Sinner

Cole and Isabel. To have a story to read just about them, was something i was looking forward to, since i knew it's on the way. Of course a great storyline and beautifully written, like any other Maggie Stiefvater book so far.

I loved it. It is a totally fresh voice to the Shiver series. No more indie melancholy and careful romance - this one is rock and roll and roller coaster relationships. I love the whole series but this was an unexpected thrill ride.

Cole St. Clair & Isabelle's story was worth the wait. Loved their back & forth banter, the L. A. setting & even Leon. Great ending to a fabulous series but Ms. Stiefvater, if you wish to write another, I would be more than happy to read it!

I did not even know I needed a Cole book. That is the genius of Maggie Stiefvater. The series now has a final amazing chapter. Cole's story adds a layer of depth maturity that demonstrates just how far the author has come since the first book. An excellent read.

No where near as good as her other books in the series. I know this is supposed to be a stand alone book but it's nothing like the others so I was dissapointed. Sam and Grace are mentioned only in the briefest of moments. It's really a romance book and has an ending that just sort of fizzled out.

This one is different from the other three in the series because its just jumping back and fourth between Cole and Isabel and it gets very boring reading the same two names. It wasn't as interesting to me as the other 3 books where you had the perspectives of Sam, Grace, Isabel AND Cole. This just focuses on Cole trying to get his music career in order

Usually really enjoy Maggie's work, however, this one was a bit hard to follow and the subject matter was disinteresting. Not really a sequel to the Wolves series as much as a completely different storyline. Some may really enjoy it - my expectations were different than what I received from this book.

The writing style was great ..but the phase of the book was so slow ,not to mention that it didn't have much plot in the first place...to me Cole's and Isabel personalities were always sad/mad/depress/ confused...so if it looking for a nice ,love story this is not it....so I'm sorry but I couldn't like this...I loved the forever trilogy but this was just not what I was hopping...if I can say one thing I liked about it was the ending.

I wanted so much to like this book, but it left me feeling unfufilled and confused. The entirety of this book Cole and Isabel were in the same city boohooing about their feelings for one another and wondering if the other felt the same way when all they had to do was ask one another. Yes I can understand that as plot to push the story along, but maybe only 2 to 3 chapters not every chapter sans the last 3. For me really enjoyed the peripheral relationships between Issabel and her cousin Sofia, Cole and Larry/Leon, and Cole and Jeremy. The only thing Sinner left me wondering is how is everyone else except Cole and Issabel are. On a side note, no way no how would Issabel or Cole ever call Sam or Grace and have to leave a message. I'm just saying.

Maggie is one of my all time favorite authors. I've read everything she's ever written (Shiver and The Scorpio Races remain my favorite).

Sinner is different.

The writing is impressive, which isn't the same as saying it's enjoyable. There are lines that I reread several times because the cadence was genius. But the story is almost nonexistent. Each chapter is more like a character study than a piece of a plot. And unfortunately the plot that is present is less than engaging as it involves a classless reality tv show.

I almost wish this wasn't connected to the Mercy Falls series at all, because it feels so different. It really was only nominally about Cole being a werewolf. The rules were totally different and ultimately, turning into a wolf was equated to nothing more than getting high. You could pretty much just replace the word 'wolf' with 'ecstasy' and nothing else would need to change.

The characters of Cole and Isabel were fascinating to me in the original trilogy. In Sinner, it was a bit much dealing with the two of them exclusively. They are both so miserable, but in a way that makes it really challenging to empathize with them. I can't even imagine how insufferable they would be as real people (and they very nearly feel that way thanks to Maggie's skilled writing). Cole and Isabel are so consumed with themselves that people around them are just props, carelessly treated and dismissed afterwards.

I don't know. It feels blasphemous to fault something Maggie has written, but here it is. I can't say I liked Sinner. I felt depressed and irritated through most of it. A lot of it felt, for lack of a better word, pointless and a tad indulgent. And worse, I really just wanted it to be over long before it was.

Brilliant writing. Nothing story. Characters that were probably better off from a distance.

*Sigh*

You don't care about these characters and I don't enjoy werewolf and/or vampire stories. I stuck with the book until the end. I never connected with the characters' love of music, bands, each other, their families, nothing. This was not the book for me.

Ok, so I finished Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater almost 3 weeks ago but I was putting off actually getting online and typing up a review because I am exhausted. Well, I'm less exhausted now than I was before... but still. So, sorry there hasn't been much activity on the blog as of late.

I was super stoked when I heard Sinner was coming out. I loved the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and I was so sad when it was all over. I was even more stoked when I learned that this one would be following Cole and Isabel. I love the Grace/Sam story with all my heart, but I wanted to know where Cole's story went.

Cole has gone to Los Angeles to find Isabel. In the process he's also supposed to be filming some kind of reality show and making a new record with a new band. Or at least, mostly new. Isabel is happy to see him, and she isn't happy to see him at the same time. She doesn't want to fall in love with him because she doesn't want to be hurt and she thinks that Cole is definitely the kind of person who is going to hurt her.

I have to admire Cole and his persistence. And the fact that even in the face of blatant temptation he didn't let his former addiction overcome him and cause him to undo all of the things that he's accomplished since becoming a wolf. I loved his carefree attitude and I loved being able to just be inside his head. He was trying so incredibly hard with Isabel.

Isabel kind of ticked me off a bit, but then I had to remember that she was putting up with a lot when it came to Cole's reality show. A lot that she didn't really have to put up with at all. And she was doing so quite well for the most part. I cut her some slack even though a few things she did still irritated me. Like insisting that Cole was doing things he shouldn't without really giving him a chance to plead his case.

She'd put up a wall though. One that she wasn't sure she wanted to put down for Cole. Well, in a way, she desperately wanted him to bust right through it and sweep her off her feet and carry her off in to the sunset with his mustang... but the rational part of her wanted to keep the wall in place because the lifestyle he was accustomed to (and she wasn't) was one that normally would have lead him to tear her heart to pieces and leave her broken on the ground. He had to prove himself. Over and over again. And I think he did that with flying colors. I love Cole. I really do.

And it doesn't hurt that when I read his chapters I hear Dan Bittner's voice in my head.

This was a great installment in the series. A definite deviation from the normal back and forth between Sam and Grace and their sort of ... innocence. Both Cole and Isabel are world weary and tired of the phoniness of people and the hurt they've gone through where as Sam and Grace were full of hope. Cole and Isabel hold each other up, though. They kind of find a new strength in each other and it makes the world not seem as bad.

If you've read the rest of the series, you should absolutely pick this one up. It's a fantastic read.

When the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy ended, I was dissatisfied and I wanted more. I was eager to grab this one up because the author did the unexpected and despite feeling she was done with the wolves, she came back and gave more. Thank you so much, Ms. Stiefvater! This was a follow-up story that turned away from Sam and Grace to take up Cole and Isabel's story. And knowing that was enough to have me eagerly cracking open this story and diving right in.

Cole is making his comeback after two years of being off the scene when most people thought he was dead. He has chosen to make that comeback in a spectacular way by appearing on a reality show that will follow him through his first six weeks back into the music industry. But the choice of LA? Easy. That's where Isabel is. Cole wants it all his career and Isabel.

Isabel is going through the motions after moving with her mom into her aunt and cousin's LA home. Pre-med college work and moonlighting as an assistant to a fashion designer is how she spends her days. Then Cole St. Clair bursts back into her life and makes her feel and live again. Feeling and living are not good because falling for Cole is the worst thing she could do since he's a dangerous bet on a good day. She decides to try to straddle the line by being around Cole, but remaining aloof. And that turned out soooo well.

Cole picks his way around Isabel's trust issues and her poised and ready to run behavior even while realizing that being up to the schemes of the producer of the reality show whose goal seems to see him break and fall apart for all the viewers. He is determined that he's clean and he's changed, but nobody seems to believe him. And then there is the guilt over Viktor and the past. Cole faces so many challenges with most of them being internal, but the biggest one is still busting through Isabel's hard shell.

The story is one big long piece of the feels. Cole acts like a druggie swinging from highs to lows as he attempts to put the pieces of his life back together. Isabel goes for the 'avoid life' strategy that only works for so long. The two of them swap the first person narration back and forth with much of the story spent caught in their own heads. It gets pretty angsty and I confess that even though I was rooting hard for them to find a way to fight through their issues and make a go of it together; I was also pretty close to done with the 'woe is me' stuff. Granted they had tough rows to hoe, no doubt, but the downer 'tudes were just not something I was in the mood for I guess. The end came fast and I would have liked some stuff that was probably assumed to be verbalized particularly since Isabel spent a good portion of the book getting the wrong idea about Cole.

The character development, dialogue, the general plot and world of music setting were all really strong components to the story and really helped to make it shine. The romance is mostly spent apart and tentative two steps forward and one step back stuff so the reader definitely has to be patient for that to work through. The only sexy scene is fade to black so I suppose this would fall more into the sweeter end of the romance spectrum and appropriate for most YA age readers as well as adults.

I probably should point out that this book should be read in order with the Wolves of Mercy Falls series for the back history of Isabel and Cole.

To wrap it up, I thought it engaging and just what I needed for closure. It was just as difficult a romance as I imagined for these two though a bit more angsty than I care for. The book would fit for a YA audience, but the characters are NA age so its versatile. Fans of YA Paranormal romance should try this series.

My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Reviewed by Jessica @ Step Into Fiction

3.5/5 stars

This fourth book was definitely my least favorite in the series, but I still enjoyed it. Even though I loved Isabelle and Cole in the original trilogy, as I had feared, they were a little bit easier for me to take in small doses. A whole book from just their two somewhat cynical and messed-up POVs was harder to swallow. This companion to the original series felt more like a New Adult novel to me, both in tone and subject matter and since I listened to it directly after the others, it was hard not to compare. Still, I did love the concept of Cole’s wolfishness being sort of like an addiction for him. And I also felt for him when no one seemed to want to forget his past and give him a chance at a future. This companion gets 3.5 stars from me.

I feel the need to start by saying that I really enjoyed the original trilogy of books in the 'Shiver' series. The characters were enjoyable, the story engaging, and the writing was better than I experience in a lot of other YA-series books.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Sinner. It is a disconnected, unegaging, tacked-on novel that really doesn't seem to add anything. There is no furthering of the original story, nor is there any great insight into the characters from what we already knew of them from the original Wolves of Mercy Falls.

I pretty much marathon-read the other novels, but this one I kept sitting there, checking the amount of time left on my audio-book and wondering when the plot was going to happen. I was expecting to come in to a similar story to the other books, but the fact is, there was never anything to push the story, and it ended up flat and lifeless, with no real conflict other than that which the characters create for themselves.

To sum it up, Sinner is a story about two self-destructive people and their equally self-destructive relationship with one another. It involves them making bad decisions time and time again both in their personal lives and in their relationships with other people. Both suffer from severe issues dealing with their lives - Isabelle who retreats into a fake persona of not caring, and Cole who disappears either into his 'stage persona' or into his shell as a wolf. Other people have said it, and I agree. This isn't a story about a werewolf. You could take the word werewolf and replace it with any other drug and it wouldn't change the story one bit.

The book isn't a love story. It isn't an adventure. It doesn't even really qualify under the supernatural genre, either. The closest thing I can equate it to is a bad reality TV drama, which is pretty much the storyline as well. The most interesting parts are the relationships with outside characters, and even then, they tend to fall flat and show us just how screwed up these two characters are.

Overall, I just feel disappointed with this book. I would recommend that fans of Wolves of Mercy falls just leave the story where it ends with 'Forever'. 'Sinner' brings nothing new to the table, has no plot, and honestly makes me wish I hadn't spent the time in the headspace of two quite so self-destructive individuals.

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon.com. Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

Cole is an appropriately tortured musician with the usual past of drug use and overdoses. The difference is that he has the ability to turn into a werewolf - but only if he uses drugs or gets cold physically. His love from the past doesn't believe anything of what he says about being clean. Torturing each other and themselves seems to be the way to go when you're on reality television.

Isabel is all I would hope for in a heroine. She doesn't take crap from anyone, and she has a firm position in life. Yet at the same time, she has underlying insecurities to make her real. She isn't as powerful a character as Cole though, despite getting equal air time.

I enjoyed that the novel was written from both perspectives. It kept the book moving, and didn't feel repetitive. I'm not sure I noticed a difference in tone between the two, but the feelings emanating out of them were distinct, even as they ripped the characters themselves apart.

The characters have flaws, they're the sort of people you'd expect to find in Hollywood. As far as I could tell though, none of them try to change. I had hoped from more from Sofia, and I just didn't get it. She doesn't show any character development, and I think that while that is reasonable, I just didn't feel comfortable with the way things were left - surely Cole and Isabel could make more of a project of her!

The action progresses almost effortlessly. The writing style is clean and to the point. Stiefvater has nailed the right mix between dialogue and scenery. Once one scene is filled out, you do need to remember what it is - she expects the reader to become engaged with the novel.

I put off reading this book until far after its publication date because I thought it was the 4th book in a series. Instead when I sat down to get through my backlog of novels, I discovered that it was a stand alone. There were hints to the past, that if you hadn't read the other novels, allowed you to pick up what came before - tantalisingly so you wanted to keep reading to see whether your suspicions were confirmed.

Is this romance? Sort of. but it's a gritty romance that makes you think you don't know how it ends, and that, for me, is the best part. 4 stars from me, simply because it's not a reread. But as a piece of standalone fiction, it's excellent.

I remember thinking nothing could top Shiver and then being introduced to Cole St. Clair in Linger and realizing Maggie Stiefvater had several more tricks left in her bag. Then Cole and Isabel proceeded to go for each other's throats and I forgot to worry at all. I loved them so much, though, that the continuation of their storyline was perhaps my biggest problem with Forever—the "conclusion" to the "trilogy." The two of them were just left hanging. And because at that point I really felt like Sam and Grace's story was winding down just as Cole and Isabel's was ramping up, I had a hard time with the wide open, barn door left swinging in the wind ending they were given. The funny thing is that I desperately wanted more but really didn't give any thought to the possibility of her writing more. That ship had sailed, we'd all moved on to killer water horses and dead Welsh kings. Which is why when the news hit that there would in fact be a companion novel to the Shiver trilogy and that it would clue us in on what was going down with our favorite emotional assassins, well, that my friends was a good day.

Cole St. Clair is back from the dead and better than ever. He's landed in L.A. and is slated to record his new record as part of a reality webseries with the notorious Baby North—a Hollywood producer known for destroying her subjects as a matter of course. But that's not why he's really in L.A. Not really. Cole is there because that's where Isabel Culpeper is. And in Cole's book, Isabel is pretty much the only thing worth pursuing. If he can revive his music career and make a killer album along the way, so much the better. But Isabel is supremely less than thrilled to see the former NARKOTIKA rocker darken her doorstep. That is to say, it is achingly good to see him. But everything about Cole has spelled nothing but trouble for Isabel, especially his addictive tendencies, be they for drugs, women, or turning into a big, bad wolf whenever the notion (or temperature) takes him. And so begins this epic dance between the two unhappiest people in L.A. Isabel refuses to be drawn into the glitzy hell that is Cole's life, and Cole refuses to be put off his dogged pursuit of the one girl he can be himself with. And as they dance, they're forced to step around Cole's former bandmates (both alive and dead), the new ones Baby North foists upon him, and the last dying gasps of Isabel's parents' marriage. The question is whether the whole cast and crew of the Cole & Isabel show will drag them under or whether they'll find a way to be. Together.

***

What I had earned was a trophy for generalized disinterest. It felt as if it had taken all of my energy to be so limply disengaged.

As I pulled aside the linen curtain to the back room, I heard the front door open again. If it was Christina returning to make a second effort at my leggings, I was going to be forced to get loud, and I didn't like getting loud.

But it wasn't Christina I heard at the front of the store.

Instead, a very familiar voice said, "No, no, I'm looking for something very particular. Oh, wait, I just saw it."

I turned around.

Cole St. Clair smiled lazily at me.

