Bloodrose (Nightshade)

I am usually not prone to write reviews, however after reading some of the previous reviews for this novel I felt that I needed to. I almost didn't read this series (there are two previous novels, Nightshade and Wolfsbane)due to those very same reviews. But alot of the complaints centered around this book, and the shocking events that happened within. I was sort of prepared because I HAD read the reviews, however once I finished the book I was astounded that people had called Calla "selfish". She was so far from selfish that it's not even funny. Her life was dedicated to doing what she thought was best for her pack. However she did walk away from an arranged marriage to be with someone she loved, so I guess doing ONE thing for herself makes her a "selfish" person. Another critique was that she was "cold-hearted" and "manipulative". I can see where they might see her as manipulative. In my opinion, I did not see her overall character as manipulative, the way she played both Ren(the mate chosen for her) and Shay(the mate she chose)could be seen as manipulative. However, considering the fact that they were at war, Calla is an alpha, and she needed both of them to help when the battle, I think most would forgive her for her choice. And it's not like she didn't have feelings for both Ren and Shay - she did. And even up till the end she struggled between the two. Did her heart always lead her towards Shay? Yes. But that does not mean she did not care for Ren. But life is not always easy or simple.Don't get me wrong - I really enjoyed the character of Ren and was very upset when he died. And yes, Cremer could have went with any other number of endings for the book. However, I really enjoyed the fact that Cremer stepped away from the "norm" and gave us a surprising and heart-wrenching ending. The way she stood over Ren's body and at first refused to let anyone near him really pulled at my heart. And the way she refused at first to face the fact that he was gone really made you want to cry your eyes out. But the fact that Cremer could - number one, surprise us like that, and - number two pull that sort of reaction from us is what made this an excellent book. Very few authors have the nerve to kill off one of their main characters - one of the supporting ones, sure - but very few do away with such a charismatic character like Ren. I did wish at the end that Cremer had also went into the viewpoint of the wolves and let us know how they were feeling after they lost their human selves and became solely wolf. I think that may have helped us move on from Ren's death some. But, overall a five-star book. After being an avid bookworm for over 20 years, very few manage to surprise me and also pull that kind of emotional reaction from me.Many reviews expressed their dislike of Bloodrose, and felt it detracted their enjoyment of the first two novels. For me, it was the exact opposite. The first novel, Nightshade, I really had to struggle to keep reading. I found it somewhat boring and too much like other novels from this type of genre. The characters really did not pull me in right away - they seemed kindof lackluster and bland. By the end though, Cremer had me wanting to read the next one to find out what had happened and would happen to Calla, so I started the second one, Wolfsbane. This one was much better, and I knew once I started that I would be finishing the third on that same day...LOLAll in all, I would recommend you take a chance on this series - despite the reviews. Apparently, this is one of those sets of novels that you either love or hate....but it is definitely memorable and worth the read! And not one you're going to forget two days later!

