Andrea Cohen

The poems in Andrea Cohen's Nightshade, her sixth full-length collection, are constructed from the wisdom of loss--of lovers and loved ones and a world gone awry. Cohen builds a short poem the way a master carpenter does a tiny house, in lines that are both economic and precise, with room enough for sorrow and wit to exist comfortably in their spaces. The great pleasure in reading these poems is their surprise in the way the endings arrive again and again in startling truths: The bride whose dress is sewn "from a hundred/tattered flags/of surrender" and the ever-present reminder of the title poem that the things of this world are both "poison and . . . balms" that "We /call . . . bitter- / sweet--what / living isn't?"

Nightshade

Andrea R. Cremer

Vicky  Nuñez 

Great werewolves book, but not my favorite. I found myself tiring of this book wanting to put it down. Overall, I think it's a nice good book, not a great one.

Stefanie  Uwah

Characters: I have tried writing about the characters in a way that would make me not sound like an annoying ignorant teenager. I have deleted many a paragraphs because I wanted to sound somewhat intelligent and not like a blabbering idiot. But I have come to the conclusion that I cannot write a review on this book without sounding like I have lost some sense. I cannot not rant about the ill contrived characters present in this novel. It is physically, mentally, and spiritually impossible for me to do. So I am going make a list of great literary works and philosophical theories. I do this with the hope that reading the list before you read the rest of my review will counteract the intelligence--well, lack thereof-- present in the following paragraphs. Proceed with caution. 

-Aristotle's Allegory of the Cave
-Man's Inhumanity to Man
-Frankenstein's monster is in actuality a reflection of Frankenstien's fears
-Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
-Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
-The Iliad by Homer
-Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
-Archetypes that cycle in literature of our generation.
-Existentialism
-The Stranger by Albert Camus

 Okay, so...characters.

 Calla was a lame excuse for an alpha. She was incredibly weak and had zero backbone. Her pack mates would just talk back to her and defy her and she wouldn't do ANYTHING! My goodness girl! The reader comes into the book thinking Calla will be very assertive and head strong, but, alas, she is not. Her pack blatantly defies her and she is a poor excuse of a leader. Calla also acted a bit...hoeish. She would just flip-flop between Ren and Shay and let both of them do practically whatever they wanted. She would spend time making out with Ren and then be all over Shay in a second. And let me not get started on Shay. Shay acted like an idiot. He risked Calla's life so many times and had the nerve to tell Calla he loved her. When Calla says, "If I read that book, I will DIE," (paraphrased of course) Shay just offers her a "sheepish grin" and says "Aren't you curious?" Dude, I'm curious to see what happens when somebody actually wakes up a grizzly bear from hibernation but you don't see me splashing water on its face. He knew Calla for less than a year and he was trying to break up a marriage that was arranged for over 16 years. The boy is an idiot. Now Ren. Ren was very typical and predictable. He was the bad boy who ended up being insecure and a big softie. I was not a huge fan of his, but he was wayyy better than Shay. Bryn, Calla's bestfriend, was not much of a bestfriend. She wasn't really there the majority of the book. I also thought the romance between Bryn and Ansel, Calla's brother, was not put together well. They make out once and then they are in love. I thought Ansel was a bit too sweet and "funny". He is16 years old, not 10. So to sum everything up, none of the characters seemed real or believable.

Plot: ...There was a plot? Oh, unless you count Calla's flip-flopping between guys to be a legitimate plot. Okay though, seriously? There was a semblance of a plot in the last 50ish pages but it was very sloppily put together. This was the kind of plot where the characters were just asking to get caught. Boo.

Writing Style: Hated it. Cremer tended to sound like a teenager. An annoying, whiny, hoeish one. Cremer also barely explained herself. In the very first scene of the book, Calla shifts from a wolf to a human in front of a human boy. The boy is stunned and I assumed it was a mixture of shock from seeing a wolf change into a girl and the fact that she was naked. It took the book 75 pages to explain that when a guardian/wolf shifted forms, their clothes did not, in fact, rip off. The Guardian-Keeper-Searcher relationship did not mesh for me and actually left me feeling a bit confused. The history of the Guardians was not put together very well and was very very boring. I did not think this Nightshade needed to be as long as it was. Some parts of the book were unnecessary and did not aid in further developing the story. All in all, this book felt messily put together.

