Book Talk:Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater

 Release date: July 1, 2014
Book: Sinner
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Source: Netgalley (Note: I got this in exchange for an honest review)

The Basics:

A standalone companion book to the internationally bestselling Shiver Trilogy.

 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?

My Musings:

     I absolutely adore the Shiver series. It's really fucking amazing! If you haven't read it I definitely recommend it! I was super excited for this book and thankfully was able to get it after it came out! I of course had high expectations for this book, and it didn't fail me at all.
     This is a book for fans. Sinner was very much it's own book and not really companion. It was in the same world and Sam and Grace are mentioned here and there but it wasn't Shiver. Which was the point. So if you're looking for Shiver 2.0 this ain't it. I will say that you do need to read the Shiver series to understand the stuff in the book because the things that happened in Mercy Falls do play a role in the book. So if you haven't read it, get off your bum, get the series, get back on your bum and read!
      Maggie Stiefvater has such an amazing writing style. She can be hilarious but be painfully deep. She has the perfect balance of sad musings and happy words. I love how honest her writing is. She's not romanticizing her characters or their problems. She's bringing them under different lights and just letting them tell the story.  I also love how sarcastic each of the characters are. It's honestly amazing!
     I fucking love Cole and Isabel. The thing that I loved most about them was the fact that they were so messed up but were trying to be better. Characterization was perfectly done. They were strong until they couldn't be any more. But after all, isn't there strength in breaking down too? Cole was both poetically sad and witty. Isabel was sassy and cold. I could connect with both of them. They had me cheering and laughing and even crying. There's this moment where Cole reaches this really low point  where it seems like he's given up on everything. It broke my heart to see him like that. But in the wise words of Tix from My Mad Fat Diary "Broken people fall to bits sometimes. It's just what they do". Needless to say my fragile fangirl heart couldn't handle it and so I cried. I really wish there was a way to give characters a hug. I would have given them both one. Then probably smacked some sense into both of them. I love Sophia! I can relate to her so much. Her overachiverness, her aiming to please, ready to forgive nature. She is such an amazing human person who is just too too nice and too too good. I love her role in the story and the way she helps Isabel, even when Isabel can't do anything but push everyone away.
     This is one of those books that's more character driven than plot driven. This book is essentially, without the werewolf stuff, about to very fucked up people who love each other and are putting the broken pieces back together. I did like how even though romance was a big factor in the book there were a lot of real life issues, like addiction, moving on from addiction, broken families, grief, loss etc. So this is a gritty book I'm not gonna lie. But the grit and gore are part of what I love about this book and make it special.
     Romance obviously does take a front seat in this book. It's a book about Isabel and Cole's relationship. So there are A LOT of  omg-this-is-too-freakin'-adorable moments. Like seriously I was gushing over these cute scenes. I love their relationship. They are there for each other when it counts but neither of them rely on the other totally and completely. They are okay with being their own people as well as leaning on each other. Sometimes in books one of the characters ends up being totally and completely dependent on the other and I hate it. Romance wise  this book was on point!
     I would definitely recommend this book to you guys! It's amazing. The writing is really good, the characters have amazing depth and it's just really freakin' awesome.

Coffee For Sinner: Blanco y Negro. Its really good coffee with vanilla bean ice cream. It's amazing. If you have the opportunity to try it I definitely recommend it! I think the contrast works really well with this book because in some ways Cole and Isabel are different but they compliment each other in their own way. Isabel is cold as a defense mechanism and Cole, well every one wants a piece of him, and he smiles and puts on a show. 

My Rating: