Review #3 - Bloodrose (Nightshade Series #3) by Andrea Cremer - Ages 13+

Hello there! It's been a while since I've done a review, and I was finally motivated enough to do one again, so here it is! Enjoy! Feedback appreciated. (:

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Summary:

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is. (Summary from inside cover flap of Bloodrose.)

Review:

Wow. That's pretty much all there is to say. But for those who are reading this review to see if it is actually worth reading, I'll give you some details. Bloodrose is the final book in the breathtaking Nightshade Trilogy. I had the first book, Nightshade, on my book list for a while, but it wasn't until my best friend told me that she loved it that I actually picked it up and read it. I was immediately ensnared. Magic shape-shifter wolves, butt-kicking action, and a steamy love triangle? I mean, who wouldn't be? When Wolfsbane, the second book, came out, I had to get my hands on it. It did not disappoint. Then came Bloodrose.

I had just gotten paid, and the first thing I did was get on my handy-dandy, trusty bookstore website, barnesandnoble.com. I was just browsing through the Paranormal Romance section of the site when my eyes were immediately drawn to a bright crimson cover with a pretty girl in a fur coat. (Cover love, what can you do?) Next, I saw the title. Bloodrose. It gave me shivers. The good kind. Finally, I saw the words "Nightshade Series #3". That was it for me. I was a goner. I knew I had to have that book, and it wasn't an option to not buy it. I do not regret it.

Poor Calla had me rooting for her through the entire book. She had a war to fight, against her former masters, the Keepers, and her own heart. Though she is still desperately in love with Shay, the boy who turned her world upside down, she can't help still having feelings for her former pack mate, Ren. And who could blame her? She caught two great guys, and it's a difficult choice.
The action in this book kept me on my toes throughout it. I was so afraid to see who would die next, I probably shed ten years off of my lifespan worrying about my favorite characters. With good reason. Which brings me to my conclusion. The ending almost killed me. I was so shocked. Correction: I am so shocked. Every time I think about it, I want to break down crying and screaming. A book that can invoke this much emotion from me deserves a place on my special shelf. It deserves a special place in my heart. I have thought about it every waking moment since finishing it at midnight last night, and each time I die a little more inside. The ending was so good, I'm left feeling disappointed and empty. It's not how I wanted it to end, and unfortunately, I have to (grudgingly) admit it was a beautiful, heartbreaking ending.
Buy this book, or at least borrow it from the nearest library. You will not regret it. It was worth every penny and more to me.

I recommend Bloodrose for readers age 13+, for mild adult language and situations.

So, in the comments section below, let me know what you think, what you think I could have done more of, less of, etc., and don't forget to pick up your copy of Bloodrose! (:

Happy Reading,

Kaitlyn