Review: FOLLOW ME THROUGH DARKNESS by Danielle Ellison

Happy Release Day to Danielle and FMTD!!! 

*dances around the room throwing confetti*

*About the Book*

The truth won't always set you free.

Less than a year ago, Neely Ambrose’s biggest worry was having the freedom to follow a path that wasn't chosen for her.

Less than a year ago, she believed she could trust the Elders who said they had everyone’s best interest at heart and who said they were keeping them safe from the outside.

Sixty days ago, she discovered what they had planned for everyone she loved—and that all of it centered around her.
Now she’s on the run through a dangerous wasteland full of killing machines, secret organizations, and people who want to sell her back to the Elders for their own safety. The whole world outside the Compound is living proof that everything in Neely’s life was a lie manufactured by the Elders, which may even include the boy she loves.

All Neely wants is the truth, but each new piece of it drives her further from what she thought she knew. With only forty days until everyone she loves falls under the Elders’ mind control, Neely must decipher who to trust, what questions to ask, and how to get one step ahead of the Elders, who will do anything to keep their secrets buried.

Click to buy! // Add to goodreads

*My Review*

Ack. This book about killed me. I loved everything about it, from the kick butt characters to the awesome setting. Danielle weaves a fantastic tale about love, friendship, and heartbreak. Her pattern of writing the story in true time and then flashing back to previous dates really sets the story and allows the reader to understand what is happening without having to have started the story from Neely's childhood. I found that I was experiencing many of the same emotions as Neely and even the other characters, mainly Bayard, Thorne, and Xenith. 

Throughout the story, Neely is learning many life lessons and testing boundaries, whether they are her own or someone else's. One day life is perfect and she couldn't imagine anything else, then she realizes there is more to their life in the Compound and she sets out to discover what is the truth and what is a lie. She is determined, strong, courageous and her love for her family and need to save them and everyone else keeps her going. I plan to reread this one soon and I can't wait to see what is in store next!

*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

*About the Author*

Danielle Ellison spent of her childhood reading instead of learning math. It's probably the reason she can't divide without a calculator and has spent her life seeking the next adventure. It's also probably the reason she's had so many different zip codes and jobs.

When she’s not writing, Danielle is usually drinking coffee, fighting her nomadic urges, watching too much TV, or dreaming of the day when she can be British. Danielle is also the author of SALT and STORM, a series about a snarky witch without magic. She has settled in Northern Virginia, for now, but you can always find her on twitter @DanielleEWrites.

*The Tour*

Oct 13:

The Cover Contessa (Brooke)

Oct 14:

Chasm of Books (Stephanie)

Books As You Know It (Taherah)

Oct 15:

Paperback Princess (Nicole)

My Dear Bibliophage (Kira)

Oct 16:

Adventures in Writerland (Heather)

Worn Down Glories (Katie)

Oct 17:

Lovely Reads (Serenity)

To Read or Not (Marcie)

Oct 20:

Zili in the Sky (Zili)

Crazed Bookie (Edmiary)

Oct 21:

Lost in Ever After (Kristi)

Xpresso Read (Giselle)

Steele Review (Raychelle)

Jeanz Book (Sandra)

Oct 22:

A Dream Within A Dream (Stephanie)

A Life Bound by Books (Lisa)

Oct 23:

Who R U Blog (Liza)

Bumbles and Fairytales (Margie)

Oct 24:

Curling Up With a Good Book (Beth)

Writers by the Shore (Heather)

*Giveaway*

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I would love to hear what you thought about FOLLOW ME THROUGH DARKNESS or why you want to read it so please leave me a comment below! =)

Review: FINN FINNEGAN by Darby Karchut

Finnegan MacCullen: 

a thirteen-year-old apprentice with the famous Irish temperament.

Gideon Lir: 

a legendary Celtic warrior with a bit of a temper of his own.

Secretly, these blue-collar warriors battle the hobgoblins infesting their suburban neighborhood...when they are not battling each other.

Finn (not bleedin' Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures.

Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn's survival.

Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of "fighting Irish."

Image and description from GoodReads 

* REVIEW *

When I started FINN FINNEGAN, I immediately knew that I was going to love the characters even if I didn't know where they were going to take me. I even read through the characters lines using the same Irish accent. Finn (not Finnegan) is a quick-witted, temperamental thirteen year old. He has grown up with his aunt and uncle along with their many children and now he is finally the only child is a house with a Knight. Not exactly common for most thirteen year olds, but for his race of people, the Tuatha De Danaan's, that is something to which they look forward. For Finn, training with a Knight, especially one such as Gideon Lir, is going to change his life. Earning a torc, a sort of necklace that Knights wear, is somewhat of a coming of age experience. To earn his torc, Finn must face the Amandan, kill one, and survive.

