Sinner

The Wolves of Mercy Falls #4

by Maggie Stiefvater, Dan Bittner (Narrator), Emma Galvin (Narrator)

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the number-one New York Times best-selling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret - his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Werewolves, Fiction, Urban Fantasy

9 pages, Audible Audio

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

New York Times bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Raven Cycle, and The Scorpio Races. Artist. Driver of things with wheels. Avid reader.

Maggie Stiefvater plays several musical instruments (most infamously, the bagpipes) and makes art in several media (most generally, colored pencils).

She lives in Virginia with her husband, their two children, many dogs, a bunch of fainting goats, and an irascible tuner car.

Reviews

[Maggie Stiefvater]

I have read it (also I have written it) and I can confirm it is very full of Cole and Isabel.

Also, here is a playlist of music I listened to while writing it:
https://soundcloud.com/maggie_stiefva...

And now there is a cover!

Now you can read the first three chapters: http://dialedin.com/scholastic10/Sinner

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

“It sure is ugly.”
“Ugly, never hurt a thing.”
I scoffed. “Oh, ugly has hurt some things. It’s just that pretty hurts more.”

Oof. Pseudo-philosophical YA at its finest.

To catch everyone up - Grace and Sam (the main characters from the original series) are being their lovey-dovey selves back in Mercy Falls.

Isabelle and Cole - the greatest couple that never-was - is not doing quite as well.

“Why did you even come here, Cole?”
I touched her chin. This place, this beautiful place, this girl, this beautiful girl, this music, this life. “I came here for you.”

Isabelle is shipped off California in the wake of her parent's crumbling marriage.

Cole St. Clair trails after her, allegedly to rekindle his rockstar career but truly to win Isabelle's heart.

It was the first time I'd really realized I'd lost my soul and that the beauty of not having a soul was that you couldn't seem to care that you no longer had one.

Will he win back his lady-love? Or will he lose himself in the process?

Man oh man.

Cole's shoulders must be aching from carrying this book!

The werewolf rockstar reality TV premise was...surprisingly enjoyable.

I went in totally expecting to hate the plot (I mean...really...werewolf rockstar TV show???) but it worked so effing well.

I (surprisingly) enjoyed the perspective of the Cole but Isabelle? Oof. She was a soggy taco.

Oh good lawd. Someone please. Tell her there's more to life than moping & pouting (oh sorry, I meant seeming perfectly totally cool and uncaring with everything).

Every time we swapped to her perspective, the little voice in the back of my head was like, "Whine, whine, whine. Anything new? More whining? Fab. Just. Fab."

I think that if she was like that for the first quarter to the first third, I would have been okay with it. But unfortuntely, she was like that until the last couple of pages, so we don't see much character growth.

Just her complaining about how her rich little life was so terrible, how falling in love ruined her and how her family is absolutely terrible.

It's like...yes. I get that your parents are going through the divorce but the amount of angst we saw did not equate.

You'd think her best friend cheated with her dad given the amount of carrying-on Isabelle had (they didn't, for the record) (it was just a hella-lot of drama).

Sometimes seeing things from other characters' perspectives really rounds out the book... and sometimes not... very much not.

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[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, so this was basically my reaction upon waking up to the news about this book's forthcoming existence:



How else was I supposed to react when I heard that there would be an ENTIRE NOVEL devoted to COLE ST. CLAIR?!?!?!

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading

4.5
Loved it.

26/06/14

*whispers*
A few days, my love. A few days AND I SHALL LOVE YOU.
*creepy laugh*



***
GUYS.
GUYS.

GUYS, OH DEAR LORD

THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK WILL BE MINE. I NEED IT. NEED IT!!! COLE, ISABEL? COLE AND ISABEL. I DREAMED ABOUT THIS SHIP FOR TOO LONG AND, AND, AND, AND...

[Wendy Darling]

I am still in the camp that thinks Shiver would have been better as a standalone novel, but I find Maggie irresistible. So of course I'll read this...cautiously.

[jv poore · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Sinner, the recently released, highly anticipated, companion book to the Shiver trilogy; didn’t take me back to Mercy Falls, it most certainly allowed me an enchanting opportunity to revisit Cole St. Clair and Isabel Culpepper. If you, like me, loved absolutely every single thing about the Shiver trilogy, my best guess is that you will revere Sinner. On the other hand, if this is the very first you’ve heard of said trilogy, I can still unabashedly recommend Sinner as a remarkable stand-alone novel packed with the punch that only Ms. Stiefvater can deliver. Even if you are “not really into the whole werewolf thing”, I stand by my recommendation. To me, the werewolf in Sinner is more an allegory than a creature to be feared or envied.

Ms. Stiefvater’s newest novel is a fast-paced, engrossing read that ebbs and flows with generosity and narcissism, love and hate, determined clinging and letting go. There is love and laughter, heart-ache and tears, mistakes, self-realizations and forgiveness. It is about life, growing up, being true, acting brave and accepting that; sometimes, walking away isn’t a cowardly act; but rather, the hardest and most definite thing you will ever have to do. Lessons generally learned much later in life become imperative in the formation and revelation of the true self as both Cole and Isabel; separately, yet simultaneously, become a bit more open and a little less jaded. Not embracing, but almost acknowledging that options aside from black or white, wrong or right, indeed exist. Grey comes in many shades, the road less traveled still delivers the traveler to his destination; and sometimes, pausing to ponder “what’s the way?” is the only way to keep going forward.

As always, within a Stiefvater saga, there are serendipitous seeds of wisdom that, when nurtured, bloom with breath-taking splendor. The brief glimpse of family on the beach is beautifully brilliant, encapsulating both a smiley and a teary moment (this author is a sneaky, clever, creator). If you’ve read this book, but weren’t captivated, amused and delighted….you may not have been paying close attention.

Leon. Leon’s pictures. The insightful inclusion of this quiet, soft-spoken man adds depth and a certain melancholy, elevating the book to a new level.

Sofia, because every darkness deserves a ray of light; and every home, a little hope.

I closed Forever four years ago with mixed emotions and a heavy heart. I had fallen for these characters, accepted the finality; but longed for just a little bit more Cole and Isabel. The two characters are so vibrant; filled with energy, anger, frustration, confusion, yet appearing confident and collected. They required their very own story and Sinner is it, spot on.

This review was written for Buried Under Books Blog.

[Kai Spellmeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Even when I was happy, I felt like I was always looking for the edges on life. The seams. I was so perfectly born to die.”

My last book of 2015 was everything I could have wished for.
It's a great summer read and as it's summer where I am right now (that is New Zealand) it was amazing to sit on the beach, attempt to get tanned and read Sinner.
Also, it's Maggie Stiefvater, and she was definitely my most read author this last year.

