Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Philomel Books (2010), Hardcover, 528 pages
Description
Calla and Ren have been raised knowing it is their destiny to mate with one another and rule over their shape-shifting wolf pack, but when a human boy arrives and vies for Calla's heart, she is faced with a decision that could change her whole world.
User reviews
LibraryThing member YAaddict
Wow! Just...wow! I can't hold it back, this one blew me away. First of all, I love the idea of a female supernatural as a MC. Why? Because it promises a strong protagonist. We definitely get that with Calla. Secondly, I went in only expecting just another twist in the werewolf tale. Nightshade was
I loved, loved, loved Calla. She was unbelievably strong and loyal to her pack. But she also had a side that would do what is right, no matter the consequences. We see that in the first chapter as she breaks the laws she has followed forever to save a human boy from a bear attack. Calla wasn't just a werewolf, she was the alpha female. Seeing a female MC with a title of power was something I really enjoyed. But of course, the responsibility that came along with the title was not always easy for Calla. The whole dynamic of the wolf pack was highly entertaining. As a reader, I felt like I was right there in the pack. Each pack member has their own personality. Some you loved, and some you honestly wanted to slap at times. That made the pack all the more realistic to me. Cremer did a fantastic job introducing each character in a way that wasn't overwhelming to the reader.
If you know me, you know I am a sucker for a good love triangle. Nightshade gave that to me! And an exceptionally delicious one at that. I was first worried that Shay would be too passive, being the human and all. But he was strong and didn't let himself get pushed around by anyone, supernatural or not. I absolutely love Shay. How could you not be team Shay? But Shay wasn't just an ordinary human. He was an important character who plays a pivotal role in Calla's world. Then there is Ren. Ren is Calla's chosen mate for her. They are both destined to run the next generation's pack. I have to admit, I didn't like Ren in the beginning. It really wasn't his fault. Because of the nature of his role as male alpha, he came off as a jerk (A really sexy jerk). But as the story went on, I could see that Ren really cared for Calla in a way that was more than just duty. But what made this love triangle exceptionally delicious for me was the sexual tension! A talented writer can make a story additively sexy without any sex at all (not the I am against sex in YA lit). Cremer has done that! There were scenes that had my inner dialogue saying, "Oh. My. God!". I am officially dubbing Ms. Cremer the queen of writing sexual tension!
The biggest thing that blew me away was the world of Nightshade Cremer has built. All the details were so carefully orchestrated. It was all so real and vivid as I was reading. I believe each book has a "world", but it is rare that I am so captured with a world like I was with Nightshade. So many fascinating elements. Like the role of the werewolves, or "Guardians" in this story. The background behind them and how they got here was very unique. But then you have the elusive Keepers, the mysterious Searchers, the creeptastic wraiths... If you haven't noticed yet, Nightshade is WAY more than just a werewolf story. It's an entirely new kind of paranormal tale.
I keep talking about things that blew me away with this one, but here is another one. The writing! Let's just be honest, we don't always get the best writing in paranormal romances. But sometimes you are completely surprised at how well the writing is in one. That is how I felt with Nightshade. Every paragraph, every sentence, was well put together. I was enthralled during the entire story. The scene could have been as simple as the characters walking into the school building, and it would fascinate me. My God, I honestly think I would read a grocery list, if Cremer was the one who wrote it.
Nightshade ends in a big, fat cliffhanger that will leave you ready to kill (pun intended) for the sequel, Wolfsbane. Nightshade is just full of awesomeness. The plot, the writing, the characters, the romance, the action . . . I loved everything about this book. Andrea Cremer is definitely an author you want to keep on your radar. She is going to be right up there with Richelle Mead, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Maggie Stiefvater, and all the other geniuses in this genre. This is not one to sit around on your TBR list. As soon as it comes out in October, GET IT
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so much more!I loved, loved, loved Calla. She was unbelievably strong and loyal to her pack. But she also had a side that would do what is right, no matter the consequences. We see that in the first chapter as she breaks the laws she has followed forever to save a human boy from a bear attack. Calla wasn't just a werewolf, she was the alpha female. Seeing a female MC with a title of power was something I really enjoyed. But of course, the responsibility that came along with the title was not always easy for Calla. The whole dynamic of the wolf pack was highly entertaining. As a reader, I felt like I was right there in the pack. Each pack member has their own personality. Some you loved, and some you honestly wanted to slap at times. That made the pack all the more realistic to me. Cremer did a fantastic job introducing each character in a way that wasn't overwhelming to the reader.
If you know me, you know I am a sucker for a good love triangle. Nightshade gave that to me! And an exceptionally delicious one at that. I was first worried that Shay would be too passive, being the human and all. But he was strong and didn't let himself get pushed around by anyone, supernatural or not. I absolutely love Shay. How could you not be team Shay? But Shay wasn't just an ordinary human. He was an important character who plays a pivotal role in Calla's world. Then there is Ren. Ren is Calla's chosen mate for her. They are both destined to run the next generation's pack. I have to admit, I didn't like Ren in the beginning. It really wasn't his fault. Because of the nature of his role as male alpha, he came off as a jerk (A really sexy jerk). But as the story went on, I could see that Ren really cared for Calla in a way that was more than just duty. But what made this love triangle exceptionally delicious for me was the sexual tension! A talented writer can make a story additively sexy without any sex at all (not the I am against sex in YA lit). Cremer has done that! There were scenes that had my inner dialogue saying, "Oh. My. God!". I am officially dubbing Ms. Cremer the queen of writing sexual tension!
The biggest thing that blew me away was the world of Nightshade Cremer has built. All the details were so carefully orchestrated. It was all so real and vivid as I was reading. I believe each book has a "world", but it is rare that I am so captured with a world like I was with Nightshade. So many fascinating elements. Like the role of the werewolves, or "Guardians" in this story. The background behind them and how they got here was very unique. But then you have the elusive Keepers, the mysterious Searchers, the creeptastic wraiths... If you haven't noticed yet, Nightshade is WAY more than just a werewolf story. It's an entirely new kind of paranormal tale.