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

***

This is the passage that started me smiling, and I really did not stop until several hours after closing the book. If ever a pair of ruthless protagonists launched a full-scale assault on my emotions, Cole & Isabel are the ones. And just as I was hoping it would be, it was so crazy good to be back in their presence and to just listen to them snipe at each other and put an icily blank (Isabel) or dazzlingly jaded (Cole) face on things. The bright and shameless L.A. setting proved to be such a solid change-up for Stiefvater and the rest of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. Gone are the freezing temperatures, wooded forests, and quiet ennui of Minnesota. Bring on the baking sun and the sand and the concrete jungle that barely masks too many emotions, too much energy and life being shoved and sculpted into ill-fitting, empty boxes. They are both so strong in this book, Cole & Isabel. The signature alternating POV chapters sing with the distilled and chilled 100-proof vodka that runs in their veins in the place of warm blood. What's more, every side character worked for me, from Isabel's psychotically domestic cousin Sofia to Cole's clear-eyed ex-bass player Jeremy and his hilariously deadpan driver Leon. It was good to be somewhere new with new faces and new threats. The entire paranormal side of this series was notably dialed down in favor of the more human element. Sometimes Cole is a wolf. Sometimes he chooses to become one in lieu of shooting some other form of oblivion up his arm. Sometimes these two facts make Isabel want to murder someone. Preferably him. And that's it. These things are real. But more real, more tantalizing, is the possibility that if they could each just stop killing themselves trying to prove they don't give a damn—just for a minute—they might find a space in which the pain is held at bay. And the hope of that minute, that swoony, devastating minute of peace that could turn into two minutes and then an hour and then a kind of life worth something? That's worth reading.

Zoe's Review - Although I have known this book is coming out and I was excited about it, I had a hard time getting myself to pick it up and read it. From the moment I started this book I could not put it down. Typically I do not read love stories, but even though this was a great big love story about Cole and Isabelle from the Wolves of Mercy Falls, I still enjoyed it greatly. This book continues on the lives of Cole and Isabelle after everything that had happened and now they are trying to put their lives back together. Even though I felt like I should be mad at the characters for the decisions that they made throughout the book, I was not mad. I felt like they were justified with their actions even if they made a mess of everything because of what they did. I enjoyed this whole book from the first page to the last (I was sad that it was over though) and recommend this book as a good love story and a must read for fans of the Wolves of Mercy Falls. The writing was very good and I found myself continuing to think about the characters even after I had finished the book and started reading my next book.

Maci's Review - Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater is the story of what happens to Cole and Isabel after everything in Mercy Falls settles down. Isabel moved to LA with her Mother when her Mother left her Father and Cole came to LA for Isabel, but also has a contract to be one a reality show while making his next album. This book is full of heartfelt emotions. I really liked how I could fully understand why Isabel and Cole were feeling the way they did and acted the way they did. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy.

Sinner was released three years after Forever and it is obvious to any reader that Maggie Stiefvater’s already impressive writing has improved by leaps and bounds. Sinner focuses are two of my favorite characters, Cole and Isabel, from the original trilogy, and wraps up their story so perfectly that I was loathe to finish it. While Sinner doesn’t focus on the werewolf aspect as much as the previous three books, it is an incredible story of character development and love.

Cole and Isabel make this novel. Their depth, their development, their love story, and their voices are incredibly well done and the story Stiefvater tells is incredible, touching, and even outright hilarious with its wit and charm. Seeing Isabel and Cole come into their own and have their full story come together was perfect and this is easily the best book of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, despite being a spin-off.

Maggie Stiefvater’s writing has improved so much in three years and I look forward so much to picking up her other books from her older novels to the newer series such as The Raven Boys. I highly recommend the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and encourage any already fans to pick up my favorite of the series, Sinner.

Cole St. Clair, back from the dead? So it seems to many people. Not surprisingly, Isabel is both thrilled to see him and can't stand the thought of him. He has changed. Or has he? Will his past dictate his future? Baby North seems to be counting on that. She wants him to implode before the cameras so she can document yet another demise. However, Baby doesn't know that he came back for Isabel, not the show. Can he convince Isabel of that? In the meantime, we get to discover a new found friendship, almost a parental kinship, in Leon. We rekindle a need for connection by reaching out to Jeremy. We also learn to tolerate a new drummer, who is not Victor...so not Victor. Through it all, there is still Isabel. I was so relieved to uncover and read this continuation of the Wolves of Mercy Falls. Cole needed this. I enjoyed the brief reliving of a favorite series.

SINNER is a spin-off from the Shiver Trilogy, and can be read as a standalone. Personally, I'm glad I read the trilogy first, because I really enjoyed the trilogy, the interesting take on werewolves, and the wonderful characters. My knowledge of the past, even though it's been a few years since reading the trilogy, helped round out the story for me. But even without that knowledge, enough of their past is referenced to get some idea of their past attraction and interest in each other, and this can be completely enjoyed on its own.

As for SINNER, I loved it. I wanted more story about Cole and Isabel at the end of the Shiver Trilogy, and when I found out they would finally get a story, I was ecstatic. SINNER wasn't what I was expecting, but it was so much more. Although Cole is still a werewolf, this isn't an overly paranormal read. The wolf part seemed like such a small detail. The true story was Cole and Isabel, finding themselves, finding each other, finding their truth, freeing their past, and finding their future. Their romance was enchanting. Their writing was poetic. Their struggles were honest. Their vulnerabilities were touching. Their characters bloomed. Their love was beautiful. I loved Cole and Isabel and am so happy with their story.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Sinner is a companion novel to The Wolves Of Mercy Falls series, continuing on and finishing up Cole St Clair and Isabel Culpeper's story arc's, this is the book that fans of this series have been waiting for.

This was definitely one of my most anticipated books of the year for me, I loved Cole's character and I was eager to jump in and discover whether Cole and Isabel would finally put themselves and us readers out of our misery and get together.

Unfortunately while I did find this book enjoyable in parts, I also found it to be quite dull and there wasn't enough of a storyline to keep me wanting to continuously pick this book up, I loved Cole's witty repartee but there was what seemed to be a monotonous storyline which consisted of: Cole and Isabel meeting up, having a fight, one or the other storming off, record a song, do something for the reality show that Cole is appearing on, change into a wolf and repeat over and over.

Maybe my expectations were set too high, I really don't know, but I was left disappointed regardless, I'm a huge fan of Maggie's but this book didn't have the spark that the original series had.

I do suggest that fans of this series read Sinner though, to finish of this series and get some closure for these two characters who are fan favorites.

A weird and kind of unnecessary add-on to the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. I'm generally a fan of supporting characters getting to tell their own stories -- that's what's given us such classics as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead or The Vampire Lestat, after all -- but there's just not much story here. It's Cole and Isabel continuing to blunder around their mutual attraction and respective emotional scars, but with very little plot and certainly nowhere near the stakes of the first three books. Even Cole's being a werewolf is practically a non-issue here, as he very rarely shifts and is never really in any danger. Sinner was perhaps a good writing exercise for Maggie Stiefvater, but I don't really think it needed to be published.

I loved that The Wolves of Mercy Falls was such a different kind of werewolf book. I loved the lyrical writing and unique dialogue. So much depth for teens who are struggling, it just so happens they turn into wolves. It’s not action packed like most paranormal books. It’s just teen life & then throw in the constant torment of the wolf and it becomes just the most beautifully written book/series. So another book & COLE ST. CLAIR! I flailed.

Like the previous books, this is written in dual point of views between Cole & Isabel and to get inside both of their heads for an entire book is just glorious, albeit damaged but glorious damage!

Cole is magnetic, gorgeous and determined. He is a rockstar. He is an ass. He is an addict. He is however, decidedly sober and plans on staying that way. He cannot live his life without music, so LA was the logical place to go in order to start making music again. But really it was the fact that Isabel Culpeper was living there that drove him to jump back into his rockstar life. Cole & Isabel both went through some really awful s*** in the previous books (which you are continually reminded of), but you absolutely love them together.

Isabel is beautiful, nonchalant and misanthropic. On the outside. Really she is lost, lonely and kind of crazed. She has serious family issues and it seems her entire family isn’t much better. She ran away from her past and is doing her best to keep everyone on the superficial level. Not the hardest thing to do in LA, right? Right up until Cole St. Clair decides he can’t live without her. She does her best to keep things with him light, but ultimately the brawl between “He is bad for me” and “No one else can have him” won outright. But it took time.

The book started out very playful and you can’t help but smile at all the silly things that are going on in LA and the scenarios Cole is being dragged through for his ‘reality’ web series whilst he is trying to make a new record. THEN you realize the book has gripped your heart in a vice and all you can do is FEEL. ALL THE FEELS. The book turns into a beautiful struggle of emotions. RAW. Not just Cole & Isabel but every single character in the book STRUGGLE. Again, isn’t that what life is…the venture to get better. Choosing to fight for what we want and hopefully finding some good in between all the s***.

There are some issues I have with this book, some of Cole’s addiction parts were painful to read and experience, some of Isabel’s cold as ice persona were annoying, but ultimately I think it was perfect for what they were both going through and made complete sense. Is it wrong that I wanted so much more? Please, give me one more book! A less depressed and more happy loving with these two fascinating characters?

This book deals with a lot of mature topics, I know it’s YA but I would say it is for a 16+ crowd. I would personally list it as New Adult, and the themes are right on par with NA. Also, if you are looking for a werewolf book, you might as well not read this book. The wolf is there, but remember, TWoMF is all about trying to NOT be a wolf and this book isn’t much different. Much more contemporary than paranormal.

This book can be something different to each reader. To me is was perfect. It fit right into one of my all time favorite quotes, A Princess Bride by William Goldman “Life is pain, highness. Anyone who tells you differently is selling something.”

5 stars of perfection
This review was originally published: [...]

I was beyond thrilled when it was announced that Maggie Stiefvater had written a book about Cole and Isabel. I can remember the exact moment I saw the news on my phone and started squealing out loud, much to the alarm of my family, haha. Cole and Isabel were my favorite characters in the original trilogy, so to say I had big expectations is an understatement. I'm so happy to say that Sinner was amazing! Even better than the trilogy, in my opinion. It's definitely my favorite of Maggie's books.

Sinner is a lot different from the first three books in that it's not so much focused on werewolves as it is on the characters of Cole and Isabel. They are both such complex and broken characters. I love that they both have tons of faults - just look at the title of the book, after all - but it's impossible to not love them anyway. And of course, they are amazing as a couple too. Cole and Isabel both fight a lot, have tons of issues to work through, and have dark pasts, but underneath it all they are deeply in love with each other. It's a beautiful romance that's impossible to forget.

As I mentioned above, the plot doesn't focus much on the werewolf aspect. It's touched upon briefly and comes into play during a few scenes, but this is really more of a contemporary novel. It's about two broken people who are trying to find themselves, and in doing so find their way back to each other. And as always, I'm still just astounded at the writing. Maggie writes some of the most gorgeous prose ever. I usually only highlight a few passages here and there when I read a book on my Kindle, but I was highlighting like crazy while reading Sinner! There were so many profound quotes and amazing little lines and achingly beautiful descriptions. It's a treat to read a book that is full of such detailed writing in every aspect - the setting, the characters, the storyline. I loved it.

If you're a Maggie Stiefvater fan, there's no doubt in my mind that you're going to love this book. It's perfect in every way, and I'm so happy that Cole and Isabel got their own story and their own happy ending. Filled with lovely writing and irresistible characters, Sinner is one book you don't want to miss.

*I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

I was originally planning on reading SINNER `just for me' because I don't typically review novellas, but at 368 pages this story can't really be labeled short. Then I succumbed to the lure of Whispersync when I realized that the audiobook featured not one but two narrators. And, of course, the lower price helped too. From there my dilemma grew as it became apparent that Cole & Isabel's tale, although beautiful, was more contemporary in nature than paranormal (i.e. not my thing), only to end up completely floored by the sheer brilliance of it all that my review practically wrote itself. Yeah... Maggie Stiefvater tends to have that effect on me.

Plot wise, there's not very much to this book; a rehabilitated rockstar is trying to make a comeback with the help of a reality TV show while also attempting to win back the woman he loves. It was all very... L.A. I didn't mind the simplicity of the story because well, in all honesty, this author's writing style could probably make tomato soup attractive. Plus, it allowed her lyrical prose to really shine. I loved the alternating POVs--Cole's eccentric monologues, and Isabel's pessimistic outlook--the secondary characters (especially Leon), and the hot / cold romance. Virtual Cole was a quirky little extra as well.

St. Clair is a werewolf; however that fact seemed secondary in this THE WOLVES OF MERCY FALLS novella, which perplexed me at first. I thought I would miss the paranormal elements of this series, but by trimming off all of the excess the author was able to better convey that SINNER is first and foremost a love story. I liked how broken both of the characters were, and how they refused to apologize for their imperfections. I found it interesting how Culpeper equated Cole's wolfing out to a drug relapse, and in a lot of ways it was so much worse. The romance was as touching as it was heartbreaking, and there were even a few heated scenes that made this novel borderline New Adult (YA readers beware!).

The dual narrators were a nice fit for SINNER's alternating POVs; I enjoyed both Dan Bittner and Emma Galvin's performances. They certainly did Stiefvater's writing proud, and as a result, I couldn't help but fall even more in love with her trademark poetic style. My only complaint was that I wish the narrators had read their respective POVs throughout the tale instead of just each characters' specific chapters. The audiobook also included music that was written by the author which was a cool bonus. This was my first experience with Whispersync, but the feature proved useful seeing how there were oh so many notable quotes!

SINNER was an unexpected contemporary delight, and a welcome return to THE WOLVES OF MERCY FALLS.

MAGGIE IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!! *SIGH* At the beginning of Sinner was a letter from Maggie Stiefvater to the readers. She said, "I had a blast writing Sinner. It was a summer-hot, neon-pink, sand-blasted-kiss vacation from The Raven Cycle. It's also, despite the shape-shifting, the truest novel I've ever written." And boy do I agree. I struggled through The Raven Boys because everything that I loved about her writing seemed to be missing. Where The Dream Thieves was much better to me than The Raven Boys, Sinner makes me see how much of Maggie Stiefvater's writing that I fell in love with was still missing even from The Dream Thieves. And well guys, it's back! Maggie's back! And I loved it.

Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, # 3) wraps things up for Sam and Grace, but Cole and Isabel felt very "unfinished." We pretty much leave off knowing that Isabel is moving to California with her mother, but Cole is staying put. And so their ending was left unresolved and open. I'm so thankful that Maggie Stiefvater returned to Cole and Isabel's story. Cole and Isabel weren't my main focus while reading the first three books, but there was such a strong presence about both characters.

Cole was the lead singer of a rock group. He got into substance abuse and basically hit rock bottom. While Cole is sober now, he still uses his wolf self as a means of temporary escape in order to deal with heavy emotions, especially when things don't go as planned. He comes to California at the beginning of the book for one main reason--Isabel. Of course being Cole, Isabel isn't the ONLY reason. Cole has a plan to be on a reality TV show known for turning the subjects into a train wreck. Cole's thought process is that he can use the show to record a new album without having to sign with a record label.

Isabel...oh Isabel! Jaded as all get out. Isabel is still reeling from the pain of her brother's death and the destruction of her parents' marriage. Isabel is just in pain all around. Yet she tries so hard to hold it all in all the time. To be put together. To show no emotion to those around her. She doesn't trust ANYONE. And Cole showing back up...well she can't trust him when he says that he's back for her.

These two are a train wreck together. And they're a train wreck apart. But you can't help but feel the pain both experiences. You can't help but root for them individually and as a couple. You just can't help but get sucked in. Being Cole and Isabel means that this whole ride isn't all sunshine, blue skies, and rainbows. Things get real and dark and sometimes ugly. But Isabel and Cole have a connection that they just haven't, and can't, share with anyone else. They know each other. And that's something that neither one of them can take for granted.

As I think I've said, Maggie Stiefvater's writing is right on with this book. I loved it. I was highlighting like every page. Sometimes multiple times on a page. I was so excited to have this side of her writing back. My favorite quotes:

-The truth was that fame was an inconsistent friend, never there when you needed it, ever-present when you needed some time away from it.

-...now I'd let myself think Isabel's name and there wasn't room for anything else.

-The others slithered and crawled to get her the tanks and the belt, unaware that in order to really get my look, you had to accessorize with death in the family and generalized heartbreak.

