Thursday, November 18, 2010

review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

pub date: October 19, 2010
publisher: Philomel Books
pgs: 454
source: library
content: some swearing and heavy makeouts and violence


blurb from goodreads:
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?


me:
First off, the book is just beautiful. The cover, of course, but also the waxing and waining moons that open/close each chapter and the elemental marks throughout. The pages are tattered and torn on the edges. It's just beautiful.

And Wow. the story. This is a really remarkable and original world Ms. Cremer has created. The whole idea of werewolves having masters who happen to be sorcerers is just cool. I loved all the back story of the Guardians, how they came to be and their purpose. I'm very interested in finding out more about the history of the Keepers and Searchers. I'm glad Wolfsbane comes out this next summer and I don't have to wait a whole year to find out. Because between the cliff-hanger ending and all the open ended questions, there is still a lot of story I want to read!

I love a good kissing scene, and this book has many of them. Calla is a very physical girl and she really liked her guys. Which makes for some nice romantic tension, but also kind of bugged me after a while because...


...I have issues with love triangles. Some bother me more than others. This one actually really bothered me. In general, I have to main reasons. 

First, its two boys wanting one girl and only one boy can have her for keeps. Which means one of the boys is going to have a broken heart. And that just makes me sad. I don't want to grow to like a character just see them have their heart broken.

Second, how am I supposed to be invested (because as a reader I do become very invested) in the girl's relationship with Suitor A, when she's dangling Suitor B on the side? I can't. And Calla dangles, both boys, and though I can understand why she did, it still bothered me.

Between Shay and Ren, I liked Calla better with Ren. I could understand her relationship with him and even though he's a player to begin with, he really did want things to workout between the two of them.

Calla and Shay's attraction was immediate. As I was reading their first meeting, I did not find it believable. I thought it kind of silly. Shay is bleeding to death and Calla wants to touch him in a more personal way? Because of their beginning, I never felt their relationship moved beyond the physical to something deeper. Of course Calla is drawn to Shay as someone new and dangerous and he represents freedom for her. I just didn't get their relationship outside of the kissing.

4 comments:

My Life With Books - Jennifer K Jovus said...

The book IS beautiful. I liked the story, but I too liked Calla with Ren better.

SPOILER:
Without disclosing who was tunred, I didn't find the turning of a full human to a werewolf/human believable. It felt rushed. (as if it could really happen)

Gaby G said...

I thought the same about Shay and Calla relationship.

resugo said...

Kjovus--yeah, I have to agree about the turning. It would seem to me that it should be a big, life-altering event, but it kind of happens fast and doesn't change much of anything.

jen7waters said...

Oh, I love the apples!:D