Guest Review from Erin: Sinner (#3.5 in The Shiver Trilogy) by Maggie Stiefvater

Today I've got a review for Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater!! The stand-alone companion novel to the Shiver Trilogy featuring Cole St. Clair and Isabel Culpeper!!

From Goodreads:

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?

Erin's Thoughts:

I'm going to start by staying that I LOVE Maggie Stiefvater!! I remember picking up Shiver a couple years back and thinking "I don't know? Werewolves? Another one?" but I am so so glad that I read it!! Ugh, I just loved it!! I, of course, immediately read the second and third and loved them as well! And if you haven't read The Raven Boys yet, well, you should!! Because it is SO GOOD!! One of the best series EVER! But back to my main point here, which is Sinner...So when Sinner came out, there was no question as to whether I'd read it!! :)

Sinner was incredible!! I love it!! Maggie Stiefvater has this wonderfully unique and beautiful style of writing! Hands down one of my favorite parts of reading her books.  They're so so so beautiful and artistically so one-of-a-kind! Cole St. Clair is perfect! You can't help but love him because of his unique  charm and his appealing quirks! I almost want to say he's "wonderfully weird" (like Mike says to Phoebe in Friends) but note: Cole is nothing like Phoebe!! Just the expression was right on! With Isabel! I love how mean and cold she is, but fearless and vulnerable at the same time! And I love how both characters are flawed and that they recognize that in each other.  Sure, this may be true of a lot of different book characters, but...I don't know.  Something about Maggie Stiefvater's writing really brings this to life.  With Sinner especially, but I think this applies to many of her books, it delves a lot into character and the relationships that they have with others rather than a strongly plot-based novel.  Not to say that there is no plot, because there most definitely is, but I really get to feel what the characters feel and experience what they experience so profoundly. Sinner also features a lot less of the werewolf aspect than Shiver, though it certainly is an important part of the book.  Just a really great novel in general, which is true for all of Maggie Stiefvater's works.

And random side note: how does Maggie Stiefvater find the most perfect names ever?? Cole St. Clair, Isabel Culpeper, Sean Kendrick, Blue Sargent, Richard Gansey the Third...I'll stop there :)!

Overall rating:

As if I haven't said it enough, but I'll say it again.  Maggie Stiefvater is amazing!! ALL of her books are sooooo good and I always find that I'm astounded by her writing!! I especially recommend the Shiver Trilogy and The Raven Cycle Books!! And just a heads up, although Sinner is technically a stand-alone, I don't know that it would make much sense if you haven't read the Shiver books, so if you haven't already, read Shiver!! If only so that you can read Sinner!! :D

Erin @ The Romance Bookie :)