Gema Putri Putri itibaren Zerkalnoye, Primorskiy kray, Rusland, 692428
I liked this book, an interesting insight on the machinations of gov't at the time Clarke was in the administration. Despite what is reported (sour grapes) as reasons for Clarke's publication of this (and a few of his other novels), I found that in retrospect the outcomes he talked about came about. Often the reasoning for the outcome even matched the actual reality. I do wish the US Govt had paid more attention to the likes of Clarke.
Ok, so I sat staring at a blank screen for several minutes before attempting to write this review. I really don’t know what to say. This may be a bit higgledy piggledy. Firstly I liked it, hell in some places I loved it. I found myself completely pulled in (yet again) by Maggie’s truly engaging story telling. She makes me feel like I know these characters, like I know exactly what they would do in any situation they are put in. I know what they would be thinking. And I felt myself willing them to survive, to conquer what ever battle is facing them and come out well on the other side. That is how well she writes her characters. At the end of Linger, Grace is a wolf, Sam is human and Cole and Isabel are struggling to attempt some form of relationship – badly. In Forever, its pretty much more of the same but with more danger, more relationship building and more revelations discovered about the past of the wolves/Beck. After another body is discovered in the woods as being attacked and killed by the wolves Mr Culpepper decides its time to get rid of the wolves once and for all with a full scale areal sweep exterminating the wolves with guns and helicopters. This is bad, very bad news for Sam who’s girlfriend is a newly unstable wolf, shifting left right and centre with no control over it. Sam goes through a lot in this book. Not only is he trying to help Grace and save the other wolves from extermination but he also has the police and Grace’s parents on his back accusing him of murdering her. Cole is still trying to discover a cure, or even a way of making himself shift into a wolf at will or visa versa. He overcomes a lot of his demons in Forever when he finally plucks up the courage to set the world straight on his supposed death and begins to fully embrace a life that is actually worth living, and friends who are worth dying for... And Isabel. God I love Isabel. She is so refreshing, so hard faced on the outside but soft on the inside. I really enjoyed watching her turn away from the ice queen path and really become more human again with Cole. Their little on/off romance side story was one of the things I really loved about this book. They both had emotional issues and together they helped each other. The climatic ending had me reading intently into the early hours of the morning simply needing to know who survived and what happened to the wolves. It was a very VERY good last few chapters. The ending. This was probably the only bit of the book where I have a slight criticism. Sorry Maggie! I know a lot of people have praised the fact that it has been left quite open ended and in some ways I did appreciate that. It means that everyone can come to their own conclusion as to what happened in the future. But I would have been more happy with that had there been plans for another book to fully explore a bit more of a final ending. A real conclusion. Don’t get me wrong, many conclusions were came to but I felt it was just a little too open to feel satisfied enough that these characters I have come to love so much are going to make it in the future. Heads up Maggie – write another one! I’m sure no one else would object. Overall though – outstanding. I’m extremely sorry to see the series end and look forward to reading more of Maggie’s future works.