I keep talking about things that blew me away with this one, but here is another one. The writing! Let's just be honest, we don't always get the best writing in paranormal romances. But sometimes you are completely surprised at how well the writing is in one. That is how I felt with Nightshade. Every paragraph, every sentence, was well put together. I was enthralled during the entire story. The scene could have been as simple as the characters walking into the school building, and it would fascinate me. My God, I honestly think I would read a grocery list, if Cremer was the one who wrote it.
Nightshade ends in a big, fat cliffhanger that will leave you ready to kill (pun intended) for the sequel, Wolfsbane. Nightshade is just full of awesomeness. The plot, the writing, the characters, the romance, the action . . . I loved everything about this book. Andrea Cremer is definitely an author you want to keep on your radar. She is going to be right up there with Richelle Mead, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Maggie Stiefvater, and all the other geniuses in this genre. This is not one to sit around on your TBR list. As soon as it comes out in October, GET IT
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LibraryThing member strongpieces
The problem with a book like Nightshade is that it loses much of the power it has (in the world building, the unique take on werewolves, Calla as our alpha female heroine) in favor of a ridiculous love triangle.
We don't even get any build up; the first chapter opens with Calla saving a human boy
Then there's Ren, the alpha male she's betrothed to. I actually kind of loved him, though he and Shay did their damndest to take away any power Calla had by trying to mold her to what they wanted. Ren's the only one who seems to care for Calla, but that doesn't count for much when he's doing his best to push her to have sex in every "steamy" scene they have together. Shay falls for Calla and does his best to pull her kicking and screaming away from the pack life and rules she's known all her life, with little to no regard for how dangerous and hard it is for her.
Neither boy is worth the romance, which made the love triangle so unbearable. The plot and background elements would have made a fantastic, engrossing story, which was what got me reading until the end, otherwise I would have chucked this a long time ago.
We don't even get any build up; the first chapter opens with Calla saving a human boy
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named Shay from a bear attack for no reason she can think of. Seriously. She throws away an entire life of following the rules to save one random hiker for an obvious set up for the triangle.Then there's Ren, the alpha male she's betrothed to. I actually kind of loved him, though he and Shay did their damndest to take away any power Calla had by trying to mold her to what they wanted. Ren's the only one who seems to care for Calla, but that doesn't count for much when he's doing his best to push her to have sex in every "steamy" scene they have together. Shay falls for Calla and does his best to pull her kicking and screaming away from the pack life and rules she's known all her life, with little to no regard for how dangerous and hard it is for her.
Neither boy is worth the romance, which made the love triangle so unbearable. The plot and background elements would have made a fantastic, engrossing story, which was what got me reading until the end, otherwise I would have chucked this a long time ago.
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LibraryThing member LauraLulu
My status updates aside, this was a pretty good book. A nice breath of fresh air in the over-saturated world of paranormal YA rubbish.A wonderfully different take on werewolves, and a really nice, fast paced story/mystery. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next.If you did read my status
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updates, the author does need a bit of help in understanding the economy of words. A few examples:"Her mug clattered into the stainless steel basin.""Her mug clattered into the sink." works just fine--gets the image across perfectly & succinctly. Economy of words is a great premise."He poured tall, dark liquid from the thermos." Was the coffee also handsome? "Tall, dark liquid"??? So silly. We don't need flowing prose about coffee.And my favorite:"Unwelcome searing liquid pooled in my eyes." Did I mention the concept of "economy of words"? The word "tears" would have worked just fine here--actually, it would have been better. I listened to this book on audio, and when I first heard "Unwelcome searing liquid..." I thought someone threw something caustic at her.Any thoughts I have on the love triangle would be spoilers, so here we go...At first, I thought Ren was an arrogant man-slut, and was excited about the prospect of Shay. But Shay proceeded to annoy me as the book went on, and Ren proceeded to grow on me. I appreciate that the author didn't completely shut the door on Ren, but his prospects don't look very good. I think what bugged me the most was Calla gave Shay chance after chance--he was a little snot? She forgave him. He stepped on toes? She forgave him. She spent a ton of time with him, sneaking around to see him. But she never gave Ren anything. Not her time, not kindness, not forgiveness. He tried numerous times to spend some time with her, and she never had time for him. But she completely bent the rules and put her life in danger to make time for Shay.I guess I just wish the author would have given Ren a fair shake. It's not really a love triangle when one guy doesn't get even a fraction of the attention the other guy gets.Oh, and one last thing. The author should have written in a few cold showers for Calla. This girl was a comical sensory trip. This boy makes her shiver, that boy makes her shake. This boy makes her breath stop, that boy makes her limbs go numb. It was over the top. When I start laughing when I read the next physical description of Calla's 0-60 desire, that means you've gone a bit too far. ;) Show Less
LibraryThing member RamonaWray
Amazing world. The only thing that didn't work for me was the triangle. I could not, for the love of me, see what made Shay so attractive to Calla. Ren was such a well-written character; next to him, Shay was a shadow. So it was kind of frustrating to have her constantly pulling toward him, when I
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couldn't understand why. But as I said, amazing world. Awesome mythology. Definitely reading the sequel. Show Less
LibraryThing member chelsealorraine
Rating: 4.5 stars
I was originally drawn to Nightshade by the cover. It was striking, and made me want to learn about the girl who dominated it. But what really drew me into the book was the characters.
Calla Tor is not your run of the mill protagonist. She solves her own problems, doesn’t need a
The back history in the story is what really makes Cremer shine as an author. It took me a little bit to get everything in order and understand, but this did not derail from the story and only made me want to read more. Cremer thought through every little detail and is a wonderful world builder. I loved that the story was set in Colorado, somewhere I live quite close to. It made it feel all the more unique and enjoyable to read.
Nightshade does not read as a author’s first book. It is clear the amount of work and research that was put into the novel and for that I give Cremer two thumbs up.
I was originally drawn to Nightshade by the cover. It was striking, and made me want to learn about the girl who dominated it. But what really drew me into the book was the characters.