-"No, no, I'm looking for something very particular. Oh, wait, I just saw it."

-Here was the thing: I was in love with Cole. Or had been. Or was going to be. I couldn't tell the difference.

-What I wanted was: I wanted.

-"I'm asking if you want to take a manly stroll on the beach."

-"Here we have the glazed miniature chocolate bathroom cakes with a paraffin topping. These here are a duo of free-range eggs that are probably hard-boiled, or at least were wet for a long time. This here beside them is a furry, green egg."

-"I'd like to send a card to the flamingo who died to make your coat," Cole told me, "because it is doing a great job being apparel. I would like to put everything not covered by it in my mouth."

-His eyes said everything he hadn't. I wasn't sure my face hadn't been saying the same thing back to him.

-Imaginary creatures are always happy with other imaginary creatures.

-...nine or fifteen or twenty-two minutes...

-Internet: What do you want for your birthday?
Virtual Cole: to stay young forever
Cole texted me: Actually I want you

-...which made me wonder if I'd even said the never mind part out loud. I thought about it and I was pretty sure I remembered the action of forming the words.

-Did it matter if you'd changed if no one believed it?

-Fate was a lousy lay, and I was over her.

-"Take him!" I shouted gladly to the crowd. "He is one of yours!"

-I was so tired of being alone, but I was always alone, even with people around me. And I was so tired of being surrounded, but I
was always surrounded, even when I was by myself.

-"I love L.A., but I broke her things. I don't think it's going to work out."

So many quotes, but seriously, I was so excited to have this version of Maggie Stiefvater's writing back that I couldn't stop highlighting.

Cole and Isabel's story isn't an easy one, but I fell in love with it. I want to discuss it for days and days and days, but I want you guys to experience it for yourselves. It's a quick read, and I have no doubt you'll get sucked in without much resistance. I dare you to try not to feel for these two characters who have been hurt so many times before. Sinner gets 4.5 Stars from me. Have you read Sinner? What did you think? Let me know!

For more book reviews, check out Somewhere Only We Know - http://sandyfarmer.blogspot.com.

You know I'm a fan of Maggie Stiefvater. So I. freaked. out when I got a review-copy of Sinner from Scholastic Australia (ohhh my gosh, thank you Scholastic, thankyouthankyou) and I promptly dropped everything and read it. In one day. And I just...how do I review it? How do I even function?
There some books that remind you why you're absolutely obsessed with stories. This is one of them.
The end.

Ha! You didn't really think that's all I was going to say, right? No, I have a glorious review.

Maggie Stiefvater wrote this trilogy called The Wolves of Mercy Falls which includes Shiver, Linger, and Forever. (Who's slightly cliche titles we'll forgive because we're magnanimous like that.) They start off narrated by Grace, who is obsessed with wolves (which are actually werewolves because it's a bit weird to fall in love with an animal...so we fall in love with half-animals-half-humans). Gradually more squalling people/animals enter the picture. Sam is Grace's One True Love. He's a wolf. Then enters Cole: also a wolf. And Isabel: not a wolf, but as frosty as machete in Antarctica.

Sam and Grace are art and muse. Cole and Isabel are knife and fire.

I happen to love them a lot, maybe not more than Sam/Grace, but it's so equal my capacity for intense adoration is exhausting me. When I heard there'd be a standalone about Cole and Isabel in the What Happened After Shiverlingerforever Ended -- I knew I would love it.

It's also about music. Don't underestimate how freakishly hard it is to write a musical book. Musical movies are fine. You have ears. Musical books must sing you the music using mere words. How hard is that? Sinner, of course, pulls it off with flying colours and crackling chords. I adore music and I love that I could hear and feel it while reading the book.

And can we just talk about how GOOD the writing is? It's huge on the visuals, smells and feels details. 5-senses! Who'd have thought they could change a book from "cool" to "freakishly awesome"? I absolutely love how closely I could experience the book. The description isn't flooding over page after page. It uses punchy words. Then it's done.

The McMansion was sterile enough to actually remove pieces of my identity every time I returned to it, insidiously replacing them with wall-to-wall white carpet and blond hardwood floors.
or
I felt a not entirely great sensation in my stomach, like someone was opening an umbrella inside it.

A few words and -- BOOM -- the clearest picture is in your mind.

It's funny. (Did I mention I like funny?) The banter between Cole and Isabel is the best because they are really mean people who act like they hate each other and couldn't care less -- when really they care so so much and they can't bear the thought of losing each other. Lo

There is a brief Sam and Grace cameo. It's note enough, mind you. I was hoping they'd at least squeeze a scene in together. .

My only MEH moment is that it centers around Cole doing a "live-reality-television" thing of his life while he's composing his next album. I hate those things. Reality TV? I absolutely hate it. This didn't dampen the book for me, but it made me twitchy the whole time. Isabel didn't like it either, so at least I could stand with her on that one.

I just love this book, okay? I loved it a lot. I couldn't put it down. It made me want to write a million things and read a million things and just appreciate the greatest art that is books.

Another Maggie Stiefvater book to rave about

Indeed she said Sinner is the truest novel she’s ever written. I found that to have a dual meaning for me personally. In that it was the closest to straight contemporary fiction as well as it showed me deep truths about it’s characters. Lately I’ve been finding many YA books coming across as shallow. So it’s refreshing knowing Maggie’s got the goods right here.

Young adult, Contemporary Reality TV drama with a pinch of Paranormal

You heard me right – Sinner may have a paranormal element because of the fact that Cole is a werewolf but ultimately that is not a key part of the book to me. Substitute any other substance abuse or ‘recreational stress relief’ tactic in it’s place and this book would in no way be a paranormal fantasy. What it really is, is a contemporary drama. But a damn fine one at that! There are no qualms here. Just don’t go in expecting the wolf business to be a huge part of the story because at least in my opinion it was not. I think this ties into a letter that the author writes to the readers at the beginning of the book – which I notice is only in the ARC version and not in the published version because of course you know I snagged a final version as well. The last paragraph of the letter to her readers goes like this:

"It’s also, despite the shape-shifting, the truest novel I’ve written. I hope that those who don’t need the truth in it will see only the werewolf, and I hope that those who do need the truth will see only the human."

I see your truth Maggie and it’s moving. We’re all a little bit broken and this novel lets you see those beautifully broken bits about the characters and how they strive towards mending themselves and how more often than not you need to allow others in to help with the mending. I know I’ve heard it said before that you can’t love someone fully until you learn to love yourself but I don’t believe that’s true – I think sometimes, you need someone to love you, to believe in you – to realize that there is something in yourself worth loving after all. Alright I’ll stop being all sappy and soggy. On with it!

Hot and Cold, In and Out – someone glue their asses to the floor

Probably some of the most fun in this book I had while reading was wondering – “when will the bitch switch flip next?” That’s right. Isabel is more hot and cold than any other character I’ve ever seen. She wants reasons to fight what she’s feeling for Cole. I think normally behavior like this would piss me off but I love Isabel’s character and I enjoyed seeing the struggle she goes through. It read real and not contrived – so I didn’t have a problem with it at all. It is indeed one of the biggest themes in the book, so keep that in mind if that sort of thing bugs you. If so, then you might want to bugger off of this one. *wink*

Secondary characters worth their salt

You know when the secondary characters are just thrown on there as the necessary window dressing to complete a story? That is not the case here. I cared about both of the main secondary characters. Though it’s told from the dual perspectives of Isabel and Cole you still key in on the people that are important to them and they in turn become important to you. Isabel and Cole are extremely selfish, self centered people, but despite that I care about them and I didn’t get angry with them because of their behavior (as I am often want to do when I find a character selfish). Perhaps it’s because you can see underneath their selfish exteriors to the good underneath they are so used to ignoring. They invest time in people like Sophia and Leon and that proves they aren’t as selfish as we or they themselves might think they are. And in the trend of broken characters these two also have something about themselves that is unique to them that makes you want to invest your feelings in them as well.

And everything changes while it all stays the same

Does the core of a person every fundamentally change? Who the hell knows. I mean really do Isabel and Cole have these earth shattering changes to their persons making them into bright shiny new people? You’ll have to read Sinner to find out your own perspective and it is most certainly well worth the read.

Oh, you beautiful book. Sinner was amazing. But. It also made me so damn angry. And I can't decide how to feel about this book. I'm even crying. And not happy tears. But I loved Cole. I loved Cole with all my heart. Which is why this is a five star book for me. But Isabel. I doubt I will ever like her. I'm sorry.

I'm just so angry right now. And it bothers me. This book bothered me. And I need some answers. Sigh. I'm just very much upset about Sinner. About Isabel. About how cruel she was. About how mean she was towards Cole. About how she never changed. How she never showed love for Cole. F* it.

I'm just not happy. But at the same time, I did love this book. I loved Cole. He is an amazing character. And I loved reading about him so much. And his friends, Leon and Jeremy. They were awesome too. I did not like reading about Baby, but she was interesting. And a good plot, I think. But Isabel. Damn it. I wanted to love her so much. As I did like her in the Shiver books. But no. She's just. She's not kind. And I could have forgiven that. But she doesn't get better. And it just breaks my heart, because Cole is full of feelings and he deserves so much better. And oh. I just wanted him to get what he deserved. And in my eyes, that never happened. Sure, the ending is probably happy. But the things that I wanted to happen? They never f* did. And I'm not pleased. Not at all. Okay, I did mostly love the book. Just, not Isabel.

I just don't know. I don't know how to talk about this book. Because all I want to do is cry and scream. I'm just not happy with who Isabel was as a person. I get that she was broken. That her family life isn't good. That she is broken because her brother is dead. But. That is no f* excuse for acting like a b*. And she did. I'm sorry, but she did. She was always cold and mean. Not only towards Cole. And with Cole. Cole loves her so much. And she just. She doesn't care that much. She doesn't trust him.

And I cannot. It upsets me so much. Isabel did a lot of things I hated in this book. She did this very awful thing that I will never forgive and she never told Cole about it. What the f*. I'm not pleased at all. I kept waiting for her to say something. But she didn't. It was even the same night. And thinking about it kind of makes me a little sick, which didn't make that scene good, which were supposed to be beautiful, it wasn't good for me. I wanted to love her. But she never deserved my love. Not once.

I have so many feelings about it. But mostly I just didn't like Isabel. And it breaks my heart a little. Because Cole do love her. And I want him to be happy. But in my eyes, Isabel never made him happy. She only ever hurt his heart. All the damn time. And I just. I'm not okay with it. I'm not. I wanted her to care more. I wanted her to make up for how she acted. But she never did. Sure, that ending was kind of good, but it was too late for me. And way too little as well. Sigh. But I'll deal with it. Most likely.

Anyway. Enough about all that. This book was more about Cole. And Cole. Sigh. He is amazing. Oh, how I love Cole. Sure, he's done some bad things. But he is better now. He is kinder. More loving. And just all kinds of awesome. I hated how lonely he is. How no one is there for him. I wanted Isabel to be. But she wasn't. Damn it. I just wanted someone to hug my Cole. Someone to love him. To care for him. Instead I got a bunch of people disliking him. This girl punching him, hurting him. No one comforting him. Sobs.

It just broke my heart. All of it. And it's making me cry even now. Which is kind of weird. I'm not supposed to care this much, I think. But I do. And I wanted the best for Cole. And I just. I wanted deleted scenes. I want to read about people caring for Cole. About Cole being happy. Because there is not enough of that in this book. Not enough at all. But music. There is a lot of music. And I loved that so much. Amazing story. And that makes Cole happy. And I loved reading about him making music.

Another thing that bothered me a little in Sinner. The Wolf part of Cole. There is too little of it. And it seemed like it was a bad thing. He took some kind of drug to become a wolf for five minutes. Which I loved. But it seemed like a bad thing. And that broke my heart. I want Cole to be a wolf too. To be happy about it. Because being a wolf is a huge part of Cole. And yeah. I kind of want another book, lol. Anyway. I just felt like there was too little about the wolf part in this book. But I'm okay with it. Mostly.

Because Sinner was a great book. And I did love reading about Cole. So much. I loved reading about the things he did. I just. I didn't like reading about Isabel. I'm not forgiving her. I'm not. I wanted her to be better. To do things better. But she didn't. Damn it. I just wanted so much. Sigh. But I'm also happy with this book. Because Sinner was full of feelings. It was full of heartbreak. And it was full of Cole. Who is the best. So for the most part Sinner was an amazing book. Which is why it's a five star for me.

I'm so happy I started reading these books. I started with Shiver, Linger and Forever this week. I loved those books to pieces. And I need more of Sam and Grace. Then I read Sinner now. There is too little of them in this book. A few very short phonecalls. Hmph. I need more, hih. But anyway. I loved these books. Just as I love Maggie. I have read most of her books now, and I have loved them all. I cannot wait to read whatever she writes next. Anyway. You should all read Sinner. <3 As it is pretty awesome.

"Sinner" By Maggie Stiefvater

Cole St. Clair is back and in the spot light (where he belongs) in this new stand alone companion novel to the Mercy Falls trilogy.

Cole is picking up the pieces of his former life, attempting to start new, fresh, and hopefully with Isabel by his side. Drugs, alcohol and a different girls every night are now a thing of the past. Now he spends his days trying to win over Isabel, write songs and be somewhat entertaining for the TV crew that follows him around day and night.

When asked during an interview what scares Cole his answer is blunt and to the point: 'Nothing'.

But with the possibility of shifting into a wolf hanging over his head and the thought of losing Isabel (for good this time) lurking in the back of his mind Cole knows he is only lying to himself and his fans by answering 'nothing'.

Isabel is still trying to find a place to fit in since moving to L.A. Her family is as dysfunctional as ever and she spends her time either at work or school, dreading having to go 'home'.

Isabel is known for her wit and snarky attitude. She never pulls punches and if you don't want to hear the truth then don't ask her for it. She has no problem telling Cole to leave her alone, but behind the wall she has meticulously built and maintained all these years Isabel is starting to wonder if living without Cole is even a possibility.

I think one of the reasons I liked "Sinner" so much was that the two main characters were once sub characters vying for attention.

The way that Maggie writes gives breath to each and every character whether they have a minor or major roll in the story. Which of course always leaves me wanted more.

"Sinner" reminds me of a quote from the movie "The Holiday"

"You're supposed to be the leading lady of your own life."

While Grace and Sam had their time and told their story (which I loved) I always wanted more from Isabel and Cole.

I'm ecstatic that Isabel and Cole finally got their leading roles.

Until next time,
Ginger

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review.
My review is my honest opinion.

Cole St. Clair, how much I missed you. That was the first thought I had while reading Sinner.

It had been a long time since I was in the world of Cole and Isabel. Stiefvater ended the Wolves of Mercy Falls series in 2011. That’s about 3 almost full years since I was a part of that world so I was nervous going in. I remember what I loved about the first three books was the beautiful writing, but not so much the wolf aspect. But when I heard there was a new book coming out and it was staring Cole and Isabel I swallowed my worry and got my hands on it. Jumping back into this series after 3 years taught me one thing…Cole and Isabel are everything!

Sinner is a very different book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. When we last left off Sam and Grace were headed to college and Isabel was headed to Los Angeles. Sinner kind of picks up where Forever left off. Isabel is in fact in LA and that is exactly where Cole heads when he decides to start his music career back up. With Narkotika over, Cole signs on to a web reality show with an internet sensation, Baby, running the show. Too bad everyone that was ever in contact with Baby has ended up crashing and burning. Clean now Cole refuses to let her make him fall apart because he is after more than just music, he is also there for Isabel. The question that remains is does wounded, closed off, tough girl want him to be there for her?

Have I mentioned yet how much I love Cole St. Clair because I do. He is possibly the most perfect flawed character I have read in any book, or at least in a really long time. There is nothing about him that is typical. He speaks before the thinks, makes bad choices sometimes, can’t sit still, has addictive behavior, and is a wolf, but he is so amazingly perfect. His delivery is so spot on it’s crazy and his connection to Isabel is indescribable. They two of them really just work well together. They have this chemistry that leaps off the page. On the surface they are two totally different people, but when they are together they are unstoppable. Isabel always has the hard exterior shell so she doesn’t get hurt and Cole just expects to get hurt so when combine that you have fireworks.