Verdict: 1/5 stars. I never want to hate books. But I really despised this one. I will NOT be reading Wolfsbane. I don't want to write another scathing review on it.

P.S.Who else dislikes the new cover of Nightshade and Wolfsbane? It looks very cheap :/. But I do like how I can tell the same model was used on each cover.

mevi

***No Spoiler Review***

I liked this book a lot because obviously, werevolves. Also because it was different from most I've read. They actually have "masters" and "mistresses" and there are Keepers, Searchers, Guardians, and so forth.

Most of the book was full of suspense and was amazing, except for the fact of how the character reacted to men, I mean, come on.

Near the end of the book was predictable as day, anyone and their mother could figure that out.

But, the book in entirety was a nice read and I can't wait for the next book.

Lauren hughes 

Elizabeth Neill

First off I loved this book.At first I didn't really like Shay but then he grow on me.If it was up to me Calla should be with Ren.I liked him a lot better the Shay.I liked Calla ok but there was something I didn't really like about her. I just put my finger on it.I really liked the world building in the book and it was a great story line. This is one of the best young adult werewolf book I have read in a long time. I can't wait to go on with this series.

Jill Connors

Another amazing book by Andrea Cremer! It was a fun love triangle but much different than the usual ones. A must read for werewolf lovers or shapeshifter lovers! AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andrea Cremer

The first book of the internationally bestselling Nightshade series by New York Times bestselling author Andrea Robertson! Calla is the alpha female of a shape-shifting wolf pack. She is destined to marry Ren Laroche, the pack's alpha male. Together, they would rule their pack together, guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But then, Calla saves a beautiful human boy, who captures her heart. Calla begins to question everything - her fate, her existence, and her world and the orders the Keepers have asked her to follow. She will have to make a choice. But will she follow her heart if it means losing everything, including her own life? Calla's story continues in WOLFSBANE. *formerly published under Andrea Cremer*

Book 1

Bethany Lacey

When reading the Blurb/Outline for this book I thought it sounded interesting and intriguing and when I began reading it was promising and different. But a few chapters in and I was like wtf?!

I was majorly confused with the Keepers and Guardians of it all; up until she told Shay I thought the Guardians were different to the Wolves... Boy was I wrong. 

Then there was the whole Shay-Ren issue. It wasn't even an issue! Sure Ren was a bit of a man whore but please, give the guy some credit! All he wanted was to spend a little time with Calla and she just would not have it. I mean, WHY?! He wasn't with any other girl or anything, he didn't pressure her into anything and he was what a strong male companion should be. So why the fuck did Calla choose Shay? At first I liked him and then he just began to irritate the fuck out of me. Always making Calla do forbidden things. Can't he see the trouble he's getting her into? He just kept popping up unwanted and it got to the point where the only reason I wanted to finish this book was to see him die. But did he? Nope. Calla ran off with him - from her own Wedding. Who does that?

This book in my opinion was promising as it had a good plot, good characters (Shay not included)but just did not go anywhere due to the fragile human. I am saddened to say I will definitely not be reading the rest of this series!

Kelsi Proulx

This book was ok but definitely not great. I had more problems with it than things that I liked, and it took about 3/4s of the book for me to really get into it and even start caring what was happening.

I found the characters pretty annoying, particularly Shay. He basically believes Calla deserves better than Ren because he thinks Ren is too controlling...which is true. However, my issue with this is that Shay is just as controlling as Ren is! Talk about hypocritical! The other characters were just too young for me and there was a lot of focus on the teen club scene, which is not something I care about at this point in my life.

