Guest Review: 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.
Publisher: Philomel, sold by Penguin Publishing
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Review Format: Trade Paperback
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
390 Pages
Single Title/Series: WOLFSBANE is book two in the Nightshade series.
Cover Thoughts: The image shown above seems to be the cover the publisher is going with. It’s not hideous, but it wouldn’t make me pick up this book. HOWEVER...check out the alternate version of the cover at
http://www.amazon.com/Wolfsbane-Nightshade-NovelBook-2-ebook/dp/B004IYIU10/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1311267285&sr=8-6 I love the shimmery quality of the girl. I’m not entirely sure what the picture has to do with the story of WOLFSBANE—there’s a garden in the book, but this story is more about weaponry and conflict than flowers. It’s a lovely image and would certainly grab my attention, but I’d prefer the cover match the dark tone of the tale inside. Hopefully next time they’ll marry the beauty of the alternate cover with some relevant imagery from the book.
Origin: VampFanGirl received a published release copy of WOLFSBANE from the publisher.
Guest Review by Jennifer Donohue:
**SPOILER ALERT!! For the love of all that is holy, read NIGHTSHADE before you read this review! WOLFSBANE is book TWO in the Nightshade Series and it would be impossible to review this novel without spoiling its predecessor, NIGHSHADE. If you haven’t read the first book yet and you’re planning to, DO NOT read any further!**
The Plot:
Calla Tor abandoned her life, her pack, and the boy she was arranged to marry, Ren Laroche, to save the boy she can’t help but love—Shay Doran. All three are Guardians, shapeshifters who transform from human to wolf, but Calla and Ren were born that way, bred to be a mated pair and lead a pack. Shay entered their world as a human of great interest to the Keepers, but now walks as a wolf because Calla transformed him in a moment of desperation with no other alternative. In doing so, she violated the laws of the Keepers, the powerful users of old magic the Guardians willingly serve—at least on the surface. Calla never questioned her place, her loyalty to her masters, until she started to see the darker side of obedience and the truth behind her origin and that of the Keepers.
After escaping the Keepers, Calla wakes up alone in the Academy of the Searchers—enemies bent on destroying the Keepers and the Guardians who protect them. Calla’s every instinct tells her to run, or to fight, but outnumbered and with no clear path of escape, she must keep the wolf at bay if she hopes to survive.
The Searchers invite Calla to join their fight against the Keepers, an offer that involves rescuing the pack members she left behind, including Ren. Calla agrees to go along with their plan even though she doesn’t entirely trust them. She has no choice—she can’t possibly save the pack on her own, and with their help she stands a chance.
The Searchers gradually transform from faceless adversaries to sympathetic people with their own complicated histories. Among them, a leader named Monroe stands out. He’s fought alongside Guardians in the past and is Calla’s prime supporter in getting back to the mountain, finding her packmates, and bringing them to the safety of the Academy. He’s especially concerned with finding Ren, presumably for the fighting advantage of having two alphas on the side of the Searchers, but as the complexity of their history with the Guardians is revealed, we discover his motivation isn’t quite so simple.
As they prepare for the rescue Mission, Calla and Shay learn at least part of the secret as to why Shay is so important to the Searchers’ fight against the Keepers, but where he came from and how he ended up with the Keepers remains a mystery.
Then the guilt and fear Calla has suffered since deserting her family and closest friends grows exponentially when one of her packmates, found by the Searchers, reveals the horrible retribution inflicted by the Keepers while she’s remained safe at the Academy. The Keepers repeatedly torture her friends with wraiths—the embodiment of soulless evil—and then take their punishment further, making an example of two members of Calla’s pack and proving there are fates much worse than death.
The heightened sense of urgency pushes the team to break protocol and risk their lives with a daring rescue attempt. Success is unlikely, but they’re determined to free those held by the Keepers for far too long already.
The Heroine:
Calla struggles with her separation from Ren. She feels guilty for leaving him behind especially when she and Shay were only able to escape the Keepers because of his help. At times she pushes Shay away, uncomfortable with giving herself to him knowing that the Keepers are likely torturing Ren, if he’s even still alive. Calla is a little bit too hot and cold for my liking. At this point I’m almost hoping there’s a third love interest so she can really fall for someone.
The Hero:
Eternally sweet and devoted to Calla, Shay is cute enough but he’s missing the complexity that could make him a deeper part of the story. He seems much younger than Calla and I have difficulty getting wrapped up in their romance. If anything, he seems more like a prop than part of the evolving interpersonal entanglements that make this series so interesting.
Jennifer's Final Thoughts:
Although the main characters don’t really hold my interest on their own, the supporting cast is a well-developed ensemble and their interaction breathes life into this novel. They’re quirky and fun. It’s easy to imagine becoming one of their number. Their tight connection to each other is beautifully portrayed and the loss of any member of their team feels personal.
The author once again skillfully builds a mystical realm that seduces the imagination. The Searchers’ Academy is a wonderfully unique setting—it’s easy to imagine the bright light of the courtyard and the sparkling seams threaded through the halls. A place for learning, fighting, and magic, what lover of the paranormal wouldn’t want a chance to study at the Academy?
The fast paced story continuously reveals answers we’ve waited for even as the mystery builds. I love that the author provides enough clues so that if you’re paying attention, you can figure out some of the answers on your own, making for a fun read. This novel kept me up way past my bedtime and possibly even made me a little late for work one day because I didn’t want to put it down. If you enjoy YA Paranormal, you don’t want to miss this one!
4.5 Stars
The Series:
NIGHTSHADE
WOLFSBANE - Releases July 26, 2011
BLOODROSE - Releases February 12, 2012
About Jennifer Donohue: Traversing Corporate America by day, I write young adult paranormal novels by night. What better way to escape than by slipping into an alternate world and playing there for a while? Although for me it’s not just escape--the paranormal is my normal. Whether it’s falling into a ghost hunting group or finding myself living in a haunted house (thankfully past, not present), somehow the mystical world always finds me and lures me back into the fold. I live the paranormal, why not write there? You can friend Jennifer Donohue at Facebook.