Calla Tor is not your run of the mill protagonist. She solves her own problems, doesn’t need a
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hero, and is the alpha of her pack, which she runs in an efficient manner. Calla is a wonderfully strong leading character, and even though she her own hero, she still shows characteristics of being a teenage girl without going overboard. Shay Doran had me from the start, because he felt so different to me. He wasn’t exactly a knight in shining armor, but he didn’t cower in the corner the entire novel and whine. Besides Calla and Shay, I found the rest of their pack delightful. Cremer has manages to fit a wide mix of personalities together and somehow make them work, though it left me wanting to know more about them and their backgrounds.The back history in the story is what really makes Cremer shine as an author. It took me a little bit to get everything in order and understand, but this did not derail from the story and only made me want to read more. Cremer thought through every little detail and is a wonderful world builder. I loved that the story was set in Colorado, somewhere I live quite close to. It made it feel all the more unique and enjoyable to read.
Nightshade does not read as a author’s first book. It is clear the amount of work and research that was put into the novel and for that I give Cremer two thumbs up.
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LibraryThing member ShelleyDaugherty
Calla is the alpha leader of her pack and up until now everything in her life has went along according to schedule. She is set to marry Ren her alpha mate in nearly a month so what could go wrong? Then Shay, a handsome and fun stranger shows up and needs her help to survive a bear attack. Allowing
I devoured this book in just a couple days which is a feat for me in itself!
Fantastic page turner! Never a dull moment!
Even though walking into this I had a preconceived idea about how werewolf packs work, Cremer keeps the action moving steadily and never bores you with countless useless chapters of filler! Great book for teen fans of the Twilight series! Fantastic!
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herself to break one rule of the pack ways leads to more questions and rebellion in the young alpha female. Is she really ready to just follow the old traditions that have her life mapped out for her, or is there some truth to what Shay is questioning about if things can really be different for her? I devoured this book in just a couple days which is a feat for me in itself!
Fantastic page turner! Never a dull moment!
Even though walking into this I had a preconceived idea about how werewolf packs work, Cremer keeps the action moving steadily and never bores you with countless useless chapters of filler! Great book for teen fans of the Twilight series! Fantastic!
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LibraryThing member shellierb69
Calla Tor is an alpha female wolf-warrior in charge of her pack. Renier is a alpha male wolf-warrior in charge of his pack. Together they have been promised to unite since their births. Calla has had her future planned for her and without question she has accepted her fate until she defies all
Shay is more important then she realizes and she is ordered to hang out with him and watch over him. Shay changes and complicates her life. She always known her path so why is she questioning it now and why does she wonder what it would be like to have a say in her future?
Can it be possible to love two people at once? Calla struggles with the union between her two packs and what she feels for Shay and Ren knowing her choice is not of her own.
This story has intense passion and love and deals with the struggles of coming of age. I have to say I loved this story. The way the story was written I did not even question the human/wolf part of the story I found it very believable. I was surprised on how much lust Calla has for both Ren and Shay and had a difficult time deciding which one would be best for her.
I wanted her to follow her heart but also really loved the character Ren and wanted her to go through with the union. So which ones will she chose? You will have to read the book to find out for yourself no spoilers from me.
I was so excited about this book that before I even was to the end I had to write the Author Andrea Cremer and was surprised to hear right back from her. I wanted to know if this was going to be a trilogy because I love Calla and Ren and Shay and all of the wolf packs that I did not want the story to end. So for all of us who love the story and I know there will be many there are two more books coming!
Wolfsbane is book two and is due out July 2011 and Bloodrose book three is due out in spring of 2012. I want to recommend this book to everyone from teens to adults. If you love wolves you will love the story behind them. This story will not disappoint you in anyway. I give it a five stars and plan on reading it again.
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rules and save a life of a human boy named Shay. Shay is more important then she realizes and she is ordered to hang out with him and watch over him. Shay changes and complicates her life. She always known her path so why is she questioning it now and why does she wonder what it would be like to have a say in her future?
Can it be possible to love two people at once? Calla struggles with the union between her two packs and what she feels for Shay and Ren knowing her choice is not of her own.
This story has intense passion and love and deals with the struggles of coming of age. I have to say I loved this story. The way the story was written I did not even question the human/wolf part of the story I found it very believable. I was surprised on how much lust Calla has for both Ren and Shay and had a difficult time deciding which one would be best for her.
I wanted her to follow her heart but also really loved the character Ren and wanted her to go through with the union. So which ones will she chose? You will have to read the book to find out for yourself no spoilers from me.
I was so excited about this book that before I even was to the end I had to write the Author Andrea Cremer and was surprised to hear right back from her. I wanted to know if this was going to be a trilogy because I love Calla and Ren and Shay and all of the wolf packs that I did not want the story to end. So for all of us who love the story and I know there will be many there are two more books coming!
Wolfsbane is book two and is due out July 2011 and Bloodrose book three is due out in spring of 2012. I want to recommend this book to everyone from teens to adults. If you love wolves you will love the story behind them. This story will not disappoint you in anyway. I give it a five stars and plan on reading it again.
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LibraryThing member michireads
Calla, the female protagonist of the story, is Alpha of the Nightshade pack. She lives in this controlled society where Guardians (wolves like Calla) loyally serve and protect their masters, the Keepers. Calla's life had been completely planned out. She would marry Ren, the male alpha of the Bane
When Calla saves a human boy, Shay, from a bear, her life gets completely flipped upside down. She begins to fall for Shay but rejects these feelings at first because she knows that she must marry Ren. Shay questions her world and the authority of the Keepers which leads to trouble later on. Calla is torn between what she must do and what she wants to do.
This book was quite addicting and I had a hard time putting it down. For such a strong character, I was bothered by how Calla couldn't seem to get a hold of her raging hormones. I was impressed though, by the intricate world that Andrea Cremer had created. The background of the story is very well thought out. The last couple of chapters were very exiting and fun to read but as expected, there was a huge cliff hanger at the end of the book. I also wish she had chosen the other guy. I am exited to read the next Nightshade book that Cremer writes because I am eager to know more about the evil Keepers and the mysterious Seekers!
