One true pairing, four unlikely friends, some waiting
I usually don't get the chance to do a lot of "theme" reviews. Like, don't expect me to review an Irish-themed novel for St. Patrick's Day. But this book is a nice exception - as long as your tastes are more fitted for supernatural romances than blood and gore.
Now that Sam is human again, this time for good, he and Grace are eager to start planning for a future together. Sam starts writing more songs and they both get a little thrill from thinking about college and life beyond. But the past comes back to haunt both of them in different ways. First, there's the detached Cole, a newly turned wolf who's trying too hard to forget about his own past as an up-and-coming rock star. Then Grace realizes that Isabelle, her prickly classmate, has been leaving food out for the wolves (in defiance of her trigger-happy father). Worst of all, Grace has been feeling ill lately, and it creeps up on her when she hears the howling of the wolves - the same pack Sam was, and in a way still is, a part of. Not to mention that Grace's neglectful parents have decided that she and Sam have gotten too serious and forbid her from seeing him. Wanting to lose themselves in their own little world, the couple tries to ignore the signs that the wolf disease still has a hold on each of them. But every time they try to define their destiny, the forces-that-be grow stronger and threaten to rule them.
This continues to be one of the most satisfying love stories - or more accurately, soul mate stories - that I've ever come across. Even with two additional main characters - Isabelle and Cole each get a supple storyline - Grace and Sam remain the pillars of the narrative. Not only is it easy for the reader to connect emotionally with them, but they also help to ground the story in reality. Cole's identity as a well-known music wunderkin - he's 17 in human years and about 50 in jaded years - marks him ironically as an outsider and a wild card to boot. But his slowly-evolving, tenuous bond with Sam is a pleasant surprise, and by the end he fits in well. Isabelle's expanded role was more of an immediate joy, as I really dug her crabby voice and to-the-point personality. Their subplots intertwine and untwist in a natural way, hinting at more to come in the sequel.
It helps that all four characters have a single common trait beside wolf/human beings: they all have had a shitty home life. Everyone's natural parents are either emotionally distant, abusive, or outright crazy. Grace's parents - arguably the least "bad" at their job - are particularly frustrating, as they don't take the time to understand their daughter's needs or their own past mistakes. Her dad once left her in the car for hours in scorching weather, and her mother is a blank slate with a maddening air of superficiality. And they can't see why Grace would have major trust issues with them. By contrast, Sam's adoptive father Beck is a saint, although there are hints that he's been hiding something important. It's not hard to see why these four characters unevenly band together and how well they work with each other once a few barriers come down.
Overall, this is a strong sequel that adds some fruitful complications to our couple's story. In parts I found Sam's poetic observations a little overkill, but it was more of an endearing annoyance than anything else. I can't wait to start on the sequel and final book of the trilogy. Rating: 4.5 paper cranes out of 5.
**Once again, I listened to the audiobook. and thought I might as well do a separate review. Jenna Lamia returns as the luminous Grace. Dan Bittner's more down-to-earth turn as Sam is a bit more palatable, but I miss old Sam a little. Emma Gelvin gives a snarling performance as Isabelle. And Pierce Cravens' sexy take on Cole is this listening's best surprise.
This continues to be one of the most satisfying love stories - or more accurately, soul mate stories - that I've ever come across. Even with two additional main characters - Isabelle and Cole each get a supple storyline - Grace and Sam remain the pillars of the narrative. Not only is it easy for the reader to connect emotionally with them, but they also help to ground the story in reality. Cole's identity as a well-known music wunderkin - he's 17 in human years and about 50 in jaded years - marks him ironically as an outsider and a wild card to boot. But his slowly-evolving, tenuous bond with Sam is a pleasant surprise, and by the end he fits in well. Isabelle's expanded role was more of an immediate joy, as I really dug her crabby voice and to-the-point personality. Their subplots intertwine and untwist in a natural way, hinting at more to come in the sequel.
It helps that all four characters have a single common trait beside wolf/human beings: they all have had a shitty home life. Everyone's natural parents are either emotionally distant, abusive, or outright crazy. Grace's parents - arguably the least "bad" at their job - are particularly frustrating, as they don't take the time to understand their daughter's needs or their own past mistakes. Her dad once left her in the car for hours in scorching weather, and her mother is a blank slate with a maddening air of superficiality. And they can't see why Grace would have major trust issues with them. By contrast, Sam's adoptive father Beck is a saint, although there are hints that he's been hiding something important. It's not hard to see why these four characters unevenly band together and how well they work with each other once a few barriers come down.
Overall, this is a strong sequel that adds some fruitful complications to our couple's story. In parts I found Sam's poetic observations a little overkill, but it was more of an endearing annoyance than anything else. I can't wait to start on the sequel and final book of the trilogy. Rating: 4.5 paper cranes out of 5.
**Once again, I listened to the audiobook. and thought I might as well do a separate review. Jenna Lamia returns as the luminous Grace. Dan Bittner's more down-to-earth turn as Sam is a bit more palatable, but I miss old Sam a little. Emma Gelvin gives a snarling performance as Isabelle. And Pierce Cravens' sexy take on Cole is this listening's best surprise.
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