tell my hubby. 

LOL. I should thank Amazon for their insistence.

[wolfie712 Posts: 236 Status: Offline Teacher, Writer, Up-All-Nighter]

So my personal life has recently taken a massive dump, and I decided it was time to lose myself in a good book.  I picked up "Shiver" and found that it was not a good book.  It was a FABULOUS book! 

I loved everything about it--the characters, the setting, the alternating viewpoints, the beautiful poetic imagery...  The suspense and tension were incredibly strong.  I have always loved wolves, and I'm a sucker for romance, so this book was right up my alley.  And can I just say that Maggie really knows how to write romance?  The longing, the intimacy, the simple gestures and heartfelt words... I drank it all in and felt like I was really there in the story. 

I didn't know "Shiver" was the first in a trilogy until I read this thread, and I can't wait to read the next book!

Oh, one last thing...  ***SPOILER ALERT***

Maggie, I keep wondering, what in the world did Grace and Isabel do with Jack's body???

Laura

[m_stiefvater]

Oh, one last thing...  ***SPOILER ALERT***

Maggie, I keep wondering, what in the world did Grace and Isabel do with Jack's body???

Laura

*grin* So glad you loved it!

And as to the body . . . do you remember Ulrik and that shovel? ;p

[SarahMax]

Poor Jack!

As of two days ago, I've officially started rereading Shiver. I don't make a habit out of reading books more than once but it really is neat some of the stuff you can pick up on when you know what's going to happen next.

*SPOILER!*

Like in the beginning when Grace is about to become wolf chow, we 'see' Sam phasing back to his human form to carry her away.

I backed up, recoiled, starting to shake again-- but this time, it wasn't anger that racked my frame.... I was tearing apart, inside and out.... The pack fell away from me, wary. They growled at me, no longer one of them....

I can't wait to see what else I find!

[Aimee W. Posts: 382 Status: Offline MADNESS]

See, and I never realized that the first time around!

[ABailey]

I officially have to join the Shiver fan club. Very few books stay with me after reading them the way this one has. I will definitely be reading the sequels.

But, I have a question. Please don't kill me. It's just been bugging the heck out of me.

Spoiler alert**

I realize that Grace's parents have been set up to be a bit absentminded when it comes to important things so maybe that is the explanation. When Grace is attacked by Shelby and Shelby is assumed dead, why did no one even mention the possibility of rabies testing? That should have been the first thing the authorities asked. They jumped right into rabies vaccines before it was discovered the body was missing.

Now, me, I would have called Animal Control to come get the body out of my house, if for no other reason than to get it tested. Especially when there have been wolf scares all over the place. Just seemed like the authorities would have wanted to examine the body, at least. I'm just a bit befuddled and wondering if I missed something. But then, I worked too many years at a vet's office and was present for more than my fair share of 'beheadings'.

OK, that little tidbit aside, I love, love, love the book.

[Laura D Posts: 190 Status: Offline Stop. Hammer Time!]

I just finished last night. Heh, sleep, who needs it.

Can I just say: Perfect. Ending.

Perfect.

[m_stiefvater]

I realize that Grace's parents have been set up to be a bit absentminded when it comes to important things so maybe that is the explanation. When Grace is attacked by Shelby and Shelby is assumed dead, why did no one even mention the possibility of rabies testing? That should have been the first thing the authorities asked. They jumped right into rabies vaccines before it was discovered the body was missing.

Now, me, I would have called Animal Control to come get the body out of my house, if for no other reason than to get it tested. Especially when there have been wolf scares all over the place. Just seemed like the authorities would have wanted to examine the body, at least. I'm just a bit befuddled and wondering if I missed something. But then, I worked too many years at a vet's office and was present for more than my fair share of 'beheadings'.

OK, that little tidbit aside, I love, love, love the book.

LOL. Normally I don't answer these logic questions, but because it's the blueboard, heck, I'll do it. Yes, her parents are totally moronic (yes they are based on real life parents)(not mine). I was basing the rabies cases off my dad's experience in the E.R. (he's an E.R. doctor). He gets a fair number of animal bites/ attacks in, and even if the animal is not present -- it often isn't, because the animal attacks and then takes off -- they do an entire course of rabies vaccines AS A PRECAUTION (although I hear they're not comfy). So at least in those E.R.s, Grace would be preemptively treated ASAP for rabies, even before they found out that the wolf wasn't really dead. or there any more, but rather resurrected for more foul plot dealings in later books. ;p

[m_stiefvater]

I just finished last night. Heh, sleep, who needs it.

Can I just say: Perfect. Ending.

Perfect.

:D

[ABailey]

LOL. Normally I don't answer these logic questions, but because it's the blueboard, heck, I'll do it. Yes, her parents are totally moronic (yes they are based on real life parents)(not mine). I was basing the rabies cases off my dad's experience in the E.R. (he's an E.R. doctor). He gets a fair number of animal bites/ attacks in, and even if the animal is not present -- it often isn't, because the animal attacks and then takes off -- they do an entire course of rabies vaccines AS A PRECAUTION (although I hear they're not comfy). So at least in those E.R.s, Grace would be preemptively treated ASAP for rabies, even before they found out that the wolf wasn't really dead. or there any more, but rather resurrected for more foul plot dealings in later books. ;p

Thank you for taking the time to explain. Sorry to be a pain. It's perfectly logical to happen the way you describe. Not the way I would have handled it, but then I'd have noticed an extra body in my daughter's bed.   
At least after the first night or two. 

[Aimee W. Posts: 382 Status: Offline MADNESS]

I'd have noticed an extra body in my daughter's bed.  

Me too! Do you know how jealous I was of her, having those parents who were so fluff brained? Even though it's well laid out that it's not functional, that she's unhappy to a point, even though I know it isn't the way to parent--the teenager in me was like, Heck yeah! I wanna do whatever I want whenever I want and get away with it! *whine*

[rvnmaiden]

maggie. Started shiver last night. Wow. Very well done. I started reading, and read 50 pages at a clip. It's calling me today. And I have a TON to do. But wanted to let you know its beautiful!!!

[wolfie712 Posts: 236 Status: Offline Teacher, Writer, Up-All-Nighter]

*grin* So glad you loved it!

And as to the body . . . do you remember Ulrik and that shovel? ;p

LOL!  Oh, yes, that's right.  Thanks, Maggie! :D

Me too! Do you know how jealous I was of her, having those parents who were so fluff brained? Even though it's well laid out that it's not functional, that she's unhappy to a point, even though I know it isn't the way to parent--the teenager in me was like, Heck yeah! I wanna do whatever I want whenever I want and get away with it! *whine*

I thought the same thing! Oh, to be able to do whatever I wanted with practically complete freedom!  Sure, the lack of parental affection sucks, but you get to share your bed with a hot werewolf.

Laura

[aimeeb]

I just wanted to add that I am a fan now, too!  It really was a beautiful story.  Several places in the book really moved me.

I was lucky to get to read it, I snuck it away from our school library!!  We were in there one day and it was sitting on a table so I started telling my students that I thought they might like it (going off of what you guys had been saying!!) and this girl like snatched it out of my hands.  So we got it checked out to her--and then she brought it back to me THE NEXT DAY!  She read it in one night, so I thought . . . I gotta see!  So selfish me kept it for a few days to read it, but it is now safely back in the hands of my students! lol!!