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pack, and together they would create and lead a new powerful pack. As the day of the Union creeps closer, Her attraction for Ren grows but she must stay pure.When Calla saves a human boy, Shay, from a bear, her life gets completely flipped upside down. She begins to fall for Shay but rejects these feelings at first because she knows that she must marry Ren. Shay questions her world and the authority of the Keepers which leads to trouble later on. Calla is torn between what she must do and what she wants to do.
This book was quite addicting and I had a hard time putting it down. For such a strong character, I was bothered by how Calla couldn't seem to get a hold of her raging hormones. I was impressed though, by the intricate world that Andrea Cremer had created. The background of the story is very well thought out. The last couple of chapters were very exiting and fun to read but as expected, there was a huge cliff hanger at the end of the book. I also wish she had chosen the other guy. I am exited to read the next Nightshade book that Cremer writes because I am eager to know more about the evil Keepers and the mysterious Seekers!
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LibraryThing member crazyhippo37
I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked right from the start. I thought Calla was insanely cool, and I loved Shay. Nightshade kept me up until 2 in the morning reading it. Also, I loved that I wasn't sure if her sense of duty to marry Ren or her love for Shay would win out in the end, which is
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just one of the reasons why I kept reading. Ansel and Bryn's relationship was a nice bit of levity in some of the seriousness, and Mason and Neville were fantastic. The pack dynamic really came through and was written extremely well, and I was kept wondering until the very end. I can't wait for Wolfsbane, and I am so excited to read more of Andrea Cremer's work. Show Less
LibraryThing member kL1028
I couldn't put this book down....i was nervous at first but once i picked it up it didn't close til i finished it...as other reviews said there is a lot going on but there is a cohesiveness going on....can't wait for the next book
LibraryThing member psbrewer71203
I wasn't as impressed with this book as I thought I would be. Nightshade consists of alot of horomones and a small amount of plot (until the ending). Calla, the Alpha of her pack, becomes weak with lust everytime one of her male admirers brushes up against her which isn't a quality I admire in a
PARENTS: There is a lot of physical interaction that, while not out and out sex, is defintely of a sexual nature that takes place many times throughout the story. Other subject matter includes rape (one of the girls is understood to be raped by her Keeper to protect a younger girl in her pack though it is not described), and gay relationships (among members of the pack as well as their keeper).
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strong female. Calla is so distracted by her physical attraction to both Shay and Ren that the plot feels stilted and broken by the constant petting and fondling. I love fantasy with a little romance so this was not up my ally but if you are a reader who enjoys some fantasy with your romance this may be a book for you. I gave it 3 stars because I really did like the ending once the action started to pick up. I may be interested in the following books in this series if the romance took a backseat to the action. PARENTS: There is a lot of physical interaction that, while not out and out sex, is defintely of a sexual nature that takes place many times throughout the story. Other subject matter includes rape (one of the girls is understood to be raped by her Keeper to protect a younger girl in her pack though it is not described), and gay relationships (among members of the pack as well as their keeper).
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LibraryThing member shellyquade
Nightshade is the story of Calla, a "guardian" (which basically means she's a werewolf) who is very beautiful, has a pack of friends (also werewolves) over whom she presides, has been engaged to a very hot, very popular boy named Ren her entire life, and is fine with her life of glorified slavery
...she meets another cute boy named Shay.
I loved this book. I honestly wasn't expecting to like it very much, but I read it in its' entirety in two days.
Andrea Cremer did a wonderful job of writing teenagers who are teenagers, rather than precocious pseudo-adults or annoying idiots. Her teenagers seem like teenagers, but are still interesting to those of us who aren't teenagers anymore.
At the same time, Mrs. Cremer writes about so much more than a group of teenagers and how they interact. In her writing, and the pact society she has created, Mrs. Cremer writes about feminism, and the importance of freedom as opposed to the easiness of tradition.
The complexity of this novel, paired with the wonderful characters whom the reader comes to know and care deeply about, make Nightshade a must-read.
So make sure you read it.
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until......she meets another cute boy named Shay.
I loved this book. I honestly wasn't expecting to like it very much, but I read it in its' entirety in two days.
Andrea Cremer did a wonderful job of writing teenagers who are teenagers, rather than precocious pseudo-adults or annoying idiots. Her teenagers seem like teenagers, but are still interesting to those of us who aren't teenagers anymore.
At the same time, Mrs. Cremer writes about so much more than a group of teenagers and how they interact. In her writing, and the pact society she has created, Mrs. Cremer writes about feminism, and the importance of freedom as opposed to the easiness of tradition.
The complexity of this novel, paired with the wonderful characters whom the reader comes to know and care deeply about, make Nightshade a must-read.
So make sure you read it.
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LibraryThing member Violeten
When I first heard about this book I was extremely interested. Then the interest waned and I decided I wouldn't buy it but would read it if it came up in ER. So when I won and got the book I put my thoughts aside and cracked it open. The book starts extremely flowery which put me off but as the
I can't say much more without giving away parts of the book, however I gave this a three star because I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either.
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writer got my comfortable in the story it got better. However, the book fell short of my expectations. There is just TOO much going on, its happens in a lot of books, and its my biggest pet peeve. Stop with the twenty other conflicts, new things to learn and remember, storylines, ect and STICK to the story.I can't say much more without giving away parts of the book, however I gave this a three star because I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either.
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LibraryThing member AmyLynn
This book started off slowly for me. Cremer has a talent for complex twists and turns in her plot, but Calla’s emotional vertigo made it hard to follow at first. Calla faces an oppressive cult like society of Guardians (wolves) who serve their masters, the Keepers, without questions. She
Calla views her every interaction with new, human Shay as a mistake, perhaps because the boy draws her out of the brainwashed obedience she tries to cling to, as Shay fights for her to believe she’s allowed to think for herself. While she nurses feelings for both her fiance and the human who teaches her about self respect, they delve into the history of why the Guardians were created, if the Keepers are as altruistic as they claim, though we never get answers about who the villainous Seekers are.
