ARC Tour: Nightshade

By Andrea Cramer
Releases October 19, 2010
Source: Review copy provided by Book It Forward ARC Tours for review.

Nightshade is Andrea Cramer’s debut novel and I greatly enjoyed the start to this new series. The group of characters showed real promise for this book and have room to grow with future novels. The basic dynamic is two packs of Guardians, Nightshades and Banes, under the rule of the Keepers. Guardians are protectors for Keepers in return for housing, food, and everything else they need. Keepers are sorcerers that have strict control of the packs, almost like dictators.

Calla is the future alpha female of a new pack being made by merging the youngest of the Nightshade and Bane packs which has never been done so it makes for high tension. Ren is the alpha male and future mate for Calla because she is told she has too. She knows it is her duty and she will go through with it until an unknown human enters the mix.

Shay is a human that turns everything in Calla’s life upside down. What makes him so special and causes these feelings in Calla? It makes a love triangle where I want her with both guys, I don’t want either of them hurt. She has chemistry with both guys, fast hot explosions with Ren and slow-burning passion with Shay. Both guys want what is best for her the problem is she doesn’t know what she wants.

When I got to the end of the novel I wished I could go out now and get the sequel. It is a great new series that has tons of promise. I can’t wait to see what is in store next for the youngest Nightshades, Banes, Calla, Ren, and Shay.

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?

Nightshade Series
1. Nightshade (Releases October 19,2010)
2. Wolfsbane (Releases Summer 2011)
3. Bloodrose (Releases Spring 2012)
4. TBA (Releases Fall 2012)