Honestly though, what I really loved about Sinner was Maggie Stiefvater’s writing. I was fortunate enough to listen to Maggie speak at an event in Boston. It was really my first book event and I never got to meet her but I got to listen to her talk. And what I got from that is that Sinner sounds just like Maggie does! If I had no clue who wrote this book I would 100% know it was her just from that hour long event. She has such a way about easy humor that just translated perfectly to Cole and Isabel’s personalities and that made this reading experience all the more enjoyable.

Sinner was everything I never knew I was missing from the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. It made me smile and miss everything about Cole and Isabel when I was done.( And it also had one of the most romantically weird dates in a book FYI. HA.) I loved being back in this world and seeing it though different eyes and seeing how they coped on their own. It was fun and fantastic and something you must read if you were a fan of the series.

I have not read Maggie Stiefvater's The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy, so I was hesitant to buy and read her latest book, Sinner, which is a companion book to that series. Stiefvater is one of my auto-buys, not because I just love all her books, I don't, but because she is one of the best prose masters writing in the young adult market and all her stories are totally original and have a specificity that I crave in fiction. She's messy with her plots, but her characters are so vivid I hardly notice.

So naturally I was surprised by this book. It's plotless, but who cares. The story is the happy ending for a heartbroken couple from the Shivers series (Wolves of Mercy Falls) and in this book they get their happy ending. What surprised me was the prose. It's hyper, manic, fueled like a pink bunny rabbit on meth-laced lettuce. It's full of pop-inflected speech. It's daring and terribly romantic. Cole St. Clair, the rock star and wolf has come to L.A. to find Isabel Culpeper, the girl he desires with all his being. Along the way he makes some Reality TV, records an album, meets Leon, old friends in his former band, and finds that being an addict is more than just about drugs. He's the heart of this story, though I found Isabel a delightful change from the super-powered, chosen heroines of so much YA fiction these days. She's messy, trying to go to school to be a doctor, she lives at home with her mother and scratches out a living working in a retail store that sells a peculiar line of clothing. She's cold, at times, as heartless as her bad boy must have been once upon a time, because he's staying now, and she's leaving him.

I loved this book. It was pure awesomeness, a sheer pleasure to read. I smiled a lot. Since I have boys who like cars and bands, I literally felt the scenes in the studio, I understood the character of Cole better than most young girls, because I've met boys just like him over the years. Metaphorically they were all wolves, living off the high of their music and the life that goes along with it. If it's not booze, it's girls, it's pills, and sometimes needles and the devil. It's a cold cruel lifestyle trying to walk that line between making art and being an artiste!

Stiefvater captures all that along with her idea of what love feels like, that young love between two people who truly belong together as an US. I understand that US because I write about it, too.

Let me say one more thing, it takes a lot of talent to write this kind of prose, because it is the language and words that drive the story, control its speed, give the book its beats. Breathless prose. Beautiful prose. I love these words, sincerely.

I loved Stiefvater’s first book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls, Shiver, but was extremely disappointed in how she ended the series in Forever. I thought I would never read anything else by her until I read, and fell in love with, The Scorpio Races. I wasn't sure if I would read Sinner until Kayla awesomely scored me an ARC, and I held it in my hands.

There is just something beautiful and lyrical about Stiefvater’s writing that draws me in. Even if I don’t like the plot or the progress of the story I will always appreciate the writing. I’m pretty sure that my copy of Sinner has the most sticky notes I’ve ever put in a book because of all the quotes I had to tab. I cannot do justice to Stiefvater's writing, but if you've never experienced it, I suggest picking up one of her books.

I do not know if I would recommend picking this up first, as it’s part of The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, even though it is described as a “standalone companion” to that series. There is just so much wolfy backstory about Cole and Isabel that a reader would miss without reading the first three books first. However, this book is also completely apart from the rest of the series and it is thoroughly Cole’s and Isabel’s story. The rest of The Wolves of Mercy Falls is paranormal young adult, but Sinner is a contemporary almost-adult story about a dysfunctional relationship with a very slight paranormal element.

I’m really glad that we have a book all about Cole and Isabel because they were such awesome and intriguing characters in the series. I also like that there really isn't any discussion about the wolf cure, and becoming a wolf is only a release for Cole and a point of grief for Isabel.

Sinner is mostly a story of redemption with a little bit coming-of-age and learning who you are thrown in. Cole is a fascinating person, especially since he tries to self-medicate his probably bi-polar disorder with first drugs and alcohol, then losing his mind in becoming a wolf. The foil to this is Isabel, who prefers to ignore all of her emotions, which she just doesn't quite accomplish. I loved seeing these two come to terms with each other and themselves, especially since both of them suffered from self-hatred yet could come to love each other. Both Cole and Isabel have serious issues which causes their relationship to be quite dysfunctional, but the issues make the relationship feel all the more real.

The story is set against a backdrop of Los Angeles and reality television. Stiefvater, of course, explored the highs and the lows of both the medium and the city, and Cole’s relationship with both. There really isn’t a lot of middle ground in the whole book, be it plot or characters. Even the secondary characters are extreme versions of people. Cole’s limo driver and later friend, Leon, is almost too sugary-sweet too-good-to-be-true set against Cole’s destruction and depression and Isabel’s anger. With the reality television show producer trying to get Cole to go over the deep end with several stunts and Isabel’s less than perfect home life, the tone of the plot goes from manically happy to desperately depressing to hysterical.

I loved every second of Sinner and was incredibly sad when it came to an end. If you liked or loved The Wolves of Mercy Falls and are interested in seeing Cole’s and Isabel’s story, I strongly recommend picking up Sinner. Now, why isn’t it October already so I can have my hands on Stiefvater’s next book in The Raven Boys series, Blue Lily, Lily Blue?

To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review originally appeared on Bibliophilia, Please at: http://www.bibliophiliaplease.com/2014/07/review-sinner-by-maggie-stiefvater.html

First, let me say that I read this book in a single sitting—I was that captivated by the story. But I wasn't sold from page one.

As the novel opens, readers are in a car with Cole, who is doing a live radio interview via cell phone. During this interview we meet Leon, the man who has been charged with driving Cole to his destination—and who becomes one of Cole's best allies in the novel. While the interview was not compelling, the moment Cole steps out of the car to walk to his destination, I was curious. Curious to see how Stiefvater was going to unfold this story.

And I was surprised. I was—because at first I didn't think I was going to like this novel. I went into it thinking, “Hey, I really enjoy Stiefvater's writing, and the cover is kinda cool, so I want to give this novel a chance.” But when I got to that opening, I was convinced that this novel was not going to be for me.

I was wrong (not the first time; won't be the last).

So, if you open the novel and see that interview and think, “I don't know if I'm going to like this,” keep going. It is worth it.

This story is told in duel narration with Cole and Isabel, and I liked this approach. It broke up the monotony a little, especially when Cole was being a bit too wild or Isabel was being a bit too, well, Isabel.

Cole sold this story for me. He is a character on the brink of re-fueling his career, finding love, fighting the wolf inside him. But this story isn't about Cole the wolf. It is about Cole the musician; Cole the man; Cole the friend; Cole in love.

Cole the wolf does make a few appearances—and I won't spoil the why. But let me say that it is cleverly woven into the storytelling.

Cole has come to Los Angeles for one reason, and one reason only: Isabel. He wants her in his life, but he is scared of what he will find when he reunites with her.

Stiefvater doesn't make us wait either. The reunion happens early in the text because this reunion is what sets the stage for the rest of the story.

While Cole is trying to re-start his career via a reality show, readers will find Isabel living with her mom, aunt, and cousin and working for a fashion designer. Isabel is sharp-tongued, and she has some of the best lines in the novel. Isabel is as lost as Cole, but she hides it a bit better. She has started her studies to become a doctor, but her parents are on the brink of divorce, and this eats at her soul. The chip on Isabel's shoulder is a heavy one, and it is going to take a lot for it to be chipped away.

If anyone can do it, it's Cole.

What I loved about this book is how Cole and Isabel's characters are weaved nicely together as a couple but also as individuals. They both have their own interests and pursuits in life, and they both go for them. But they also celebrate what makes each of them so wonderful, and this is honesty on a page.

There are minor characters of note in the novel that contributed to my enjoyment, but two stood out the most as my favorites.

There's Baby, the producer of the reality show, was a bit cagey for me, but of course she is meant to be. She tries to pull fast ones on Cole several times, but he turns the tables on her and her show, and it is fantastic.

And then there's Leon. He is my absolute favorite character in the novel. We meet Leon at the beginning because he is the man charged with driving Cole to his destination. Leon becomes an important figure in the story, not for his driving skills but for the friendship he develops with Cole. Leon is Cole's voice of reason, the guidance that Cole needs to help him stay focused on his life goals. I just want to hug Leon. He should have his own story.

There is an epilogue that takes readers into a chunk of the future to see if Cole and Isabel achieved their dreams together, separately, or at all.

I think on that note, this is the time to stop because I am afraid I will give away key points in the story, and I really don't want to spoil anything for you.

Do I recommend this book?

I absolutely do. I read this book in one sitting because I really wanted to see where Stiefvater would take Cole and Isabel, and I was most curious to see how she would tie it all together.

Maggie Stiefvater has quickly become one of my favorite authors in the past couple of years and I will read anything she writes, no matter what genre it is. When authors return to beloved series for spin-offs, I'm usually extremely skeptical, but I had confidence that Stiefvater would deliver a beautiful, heartbreaking story. It was such an amazing experience to return to the world of Shiver and to be reunited with Cole St. Clair and Isabelle Culpepper. Stiefvater has impressed me once again with her ability to draw up such compelling characters that readers can easily become invested in.

This story is about the rise of Cole St. Clair after he disappeared from the world and how he struggled with addiction and fame in LA. Can Cole be the rockstar he once was without getting hooked on drugs again? Cole also wants to amend his relationship with Isabelle Culpepper and fall in love with the girl he met in Mercy Falls. The problem is that Isabelle doesn't really believe in love anymore and she doesn't believe that Cole is capable of it.

Fans demanded to know what happened to Isabelle and Cole after Forever, the final book in the Shiver trilogy and I applaud Stiefvater for listening to the pleas of her fans. It's amazing to have an author who is so receptive to her fan's wishes because I truly needed this book. I needed closure regarding my favorite couple and Sinner gave me an opportunity to say goodbye to Cole and Isabelle in the best possible way. This book is truly for fans of the Shiver Trilogy -- those unfamiliar with the series will definitely enjoy it, but this book won't carry the same weight and won't pack as big as a punch for newbies. You can definitely read Sinner without any prior knowledge of the Shiver books, but I'd highly recommend reading that amazing trilogy prior to Sinner.

Sinner is more of a character study that explores Cole and Isabelle's relationship and this novel doesn't really have much of a focus on action. This book is all about the intricacies of Cole and Isabelle's personalities and them coming to terms with each other. That being said, there are so many poignant moments in Sinner and I was bawling by the end because I was bombarded with so many feels. Stiefvater really knows how to fill readers with such raw, powerful emotion and Sinner will truly move readers.

Even after reading Maggie's numerous books, Cole and Isabelle are my favorite characters that Stiefvater has created. Cole and Isabelle are characters that I've become so attached to and I missed reading about their tumultuous relationship. Cole and Isabelle are like huge ocean tides, they is something so powerful about them and you don't care if you get swept up as collateral.

Sinner is essentially a coming-of-age tale and it chronicles Cole's misadventures as he deals with the pressure of being on his own reality show. Cole truly develops so much in this novel and even though his signature snark and attitude is still present, St. Clair isn't the werewolf he once was. This isn't about Cole learning to deal with his werewolf side, this book is about Cole dealing with his inner demons.

Sinner is everything I expected from Stiefvater and so much more, this is the novel that Shiver fans have been waiting for. This was definitely well-worth the wait and it's a treat to help ease the painful wait until Blue Lily, Lily Blue releases. Remind me to never doubt the power and gorgeousness of Maggie Stiefvater's writing ever again because Maggie can do no wrong in my book!

It's been years since I read Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy trilogy, I can only vaguely recall Cole and Isabel's characters. Yet I was still so eager to return to this world with Sinner! And it was A-MAZING!

Some time has passed since we last saw Cole and Isabel in Forever. They both moved on with their lives yet Cole finds himself in L.A. not only to record a new album but also to find Isabel and win her back. Isabel is just trying to get through life; she's planning to go to med school to become a doctor, she works at a clothing boutique catering to the rich and sometimes famous, she's dealing with her parents' separation...the last thing she expects is for Cole to walk back into her life, especially with how things ended between them.

This book was far different than I expected it to be. I'm not quite sure what I expected to happen really, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this one! Cole and Isabel are both very deep, complex characters. They're both broken in some ways, yet they strive to be better. They each have their faults and what not, but it's amazing to see them want to work on their own personalities. They're flawed, but you still care about them because their flaws seem so incredibly real!

Their romantic development was another sight to behold. As Cole wants to win Isabel back but she's afraid to trust him as she loved him before and got hurt. Cole was once your typical rock star and has a certain reputation, but you can also see that he's not that guy anymore. I loved that Isabel struggled with her feelings by not wanting to fall back in love with him and yet, still fighting with her feelings when she does. There was a lot of emotional turmoil going on with this one, but it felt right for the characters.

As far as action goes, this one was sort of lacking, yet the incredible character development more than made up for it. Cole's shifting habits also didn't really play as huge a role in the story. He still uses a needle in order to shift which I thought I vaguely recall happening in The Wolves of Mercy books. I just kinda thought there would be more "wolf-ness" to the story then there was. Other than these two little factors, I really had no problems with this one at all.

The ending was beautiful too! I couldn't have asked for something better! This is a read not to be missed by fans of The Wolves of Mercy series. Even if you haven't read them, which you should, they're a totally different take on werewolves! You don't really have to have read them in order to follow along! I haven't read them since it ended in 2011 and can't really remember much at all about Isabel and Cole and had no trouble at following along. This is a standalone companion, so reading the first books aren't necessary, yet I still highly recommend them out of sheer enjoyment!

In short, Sinner was a touching and awesome read!

Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars

I don't even know why I bother reviewing Stiefvater's books anymore.

Did you love it? Yes.
Did it give you feels? Yes.
Did you do that thing where you hold the book against your chest when you were done and sighed? Yes.
Do you know HOW to tell us why you love this book so much? Nope.

The thing that struck me about this Stiefvater title in particular, aside from her flawless writing style, monologue that shows she is definitely inside my brain, and otherworldly character development, was the novel's primary theme -- the LA music scene. I have read plenty of books on the subject, but none very good. It doesn't seem that it is as natural to write about music than it is to write about real life. A Visit From the Goon Squad is really the only quality "punk" book I have read on the LA music scene other than this one. I didn't even know that this is what Sinner's focus would be -- let's face it, if Stiefvater has a new book, I just buy it -- but it delivered anyway.

It takes a special type of wordsmith to make you think one thing throughout the entire book, and then make you realize that you were thinking the wrong thing, all because she made you think that thing, and you really just want to be her, sometimes. This may be a writer thing only, but I definitely want to be Maggie Stiefvater when I grow up.

I was basically in love with every single character in this book, and every single line; if I can trust anything from Stiefvater's books, it is that the editing is flawless. There's not a thing that I would change about its style. Because I am forlorn for the days that I fell in love with this series originally, I do have to say that I wished for more interaction with Grace and Sam, but it is not their book, and so be it.

I loved reading of LA because no one ever writes of LA except me and Dean Koontz, because it's my home and when an author describes your home in a book you love while you're sitting in said home, it's a special kind of experience. Like all of Stiefvater's books, I truly did love Sinner, and I think Cole is the most interesting character I have ever met, and Isabel is seriously screwed up, and I am sad that The Wolves of Mercy Falls are out of my life again. Or are they? I don't know.

I'm going to read The Raven Boys now.

First, let me say that I read this book in a single sitting—I was that captivated by the story. But I wasn't sold from page one.

As the novel opens, readers are in a car with Cole, who is doing a live radio interview via cell phone. During this interview we meet Leon, the man who has been charged with driving Cole to his destination—and who becomes one of Cole's best allies in the novel. While the interview was not compelling, the moment Cole steps out of the car to walk to his destination, I was curious. Curious to see how Stiefvater was going to unfold this story.