Calla’s personality seemed incongruous to me. I had issues believing a girl who would yell or punch anyone who dared disagreed with her, would turn around, and allow two boys fight over her, while she hesitantly protested.
The society of the Bane and Nightshade packs did intrigue me, and I wanted to know how the Keepers commanded wolves, wraiths and other creatures, and I was disappointed the villains’ motivation was never explained. The book ended on a cliffhanger, so I hope these questions will be answered in the future book. For those of you who read this, I hope the opposite boy is the one who comes back for her.
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distrusts the boy she’s grown up with, choosing to assume his actions, rather than seeing the boy she hurts that the reader sees.Calla views her every interaction with new, human Shay as a mistake, perhaps because the boy draws her out of the brainwashed obedience she tries to cling to, as Shay fights for her to believe she’s allowed to think for herself. While she nurses feelings for both her fiance and the human who teaches her about self respect, they delve into the history of why the Guardians were created, if the Keepers are as altruistic as they claim, though we never get answers about who the villainous Seekers are.
Calla’s personality seemed incongruous to me. I had issues believing a girl who would yell or punch anyone who dared disagreed with her, would turn around, and allow two boys fight over her, while she hesitantly protested.
The society of the Bane and Nightshade packs did intrigue me, and I wanted to know how the Keepers commanded wolves, wraiths and other creatures, and I was disappointed the villains’ motivation was never explained. The book ended on a cliffhanger, so I hope these questions will be answered in the future book. For those of you who read this, I hope the opposite boy is the one who comes back for her.
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LibraryThing member RuthiesBookReviews
This book was really, really good. It had me hooked right from the beginning. The plot was so intricate it kept the pages turning. All in all, it was the story of a young Alpha, Calla, who went to school like every other teenage girl but yet her history and life were so much different than the
This story was filled with the life and history of the Guardians. They weren't called werewolves or shapeshifters, which was a nice change of pace from some of the other books that I have read. Calla was born and her marriage pre-arranged. So now that she was going to be graduating, it was time for the Union of her and her new mate - so that they could control their own pack. But now her own heart is torn between her suppose to be mate and this amazing human guy that she had saved in the beginning.
So much is going on. Her feelings for Ren and her feelings for Shay, plus, to add to her turmoil, the rules that she knows she supposed to follow and the history of her kind that she thought that she knew. Things take a dark turn towards the end and the book kind of leaves you hanging and wanting more. But every page was so descriptive that you could practically feel and see what Calla was experiencing.
I can't wait to read the next book cause I know that there is going to be one!
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humans she went to school with. But right in the beginning something had happened where she happened to save a human and later regretted it when he showed up in her class at school. This story was filled with the life and history of the Guardians. They weren't called werewolves or shapeshifters, which was a nice change of pace from some of the other books that I have read. Calla was born and her marriage pre-arranged. So now that she was going to be graduating, it was time for the Union of her and her new mate - so that they could control their own pack. But now her own heart is torn between her suppose to be mate and this amazing human guy that she had saved in the beginning.
So much is going on. Her feelings for Ren and her feelings for Shay, plus, to add to her turmoil, the rules that she knows she supposed to follow and the history of her kind that she thought that she knew. Things take a dark turn towards the end and the book kind of leaves you hanging and wanting more. But every page was so descriptive that you could practically feel and see what Calla was experiencing.
I can't wait to read the next book cause I know that there is going to be one!
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LibraryThing member ylin.0621
Calla is the next alpha for the Nightshade family to be married off to the next alpha of the Bane family, a rivaling pack, to form a new pack. Calla has always known her path especially as a Guardian, a werewolf sworn to protect the Keepers. But that all changes when Calla recues a hiker from being
Nightshade is an action packed novel of a forbidden romance. Andrea Cremer packs a showstopper with everything a reader can ask for: complex plot, sexy characters, and werewolves. Oh yeah. However, Nightshade has a problem with its execution.
When I first delved into the book the swarms of name had me begging for a family tree or a diagram of names; something that I still hope Philomel might consider before releasing the book. I found Calla a strong female lead when she is in a situation she is comfortable in: fighting against bad guys, dealing with her new pack, school. When she is taken out of that out of that zone she becomes this naïve child that had me irritated; love being one of those situations.
As for the plot I really enjoyed myself quite so in the beginning. Then I realized it went deeper than the surface level of Calla being torn by two loves. Which I thought was great! But then half way through I was getting concerned of the much needed background information: who were the Keepers? What did they do? Where did the werewolves come in? The dynamics of a shifting werewolf were questioned in my mind. Mid-way, starting really in the 150th page these questions and concerns were finally being answered. Super! I was a bit lost but managed to keep it all together to some form of coherency, but then it just kept coming and coming.
When the plot started to develop it would almost alternate between chapters of werewolf fighting action/ love swooning to history/ facts, which kept the reader from being fully bombarded with new information, but then as I said before the information just kept coming. I was miserable, very bored, and had a strong urge to skim (which I will admit I caved into, but just a page or two). It felt like they were repeating the same shocking truth over and over again and combined that with it being the high point of Calla’s emotional distress of Ren vs. Shay which irritated me, it threw me over an edge.
I stopped reading. Had a bite to eat. Escaped into the cyber world. Then went back at it.
The ending was unexpected, but then again this is a trilogy I believe so the ending I had perceived would not make much sense anyhow. It was not the strongest ending I have read, but it faired well with leaving enough suspense to read its sequel and pleasant enough to prevent the reader from screaming and shouting profanities at the book.
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killed by a bear…something that she should not do considering that she just exposed the biggest secret. However just soon after, the hiker transfers to Calla’s school and her world is turned upside down; has everything been lies? Now she’s torn between her current life with Ren—the alpha whom she is engaged to—or a new life of freedom with Shay, the hiker whom Calla cannot get enough of. Nightshade is an action packed novel of a forbidden romance. Andrea Cremer packs a showstopper with everything a reader can ask for: complex plot, sexy characters, and werewolves. Oh yeah. However, Nightshade has a problem with its execution.
