Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Title: Nightshade
Author: Cremer, Andrea
Length: 528 pages
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher / Year: Philomel Books / 2010
To Be Released: October 19th, 2010
Source: From the publisher at Book Expo America
Rating: 5/5
Why I Read It: It looked great, and sounded even better.
Date Read: 23/07/10
Just look at this cover – doesn’t it make you drool. I absolutely love it. I have to say, one of my favorite covers so far this year. My review is based on an advance review copy.
Nightshade is the name of the Guardian pack of which Calla is a member. Her parents are the alpha male and female of the pack, and she is also an alpha. She is to form a union with the new alpha from the Bane pack which is based in the same town on top of a snowy mountain somewhere in the United States. Ren is the son of the alpha male and female of the Bane pact, though his mother was killed years ago.
If you went to the exclusive private school you might not know that Calla and Ren are Guardians (they can transform at will into their wolf shapes to protect their Keepers and patrol a sacred site) but they would notice that they are different. The two young Guardian pacts keep to themselves, though they decide to start hanging out more before the union to make things go a bit smoother. The rest of the kids ignore them, and don’t associate at all.
The book starts with Calla breaking some major rules. She saves the life of a young human boy. If her Keeper were to find out, she could be killed. Not only that, when she goes back to school on Monday it turns out that the very same boy has been transferred to her school and is in her classes. This causes issues with Ren, and issues in general.
Calla can control her pack, and can even control how things progress with Ren and his, but she can’t seem to control what happens with mysterious Shaye.
This book was awesome. I loved the story, I loved the setup, I loved the characters, I loved the issues. I can see why this book is getting so much hype, and I really cannot wait to read the next book. Especially if it has such a gorgeous cover! I thought that all of the characters were really well created and developed, and the progression through the book was really great and also very believable.
The way the pack dynamic was created was sickening. And when I say pack dynamics and myths what I mean are the gender stereotypes. In many places while reading I honestly had a sick taste in my mouth. Like, really sick.
Calla is an amazing fighter and has a great personality and is a hugely strong character… but her mother tells her to start wearing skirts and dresses and get sexier lingerie because she has to consider what Ren might like and pleasing him (pg 18). *Creepy*
And how while Ren has been hooking up with everyone in the school, Calla can’t even kiss someone because the alpha female has to remain pure for the alpha male (pg 69). *Shudder*
And if an alpha male of a different pack wants to make a move on an alpha female, well, too bad, she can’t do anything about it because as an alpha female she has less power and always has to be subservient to alpha males (page 195). *Barf*
Calla in the book is slowly starting to question the way things are and they way they live, but it is a slow process. As she has been raised to believe a certain thing, her slowly questioning it is very believably done. Because in the book we do see Calla start to fight back and try to gain some independence, and question some of the rules, I was fairly certain that the pack dynamics were written in the misogynistic way to explore the subjects of sexuality and gender as we still live them today…
I ended up emailing the author, Andrea Cremer, to ask her about this, to get her view. I wanted to know why they were written the way they were, if it was on purpose, and how they will continue to play out. She was kind enough to send me a response that I could include in this review. Thank you again Ms. Cremer.
The politics of gender and sexuality are something I think about a lot for a couple of reasons 1) I’m an uppity, independent woman and 2) it’s my job. I teach history at Macalester College in St. Paul. My research focuses on the intersection of religion, sex, and violence in the early modern Atlantic world – that means I study exploration, conquest, and colonization and my writing examines the ways in which gender played a part in war, commerce, and society at a time of incredible upheaval across the globe. When I began writingNightshade I knew the central character, Calla, was a strong young woman, but I also knew that her strength was, through no fault of her own, becoming a problem. History is, in large part, about struggles for power. These struggles take many forms – war, oppression, legislation, migration – and many of them have and still do, unfortunately, involve attempts to render women powerless and dependent on patriarchal systems of commerce, government, and faith. As Calla tries to assert her independence, she too confronts bias because of her gender and expectations that she let her behavior be dictated by a repressive set of rules. She struggles with the compulsion to obey her masters’ rules while desiring to follow her own heart.
