Wolfsbane (Nightshade 2) 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. (Goodreads)

The book starts right after the last one ended. Calla wakes up in the custody of the Searchers and they make her an offer; to help them to take down the Keepers. She’s still trying to choose between Shay and Ren and along the way she learns more about the history of the Guardians, Keepers, and Searchers.

I really loved Nightshade and I’ve wanted to get my hands on this one but I have to say I’m kinda disappointed. The first half was so boring with page after page telling the history of the war but it got better towards the end.

Calla goes through huge change in this book, and not all for the best. Gone is the confident leader and she’s turned to this unsure, easily-trusting-person who probably lost half her IQ along the way. I mean she grew up thinking The Searchers are the enemy and she spent a week in chains and when they unchain her explaining they need her help, she just agrees? Just like that. I’m not convinced it’s should be that easy. At all. There were few times that I just wanted to slap her really hard to get her to understand. There were so many hints dropped that even I figured that out and I’m not exactly rocket scientist…

There was way too much telling about the history with dialogs that went on and on and quite frankly I just skipped most of them. Maybe I missed something but I just don’t care.

I’m not sure if my biggest complain is that there’s hardly any Ren in the book. I started to think if I read the books just for him and I just might be right…

I still find Shay very annoying and for the life of me can’t understand why Calla would choose him! I wasn’t fan of him in the first book and I’m even less in this. He gets mad pretty much every time someone mentions Ren and can’t remember that’s its him that stole another’s intended mate in the first place?!

We get bunch of new characters who are Searchers and I liked Connor. I really hope he’s in the next book too! I wasn’t huge fan of Adne but I think she would be good with Shay. Especially if it means Shay won’t be with Calla… Then there is Ethan. Guardians killed his brother and he hates Calla from the start, and all the guardians. But when he sees Sabine he is awestruck from the first. Seriously?!

All in all it wasn’t bad but it could have been so much better and it did get better towards the end. I’m hoping the next one is better but I’m fearing for the worst. I read couple reviews of Bloodrose and I’m already having problems with it…

3/5
Published: Atom (2011)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 390
Source: library

Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls 3) by Maggie Stiefvater

Sam has always loved Grace. As a wolf, he watched her from afar. As a boy, he held her in his arms.

Now facing the possibility of a life without her, he will do anything to keep her safe. Even if it means facing his demons. Even if it risks everything he has.

Anything, as long as their love can survive… (Goodreads)

Sam doesn’t turn into wolf anymore but now Grace turns when weather gets colder. When a girl’s body is found and Isabel’s father and the town wants to hunt down the wolves.

I’m having hard time writing this and I still don’t know what to think or say about this book and I’ve had 2days to think about it. I loved Shiver and I enjoyed Linger but I have to say I’m disappointed with Forever. And I wanted it to be great!

The book is very slow and nothing happens, action or emotional wise. Sam is just moping since Grace has gone away and you would think they will have great emotional reunion but no. I didn’t feel any chemistry between them and I feel like they were completely different from Sam and Grace at Shiver. I would have liked to see more of Sam and Beck and how Sam felt after hearing more about the time when he was turned.

I felt like there was no answers but just more questions that wasn’t answered. And the thing that disappointed me most was the ending. I mean how can a book end like that?! Did I miss chapter or two? It just ended!

I’m just so sad that it had to end like this and it feels like a totally separate book from the serie.

2,5/5
Published: Scholastic (2011)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 496
Source: library

Nightshade (Nightshade 1) 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? (Goodreads)

Calla is the alpha female of the younger generation of her werewolf pack. In Calla’s world there are werewolfs called the Guardians who serves witches called The Keepers. The Keepers are in war with Searchers who used to be part of The Keepers. Calla has always known her future: to bond with Ren, the alpha male of the other pack, and to form a new pack with him. But when their packs are beginning to merge, things start to change.

When Calla is on a patrol she comes across human hiker, Shay, being attacked by a bear and can’t let him die. But when Shay turns out to be a new student in Calla’s school things are about to get complicated.

I’m glad to tell that I loved this book! I’ve read so many great reviews and I feared I would end hating it and I’m glad I was wrong.

Calla is strong, has a sense of duty and knows what is expected of her. She has been raised as a warrior and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. I liked her and the fact that she wasn’t a damsel in distress waiting for someone to save her.

And of course there is the love truangle.
Ren is the young alpha male of the Bane pack – hot, womanizing and he’s used to girls fallin’ at his feet. But he is lot more insecure about Calla than he pretends to be. I may or may not have a liitle crush on him…

Then there’s the human boy Shay. There’s something about him that Calla can’t let him die and ends up saving him against every rule. I kinda liked him but had some problems too. He keeps insulting the werewolves and can’t understand Calla’s loyalty to the Keepers. And he has problem with the tradition of bonding with someone who’s been chosen to be your mate. Because Calla’s should be able to choose for herself and of course Shay is the right one for that. I thought he was little selfish at times.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked Shay but I could have lived without him too. I liked Ren and I think he was much better for Calla and didn’t understand the need for love triangle. I just wanted more Calla-Ren scenes.

I’m surprised that there wasn’t any characters who really annoyed me. Because I didn’t hate Shay but just didn’t like him to be with Calla. And I would have liked to read more about Mason and Nev. Now there would have been a story!

I’m looking forward reading the next book and I’m hoping there will be more Ren in it!

4/5
Published: Atom (2011)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 454
Source: library

Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls 2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Grace and Sam must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping dangerous secrets. For Sam, it means grappling with his werewolf past …and figuring out a way to survive the future.

But just when they manage to find happiness, Grace finds herself changing in ways she could never have expected… (Goodreads)

Sam has found a cure that keeps him as human but his problems aren’t over yet. Grace’s parents seems to hate him more every time and then there’s Cole, one of the new wolves Beck made in the last book. And Grace gets fever but feels that it’s not just ordinary fever…

I’m glad to say that I liked this as much as the previous one! The book is told from 4 point of views: Grace, Sam, Isabel and Cole. I think it was great addition to hear the story from Isabel’s and Cole’s side too. Isabel seems more “humane” since last book, she’s gone through a lot since her brother died and feels guilty. At first I thought Cole was just an ass but I grew to like him.

After Grace’s parents finds Sam sleeping with Grace they freak out and starts trying to get some control over the situation. In Shiver they were never there and acted more like a teenager than Grace and then suddenly they think that Grace is supposed to do like they say. No, I don’t have kids and I understand how Grace felt about that one.

I enjoyed this but I didn’t have that same feeling that I need to know right now what’s gonna happen. But still very quick read!

Can’t wait to read Fever!

4/5
Published: Scholastic (2010)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 420
Source: library