A Winter's Tale

When Grace was eleven, she was attacked by a pack of wolves. They dragged her into the snowy forest of Mercy Falls, Minnesota, and she would surely have died if not for the intervention of one particular wolf. For the six years since she has been obsessed with him, following every movement of his pack as they roam the woods near her home.

Sam has been a werewolf for most of his life. However, it isn't the moon that dictates his form, but the temperature--in winter he's a wolf, in summer he's a boy, and he's been in love with Grace ever since he rescued her that cold day years before. But how can he ever tell her, especially when he only has one year left before he becomes a wolf permanently?

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater is a haunting, lyrical story that takes star-crossed lovers to an entirely new level--one where the lines that separate good from evil are constantly blurring, and humans can be just as cruel as the monsters they fear.

When one of Grace's classmates is believed to have been eaten by the wolves, a massive hunt is undertaken to eradicate the pack. Meanwhile, a packmate of Sam's becomes increasingly unstable, threatening harm to both the wolves and the humans in Mercy Falls. In the middle of it all are Grace and Sam, who are struggling to find a way to stay together when they know that there can be no happy ending for them.

If you're looking for a refreshing spin on werewolf lore, I highly recommend Shiver. Take a break from the usual vampire love story and spend some time in Mercy Falls--you'll be glad you did.