Ooh I love it! I really cannot wait to see the conversations that this starts, and I cannot wait to see how this plays out in the next books. Thank you Ms. Cremer for tackling this subject and really showing how crazy our society sometimes is.
Trackbacks
- Tweets that mention Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer « Amy Reads -- Topsy.com
- Book News, Reviews, and Musings 21 October 2010 | Read in a Single Sitting - Book reviews and new books
- It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week? | Capricious Reader
- Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer (And a Long Rant on Sexual Assault) « Amy Reads
“My research focuses on the intersection of religion, sex, and violence in the early modern Atlantic world”
I want her as my professor!
This sounds like such a great book. I love it when YA takes on gender issues. *notes the book down on her wishlist*
I know right Iris! I want her as my professor as well
Sounds like fascinating topics.
What a wonderful response from Andrea. When you mentioned the misogyny and pack dynamics, I really reconsidered whether I wanted to read this book, so I’m so glad that Andrea’s actively working to address and challenge these issues. I’ve read so much YA recently where the gender stereotypes and norms have made my skin crawl, so it’s a relief to see it being problematised.
Thanks for this review, and for pointing out the gender issues–I’ll definitely be on the lookout for a copy of this.
Yes, I’ve read way too much with it as the norm too, so her response made me SO happy Steph! I hope you enjoy the book.
Interesting review. And an interesting contribution from the author. Gender, gender roles and all that. I have a poem titled Middle Sex where I ask the scientist to create a gender that’s neither male or female so that we shall each become one and each side becomes pacified. For instance, there are a lot of female-organisations, like women writers this and that, women this and that, can I as a man form one and not be tagged sexist?
Well, I hope so! Whereas feminism is not seen in the negative light, sexism (which isn’t manism or whatever -ism) is derogatory and shows conservatism. I have asked this question over and over again. Currently in Ghana, there is a campaign to educate the girl-child. Which isn’t a problem. It becomes a problem when some years to come the girl children would be educated and the sons would not be. So what happens? They would also raise their voice and asked to be educated.
So why don’t we get it right right form the beginning? Send your children to school. Have as many children as you can and take them to school etc ….
Hope the equality that we all crave wouldn’t lead to another reverse discrimination because it is possible.
Your poem sounds really interesting Nana Fredua-Agyeman. And yes, you are right, feminism has to be about more than just putting women ahead, it has to be about breaking down gender barriers and stereotypes so that both genders have true equality and neither is forced into a box. I’m all for feminism… as long as it is the kind that doesn’t discriminate racially, socially, or by gender. Send the girls to school, but along with the boys, not at the expense of them!
I can’t wait until we have that and neither men nor women are forced into certain roles or are discriminated against.
Don’t you love how much covers can really say to us? You saw it and thought wow that looks good. I just saw it here and said, yeah that looks like I book I would never want to read.
Heh, yes, I love how covers are helpful like that Amanda!
I’m with Amanda! I’ve seen this book pictured around the internet for weeks now, and every time I see it I think, I have no interest in that book. BUT. I read your review, and now I am intrigued. It sounds much better than I’d imagined it to be.
Well, no book is for everyone Erin
That’s true! But at the same time, I can be bad about judging a book by its cover. Or, sometimes the cover doesn’t really go with the book! I’m always willing to reconsider my initial reactions
Yes, that is true Erin. I love when I think they match perfectly though… which I do think in this case! Just to warn. hehe.
Hmm. Well, if I read it, I’ll let you know what I think
Wow, this sounds awesome! I love Andrea’s response to your question. It’s definitely going on my wishlist.
Thank you Kristen. I loved it too! I hope you enjoy the book.