And I was surprised. I was—because at first I didn't think I was going to like this novel. I went into it thinking, “Hey, I really enjoy Stiefvater's writing, and the cover is kinda cool, so I want to give this novel a chance.” But when I got to that opening, I was convinced that this novel was not going to be for me.

I was wrong (not the first time; won't be the last).

So, if you open the novel and see that interview and think, “I don't know if I'm going to like this,” keep going. It is worth it.

This story is told in duel narration with Cole and Isabel, and I liked this approach. It broke up the monotony a little, especially when Cole was being a bit too wild or Isabel was being a bit too, well, Isabel.

Cole sold this story for me. He is a character on the brink of re-fueling his career, finding love, fighting the wolf inside him. But this story isn't about Cole the wolf. It is about Cole the musician; Cole the man; Cole the friend; Cole in love.

Cole the wolf does make a few appearances—and I won't spoil the why. But let me say that it is cleverly woven into the storytelling.

Cole has come to Los Angeles for one reason, and one reason only: Isabel. He wants her in his life, but he is scared of what he will find when he reunites with her.

Stiefvater doesn't make us wait either. The reunion happens early in the text because this reunion is what sets the stage for the rest of the story.

While Cole is trying to re-start his career via a reality show, readers will find Isabel living with her mom, aunt, and cousin and working for a fashion designer. Isabel is sharp-tongued, and she has some of the best lines in the novel. Isabel is as lost as Cole, but she hides it a bit better. She has started her studies to become a doctor, but her parents are on the brink of divorce, and this eats at her soul. The chip on Isabel's shoulder is a heavy one, and it is going to take a lot for it to be chipped away.

If anyone can do it, it's Cole.

What I loved about this book is how Cole and Isabel's characters are weaved nicely together as a couple but also as individuals. They both have their own interests and pursuits in life, and they both go for them. But they also celebrate what makes each of them so wonderful, and this is honesty on a page.

There are minor characters of note in the novel that contributed to my enjoyment, but two stood out the most as my favorites.

There's Baby, the producer of the reality show, was a bit cagey for me, but of course she is meant to be. She tries to pull fast ones on Cole several times, but he turns the tables on her and her show, and it is fantastic.

And then there's Leon. He is my absolute favorite character in the novel. We meet Leon at the beginning because he is the man charged with driving Cole to his destination. Leon becomes an important figure in the story, not for his driving skills but for the friendship he develops with Cole. Leon is Cole's voice of reason, the guidance that Cole needs to help him stay focused on his life goals. I just want to hug Leon. He should have his own story.

There is an epilogue that takes readers into a chunk of the future to see if Cole and Isabel achieved their dreams together, separately, or at all.

I think on that note, this is the time to stop because I am afraid I will give away key points in the story, and I really don't want to spoil anything for you.

Do I recommend this book?

I absolutely do. I read this book in one sitting because I really wanted to see where Stiefvater would take Cole and Isabel, and I was most curious to see how she would tie it all together.

Maggie Stiefvater has quickly become one of my favorite authors in the past couple of years and I will read anything she writes, no matter what genre it is. When authors return to beloved series for spin-offs, I'm usually extremely skeptical, but I had confidence that Stiefvater would deliver a beautiful, heartbreaking story. It was such an amazing experience to return to the world of Shiver and to be reunited with Cole St. Clair and Isabelle Culpepper. Stiefvater has impressed me once again with her ability to draw up such compelling characters that readers can easily become invested in.

This story is about the rise of Cole St. Clair after he disappeared from the world and how he struggled with addiction and fame in LA. Can Cole be the rockstar he once was without getting hooked on drugs again? Cole also wants to amend his relationship with Isabelle Culpepper and fall in love with the girl he met in Mercy Falls. The problem is that Isabelle doesn't really believe in love anymore and she doesn't believe that Cole is capable of it.

Fans demanded to know what happened to Isabelle and Cole after Forever, the final book in the Shiver trilogy and I applaud Stiefvater for listening to the pleas of her fans. It's amazing to have an author who is so receptive to her fan's wishes because I truly needed this book. I needed closure regarding my favorite couple and Sinner gave me an opportunity to say goodbye to Cole and Isabelle in the best possible way. This book is truly for fans of the Shiver Trilogy -- those unfamiliar with the series will definitely enjoy it, but this book won't carry the same weight and won't pack as big as a punch for newbies. You can definitely read Sinner without any prior knowledge of the Shiver books, but I'd highly recommend reading that amazing trilogy prior to Sinner.

Sinner is more of a character study that explores Cole and Isabelle's relationship and this novel doesn't really have much of a focus on action. This book is all about the intricacies of Cole and Isabelle's personalities and them coming to terms with each other. That being said, there are so many poignant moments in Sinner and I was bawling by the end because I was bombarded with so many feels. Stiefvater really knows how to fill readers with such raw, powerful emotion and Sinner will truly move readers.

Even after reading Maggie's numerous books, Cole and Isabelle are my favorite characters that Stiefvater has created. Cole and Isabelle are characters that I've become so attached to and I missed reading about their tumultuous relationship. Cole and Isabelle are like huge ocean tides, they is something so powerful about them and you don't care if you get swept up as collateral.

Sinner is essentially a coming-of-age tale and it chronicles Cole's misadventures as he deals with the pressure of being on his own reality show. Cole truly develops so much in this novel and even though his signature snark and attitude is still present, St. Clair isn't the werewolf he once was. This isn't about Cole learning to deal with his werewolf side, this book is about Cole dealing with his inner demons.

Sinner is everything I expected from Stiefvater and so much more, this is the novel that Shiver fans have been waiting for. This was definitely well-worth the wait and it's a treat to help ease the painful wait until Blue Lily, Lily Blue releases. Remind me to never doubt the power and gorgeousness of Maggie Stiefvater's writing ever again because Maggie can do no wrong in my book!

It's been years since I read Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy trilogy, I can only vaguely recall Cole and Isabel's characters. Yet I was still so eager to return to this world with Sinner! And it was A-MAZING!

Some time has passed since we last saw Cole and Isabel in Forever. They both moved on with their lives yet Cole finds himself in L.A. not only to record a new album but also to find Isabel and win her back. Isabel is just trying to get through life; she's planning to go to med school to become a doctor, she works at a clothing boutique catering to the rich and sometimes famous, she's dealing with her parents' separation...the last thing she expects is for Cole to walk back into her life, especially with how things ended between them.

This book was far different than I expected it to be. I'm not quite sure what I expected to happen really, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this one! Cole and Isabel are both very deep, complex characters. They're both broken in some ways, yet they strive to be better. They each have their faults and what not, but it's amazing to see them want to work on their own personalities. They're flawed, but you still care about them because their flaws seem so incredibly real!

Their romantic development was another sight to behold. As Cole wants to win Isabel back but she's afraid to trust him as she loved him before and got hurt. Cole was once your typical rock star and has a certain reputation, but you can also see that he's not that guy anymore. I loved that Isabel struggled with her feelings by not wanting to fall back in love with him and yet, still fighting with her feelings when she does. There was a lot of emotional turmoil going on with this one, but it felt right for the characters.

As far as action goes, this one was sort of lacking, yet the incredible character development more than made up for it. Cole's shifting habits also didn't really play as huge a role in the story. He still uses a needle in order to shift which I thought I vaguely recall happening in The Wolves of Mercy books. I just kinda thought there would be more "wolf-ness" to the story then there was. Other than these two little factors, I really had no problems with this one at all.

The ending was beautiful too! I couldn't have asked for something better! This is a read not to be missed by fans of The Wolves of Mercy series. Even if you haven't read them, which you should, they're a totally different take on werewolves! You don't really have to have read them in order to follow along! I haven't read them since it ended in 2011 and can't really remember much at all about Isabel and Cole and had no trouble at following along. This is a standalone companion, so reading the first books aren't necessary, yet I still highly recommend them out of sheer enjoyment!

In short, Sinner was a touching and awesome read!

Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars

I don't even know why I bother reviewing Stiefvater's books anymore.

Did you love it? Yes.
Did it give you feels? Yes.
Did you do that thing where you hold the book against your chest when you were done and sighed? Yes.
Do you know HOW to tell us why you love this book so much? Nope.

The thing that struck me about this Stiefvater title in particular, aside from her flawless writing style, monologue that shows she is definitely inside my brain, and otherworldly character development, was the novel's primary theme -- the LA music scene. I have read plenty of books on the subject, but none very good. It doesn't seem that it is as natural to write about music than it is to write about real life. A Visit From the Goon Squad is really the only quality "punk" book I have read on the LA music scene other than this one. I didn't even know that this is what Sinner's focus would be -- let's face it, if Stiefvater has a new book, I just buy it -- but it delivered anyway.

It takes a special type of wordsmith to make you think one thing throughout the entire book, and then make you realize that you were thinking the wrong thing, all because she made you think that thing, and you really just want to be her, sometimes. This may be a writer thing only, but I definitely want to be Maggie Stiefvater when I grow up.

I was basically in love with every single character in this book, and every single line; if I can trust anything from Stiefvater's books, it is that the editing is flawless. There's not a thing that I would change about its style. Because I am forlorn for the days that I fell in love with this series originally, I do have to say that I wished for more interaction with Grace and Sam, but it is not their book, and so be it.

I loved reading of LA because no one ever writes of LA except me and Dean Koontz, because it's my home and when an author describes your home in a book you love while you're sitting in said home, it's a special kind of experience. Like all of Stiefvater's books, I truly did love Sinner, and I think Cole is the most interesting character I have ever met, and Isabel is seriously screwed up, and I am sad that The Wolves of Mercy Falls are out of my life again. Or are they? I don't know.

I'm going to read The Raven Boys now.

Cole St. Clair and Isabel Culpeper return in the long awaited conclusion to their relationship that began in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. I'm very happy that Maggie Stiefvater waited until she was inspired to write their story, because SINNER is sun drenched, sexy, and the story these characters deserve.

For those who just want to jump in, it is possible to read SINNER without reading SHIVER, LINGER, and FOREVER first. Cole even starts by warning the reader that he's a werewolf so that wouldn't surprise the uninitiated. Grace and Sam are briefly mentioned, but they're off doing their own thing. However, SINNER is most satisfying if the reader knows how Cole and Isabel's relationship originally went sour (not to mention what happened to Cole's drummer).

I really liked that Cole is still dealing with his addiction issues in SINNER. He might've gotten clean during the series, but being sober is an ongoing process. And Cole is a master at finding new addictions and new ways to self destruct. It's even more difficult to keep control since he's agreed to be on a reality webshow and his producer wants drama. Isabel might bring the drama, but she won't sign a release. (Smart girl, as always.)

Cole and Isabel are such a wonderful pair. The both hold themselves aloof, but Isabel does in coldly while Cole reaches out through a persona. Isabel is pretty good at seeing through Cole's mask, but he's pretty terrible at seeing through hers. It isn't easy between them, but it could be worth the effort.

I think Maggie Stiefvater just keeps getting better and better. SINNER is a wonderful story about two damaged people helping each other and learning what lies beyond their passion for each other. It's a story about art, and family, and grief. I expect the fans who have been waiting for more about Cole and Isabel will not be disappointed.

I was so excited when I heard about Sinner. I couldn’t wait to spend some more time with Cole St. Clair since I felt there was so much of him missing in Forever (the final book of The Wolves of Mercy Falls). But I was disappointed with parts of Sinner.

My main dislike of this book was that the story started slow. I got bored and ended up stopping and reading another book. But I hate to leave books as DNF (did not finish) so I took another chance on the book. At about 80% in to the story it finally got interesting for me.

I did like reading Cole St. Clair’s point of view. I got a better understanding of who he is and all the struggles he is going through. He is having to deal with his former addictions and the guilt of Victor’s death. This book was darker than I had expected but we see that Cole’s happiness is with his music and Isabel.

Isabel Culpeper is still sarcastic and brutally honest. I liked how feisty she was but at times I found her cold-hearted attitude to be annoying and rude, especially when it was toward her younger cousin Sofia and Cole. Isabel is still struggling with the death of her brother and is now having to deal with her dysfunctional parents. So I understood the wall she formed to protect herself. But after a while it just became irritating.

Even though there were parts of this book I didn’t like I am glad I read it. This gives me closure to the series, so I think fans should read this. But this isn’t a book I would want to read again.

4.5 stars

It's been about 4 years since Linger came out and about 4 years since I fell in love with Cole and Isabel. The moment that they interacted on the pages, I couldn't get enough of them. Oh, the banter! When the series (supposedly thank god) ended with Forever, I was extremely crushed that there was no conclusion that felt final enough for Cole and Isabel.

And then Sinner was announced.

And then these three chapters were posted.

And I fell in love all over again.

I don't know how many times I reread those chapters. Over and over again, thinking about how Maggie would write this story. I would finally get a conclusion for my favorite characters; I would finally get more of them. I am so glad to say that all the hype that I built up for this book did not leave me disappointed.

Sinner was absolutely breathtaking. I had to constantly pace myself when reading it because I didn't want it to end (which was extremely hard because every page that Cole and Isabel were on was captivating)(which was most of the book). The whole novel focuses on them: the trails they go through in their relationship, in their day-to-day lives, with their feelings. So unlike previous novels with them, their parts are not contained. Grace and Sam have small cameos, and it was so exciting to see them on the pages again. (In addition, the werewolf issue is not as strong as a plot point as it was in the Wolves of Mercy Falls, where the mystery and troubles of being a werewolf was really the main issue. In Sinner, it did not seem to be as strong as to be the theme of the book.) Maggie Steifvater brings back the chemistry Cole and Isabel had in Linger and adds to the depth of the characters, giving us an inside look to their thoughts that we just got a glimpse of in previous books. Oh how I wish I could go to L.A. and experience this book! I'm in love.

I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of the series and (of course!) lovers of Cole and Isabel.

Poetic, lyrical. I felt the gritty, hot asphalt under my bare feet and the blazing Californian sun on my skin. I smelt the smoky alleyways and the stale cafe coffee. I heard the pounding music and the blood pumping through veins. Maggie Stiefvater transports you into her world of angst-ridden teens and young love again with this beautifully written follow up to her previous series.

.Cole.
Cole St. Clair wants one thing. Or ten things. Or one. Or a million little pieces. He's manic, jittery behaviour and down right disinterest in the world around him should make you hate him. He's arrogant, and flaky and impenetrable. He's also lonely and frustrated and suicidal. You would think this would make for bad young adult drama. But it wasn't. It was brilliant. On every page there were lines, sometimes just one sentence, that sent shivers through me. If this author ever wrote a book of poetry, it would be heaven on paper.

.Isabel.
A complex creature. I identified with Isabel Culpeper unlike any other fictional character I've read. The similarities in our personalities was a little unnerving in the first three books. While reading 'Sinner' it was almost like reading my own thoughts.

Both characters, and an assortment of side characters, were a joy to read. I thought I was getting too old to read a series like this, but Maggie Stiefvater manages to age the storyline and characters along with the reader. Their progression makes sense. Cole and Isabel aren't high school teens anymore. Their worries extend beyond homework and curfew. The storyline has matured along with the reader. God, I hope she writes more books about these two. Or anything really. I want to ride off into the sunset in a black Mustang again and again.

Sinner picks up the Shiver trilogy story with Cole St Clair’s journey to California in search of Isabel Culpeper. He’s spent his whole life running away from living and searching for something he hasn’t found yet. He’s MESSED UP, in capital letters, and looking for salvation in the form of Isabel Culpeper. Isabel Culpeper may appear the ice-queen of calm and collected, but inside, she’s carrying around a boat-load of tragic history. Can they save each other, or are they destined to drag each other to new depths?
Maggie Stiefvater has done it again. With poetic prose, she once again manages to twist the reader’s insides and force you into the head of her characters. Sinner is different to any of her other novels in that the events or scenes are more peripheral to the story, which, when you strip it to the bone, is all about what goes on the heads of Isabel and Cole and how their past experiences and addictions affect their interactions with the world and with one another.
As always, Maggie’s characters are flawed and real but this time, she’s stepped it up even further and given us truly broken characters. She’s raised an answered – or not answered questions like: is it possible to overcome the sins of the past; can two messed up people still make something right and how do you overcome and succeed in a world that wants you to fail?
Simply put, this novel is about being human.