As to why I love this book so much: Isabel and Cole! God those characters. Just amazing. I love the sarcasm, the conversations, the unpredictability. The setting and the plot are so intruiging, I couldn't put the book down.

I'm so glad Maggie wrote a stand-alone companion to The Wolves of Mercy Falls. These two deserved their own novel more than anybody else.

Find more of my books on Instagram

[Tarra]

So when I read that this was happening I almost flung my sleeping child from my lap....

AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

[Jessica Reigle · Rating 5 out of 5]

COLE!!!



My day has been made.

Now, to wait...



Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

I fangirled so hard when she first announced this book. The reason I kept reading the Shiver books was because of Cole and Isabel. No lie. He is one of my favorite male YA characters and for him to get his own book? Oh man, I was literally counting down the days. When I got my copy, I may have hugged it (actually, I did, I won't lie). But the big question is, did it live up to my expectations? Yes . . . and no.

We'll start with the no part first, shall we? I was expecting more paranormal but what I got was more contemporary. Not necessarily a bad thing except when you're a person like me who isn't the biggest fan of YA contemp. However, I said I didn't care because I mean, hello! It's Cole St. Clair and Isabel Culpeper. But really, this was my only negative thing about this book. I'd say that's a pretty good thing, right?

On to the good. COLE. Okay, so we got to be in his head in both Linger and Forever but having an entire book (okay, really more like half since it's split with Isabel but you get my point) from him and about him? Oh yeah, I'm all over that. I may not have loved the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, as Sam and Grace bored to me death but I liked it enough that the chance to read more made me do the jig. The one thing I loved most but also frustrated me the most about this book was the fact that both Cole and Isabel were dealing with personal demons. Isabel frustrated me more than Cole did but I think that's because Cole has such a laid back personality that you just shrug it off. Let's be honest, Isabel has family issues. We came across these issues in the previous books but you really see a lot more in these books. Because of this, she doesn't believe in love and definitely doesn't believe in marriage but yet, she can't escape these feelings she has for Cole, again.

There are random appearances, per say, of both Sam and Grace so fans of the previous books will get a little excitement out of those. They're both short but I enjoyed having them in there. Cole makes friends with one of the most random guys in this book and you know what? It's one of the best parts about this book. You don't have to be a somebody for Cole to take notice of you, you just have to hold his interest enough to care. I want to meet someone like him in real life, I just feel like it would be an adventure in itself.

For those who love romance and kissing, let me just say you will not be disappointed. There is so much kissing and Cole's version of romancing that it made me giddy reading it.

If you liked the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and especially if you're like me and a big fan of Cole, this is something you don't want to miss out on. However, if you haven't read the series, I feel like this could be read on it's own and you'd enjoy just the same. There's references to things that happened in the previous books but they tell you enough about what's happened that I don't think you'd be lost.

Thank you so much to Scholastic for allowing us the opportunity to get this book at BEA in exchange for an honest review.

[Exina · Rating 2 out of 5]

July 28, 2014
Oh, God, it was exhausting! If I get over the urge to kill myself, maybe I'll write a review.

July 31, 2014
So now that I managed to pull myself together, I have to say this book was a huge disappointment. I loved Cole and Isabel’s blooming romance in Forever, and waited for this book so much.



Cole. He is still captivating: he has humor, improvement, can see the people and things around him. He is very sensitive to everything, and could morph everything into something phenomenal – even bad phenomenal, but still phenomenal. He is able to build something valuable even from shit.

Things come in my eyes and ears and through my pores, and my receptors begin to pulse restlessly and my neurons fire like cannons, and by the time everything gets into my brain and comes out the other side, it’s all transformed into a different species, pixels or channels, glossy or matt. I can’t change the way I’m made. I’m a performer, a singer, a werewolf, a sinner.

Isabel is poisonous. She squeezes all the happiness and joy out of everyone around her. She is always angry, always rude, bored and bitter. She hates everyone: her parents, her colleagues, everyone she knows and everyone she doesn’t even know.

"The place was already full of people. God, I hated them all."

Lovely. Who wouldn’t want to be with this girl?

Both Isabel and Cole think in extremes. Isabel is immature, aggressive and hysterical, Cole is pseudo-suicidal. While there is development in Cole’s character, there is nothing in Isabel’s. Cole has a purpose: it is Isabel. He subordinates everything to this aim. His every thought is about Isabel. And Isabel, being absolutely self-obsessed, is blind to it.

I had told the truth, and it hadn’t mattered. In the end, she’d bought into the same story everyone else had. Did it matter if you’d changed if no one believed it?

The story. The reality show left me uninterested. The paranormal aspect of the story is inconsistent, makes no sense, and reduced to almost zero. As if it doesn’t even exist.

Romance. No development, no communication, no magic moments. After 60% of the story I just stopped caring about the characters. I didn’t even root for their happy ending. The happy ending is unexpected and unestablished. I still love Cole, and he’d deserve a much better story than this and a much better person than Isabel.

Secondary characters. The only truly respectable and likeable person in this story is Leon, the Cadillac driver. Oh, and Jeremy! And Sofia. Baby, and the others are only papier mache figures.

Sinner is sickeningly sad and depressive. So much fake angst, but no real drama.

Two stars because Cole has some affectionate moments, and because of Leon, Jeremy and Sofia.

[Giselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a while since I read the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, so I was a bit worried that remembering next to no details about it would make reading this a flop, but it was not a problem at all. If you want to refresh your memory there's a convenient Wikipedia page that reminds you who's who. But everything you need to know is recapped (albeit briefly) as we go along.

Sinner is narrated by our beloved Cole and Isabel, a couple of characters who you won't soon forget. Cole is somewhat of an arrogant ass, yet charming and hilarious, and Isabel is a bit psychotic with quick wit and, to be honest, she scares me a little >.< I love her, though. She's sarcastic and may be cold at times, but she's just so real and gets that sometimes life just freaking sucks. Plus she doesn't take any shit from anybody and that's something I always respect. As for Cole, sometimes I love him, other times I just want to slap that smug face of his. He does take some patience, but you know that he really does mean well - especially when it comes to Isabelle. I also love how much he's changed, and even though the world seems to be against him he gives them the finger and keeps on keeping on. That's a true sign of strength if you ask me. Also I have to mention Leon - for a side character, he entertained!

Together… Cole and Isabel can definitely bring out the worst in each other. It's a complicated relationship, that's for sure. They have a lot of wounds to heal, and a lot of issues to work out. As expected, it's a hot and cold kind of romance, but for once I wasn't irritated by it. I completely understood why Isabel reacted the way she did, and her lack of trust is not hard to grasp - who expects a guy to actually have changed when his personality is such an extreme? Their chemistry is off the charts, though, and you can feel how much love they have for each other despite all the crap they went through. It makes it easy to root for them.

