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Title: Sinner
Series: Companion to Wolves of Mercy Falls series
Series: Companion to Wolves of Mercy Falls series
Publisher: Scholastic Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction - Contemporary Paranormal, Romance
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher, opinions are honest and my own. – review policy here.
Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?
– from Goodreads
– from Goodreads
Cole has landed in Los Angeles to film a new web TV show about his return to rock music and to find Isabel. The actual plot line is not unique but it becomes an endearing story with some perfectly broken characters who allow us to forget the paranormal and focus on the relationships Stiefvater has built.
Which brings us to Cole, oh sweet dear Cole... you come with some demons son! Plagued by a lifetime (and lifetime ago) worth of guilt over the deaths of close friends, drug use, and playing rock star, Cole is determined to pull himself together to win the love of his life and play real music. Cole experiences some real growing pains while strategically playing his cards. One of the main things that drew me to him is that he's not nearly as stupid as people think. He's aware of his abilities to charm the pants off the public and when to get the heck out of there. He's funny, mostly honest, feels pain... basically he's the perfect unperfect emo boy.
But my heart lies with Isabel. Sinner is told in duel POVs and I instantly latched to Isabel's voice. She's rather unlikeable to be honest and therein is where the like-ability lies. She is still recovering from her last Cole escapades, the crumbling marriages of those around her, and navigating her future hopes of med school. There are moments she makes crap decisions and jumps to quick conclusion, which led to me yelling at the book like a crazy person. But when it counts, this girl is solid and fierce, and that makes her real.
One of the connections Cole makes is with a driver named Leon. I don't think I have ever hearted a secondary character so hard. Leon is the ultimate sounding board and most unlikely of friends for a rock star. In the end they both have grown, as well as my love for the lot of them.
To be clear if you're expecting lots of werewolf action you'll be mildly disappointed. I must confess, I did not read the Wolves of Mercy Falls (Shiver) series prior to Sinner, so I'm not sure about the normal level of wolf-ness built into the stories. However, compared to other paranormal reads this stands out from the pack. The wolf is not what it seems.
Why I'll be reading this again...
I can't stop thinking about Cole's journey. His struggle with finding internal balance, his love for Isabel and his love for music are still with me.
4 Stars – Not a whole lot of wolf but plenty of angst and lust to make up for it!
Bonus: This is the first book I've ever gone out of my way to pre-order for the perks! Just check out the artwork done by no other than Maggie!
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