“I can’t change the way I’m made. I’m a performer, a singer, a werewolf, a sinner.”

In this new companion installment in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, Cole St. Clair, the bad boy you can’t help but love, travels to Los Angeles to seek out Isabel for a fresh start and to jump start his career with a new album. Cole signs on with an Internet reality TV producer (think TMZ) named Baby North who intends to tape his daily life in hopes of being able to get his anticipated relapse caught on tape.

‘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.’

Sinner was a book that no one expected to ever exist. The Wolves of Mercy Falls series was completely and sufficiently wrapped up years ago, and if you’re of the same opinion as I, it never should have actually gone past book one. No installments following the first were anywhere close to the caliber of Shiver but they were still enjoyable enough and worth the read. Sinner is indeed a stand-alone/companion novel, and even though it has been years since I read the series I was able to quickly catch up following the brief backstory Stiefvater provides to get her readers up to speed. Cole and Isabel’s story and how it was left in Forever, while a bit open to interpretation and not given a concrete finish, didn’t exactly warrant an entire book. I believe the level of enjoyment of Sinner is going to be based solely on whether or not Cole and Isabel were personal favorites of yours from the series. Cole and Isabel’s story is finally given a solid conclusion, albeit a very neatly wrapped up one. Considering the two are quite a damaged duo, I wasn’t expecting that in the least. I also wasn’t expecting this story to involve more about the ‘hazards of fate’, what with Cole being on a reality show, than about the romance between our two main characters. It was an interesting inclusion but not exactly a welcome one because it felt more superfluous than anything in an attempts to make this a full length novel.

All in all, unfortunately, I think we could have done without this installment. I’ll always retain fond memories of Shiver though.

I hate when I can't remember enough information from previous books in a series and then I feel like I'm missing pieces that could be important. It's been a long time (more than 2 years) since I read the first 3 books in this series. Where I LOVED book one, my ratings went down through the rest of the series.

Book 4, follows Cole St. Clair. I love Cole and his sarcasm, his over the top behavior and attitude. He has such charisma that people flock to him and his music. But he's been MIA for 2 years from the music scene. Most people thinking he was dead. Few people knowing his true secret, that he's also a werewolf. (not the scary kind of course) Having gotten a handle on his life (mostly) he returns to Los Angeles agreeing to be on a reality TV show and in return he gets to record a new album. LA also happens to be where Isabel lives - a girl he once loved and still loves. This story follows his return to the music world, his challenges with addiction and his attempts at reconnecting with Isabel.

Unfortunately this wasn't a story that I just couldn't put down. It wasn't a story that stuck with me for days afterward. It was good. I enjoyed it, but it didn't hold the same caliber that book one, Shiver, had. Never-the-less, I'm still a fan of Cole's and his crazy self.

Favorite Quotes:
I'm a performer, a singer, a werewolf, a sinner.

"Tell me you'll see me tomorrow." ..."Tell me you'll see me the next day. And the day after that. And the day after that."

"Give me everything. Oh, tweet that. That's something I would say."

"Only marry your best friend, Sofia. That's my dad advice."

Final Rating: 4 stars

In the beginning, I didn’t think that I wanted to pick up the fourth book and read it but continuing the shiver trilogy was the best choice I've made. Nothing beats these books and Sinner was the icing on the cake. Picking this book up in the beginning of the school year was the only thing that helped me get through the first semester. I needed something to keep me busy and to take my mind off of all the homework and stress that came with it. It was easy to relate to Cole and how he was crazy about Isabel and I loved to read about him trying to pull her back into his life. It was hard to take breaks from this book and go back to my life with all of the shape-shifting and adventures Cole has. You can’t just read one chapter and then set the book down with every ending to the chapters being a mini cliffhanger. It'll be hard to forget this book in the future because I fell in love with the way Maggie Stiefvater wrote this book. Each chapter switched back and forth between Cole and Isabel and I loved that because when a new situation occurs between the two, you get to read what each of them are thinking and how they both react to it. It was an exceptional way to write this book. Anyone would enjoy reading this just for that reason; you are able to see both perspectives of the story. I feel like this helps you really absorb the book and fully understand everything. Besides perspective, others would enjoy reading this because of its romantic twist. Reading about Cole trying to win Isabel back and her denying him and trying to not fall for his trap pulls you into this book more than anything. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a little romance mixed with a dark twist.

True confession: I wasn't in any hurry to read Sinner. I knew I would eventually pick it up because it was a Maggie Stiefvater, and I've loved everything of hers that I've read. I also knew that it featured two characters who weren't my favorite, though, so I didn't hurry. I've changed my mind. I should have hurried.

Maggie took a character who I didn't love and turned him into yet another book boyfriend. I'm a sucker for the broken boys in my books. Cole didn't really show much of his broken-ness before this book. In this one, he is broken six ways to Sunday. He struggles for sobriety just as he struggles to refrain from becoming a wolf; with both, he's working towards being okay with remaining human. Delicious allegory, Maggie.

Maggie's use of voice makes me want to be her when I grow up. Each character is so perfectly distinct and individual, and when they get their turn to tell the story, the reader sees all of the events through their personal lens. All of these huge personalities, when stripped of their public facades, share the same questions about themselves: their worth, their purpose, and whether they have what it takes to persevere.

“Skill isn’t what hurts people. A lack of mercy is.” ~ page 284

“We were so little, when you took away all our sins.” ~ page 316

“What’s the way?” Jeremy asks Cole. The old Cole St. Clair always had an answer, probably one that was made up on the spot without hesitation. This new Cole St. Clair, the one who is trying to deserve Isabel's attention, questions whether he knows the answer. He's discovering that it takes real effort to take responsibility for your actions. He's figuring out how to try. He's learning that when it matters, it's no longer acceptable to just roll with the accidents. Thankfully, he also finds out that he's kind of good at it.

How nice it was to see how things went with Cole and Isabel.

I really liked how Maggie took the story along. Knowing that her audience had grown so did the story.

When we left Cole I was hoping that he was finally okay with himself and life would be good. Only that would have made a good read. So Cole has substituted shifting into a wolf for his drug addictions. That is a very common trait among addicts. They think they're clean because they no longer abuse their drug of choice. Cole takes his time in finding this out.

He heads to LA to find Isabel and be in a reality TV show for 6 weeks about him cutting a new album. The producer of the show is looking for good TV and wants Cole to crash.

Isabel is with her mom living at her Aunts place and working in a designer clothing store. Her cousin Sophia, is a year younger than Isabel and not treated very well by her mom (parents divorced). It's like she's part of the woodwork. The girl never stands up for herself and is always trying to please. It drives Isabel crazy. She wants Sophia to be happy.

First thing Cole does when he gets to LA is find Isabel. Oh what a tale........

I hurt for all the characters while reading but I loved it!

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.

Cole St. Clair has returned to Los Angeles for one reason: to win Isabelle Culpepper's heart. After his time spent in Minnesota hidden away from the world as a wolf, Cole is resurfacing into the world in a big dramatic way. Cole is going to star in a reality tv show and record a new Narcotica album. Really, though, none of this is of importance to Cole, it is just a way to pass time. He wants to make amends with Isabelle and fix their relationship. Isabelle meanwhile, has settled into her life in California happy to be away from Minnesota and the past, but when Cole comes crashing back into her life, she has some big decisions to make. Will she lose her heart again to Cole St. Clair?

What I Liked:

*When I learned that Maggie was returning to her beloved Wolves of Mercy Falls Series with Sinners, I knew I had to get a copy. It took awhile for both Cole and Isabelle to grow on me, but by the end of the series, I loved them. While, I enjoyed that this book was focused on character growth, I missed the action and drama that I loved so much with the original series. Still if you are a fan of Ms. Stiefvater, you know how amazing her writing is and that is the reason I would recommend this book.
*This is a character driven book centered around Cole and Isabelle. There is very little action or drama, so you might be disappointed in that aspect. What it is, though, is a journey of self discovery and change. Both Isabelle and Cole are dragging around an enormous amount of baggage. They each have their demons to battle, and they must do so before they can even attempt to enter into a romantic relationship. In this book you spend a great deal of time in Isabelle's and Cole's heads, seeing what makes them tick as you peel back their layers and move beyond the strong fronts they put on for the rest of the world, to uncover what lies inside as you explore their innermost fears. I loved getting to know both Cole and Isabelle better. They are both such entertaining and fascinating characters. When they are first introduced in The Wolves Books, neither one is particularly likable, especially in contrast to the gentle goodness of both Sam and Grace. I admit, I didn't like either of them in the beginning. Cole is a reckless rock star addicted to drugs and fame and he doesn't give a damn about anyone but himself. Isabelle is stuck up and bitchy and she doesn't like anyone. They are both flawed and broken and so entertaining and somehow they work together. Amazing characters! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them grow and change.
*The romance is just the way I like it. Slow, hesitant and believable. I appreciated the way that Isabelle held back and kept Cole and arm's length even though her heart was screaming to let him in. She is a girl who has been through plenty of hurt and it wasn't easy for her to trust, especially someone like Cole St. Clair. The romance is full of stops and starts and it has lots of those swoony moments that come from a look or a touch. The romance builds and builds to the right moment, and then it takes a couple of surprising turns. It isn't a straight forward romance, but you can't expect that from two characters like Isabelle and Cole.
*Ms. Stiefvater's writing doesn't disappoint. If I were a writer I would be so jealous of Maggie Stiefvater. Her writing is gorgeous and exquisite. She is one of those writers who can string together words in such extraordinary ways that I am sometimes breathless. Her words tickle all of the senses, and she uses your senses to completely plunge you into her stories. I am in awe every time I read one of her books. Her talent is beyond measure. If you are like me and you crave beautiful and amazing writing, you must read Maggie Stiefvater.
*The audiobook is excellent. I listened to the entire Wolves of Mercy Falls Series so I knew I had to listen to this one, and the audiobook doesn't disappoint. Dan Bittner and Emma Galvin return in their roles as Cole and Isabelle. I must say, both narrators are phenomenal. I love their narrations, and I think they make the book so much more memorable. I would highly recommend the entire series on audiobook. Bitner and Galvin are tremendous!
And The Not So Much:
*Sigh.... I so wanted to be swept away and enamored by this book and I just wasn't. I wanted more story, more action, more detail and more explanations, and what I got was two self analytical perspectives. Not that this book is bad, but in comparison to the other books, it falls flat. Again, it is worth reading/listening to for the writing, and for a closure with Isabelle and Cole's story.
*The whole wolf shifting aspect is really not more than a mention, and in fact, it has become a way for Cole to get high. After the rather open ending of Forever, I was hoping for a bit more closure on the whole werewolf thing, and I didn't get it. In fact, the whole wolf storyline is pretty much abandoned which was a disappointment. I wanted to know about the rest of the pack back in Minnesota.
*The reality show was rather ridiculous. I was curious as to how Cole even got hooked up with it in the first place and why on earth he would sign of for something so stupid was beyond me. The whole story line pretty much went nowhere, and I didn't like it.
*I was hoping to catch up with Sam and Grace because their story was left hanging at the end of Forever. I was upset that there was really nothing. Sam and Grace get a couple of small mentions and nothing more. There is no resolution or discussion as to how their lives settled out. I so wanted to know how Grace was doing. Did she get that red coffee pot?
*While I absolutely loved the audiobook and the narrations, my one niggle was that during Cole's chapters Bitner would impersonate Isabelle and then during Isabelle's chapters Galvin would do Cole's voice, and it just didn't work. I know it would have been more work and hassle to have the correct narrators do the voices throughout, but it would have been so much better.

Sinners was a good book, gorgeously written and introspective, but it lacked that excitement and energy that I expected. I appreciated that I got closure as far as Isabelle and Cole are concerned, but I still have many lingering questions from the series, and I am hoping that there will still be another book down the road in this series. If you are a fan of Wolves of Mercy Falls Series, I can recommend this book, but be prepared for a book that focuses on self growth with little action. The amazing writing will keep you entertained if nothing else. I enjoyed the book, but I closed it feeling like I still needed more.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

Have you ever read a book that you didn't even know you needed to make your life a better place to live in? That's what SINNER was for me. Don't get me wrong, I was super excited to hear that we were getting a book about Cole and Isabel, but I didn't realize just how much I needed it. I was completely content with the way The Wolves of Mercy series ended with FOREVER and it wasn't until I finished this book that I realized I really needed more Cole in my life. And not just because he's hot. Because his story was unfinished.

Cole is one of those characters that is difficult to classify into one category. He's a garden-fresh yellow onion with lots of layers. Taking off the skin is easy, but you'll be in tears once you start peeling back the layers under the skin that isn't as thick as it appears. I envy readers who can't relate to at least one of the parts of Cole St. Clair that have shaped his public persona. I have empathy for those who can relate to way he has chosen to cope with those parts of him that eat away at him every. single. day. Cole St. Clair owns a pretty big portion of my heart. The prose Stiefvater uses to tell his story is genius. GENIUS.

And Isabel Culpeper? I love her almost as much as I love Cole. It's easy to see why Cole is so drawn to her. She, too, has issues that could fill up thirteen 150 page journals written in small, cursive letters. There is certainly an element of dysfunction in their relationship, but you know what it ISN'T? Co-dependent. Isabel calls Cole out on his crap and he does the same with her. Oh, the angst! The delicious kind that make you go back for seconds.

Wanna know how much I loved this book? I drove 409.3 miles to Naperville, IL, to get my hands on a signed copy of this book and one of those fancypants book covers that Stiefvater created. THAT'S how much I loved this book. (OK, fine. I went to a One Direction concert while I was there, too.)

The other thing this book did was ignite a fire under my Maggie-crush. I fell in love with her all over again. I'll be picking up the entire Wolves of Mercy Falls series in December as a part of my annual "Reading Rewind" feature. Hey! You should consider joining me! Da.

Disclosure: I received an unedited digital version of this book in exchange for the review. No other compensation was received!

SINNER follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling Shiver Trilogy.
found.
Cole St. Clair has come to California for one reason: to get Isabel Culpeper back. She fled from his damaged, drained life, and damaged and drained it even more. He doesn't just want her. He needs her.
lost.
Isabel is trying to build herself a life in Los Angeles. It's not really working. She can play the game as well as all the other fakes. But what's the point? What is there to win?
sinner.
Cole and Isabel share a past that never seemed to have a future. They have the power to love each other and the power to tear each other apart. The only thing for certain is that they cannot let go.

My thoughts:
This book picks up after the Shiver Series (Wolves of Mercy Falls) with two characters I fell in love with... Cole and Isabel. In the Shiver series Cole was a wise ass, do whatever he wanted character till he met ice-queen Isabel. He changed, she changed and they were the couple you rooted for. When the Shiver series ended, I wanted more. I was so excited when I heard this book was coming out!

Sinner is a lot different from the first three books, they were more focused on werewolves as this one is more about Cole and Isabel. If you were not aware of the first three books, you might not even totally understand his wolf connection, as the wolf aspect was not focused on. It focuses on two broken people and how they over come all obstacles to be together. Isabel led the life of luxury, but it lacked love and affection. Cole was a rock star, drug addict, self absorbed, but he too lacked love and affection. When these two character collide, spark fly, fires burn and clothes come off.

Isabel is forced to move to LA with her mom, she despises it. She gets a job at an upscale boutique, which is perfect for her snarky attitude, but something is still missing and it is Cole. Cole can;t live without Isabel, so what else would a former rock star do? Of course travel across the US to be with her, film a reality TV show and record a new album. I am not going to give anything else away, but a lot of fighting, getting to know each other, struggling with addictions, abandonment issues fill the pages, but in the end it gives us closure with the characters we fell in love with. Did I like this book...no I loved it! I am still sad to see the series end, like with all great series, I want the story to continue and I want more. Maybe someday we will get more Cole, Isabel, Sam and Grace...one can only hope!

