Review: Nightshade (Nightshade #1)

 Title: Nightshade (Nightshade #1)
Author: Andrea Cremer
Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


First, I just have to say that this is probably one of my favorite covers ever! Beautiful!

Goodreads Summary:
Calla Tor has always known her desinty: 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 essense 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?

My Take:
I could not stop reading this book. I don't know why but I didn't think it would be that amazing when I picked it up, maybe because of this unjustified presumption it made me love the book more? All I know is I read late into the night because I like to read, this wasn't for that reason, this simply was because I couldn't stop.


Calla (Lily - nickname) is a strong female lead and it's really refreshing because she doesn't depend on anyone, and when Ren (her soon to be mate) or any man try to control her, she gets pissed. Granted, she is an alpha. But throughout the book she's basically trying to decide if she should follow one part of her heart and protect a boy she shouldn't, or follow the other side and be with the one, and the pack, she's supposed to be with.


It was hard for me to see Calla's attraction to Shey. She knew nothing about him and at times to me it felt like she really only liked him because she was written to. There could have been a smoother transition into this romance. However, the romance between Ren and her felt completely natural, even though they really seem to fight at times. To me there seems to be huge sexual chemistry there, and I can't figure out why Calla doesn't see it. 
I'm just going to state that I'm all for Ren. If Calla doesn't want him I'll gladly take him :D


The plot was intriguing because this seems like a very original werewolf story. (technically they aren't werewolves, but Guardians) There is a story about love but there's an overarching theme of pack and loyalty.  There are also the Keepers, who are basically the Guardians providers and leaders, and the Searchers, who are the enemies of the Keepers, therefore enemies of the Guardians as well.


I knew the ending because I accidently read something somewhere, but if I hadn't, it's quit a cliffhanger!  All I can say is that I was so frustrated with some of the decisions made near the end of the book that I almost didn't even want to read Wolfsbane. That changed though because I can't give up on these characters, they are a lot of fun!

Review: Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1)

Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Rating: 5 of 5 stars!


Goodreads Summary:
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. 

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. 

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. 

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. 

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting asThe Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.


My Take:
WOW. Really, just, WOW. 

One of my top three favorite books of the year. 

There was a lot of hype going around this book so it made me excited to read it, and worried that I wouldn't like it as much as I was hoping I would. Well, there was no need for me to worry. I loved it! 

Juliette: I found a lot of things interesting about this book, but one of the biggest things I liked is that we don't know everything Juliette is capable of from the beginning. We know why she's locked up, and so does she, but there's more hidden underneath that she unleashes throughout the book. 
A couple of times I thought Juliette's character was a little off, but it was only when she was so forward with Adam. They have huge sexual chemistry, and tension for that matter, and some of the things she said seemed to go against her reserved nature. 

Writing: I think a lot of people are going to say this book isn't good because of the writing. There is a lot of repetition from Juliette when she feels strong emotions and I thought they were annoying at first, but I can to see it as her personality. 
I do think that the sentences or phrases crossed out didn't need to be. They are a vital part of the story. A couple time I actually skipped over them and then realized I shouldn't and it messed up my reading. 
Both of these just make the book awesome though because they fit. 

Romance: The romance in this book is great. It's not a love triangle per se but there's elements of one. Although I don't doubt Juliette and her man, there's a voice in the back of my head wondering if she is just dying for attention from anyone. I think she's confused about the man that tries to bind her. Sometimes I think she's attracted to him too. 

The World: I can't imagine how society would get this way. I was confused about how all of this could happen but they explain it a little better at the end. 

Adam: One of my new favorite fictional boyfriends. Oh, yea. He's a Soldier, compassionate, and a family man. Seriously, my heart is swooning :] 

Minor characters: I fell in love with some of the minor characters even more than I did Juliette! Kenjie is halarious and James is so adorable! 

The End - spoiler free: My favorite part. There's no happily ever after here, but it's still satisfying. Thankfully, there will be another book. Juliette finds herself someone she didn't even know existed. She isn't completely sure how she feels about being there, and I think a lot of the next book is going to take place here. Well, ok, maybe I'm just hoping it will! It seems so gosh darn interesting there!! 

Second book, you are toooooo farrrrr awayyyyyy :{

Seriously people, I wouldn't want to miss this one!

Top Ten Books on My TBR List for Winter

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where there is a different list featured every week. Anyone can participate and if you link back to their site you might get a couple extra visitors!

So all of my books will be new releases between now and the end of March. I already have so many on my shelf that need read, but it's more fun to think about what's coming :)

Top Ten Books on My TBR List for Winter 

(TBR- To Be Read for anyone that didn't know)

1. Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare - after that cliffhanger in Clockwork Angel, who isn't waiting this release? I've heard it's her best book yet too! Dec 6th

2. The Eternal Starling (Emblem of Eternity #1) by Angela Corbett - I'm really excited for this book because the characters are in college, which is closer to my age than most of the YA I read. Dec. 6th

3. Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey - Not only does the book sound good but I'm in love with the cover.  Dec. 8th

4. Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton - I don't think I've read much about the underworld. Especially about characters that go back and forth between realms freely. This should be interesting. Jan. 3rd

5. Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer - I'm only 3/4 of the way through the first and I'm hooked. Will definitely be crying for this by it's release date! Jan. 3rd

6. Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe - anything with shape shifters intrigues me. Jan 10th

7. Tempest (Tempest #1) by Julie Cross - Ok, college characters and time travel. Sold.  Jan 17rd

8. Fever (The Chemical Garden Trilogy #3) by Lauren DeStefano - part way through the first book and sadly I've read a couple of spoilers, so I know I'll be excited for this book. Feb. 21st

9. Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver - with the ending to Delirium, I'm getting this AS SOON is it comes out. I was tempted to evil things to Lauren Oliver when I finished Delirium. March 6th

10. Spellcaster (Spellbound #2) by Cara Lynn Shultz - I can't explain why I liked this series so much. Because it was different? Or because of Brendan? Regardless, I'm getting this when it comes out. March 27th

Anyone else excited for any of these? I have more on my list too but these where the ones I'm most looking forward to. What are you reading this Winter?

In My Mailbox 5

In My Mailbox in a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren and all you do is show off all the books you've collected for that week!

This week my Yiayia (grandma in Greek) rewarded me for watching her cat all week and bought me

Shatter Me

by Tahereh Mafi

I LOVED this book!! Review will be coming soon.

I bought:

The Seeds of Wither

by Lauren DeStefano

And thank you to Heather at Nightly Reading for a personalized copy of

Beg for Mercy

by Shannon Dermott

I've already read this and I was so pumped to get a paperback copy because now I can reread all my favorite parts easily! This was one of top favorite books of the year so I was beyond excited to get this copy :D