The Ninja Reader

Ok, so by now I have read so many YA supernatural books, that I no longer plan on reviewing them. Instead, I present to you the fail-proof test as to decide whether you think the book was worth the money or not, known simply as (drumroll, please): The Twilight Drinking Game! Because beer pong has gotten too old already, the Twilight Drinking Game will ensure that you have new, creative ways of going about your inebration. Simply take a hit of whatever you're drinking whenever you recognize one of the storytelling mechanisms, and if you're so canned by the time you're done that you don't even remember what you read, then it's a win-win situation. So, grab your poison of choice, as we look at Shiver .First, take a hit if the story is told from the first person perspective of a teenage girl, (because Sam is just as whiny as Grace is, make it a double), who lives in a little town, which in spite of its unremarkable state holds a dark secret.Then, take a sip if the heroine is practical (yes), unpopular (yes) and has a remarkably low self esteem in spite of the fact that she is marginally attractive. You may take three extra sips if she has so little personality that you can easily insert yourself in her place without losing anything (oh, yes).A sip goes for every one of the characteristics of the male lead: he's a supernatural creature (1 for vampire and werewolf, three if it's spelled wrong ala 'Mr Darcy Vampyre'), has a supportive adoptive family (yup), with a predominating father figure (yup), is fluent in several languages (in Sam's case, it's German), plays a musical instrument (guitar), writes his own stuff (yeah), and composes. An extra three sips go if he's had his violent moments, but is generally a sensitive, insecure and sad boy that desperately needs a hug.Wow, we're pretty under way, and we haven't even moved onto the supporting cast!Take a drink if her parents are absent for no other reason than the fact that they must be absent (because you know parents won't let their children read about families where both mother and father are drug addicts, alcoholics, or in any other way passively/agressively abusive). Another sip goes for lame, uninteresting friends (surprisingly enough, Shiver does not stand up for that one. Isabel, Olivia and Rachel are almost positive role models in comparison to Vee, Jessica, what's-her-name from Fallen). A sip is merited by the brief presence of a third wheel that would make up for a love triangle in later books (since this is a girl, I think this would be a small one).The plot: a sip goes for every one of these characteristics - nothing happens in the first fifty pages or so (no, not in this case), the plot revolves around the romance of the heroes (yup), and is somehow connected to beating the love interest's supernatural nature (yup). And if the supernatural element is used to cover up for a behavior that, in real life, would be considered abominably perverse... well, forget the sips and order a shot (I'm lucky - with Shiver, it's only bestiality. If it was Twilight, I'd be comatose by now).Not drunk enough for your liking? Here's some penalty sips you can take:- if the hero and heroine interact at school, mostly during biology (oddly enough, Sam does not go to school, so no)- if the hero and heroine spend many nights cuddling in bed (yup), without resorting to sex (nope)- if the villains are non-existent (I leave it to you to decide)Can you remember your own name? Yes? I still do, so I guess the book wasn't so bad after all. I'll be sure to remember this game when I pick up "Wings".Ok, in all seriousness: Shiver, as far as YA paranormal books go is pretty good. Sure, the book starts off with a girl's unnatural and unhealthy obsession with what she believes is a wolf, and there were some downright ridiculous moments here and there, but overall, it wasn't that bad. The supporting cast, especially Isabel Culpepper, was varied and interesting, and even Grace and Sam managed to not annoy me entirely. The purple prose wasn't so bad as in, say, Fallen, so I guess it's another point for that book.So, I give it three out of five. Maybe I'll check out some of the other things Maggie Stiefvater wrote. So what's your verdict?