Nightshade (Nightshade, #1) (Nightshade Universe, #4)

by Andrea Cremer

[Angie]

I liked Nightshade, but I also kind of didn't. I found the premise interesting and the plot engaging, but everything else came across as just silly. Calla is preparing for her union to Ren, and the formation of their new pack. While out in the woods, she stumbles upon a human being mauled by a bear. The Guardians are not suppose to get involved in human affairs, but she saves him, and doesn't think she'll see him again. Come Monday, there's a new student, and of course, it's him. Shay may seem like a normal human, but Calla and Ren are asked to protect him. For what, who knows, until Calla and Shay team up to do some research on her history.

I was quite confused at the beginning of Nightshade. We're just thrust into this world with names and labels thrown around, but with no explanation. Guardians, Keepers, and Searchers! Oh my! I had no clue what any of these were, and assumed they were just different groups of werewolves. Well, they're not. There are a couple of info-dumps disguised as conversations, which I ended up being thankful for. It took too long to get to them, but at least I knew the differences between the groups before the end. Although, I'm still not sure what Searchers are exactly, and I have no clue why the Guardians serve the Keepers, but that seems to be a main mystery in the plot. So I'm definitely eager to read more about that. However, the way shifting works is quite ludicrous. Something about parallel dimensions, so they can be human and wolf at the same time, which explains why their clothes don't disappear. Sorry, but that's dumb.

While I liked the tensions and secrets between these three groups, I didn't enjoy the werewolf world at all. It's very sexist and disgusting, for no reason other than that's how it's always been done. Shay actually points this out a few times to Calla and asks her why she just goes along with everything without question, but she's stuck on the "that's just how it is" setting. She's about to be mated to Ren, who is a big jerk, and most of time it's obvious that she barely tolerates him and only for her pack's sake. Her mother is obsessed with "finesse" and dressing Calla up and preparing her to be a bride. Calla has to remain pure for her union, while Ren is expected to run around screwing anything on two legs. Even the Guardians' "masters" are super sexed up, but their partners aren't exactly willing. It's just gross all around.

Aside from uncovering all kinds of lies the Guardians have been told, Nightshade focuses heavily on the love triangle, which is kind of not a love triangle. Like I already mentioned, Calla is essentially engaged to Ren (since they were babies), but she's not that into him. He seems to really like her, even though at times, he's a jerk. I absolutely hated how he kept trying to pressure her into sex, but I'm proud of Calla for saying no despite all of the raging hormones. Shay is kinda of sweet, but I do think he's a bit awestruck by Calla, but at least he's a guy of her choosing. I'm hoping she picks him.

In the end, I kind of like Nightshade. I'm a sucker for all things paranormal, so I was drawn in by this world that seems to be falling into chaos. Many things were problematic, but I've read worse.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.