Book Review: Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Title: Bloodrose
Author: Andrea Cremer
Series: Nightshade Book #3 of 3
Publisher: Philomel
Released: January 3, 2012
Website: http://www.andreacremer.com/


Book Summary:

Calla has always welcomed war.

But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is.

First off this far too adult in nature to be a young adult book in my opinion.

Skip this paragraph if you don't want a spoiler. I was extremely annoyed that after sleeping with one character Callah was then making out with the other one while in nothing but a towel and who knows how far that would have gone if they weren't interrupted. This book should have been cleaned up or marketed only to adults.

Thanks to a disgruntled reader who started her ranting review I can't believe Andrea Cremer.... I knew some of what was coming in the storyline. I debated whether to just skip the final book in this series but decided I wanted to know how the story ended. I didn't really love the ending. I was actually unsatisfied with it.

I do think the way Andrea writes is well done.  She drew me back into a story I didn't like and kept me reading to the end.  I just didn't like where she went with her story line.

Rating: 2.5 Stars - Take it or leave it

Content: Langauge, sex & violence

Source: Library

Book Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Title: Wolfsbane
Author: Andrea Cremer
Series: Book #2 of 3
Publisher: Philomel/Penguin
Released: July 26, 2011
Author's Website: http://www.andreacremer.com/

Book Summary:

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer, one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack and the man she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

Wolfsbane picks up right where Nightshade left off.  In this book we are introduced to a whole new cast of characters and we learn a lot more about the mythology/lore of the Searchers, Keepers & Guardians.  I let myself enjoy the story and get lost in this world although there were a few things that seemed to come just a little to easily to be believable to me.  I guess that's the nice things about fantasy novels - the world the author creates can play by its own rules.

The love triangle is still in full swing as Calla can't seem to make a decision and stick to it.  Although I predict she'll end up with Shay eventually I'm not actually rooting for either Ren or Shay after this story, they both did things that irritated me.  After redeeming himself at the end of Nightshade I really thought Ren might make a comeback in this story but found myself disappointed with his actions. Shay took a backseat on the adventures in this book and didn't play nearly the part I thought he would.  Although once again Calla has made a decision I think we'll see more waffling in Bloodrose.

I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator did a great job.  Although the book held my interest throughout I was a little put off by some of the content.  As a parent I don't like it when young adult books have sex scenes in them, it makes me uncomfortable. Yes I understand in the real world things go on but I'm much more of a fade to black and keep it behind closed doors type of a reader.  In my opinion this book is much more adult than young adult. This one didn't have the sexual desire and tension dripping from every page like Nightshade did but what content was there was much more intense than the first book.

I will finish out this series sometime soon because I am interested to see how things play out.  It won't go down as my favorite series but it has been an imaginative, fast paced story that I've enjoyed reading.

Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good Book

Content: Having read the first book in the series this I was expecting content in this one. Wolfsbane did not have as many instance of sexual tension, desire, innuendo, etc. as Nightshade had, but what was there was more graphic than the first book including two scenes with way too much detail for a young adult book.  My teens won't be reading this one.

Source: Download from Audible.com



The Nightshade Series:


Rift: Prequel to Nightshade


Novellas:


Shadow Days: HERE

Book Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Title: Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer
Series: Book #1
Publisher: Philomel/Penguin
Released: October 19, 2010
Author's Website: http://www.andreacremer.com/

Book Summary:

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?

My 3rd read of 2012 is one that has been on my list for a long time. I added Nightshade to my to read list in June of 2010. I've heard great things about this book and I had a copy of it at one point but gave it away in a giveaway before I had the chance to read it. I finally downloaded it from Audible.com to listen to it.

Books like this one are incredibly hard for me to give a rating to. If I could base my rating solely on the storyline this book would probably be a 5 star book. I loved the story and the new take on mythical creatures. The werewolves or guardians as they are called in this story were unique and I was drawn into the story. I flew through this book in one day. It was well written and I wanted to keep reading despite the content.

Speaking of content... this book had way more than I expected. I realize in hindsight that it was my error thinking this was clean read. Not sure where I got that idea but it was not a clean read. There was language throughout (most of it mild) and plenty of sexual tension, innuendo and desire. There were no actual sex scenes but I wouldn't give this one to my teenagers. The males in this book were allowed to "play" all they wanted but Calla was expected to be pure at her "union".  There was nothing really graphic but it seemed like every other page either Ren or Shay was making Calla's blood boil with desire creating quite the love triangle. Ok I'm exaggerating (a little) but there was obviously some raging nearly out of control hormones at work.

Speaking of love triangles... I'm not sure if I'm voting for Ren or Shay. It was Shay all the way through until the end when Ren redeemed himself in my book. I have a feeling Ren might make a come back in the next book.

I've just started on the sequel Wolfsbane which has picked up right where this one left off.  The cliffhanger ending would have been an issue if I had read this when it was released but since the series is now complete I can just jump right to the next book.

So the question is - Is this book for you?  If you enjoy young adult paranormal and don't mind some content then yes.  If you are looking for a clean read then no.

Rating: 4 Stars - Great story.

Content: Much more than I expected - language througout and plenty of sexual desire, innuendo, tension and talk without any actual sex scenes.

Source: Download from Audible.com



The Nightshade Series:


Rift: Prequel to Nightshade


Novellas:


Shadow Days: HERE

#BIR2010 - Book Giveaway: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer + Interview

Welcome to Andrea Cremer!

Andrea Cremer spent her childhood daydreaming and roaming the forests and lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin. She now lives in Minnesota, but she thinks of her homeland as the “Canadian Shield” rather than the Midwest.

Andrea has always loved writing and has never stopped writing, but she only recently plunged into the deep end of the pool that is professional writing. When she’s not writing, Andrea teaches history at a very nice liberal arts college in St. Paul.

In the little spare time she can find, Andrea stares up at trees, rescues infant rabbits from predatory cats, and invents names for pug puppies with her husband. She has an unfortunate tendency to spill things – white carpets beware!

Interview:

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
Because I study the American colonies I'd be fascinated to see them firsthand, but the idea of seeing the future is incredibly tempting. I'm really curious to see if we ever get anywhere with space travel.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?
David Levithan, John Green, Joss Whedon, Jane Lynch and Kiersten White

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?
Sunscreen, fresh water, and Katniss Everdeen

What is one book everyone should read?
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale

If you were a superhero what would your name be?
Zephyr

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Flight

When you were 12 years old what did you want to be when you grew up?
A doctor

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Mint chocolate chip

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?
My husband's mother passed away when he was fourteen, I would love to have met her

Which fictional character would you most like to meet?
Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings

One food you would never eat?
Frog legs. I could only ever think of Kermit.

If you could trade your life for that of a fictional character, who would that character be?
Tonks from Harry Potter

If you could be a paranormal creature , what would you choose to be?
A pegasus because I love horses but I'd also love to be able to fly

Paranormal or Normal?
Paranormal

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be, male or female, doesn't matter and why?
Artemis. I love the moon, I love her independence, and I'd love to go on the hunt with her dogs.

How do you react to a bad review?
I try to keep in mind that opinions are just that: opinions.

Nightshade

By Andrea Cremer

Published by Philomel/Penguin

Released on October 19th, 2010

http://www.andreacremer.com/

Summary:

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?

Giveaway Details:
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Open to US only
Ends 12/16/10
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