Review CAPTIVE by A D ROBERTSON @ADRwriter @DuttonBooks

Book Description

Publication Date: October 22, 2013

The first adult novel set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Nightshade series, Captive delivers a steamy, forbidden romance between sworn enemies drawn together by an irrepressible desire.

Twenty-five-year-old Tristan Doran enjoys a life of incredible power and privilege. As a direct descendant of the Keepers—witches who have embraced dark magic—he defers to no one but his overlord, Lord Bosque Mar. For most of his life, Tristan has been kept out of the centuries-old Witches War, his bloodline too valuable to risk in battle.

But when a beautiful, young human Searcher named Sarah is captured and made a prisoner in his Irish castle, Tristan’s infatuation with her flings him headlong into the fray. Captive and captor, unable to contain their longing, embark on a passionate, forbidden romance together—only to learn that their love is at the heart of a prophecy predicting the downfall of the Keepers’ ages-old reign.

Captive explores the darker side of the richly imagined Nightshade universe, a fantasy world of powerful dark witches, shape-shifting wolf warriors, and fascinating history. The first of three erotic novels, Captive delves deeply into the fiery, illicit romance of two young lovers whose very desires invite their doom.

Details Series: Nightshade Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Dutton Adult (October 22, 2013) Language: English ISBN-10: 0525954112 ISBN-13: 978-0525954118

About the Author

A. D. ROBERTSON is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author. Prior to becoming a full-time novelist, Robertson was a professor of early modern history at Macalester College, giving her a background that informs her books’ compelling blend of mythology,
history, and lore. She grew up in northern Wisconsin and now lives in New York City.

SOURCE: PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

I am a huge fan of the Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer and if you haven't guessed (or googled) anything about this book, it really is Andrea Cremer writing this about characters that we are familiar with but taking the story in a more adult direction.  Taking place on an Irish island, Sarah, a young Searcher, is a quite gifted human, who has daring and skill with weapons and warfare.  She has volunteered for a suicide  mission to discover what is being guarded on a mysterious island where no human has returned from alive.  Of course, Sarah is captured almost immediately and left as a gift for the master of the island by the Succubus, Lana, and the Incubus, Owen, that have caught her scaling the cliffs surrounding the place.  

Tristan has lived on the island his whole life and is essentially a prisoner in a gilded cage.  In case you thought the wolves were missing, there is pack that protects him.  Seamus, the leader, is strong and pretty much his only friend and trusted confidant.  As Tristan gets to know Sarah, the instant connection they first felt is intensified.  True to form, Cremer/Robertson writes a story that will capture you right from the start.  This is a mature romance between consenting adults and she gets it right.  Instead of just throwing in sexual situations, the whole romance happens naturally and believably.  The best part:  the whole interaction is based on respect and trust.  

Of course, the story gives you background on the basis for the Nightshade stories, but I can't go into detail because that would ruin it for you.  Bosque Mar makes several impressive appearances and I now hate him even more. There is a breathtaking  tension that develops as Tristan and Sarah decide they must escape their prison.   I would really recommend that you are familiar with that series since it will add to the story.  You can still read this as a stand alone since it is a fantastic love story.  I just hope that I get another installment since I thought this was fabulous.  

Disclosure  I received this book from the publisher at no charge and in no way influenced my review.  If you are considering purchasing this book or anything else from Amazon, please use my link above since I earn a very small percentage of the sale which helps pay for shipping my giveaways!  

Review INVISIBILITY by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan @PenguinTeen @andreacremer @loversdiction

Book Description

Release date: May 7, 2013

A magical romance between a boy cursed with invisibility and the one girl who can see him, by New York Times bestselling authors Andrea Cremer and David Levithan.


Stephen is used to invisibility. He was born that way. Invisible. Cursed.

Elizabeth sometimes wishes for invisibility. When you’re invisible, no one can hurt you. So when her mother decides to move the family to New York City, Elizabeth is thrilled. It’s easy to blend in there.

Then Stephen and Elizabeth meet. To Stephen’s amazement, she can see him. And to Elizabeth’s amazement, she wants him to be able to see her—all of her. But as the two become closer, an invisible world gets in their way—a world of grudges and misfortunes, spells and curses. And once they’re thrust into this world, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how deep they’re going to go—because the answer could mean the difference between love and death.

From the critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Andrea Cremer, who wrote the Nigthshade series, and David Levithan, who wrote Every Day and co-wrote Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist with Rachel Cohen and Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green, as well as many other novels, comes a remarkable story about the unseen elements of attraction, the mortal risks of making yourself known, and the invisible desires that live within us all.

About the Authors

Andrea Cremer and David Levithan met each other in Washington, DC, even though that’s not where they live. Andrea was pretty certain she wasn’t invisible, but David confirmed that fact by introducing her to some other writers, who were all able to see her.