Even though I haven’t gotten the chance to finish the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, I was still dying to read Stiefvater’s stand-alone novel Sinner. It’s been years since I’ve read the novels and there have been lots and lots and lots of books that I’ve read since then. That being said I’ve forgotten the majority of characters and events that occurred in the plot which had me a bit nervous. Luckily, Sinner is everything a stand-alone should be. Readers who haven’t read the Wolves of Mercy Falls series can still read this novel with mostly minimal spoilers. By the time I finished reading it (in exactly four hours, I might add) I can say that Sinner went above and beyond. This is—without a doubt—the best novel that Stiefvater has written yet.

Sinner takes place after the events of the final novel in the series and revolves around the characters Isabel and Cole St. Clair from the series. Isabel has moved to Los Angeles, leaving Mercy Falls behind her and has begun a new life for herself. Cole is a rock star/werewolf who has returned to Los Angeles having made a deal with a psychotic producer to make a reality TV show about his return to celebrity and he’s done all of it to see Isabel again. As their love is ruefully rekindled, Isabel knows that nothing for the two of them will ever be the same and things will either end with them together forever or not at all.

The first thing that got me was the opening of Sinner. It’s a sarcastic, funny, romantic and all-around genuine look at the final result of the novel’s plot at the beginning. Told in Cole’s point of view it totally prepares us for what is to come and for exactly what kind of character he is when you get to see inside his head. From that prologue onward the novel has only one gear and that is forward. Everything gets better and better and better. Sinner is a page-turner. Sinner is pretty much perfect.

What makes Sinner stand out as Stiefvater’s best work yet is Cole St. Clair. His character makes the novel. He’s snarky and funny and sexy and has so many one-liners that left me grinning from ear to ear. I didn’t really remember Cole’s character but seeing him in Sinner has made him unforgettable. Not to mention that he’s both a werewolf and a rock star. A combination you don’t see every day but Cole can pull it off.

Sinner doesn’t even really focus on the supernatural aspect of the novel. The majority of the time I spent reading it felt more like I was reading a novel about a rock star trying to win the heart of the love of his life back. Isabel’s personality clashes perfectly with Cole’s and at the same time you can’t help but want her to be with him. The two have perfect chemistry and a multitude of both romantic and sexy scenes. Best of both worlds.

The last piece of Stiefvater’s works I read was The Raven Boys and thus far I’ve been a bit let down by them just because of the endless pages of unnecessary details. Luckily, her writing in Sinner is flawless. The right amount of detailing, dialogue and conflict. As I’ve said already: Sinner is about as close to perfect as a book has ever gotten for me and could possibly beat out Cassandra Clare’s City of Heavenly Fire for best book of 2014 thus far in my books.

I would recommend Sinner to just about any readers who are open to the supernatural genre. Any readers who want a funny, romantic novel that is perfect for the summertime should pick up Sinner and any readers who want a novel that will give them intense feels. Sinner is a must-read and if it isn’t on your to-be-read list it better be now.

Sinner is billed as a fantasy, (and Cole is a werewolf) but Sinner's really more of a romance. The werewolf part isn’t all that important to the plot and is easily ignorable, so don’t pass on this book just because of the werewolves.

SUMMARY: (By Molly.)
Cole used to be a popular music singer, but after a drug overdose on stage he's stayed out of the public eye for over a year. He decided to take a job creating an album on a reality TV show so he can go to LA and see Isabel again.

Isabel has just graduated high school. She has a job at a fancy designer’s store and she’s taking classes to get her CNA in nursing, because it will help her get into med school. She's good at not caring about anyone. The last thing she expected was for Cole to turn up at her work, bringing all her old feelings back.

MY REVIEW:
This was my first book by Maggie Stiefvater. She has a unique voice and has an interesting use of similes. I liked the way she describes things. Perhaps because of the wolves in this book, everything is described in scents. LA was beautifully pictured. It was like the city was a character in the book. She really puts the reader into the scene. (Molly moves the Raven Boys up on her to read list.)

I thought she depicted accurately what it must be like inside the mind of a recovered drug addict. I loved all the little inside jokes the characters had and the nicknames they had for places and things. (Isabel's House of Dismay and Ruin.)

Cole and Isabel knew each other before Sinner, (In the trilogy I'm guessing.) but it didn't feel like I missed anything. They had feelings for each other before, but in this book we're there for the start of their relationship and its growth.

They're not your typical protagonists, but surprisingly they're both likable. Even though Isabel can come off as cold and unfeeling and Cole uses people like they're objects. They both still have someone who shows they can be kind. Cole is nice to his driver Leon for no reason other than the man seems unhappy and Isabel cares about her cousin Sofia and wishes she'd learn to stand up for herself. I liked both Sofia and Leon. Sofia reminded me of myself, except she can cook. (This book sure made me hungry!)

The characters really grew into themselves and it was done so subtly as to be believable. They were still the same people, but stronger.

I’m torn when it comes to epilogues that take place years after the story, but I felt that Sinner needed one and was made all the better for it.

Though Sinner isn’t an action book it’s fast paced and not at all boring. I read it in one day, so that tells you something! I’d recommend Sinner to fans of romance books.

8/10 Stars

My favorite quote:
I only knew that my heart was galloping so fast that my fingers were numb. Logically, I knew it was just from surprise, but I didn't know if it was like Surprise, here is a cake or Surprise, you've had a stroke.

We all know Cole St. Clair by now. And needless to say, he's a pretty complicated guy. Throw in Isabel Culpeper and you know fireworks are going to happen. What you don't know is if they're going to be the good kind of explosive or the destructive kind.

Truthfully, they're a little of both.

The Wolves of Mercy Falls has never been my favorite Maggie series. The early books are a little...slow if I must say. But over the course of the years, I've seen Maggie's writing grow into something magical and beautiful that I was intrigued to see what she was going to do with Cole. I was not disappointed.

Sinner is the story of two people who are so utterly lost that they just can't help but continue to destroy themselves and everyone around them. Happiness is not something they know, it's something they have to learn.

This book had humor and smart ass personalities, but it also had heart and pain and of course love. I adore Maggie and her writing and will gladly read anything she's written. Sinner ended up being my favorite of the series and I believe it's all in part to the growth of the writing. It's still very much the Wolves style, but there's just a level that wasn't there before.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: I have not read the previous books in this series and this book ended up really not working for me!

Opening Sentence: I am a werewolf in L.A.

The Review:

Isabel Culpeper left her life in Mercy Falls to start over in California. She had to get away from the pain and the memories that place held. But the longer she is gone the more she comes to realize that you can’t run from your past, it always catches up to you eventually. She never stopped loving Cole St.Clair no matter how hard she tried and when he comes waltzing back into her life she can’t help but fall back into his arms. But did he come to LA for her or did he come for something else? There were a lot of reasons why they didn’t work the first time and Isabel can’t help but wonder if anything has really changed and if it is possible for them to get a happily-ever-after.

Cole knows one thing and it’s that he loves Isabel. He will do anything to get her back. He will give up all his addictions including turning into a wolf. But no matter what he promises, she just keeps pushing him away. Can he prove to her that he is a different man that deserves to be with her before he loses her for good?

Isabel was a hard character to understand at first, but as the story developed I began to see why she acted the way she did and I slowly started to connect with it. But I felt like it was too little too late in the story for me to truly love her as a character. She is so negative and insecure right up front and people like that are always hard to like. She also was so hot and cold with Cole and it drove me insane. I think if I knew more about their relationship this might not have been as much of an issue, but since that wasn’t the case I just found how she treated him annoying. Overall, I think Isabel had potential to be a great character, she just didn’t get there for me.

Cole was interesting and I actually kind of liked him. He is extremely moody and cocky but there was just something about him that I found intriguing! He could be a total conceded jerk but at the same time he could be really sweet. His relationship with Isabel was all over the place but they did have great chemistry. Cole was the best part of the story for me, but sadly he didn’t make up for all the other problems I had with the book.

Sinner is a drama filled romance that I sadly couldn’t get into. This is a companion novel to the Wolves of Mercy Falls series and I thought that would mean you could read it on its own without having read the other books. I was wrong. You definitely should read the other books before trying this one. I actually tried to read Shiver multiple times in the past and I could just never get into the story so going into this I didn’t have high expectations, and sadly, I was not impressed. I think part of the problem was that the characters past was a huge part of the plot and since I haven’t read the other books, I didn’t care or understand what the big deal was with what happened between Cole and Isabel. I felt like there was all this unnecessary drama and I started to get annoyed real quick. There were also a lot of references to other characters and experiences that I didn’t understand. Suffice to say, if you have not read the rest of this series do not try to read this one. I got about 25% in and ended up skimming the rest of the book. If you are a fan of the series, I imagine you will probably love this because the writing was gorgeous and the story was actually intriguing, but for everyone else start at the beginning of the series if you are interested!

Notable Scene:

Hanging up, I opened the door. The car behind us let out the softest of honks as I climbed out. The heat—oh, the heat. It was an emotion. It owned me. The air smelled of forty million cars and forty million flowers. I felt a spasm of pure adrenaline, memory of everything I’d ever done in California and anticipation of everything that could be done.

Leon was staring out plaintively, so I leaned in swiftly. “It’s never too late to change,” I told him.

“I can’t change,” he replied. It crushed him.

FTC Advisory: Scholastic provided me with a copy of Sinner. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

I tried to stay away from this book. You might be wondering why. Well, I wasn't a fan of the third book in the Mercy Fall series. I did love the first two books, though. I have this love/hate relationship with Maggie's books. I love some of them with a fiery passion (The Raven Cycle, Mercy Fall books 1&2) and loath the rest with the same passion (The Scorpio Races, book 3 in the Mercy Fall series). With me, there's no in between with her books. I feel like she can be very prose-y, sometimes so much that I get lost and end up scratching my head because I feel so lost. But other times her writing makes me want to weep like a little baby because it can be beautiful and so mind blowing that it gives me chills.

I’m happy to tell you that I loved Sinner with all my heart! It was easy and perfect. Her writing style blew me away once again and went hand in hand with the characters. And this book is all about the characters. I loved how Isabel and Cole’s story took center stage. There’s not much going on that doesn’t have to do with them and I loved that. They were always my favorite characters in the other books in the series and I always thought that there wasn’t enough of them in the books. Well, we get a LOT of Cole and Isabel in Sinner.

I’m happy I gave Sinner a try. There’s a lot of angst, swoony moments, a little bit of wolf and awesome new characters that will make your heart melt, I’m looking at you adorable Leon! If you love Maggie, then you’ll love this book.

When Isabel Culpeper leaves Mercy Falls after the conclusion of Forever, Cole St. Clair, a werewolf, heads to Los Angeles to win her back under the guise of reviving his music career. Cole knows that neither of them is perfect, but he’s determined to find a way to be with Isabel, even if it means confronting his past mistakes head-on.

Sinner focuses completely on the weird, complicated relationship between Cole and Isabel, who were secondary characters in Stiefvater’s Shiver trilogy. As a standalone, this novel is hard to follow—Cole’s crazy antics, Isabel’s dramatics, and their messy history color the plot points, and the stakes are not as clear or as pressing as in the Shiver books. At a glance, the book is a jumble of high-maintenance characters making impulsive decisions, but the elegant descriptions of Cole and Isabel’s emotions are stirring, and their emotional arc is ultimately very satisfying. Stiefvater is clearly a gifted writer, and although the plot takes more room to unfold and the werewolf elements are faint, Sinner is definitely a must-read for fans of the Shiver trilogy.

Cover Comments: I cannot speak about this cover without remembering that the Shiver trilogy got a cover facelift as well, and then crying because they took something so beautiful and made it ugly.

I wasn't sure what to make of this, but I instantly fell in love. Sinner is sort of a spin off from the Shiver Series (also wonderful) and features Cole and Isabel, both slightly minor and tragic characters from the series. I would absolutely read the original series so you are aware what has occurred and why these characters are the way they are. Maggie S. does a fine job of quickly setting the mood. I've never set foot in California but I was instantly transported, the visuals and characterization feel authentic and believable.

Cole and Isabel are portrayed perfectly, just enough angst-filled dramatics to keep my interest without ever going over the top. Despite the setting, the moody atmosphere fits perfectly with the story and constantly follows the characters around. Sinner deals less with the wolf aspect than the Shiver Series, and for long stretches of time you forget you are even reading a supernatural sort of book. It's a great mix of wit and dry humor as well as melancholy. If you are a fan of Maggie Stiefvater, I highly recommend this.

Wonderful characters pulled me in and the rest of the story really didn't matter.

I don't know how Ms. Stiefvater does it. She created these deeply flawed characters that by all accounts, I should hate.

Isabel is an ice queen. Her apathy for everything and everyone is a hard shell of armor but somehow, I understood her and part of me wished I could have that super power too.

Cole is an arrogant ass, but he is also endearing and sad. He is trying to be a better man and outrun his sinful past, but no one is willing to let him.

Both of these character are so unique and quirky. They don't even seem like they would work as a couple and most of the time they don't. But even with their hard edges they fit where it counts.

The paranormal aspect is very lite. Another unique point is that Cole uses his shift to a wolf like a drug. It's a "safe" addiction which I really thought was a great analogy to his past drug use.

Ms. Stiefvater really has a way with words and characters! She is on my must read list.

I had not read any of the Mercy Falls books prior to reading Sinner. I was expecting a supernatural YA book with action, but Sinner turned out to be more of a YA romance/social situation book with the barest of supernatural undertones. Still, Stiefvater's writing is an amazing and fascinating romp through a manic mind. The way Cole is portrayed as a manic, rock star really complements the wolf in him...how he is always trying to live a technicolor life for fear of disappearing in a dull black and white world. It felt very much like he is trying to capture the wolf's hyper-aware experience in his human life. And though he maintains his Cole St. Clair persona to keep his grief (and the world) at arm's length, he still has an underlying compassion that makes him extremely easy to relate to. Isabel is not so different from him as she too carries a lot of pain and fear. But while Cole is desperately trying to feel alive, she has deadened herself to life. They really need each other and this is their not-so-conventional love story. Another thing that really engaged me as a reader is how well Stiefvater portrays the supporting characters, from the Zen bass player, Jeremy, to Cole's parents: One small diner scene with the parental units illustrates a whole lifetime's difference between parents and son. Sinner redefines existentialism for a virtual world.

I didn't know what I was expecting when I heard about this book. I vaguely remembered the Wolf of Mercy Falls trilogy but I knew that I loved Cole from that series. So when I heard about Cole's book, you can bet I was excited.This really is a standalone in the sense that the previous main characters aren't mentioned a whole lot though they are still there.
Reading Sinner, I felt nostalgia both for the Shiver trilogy and another book not relevant to this story, The Catcher in the Rye. The emotions that went through me when I read Catcher in the Rye were exactly the same while I was reading Sinner. Now for those that haven't read Catcher, the main emotions I felt were lost and confusion and those were the same in Sinner. Now don't get me wrong, it's not because that I didn't remember the Shiver trilgoy but because Cole was everywhere at once. I felt nostalgia for the Shiver trilogy because of the writing. GAH the writing was what kept me captivated, as well as the characters' story lines. All in all, I really liked this book, and I realized just how much I missed this world Maggie made.

I was thrilled when I found out there was another book in the series. Isabel and Cole were left hanging at the end of the third book, but the series did end well and there are always loose stories at the end of any series. This book tidies up the Cole and Isabel stories.

The book was as intriguing as the first three. Very different than the first three, but Isabel and Cole have their own stories to tell. Their stories were a smooth and easy read. There were highs and lows, although some parts were predictable. The book introduced a handful of new characters, just enough, while only touching briefly on old characters. Well written, not slapped together as so many follow up novels seem to be these days. Couldn't put the book down all day good.

This book provides closure. No more books needed to complete this series.

I wasn't the biggest fan of The Shiver trilogy, but when I saw Sinner at BEA I wanted to give it a try. It was way different than The Shiver books because in this novel we only get brief glimpses of the paranormal aspect, it could almost be a contemporary book lol. It was very entertaining and I read it in a few hours. Stiefvater does know how to perfect the duel POVs.
I love Cole and ISabel, they are perfect for each other. They are both damaged and and it works for them. I loved hearing their internal struggles. I think their relationship is fun but will be a challenge because they both have baggage. I did enjoy the sexual tension between them.
I would recommend this book to those who both loved and hated The Shiver Trilogy and those who love Maggie's books. I would even read another one to see how Cole and Isabel end up.

