Quickie Review: Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
Nightshade series, book three
Philomel, 2012 - Owned in personal collection

I finished Bloodrose the other day. While I was happy to know how the series turned out, and relieved that book three was better then book two, Wolfsbane, I was still disappointed in the trilogy as a whole. I will be donating them to my Library in hopes that some other reader finds them and loves them the way I’d hoped I would.

So, why was I disappointed?

While I didn’t have the visceral reaction some readers did, the way that Cremer wraps up Calla’s love story was too neat. Not only does one love interest get removed from the situation so that she doesn’t have to really make a choice, but she also has the one potential obstacle to her happiness with the other fairly neatly dealt with...I think 8 years ago when I bought these books maybe I would have been happier to just embrace the HEA, but between feeling emotionally removed from the characters and now expecting far more complexity from my main characters and book plots, I almost felt cheated. Real life is way messier than that and I just wanted...more I guess.

I was happy that Calla took a little more charge of her own destiny in this final book, but for a girl who was supposedly strong enough to inspire others she still felt somewhat wishy-washy to me. I felt more strongly connected and intrigued by side characters like Adne, Connor, and Bryn. Not to mention Sabine. Honestly, Sabine was the character I wanted Calla to be...the choices she continuously made were difficult, but you never doubted her resolve. She knew what she wanted and what she was willing to do to get it. Even Calla said how she admired Sabine as their story progressed.

Final thought - An eventual mostly satisfying conclusion to the plotted storyline marred by a less than satisfying romantic plot.

Starting with a hiccup...and a disappointment

*Sigh* I suppose to go into my 2018 Books I Already Own Challenge and expect there not to be any hiccups in my reading plan would have been too optimistic, huh?

The new year started yesterday and so did my reading challenge! I was stoked.  I lined up a second book in a trilogy - one where I'd loved the first - trying to give myself a really great starting point.  Ah, best intentions...

So, I discovered that my plan to just jump right in and read all the books I own but haven't previously read has a fairly significant hiccup.  I forgot to factor in that many of the books I've bought were in fact bought YEARS ago.  I am very rarely a re-reader and I have a somewhat stellar memory for books that I've read, but even my powers of recall can be severely tested. 

For example, what I started my challenge with yesterday was the book Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer, book two in the Nightshade series.  I started reading, excited, as I remembered loving book one (hence why I own books two and three, in hardcover no less!, even though I haven't yet read them).  Sadly, as I read and realized I couldn't recall much of anything about the world, other than the main three characters' names, I looked back and saw I'd read Nightshade in 2010.  SEVEN years ago... wait, almost EIGHT now. 

Eight years of hundreds and hundreds of other books... and life experiences... to bump any recall I had about the plot of Nightshade right out of my little brain.  So, I got about a quarter of the way into Wolfsbane and then had to decide do I just forge ahead or do I go back and re-read the first book as a refresher. 

I'm a stubborn girl and re-reading was not part of my master plan so I forged ahead.  While Cremer manages to dump a lot of info onto the reader about the world in this book (seriously, it's one major info dump), she delved very little into what had actually happened in the previous book.  So, I found myself primarily focusing on where the characters were now and where they were going.  Which would be great if this was an adventure or mystery series.  But... when it's a paranormal romance based on a love triangle and one character is mainly absent for the whole of book two and you can't remember what their relationship was like in the first, it's very frustrating and hard to rekindle that connection you had with the characters. 

Add on to that a frustration that the main character does not seem as strong as you remember... and a desire to learn more about the side characters that suddenly seem more interesting than the intended trio, and you have a reader struggling to push through the bad middle book of a trilogy, just to dive into the final book and finish the series once and for all.

Sadly, as I start book three today, I have a feeling that I will be donating this pristine set of books to my Library so that someone else can enjoy them after I'm done reading them.  What had seemed at one point like a set I NEEDED to own, now is just taking up desperately needed space on my bookshelves.

And, I have to decide in the future if I want to take the time to re-read the book just prior to where I'm picking up a series as I go forward in the challenge. I think I may start looking at how long ago I read the original book and factoring that into my monthly reading plans.  So... you may not see reviews for every book that I read during this challenge (especially if I choose to reread) but I'll be trying to give you some updates and reviews on the particularly interesting books, good or bad. 