Finn was a fun character to get to know and to follow in the story. His relationship with Gideon really isn't a master and his apprentice, but more of a father figure and and son. It's not only because of how much they care about each other but also because of the way they interact and are teaching each other (Gideon is certainly learning almost as much as Finn). The story was really emotional at times and I was experiencing the same feelings the characters were expressing.

I particularly enjoyed the journal writings by both Finn and Gideon because you got to see the differences and similarities in them and how they perceive each learning experience. It was also a chance to see them unguarded. The next book, GIDEON'S SPEAR, can not come out soon enough. I will just have to bide my time by re-reading FINN FINNEGAN. While this is a Middle-Grade novel and I typically read Young Adult, I still found it a great read with the interesting Celtic lore and the great writing by Darby Karchut.

-This review is based on the Advanced Copy and not the final published version.

Thank you, Spencer Hill Press, for the review copy!! =)

Review: EMBERS IN A DARK FROST by Kelly Keaton

The Fire Breathers have come. The Underworld calls. A choice must be made…

With her feared half blood and flame-colored hair, DEIRA D'ANU is a constant reminder of human betrayal and the war that claimed the light from Innis Fail. Now, darkness and frost creep across the land, strengthening the Lord of the Underworld. War is imminent—an allegiance with the Fire Breathers is vital. When their champion, Balen, sees Deira, he believes she is the key to finding the light and stopping the dark frost.

But the Underworld calls to Deira, tempting her to turn her back on a world that never cared and betray the champion willing to sacrifice everything to keep her safe and save his world from darkness.

Description from Amazon


This is one incredible novel. When I first read the summary, I knew this was going to be a great read and it exceeded my expectations. I was immediately intrigued by the world of Innis Fail, especially Deira and Balen.

There are five Houses, four of which represent the gods and goddesses. Descendants of the House of Anu have the power to control water. Those in the House of Sydhr are known as the Fire Breathers. The Houses of Taranis and Dagda represent Air and Earth respectively. The Underworld is the fifth House and is controlled by the most powerful and oldest Danaan, Nox. His goal is to make sure Deira and Balen do not succeed in returning the Light to Innis Fail.

Deira D'Anu is a very likable character. She is passionate, determined, free-spirited, and tired of living in the shadows. Having both a human and a Danaan parent, Deira is a halfling. She is regarded coldly and looked upon with fear and disgust by her family, the House of Anu. Deira's path is forever altered when she is given a chance to briefly come out of the shadows and unintentionally draws attention to herself and her bright red hair.


Balen, the King of the House of Sydhr, recognizes Deira instantly and knows he must lead her to fulfill her destiny, one that she does not know about. As the story unfolds, Deira learns more about her worlds, both human and Danaan, than she ever thought she would. She learns about trust and friendship with Balen and the Sydhr people, which is something she did not have with her own family.

I quickly read through this story and am eager for more. Kelly Keaton's writing style had me easily visualizing the scenes and brought me into the story with Deira and the other characters. I will definitely be reading this one again. I do wish that I could get a paperback or hardcover copy though as it is currently only available for e-readers.

Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck. (From GoodReads)

My Review:
Half-Blood is one of the more unique novels that I have read recently. Jennifer L. Armentrout brings creativity and a fresh voice to the YA genre. Her writing style and world-building was captivating. As I was reading, I was able to easily visualize the scenes. The setting is as much a character as Alex and Aiden. The setting is unfamiliar, yet one can clearly visualize it. The setting reflects the mood of the scene and helps to enhance it. I loved that the writing was new and different from other authors. It definitely stands out from the rest of the genre and will entice readers and hook them from the first pages. From the synopsis, I knew that this was one that would be enjoyed and I was not disappointed. When I receive my final copy, I know that this is one that I will be reading over and over.


The characters are easy to connect with and I found myself experiencing similar emotions to Alex.  She faces many trial throughout the story and it is only the beginning. She continually overcomes them even when she doubts herself and her abilities. She has a great personality and a feisty nature which is very useful to her situations. She is fun to grow with as the novel progresses and it will be interesting to see where her story goes in the future. The love interests are very entertaining. Aiden seems to be very serious, but as readers get to know him, they will discover another side to him. He is very interesting and a literary hunk. He is charming, attractive, strong willed, and caring. Seth, on the other hand, comes off as very annoying because that is how both Alex and Aiden perceive him, but I feel that there is much more to him than we have seen. I hope more will be revealed with the release of Pure next year. I am still firmly in Aiden's team though.


