Book Review: Andrea Cremer's Wolfsbane

Book 2 in Andrea Cremer’s Nightshade series is Wolfsbane. I’ll do my best not to mention too many spoilers, but that may prove impossible.  First, for those that haven’t had a chance to read Book 1, Nightshade, take a moment to check out my review.

In Nightshade (Book 1), we left off where Calla made a choice to save Shay; her secret love or the Scion who would tip the scales of the War of the Witches from the Keepers to the Searchers.  In Wolfsbane, Calla, originally a Guardian for the Keepers, awoke in a place of her enemy, the Searchers' abode.  In her wake, she left behind her betrothed, Ren, her family and above all her pack. She left them for love, for Shay and in doing so, she sealed her fate and the fate of her loved ones to the merciless, sadistic transgressions of the Keepers. 

Wolfsbane had a sluggish start for me.  Overall, I liked the story, but it left me feeling conflicted -- very much like its protagonist, Calla.  Before I grumble a bit, let me start by reiterating how much I love the intricate & beautiful world Andrea Cremer created.  It’s breathtaking at times to say the least.  My main issue was with Calla’s uncertainty about her entire situation.  As an alpha wolf, her indecision seemed odd or out of place. However, when you consider her entire life was uprooted, I guess it’s understandable.  Still, Calla was constantly second guessing her decisions, including her love for Shay & then Ren. I adore love triangles, but this one confused me. To me, it was obvious in Nightshade that she chose Shay. Even so, with all the doubt plaguing her throughout Book 2 and still doubt after she chose Shay, I was like huh?  Furthermore, Calla's shock at how her pack was treated by the Keepers was equally perplexing.  As a reader, I found myself asking the question: what did you expect?

Is it okay to enjoy a book even though your disappointed in the main character(s)? I have to say that's the way I felt.  There are times when I've read a series, and then I stopped because of the disappointment in the story lingers. That's not the case here. Despite Calla’s relentless doubt and or flawed decision-making, I still found myself suspended in the action-packed adventure of the Searchers, the Guardians and of course, the Keepers.  Now that some of those irrevocably life-altering decisions were made, I have to know what happens with Shay, Calla, Ren and the rest of the gang.

Wolfsbane was a 3.75 for me. I enjoyed it and am definitely committed to finishing this YA series.  Click here to read Bloodrose Chapter One.  Whew...boy, oh boy!  You have to read this one.


Mina B,

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Hi, minions!  Welcome to one of the biggest book blog hops of the year...the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & The Diary of a Bookworm.  With over over 400 blogs participating, you can bet there will be some amazing giveaways.  Halloween is one of my favorite holidays - which shouldn't be that much of a surprise, huh?  Like most of my giveaways, I've gotta give a shout out to my Free Sh** Fairy.  Once again, he worked his mojo and sourced one heck of a giveaway.    


For this year's spooktacular book giveaway, I'm giving away one (1) copy of book 2 of Andrea Cremer's thrilling YA Nightshade series, Wolfsbane!  If you haven't had a chance to read book 1, Nightshade, take a moment and check out my review.  The series is truly addicting.

To enter…

You MUST be a follower of my blog and MUST fill out this entry form. (And yes, I do check GCF)

Extra entries…
+2 For Becoming my Fan/Like on Facebook/MinaBurrows
+2 Subscribing via email to my blog
+1 if you Retweet this on Twitter (limit 1 retweet)

Again, the giveaway runs from 12:01 AM on Oct. 24th - October 31st, midnight. Contest is open to International participants. 

Want to see who else is participating?  Visit I Am A Reader, Not A Writer or The Diary of a Bookworm and check out all the links and hop on by.

Mina B.

Summer Giveaway Hop: Winner

Congrats to Angela / Library Lady; the lucky winner of the Summer Giveaway Hop and recipient of Andrea Cremer’s Nightshade.  The Winner will be notified by email and will have no more than 72 hours to respond before another winner is drawn. Winners are selected by the reputable Random.org. 

For those of you that haven’t had a chance to read this killer YA tale, check out my review or better yet, read an excerpt from Andrea’s website.  

Special thanks to everyone who participated, commented and thanked my Fr** Sh** Fairy!  Woot!  Love that fairy!  In addition to all that love, I have to give another WOOT to the blogs that put this hop together:  I’m a Reader, Not a Writer and BookHounds.  Thanks you guys. 

Until next time…

Mina B.

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.

Summer Giveaway Hop

Hi, minions!  It’s hot right about now and thank the gods for this cool a** Summer Giveaway Hop!  Over 300 blogs are participating for a full week hot book giveaways.  For those that don’t know, the Free Sh** fairy was having a devil of a time deciding on a book so I conducted a poll on his behalf.  And thanks to my fans on Facebook, my fairy now has a book.  And this hop's giveaway is…Andrea Cremer’s Nightshade! 

International bestseller, Nightshade is Book 1 in Andrea Cremer’s riveting YA paranormal series.  If you haven’t read the book, check out an excerpt from her website.  Oh, and be sure and enter to win so you can see what all the hype is about.  And if you’re still not convinced, stay tuned this week as I review the YA tale and give my take on it.  Also, for those of you that don’t know, Book 2 in the series, Wolfsbane, just released so this series is hot, Hot, HOT right now.

Before I forget, be sure and thank the Free Sh** fairy for all he does.  He’s a prickly thing at times and frankly…lives for praise.  *exasperated sigh*  Just like a man, eh?

I'm # 105

Anyway, let’s get to it...

One (1) lucky winner will win one (1) copy of Nightshade. How’s that for a giveaway?  Yeah, I know.  I give thanks daily to my Free Sh** Fairy too.

The Summer Giveaway Hop runs from 12:01 AM on August 1^st on thru August 7^th, midnight – so you’ll have plenty of time to enter!

To enter…
You MUST be a follower of my blog and MUST fill out this entry form. (And yes, I do check GCF)

Extra entries…
+2 For Becoming my Fan/Like on Facebook/MinaBurrows
+2 NEW/OLD Followers on Twitter @MinaBurrows
+1 if you Retweet this (limit 1 retweet)

Again, the giveaway runs from 1212:01 AM on August 1^st on thru August 7^th, midnight. Contest is for US residents only.  Want to see who else is participating? Take a look at the links here and hop on by.

Mina B.


(Note: The Winner will be notified by email and will have no more than 72 hours to respond before another winner is drawn. Winners are selected by the reputable Random.org.)