Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Nightshade Review

Nightshade

Product Description

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 Take: I'm seriously doubting my love of werewolves. Calla is a completely spineless victim, poor thing.  She's betrothed to the most popular boy at school and he's totally, smokin' hot but then there is the new boy, Shay.  He's human.  Also totally, smokin' hot.  Both want her.

Calla is also a victim of her own body. She can control her change from girl to wolf and back, but she is an utter idiot when her fingers brush against Shay's or Ren touches the small of her back.  She melts, feels electricity, becomes a puddle, groans, and runs away.  Wow.  Great alpha for her pack.  If she doesn't start developing a backbone, I think I'd be running off by now.  Maybe she's just in heat. All. The. Time.

Meanwhile, her disgusting Keepers are circling the pack and showing their muscle.  They are in charge.  There is no questioning.  Keepers get to do whatever they want with their packs.  That, in and of itself is an appropriate conflict.  Especially with Shay, the human boy, challenging the ways.

I don't mind a little sensuality but Calla lacked personality for me.  She was simply a dog in heat who responds to every little touch by her love interests.  Okay, over-responds.  I'd like to have gotten to know Calla a little better and at least learned to like her.  The best developed character was Ren so I thought Calla was an idiot to not embrace the union, at least at first.

Again, with a trilogy, the danger is to drag out the stories until the reader is yawning.  Another great beginning, action packed ending with a cliff-hanger, and a middle that had to be endured.

3 stars

2 comments:

CountessLaurie said...

I think I will wait until all three come out and read them in one fell swoop. I can't handle another cliffhanger.

Violet said...

I really enjoyed reading your review of Nightshade. I am a YA fanatic and this book has been on my wishlist since I first heard about it, but I am not usually a fan of spineless heroines so perhaps I won't like Nightshade as much as I'd hoped.