Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Nightshade

Andrea Cremer

Copyright 2010, Philomel Books, An Imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Flipping fantastic ridiculous amazing crazy goodness. That's what Nightshade is. It's hard to describe how undescribable this book is. Literally. I'm at a loss for words. Oh I have sentence fragments, hand gestures and the ever popular "reading face" and some to spare, but words...not so much. This was a phenomonal read. Do I dare say, my Favorite Read of 2011? Yes. Yes, I do dare. Other books are going to have to seriously bring it to match the scale of all things epic that Nightshade has set.

I'm not sure how Cremer did it but it's like she took an unsung song from our very souls and gave the people names and those people stories. Who hasn't felt the pressures of being a leader? Of always needing to have the answers? I sure as heck have. Can you know who you are and know where your life is heading in one moment and two seconds later find yourself whimpering and wondering who am I? Guilty again.

Calla is the Class A perfect main character, IMO. She's strong and beautiful inside and out. She's passionate. At the same time she's trying to trust she's watching her back to see if daggers are flying at it. She's strong and can not be held back. I think most, if not all, females can watch her character develop and either relate directly to experiences she's going through or admire the way she handles lifes curve balls. How do you choose between two wonderful guys who both love you, who both want to protect you, who both will acknowledge that you deserve to stand BESIDE them and not just answer when they call you? When you feel the heat and desire when you touch them, when you dream of one face until you wake up and feel the excitement to see the others? Have you never loved two people so much it literally tears at your insides- the thought of hurting either being to much to bare?
Ren is sexy and you can tell. He's got the confidence, swagger and addicting smile that you know you'd want. Sure his history and family are a bit rough but he is genuine and he really does care about you- that's hard to turn away from! He is security. Constant love, easy companionship, a place to call home and a smile to wake up to.

Shay is that charming devil you know you should have stayed away from but now you're so close to him it kills you to not see him. It hurts to imagine his hurt. With his touch comes more than love and desire, it's a melting of the two of you together with no one or nothing else around. It's peace, love, friendship.

So whose team did you pick? I can't. I can't dare pick. I love Ren. I love his bad-assness, his swagger, I love the heart he shows Calla and the confidence he lacks with her. But Shay...Oh Shay! The casual guy you shouldn't fall for. The guy who makes you question yourself and your world. The guy whose eyes sparkle in your dreams and touch you feel linger on your skin. UGH. What the heck, Andrea?! How can you possibly create two of the most perfect guys like, EVER, and leave me hanging not knowing which "Team" I'm on?!

I'm serious. Go RIGHT NOW. BUY THIS BOOK! Do not borrow it. Do not just download the e-reader of it...I mean you can, but I don't think it'll have the same effect :) Go to your local bookshop, find Nightshade and BUY IT. Display it with pride. Tell everyone you know that you're going to buy it, tell them when you start to read it and the next day when you haven't slept because you couldn't stop turning pages TELL THEM ABOUT IT TOO. And then, physically put the book in their hands and dare them to open the first page. Seriously. I have heard rave reviews about this book for what seems like forever and I always stored that thumbs up in the back of my head. I cannot believe I missed the immediate bandwagon on this one. Holy heck guys. Quit reading this and GO! GO NOW!

The ridiculously talented Andrea Cremer is on twitter @andreacremer and guess who's super nice? Yea you guessed. She's talented AND sweet! Go drop her a line about how much you lurve this book! I know you will :)

ALSO...who do you guys picture as the characters?! I know it's a little cliche but here's what I've got:

Shay - Sam from Glee

Calla- Quinn from Glee (idk about this, I keep picturing her but I think she needs to be beefier like taller with more muscle and a "don't mess with me" attitude...I just can't picture who...yargh!)

Ren- *Don't kill me, I'm not good with celebrity names and finding new faces!* Tyler from Vampire Diaries!! He's good looking, got the right attitude and I could TOTALLY see him being an alpha wolf!

 Don't judge :) I watch very limited TV lol!!