Author: Andrea Cremer
Publisher: Atom
Page Count: 480 pages, Paperback
Date Published: July 26th 2011
(first published October 19th 2010)
Find it on Goodreads: Nightshade
Source: Purchased
Rating: 4.25/5 Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?
My Thoughts: Wow. This book pulled me in from the first page and I was hooked the entire way through.
I went into this book knowing it was loved by many and having no idea what I would think about it. I really didn't have very many expectations for it, good or bad. I found my copy at a little book shop in Galway, Ireland for €4, thought "why not?" and it's been sitting on my bookshelf ever since. I picked it up the other day, read the first page, and could not. Put. It. Down. Cremer's first chapter was action packed from the first sentence, with Calla rescuing Shay, the human boy, from a grizzly bear. After that one scene, there was hardly a dull moment in the book. Considering the fact that it is almost 500 pages, it was a really quick read for me, because I read it all in almost one sitting. I did not move from the couch for over two hours, flipping page after page, wanting to know what would happen next.
This book definitely deals with some love-triangle stuff, but it's a bit different. Calla, the seventeen year old female alpha, is destined to marry Ren, the young male alpha of an opposing pack, and form their own pack together. And then Shay walks into the picture and everything changes. Calla is completely conflicted between her loyalty to her pack and her fate, and what her heart wants. This love triangle really bothered me, because it was a teeter-totter the entire book. One moment Calla was really into Shay, and then pushing him away, then she was snapping at Ren to give her space, the next minute she was melting in his arms, and so on. I personally liked Ren. Not at first, because well, I know how these things work. It's always the forbidden love that ends up winning the girl, thus I decided to try and not get too attached to Ren, as I knew he wouldn't be the choice Calla would end up with. Bad move, Kristy. While Ren was hot-tempered and at times really and truly irritating, he also cared for Calla a lot and wanted to protect her with all his heart. Then there was Shay. I didn't really get too invested in Shay. I found him a bit... off. There were just so many things that I found a bit irritating about him and I just don't think he was my type, at all. But in other ways I did really like him. I FELT LIKE CALLA! I couldn't decide between Ren and Shay!
Here's some John Green to help express my frustration. |
Annnd some Kingsley |
I'd recommend this book to anyone over 12. There are quite a few implications of sex, although the only thing that happens is some kissing, as well as a bit of alcohol references. Overall, this was an incredible book that kept me reading late into the night. I loved it and cannot wait to read the next book!
Happy reading!
~Kristy
Thanks for your great review.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this book my self.
Mariska