When I first delved into the book the swarms of name had me begging for a family tree or a diagram of names; something that I still hope Philomel might consider before releasing the book. I found Calla a strong female lead when she is in a situation she is comfortable in: fighting against bad guys, dealing with her new pack, school. When she is taken out of that out of that zone she becomes this naïve child that had me irritated; love being one of those situations.
As for the plot I really enjoyed myself quite so in the beginning. Then I realized it went deeper than the surface level of Calla being torn by two loves. Which I thought was great! But then half way through I was getting concerned of the much needed background information: who were the Keepers? What did they do? Where did the werewolves come in? The dynamics of a shifting werewolf were questioned in my mind. Mid-way, starting really in the 150th page these questions and concerns were finally being answered. Super! I was a bit lost but managed to keep it all together to some form of coherency, but then it just kept coming and coming.
When the plot started to develop it would almost alternate between chapters of werewolf fighting action/ love swooning to history/ facts, which kept the reader from being fully bombarded with new information, but then as I said before the information just kept coming. I was miserable, very bored, and had a strong urge to skim (which I will admit I caved into, but just a page or two). It felt like they were repeating the same shocking truth over and over again and combined that with it being the high point of Calla’s emotional distress of Ren vs. Shay which irritated me, it threw me over an edge.
I stopped reading. Had a bite to eat. Escaped into the cyber world. Then went back at it.
The ending was unexpected, but then again this is a trilogy I believe so the ending I had perceived would not make much sense anyhow. It was not the strongest ending I have read, but it faired well with leaving enough suspense to read its sequel and pleasant enough to prevent the reader from screaming and shouting profanities at the book.
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LibraryThing member nizmart
Calla is the alpha of her pack and at birth was betrothed to sexy Ren who is alpha of his own pack. Their masters are known as Keepers, they can use magic and they set the rules. While on patrol guarding the Keepers sacred site Calla saves an injured hiker named Shay. He ends up being the new
I read this book in one sitting because I could not bear the thought of not knowing what happens. I am very excited about this series and can't wait for the second book. Ren's character blows my mind, so needless to say I am Team Ren!
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student at her small school and a love triangle develops. Calla starts questioning her fate and what it is that she wants. When Shay turns out to be more than just a human things get even more complicated. I read this book in one sitting because I could not bear the thought of not knowing what happens. I am very excited about this series and can't wait for the second book. Ren's character blows my mind, so needless to say I am Team Ren!
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LibraryThing member HeatherLeah
This book is AMAZING!! I love a strong, sexual, alpha heroine and Calla is definitely all things, including a werewolf, wrapped in one. In the book Calla is an alpha werewolf of the Nightshade's and expected to unite with Ren the alpha of the Bane's. She exposes herself by changing in front of a
This book is almost 500 pages long and I finished it in about two days, that is how good it is. It keeps you guessing and wanting, needing, to know what happens. Action, love, death, and werewolves...oh my! The worst part of this book is that it ended and having to wait for the sequel Wolfsbane which comes out fall 2011. It's such a long time to wait & I desperately need to know what happens to Calla (I have a gut feeling about Shay, and it's not good).
Also, I am Team Ren all the way! His howl makes me *swoon*! Once you read Nightshade (which you will, you know you're dying to see what happens) Ren's bathroom scene will make you see cross-eyed literally *heart pounding*.
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human, Shay. What she doesn't know is that Shay is new to her school and someone of importance to her pack. She starts to fall in love with him and exposes him to her world. Doing so brings trouble for both of them. Calla stays strong this whole book until it comes to Ren and Shay. Ren makes her hormones go crazy. She knows she has to wed him but she doesn't want him to know how bad he makes her squirm. Shay on the other hand makes her melt. She is willing to break all the rules for him and she doesn't care. This book is almost 500 pages long and I finished it in about two days, that is how good it is. It keeps you guessing and wanting, needing, to know what happens. Action, love, death, and werewolves...oh my! The worst part of this book is that it ended and having to wait for the sequel Wolfsbane which comes out fall 2011. It's such a long time to wait & I desperately need to know what happens to Calla (I have a gut feeling about Shay, and it's not good).
Also, I am Team Ren all the way! His howl makes me *swoon*! Once you read Nightshade (which you will, you know you're dying to see what happens) Ren's bathroom scene will make you see cross-eyed literally *heart pounding*.
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LibraryThing member MissHavoc
Well, I finished it last night, slept on it, and still don't know what to say about it.
Nightshade was definitely NOT what I was expecting. And that's a good thing! It really is an original story and I'm hoping people will love it as much as I did.
That being said, my ONLY problem with it, (and it's
Other than that...FABULOUS!
It has action, suspense, mystery, love/love-triangle/forbidden love and even a little bit of "finding one's self". It really has it all. And the "werewolf" world Ms. Creamer has built is crazy-good.
Like I said in my TT, I hope October rolls around really quick so everyone has a chance to read it. I'm so looking forward to book #2, Wolfsbane that I might not be able to sleep until I get it...
So I leave you with the book trailer...I'm off to read it again
Nightshade was definitely NOT what I was expecting. And that's a good thing! It really is an original story and I'm hoping people will love it as much as I did.
That being said, my ONLY problem with it, (and it's
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a problem I have with most books that feature a love triangle) is that I want Calla to be with the "other" guy. I won't go and spoil it for you, but once you read it, you'll understand. At least what I'm talking about, but will probably not agree. It's just that I have always been more of a "Team Jacob" kind of girl, and in most books, I remain true to loving the underdog. Here though, I REALLY, REALLY want Calla with the other guy. Now, since this is book #1 who's to say that won't happen. She has two great guys to choose from, and we are just getting started.Other than that...FABULOUS!
It has action, suspense, mystery, love/love-triangle/forbidden love and even a little bit of "finding one's self". It really has it all. And the "werewolf" world Ms. Creamer has built is crazy-good.