Recommended Werewolf Reads: Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause, The Parasol Protectorate series, starting with Soulless by Gail Carriger, or The Immortal Empire series, starting with God Save the Queen by Kate Locke.

What's On My Hold List?

Welcome to the October 2013 edition

of

"What's on My Hold List?"

One of the most beautiful things about working in a Library is that I have the ability to put lots of things on hold and read them *before* I buy!! These are some of the books that I'm currently waiting for, though I may buy one or two of them after reading, as well.

I realized that I haven't done one of these posts since MAY! Wow. Being busy over the summer really put a cramp in my style...LOL. But, I'm happy to bring back this monthly post! Hopefully, you can let me know what you guys are all waiting for, too...

Allegiant
by Veronica Roth
Divergent, book three

Dead is Just a Dream
by Marlene Perez
Dead Is, book eight

Father of Lies 
by Ann Turner

In the Age of Love and Chocolate
by Gabrielle Zevin
Birthright, book three

Long Live the Queen 
by Kate Locke
Immortal Empire, book three

Summer of the Wolves 
by Polly Carlson-Voiles

You can click on each title to go to their Amazon page for a description...

So, these are the books I'm waiting anxiously to get my hands on...what are you waiting for??

This Week's Library Loot (6)

 


Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!

My Library Loot:

Rise

by Andrea Cremer

Nightshade prequels, book two

 

Drama

by Raina Telgemeier

 

 

Falling Kingdoms

by Morgan Rhodes

 

So, that's what I picked up at my Library this week... did you swing by yours? 





What's On My Hold List?

 

Welcome to the January 2013 edition

of

"What's on My Hold List?"

 

One of the most beautiful things about working in a Library is that I have the ability to put lots of things on hold and read them *before* I buy!! These are some of the books that I'm currently waiting for, though I may buy one or two of them after reading, as well.

 

Rise

by Andrea Cremer

Nightshade prequels, book two

 

TeenBoat!

by Dave Roman, illus. by John Green

 

The Cadet of Tildor

by Alex Lidell

 

You can click on each title to go to their Amazon page for a description...

 

So, these are the books I'm waiting anxiously to get my hands on...what are you waiting for??



Dead is a Killer Tune

Dead is a Killer Tune

by Marlene Perez

Dead Is series, book seven

 



High school freshman Jessica Walsh is a Virago—a woman warrior who must protect her hometown from danger. And in Nightshade, California, trouble is always lurking. At the town’s Battle of the Bands, Jess’s boyfriend, Dominic, and his band, Side Effects May Vary, are up against Hamlin, a band so popular, their fans follow them everywhere. Soon, the competing musicians are doing risky, illegal, and even fatal things—and claiming that they heard strange music that compelled them to do it. Can Jess and her friends track down the tuneful tyrant before it’s too late? (description from Amazon.com)

I love this series and I love Jessica as the new main character. It's great to see some of the main characters from the first five books in the series make cameos, but the new crop of "Scooby Gang" keeps things going just fine! I really like the Virago angle and still find Nightshade to be a town full of mysteries. 

I thought that the Pied Piper element of this story was very well done. I loved the way that it integrated into the battle of the bands.  The introduction of some new characters and elements also paved the way for some intriguing romantic developments...

These books may not be stellar literature, but they are one of the series that I have to read as soon as the new book comes out.  Each book is just a fast, fun little foray into an intriguing world and I rip through these almost *too* quickly.  If you're looking for a quick read, I would wholeheartedly suggest the first book Dead is the New Black.

Full disclosure: Review copy received from publisher

Rift

Rift

by Andrea Cremer

prequel to Nightshade

 

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind. (description from Amazon.com)

 

It's been a little while since I read an Andrea Cremer book and I'd forgotten how easily she draws me right into the Nightshade world! Now, this book is a prequel, so it takes place in an older society, and I thought she did a really great job fleshing out this time period. Though many things are still secret (we are dealing with a secret sect of a religious army derived from the Templars, after all), the process by which the initiates choose and are accepted into their branch of service was well thought out and interesting, and the power structure of their world was explored just enough to be illuminating, but Cremer wisely withheld enough to make things very intriguing for the sequel...