This is the most straightforward YA romantic fantasy among "The Wolves of Mercy Falls" books. It's emotionally charged, but ending won't upset teen readers.

I like Stiefvater's more complicated books such as The Raven Cycle and The Scorpio Races, but Sinner is almost perfect for this particular genre. It appeals to Twilight fans and much, much better written than Twilight or any other YA romantic fantasy novels. The main characters are more interesting and exciting. And, most of all, her writing is beautiful.

Stiefvater is one of the most talented fantasy authors right now, and I enjoyed reading her not-so-complicated guilty pleasure book!

2-1/2 stars, rounding up for Goodreads. I was a big fan of the Shiver trilogy and this novel was a late-addition fourth/final sequel. Unfortunately, it didn't measure up to the other novels in the trilogy. I really didn't feel that we needed more closure on the Cole/Isabel storyline but, apparently, Maggie kept getting this request from her fans. This was no more than one of those teenage drama stories that don't have much of a plot besides the difficult road of finding love. This is the sort of YA that doesn't interest me. It had the trainwreck factor going for it because Cole and Isabel are both hot messes that have trouble figuring out how life works. They're beautiful people with major issues and, at least, in this novel they seem to have figured that out and are trying to become better people. But, overall, it was another letdown novel from Stiefvater.

Probably one of the most angsty (angstiest?) books I’ve read all year but, I LOVED IT.

It was amazing, actually, to see more of Cole’s POC – I know we got a little taste of it in Forever, but more is always better in the case of Cole St. Clair. He always seemed to be the most..colorful of the characters from Maggie Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls series. Pair him with Isabel in a dual POV book post-Forever, and it is angst heaven – or hell. However you choose to look at it.

Seriously, this book had so much tension in it – I thought my head was going to explode from the pressure. And it’s not the same kind of tension that was present in the three previous books of this series – Shiver, Linger, and Forever were always racing toward an end goal (I won’t spoil it for you if you haven’t read these books!). But Sinner was more about the change in both Cole and Isabel (especially Cole) and I kept waiting to see him regress and mess up his life (a la Crazy Rock Star). Character-wise and dynamic-wise, Cole and Isabel are so unlike Sam and Grace from the previous books, and yet I still like them. They’re snarky and witty and damaged. I suppose some might say Cole and Isabel are the “real” character – but I’ll always have a place in my heart from Sam and Grace.

I loved the change of setting to LA. I loved the writing (tons of quotable material in this book), but more than anything, I just loved the way I felt when I closed this book. The synopsis says that it’s a standalone novel but I don’t think a reader will get the same enjoyment or satisfaction if they haven’t read the first three books. Thought, it has been a while since I read Forever, so I was glad for the refresher info in Sinner.

If the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy was an external struggle, then Sinner is the opposite of that. This was all internal struggle and I think that’s what made it such a good read, especially if you read the first three books, you understand why Cole is the way that he is.

The ending wrapped up fairly quickly and it was still “time driven” in the sense of a 6 week YouTube show timeline, but I still felt like it was extremely character driven and I love love loved it.

This is my favorite book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series although once again, I don't really think the title makes any sense - I think the author just wanted a one word title or something.
This book follows the story of Cole and Isabel. I did not really love either character because they are both incredibly self-centered, but perhaps all of us are if we think about it. The reason that I liked this book is because the author is a totally fabulous writer and this book was just a joy to read. It was rather light hearted and fun and had a lot of humor in it. Cole is back and has gone to LA to find Isabel, and to be in a reality TV show with a new band. Isabel tries not to fall in love with Cole and does not want to be on the reality TV show. If you like Stiefvater's other books, you will love this one too. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

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.

I loved Shiver, Linger and Forever. When I heard Maggie was writing another story in the same world I did a happy dance! Because... COLE ST CLAIR!!! What more of a reason do you need to read this book?

Okay lets not forget Isabel because she'd just as awesome as Cole, strong willed, smart mouthed and beautiful, Isabel is one interesting girl. But inside on the inside Isabel is just a broken and confused with life as Cole. She puts on a good mask but Cole see's through it. She loved Cole once but will she take a leap and open her heart again?

I loved reading about Cole in LA, in the spotlight, his humor, snark and charm have you swooning from page to page,but under it all, the fame, the spotlight, Cole just wants Isabel, he came back for her...

So overall this book is freaking awesome, it surpassed everyone of my exceptions... So lets say it one last time.

COLE ST CLAIR!!!

Sinner is the stand alone book as a companion to the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy and follows the story of Cole St. Clair and Isabel Culpepper and their lives after leaving Mercy Falls. Both are trying to leave their past behind them and recreate their lives after the events of Forever. However, sometimes it's harder to let go of the past than you think and Sinner is full of emotional development of both of them.

While Sinner doesn't focus as much on the built up backstory of Isabel and Cole's relationship, unlike the obstacles that Sam and Grace faced in theirs, it focuses on the emotional maturity of Cole and Isabel. The backstory from when they were children and the experiences they have faced in Mercy Falls, doesn't come into the story as much, but rather focuses on how they battle their everyday life in L.A and overcome family expectations, media expectations, fame and workplace pressure to acknowledge their feelings for each other and the sacrifices and changes they need to make to be able to work out a proper relationship.

Stiefvater explores the upheaval and attitude in which Cole and Isabel regard each other and the choices that they each have to make in order to become better people. While Cole and Isabel aren't the most relatable characters, we root for them because Stiefvater writes them in such a way that we experience their dilemmas and their motivations and makes us love to hate them, feeling a sense of achievement when they finally make the right decision. It is VERY clever!

While Sinner lacks the more poetic flow of the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, I think it is appropriate being the story of Cole and Isabel who have that more rough, dangerous and not always healthy relationship, so the poetry in this book is more destructive and less calming, but still very effective.

I loved the inclusion of music and fashion in the background, it was a nice touch that hasn't been done by Stiefvater before. The cars, oh wow the cars, they were described accurately and with a loving knowledge that brought Stiefvater style into the story. It wouldn't be a Stiefvater novel without a few sexy cars!

The plot was deceptively simple, however had a lot of emotional building and complexity in that that made up for the simple storyline. (Which wasn't really THAT simple)

5 out of 5 stars to Maggie Stiefvater's Sinner for the intuitive and in depth exploration of an emotional journey through manipulation and expectations. It was truly insightful to read into what you see in these characters!

I am sorry to say that this novel just isn’t for me. I read the Shiver trilogy a long time ago, and I remember I liked it well enough, but this companion novel just didn’t do anything for me. I didn’t care for the characters, especially cryptic Cole St. Clair, and while I did enjoy the idea of a reality TV show, nothing much seemed to happen for the majority of the book aside from tension between Cole and Isabel. The pacing was just too slow for me, and while it is well written, it just isn’t my style. If you’ve thoroughly enjoyed Stiefvater’s Shiver trilogy, though, I’d say you’d probably really enjoy this one, as well.

This book. Oh my goodness. Cole St. Clair, you hottie. Maggie Stiefvater outdoes herself in this last Mercy Falls book. We follow Cole and Isabel from Mercy Falls to the hot sun of L.A. Wow, do we follow them…their love, their hate, their deep emotions, their biting dialogue. We follow it all in the best ways. Both of these characters feel SO real and SO alive. Best part is you can read this without having read the other books. I loved the characters in this novel and their journey to self-discovery. I loved how this can appeal to fans of Gayle Forman (If I Stay / Where She Went) and fans of paranormal novels, too. A wide audience, indeed. Bravo, bravo, for a brilliant end to a fantastic series.

At about 45% through this book, I realized I would have to be a mean person to rate this lower than four stars. That said, however, a book about self absorbed, unpleasant, beautiful people in a codependent relationship was always going to be a hard sell for me. Perhaps even more so since I grew up in LA and know the reality beyond the facade seen by visitors.

This is, by far, Stiefvater's most grounded and also perhaps most personal novel. There is very little fantasy in this urban fantasy, where the only supernatural element, changing to a werewolf, is used only as a metaphor for drugs / a coping mechanism. Rather, what we get is an observation of the hollow core of a City that is all about connections yet the loneliest place on the planet. And that's the irony for me; Stiefvater's most realistic novel never really struck a cord of truth. It's a picture of LA from the outside rather than the inside - a retelling of the Indian fable of the blind men and the elephant with each so sure they know what an elephant is while only holding one small part of it.

I think the problem I had with the story is that it really isn't about Cole and Isabel. Stiefvater notes in the beginning that she decided to write Sinner while visiting LA and based upon one sentence: "a werewolf in LA." That really does sum up the book since it's not "Cole and Isabel conquer LA." Most of the characters are just there to describe or inhabit the main character of the book: the city, and not to give us much of a story. I can feel Stiefvater's loneliness when she was there in nearly every page; much more so than I felt for any of Isabel's or Cole's story.

If Cole and Isabel had been more interesting, I might have been able to get past the 'ode to foreigners in LA.' Perhaps to her credit, Stiefvater doesn't try to turn either character into something likeable. They are rude, obnoxious, self possessed, quick tempered, and two little satellites that sometimes meet but for the most part hate everyone and themselves. The only basis of their desire for each other that can be found in the book is, ironically, NOT in the book. It is from the previous novels. Those coming into this book without having read the previous novels will likely be baffled at why anyone would care about what is, in effect, two selfish brats. Or why those brats have any interest in each other when they are so busy with their own importances.

The book is well written in a very LA stream-of-consciousness type of way, complete with West Coast language and idiosyncrasies. And yet - nothing really happens despite all the witty banter. The character of Leon the chauffer is completely wasted; even as a reflection of a better person that Cole cannot be or the everyman living beyond the glitz of Hollywood, he's uninteresting and underdrawn. Other side characters such as Isabel's cousin, Rachel, could be of interest but ultimately too obvious a metaphor for, yes, the City (she's always trying to please, just like our glittery LA woman).

Oddly enough, I never felt this story needed to be set in the Shiver universe. Being constricted by two very self absorbed souls in Isabel and Cole never really gave us a chance to see LA as anything other than a hollow pretty shell. I would have loved to see depths plumbed in both the characters and the City, finding the hidden solid world that really does exist underneath.

So yes, this is a beautifully written and very immersive story. Stiefvater really is a very good writer and she builds a world so beautifully. Just in this instance, the fantasy rings false - a view of fish swimming in a pond and not realizing there is an ocean right next to it.

Reviewed from an ARC.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed meeting Cole St. Clair and Isabelle in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, and was happy to see they finally got their own book. While I was engaged and invested in the story, it just didn't have the same magic that Shiver did for me. Cole and Isabelle are such volatile people. Cole is taping a reality show with new band members and lots of shenanigans ensue, while he is in the midst of this, he is trying to win Isabelle back.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for the arc of Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater! I recently read the Raven Boys series by Maggie Stiefvater and loved it, but I have not read the Mercy Falls series. I thought I would read Sinner without any background knowledge and see how it went. Maggie Stiefvater provides the perfect amount of background information so that reading Mercy Falls books 1, 2 and 3 are not necessary. Her writing is so good that I am going to read Mercy Falls anyway! Sinner is very enjoyable, fun and the characters are easy to fall in love with.

I truly loved this book. In order to truly enjoy the story you would have to understand the relationship between Cole and Isabel. They are both have a high sense of pride but both care for each other a great deal. Throughout the book you will see that Cole (being a singer for a band) and Isabel (being the daughter of a rich Sheriff in Minnesota who constantly shows that he has an icy personality would make the book itself different from the trilogy. I found it difficult to put the book down for about a week. It was a really good read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is in love with science fiction novels. Maggie Stiefvater you never cease to amaze me!

I absolutely adored that the entire book was about Cole and Isabel! It's a great read!! I highly recommend it. Their chemistry is awesome. But make sure to read the other books first so you have more of an understanding of this one. You definitely want to know exactly what was going on between them prior to Sinner. Their romance is just lovely because even though they are both selfish they aren't with each other. Happy Reading!

I did not enjoy this book as much as I did the other books in the Shiver Trilogy. I know that this is more of a stand-alone novel, but compared to the other 3, I found it boring and depressing. I thought Cole and Isabel had too many inner demons to work through throughout the entire novel for there to be so quick of a implied "happy" ending. The abruptness of the ending seemed to happen so quickly, that I felt like the author was either rushed at the end of the novel, or they needed someway to quickly move the reader out of this feeling of depression felt throughout the novel, so she tosses in an attempt at a happy/lighthearted ending. It just seemed very fake, and very abrupt. I also did not care for the two characters, Cole and his two personas became annoying after awhile, and Isabel was just plain boring. This is not a book that I ever plan on reading again. I would not recommend it, rather stick to the first 3 novels, they are a thousand times better than this one.

Worth reading if you liked the previous books. Especially if you liked Isabel's snarky attitude and strong backbone.

Good continuation of Cole and Isabel's story.
Different from the others with it being set in Southern California and not in Minnesota. However with Cole's changing issues that heat and cold aren't such an issue as they are for the others.

Actual rating: 4.5 Stars

One the biggest reasons why I love this book so much is I am obsessed with Cole and Isabel ever since I've read the Wolves of Mercy Falls. Sinner is more of a contemporary read than a paranormal one. And kudos to Maggie for not giving us an open-ended story which seems to be her forte. The Wolves of Mercy Falls, Scorpio Races and The Raven Cycle, anyone?

Ever since he was introduced, Cole St. Clair has been a fascinating character! It is wonderful to finally have a book where his story can take the lead. The readers get to see Cole back in his element in LA and out of the woods. He is fighting to fit back into the world he left, but he isn't sure it is what he wants anymore. Isabel is of course a large part of that. Both Cole and Isabel have to learn to deal with the past so they can move on to the future. The evolution of their relationship in Sinner is very realistic and heartbreaking. The story is very nicely wrapped with both Cole and Isabel and some tidbits about Sam and Grace. A fantastic conclusion to the series!

I was so excited when Sinner was delivered. Preordered of course. I read it in two days. I do have to work. It was great to know how their story ends. I had to know how their lives went. But. It was not the best. I loved Shiver, Linger and Forever. I liked Sinner. There were passages I had to reread a few times. It was almost over my head at first. I suggest reading it anyways.

This was a good book but not what I expected. It is all about 2 characters from the Shiver series, Cole and Isabel. I don't think that is was up to the same par as the rest of the series. The most disappointing part is that the language and sex talk is WAY more than the previous 3 books. I had allowed my 13 yr. old daughter to read the first three but she will not be allowed to read this one!!!

Very good follow up to one of the best paranormal wolf series. I always felt the shiver trilogy to be incomplete due to Isabel and Coles story. Now there is closure. I would even hope for one more instalment but it is not needed. Thanks for this wonderful escape from reality.

This is the first spin-off book I have read that I have loved as much as the original series. This book is every book as captivating and interesting as every Grace/Sam book in the original Shiver series. Cole and Isabel are fully developed, rich characters. This is a true and honest look at the lives of these two characters. The setting of LA makes an interesting twist to traditional setting of Minnesota. Fans of the series will love this book. Even people who haven't read the series will love this book. I wish for more and more Cole and Isabel in the future! =)

I am only half way through this book, but it is absolutely amazing. The author's writing style is great, as always. This is a good book to follow the SHIVER series. Very impressed and worth the money and time reading it. I hate to put it down!

My boyfriend got me this book. I absolutely love how descriptive Maggie Stiefvater is. It is definitely a good book! You will not be disappointed. Cole and Isabel (if you read the series) were always a bit awkward and cold towards each other so in order to enjoy the book you need to understand the relationship. Definitely a good read.

For everyone commenting about the book asking where the pack is etc, this story follows Cole & Isabel's relationship. You would know that if you actually kept up to date with Maggie on her blogs. Overall this book was beyond amazing as is all Maggie's work. (:

I did not like this book. It was too confusing and every chapter had a different character. This made it hard to follow the story. Something else I did not like was how the author put the book together. The characters were good but the arrangement of the chapters did not make sense. This would not be a good book for a twelve year old but would be appropriate for a sixteen year old. I liked the werewolf part of the book but that was about all.