Nightshade, Book 1
Synopsis : While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack’s world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches’ War that surrounds them all.
Review : I’ve heard a lot of stuff about this book but I didn’t check it. Finally I think it was a mistake because this first novel is amazing. Andrea Cremer succeeds in creating a new society with wolves like no other. It was really pleasant to discover how this community works with all these important rules. From the beginning I get into the story, the writing style takes us away all along the book. I confess it was even difficult to put it down and not read it at once. It keeps us attentive and curious as we try to understand what really happens.
Calla is a character we quickly like, it’s a young girl promised to a boy she doesn’t know a lot about, and for whom she has a lot of prejudices. It must be said that most are true. But the more we read the more we have a mix opinion about this wedding. Indeed, the love triangle which appears is really complicated. She hesitates all along between the two of them, because, of course she likes a lot these two young protagonists but in different ways. It was very frustrating that she wasn’t honest with them. She has an huge attraction for Shay who only wants one thing : to save her. Meanwhile, Ren is a character we don’t particularly like in the beginning mainly because of his conduct with Sabine. But the more we read and the more we learn who he really is and the more we like him. Despite his attitude, he is also a shy character, afraid to be hurt. Even if we understand the Calla’s choices, we can only disagree with her acts, because finally, she hurts herself but also the persons who evolve with her.
Ansel and Bryn are two characters we like too from the start, they’re devoted to Calla and in the same time they are younger and careless. It allows to have some different natures in the story.
The plot is about the base of this community we don’t know anything about. It’s therefore very interesting to discover the story of their lives, their appearance… And there is so much more we can learn.
All along this first volume, we discover some revelations which will change the life of our Alpha young heroine. Some legends and stories which call everything into question, but it’s sometimes difficult to distinguish fact from fiction and we ask ourselves a lot of things once we finish the book. And what an end ! I really understand some reviews after that. It’s so frustrating, we would like to know what will happen now… We can’t even wonder what will be the following events.
Claire
Great review I’m glad you liked the book.
Melliane
Thanks it was a cute story with a lot of complications.
Kelly
I’m glad you liked it! If I didn’t have so many books waiting to be read, I would be out buying Wolfsbane right now!
Melliane
I totally understand you, it’s the same thing for me. My TBR pile is so huge that I don’t have any place… Mayve you’ll read it before me, I can’t wait to know.
Mimi Valentine
YAY! I’m so glad you liked this one, Mel! It was one of the coolest werewolf books I’ve ever read, and I am definitely Team Ren, although I have to admit that Shay is pure awesome. 😉
Awesome review, Melliane! You should definitely bump Wolfsbane up on your TBR list so you can be as pumped up and excited for book three as I am! It was SO good, and we learn so much more about the history of the Guardians and Searchers and Keepers! 🙂
Melliane
Oh you’ve read the second one, so lucky ! So am I, I really like Ren !!! Great news, I think I will have to take it now LOL, thanks.
Missie
Melliane, I also was very frustrated with Calla for stringing both boys along. It really seemed unfair to both of them.
I haven’t read the next book in this series yet, because I’ve heard it has another killer ending, but I will once the last book is released.
P.S. Team REN!
Melissa (Books and Things)
I enjoyed this one too. Don’t wait too long to read the second one. I read these when the first one came out and it took me a minute to catch up to the second one because I forgot some things.
Oh and I really didn’t care for Shay in this one. I was totally TEAM REN! 😉 I won’t tell you if I changed my mind in the next one. I don’t want to spoil anything for you. 😀
Mary @ BookSwarm
This is a fabulous book! And I agree with Melissa — Ren was the man! Have you read the second one yet? I really wish she’d resolve who she likes best…
Melliane
@ Missie : Yes it’s exactly that ! I understand for the sequel, it must be difficult too. I definitely agree : Team Ren !!!
@Melissa (books and Things): Thanks I’ll try to do that ! LOL ok, I agree for Shay ! Yeah Team Ren !!!
@ Mary : No not yet but I’m very curious about it now ! I wish so too.
aLmYbNeNr
Great review! The love triangle in this book does bother me and it bothers me even more in the second book. But overall, I enjoyed it. WOLFSBANE really annoyed me though lol!
Amber
The Musings of ALMYBNENR
Melliane
@aLmYbNeNr : I really need to read the sequel to know… I hope it wouldn’t bother me more…