The plot, honestly there's not much paranormal going on in this book. It's a werewolf book, yes, but the werewolf is nothing but another burden Cole is trying to be rid of. We do see him turn occasionally, but this novel focuses more on its contemporary side. It's a story about a boy learning to live with the harsh consequences of his past choices. It's also a love story. It's slow-ish paced, but the characters and situations keep you compelled. Cole being semi-famous lends the book a dash of the "life of the rich and famous". He also takes on a reality show for an extra spin of drama as well. I was actually quite fascinated by it all.

In a dazzling, sometimes frustrating LA setting, Sinner is full of wonder, heartbreak, and colourful characters for a great addition to the original Wolves of Mercy Falls series. This one is less wolf, and more broken human, but fans of the series will love it nonetheless!

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

[Aiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was me, starting the book↓



Yes, I was a wriggly feline, unable to contain my excitement and anticipation and so decided to squirm under the couch; successfully managing to startle my fellow feline friend in the process.

Anyway, let me get back to Sinner, the marvelously marvellous book written by none other than one of my favourite authors, Maggie Stiefvater! The book surpassed my higher-than-Mt-Everest expectations and left me with that utterly satisfying feeling you get when you wake up and realise that you still have more time to sleep.

Sinner was hilarious, sarcastic and genuine; an all-rounder book that had me grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Cole St. Clair is an indescribably brilliant character and it was mesmerizing to read from his perspective. His snark, humour, sarcasm and charm were dizzying and I have begun to memorize his countless one-liners and retorts that would leave you grasping for a comeback, or more likely, scratching your head. And all I have to say is- Cole St Clair...



And that's not all; no sir, there is still Isabel to gush over. Isabel's cynicism, scorn and temperament were magnetizing in their own way, and I found myself constantly smirking at her snide, witty remarks.



The side characters were very amusing and the writing style flawless. I would recommend this book not only to each and every fan of Maggie Stiefvater or/and the Shiver trilogy but also to anyone looking for a book that will make them melt into a puddle of emotions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YES. This is sure to be AMAZING!

Can't wait. Cole, Cole, Cole and Cole is going to be AWESOME! Oh, wait- did I mention that Cole was going to be awesome? Well, let me say it again.

Cole is going to be AWESOME! And Isabel too =)



Looks like Taylor Swift is excited. And ready for this book.

So am I Taylor. So am I.



Let the countdown begin

[Glass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tanja: You of all people know how much I love Maggie's writing and how I drive people crazy with it. So I can't help but wonder where did it go. I couldn't find it here, which makes me rather sad.
Glass: I was always raving about how amazing this woman writes, but I have to agree with you and say that I am rather disappointed with Cole's story. I expected epic conclusion, but left hanging dry. What happened?
Tanja: I have no idea where all the magic disappeared. But to organize our thoughts better I propose we list pros and cons here. So would you like to start?
Glass: Perfect! Let's see...

What we liked:

Glass: I was so happy with how Maggie Stiefvater managed to avoid all stereotypes of genre and gave us a story which is this amazing crossover between young adult and new adult. I didn't expect anything else from a woman who wrote Scorpio Races.
Tanja: I totally agree with that. I also liked how Maggie kept this story apart from The Wolves of Mercy Falls. Sinner is set in LA which put both characters away from everything that happened before. You can read this story on its own, but at the same time I suggest you read the first series.
Glass: That is true, most of the companion novels are about same events but usually told from a point of view of a supporting character. Speaking about characters, that is one more plus - both Cole and Isabel are different than in previous novels. At moments I even wondered if I had missed something important between Forever and Sinner.
Tanja: I felt the same. My favorite thing or better said moment in this story was when Cole came to pick Isabel up after that party. I could feel bits of old Cole and Isabel then. But even though they did behave like before it was brought to the limit where I didn't enjoy it.

What we didn't like:

Tanja: Like I said at the start there is the writing which was nothing like that poetic sort we had in the previous books. I missed it and my heard ached for it. But still my biggest problem was to determine the point of this story. I didn't see it then and I still cannot see it now.
Glass: Also, it had this really weird atmosphere - like a mix of Reckless by S.C. Stephens and Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald. One second I love how she pulls me into Cole's head, it's like I am right there with him and everything he feels, I feel. But then comes this big eye-roll moment and it's like I'm reading completely different book.
Tanja: Yes, both characters were taken to their extreme and we could see that their relationship was too destructive. It wasn't balanced and that's why the ending itself felt a bit off for me. Everything happened so fast that at moment I though that was it, the next chapter things turned out of sudden. Drama, and hot and cold moments were too much and I didn't like it.
Glass: Well, I've read about more destructive relationships and you know that melodrama is my guilty pleasure, so I didn't have much issues with that. What did bother me is something I usually say for John Green's novels - pretentious writing and characters that try too hard to sound "witty" and "cool". And I can't believe that I am describing that way something Maggie Stiefvater wrote.

In the end...

We are not sorry for reading this book because it was wonderful to get back to our favorite series, but other than being enjoyable and quick read, Sinner was not what we expected. Fans of The Wolves of Mercy Falls might read it "just because", but in the end, we doubt that it will be a memorable read.

Review posted at Ja čitam, a ti?

[Giulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were so little, when you took away all our sins.

Going into a book, we all have certain expectations: I'm going to like this, it's gonna be amazing, it's probably not my cup of tea... - you know, that sort of thing. Going into this book, I never would've thought it was going to be a 5 stars book. I mean, it's a spin-off of a trilogy I read years ago, so I wasn't expecting it to be anything more than okay. Turns out I was wrong. But let me explain myself a little better.

I read The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy as soon as it came out here in Italy, which was roughly four years ago. I know this is kind of an unpopular opinion, because a lot of people seem not to have liked it, but I loved it: I don't know if I would like it just as much if I read it today but, honestly?, I think I would. Not only this trilogy made me fall further in love with the fantasy genre, but it made me even more determined to be a writer. I was absolutely amazed by Maggie Stiefvater's writing and Sam, one of the two MCs of the trilogy, will always be one of my favorite characters ever. But the thing I loved the most about The Wolves of Mercy Falls was not the writing, or even the great characters, but how it made me feel. Which is exactly how Sinner made me feel.
It's the most pleasant of unpleasant feelings. It's like when you're with a lot of people and you've been talking and laughing for hours and they seem to think you're nice and funny, and then you suddenly realize that this isn't you. It's all an act, and they're all buying it, and what else can you do? You keep going. You get that cold feeling on your skin and that emptiness in your throat, and you keep giving them what they want, even though you know you're a fraud. This is how Sinner made me feel. Like I was stripped bare of all my secrets, and I had no choice but to look straight at the truth.

