Words on Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (Nightshade #1)

Shady
Dec 28, 2014
3 min read

Calla Tor is a Guardian, one of a race of human/wolf shapeshifters that serve a group of mages called the Keepers, working to protect humans from evil. Every aspect of Calla's life, from where she goes to school to who she can marry, is strictly controlled. Countless rules are put in place by the Keepers for the Guardians that cannot be broken under pain of death. Indeed, Calla will soon be married to Ren, another Guardian, and the two are expected to start a new pack.

Everything changes when Calla comes across a injured hiker. Disobeying the Keeper's laws for reasons she doesn't quite understand, Calla saves his life and leaves, expecting never to see him again. When Hiker Boy (Shay) shows up at her school, he soon becomes involved in the lives of Calla's pack, asking questions. Shay is off-limits, but Calla is attracted to him, and her confusing feelings threaten the bond she has with Ren and her pack.

I admire Calla as a main character. She's strictly against 'girly", refusing to wear skirts and so on. She's also very tough, from big things like the fact that she's a fierce fighter to the details of her personality, like how she drinks her coffee black and can;t stand it any other way. She's loyal to both the pack and the keepers, but she resents the fact that she has no say in her future and that everything has been planned out for her. Calla want to protect her friends and family, which helps her feel very relatable. She's hesitant to ask questions and is confused by the seccrets of the Keepers. Calla is a little like Rose from Vampire Academy in the way that she's giving up her freedom for the safety of someone else, but Calla isn't as content with doing it. Some people are just meant to rebel. Strong girls like Calla, especially since she's so used to giving orders to her pack, don't just fall into line.

I don't like Ren nearly as much. He's like Calla in the way that he wants to take care of his pack, but unlike her, he's looking forwards to the wedding. Ren is happy with the idea of the young kids from both the Nightshade and Bane packs forming a new pack with Calla and himself as leaders, but Calla is almost bitter that she doesn't get a say. Ren has no such worries. I have to admit that he does seem to care about Calla. He hopes she can be happy and love him. He doesn't understand how unhappy Calla is and that she resents the fact that she can no longer be quite the warrior leader she is when the new pack is formed. One thing about Ren that makes me wonder is his loyalty. Calla's close friend and little brother have both openly declared that they would do anything Calla asked them to and that they are loyal to her first and the Keepers second. Ren also cares about Calla, but would he say the same thing? How far would he really go for her? How much control to the Keepers have over him?

On the other hand, Shay is a much better match for Calla. (As of now, anyways.) As an outsider, he recognizes how controlled the Guardians are and how unfair their lives are. Shay's curiosity is good for Calla. She has to think about the questions he asks about her life, and she can't always come up with good answers. It makes it easier to see how flawed the system of Keepers ruling over Guardians is.

The book's new take on werewolves and the world of the Keepers and Guardians was intriguing. The Guardians seem stronger than the Keeers in some ways, but the Keeper's have magic on their side. One thing about their relationship is the way that Keepers control all aspects of the Guardians' lives. As much as you might like to say that you would rebel in their situation, you have to keep in mind that this is the way things have been done for decades. The Guardians are brainwashed, thinking this is how things are meant to be.

I underestimated Nightshade. At first, I took one look at the cover and was instantly suspicious, thinking I was in for a nauseating, tacky supernatural romance novel. Instead, I found it very creative and entertaining. The characters were great, the world building was stellar, and the plot had the perfect blend of action-packed fights and sweet romance. There were also several thrilling plot twists, and the whole story was soaked in suspense! This is a must-read for any fan of supernatural romance. 4/5 stars.