Andrea’s novels include Nightshade, Wolfsbane, Bloodrose, Rift, and Rise. You can visit her at www.andreacremer.com and follow her on Twitter @andreacremer. She lives in New York City, quite visibly.

Before writing with Andrea, David had never written a novel with a one-word title. His novels include Every Day, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (written with Rachel Cohn), and Will Grayson, Will Grayson (written with John Green). You can visit David at www.davidlevithan.com and follow his lover’s dictionary on Twitter @loversdiction. He lives just outside New York City.

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS


MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Stephen has lived his whole being invisible to every one without knowing exactly why.  When he is a young teen, his mother dies and he exists in New York City, the perfect place to be unseen.  That is until a new girl moves into his apartment building and shocks him to his very core.  Elizabeth can see him and although she has major family and attitude issues, Stephen starts to fall for her.  As the pair become closer and closer, Elizabeth realizes that something is not quite right with her new boyfriend.  When he finally confesses that no one else can see him, she does what any loving girlfriend would do:  she breaks up with him.

It is so lucky that if Stephen really tries, he can be heard, so when he reveals himself to her brother,  Laurie, he convinces Elizabeth that she should not abandon him because of his uniqueness. Elizabeth isn't one to back down from a fight which is exactly what landed the family in New York after her brother comes out in their small town in the Mid-West.  So, with something new to fight for, Elizabeth decides to find out how he became invisible and fix it.  Or at least learn to live with it.  It seems that Stephen has been cursed by his grandfather and there the story really takes off in a break neck pace.

Winding though New York's Central Park and other landmarks, the trio track down a lady who can see spells and Elizabeth is gifted in this manner, thus explaining why she is the only one who can see him.  One major highlight for me is there is a dachshund named Tigger - sorry, you have to read the story to find the dog.  I really enjoyed this tale quite a bit and would love to follow up on Elizabeth and Stephen to see if the pair continue on in any new adventures.  Parents:  this is best suited for mature  teens because of implied sexual situations handled with taste and some language.

BOOK REVIEW Rift by Andrea Cremer @PenguinTeen @andreacremer

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2012 | Series: Nightshade

Chronicling the rise of the Keepers, this is the stunning prequel to Andrea Cremer's internationally bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this book is as fast-paced and breathtaking as the Nightshade novels.

About the Author

Andrea Cremer is the New York Times bestselling author of the Nightshade trilogy and is the writer in residence at Macalester College. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband and two dogs.

Details Reading level: Ages 14 and up Hardcover: 464 pages Publisher: Philomel (August 7, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 039925613X ISBN-13: 978-0399256134

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Ember is a teen existing under the archaic rules of the middle ages and under her father's rule which controls everything in her life.  Her father had made a deal with a local mystic (sorcerer? magician? witch? -- not quite sure yet) in order to save her and her mother's life during her birth.  The payment?  When Ember turns sixteen she must dedicate her life in service to Conatus and the local guard that protects the area from otherworld creatures and demons.  Her father thinks she will be living in a convent and taking a spiritual vow but this secret service turns out to be nothing like that.  While her father is greatly opposed since he would like to marry her off for personal gain, Ember thinks this is exactly what she need to get out from under his complete control and the life as a wife, subservient to men for the rest of her life.  YAY!  to Andrea Cremer again for bringing forth feminism and empowerment to teens girls! 

The story reminded me a bit of those revolving around the Knights Templar except with supernatural forces and the church at odds.  Ember finds herself well suited to fighting demons and she is awarded unique weapons in the shape of a full moon.  I was so happy to see one depicted on the cover since I wanted a confirmation as to what I was imagining.  There are forces between the Guard and sorcerers that can conjure evil in the form of revenants, wraiths, and demons. When one of the "Weird Sisters" goes rouge and joins an evil sorcerer that is not exactly what he seems.  You get glimpses of how the Nightshade trilogy actually started except with a lot more new characters.  I became very fond of Barrow, Ember's mentor after her initial mentor is murdered.  Even though there seems to be a great difference in their age, it is probably only five or so years.  

Overall, this is an excellent start to a new series and even though I found it to be a bit slow in places because of all the world building, all of the characters came together for me at the end.  Now that all the settings and characters are introduced, I expect to be in for a wild and exciting ride in the next installment. And I will be waiting for a year for it I guess!  Ember is a very dynamic and strong character that learns from her mistakes.  There is a lot of promise here.  This one is best suited for teens since there is some violence, a bit of kissing, mentions of alcohol use, but given the era that the story takes place, completely natural.  

REVIEW: Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Book Description

Series: Nightshade | Publication Date: January 3, 2012

The third and final installment of the international bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

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. In this remarkable final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, international bestselling author Andrea Cremer crafts a dynamic novel with twists and turns that will keep you breathless until its final pages.