There is so much more that could be said about Half-Blood, but it really is one that must be read. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I won't say anymore. I do suggest reading Daimon before Half-Blood to better understand the opening scene of the latter.

A HUGE "Thank You" to Bethzaida at Bookittyblog for sharing her ARC and hosting a book tour that allowed me to read this story before its release. =) I am really grateful that she allowed me to participate in her tour.

Don't forget that you can leave comments and questions for Jennifer L. Armentrout on her blog as well as check out her other novels in the works. If you prefer to leave them here, then I will be happy to pass them along. I hope you will share your thoughts here as well. =)


--Raychelle

*Disclaimer: This review is based on the ARC version and not the final publication.

Review: Exiled by M.R. Merrick

Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. Failing to develop any elemental magic on his fifteenth birthday left him exiled in a world full of half-demons, and no hunters to protect him. When Chase discovers the Circle's plan to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world, he vows to stop them. Knowing he can't do it alone however, he accepts help from Rayna, a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret. As the pair attempt to stop the Circle, Chase realizes working with a demon is only half the battle. When they find themselves in the middle of the Circle's plan, it leaves one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other's life depending on it. (From )  

My Review: Exiled is a very well written debut novel from M.R. Merrick. I found the story to be captivating and will leave readers wondering what will come next. Chase and Rayna's relationship is very interesting. Chase has grown up believing that all Underworlders are evil. Then Rayna enters his life and he is forced to re-evaluate all that he has ever known. Another hunter, who was presumed dead, tries to help Chase understand that the Circle has been corrupted and that they are not protecting the innocent as they claim.

I really enjoyed the relationships that M.R. Merrick creates in Exiled, the first in a series. He builds Chase's character from the introduction, as he is the narrator. Chase's mother Tessa is also a strong character and is Chase's rock. They rely on each other to get through. Rayna is a fascinating character. She has the eyes of a feline, but there is much more to her than meets the eye. Her feisty spirit is really fun to read as the story unfolds. The plot is definitely different because although it deals with demons and the mortal world, M.R. Merrick adds his own creative elements to the story to keep it unique and enjoyable to read. I definitely recommend putting this on your e-reader. You won't be disappointed.

--Raychelle

Review & Giveaway: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

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. (Synopsis from Goodreads) 


Do you remember that superbly written novel by Andrea Cremer? Yes, that one, the ever captivating Nightshade, in all of its amazing scenes and edge-of-your-seat goodness. Well, it has a sequel and it releases in less than a week! I'm sure you've heard of Wolfsbane by now, but if not, please stop reading and check out Nightshade first. My review isn't going to have spoilers for Wolfsbane, but you may find some from Nightshade. I will try to keep it as spoiler-free as possible.

My Review: Andrea Cremer has done it again! She has written another novel that can't be put down. With this epic sequel to Nightshade, she has done what many great authors before her have, which is to create a to-die-for sequel. Most sequels are the typical second book, the one that sort of ties up loose ends and answers questions from the first book while leading in to the third. Wolfsbane is definitely not one of those novels. Yes, it does have all of those elements, but Ms. Cremer gives the book a voice of its own. It is not just the second in the series, it is a beautiful, compelling novel, that leaves readers literally begging to read Bloodrose (the third novel). With the well written characters, and the one-of-a-kind plot, this series is bound to be one to top the charts and your reading piles.

Wolfsbane continues right from the end of Nightshade so readers are not missing any of the crucial scenes. Calla's strength and loyalty is put to the test many times during Wolfsbane. She has been taught that the Searchers are the enemy, but during the Samhain she learned to trust herself and began to uncover devastating secrets. She had always trusted the masters and they had always provided for the Guardians. When her world changes she must decide what is more important, fighting for freedom or living with the truth and knowing it is too late to change. When she makes her choice, events unfold that will change her life and those she loves forever. In Wolfsbane, she is determined to see her pack safe and unharmed and she is not prepared to face the reality of what remains. Shay is still the fun-loving guy that readers can't get enough of, but he has faced many changes of his own. Together they must decide how to move forward in their plans to reunite with Calla's pack. Readers are introduced to some spectacular new characters that are sure to work their way into your hearts. Prepare for Wolfsbane to tug at your heartstrings with the tragedies, laughs, and accomplishments that make this story so fantastic. I will admit that I got a little teary-eyed a couple times, but with the way Wolfsbane is written, it is hard not to get caught up in the emotions of the characters.

