Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Nightshade series #1) (Review)

Genre:	Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Publication.Date	October 19th 2010
Pages:	452
Published By:	Philomel (Penguin)
Website	Andrea Cremer  | Nightshade series
	Nightshade - Goodreads
My review copy:	Won in a giveaway
Where to get:	Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

     Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of 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?

(goodreads.com)

"It's called hegemony. Angonio Gramsci. Look it up. A system of rule whereby the oppressed are convinced to support the system of oppression, to invest in it, believe in it. But it still means at the end of the day, you and the other Guardians are slaves."

     "I’ve got a bottle full of hydrochloric acid in my hand, Ren. Don’t piss me off."

     "I looked toward the back of the room. Ren watched us as he leaned casually against the table, holding a pair of scissors. I’d never seen a classroom tool look so dangerous."

     "And you look beautiful,” she added. “I look like a cake.” “But a beautiful cake."

     "If you stick me again, I’m going to make your head my personal pin cushion."

    

The real test of a man is not how well he plays the role he has invented for himself, but how well he plays the role that destiny assigned to him.

JAN PATOCKA, attributed, In Pursuit of Destiny"

  

     Nightshade by Andrea Cremer is a riveting read – a delectable and compelling tale with everything that a good story should have: breathtaking romance, beautiful setting, vivid and unique characters, danger, sacrifice and tough choices.  

     Calla Tor is a young Guardian, an alpha female and the leader of the Nightshade wolf pack.  Guardians are shapeshifters, who can magically turn into wolves anytime they want. They are sworn to protect the Keepers and must abide by their rules. In return the Keepers provide them with anything the Guardians need to live comfortably. There are also Searchers. The Keepers and the Searchers used to be one, but then something happened that caused a schism between them and they’ve become sworn enemies. 

     In the mountain town of Vail, where Calla lives and attends school, there are two Guardian packs: The Nightshades and the Banes. The Keepers have, however, decided that a new pack should be formed and assigned to protecting the sacred site, a cave named Haldis. The new pack will be consisting of five young Guardians each from both Nightshades and Banes and it will be formed with the union of Calla and Ren. The ceremony will take place on Calla’s and Ren’s 18^th birthday and after that the two alphas will lead the new pack as mates. 

     Calla has always been prepared for her destiny. She accepted it and never even considered revolting against it. She knows what is expected of her and she understands that this is the way things are meant to be. She trusts the Keepers and their wisdom.  And she genuinely likes her future mate, Ren. He might be famous for dating every girl at school and he’s not exactly what you’d call a stable boyfriend, but with their union getting closer with every day, he started acting more responsibly.  The future doesn’t seem all that bad at all and Calla is content with the way things are. Everything changes when, during one of her routine patrols around Haldis, she runs into Shay. Shay’s life is in danger. Attacked by a bear, he’s only moments away from being ripped into pieces.  Not thinking about the consequences, Calla steps in and saves the boy’s life. This decision will change her life forever.

     Not a single thing about the Nightshade world is explained to us at the beginning of the story. Andrea Cremer doesn’t waste time trying to fill us in. You won’t find long, boring passages laying out the mythology of this fascinating world. Right from the very first page you’re thrown right into the middle of the breathtaking action and, as you go deeper into the story, you gradually learn more and more about the world Andrea created. It wouldn’t work in most of the cases, but with this particular story it works like magic. It makes this book so delightfully addictive and gripping that once you start reading, you won’t be able to pause or cast it aside. 

     Calla is a very likable protagonist, and well drawn, as are Cremer’s other characters.  She’s strong, brave, faithful to her pack and family, smart and sexy. She’s not afraid to stand up for herself and for the people she cares about.  Above all, she’s not a winy character. The girl really has to go through a lot. The Keepers have long decided how her future will look like, they dictate her every move and even her life partner has already been chosen. Calla has no say whatsoever in what goes on in her life, she can either follow the Keepers’ orders or die. And despite all that, there’s not a single moment when you hear her complain, she doesn’t have mental breakdowns and you won’t catch her feeling sorry for herself. She understands that she has an important role to play and she accepts that responsibility with grace. Well, at least until Shay shows up!

     There is not a single thing that I didn’t enjoy about this book.  It’s emotionally satisfying and incredibly compelling. Full of twists and turns, well paced and rewarding, it’s exactly the kind of book I’ve been craving for. The chemistry between both Calla and Ren and Calla and Shay is simply fantastic, it's definitely one of the best love triangles I have ever read about! The plot of this phenomenal page-turner is well thought out and full of surprises. What else could you possibly ask for?
   
     Nightshade stands out from the broad palette of Young Adult books.  Dear aspiring writers, please learn from Andrea Cremer, this is how you write books!

Coming soon from Penguin

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer (Book #2 in Nightshade series)

Expected publication: July 26th 2011 by Philomel

This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended–Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and 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