About the Author

Andrea Cremer (www.andreacremer.com) lives in Minnesota, where she teaches at Macalester College and hangs out with her husband, pug, border collie and parakeet. 

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399256121
• ISBN-13: 978-0399256127

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

No way around it:  SPOILER ALERT

ARGHHHH -- NO MORE NIGHTSHADE. 

Ok, now that it is out of my system, I can try and write this review, but how to keep it spoiler free?
The conclusion of the Nightshade trilogy left me wanting more, but satisfied with the ending since I got what I wanted.  I know I don't hold the popular position with a lot of readers since I didn't care for Ren.  Calla drove me up the wall at times since she couldn't make up her darn mind about which one she wanted.  For one that is supposed to be a leader, she didn't seem able to decide one way or the other until the very end, when I guess when it was most important.  She did show some leader like skills when she force Ren and Shay to pretty much fight for her affections and keep them both from becoming liabilities.

The story starts out by setting the stage for an epic battle to be fought between the Keepers with the Guardians at their side and Calla right behind Anika.  Shay has come into his own powers both as a wolf and a mage as the Scion.  There are several trials the trio must go through in order to capture key components necessary for the group to succeed and the struggles and demons they each face will only make them stronger as a group.  There are some serious page turning moments and once you start, you won't be able to put this book down.

You could probably hear me yelling at Ren begging him to not be so annoying and for Shay to grab that golden ring that is Calla.  Yes, there, I have said it:  Team Shay.  I fell in love with Shay's humor and personality while thinking Ren was just a giant alpha wolf and nothing more.  There were some really interesting twists in the plot that were truly amazing.   I am still thinking about the worlds Cremer has created and can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

REVIEW: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Description

This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended-Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer-one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack-and the man-she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

About the Author

Andrea Cremer lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she's a professor in the history department at Macalester College. Wolfsbane is her second novel.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (July 26, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399254838
• ISBN-13: 978-0399254833

SOURCE:  Book It Forward ARC Tours

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

After escaping from her betrothal to Ren, Calla wakes up in her enemy's, the Searchers, stronghold. As Calla regains her strength and starts to question what happened, she is reunited with Shay. As Calla starts to trust the Searchers and slowly realizes the lies she has been told by the Guardians.  The first part of the book details the truths and falsehoods of each group, but I still had a bit of a feeling that all is not what it seems in either camp.  Calla is now faced with mixed feelings about Shay and Ren once she learns that Ren has helped her escape.  The last part of the book is fully action packed so much that your heart will race until you turn the last page.

This book leaves us with a major dilemma facing Calla about Ren and Shay as to which one really holds her heart.  Shay makes her feel giddy and in love, while Ren inspires the steady love that she has always known.  Ren does not make any real appearances in this book, but he is there in the background and a central force in Calla's actions.  So yes, you are faced with a triangle which I hope will be worked out in book three.  I have extremely mixed feelings about Ren and Shay in which neither seem exactly right for Calla.  Calla, to me, is a typical girl, very confused and yet strong when she needs to be.  She needs some answers instead of just acting on instinct as she seems to be doing in this book.  I really hope all of my questions are answered in the next installment.

Yes, I know the cover I used has been changed, but I like this one better.

REVIEW: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Description

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

About the Author

Andrea Cremer is a professor of history at Macalester College and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (October 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039925482X
• ISBN-13: 978-0399254826

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS:
LOVED IT, ADORED IT, WANT MORE OF IT

slight spoiler alert!  Please only read the first paragraph if you don't want any hints about the storyline.

This book lives up to all the hype.  I finished it in just two evenings and considering it is well over 500 pages, it was a very fast and easy read.  There were no slow parts at all and it reminded me a lot of the later Harry Potter novels.  I felt the same drive to continue reading this one well into the night. 

Calla, at seventeen, is the alpha wolf of the Nightshade pack and set to marry rival pack leader, Ren, on their eighteenth birthdays.  Shay is the new boy at school and Calla is asked to protect him from harm after rescuing him from a bear attack.   Although Calla is resigned to her fate of  mating with Ren, she doesn't have the same feelings that she discovers she has for Shay.  And there you have the classic love triangle, except that Ren and Calla are only going through the motions.

I found Ren annoying until the very end when he redeemed himself quite nicely by unselfishly rescuing Calla and setting her free to follow her heart.  I have a feeling that Ren will continue to play an important part in Calla's life, but their relationship was more like siblings than lovers.  Calla develops into a wonderfully strong character and again there is more to her than her physical strength and beauty.  Shay is the key to the whole series and it will be interesting to see how this nerdy boy progresses. 

Overall, this book is suitable for anyone over twelve. There are mentions of alcohol, implied sex, but nothing worse than kissing actually takes place.  I didn't get the cover at first, but once I read the book, it all made sense. 


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