ARC Review: Nightshade

Andrea R. Cremer
Hardcover, 528 pages
Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
October 19, 2010

  "My fingers trembled in his grasp; unwelcoming sering liquid pooled in the corners of my eyes. Tears streamed down my face, blinding me. 'Why is he still touching me? doesn't he understand?' "


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?

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OK so I have been struggling with this review for about an hour. I wanted the review to portray my feelings correctly, and I wasn't sure how to do that. So here it goes.

First of all I really like this book. I love the idea of Calla being a wolf. She is already in the world that so many other books are just being introduced into. I love that she is strong and a natural born leader. I was really intrigued by the story and the Keepers and Guardians. It was really interesting learning about there pasts and the way there lives intertwined.

Calla is the leader of her pack and as so has certain responsibilities and obligations but when she comes across Shay, she is forced to choose between everything she has ever known and an unknown attraction to a human boy who could change everything. I really got sucked in to all of the information that Calla and Shay stumbled on, How they got sent on this journey to find out the truths about there lives. I can't wait to find out what happens and who is telling the story correctly. I also really liked all the pack members. Ansel is so cute. I really love his personality, he reminds me of my own little brother, spunky and a bit of a sarcastic. I also really like Calla's beta, Bryn. She always has Calla's back and she is a great friend. She always knows what to say and when to say it.

In Nightshade we are introduced to the recurring theme of the love triangle that has been present in so many novels out there right now. I'm not saying it's such a bad thing I just feel that it would be nice to see a bit of variety once in a while. With this particular love triangle, Calla has been mated with Ren, a alpha male who is the leader of the Bane pack. They are set to unite in order to align the two newest packs. Then there is Shay, the human boy Calla saved from the forest.

I had trouble with this part of the book because, without giving too much away, I liked the wrong guy. I had a suspicion of who Calla was going to end up with and it made me a little disappointed with Calla when she wasn't going with what I wanted. Silly I know, but I did get frustrated with her and some of her choices. It doesn't mean I didn't like the book, I just wish the choice was a little more thought out. I was hoping that the writing made me love the "Chosen one" lets call him, so much that there is know way I would be disappointed in her choice.

Don't get me wrong, I mean I read this book in one day. I was so impatient and I just wanted to know what Calla would do next. 


Overall I give it 4+ Hoots. Nightshade is a fast pace, page turner that was a really good read. For the first book in the series, It was well written and had a very good story. I think it will turn in to a great series that I am very much anticipating.

Check out my interview with Andrea Cremer HERE!