Cole St. Clair is a former rockstar, former drug addict and werewolf. Everyone thought him dead, and then suddenly he was not. His mind is a dangerous place. It's sweet and sour and intoxicating like rotten fruit. He keeps making the same mistakes and going round and round and he can't help it, because he's an addict - and this is exactly what people with addictive personalities do. They do not care for self-destruction and they do not care for themselves. They just stay still and watch as their own body and mind slowly turn to ashes. Cole is not sad and he doesn't feel sorry for himself: he's desperate, but in a way that burns. He can be euphoric one moment and depressed the next, and everything he does and says it's always too much. He turns all the fire inside so he won't hurt anyone else, and his soul burns instead. He's a different person now, not the one he used to be, but the truth is... you can only change so much. He knows loss and he knows love, and there is nothing more beautiful than the desperate and all-consuming way he loves Isabel.

"Death is not morbid" he said "Everything else is."

Isabel Culpeper has got an heart of steel. She's lost her brother, and her family is slowly falling apart, so her only choice is to put on a mask and act completely indifferent to the whole world. While Cole is burning, she is slowly fading. She treats people with cold sarcasm and never has a kind word for anyone, not even for her shy and awkward cousin Sofia, and certainly not for her parents. Isabel's family is a broken one. She tries to be icy-cold and not to fall in love with Cole all over again and to be immune to the storm she's found herself into, and sometimes she even tries to lose herself in a world she doesn't quite understand, but it never works. Isabel is not everyone else. While the world sees her as a cold soul, she's burning with anger.

"I feel like I'm the only sane person in the world. I don't get why this whole world runs on stupidity."

This was not an easy book for me. Sometimes it hit a little too close to home and it told me things I didn't want to know, it reminded me of things I didn't want to remember, but this is exactly why I love this trilogy. Because unlike anything else I've ever read, it gives me the sweet feeling of decay, of life and death, of everything broken that maybe - only maybe - can be fixed.
Now I really want to reread the entire trilogy, even though I should definitely get new copies. I have the Italian edition of all three books and not only I want to read them in English, but my editions also have the ugliest covers you could ever think of. Thank you very much, Italian publishers. So yeah, joyfully ignoring the fact that I'm penniless, I'm officially getting new copies of The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy! And of course, I'm getting a copy of Sinner as well, because if you didn't already get that impression from my review... it was pretty fucking awesome.

We are a wonder of checks and balances to keep on running. The human body doesn't want to get hurt. There was something wrong with me, because sometimes I didn't care. There was something wrong with me, because sometimes I wanted it. We fear death; we fear the void; we scrabble to keep our pulses. I was the void.

[Rachel L · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Sinner stars

“I came back for you, Isabel.”



Sinner is the follow up to Maggie Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, and in order to understand this book completely, you must read those three amazing books first.

After the events of Forever, Isabel has moved from Minnesota to Los Angeles with her mother, moved in with her cousin and is pursuing a career in medicine. Cole, the haunted musician turned werewolf, has followed her back to the city that played a part in his downfall. Both Isabel and Cole are trying to move on from their past and become better versions of themselves, but are they standing in their own way?

“Did it matter if you changed if no one believed it?”

This book was eloquently written and pretty much everything I wanted in a follow up book about my favorite characters. In this book Isabel is still trying to recover from the death of her brother and the destruction of her family. Isabel is constantly hiding behind her anger and harsh words, but she’s only doing this to hide the fact that she feels too much. Isabel also fears that she’ll fall in love with Cole again, and that when she did, he would break her.

“I had been taken apart and put back together again, and this version of me was unbreakable.”

Cole finds himself reverting back into the life of a rockstar, starring in a unique new reality show and recording a new album. In place of drugs, Cole has used transforming into the wolf as a way to stop feeling, heroine for werewolfism. Isabel is the only person who understands Cole for who he really is. Cole doesn’t need to hide behind his persona when he’s around her, he can be his true self. Their connection comes from the fact that they both see each other for who they really are, and not what other people see them as.

“Why did you come back?”
“I came back because I had to. Because there was nothing wrong in the world except that I was getting older in it.”

Cole swears to Isabel that he came to LA just for her, but Isabel is not a fan of seeing Cole fall back into his old life. For Cole, coming back to LA means facing his demons, and the city can either help him move on, or it could take away the last part of his soul.

“I knew just how it felt when your worst fear was that you would be yourself.”

Los Angeles is a huge theme in this book, signifying rebirth and redemption for both of the main characters. I had fun reading this, being a resident of the greater Los Angeles area, because I could tell that the author either did her research, or has spent a lot of time in Los Angeles and has a key appreciation of it. Los Angeles was not glorified, and it was not criticized, it just was in this book.

The romantic plot was actually the majority of this book. It’s been a while since I read the trilogy before it, but I didn’t remember that much of a focus on romance. Not that I minded, as I said Cole and Isabel are my favorite, so it was a nice change to see Cole just got for it and to try and get Isabel. His determination and devotion to her showed how much he had really changed from his past life.

“Tell me you’ll see me tomorrow.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tell me you’ll see me the next day. And the day after that. And the day after that.”

I felt that the werewolf plot was no longer a priority in this book, at least not as much as it was in the other books. For Sam and Grace, the werewolf issue was about not being able to escape their circumstances. For Cole, it’s his escape from his human self. For Isabel, the wolf is a reminder of everything she’s lost and everything she hasn’t been able to move past. In fiction, a werewolf is never just a wolf, it’s always a metaphor that reflects the character’s true selves.

Overall, I am so freaking glad that Maggie wrote this book and gave the readers an ending they could cherish. Sinner is a wonderful story of redemption and love, and how we need to move past what we once were to become who we really are.

My casting:

[Robin Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the people who haven't seen it yet, you can read the first three chapters here: http://dialedin.com/scholastic10/Sinn...

And saying it's perfect is an understatement.. COLE, WE MISSED YOU.

Freakin' Cole St. Clair people, this is so awesome

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

I have very mixed feelings about Sinner. There were parts I loved: the writing and the chemistry between Cole and Isabel, and then there was the not so much. I will say I was happy to have closure for Cole and Isabel after so long.

Cole has moved to Los Angeles in an attempt to re-start his music career. But the main reason he chose L.A. is because Isabel is there and Cole wants a future with her. Instead of signing on with a record label Cole has agreed to make an album while having it documented by a “reality” show. One that specializes in featuring stars self-destruct in the process. Cole finds Isabel and inside she dares to dream that he’s here just for her. In Cole’s mind he is, but when Isabel finds out about the “reality” show she’s ticked and rightfully so in my opinion. What sane girl relishes the idea of her potential boyfriend/partner staring in a reality show? I get hives just thinking about it!