There really is so much more I could say about Wolfsbane, but it will not do the story or Ms. Cremer justice. This story demands to be read and offers so much in return. Readers will be thinking about Wolfsbane long after they finish the last page and will be eager to read it again. Bloodrose can not come soon enough, but with the good feelings will also be sad because Calla's story is to good to finish. I look forward to reading of her journey many more times. Hopefully we will see more of these characters in the future and I definitely can't wait to see what the future holds for Ms. Cremer. Maybe a new series? (wink wink)

 If you enjoy this series, why not tell her? Visit Andrea Cremer's blog or her website to leave a comment.

--Raychelle

Oh and since I believe that you NEED to read these wonderful novels, I will be giving away one of them to you. =) The giveaway will close on August 27 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be chosen on August 28.

To enter you need to leave a comment telling me why you love Nightshade, or if you haven't read it, tell me what interests you about the series. You also need to tweet, blog, or facebook about the giveaway and post the link with your comment. Please see my giveaway policy for other rules and details. 

Following not required but is appreciated. How else will you know about new reviews, giveaways, and cover reveals? =)



--Raychelle


*Note: I won this ARC from the author.

Review: Firelight By Sophie Jordan

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy. Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Review: I absolutely loved this book! The plot is fantastic. One doesn't often see such cleverly written novels about draki, or dragons. I was a little skeptical for that very reason, but there was something about it that made me take another look. I am very glad that I did. Sophie Jordan's writing style is very well developed. She has published other novels, but this her first in the YA genre. I think she has done a fantastic job at writing for teens. Firelight is a novel that could convert any a person who dislikes reading into one that cannot stop. It is really that good. Ms. Jordan dragged me into her fantastic world where I was held captive until the very end.  

 
The characters and love interests are very well developed. Jacinda is very strong and determined. She experiences many trials before she realizes that happiness may well be within her reach. She not only has to fight to preserve herself but also for her family and Will. Jacinda will do whatever it takes to keep her future bright and stay "alive." To do so, she has to have Will in her life, even if that means putting the lives of other draki in danger. Her development is important to the story and to the series and she is well on her way. Will is a fabulous love interest. I found myself cheering for him from the very beginning. When Will is first introduced to Jacinda, you know that he is not like his family. He is much different from them in many ways, but to avoid spoilers I will say that he is much more sympathetic and curious. Will really develops in this story and I can't wait to see how much of a role he plays in Vanish, the sequel. Cassian remains a mystery throughout the story. Sometimes he is possessive and uncaring, while oter times he is sincere and kind. He I the future leader of their pride and is a very strong draki. He wants Jacinda for himself. She is mostly uninterested, but is a little unsure of her feelings.

The epic tale will have readers' hearts torn in many directions and desperately awaiting the next book. The characters and relationships are eloquently built. Readers will find that they dislike some and love other right along with Jacinda, and with good reason. This story is definitely worth a trip to the bookstore or library to check out. You won't regret it.  I know that I will be reading this again (possibly twice) before the sequel, Vanish, is released.


--Raychelle

Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.
 

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

I will try not to be super fangirly when writing this review, but I thought this book was uber fantastic! Yes, I said uber. Once you read this book you will understand why I chose that word. There are just no words to describe the awesome that is Starcrossed. The story is based on Greek mythology, or more specifically The Trojan War. Ms. Angelini definitely did her homework when writing this story. It is obvious to readers that she thoroughly researched the topic, but what is even more impressive is that she modernized the story in such a way that makes readers also want to learn more about it. She was able to convey her story in a way that reaches readers on an emotional level. Starcrossed is beautifully written. There are no "hangups" in the flow that would make one stop and question what was just read. I was so entranced with Starcrossed that I was depressed when I learned that I was over halfway through the book. I wish it was so much longer. Luckily, the second book in the trilogy, Dreamless, is already completed and will be released sometime in 2012. The sooner the better I say, because you can never get enough of this heartbreaking tragedy that Ms. Angelini has created. 

The plot is to die for, literally. Helen and Lucas are a power couple. There interactions are so real, but also so magical. When they first meet, they are overwhelmed by one another which leads to an altercation. No matter how hard they try, they cannot stay away from each other. Helen and her father have quite the relationship. Their interactions are quite comical, especially when they are alone. Her father, Jerry, is quite a character himself with his quirky comments. He knows how to help Helen, but also when he should drop the subject. He provides the support that she needs. The entire Delos family is something to behold. Each is dreamy and otherwordly. The descriptions of the characters creates such a vivid picture that it is almost as if the reader is in the scene watching it unfold. The setting is also given wonderful descriptions. Helen's Nantucket is as real to readers as it is to her.


