Nightshade

The first chapter of Nightshade is stunning. So much so that you cannot help but want to continue reading, or in my case listening. Andrea Cremer draws you in with her intriguing story that has clearly caught the attention of many as it graces best selling book shelves. However, this engrossing story left a bad taste in my mouth as the presence of one repeating theme unraveled any chance of me liking this book.

Calla is the alpha wolf in the nightshade pack and arranged to be married to Ren, the alpha of the Bane wolf pack. The plan is set until she meets human boy Shay whose presence makes Calla suddenly doubt her entire world.

What was it that ruined the book for me? The book is very degrading towards women. Calla is the worst heroine ever and she allows herself to be put into ancient gender roles. She reminds the reader frequently that she is a warrior but I found her to be a huge wuss, frequently shivering at everything that scares her. She is all talk and very little action.

Ren, although he redeems himself somewhat in the end, he is sleazy throughout most of the book. Every time he and Calla are in a scene together he has his paws all over her. He makes several sexual advances on Calla and the really, really bad part is she says NO but doesn’t stop him. This is not okay. No book should ever encourage the ‘No means yes’ mentality, especially books aimed towards teenage girls.

Upon reaching the first ‘no means year scene, the book was walking on shaking ground with me but after the second, well, that was the final nail in the coffin for this book. I kept expecting ‘tough warrior’ Calla to give him a good smack or knee to the balls to prove she in fact is a strong female. She didn’t. She even apologizes to him when she stands up for herself. Then he calls her a nun when she says no. Ugh, I can’t believe a woman wrote this book.

In addition to the above, the author often refers to Calla in a sexual way. The writing is focused around her body whether it’s eyes moving over her body taking in her curves, hands gliding over her body, Ren nibbling on her ear when talking with her. The degrading language towards women never stops.

After that the plot, the other characters, the writing, and everything else fell flat. It lost my interest. I can’t say I liked any of the three main characters let alone relate to them. Calla is not a heroine I can get behind and her love interests have no appeal to me. I cannot recommend this book no matter how popular it may be.

My problem is with the series not this book. This book was great. Here are my spoilers.

Calla - By the end of the third book she is a week willed, manipulative character. She claims to be this strong alpha warrior from book one. But being strong means you know your weaknesses as well as your strengths. By the third book I wanted to choke her ever time she says don't tell me what to do, I am an alpha, I don't need you to protect / help me. Everyone needs help and to imply you're not a strong woman cause you need help is a horrible thing to do to. She is in love with Shay from book one but she wears Ren's ring and say she won't chose. It's like she doesn't want to commit to either boy because she is hoping the war will kill one and make her choices for her. She needs Ren so she keeps her feelings for Shay in check around Ren so she can keep him dangling on a string. I hated Calla by the third book

Shay - He is a baby not an alpha. He has human ideas that he is pushing on Calla from book one. And it's not that I don't agree with him on some of the points. But it was the way he went about it. Only thing he didn't do was stomp his feet and throw himself on the ground. He doesn't care about the pack. He only cares about himself and what he wants. He even tells Calla at one point I am doing this cause I love you. Not because it's the right thing to do, Not because only he can save the world, not cause its morally wrong to stand by and watch this happen..... No its so he can get laid ....

Ren- Well was not sure about Ren at first. He was really pushing his will on all the other characters, but for anyone who has read Alpha werewolf books before this is a common flaw in the alpha males that is normally redeemed by the end of the series. And Ren is no different, by the end of the third book I wanted him to win so badly I was almost chewing on my desk. But no ... He doesn't win ... She kills him ... She didn't even write him in a new female that he could get a happy ending with.

I know the characters are suppose to be teenagers. However the author is not and when you are writing a book for YA then why would you make your hero/heroine so immature. They can start off that way sure, but they grow and learn and are better by then end of the story. I found that Shay and Calla only got worse the longer the story went on. I didn't want them to be rewarded with the happy ending they got. They didn't go through the trials and come out the other side better people.

I was so disappointed and sad. I didn't want anyone else to have to go through this ....

This is an excellent book. I stumbled across this book months before it was published and was interested in it by the cover. I have become a true fan of the YAparanormal romance genre, This book surpassed its great cover by having an even better content. The story had me hooked from the first page and never stopped. I was disappointed when it ended and now can not wait for book 2 "Wolfbane" to come out this summer. The thing with audiobooks is that the reader can make or break a book. This reader did a wonerful job and i was not disappointed. I liked the audio version so much that I went out and bought the hardcover. You will not be disappointed.

I didn't really care for this book. Actually, I had to force myself to finish it. The only reason that I did is that I've already bought the following two books in the triliogy. I only really liked one of the main three characters and I don't think that it is one I'm supposed to like at all. I find the main character whiny and spineless and her boyfriend irritating and selfish. Ren is the only one I cared for and some of the supporting characters of the pack. The action in this book is also really, really slow and was rather on the boring side. It did pick up towards the end but still had a hard time holding my interest. The narrator did a good job of differentiating the characters and I liked that but she spoke so slowly it made a slow book seem neverending. I actually had to put my ipod on faster speed, something I never do, to finish the book.

You know how I'm always complaining about the male teenagers in YA always acting abnormally? That they don't behave like normal teenage boys, specifically in real life? Well, I finally found a novel that I think laid it out on the table pretty well. Now, I'm just trying to process if I liked this way better than the typical YA superhero hero. NIGHTSHADE was a different take on the werewolf pack and on the YA male hero. Cremer had such original ideas to an old tale that I actually found myself delighted to read more and more as the back-story was revealed. It was highly original and very interesting. I can't wait to read book 2 and find out more about these new kind of shifters (Guardians) and how they came into this world. The narration was well done and I had no problems with the transitions.

This was almost the one of the first books I bought on audible, instead it ended up being the 48th book. I thought the cover art was beautiful and I thought the story line had some promise, but kept passing it over for something else. Finally, I bought it. And I am so glad that did! I loved it! Its nice to have a strong female lead, in so many books the female is fragile. In this book the female is a strong lead like that of Hunger Games or Divergent (but totally different story line). I would recommend this to anyone who likes young adult fantasy novels.

I'm really shocked this book hasn't gotten more attention. The cover and its reviews are what originally caught my attention, but the first few pages sealed the deal. Its really well written and the story line is entertaining. I loved it! Plenty of twists and unexpected surprises, you'll love it!

This is a well-written paranormal adventure-romance complete with drama, action and a love triangle. It's addictive enough to leave you waiting for the sequel (fortunately coming next month!). The narrator does a fine job and has a nice voice which seems suiting to the character.

I'm not big on giving reviews, but it shocks me that more listeners haven't cought on to this book. I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn't listening. I really enjoyed this book, and the characters are believable. I can't wait for books 2 and 3 to be done.

I loved this series! I have listened to over 60 audiobooks in the last 2 years....most of them are series.......this is by far one of my favorites!!!