Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Wow.

Calla is the alpha female of a shape-shifting wolf pack. She is destined to marry Ren Laroche, the pack's alpha male. Together, they would rule their pack together, guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But then, Calla saves a beautiful human boy, who captures her heart. Calla begins to question everything - her fate, her existence, and her world and the orders the Keepers have asked her to follow. She will have to make a choice. But will she follow her heart if it means losing everything, including her own life?


I have a lot of mixed emotions about this book- all good though. Calla is an alpha Guardian and soon to be joining with Ren in a pack union. They are going to start their own pack under the guidance of one of the young Keepers.


In the very first few pages, Calla saves a boy named Shay giving away her secret and on YA cue he shows up in her classroom totally knowing who she is. The packs can never know he knows about them so Calla starts living a double life one that gets more twisted and tangled with each moment she spends with Ren and Shay - leading up to her epic decision.

This is like the Amanda Hocking love triangle for me ***SPOILER*** Calla does not end up with the guy I want her to. From the beginning I knew she would be with Shay and I think it is just WRONG! Ren is now on my boyfriend list. He's hott, an alpha, loves her, and genuinely cares for the well-being of the pack. And she picks Shay - the one who ultimately gets her separated from her pack and locked in some dungeon alone - Shay-less. Pissed...openly *gives an exasperated sigh* End SPOILER

I think my biggest issue with Calla is from a young age she was brought up in the Pack life-style knowing her duty. And from my knowledge based on wolves (not a ton - I'll be honest) they are fiercely loyal. Right? So how is it, after meeting this boy for a month, she manages to break every rule for this guy she has ever been given? I get it...love makes you act crazy. But I feel the animal part of her should have rebelled against it. However, she needed to find out the fact that the keeprs may not be who they say they are or the searchers for that matter?

Overall - it was exciting - I cannot wait for Wolfsbane to come out. I need to stop reading series that aren't completely published.

Some quick thoughts:
What is Shay's uncle?
Really Shay? Why not Ren? I'm thinking he will end up Sabine - sadly.
Someone is going to have to die in the next one - Baby brother An?
WHAT THE HELL IS A SCION?
I'm really angry at Calla's betrayal
What happened to Ren's mother and Shay's parents?
I love Ren's nickname for her though.

OK I posted this a day or two ago. My birthday is today! *Cheers for herself* But I am wondering if any of you have some killer series you think I should buy with my bday money. Let me know.

3 comments:

  1. Love your review and couldn't agree more with your thoughts! in the second book, you get a bit more of background info on shay's parents, Ren's mother and on the whole Scion issue, so no worries.... your not the only one with those questions :)haha! but girl.... be ready for a heart breaking sequel. I just finished Wolfsbane and let me tell you... it did not live up to Nightshade... at least not in my book, but we tend to have similar likes, so i'm guessing you might be a tad bit disappointed, too! you wanna know the main reason? No REN! I hope i'm not giving to much away but the next book has ONE scene where Ren comes out... ONE!! He's mostly present in Calla's thoughts and memories, but the real him doesn't show up til the last couple pages and its just for one scene. and its not even a good scene... I was expecting some major lip action, or kiss and make up... which there is some, but not enough to make up for the fact that we only see him once throughout the whole book. ahhh! so srry this is so long and for the minor spoilers... i just wish someone would have told me when I started reading it. I was all like, "ok... any page now Ren's going to come out" (300 pages later) "any page now!"... :)haha!

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  2. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! ONE SCENE WITH REN?!?! I am glad you are warning me. At least I have heads up. Youa re giving me hope that she might end up with Ren. Thanks for letting me know I get some background information!!!

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  3. She may end up with Ren in Blood Rose, but yeah, I agree with the above ^^. You definitely will not like some of her decisions in Wolfsbane, that's for sure. I also would love to see more Calla/Ren. I think Shay's a bit too pushy sometimes. As for your quick questions.. they all get answered :).

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