Then there was the fact that the werewolves shimmer when they shift...that's right, they shimmer. I thought we learned that sparkles/shimmers was not what we wanted from supernatural creatures after the twilight craze? Apparently this author missed the memo.

Overall, not a bad concept and there were some exciting moments, but for the reasons above I won't be in a big hurry to continue with this series.

Amy Grieve

Part of my recent werewolf binge I just couldn't resist. 

First of all, this cover is breathtaking. Just though that I should put that out there. 

Nightshade was beautifully written all the way through but I found myself getting a bit tired of the story nearer the end. 
I loved the whole dynamics and loyalty of the wolf pack and think that if they made it that far the Banes and the Nighshades would have made a great pack. 
Mason and Neiville. Love.Love!
Brynn and Ansel. Love!
Calla and Ren. Love! Love! Love!

Shay...hate!
Yes I am team Ren and I am not bothered what others think. I thought that Shay was pushy and irritating and personally I would have loved to show him that just cause he likes don't mean he can take.

Kerry Gibbons

Pretty exciting, action-packed sexy teen novel filled with a LOT of bad decisions and questionable choices. The love triangle created is pretty riveting and it's hard for the reader to decide which guy is better for our protagonist. 

If you can make it past the first chapter, the book improves immensely. I understand why she started it the way she did, but I spent the first chapter confused, annoyed, and frustrated, trying to catch up to speed with what was happening. 

Totally ready to read the next book in the series, Wolfsbane but I'm on the damn waiting list for the library ebook.

ashley hopkins

Wow that's all I have to say. I absolutely loved this book it brings a whole new perspective to wolves. I know that's probably been said tons of times before, but it truly does. It shows the different ways one can become a "were"wolf rather then it just being in the genetics. It takes it ahwile, but it does tell more of the guardians and seekers history. It was fun to learn about the worlds that Andrea Cremer made. Where the Seekers are pretty much the Guardians masters whether they see that or not.



The whole time I was reading this I'm like I have to finish it now. I want to know what happens with the whole love triangle between Calla, Ren, and Shay. This book really does have everything though. The romance, action, high school drama, hot guys, bitchy girls just the normal stuff.

If you to see a fuller review go to my blog... :)

Sarina Sherman

4.5 stars ✨ 
What is it about Keri Lakers words that can just transport me into an entirely new world? Ugh. I loved this guys! The world building, past & present, everything. It’s best to go in blind. The reason this wasn’t 5 stars for me was that it was a little slow while the twists were a bit more predicable, and the storyline felt a bit messy. But it still had that classic Keri Lake Imagery, where reading it just feels like watching a movie. So good. And so excited for the second one, I’m hoping with the origin story that one will easily be 5+ stars 🥰

Olivera Mitić

I really had a hard time with that love triangle, let me tell you. I am probably one of the few who couldn't decide on whose side she is. Ren was such an AMAZING character. I really loved him. On the other hand Shay was quite alright himself and I actually thought he matched well with our main protagonist. 
Going through this book was pretty hard. I was in a big reading slump and this thing had a lot of information and you needed a lot of time to even find out what the hell is happening there, but you don't know what is even when it ends. This was such a cliffhanger.



If you look at this novel as a whole, it was quite good. It is a fine first in a series, action packed, full of mystery and a love triangle that doesn't annoy you (a lot). 
I am really looking forward to reading the sequel, but IT STILL ISN'T TRANSLATED INTO SERBIAN AND I CANNOT AFFORD THE ACTUAL ENGLISH COPY (look at the gif. I mean, that is what my face looks like at the moment). 
Peace, out.

Jade Flynn

** spoiler alert **
           Normally, in these love triangle books, the girl always chooses the boy that i want her to be with. This however did not happen. I just didnt understand Calla and Shay's relationship, and if i'm honest I didnt care for it. I mean where were the fireworks! And I certainly didnt care for Shay. In the scenes with Calla and Shay i just wanted Ren to turn up.