Sinner had a couple of things going against it (for me) from the beginning that may not be a problem for other readers. First of all, the whole premise of starring in a sensationalized reality show was a big negative for me. I can’t stand “reality” shows that are high on drama and character implosions. Second, even though I live in a suburb of Los Angeles, I hate the fake and superficial Los Angeles/Hollywood lifestyle where everyone must have the newest, brightest, best of everything: looks and things. And this is the setting. Cole and Isabel didn’t buy into that, but still, that was the setting and it came through loud and clear. I think this is the main reason it felt so different from the rest of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. It didn’t feel anything like it, actually. The whole shifting and wolf thing hardly factored in the story at all.

The chemistry between Cole and Isabel was palpable and they shared some very sexy moments. It was the best thing about the story, IMO. But, this was not a couple gradually rejoining, sharing life’s burdens and bonding over common feelings. There was no such “togetherness”. Cole and Isabel had their own problems they didn’t really discuss with each other. Each dealt separately and then they’d come together here and there and smooch. Granted, these smooch-fests were very lusty, Maggie is a whiz at building the moment up, but I want more than just kissing. I want a deep connection, but Cole and Isabel were never really on the same page for the better part of the book. Cole was always chasing and Isabel was always running. That was okay, it was nothing unbearable because, like I said they’d get together and have these amazing moments, but then the last 20% there was a series of strange and unhappy events. I wouldn’t say it was high drama, just more melancholy angstiness, and then BAM at the very end everything is settled without really sorting anything out. I was a little bewildered, and I’m still scratching my head to be honest.

I do adore Maggie’s writing and I’m always in awe at how she’s able to set the mood and make you feel every scene as though it were happening to you, but I was hoping for more. Especially since Cole and Isabel were my favorite couple in Forever.

A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟

“It was the first time I'd really realized I'd lost my soul and that the beauty of not having a soul was that you couldn't seem to care that you no longer had one.”

Another series in the books! I love Maggie Stiefvater :P Her writing is so simple, yet complex and the depth expressed in this book was excellent!!

Sinner, is the last book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series. Its all about my two favorite characters- Isabel and Cole. I could relate to them so much more than Grace and Sam. They are just more my cup of tea. You know, the dark characters with hella messed up past, YEAH- I feel that! This one was not really like the rest of the series. Its not a stand alone but its just different and I loved it.

I like that we get to really see into what makes these characters tick and what they are really struggling with. I really appreciate the way the author wrote about addiction and how it really can grip a person and the struggles that they face- even when sober. It was done extremely well, especially for it being a YA book. I recommend this series as a whole- mainly for these two characters. They brought a realness to the series. Something raw and not fairy-tale perfect. This was an excellent ending!!

[Emma Skapetis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago but I'm editing it now because I longer like my initial review. This book is my favourite book of all time. I've literally read it 6 time (and that's saying a lot because I only reread my very favourite books).Anyway Sinner is about Cole St Clair and Isabel Culpeper, two characters in the wolves of mercy falls series. Cole is a formerly missing rockstar who has struggled for years with substance issues and suicidal thoughts. He is trying to make a career comeback and he decides that the perfect way to do so is to star on his own reality show. Isabel meanwhile is a recent high school graduate who is in medical school and studying to be a doctor. She is also struggling with her parent's seperation and eventual decision to divorce. At the same time, Cole who is her ex-boyfriend comes back into her life. Isabel doesn't know how to feel about this because she still has feelings for him but she likes to pretend that she doesn't because the collapse of her parent's marriage has led to her no longer believing in love. But she also can't deny her feelings for Cole and she can't stay away from him either. Cole is also a werewolf but werewolves are much less important to the plot of this book than the other books in the series. Anyway I really loved this book (obviously with the amount of times I've read it lol). I love Isabel and Cole together and it had the perfect amount of romance and drama for me. Though I actually wasn't as interested in the reality show stuff I still found it really interesting. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a paranormal romance that also has a lot of drama.
My favourite quotes
"I was so tired of being alone, but I was always alone. Even when I was with other people I was still alone. And I was so tired of being surrounded, but I was always surrounded even when I was by myself I was still surrounded."
"Why are you here?"I came here for you."

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Por donde comenzar!! Es que Maggie no decepciona!!! Sino más bien encanta con cada una de sus historias 💗💗

Si bien en un comienzo, la historia iba un poco lenta, lo cual ahora justifico porque era la forma de ir visualizando la evolución de los personajes, de hacerlos sentir tantas emociones y tantos cuestionamientos...

Cole e Isabelle crecen de una forma única y tan cercana... que de hecho llegué a amar el final... dejaré sólo un extracto... Y debo mencionar que Cole se merecía totalmente ese final!

“-Quédate- dijo, de nuevo en voz alta para que recogiese el micrófono.
Pero era siempre yo el que de quedaba. La que se marchaba era ella.
-Cómo se que tú también te quedarás?
Se me acercó al oído y murmuró:
-Te quiero”

“-Vale- susurró-. Dilo. Sé qué es lo que quieres, así que dilo.
-Por qué has venido, Cole?- preguntó, otra vez en voz alta.
-He venido por ti.”

Definitivamente, amé el final que tuvo esta pareja 💕

[Zemira Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am totally calm. Nothing earth-shattering has happened. Cole's only getting his own book. Nothing to be excited about.



Oh, gosh! This was even better than I imagined! I love The Dream Thieves and Linger but Sinner is a whole another story. I'm so impressed with Maggie right now.

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

It's no secret I love Cole ever since I first read about him in The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I did feel like Cole's story wasn't finished and guess what? I was right! The fact Maggie decided to write Sinner means the world to me.

The story starts with Cole being his charming self and he's gone to Los Angeles to find Isabel and along the way, to make a new record. When he does, he sees Isabel is not quick to forgive him for being a hot mess (I'm putting it mildly). He's been using drugs to induce his change in warm weather. He's doing it to escape from his thoughts and past that are still haunting him.

It's hard to explain why I love Cole and Isabel together. They are both messed up people. Cole, a showman and Isobel, an ice queen. But when they're together, sparks fly. The beginning of the book was playful and I was smirking at their bickering. Later, I was consumed with a severe case of feels. Their scenes weren't swoony. They were raw and real. Don't think Maggie wrote anything like this before. I feel as if this book was her most distinctive story so far. I mentioned this in one of my status updated- Sinner was everything I hoped The Piper's Son would be. I had high expectations for TPS because it's Melina freaking Marchetta we're talking about here but I ended up being disappointed because I didn't feel the connection with the book. That wasn't the case with Sinner.

Maggie Stiefvater isn't known for writing contemporary books but I have to say, this book was one of those strange paranormal novels which doesn't talk much about paranormal stuff. The essence of this book is based on personal growth and not on fangs and paws. If you, like me, prefer contemporary novels over paranormals, then you'll be smitten with it because our dear author brought out all the guns. And if you're not a fan of contemps then you'll still enjoy it because of Cole and Isabel. Mrs. Stiefvater made me love this book more than I love The Dream Thieves and Linger.

