Book Review: Bloodrose, by Andrea Cremer

After getting through a frustrating first 200 pages, I really enjoyed the rest of Bloodrose.

Bloodrose is supposed to be about the war against the Keepers and building an alliance between the Guardians and the Searchers in order to win this war. And, eventually it was. But the first part emphasized nothing but the love triangle. Ren or Shay? Shay or Ren? I got really tired of Calla's moaning and complaining about her decision. Even the first "battle" episode was so dull -- it didn't make my heart pound or make me tense at all. Then, it seems all the other characters start matching up romantically, and really, it was all I could take. After about 175 pages, I decided to skim. I just wanted to know the outcome. I didn't really care how we got there.

Then, at around page 200, things started picking up. The tension builds and we actually get some thrills and some tense moments. Again and again. The focus shifts to the war, and I really began to get into Bloodrose (finally.)

Because it had been so long since I had read the previous books, Nightshade and Wolfsbane, I forgot some of the characters and their roles. I got confused whose on which side, but it didn't really matter. The basic plot makes sense, even if I'm not always sure who is speaking and "what" they are.

Bloodrose gets my vote for one of my favorite endings EVER. I don't think the ending could have been more perfect, and it really surprised me.

So, I have mixed feelings about Bloodrose. I almost gave up, but I'm glad I didn't. I enjoy a good love triangle, but I really thought Bloodrose lost focus for a long time at the beginning. However, the plotting, action, and creativity of the last part of the book really makes up for the loss of focus.

There's no reason I can think of that you shouldn't read the finale of the Nightshade trilogy if you've read the first two books. You simply HAVE to find out what happens. It's a doozy. And, I really liked the first two books even better than Bloodrose, so you should get started if you haven't.

Published by Philomel, 2012
Copy obtained from the library
406 pages

Rating: 3/5

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Book Review: Wolfsbane, by Andrea Cremer

First of all, I just have to say, I absolutely HATE huge cliffhangers—stories that don’t have any conclusion to any part of the plot whatsoever. I feel like I’ve been given an incomplete book—like the author forgot to finish it before it was published. Wolfsbane is just this type of book, which I find disappointing.

Now that I have that out of my system, I’ll get on with my thoughts about the book. Wolfsbane picks up shortly after Nightshade ends. Calla wakes in a strange place, and she is reunited with Shay. They are with the Searchers, who want their alliance to fight a world war and defeat the Keepers.

There is a lot of tension, since it is difficult for Calla to trust the Searchers. Calla wants to go and rescue her pack, and the Searchers want to help her – but can she trust them? There’s danger, fighting, death, betrayal, and lots of action to keep the pages turning.

There’s also the romantic triangle, and the associated conflicting emotions to keep you entertained. I didn’t feel that this element was as big a part of the story in this book, and that’s OK with me. Instead, we got to know a lot of new and interesting characters and learn about a different set of morals and beliefs.

The life of the Searchers is interestingly described. There are different roles – strikers, reapers, weavers, the Guide, and the Arrow. The history of the Keepers is also described.  Cremer has created a deliciously complex world that makes sense – in a supernatural sort of way.

So things are a huge mess. Not much goes as planned. Searchers are dead. Guardians are dead. Some characters we thought were dead may not be dead. Alliances are made and broken. And then … you reach the last page.

It’s a great story that kept my interest. I pretty much flew through these pages. I’d recommend this to paranormal lovers. This series won’t disappoint. My only caution is that if you want a complete story, you may want to wait until the entire series is out before you begin reading it. It’s going to be a long wait….

Published by Philomel Books, July 26, 2011

ARC obtained through Banned Book Tours for review

390 pages (qualifies for my 350 Page Book Challenge!)

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Forever, by Maggie Stiefvater

While I didn’t think Forever was the best book of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, I did enjoy it. 