I did really like Calla - shes strong and knows what she wants. I also felt a connection to the minor characters (which is rare for me) such as Calla's beta and Ansel. Also, Mason and Neville! GAY WOLVES! I certainly didnt expect that! Oh, and I am pissed (mind my french *slaps own hand*) that because i live in the UK i am unable to get my *paws* (do you get, ay ay!) on a hardcover copy! I have to settle for the paperback, which dont get me wrong is really nice, but I hate the spine! It looks horrible on my bookcase! 

Overall, i throughly enjoyed this book. It's certainly a page turner. So I am looking forward to the next installment 'Wolfsbane' which is hitting bookstores in July! 

P.S (I hope Ren is present a lot more).

Kenna Armstrong

I know, I haven't really posted a real review in a while, so I'm going to give this a shot. 

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?

First off, this story line was absolutely phenomenal. It was something I have never really seen before, but I loved it anyway. Calla, despite what I have heard from other people, was a complete and total badass. I loved her through and through, and understood where she was coming from, even though she did kind of irritate me at times. Shay...gah I can't stand him. I love Ren more than the world, and if Calla will finally realize that she's meant to be with Ren, even after all of this, I will be happy!

Brandie States

I loved this book. The story was amazing, the characters felt real enough to touch, and the love triangle kept you wondering the entire way through the story. The ending wasn't one I expected, but it wasn't horrible either.

Jessica Nottingham

Where do I start with my love for this book? Seriously. If I'm not careful this review will simply turn into a gushing mess and you'll all run away, which is exactly the opposite of what I want. No I want you, dear readers, to understand why it is so important that you go and purchase a copy of this book the moment that it comes out! So I'll try to keep my mushy fandom to a minimum. I'll try.

I also promise that I won't spoil Nightshade for you. You have my word!

First off I must profess my love for Calla. Oh Calla! She is everything that I love about a female protagonist. As Calla is the alpha wolf of her pack, she has an outwardly tough demeanor. She gives orders, takes charge, and even is willing to bend the rules a bit if necessary. Calla takes her rightful place among my top 10 favorite female characters of all time. I wish to applaud Andrea Cremer for her creation of Calla and her fellow packmates! From the moment I met them in the story I was hooked. There was no turning back for me, and I read ravenously right on until the end.

To keep things mysterious, I won't tackle Calla's love triangle too deeply. I'll simply say that both Ren and Shay, Call's love interests, are delicious. Did I just describe male characters as delicious? You bet I did! Each comes to the table with their own set of traits to fall in love with. Calla ends up torn between what her heart wants, and what her world dictates she should want. Classic love triangle.

The storyline is amazingly well-paced and the pages just fly by. Before I knew it, I was turning the last page and gasping in anticipation of what comes next. It was over all too soon. What I appreciated most was the delicate balance between all out action and the romance aspect. Truthfully, that balance is very important to me when it comes to feeling connected to a story. Andrea Cremer walks that line perfectly and crafts a story that I fell deeply in love with!

Vague enough for you? As I said, I won't ruin the story! I want you to experience this for yourself. I recommend Nightshade with my highest seal of approval. It comes out in a matter of days, so mark it on your calendar and go get a copy for yourself!

Raven’s Books

{from Greek Translation} 

I honestly enjoyed this book. 4/5⭐

It did bug me how some female characters where treated by some of the male characters, as well as some of the male's opinions that were dripping "masculinity" BUT considering how other characters fought back those comments and the fact that the characters are part of a wolf pack and have behavioral characteristics of a wolf - ex. when Ren was territorial over Calla, that's how a wolf would be with his partner-, I can't blame the author for the choice.

I also enjoyed the plot twist, although part of it I saw coming. Extra points for Calla's choice being driven by not just love but a deep need to find the truth and a way to save her pack.

Hannah Nugent

Monicap

Sandrin

Melissa Railey

Fie Rosenlyst

She can control her pack, but not her heart . . . 'I wanted him to kiss me-wished he could smell the desire that I knew was pouring off me. You can't, Calla. This boy isn't the one for you.' 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?

Nightshade

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