I don't really know what to say about this book. It was phenomenal! It made me think outside my box. It was the kind of book you would put on a special place in your shelf because it deserves it so I encourage you, go and order it!

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, you were probably happy with it for the most part but...we needed more Cole and Isabel. And I was so happy when MS decided to write their story.

Cole's agreed to be on a reality TV show and write/sing more music but he really came to California for Isabel. Of course, he can't really tell her that. He thinks he needs to get her to see how much she needs him too.

I've always liked Cole and couldn't wait to read his story but OMG, he about drove me crazy! With his "restlessness" or whatever you want to call it, it was very easy to see how he became an addict. But by him shifting, that was really just another addiction. It really made me wonder if he truly loves Isabel or if she's just something else to soothe his additive personality?

Isabel is as sarcastic as ever, in fact, she's even brought that to new heights. But I loved how aware she was of herself and her feelings...as much as she tried to hide them. She drove me as crazy as Cole but in a different way. Thank goodness we got both their POVs...it really helped to understand the whys.



I loved the other relationships that Cole and Isabel had. Cole with Leon and Isabel with Sofia...they were both so awkward but really just exactly what they needed.

We do get little tidbits of Sam and Grace but mainly through phone calls. It would have been nice to have an actually scene or two with them.

This book is pretty heavy with the romance and surprisingly steamy. Now don't get your hopes up, there's no details but I didn't mind that at all.

To be honest, MS' writing scares me. I loved Shiver but it was heartbreaking and I never knew which way she would go with this book. Luckily, I was happy with the outcome but she keeps you on edge until almost the last second.

Thankfully, there is an epilogue....it's just not long enough or detailed enough. And while I was thrilled with the way things went, I was left wanting more...and with a feeling that I needed to detox. ;)



Favorite quotes

♥ "The morning with Cole had been in color, and everything else was in black and white."

♥ "Isabel Culpeper, perfect ten."

♥ “All of the girls look old now. When did that start? All I can see when I look at them is what they’re going to look like when they’re forty. It’s like the worst superpower ever.”

♥ "Cole said, “You’re the only good thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

I replied, “I’m sorry I’m such a wreck.”

He kissed me again. My mouth, my throat, under my ear.

He hesitated. Pulling back, he said, “Tell me this means something to you.”

♥ "Don't let me leave you."

♥ “Why did you even come here, Cole?”

I touched her chin. This place, this beautiful place, this girl, this beautiful girl, this music, this life. “I came here for you.”

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave so many damns at once that it actually hurt.

Three years after the publication of Forever, Maggie Stiefvater takes us into the lives of Cole and Isabel with her standalone companion book Sinner. After the tragedy that tore her family apart, Isabel now lives in Los Angeles, working in a chic store and studying her way to a premed track. Cole comes back to LA under the guise of shooting a television show with a notorious celebrity-eater named Baby, though he really wants to see Isabel and feel her love again. Isabel keeps up a cold front, but when external forces like family and ex-friends, as well as internal demons like insecurity and addiction rear their ugly heads, the couple must learn to trust each other or fall apart trying.

Cole and Isabel contributed so much voice to the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. The bond between Grace and Sam felt whole, wonderful, and sweet; the relationship between Cole and Isabel felt jagged, honest, and dangerous. Sinner continues their characterizations and pushes them further. Cole maintains his sarcasm, his seductive smirk, and his self-harming tendencies. Isabel returns with her acerbic wit and her hidden vulnerability. They both deal with a lot of personal issues, and while their angst almost felt overwhelming at times, Stiefvater's nuanced, detailed writing lets readers float amidst an ocean of feelings.

Of all the things. Maybe he'd had girlfriends before, but I'd spent a lot of time intentionally being no one's. And now I didn't even know if he'd been saying it just to put a suspicious waitress at ease or because he thought I was really his girlfriend. And I didn't even know, after that, if I even wanted to be. I didn't know if it mattered if your boyfriend wasn't a mess if everyone else in the world thought he was.

Sinner felt more like realistic fiction than fantasy. Stiefvater keeps the plot focused on Cole's television show and his production of a new album. Even though sometimes the story veered into mawkish territories, Stiefvater always pulled it back by developing her secondary characters - Sofia, Leon, and Jeremy - as well as by giving Cole and Isabel real, sensitive narratives. Their dialogue and banter entertained me and made me swoon, and even their text messages felt sincere and well-written (Stiefvater is one of the rare YA authors who actually understands how young adults text.) Isabel and Cole, both sharp around the edges, help smooth each other out by the end of the book.

Overall, recommended to those who enjoyed Cole's and Isabel's perspectives in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. While not the perfect book - I still feel that Stiefvater could have dived a little deeper into their internal wounds, especially before that ending - Sinner is full of stellar characterization and powerful, graceful writing.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so glad we got one more book in the "Wolves of Mercy Falls" series because even though Cole and Isabel were secondary characters, I would have greatly missed seeing the chance to see them get their happy ending. The setting in this fourth book in the series is radically different from the three that came before. It's more of a "Real World" meets "Mercy Falls" sort of scenario. But it was still enjoyable. And I enjoyed the look into the psyche's of both Cole and ISabel as they meet a little ways down the road from where we last saw them, this time in California, and try to decide if they can make it work together. An enjoyable addition to Sam and Grace's story. 4/5 stars.

Please excuse typos. Entered on screen reader.

[Jessy MelodyofBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://youtu.be/kdVnG8q9FjM

[Keertana · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to The Wolves of Mercy Falls Series, I have a unique relationship--to say the least. I couldn't finish Shiver the first time I picked it up; I disliked it that much. But just a matter of months later, I was in the mood for Sam and Grace and their ridiculously uneven love story, so I picked up the novel again, opened its spine, and fell head-over-heels in love. Not only with Sam and Grace, but with Maggie Stiefvater as well. And, unlike most readers, I found Forever to be the pinnacle of perfection. I loved it in a way I hadn't loved the previous installments of this series; not quite as much as The Scorpio Races but so, so close.

Thus, when it was announced that Stiefvater was re-visiting this series, but not Mercy Falls, I was both eager and more than a little anxious. I enjoy ambiguous endings, which is why Forever worked so well for me. I liked knowing that Isabel and Cole were on their own but would, in the near future, find their way back to each other. I wasn't dying to know how that would happen, or when it would happen, or where it would happen. I was just glad knowing that it would, just as I was glad knowing that everything was going to work out for Sam and Grace. To me, Sinner seemed like an additional novel written to please Isabel and Cole fans but, I couldn't bring myself to complain as I'd happily read Stiefvater's grocery lists; her writing is that beautiful.

