Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

When we meet Sam in Shiver, he is the wolf and Grace is the human. Now in the stunning conclusion to this beloved trilogy, the tables have turned and Grace must find a way to cure the wolfness that has been long dormant in her since she was a young child.

But the stakes are even higher than that now. A very powerful man in Mercy Falls, Tom Culpeper, whose son died at the hand of the wolves, is doing everything in his power to see that they are destroyed. Sam and Grace know they're running out of time, and their only hope for saving the wolves is in the hands of Cole, the suicidal, former rock star, who is experimenting with some possible cures. Will Cole find a cure before it's too late? Or will his self-experimentation result in his own demise?

*~*~*~*~*~*

In my recent review of Linger, I mentioned that I came very close to abandoning the series after I read Shiver. Am I ever glad I changed my mind! Strangely enough, the first book in this series was my least favorite of the three, which is unusual for me since the first book in a series is usually always my favorite.

Where Linger had a quiet power to it, Forever had more of an action-based plot, with quite an emotional climax. I really enjoyed seeing the evolution of all the characters, but Sam and Grace I think were definitely overshadowed by Cole in this last book. Cole really stepped up to the plate and became more than just the depressed, anti-social rock star. He became a part of the "pack" rather than the lone wolf (pardon the pun) and showed he could think of others and not just himself.

I know a few reviews I read said they were disappointed or confused by the ending, but I thought it was perfect. It had a satisfying resolution, but didn't end so neatly that you were still wondering what happens after you turn that last page. I'm not one who likes books or series to end so neatly that it feels contrived. This definitely did not feel contrived to me in the slightest.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Published: July 12, 2011 by Scholastic
Pages: 386
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Young Adult