Book Review: Andrea Cremer's Nightshade

Book 1 of Andrea Cremer’s Nightshade was indeed a thrilling read.  Cremer created a spectacular world with her riveting YA tale about witches and werewolves.  The story opens up when alpha werewolf, Calla Tor - a young member of the Nightshade pack – is patrolling the wooded mountains in Vail and saves a mere human boy from being ferociously attacked by a bear.  Early in the first few pages, we learn how Calla has done the unthinkable.  She not only saves the boy, Shay, from being mauled, but she heals his wounds and exposes herself, shifting from wolf to human form.  It was suspenseful to say the least when as the reader you get an immediate sense of her conflict.  I absolutely loved how her innermost thoughts severely clashed with the decisions she made.

As a member of the Nightshade pack, Calla is on the verge of becoming the mate of Ren, the alpha of the neighboring Bane pack.  The union was supposed to unite the two packs and was determined years ago by the Keepers; a group of elite and powerful witches that rule over the werewolves, and god knows what other creatures.  Despite being young and commanding, Calla is innocent and has never so much as veered off her intended path until she met Shay.   And then, of course, her whole perfect, subservient world began to crumble.  As a senior at a local high school, the packs never socialize with the humans except for attending the same high school.  Calla never suspected she’d see the teenage boy until he walked into her first-period class and sparked a forbidden fuse. 

The story then starts to unfold into a dark world of power and dominance.  The werewolves are guardians of the keepers, and their role is pivotal in the war of the witches.  Uniting and protecting the Keeper witches against another rival group of witches, named the Searchers, is their only purpose in life.  Or so that’s what Calla, and the others have been feed their whole existence.  After meeting Shay, Calla begins to learn more.  And the more she learns the more she loathes the world she lives in.  What will Calla do as she uncovers the Keeper’s secrets?  Who can she trust?  And what about her betrothed, Ren?  She’s attracted to him, but is he truly the one meant for her?  Was meeting Shay only a coincidence or was it fate?  I won’t tell you what happens but its goooooood! 

There’s nothing better than discovering a thrilling YA series.  Without a doubt, Nightshade was a 4.5 for me.  I was catapulted immediately and loved every part this tale.  Wolfsbane, Book 2 is out right now and boy, oh, boy…I can’t wait to read that book!

Mina B.