I liked the authors response to your questions about the book and think that she probably does have some real ideas about shaking things up in the future of this series. I’ll admit that this book is probably one that I wouldn’t have thought much about, but reading your review, especially the parts about the gender biases has me really curious. I also think that I don’t read as much YA as I probably should, and have been looking for something a little different to try out. It sounds like this book might fit the bill. Thanks for the very perceptive review and for including the author’s response as well.
You are very welcome zibilee. I sometimes think I read too much YA, so I guess we even out
It was definitely interesting, some parts had me wanting to throw the book across the room but once I read it all, and got Andrea’s response, I loved it!
I will agree with you on the cover of the book- love it as well but that aside, I am particularly interested in the author’s response to your mail. Her two reasons for why she thinks about gender and sexuality is what strikes me and she seems to have raised my interest in this particular book. Thanks for adding her response to this review. I would have to read this.
I hope you would like it Geosi. Her response is wonderful isn’t it?
This sounds amazing! Sold!
Woo! I hope you enjoy Lydia
Sounds like a really cool book!
It is Willa
Wow! I was wondering about this one. I got an ARC, even though I didn’t ask for one, and wasn’t sure I wanted to read it. Now I can’t wait! Just have to find the time…. story of my life! lol And I totally want her as a professor, she sounds awesome!
Lol you are right Heather, story of our lives! And could I have her as a professor too? I think we should try to convince her to have an online class for us
Now that sounds like my kind of paranormal romance.
I think I’m going to have to read this, in fact I might just overturn my mini ban for it, not only does the story sound good but the points you picked up on and the response you got from Cremer have made me want to have the information to discuss it myself.
Interestingly I’ve been seeing this book around, just the cover not the summary, and hadn’t been pulled in at all.
Oh my, I feel bad for overturning your mini ban Charlie! But… I really liked it. Of course, it won’t be until the next books that I think we’ll see more of a push against the gender stereotypes and expectations, but it laid a good groundwork. I’m glad this review helped convince you to give it a shot though!
+JMJ+
The more I read about Nightshade, the less I want to read the actual novel. =S
But I can’t say I’m surprised about the pack dynamics. When I started reading Paranormal Romance a few years ago, I noted that the romantic heroes in these books tend to get away with a lot of stuff no woman would put up with from a normal man. And that’s really part of the escapist fantasy. Sometimes the author makes it work; sometimes she doesn’t. If you’re curious about PNR that can strike the right balance, Amy, I can recommend some titles. =)
+JMJ+
PS–I thought Cremer’s reply was great. What I meant when I said I wasn’t keen on Nightshade was that it seems like another Twilight variant to me. And after Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush and Lauren Kate’s Fallen, I really should be varying my diet!
Ugh I don’t read much paranormal romance Enbrethiliel, other than the occasional YA novel, but the gender stuff is soo annoying. Which is why I was glad to see this book pushing against that!
I can’t guarantee I would get to anything any time soon, but what would you recommend as good PNR?
And yes, I understand your point! This was definitely better than either of the ones you mention though. heh. Oh, and the sequel to Fallen has more push back against the gender stuff too.
Thanks for stopping by the Broke and the Bookish and posting a link to your review!
I forgot about the parts when Calla’s mother tried to get her to dress in more revealing clothes for Ren (I must have blocked that from my memory!). But I love how Calla is such a strong female…yet she’s also conflicted like your typical teenage girl.
I enjoyed reading your review and Andrea Cremer’s response! I’m curious to see how things will play out in Calla’s world in the next book!
Thank you for stopping by to check out the post Jen. I thought from the sounds of your review you might enjoy her response. I am really curious to see how it plays out as well!
Great Review! I really enjoyed reading it!
I just reviewed Nightshade on my blog: http://blackfingernailedreviews.blogspot.com/2010/12/review-nightshade.html#comments
Thank you for the comment and link Khadija. I’m glad you enjoyed it