 

I liked the very Celtic feel of this time and place.  This was strongly enhanced by listening to the narrator of the audio book, Sile Birmingham, who did an excellent Scots accent.  With action, romance, and a very creepy "bad guy," I cannot wait to dive into this world again in the sequel, Rise, which will be coming out this spring.  

 

 

 

Full disclosure: Audio book received to review for AudioFile Magazine

Covers Comparison - Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer

These are the original hardcover versions of Nightshade and Wolfsbane.
Nightshade's cover was brushed and beautiful and the deckled edges of the pages gave even more character to the book. I was really looking forward to the matching book, Wolfsbane, when it came out this fall.

Andrea Cremer just announced on her blog, however, that they redesigned the Nightshade cover for the paperback edition, and created a matching cover for Wolfsbane. So, the cover you see above is no longer the cover for Wolfsbane.



Though I like these new covers (they feel very urban fantasy to me), I think I actually preferred the originals. If I had not seen the originals, I might be more inclined to love these...but I'm not sure... What do you all think?

Get to Know...Andrea Cremer

photo by Gina Monroe

I am beyond excited to welcome Andrea Cremer, author of the awesome Nightshade, to the blog today! Recently I reviewed Nightshade and told you all how much I loved it...you can check out the review here.

Nightshade, published on October 19, 2010, is the beginning of a trilogy. The main character, Calla, is a Guardian (werewolf) that has always known her purpose in life and her destiny to marry fellow Alpha wolf, Ren. Things change, though when a mysterious new boy comes to town. Shay challenges, not only Calla's relationship with Ren, but also her unflagging loyalty to the Keepers.

I love the “Guardians” in Nightshade. The way that they truly are wolves in “human clothing.” How did you create such primal feeling werewolves?

I grew up in the woods of Northern Wisconsin and spent as many days outdoors as I could. Traditional werewolf tales didn’t appeal to me because they were lacking in comparison to the beautiful, mysterious wolves I admired in the wilderness. In the Guardians I wanted to create a new wolf mythology that reflected the traits I love in wolves and wolf packs.

The wraiths and other enforcers employed by the Keepers were also awesomely terrifying. What type of research did you do to decide what creatures to use and what they should look like?

The wraiths and Keepers didn’t require research – they’re simply products of my crazy imagination. Wraiths appear in many different types of myths and can range from zombie-like to demonesque. I wanted my wraiths to resemble smoke or shadows because I think that the most frightening creatures are those that easily slip in and out of sight.

I have to say that you have one of the best love triangles I’ve read in quite awhile in Nightshade. Did you develop one guy before the other? Did their developing personalities affect each other? (I am firmly Team Ren btw…)

Thank you! Both Shay and Ren surprised me (most of my characters do at some point) when I started writing Nightshade I thought I knew both guys and what their “type” was, but fortunately for me and them their histories and emotions were much more complex than I realized. Neither affected the other’s development – they each just managed to assert their individual quirks, strengths, and flaws on their own. *Wait until you read this book! Each guy is awesome in their own right. Very, very well done.

I know that Wolfsbane is scheduled to come out next year. I can’t wait! Are there more books planned for this world?

Nightshade is a trilogy. Wolfsbane (book 2) will be published on July 12, 2011. Bloodrose (book 3) will be out spring 2012. I’m also writing a fourth book which is a prequel to the series about the origins of the Witches War – it’s set in the 1400s. *I'm over the moon excited to read all of these, and am especially intrigued about the origin of the Keepers, which will be explored in book four.

If you could give one piece of advice to Calla what would it be?

Find your own path.

What was the last book that you read that you would recommend to other readers?

I just read Beth Revis’ Across the Universe, which will be out in January. It’s an amazing book!

Quick Picks: Favorite Vacation Destination? Favorite Childhood Book? Favorite Movie? Favorite Food? Favorite Clothing Item?

Vacation: Italy
Childhood book: Watership Down
Movie: Last of the Mohicans
Food: Spaghetti and Meatballs
Clothing item: Silk blouse, pencil skirt, and tall boots

Andrea, thank you again so much for taking the time to answer my questions! I encourage everyone to read Nightshade immediately! :P Also, check out Andrea Cremer's website and blog for more information.