First, the characters. There aren’t any new characters and no real huge changes in the condition of any of our beloved friends from Linger (the second book) with the exception of Olivia. Isobel is definitely my favorite. I love her attitude, and she’s so witty that I laughed out loud several times at her observations and analogies. I still found Cole confusing, but he is the character that changed the most in this third and final installment. It was interesting to see him work through his past, and I admire his determination to accomplish his “task.” (You have to read it to find out what he’s up to.)

I didn’t feel that Grace and Sam changed or that their relationship grew very much. Don’t get me wrong, Stiefvater writes a beautiful love story like no other. The passion was believable and swoon-worthy. I was definitely rooting for this couple to the very end, I just felt like the first half of the book didn’t accomplish very much as far as plot or character development. It seemed just like more of Linger.

The ending found me gripping onto my seat and frantically turning the pages. I loved the ending—it was tense, exciting, sad, and appropriately vague, but hopeful.

You really can’t read this book without reading the first two, Shiver and Linger. There’s way too much back story in those that is required to appreciate the final book (besides, like I said, those books are better than this one.) Teens will continue to love this series, just like they loved the first two books. I have no problem getting these book to leave my library shelves!

Published by Scholastic, July 12, 2011
ARC obtained for review from Banned Book Tours

388 pages (qualifies for my 350 Page Book Challenge!)

Rating: 4/5

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Linger, by Maggie Stiefvater

Why is this post written in green ink, you ask? Read the book.

I probably don’t need to say much about Linger’s plot.  This book is the second of a series, the first book being Shiver. This book is about the romance between Sam and Grace.  It’s about wolves, too, and there’s a life or death episode at the end that provides some tension and suspense. But, for me, this book was about the characters and the writing.

Sam and Grace are exceptionally written.  They each have their own personality, and after getting inside their heads as they deal with some really complex issues, the reader knows them so well they are like good friends that we can fully empathize with.  My only complaint about the main characters is they almost seem too grown up.  The maturity of their relationship is hard to believe, given that they are teens in their first romance. However, we can perhaps explain this maturity given the fact that these two have been through A LOT to be together, and that they’ve pretty much always had to fend for themselves, which forces one to grow up quickly.

My favorites are the secondary characters.  Cole is interesting, and there is still much mystery surrounding him and “where he’s coming from,” but that’s intentional.  Sam is trying to figure him out too, so it makes sense that there’s more development of his character to come.

Rachel is our comic relief.  Anytime she’s in the picture, I’m laughing.  She’s a great, supportive friend and adds much to the story.

Isabel is my favorite.  What a snarky, sassy teen she is. Maybe because I’ve raised a couple of them, and I work with them every day, but the scene that she calls the “Culpepper Show” (pp 60-63) had me in stitches. I could HEAR that attitude and those words coming out of the mouths of some of the teens I deal with.

                Dad:  Where were you?

                Mom:  Student assembly.

                Dad: I didn’t ask you, I asked our daughter.

                Mom:  Honestly, Thomas, does it matter who answered?

                Dad: I feel like I have to hold a gun to her head to get her to speak to me.

                Isabel: Is that an option?

I’ve seen the writing described as “poetic” in several places, and I think that’s accurate. The way Stiefvater describes the changes that Grace is experiencing caused me to feel pain. The horrible act that Cole has to perform in the woods brought me to tears, it was so sensitively described.   For every description, the reader can bring a vivid picture into their head:

She was so interesting looking that she actually traveled through ugly to someplace on the other side that was almost as good as pretty: huge, beaked nose, sleepy-looking dark brown eyes, and sharp cheekbones.  Her black hair was pulled up in a half a dozen interconnected braids coiled on top of her head, like a Mediterranean Princess Leia. (pp 246-247)

Even if you don’t like YA paranormal, fantasy kinds of books, this book is worthy of your attention. I believe it can be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers, and I can’t wait for book number 3!  (Forever, July 12, 2011.)

Publisher:  Scholastic

Pages:  360 (counts towards my 350 Page Book Challenge!)

Rating:  5/5