Like I said in my TT, I hope October rolls around really quick so everyone has a chance to read it. I'm so looking forward to book #2, Wolfsbane that I might not be able to sleep until I get it...
So I leave you with the book trailer...I'm off to read it again
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LibraryThing member amandalina
When I first heard about this book, and that it wouldn’t be out until October, I thought I would have a super long wait till I could get my hands on it. So once again I was beyond thrilled to be lucky enough to win an ARC. I don’t know about anyone else, but along with vampires and faeries,
But anyway…I thought this book was definitely enjoyable. I started reading it at night and stayed up way too late because I couldn’t put it down. I was intrigued by the pack dynamics the author setup, even though we are left in the dark for a long time as to the story behind Guardians and Keepers. But it never discouraged me from reading on to learn more. And I really loved the concept of a female alpha! That’s something I don’t see often.
So maybe it’s just my personal taste at the moment, but I really enjoyed the interactions between Calla and Ren. I found myself wishing she would spend more time with him. Yes it is unfortunate she had no choice in the arranged union to him, but I much preferred him to Shay. Which leads me to my biggest complaint about this book—and this might be spoilery. I thought what happened in the cave was a little to convenient. From how easy it was for Shay to adapt, to how none of the other Guardians could tell what had happened.
So overall, this was a mysterious and exciting book. I can’t call it epic, but I am definitely looking forward to the next book and seeing what happens next. Oh and the cover is beautiful, and I love how each chapter is accompanied by a phase of the moon. Very clever!
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this year has been big on werewolves for me. I suppose I’ve always been into werewolves, since Blood and Chocolate was one of my favorite books as a teen. And funnily enough, this book reminded me of Blood and Chocolate, only the movie adaptation…which is a bit unfortunate, as I wasn’t a fan of that. But anyway…I thought this book was definitely enjoyable. I started reading it at night and stayed up way too late because I couldn’t put it down. I was intrigued by the pack dynamics the author setup, even though we are left in the dark for a long time as to the story behind Guardians and Keepers. But it never discouraged me from reading on to learn more. And I really loved the concept of a female alpha! That’s something I don’t see often.
So maybe it’s just my personal taste at the moment, but I really enjoyed the interactions between Calla and Ren. I found myself wishing she would spend more time with him. Yes it is unfortunate she had no choice in the arranged union to him, but I much preferred him to Shay. Which leads me to my biggest complaint about this book—and this might be spoilery. I thought what happened in the cave was a little to convenient. From how easy it was for Shay to adapt, to how none of the other Guardians could tell what had happened.
So overall, this was a mysterious and exciting book. I can’t call it epic, but I am definitely looking forward to the next book and seeing what happens next. Oh and the cover is beautiful, and I love how each chapter is accompanied by a phase of the moon. Very clever!
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LibraryThing member Tinasbookreviews
Nightshade is one of the best YA "were" books next to Shiver that I have read. Cremer thrills and chills with her exciting and fun masterpiece, not to mention the beautiful cover.
I would not suggest this for younger teens, as Cremer uses some very mature themes in her book and the topic of sex is
I would not suggest this for younger teens, as Cremer uses some very mature themes in her book and the topic of sex is
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very strong. While remaining free from graphic content, the characters engage in conversations about sexuality, relationships and violence. Show Less
LibraryThing member ldelprete
Let me start by saying that I was really excited to read this story. I was intrigued by the premise of a strong female leader as the protagonist. When it came available through the ER program I was even more excited to get it early.
Overall the story was very facinating and suspenseful. It held my
The story itself read a little young. It was choppy in places and very predictable. The way the story developed reminded me a lot of the way Percy Jackson developed, suspensful and interesting yet predictable and abrupt. One second your here and the next second a big turning point hits you and is over. The scene in the cave for example, saw it coming but thought the author didn't do it justice for such a huge moment. I thought that the desire that Calla felt for the two guys was written very well but the scenes felt slightly out of place in this book. Because the book read so young it felt forced in places. The scenes themselves were great but felt like two different authors wrote the book and couldn't decided what age group to write for. I think this trilogy has a lot of promise and I will definitely read the next books in the series. I hope the author smoothes out the rough edges so to speak in the next book though.
Overall the story was very facinating and suspenseful. It held my
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attention and had me reading feverishly to finish. I loved the characters. I was a little undecided about Calla however. The confilct of strength and weakness in her was a little strange and abrupt at times. Ren and Shay were both easy to get attached to. I felt the pain of both throughout the story especially at the end. They were all really well developed and the author really did a great job helping the reader get to know them.The story itself read a little young. It was choppy in places and very predictable. The way the story developed reminded me a lot of the way Percy Jackson developed, suspensful and interesting yet predictable and abrupt. One second your here and the next second a big turning point hits you and is over. The scene in the cave for example, saw it coming but thought the author didn't do it justice for such a huge moment. I thought that the desire that Calla felt for the two guys was written very well but the scenes felt slightly out of place in this book. Because the book read so young it felt forced in places. The scenes themselves were great but felt like two different authors wrote the book and couldn't decided what age group to write for. I think this trilogy has a lot of promise and I will definitely read the next books in the series. I hope the author smoothes out the rough edges so to speak in the next book though.
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LibraryThing member roses7184
Where do I start with my love for this book? Seriously. If I'm not careful this review will simply turn into a gushing mess and you'll all run away, which is exactly the opposite of what I want. No I want you, dear readers, to understand why it is so important that you go and purchase a copy of
I also promise that I won't spoil Nightshade for you. You have my word!
First off I must profess my love for Calla. Oh Calla! She is everything that I love about a female protagonist. As Calla is the alpha wolf of her pack, she has an outwardly tough demeanor. She gives orders, takes charge, and even is willing to bend the rules a bit if necessary. Calla takes her rightful place among my top 10 favorite female characters of all time. I wish to applaud Andrea Cremer for her creation of Calla and her fellow packmates! From the moment I met them in the story I was hooked. There was no turning back for me, and I read ravenously right on until the end.
