Title: Nightshade, Book 1 in the Nightshade trilogy
Author: Andrea Cremer
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Young adult, fantasy
Links: Book Depository
Blurb:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: graduation, marriage and then a life leading her pack.
But when she defies her masters’ laws to save a human boy, she must choose. Is one boy worth losing everything for?
What I liked about it:
I loved the world building. It’s so strong. I also love how the mystery of their world is slowly revealed. At first Calla thinks everything is okay and then the cracks slowly begin to manifest and she starts to question everything. I love that she does that. That she notices what isn’t right and stands up for herself. Like she’s on a quiet rebellion, it’s excellent.
I think the thing I loved the most about Nightshade was the theme of choice. The ultimate choice between you family, friends and everything you have ever known versus your gut feeling and what you think is right. It’s a timeless theme and it was executed so well.
What I didn’t like about it:
I first read Nightshade back in 2011 and I loved it then and I loved it now. I really can’t fault it. So, why aren’t I rating it 5 stars? I suppose because while it was great, it didn’t have any moments that made me want to do this:
My Verdict: 4 stars
Words Read & Written 
This is one of the few YA books I enjoyed through and through. Unfortunately the sequels are disappointing.
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Yeah… I’m halfway through the second and am pretty disappointed so far.
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This is one of the few YA books I enjoyed through and through. Unfortunately the sequels are disappointing.
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Yeah… I’m halfway through the second and am pretty disappointed so far.
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Thanks for the interesting review. I think you make a good point re 5 star ratings.
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Yeah, I don’t know. It just didn’t feel like a 5 star book. I really liked it, but I didn’t finish it feeling like, oh my god!
I don’t know, it’s hard to explain 🙂
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Thanks for the interesting review. I think you make a good point re 5 star ratings.
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Yeah, I don’t know. It just didn’t feel like a 5 star book. I really liked it, but I didn’t finish it feeling like, oh my god!
I don’t know, it’s hard to explain 🙂
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I did a review on this book as well. I didn’t care for the book really. I have the entire series and haven’t made it past the first book.
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It’s funny how subjective reading experiences are. What’s a young adult book you really loved?
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I have so many that I loved. I mostly read young adult, but my favorite would be Hunger Games or The Mortal Instruments series.
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I’ll agree with The Hunger Games. I wasn’t so keen on The Mortal Instruments 🙂
I remember really liking The Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong. I should read that again.
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I have been meaning to read that series. I am currently reading Kelley Armstrongs series Women of the Otherworld. Not a young adult book, but I can imagine that if I like them I will enjoy her young adult books as well.
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I did a review on this book as well. I didn’t care for the book really. I have the entire series and haven’t made it past the first book.
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It’s funny how subjective reading experiences are. What’s a young adult book you really loved?
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I have so many that I loved. I mostly read young adult, but my favorite would be Hunger Games or The Mortal Instruments series.
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I’ll agree with The Hunger Games. I wasn’t so keen on The Mortal Instruments 🙂
I remember really liking The Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong. I should read that again.
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I have been meaning to read that series. I am currently reading Kelley Armstrongs series Women of the Otherworld. Not a young adult book, but I can imagine that if I like them I will enjoy her young adult books as well.
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I enjoyed this book, too, and its sequels, though I don’t think the whole “choice” concept was executed as well as it could have been. Basically, what it comes down to is that Calla only stops to think she doesn’t want to marry the guy she’s supposed to (I forget his name
), because she develops feelings for someone else. Shay has an important role to play in helping her see what’s wrong with the world she lives in, but I think it would have been more powerful if their relationship had been platonic.
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I think it worked in the first book, I’m not liking their relationship nearly as much in the second.
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I enjoyed this book, too, and its sequels, though I don’t think the whole “choice” concept was executed as well as it could have been. Basically, what it comes down to is that Calla only stops to think she doesn’t want to marry the guy she’s supposed to (I forget his name
), because she develops feelings for someone else. Shay has an important role to play in helping her see what’s wrong with the world she lives in, but I think it would have been more powerful if their relationship had been platonic.
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I think it worked in the first book, I’m not liking their relationship nearly as much in the second.
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