As much as I love Lucas, I have to say that Hector may actually be my favorite character. He is tough, challenging, and of course full of pride,  but he also has a softer side. He delights in provoking Helen which I enjoy immensely. Jason and Ariadne are also very interesting. Evey character is given a wonderful personality even if it is one you hate, although I won't spoil it by giving names. I also loved watching Lucas and Jason. They had an understanding of one another that showed a deep bond. They didn't even need to speak to know what the other was thinking. I know there are other wonderful characters that I did not mention, but that is because I don't want to create too many spoilers.


I hope I didn't give too much away and that you all go out and buy this book NOW, because it is seriously that good. Josephine Angelini's debut is one that shocks and awes me. Starcrossed is a spectacular novel and an even more spectacular debut. Well, I hope I got everything that I wanted to say into this post, but if not, you may see an update tomorrow. =)


--Raychelle

Review: Shadow Days (A Nightshade novella), By Andrea Cremer

Shadow Days is a great prequel to Nightshade. This novella is 84 pages and contains a lot of information regarding Shay and his past. Ms. Cremer continues to amaze me with her imagery and character building. This novella allows readers to become more familiar with Shay and who he is/was before attending the Mountain School. Nightshade begins right where Shadow Days ends so readers are not going to miss anything. If you haven't read Nightshade yet, then I suggest starting with this fantastic prequel. If you have read Nightshade but missed out on this, then I recommend you read it anyway. It is a great story and it is from Shay's POV so you gain more of an understanding about him and his relationship with his Uncle Bosque. It is not repetitive to anything in Nightshade, although some situaions are briefly mentioned in the novel to provide a background.

Please visit this site to read Shadow Days and for information regarding the Nightshade series and Andrea Cremer. There are also several videos featuring Shay as well as the nightshade trailer.

Feel free to leave comments, questions, suggestions, and recommendations in the comment section. =)

--Raychelle

Review of Nightshade By Andrea Cremer

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? From Goodreads Nightshade (Nightshade #1)

 

Andrea Cremer's Nightshade is by far one of my favorite books! It has so many elements that capture my interest. The characters are so real and the story is relatable. Readers will feel like they are a part of this world and are sure to find themselves sharing emotions with the characters. Calla Tor, the Nightshade Alpha, is such a strong character. She has always known that she will mate with Renier Laroche, and she has never questioned her destiny until a chance encounter that leaves her world changed forever. Renier Laroche, the Bane Alpha, is the perfect mate for Calla. He is a natural leader and commands the attention of everyone, including the human girls. Ren is naturally possessive of Calla, knowing that they are to be united soon. Shay is...well, what can I say about Shay? He is everything that readers hope for in a love interest. There are no words to adequately describe him, but I shall try. Shay is the light in Calla's dark. He is not afraid of Calla and does not back down from a challenge. He is funny, passionate, strong, and curious. Throughout the story, one learns a lot about Shay and I started to root for him as the story progressed. It is hard to choose between the two love interests because their personalities are practically opposites and Calla finds herself attracted to each in different ways. The young Banes and Nightshades are equally impressive. Each is unique and strong and brings another element into the story. 

Andrea Cremer's writing style is amazing. Each word is crucial in creating her world and she does so with such grace. This writing and the story has such a natural flow that I was immediately caught up in it. The plot something very different from other books (at least those that I have read and searched). As the story progresses and one learns more about the reality of the Keepers, the Guardians, and the Searchers, he or she will find that some secrets are more dangerous than others. The cliffhanger definitely left me craving more. It was kind of as if my world just stopped at that moment and couldn't pick up again until I had Wolfsbane. That is how great this story is. If you were debating on purchasing this book, I recommend that you do so. And fast! Wolfsbane will be released in July '11, so there is still sometime to fall in love with this book and Andrea's writing, as I have, before the second book is out. 

For an excerpt from Nightshade, visit this website (http://www.nightshadebook.com/) and it is also available on Goodreads. To purchase Nightshade please visit Barnes and Noble or Amazon. 

Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me if you would like to read this book, what you think about my review, or what you think about Nightshade if you have already read it. Also visit Andrea Cremer's blog to tell her how fantastic she is! She can be found here.

 


UPDATE: Keep an eye out for my review of Wolfsbane and your chance to win a finished copy!