Ballad by Maggie Stiefater

I recently read a novel about a werewolf, Shiver by Maggie Steifvater, and it was one of the most original werewolf stories I have read in a very long time. The characters were realistic and although the novel is steeped in the supernatural, it was not far fetched or difficult to relate to. One of my favorite aspects of the novel is the writing. I am a big fan good writing and language usage and Shiver did not let me down at all. The language was both rich and lyrical and made me truely believe that each word was chosen with careful consideration. My enjoyment of Shiver has lead me to read Maggie Stiefvater's other novel, Lament. Lament is a wonderful novel that invokes many of the classical literary themes; right and wrong, good vs. evil, love and friendship, and the art of growing up to name a few. I have already suggested both of these novels to friends and will continue to do so because of the mastery of story telling and language present within these two novels. Both novels are awaiting sequels, one of which I have posted a link to. I am very excited to read the next instalments! Here is a teaser from Maggie Steifvater herself from the upcomming sequel Ballad.
Here's the teaser:




He turned towards me. For a long moment, he stood facing me. I was held, anchored to the ground – not by his music, which still called and pushed against the music already in my head and said grow rise follow – but by his strangeness. By his fingers, spread over the ground, holding something into the earth, by his shoulders, squared in a way that spoke of strength and unknowability, and most of all, by the great, thorny antlers that grew from his head, spanning the sky like branches.

Then he was gone, and I missed his going in the instant that the sun fell off the edge of the hill, abandoning the world to twilight.