* 4.5 stars ***If you haven't read Nightshade and/or Wolfsbane, this review will be very spoilery for you!**Bloodrose picks up right where Wolfsbane left off. Calla and Adne are going to find Ren and attempt to bring him to fight on their side with the Searchers.The Searchers are ready to gain the last 3 pieces needed for the Elemental Cross, and then with the help of the Scion, win the war against the Keepers. This book is devoted to these things, as well as Calla's ultimate decision between Ren and Shay.Everything comes to an explosive end in this final installment in the Nightshade series. Calla finally finds out whether or not all of the sacrifices made in the past & the ones yet to come will have all been worth it. "I didn't know where love would lead me, but my pack would always be at my side. More than anything else, that was what mattered."- - -I suppose the first thing I should say is that I did NOT rate this book on whether or not Calla chose the boy I preferred most. I was always a Ren-lover. I never liked Shay, and I prayed all through reading this that he would die so Calla could be with Ren. I won't give anything away (although all of the reviews I have seen pretty much already have), but you pretty much can assume from the beginning that one or the other is going to kick the bucket. Calla was torn straight down the middle as far as I could tell. I really didn't know how on Earth she would choose unless one of them went bye-bye. So - my rating is based on the book as a whole, and on how good I think it was as a finale - not on who Calla ended up with.The only thing I hated (hence the .5 star I took away) is that the prologue wasn't from Calla's POV. That made me mad, but other than that - I was happy.This book is packed full of everything I've loved from this series so far - passion, longing, wittiness, banter, intensity, action (LOTS of action), sacrifice, plot twists, surprises galore.. just everything.One of the things that I most enjoyed was that Andrea took us all over the world, and to the craziest places - from the belly of a volcano, to diving beneath the ocean. I think the imagery was described to perfection. I was mesmerized by every word of this book. I felt the emotions Calla was feeling through their travels and adventures.The love triangle was intense, but it didn't take up the entire novel. For me, Bloodrose had just the right mixture of romance and story. This book was an emotional roller coaster. People were hurt, died, saved - I went through a half a box of tissues during the second half of the book. Nooooo lie. I was in tears so many times.There are surprises, and not all of them are good. There are things that you would never have expected to happen - and you are either going to LOVE this book, or you are going to HATE it. I just do not feel like there is a middle ground. Andrea took some insane risks with it, but I am definitely grouped in with the people who love this book. I was floored by it, and I think it was the almost perfect ending to the series. "Love wasn't forged by circumstance or changed by sorrow. It simply was. Fierce and free as the wolf within me."

I was a little bit worried having read the 2 previous so mixed reviews about this book and almost didn't bother getting this one but because I have loved the last 2 books in this series and really needed to know how it ends I went for it. And I am so glad I did. It was so nice to have all the old characters back again and Nev and Mason just get better by each book. Calla is a bit of a nightmare as she knows how much she loves Shay but she just can't make up her mind about Ren. I mean if you love someone that much what is there to make your mind up about? You feel like needing to give her a slap at times! I loved the way Ren grew in this book and how he matured into a man rather than the arrogant teenager we remember. There are a lot of twists and turns as well and I have to admit to shedding the occasional tear here and there which shows how much I got into this story. And the ending????? Well there seems to be a lot of controversy over how it ends - for me personally I was very sad and it made me cry but then sometimes these endings are meant to have this effect on us. Worth reading if you have read the first 2 books as you will want to know how it all ties up.

I was a little unsure on whether I would enjoy the final book in this series based on other reviews but this is definitely my favorite of the series!The book jumps right into the action with the Searchers and the rescued Nightshade pack set on retrieving the remaining parts of the elemental cross. I really enjoyed that Ren and the other young wolves featured more in this book than in Wolfsbane, being involved in the retrivals and the final showdown. The action rarely slows down for more than half a chapter which kept me reading till well after midnight more than onceThe love triangle between Ren, Calla and Shay is still central in this book. Although I could guess which direction Calla was going to go in, I was rooting the other way the whole time! The dilema between her past with Ren which is so familar and a future with Shay which goes against everything she thought she knew is done well. We also get a bit more insight into some of the Searchers, especially Adne and Connor.Given there is a war going on, there are some deaths in this book and one in particular that had me in tears.The ending was a twist I wasn't expecting, and I know a lot of people HATED it. Although it wasn't the way I had thought it would end, I also liked that and it felt natural to the story based on everything previously learned in the earlier books.Overall definitely my favourite in the series - if you enjoyed Nightshade and Wolfsbane definitely read this too.

I was looking forward to the third and final book of the Nightshade series and I have to say I was disappointed. I know if you have read the first two books you will, like me want to find out what happened. Well, if I had my time over again on whether to purchase this book or not, I would think twice.Calla, Ren and Shay continue to help the Searchers to take on the Keepers and to rid the world of their magic once and for all.The book as a whole lacked substance and I felt the final outcome, which I obviously am not going to reveal, was a complete failure in my opinion.

This is great fiction for older teenage readers (and adults!). Characters are reasonably drawn for this genre, the world of keepers and searchers well constructed. This last in the trilogy really packs a punch with a great denouement - unlike many of its kind, it does not trail off into a feeble cliched ending.

Loved this book!