Now, having read Sinner, I can sincerely admit that I didn't expect this novel to be quite this good. Yet, it also didn't thrill, enchant, or captivate me to the extent that Sam and Grace's love story did. Isabel and Cole are dark, destructive characters; characters whose secondary presence throughout The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy enhanced the tale, certainly, but in limited doses. With an entire novel of these two--of their complex hearts, broken souls, and disjointed love story--it almost becomes too much. Moreover, Sinner moves away from the quiet stillness of Mercy Falls--a silence that practically weaves a magical bubble of its own--into loud, very-much-alive California and the distinction is palpable. It suits both Cole and Isabel, certainly, but I'm not entirely certain it suited me.

Sinner's strength lies completely in its main character, Cole St. Clair. Cole is back in LA, determined to re-launch his career as a rock star only, this time, having turned a new leaf. When we first meet Cole in Linger he has already gone down a destructive path of girls, drugs, and everything in-between. In fact, he becomes a wolf in order to lose himself and his problems--a solution that drugs never offered him. While Cole may know this, though, the rest of the world doesn't. If anything, the world believes that Cole St. Clair is the sum of his sins; if he isn't sinning now, he's going to do it in the near future. For Cole, earnestly struggling to get things right this time around, the lack of belief that those around him share only brings forth his past ghosts. No matter what he does, he can't seem to escape his previous sins; they haunt him.

Cole's reconciliation with his past is what makes Sinner such a spectacular novel. His entire arc is littered with flaws, imperfections, but also growth. While the wolf doesn't play as large a role in Sinner as it does in the previous installments in this series, it still lingers, tempting Cole with its quick method of escape. Though Sinner is more contemporary than paranormal, the sparseness of the wolf only makes it seem deadlier. It's an ever-present itch in the back of our minds as we wonder exactly what will drive Cole to the wolf and what, if anything, can wean him off of it.

Where Cole and Isabel were the secondary characters of Sam and Grace's love story, Jeremy and Leon are the secondary characters of Cole's tale. Jeremy, a former band mate from NARKOTIKA, once again joins Cole in making music but, above all, his friendship is invaluable. The Cole St. Clair that the rest of California sees is not the real Cole St. Clair that Jeremy or Isabel see and Jeremy's ability to see past Cole's facades create such an interesting relationship dynamic between them. Moreover, Jeremy is a constant reminder of Cole's past--of his sins--thus becoming a catalyst for the change he so desperately needs. Leon, Cole's driver, is another exemplary secondary. Leon's relationship with Cole isn't one of equality as, obviously, he works for Cole but, surprisingly, he also looks to Cole. Leon isn't an adventurous, spontaneous person the way Cole is, so the manner in which Cole lives and encourages him to explore out of his comfort zone casts Cole in such a different light. It is all too easy to cast Cole as a screw-up; someone who is still experimenting with life to get it right. Thus, to see him through Leon's eyes as a guy who actually has a few things figured out only enhances our view of him. Cole, above all else, owns Sinner so thoroughly that his three-dimensional characters makes him all-too-real; I half expected him to jump out of the page and into my bedroom.

Isabel, though harder to read than Cole whose emotions bleed all over the pages, is easily my favorite character in this novel. I am all for difficult, unlikable, and prickly heroines of which Isabel is the quintessential one. While she is initially surprised by Cole's arrival in California, she is equally pleased, eager to get to know him away from the events of Mercy Falls but still anxious for what their relationship may mean. Most of all, though, Isabel has to deal with the paparazzi, cameras, and girls that come with Cole's lifestyle as a rock star. In the midst of coping with those relationship changes, her family unit at home is utterly unstable, falling apart around her in such a way that Isabel is no longer in control. Moreover, Isabel is still battling with the guilt that she's falling for a guy who doesn't want to let go of the werewolf when it was the werewolf who killed her brother.

For both Cole and Isabel, there is just so much on their plates but Stiefvater deals with these issues so subtly, but poignantly, that they make an impact without overwhelming the reader with too many plot threads. If anything, Sinner is a character-driven tale with Isabel and Cole on such different paths in life though, deep down, they're one and the same. Both of them are coping with their careers and thinking about what they want from their futures and figuring out what exactly they want--or don't want--from a relationship and all these ideals are so integral to the New Adult age group Cole and Isabel find themselves in that I love reading about these realistic struggles in a paranormal story.

Where Sinner falters for me, however, is--unfortunately--in its ending. Isabel and Cole have a rocky relationship throughout the novel, with each of them making steps forward and strides backward, working to fix their mistakes and change themselves. Yet, as the situation heads towards a climax near the end, the motivations of both Isabel and Cole became increasingly murky. A series of events nearing the end of the novel simply felt out of place to me, not to mention the fact that I needed far more insight and explanation between a lot of the scenes we were given. It felt as if there were gaps in the chapters and, what's more, the ending scene that brings these two together felt far too contrived and crowd-pleasing to completely satisfy. For me, at any rate, the ending just wrapped up too quickly and I found myself grasping at straws, belatedly re-reading passages to discover some hidden meaning or scene I had missed.

That being said, Stiefvater's epilogue is clear, leaving no doubt about Cole and Isabel's future together. It isn't the type of epilogue I enjoy, but it certainly counters the ambiguity of her ending with Forever. While Sinner wasn't the brilliant tale I dreamed of, it certainly stunned me in the far-reaching depths it was willing to go. Not only did it present both Cole and Isabel in a new light, but it forced me to think, feel, and love their independent struggles. Sinner is brilliant in its themes, explosive in its ability to keep you turning the pages, and satisfying in its epilogue. While the journey to get there isn't always easy or, for that matter, written in an entirely successful manner, Stiefvater so rarely disappoints and Sinner is only further testament of that.

[Mogsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/10/18/y...

I’m disappointed to say the least. Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls was a trilogy I read a few years ago, and while it might not rank up there as one of my favorite Young Adult series of all time, it had its moments. One of the highlights was the supporting character of Isabel Culpeper who was a bit of a queen bee, plus she’s angry and bitter to boot. And yet, I found her to be a lot more interesting than the very blah protagonist of Grace Brisbane, and I was rather fond of Isabel. I was also intrigued when I found out she would be starring in her own book Sinner along with Cole St. Clair, the rock star/werewolf with whom she started a budding romance towards the end of the Mercy Falls trilogy.

Sinner begins in California, where Isabel has started her new life, going to school preparing to be a doctor while working part time at a clothing designer’s store. Cole on the other hand is trying to make a comeback to the music scene after being rehabilitated from a life of booze and drugs, by — ugh! — agreeing to be the focus of a godforsaken reality TV show, of all things. When he arrives in LA, the first thing he does is look up Isabel, hoping to rekindle what they had from their days back in Mercy Falls, Minnesota.

There’s really not much else to say about the plot. The story zips along at the speed of molasses, and for the longest time I tried to figure out what the conflict was, only to resign myself to the fact that there really isn’t one. Cole does his reality TV show thing while acting like a prima donna, and Isabel goes about her daily life putting up with his crap.