To keep things mysterious, I won't tackle Calla's love triangle too deeply. I'll simply say that both Ren and Shay, Call's love interests, are delicious. Did I just describe male characters as delicious? You bet I did! Each comes to the table with their own set of traits to fall in love with. Calla ends up torn between what her heart wants, and what her world dictates she should want. Classic love triangle.
The storyline is amazingly well-paced and the pages just fly by. Before I knew it, I was turning the last page and gasping in anticipation of what comes next. It was over all too soon. What I appreciated most was the delicate balance between all out action and the romance aspect. Truthfully, that balance is very important to me when it comes to feeling connected to a story. Andrea Cremer walks that line perfectly and crafts a story that I fell deeply in love with!
Vague enough for you? As I said, I won't ruin the story! I want you to experience this for yourself. I recommend Nightshade with my highest seal of approval. It comes out in a matter of days, so mark it on your calendar and go get a copy for yourself!
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this book the moment that it comes out! So I'll try to keep my mushy fandom to a minimum. I'll try.I also promise that I won't spoil Nightshade for you. You have my word!
First off I must profess my love for Calla. Oh Calla! She is everything that I love about a female protagonist. As Calla is the alpha wolf of her pack, she has an outwardly tough demeanor. She gives orders, takes charge, and even is willing to bend the rules a bit if necessary. Calla takes her rightful place among my top 10 favorite female characters of all time. I wish to applaud Andrea Cremer for her creation of Calla and her fellow packmates! From the moment I met them in the story I was hooked. There was no turning back for me, and I read ravenously right on until the end.
To keep things mysterious, I won't tackle Calla's love triangle too deeply. I'll simply say that both Ren and Shay, Call's love interests, are delicious. Did I just describe male characters as delicious? You bet I did! Each comes to the table with their own set of traits to fall in love with. Calla ends up torn between what her heart wants, and what her world dictates she should want. Classic love triangle.
The storyline is amazingly well-paced and the pages just fly by. Before I knew it, I was turning the last page and gasping in anticipation of what comes next. It was over all too soon. What I appreciated most was the delicate balance between all out action and the romance aspect. Truthfully, that balance is very important to me when it comes to feeling connected to a story. Andrea Cremer walks that line perfectly and crafts a story that I fell deeply in love with!
Vague enough for you? As I said, I won't ruin the story! I want you to experience this for yourself. I recommend Nightshade with my highest seal of approval. It comes out in a matter of days, so mark it on your calendar and go get a copy for yourself!
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LibraryThing member Malbebe
This book is a masterpiece! I'm not even sure if I can write a review that will do this book justice. Well here goes. Calla, the main character, is to become the alpha female of a new planned wolf pack. Calla is the leader of the Nightshade pack. Her mate will be Ren, who is the leader of the Bane
When Calla goes to school she discovers that there is a new kid, and he just so happens to be the boy she saved that night. They both recognize each other. From here on out their relationship deepens and Shay makes Calla question everything she's ever known. With Shay, Calla betrays the keepers and digs into history.
Both Shay and Ren are the most greatest guys. I immediately liked Shay, but for Ren it took some time for me to like him. Once I did though I found it really hard to decide which one Calla should choose to be with. They both want what is best for Calla and care about her a whole lot. The other characters each had their own personality and added something to the novel. The relationship that Calla and her brother, Ansel, have is so sweet. They really get and understand each other. No sibling rivalry between them.
The world that Andrea creates is so amazing. She has beautifully crafted a story about following your heart even when people tell you otherwise. Do what you think is right even if it means trouble. I loved how pieces of the puzzle slowly clicked together as Shay and Calla come closer to the truth. We find out who the real enemy is and it is a shocker. Let me tell ya! For some reason the Keepers want the wolves to protect Shay. How does he have connections with the Keepers? At the beginning of each chapter is a phase of the Moon, I found it to be interesting. The book may be big in size, but once you start reading you will not want to put the book down. Before you know it you are flipping the last page, and left wanting more.
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pack. It was all set in stone that on Oct. 31st the union of the two packs will happen. The Guardians (wolves) have always served the Keepers demands. Everything changes for Calla when she saves a boy one night while patrolling.When Calla goes to school she discovers that there is a new kid, and he just so happens to be the boy she saved that night. They both recognize each other. From here on out their relationship deepens and Shay makes Calla question everything she's ever known. With Shay, Calla betrays the keepers and digs into history.
Both Shay and Ren are the most greatest guys. I immediately liked Shay, but for Ren it took some time for me to like him. Once I did though I found it really hard to decide which one Calla should choose to be with. They both want what is best for Calla and care about her a whole lot. The other characters each had their own personality and added something to the novel. The relationship that Calla and her brother, Ansel, have is so sweet. They really get and understand each other. No sibling rivalry between them.
The world that Andrea creates is so amazing. She has beautifully crafted a story about following your heart even when people tell you otherwise. Do what you think is right even if it means trouble. I loved how pieces of the puzzle slowly clicked together as Shay and Calla come closer to the truth. We find out who the real enemy is and it is a shocker. Let me tell ya! For some reason the Keepers want the wolves to protect Shay. How does he have connections with the Keepers? At the beginning of each chapter is a phase of the Moon, I found it to be interesting. The book may be big in size, but once you start reading you will not want to put the book down. Before you know it you are flipping the last page, and left wanting more.
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LibraryThing member buzzkiss
Very entertaining book. You have a tough popular guy, smart cute guy and a girl stuck in the middle.....what's not to like. I will say there were a few inconsistencies in the book. But I'm a stickler for that sort of thing. Some people might not even notice them. But other than that cute book. I
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love the crazy ending and can't wait for the next book. Show Less
Awards
The Flume: NH Teen Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — 2012)
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers (Nominee — 2012)
Language
Original publication date
2010-10-19
Physical description
528 p.; 9.1 inches
ISBN
039925482X / 9780399254826
Local notes
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, 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.
Predictable fantasy fare.
Predictable fantasy fare.
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