Review: Nightshade (Nightshade #1)

Title: Nightshade (Nightshade #1)

Author: Andrea Cremer

Publisher: Philomel

Pages: 452

Challenge: None

My Rating:

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? -summary from goodreads.com

Meet Calla; she is a kick ass and awesome, soon to be 18 year old Alpha werewolf! )First heroine I don’t want to slap around :)haha!) She is Alpha of the Nightshades, a Guardian pack working for the Keepers. Her job is to protect all Keeper secrets from the Searchers. Since infancy, Calla is betrothed to Ren, Alpha of the Bane Guardian Pack. She has always known and accepted her destiny, but all that changes the day she saves Shay, a human boy who has just moved into town. Much to her surprise, Shay is not all that he appears. There’s a reason he moved to the secluded mountain which is Vail, and Shay and Calla set out to find the truth about who he truly is and how he fits into Calla’s world.

Such a unique story! I quickly fell in love with the magical world of Alphas, Keepers, and wraiths. The plot in itself was enthralling and romantic, but I felt the author had a little too much foreshadowing. For example; Slight spoiler- when Calla was getting dress fitted and her mom started freaking out because Logan was making Calla spend time with Shay… yeah… thanks to that scene I kind of figured out the ending.

Characterization was great; Ansel was easily my favorite character. He was willing to risk anything for his sister…. What I wouldn’t do for a brother like him! I was a bit angry with Calla for not trusting him with the truth, but I later understood that she did it for his own good. Calla's yearning for Shay was a little too much for my taste…. Gosh, I’m such a hypocrite, had it been the other way around (Ren and not Shay) I would have been all for it! The whole Calla and Shay relationship, I just never felt it.  It lacked substance, and honestly I thought it was too instantaneous. I usually enjoy “love at first sight” stories, but something about Shay just didn’t work for me. Ren on the other hand… well, let’s just say he had my blood boiling! Although Ren started off as a jerk, he had totally transformed by the end (Chapter 33…. Awwwww!) and that give’s him mad props in my book! TEAM REN!

Overall, Nightshade was a quick, captivating read. This is a series to watch out for! Luckily for me, Wolfsbane is sitting in my TBR pile :) it might not be next. But I think I’d be willing to bump it up!