To be fair, Sinner ended up being a completely different book than I expected it to be. First of all, it probably falls more into the New Adult category instead of YA, following the characters like Isabel in their post-high school life, and werewolves or not, the themes are more contemporary rather than related to speculative fiction. It has very few paranormal elements compared to the Mercy Falls trilogy, so few that I was just barely able to label this one a fantasy.

My main issue, however, wasn’t the lack of fantasy elements or the fact that there was hardly any story. My problem was the vacuous, insufferable prat that was Cole St. Clair.

For the love of God, I don’t remember him being so annoying in the original trilogy. A big pet peeve of mine is bad boys who try oh so very hard to be a bad boy. Let’s face it, if Cole hadn’t gotten lucky and become a rock star, he would have ended up living in a cardboard box in some alley, offering to take your verbal abuse for chance at a bit of change. And who knows, he still might end up that way. He’s already washed up at this young age, reduced to dancing-bear status on an insipid reality TV show.

The sad part is, I still really like Isabel’s character, which made it doubly hard to watch her fall for this joker when all I wanted to do was scream at her to run, run away! Get as far away as you can from this idiot because God forbid if you end up marrying him he’ll end up a worthless thirty-five-year-old has-been, having pissed away his royalties on cars and parties, with no aspirations other than to be a professional layabout because working for an honest living is just sooooo lame. He’d probably let his looks and physique go too, because exercise and taking good care of one’s health is something, like, everybody does! And we all know Cole’s just too cool to go along with everyone else!

I feel kind of bad for being snarky, but it just makes me so ANGRY. I think this was my problem with the Wolves of Mercy Falls series as well. The trilogy started well enough, but things went downhill in the last book Forever when the characters suddenly developed these horribly bratty and angsty attitudes. To a certain extent you have to expect a fair dose of youthful naiveté in YA, but this whole “OMG I hate everyone and everything!” and “Adults are stupid morons and I totally know better than all of them!” kind of thinking gets a bit old, especially in Sinner when we’ve supposedly left high school far behind. Frankly, Cole’s behavior towards his parents made me sick, especially considering how by all accounts they are perfectly good, sensible people. The worst thing Cole can think of to happen to him is if he became his dad, because apparently, Cole thinks being a responsible contributor to society is boring. Go figure.

As a novel, it saddens me to say this, especially since according to her foreword it sounds like a pretty important book for the author, but Sinner felt kind of pointless. For me, it was also 300-ish pages of teeth-grinding aggravation, thanks to the big, cuddly ball of phony that was Cole. Read this if you’re fan of the Mercy Falls books because you’ll probably want to see what happened to two of the more important side characters from the trilogy. That’s what I told myself I wanted to do, and I don’t regret reading this because at least I got to follow up with Isabel, but unfortunately not even her chapters could make up for her co-star.

[Yodamom · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a depressing read. Sad depressing thoughts, unhappy lives, dark perceptions, out of nowhere ending that tried to make LA seem like a cesspool of the world.

Cole, the suicidal addict werwolf rock star and now TV reality star, is not a very interesting character. He fell flat for this reader. He had so much drama, he was so unhappy, and most of it was his doing. He was also rude, mean, and quick to slit the throats of innocents who thought him special. He enjoyed upsetting the balance of others, watching their discomfort. I disliked him completely.
Isabel was immature, spoiled, and a bitch. She stormed around spewing her thoughts about her parents situation like she was the Queen of all. She treated her parents, her family with disgust. The chip on her shoulder told her the world owed her and she should know that. Wow, I really wanted to shake her hard. Then there was the whole let's see if I can tweak-a jerk with the bosses HUSBAND, yes the husband. She had temper tantrums when things weren't as she wanted, she snapped at people, and she was just a little snit. She never got her own head out of her bum. Oh, then after all that stomping and roaring about how she was not... she did that in the end ? What ???
The ending was so ridiculous, the whole book was a waste of time. The sudden and unbuilt ending was a slam out of left field with nobody throwing the ball ? Why did this happen, what happened between calling Baby and that final return of the item ? WHAT ?!?!?!?!??!
Was there a wolf in this ? I heard about it but it wasn't added in it was silly teenage lovo-lusto drama with abusive tendencies. I guess you can see that I did not enjoy this book. I really liked the others in the series this one was so different it didn't work for me.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a book in a day in quite some time, but wow, there was no other way to properly read this one. I'm so grateful for the snow day that gave me the opportunity to completely devour this book <3.

I find that it is hardest to write reviews for the books I love most, and that is definitely a problem I'm having with this one. The feelings that this story invoked in me remind me a lot of the ones I was put through in Christina Lauren's Autoboyography. By that, I mean it was full of happiness, heartbreak, angst, utter sadness, and just a sense that I could not stop reading because I was just in the midst of so much emotional trauma. I was so enthralled by this story and it's really hard to properly explain why.

Perhaps it's because I care so much about Cole and Isabel, and the fact that I was already in love with their characters from the previous books made me even more connected to them. This is almost the perfect formula for a book: a romantic spin-off between two characters that you already love and ship.

I think that this is one of my favorite types of books, and one that I feel like doesn't exist often enough. Both this, and Laini Taylor's Night of Cake & Puppets fit this model and were both honestly my favorite books out of either series.

I related to both Isabel and Cole in more ways than I could possibly mention. Cole constantly feels alone, even in a crowd, and has trouble finding purpose in his life without other people. He constantly feels restless, unless he's actively experiencing. Isabel, on the other hand, struggles with disconnecting from the world. She needs to feel anchored to it and fears not being in control. She can't simply escape by not thinking about her problems like Cole, because she is plagued by logic, in a sense, and I can really relate to that too.

This book reminds me why I love reading so much: I love to see myself in characters, feel emotions through fiction, and to have new ideas and thoughts sparked within me that I've never even considered before.

Maggie Stiefvater has a true gift for portraying emotion through imagery and the experiences of each character. Every scene provided a specific emotion or idea to me that I don't always get from other books. Overall, I'm blown away by this book, and I cannot wait to continue reading more from Maggie Stiefvater.

[Brigid ✩]

Wait. WHAT?!?!?!?!



There is going to be a fourth Wolves of Mercy Falls book? SINCE WHEN?!

I just saw Maggie post something about this on Facebook and I was just like "UHHhhhh whut." I wasn't sure whether to feel excited about this or not, until I saw that it's not really a fourth book but a standalone companion book that focuses on Cole, so ...



Sounds cool to me, because Cole is awesome. Also I think Maggie's writing has improved a lot since she wrote the other three books, so this could turn out to be pretty good. Guess I will have to wait until July to find out.

Side note-ish: Also, Maggie made this awesome playlist which she listened to while writing the book apparently. Dang she and I are like music soulmates. Can I just be Maggie Stiefvater when I grow up, please?