*This title will be released on October 19, 2010*
Book Description
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?Review
Book 1 in The Nightshade Series
I picked up NIGHTSHADE super late one night intending to just read the first few chapters of this massive (528 pages) Paranormal YA debut from Andrea Cremer. Instead I ended staying up all night completely consumed by this bewitching novel that reads like a combination between Richelle Meade’s Vampire Academy series and the Underworld movies. There is a deliciously forbidden love triangle between fated werewolfs Calla & Ren and the human Shay; a complex and corrupt world of Guardians, Masters, and Searchers; and a shocking mystery surrounding who/what Shay is.
I mentioned the Vampire Academy series already because NIGHTSHADE has a very similar, if more sinister, dynamic between Guardians and Keepers as with the dhampirs and Morios. Guardians are raised to view their entire world in relationship to serving the Keepers. It’s an ugly and often infuriating system that the Guardians don’t even know to question. I turned my knuckles white because I was griping the book so tightly when some of the abuses of this system were revealed.
And let’s not overlook the romance. NIGHTSHADE is a little steamier than most YA novels given the premise that Calla has had to remain 100% pure (a mandate from the Masters) until her union with Ren. When Shay shows up and starts pushing her to question the world she lives in, Calla’s purity becomes decidedly less pure when both guys are determined to get her to break the rules. It’s a fine line that the author walks to get us to be sympathetic to Calla’s indecisive nature when it comes to choosing between Ren and Shay, but I thought her torn loyalties made perfect sense (not to mention creating lots of fantastic romantic tension) given her background.
Overall, NIGHTSHADE is the kind of book that just gets better the more I think about it. There is a pretty significant cliffhanger ending that perfectly sets the stage for the next book titled Wolfsbane which sadly won’t be released until Summer 2011, followed by the third book, Bloodrose, in Spring 2012. It’s only been two days since I finished NIGHTSHADE and I’m already agonizing over the wait to find out what happens next.
My Rating (out of 5):
Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.
Previous books in the series:
- N/A
Also reviewed by:
Product Details
- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 528 pages
- Publisher: Philomel (October 19, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 039925482X
- ISBN-13: 978-0399254826
- Cover Art: N/A
*Disclosure: I received this book courtesy of LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Yes, it does get better more and more that I think about it too!!=)
ReplyDeleteNice review, I've been anxiously awaiting this book since I first heard about it, and with all the great reviews I've seen everywhere it's making the wait that much harder.
ReplyDeleteLovLivLife Reviews - Doesn't it? Looks like we've been loving a lot of the same books lately :)
ReplyDeleteThomas - Well you don't have to wait much longer. And trust me, it's worth the wait. Seriously good stuff here :)
ReplyDeleteNightshade is absolutely amazing! It's very addictive too, it's been a week since I finished it and I'm still obsessing over it!
ReplyDeleteAnd how about the beautiful cover? Love!
ReplyDeleteEkta - The NIGHTSHADE world is so lush. I can't wait to sink back into it.
ReplyDeleteTiah - I do think the cover is striking, but it really doesn't seem to fit the story IMO.
I must say, this has one of the most gorgeous covers for a book that I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I will not be purchasing it. Werewolves just don't do it for me. I'm a vampire purist.
Brad - I'm more of a vamp girl myself, but NIGHTSHADE is really amazing. Try an excerpt and see if it changes your mind.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!! I've been eager to read this book ever since I found out about it back in April. I'm not sure if it's worth buying the hardback copy. So far every book that I've tried in hardback has been a bitter disappointment. My curiosity is urging me to buy it before the paperback release, but I don't want to taste that bitter disappointment again.
ReplyDeleteShera - I would consider this a worthy buy in hardcover. I thought it was fantastic. But if you're on the fence try an excerpt first.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this one! I preordered it, it better get here soon :P Great review : if two days seemed long after reading it though, I'm not sure how I'll handle it! I wanted to die when I read Crescendo, I don't need another one like this!
ReplyDeletekay - Fair waring, the cliffhanger is worse here than Crescendo! I'm already dying for the next one :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I read this book after seeing your 5 bat opinion and I'm glad I did. I loved it!
ReplyDeleteKaza - I don't know how I'm going to make it through the wait for WOLFSBANE. I did download the prequel Novella from Amazon, so that should help.
ReplyDelete