tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996680915678450767.post2729266736942765373..comments2024-03-26T09:16:18.871-04:00Comments on Whimsical Fic-ery: Lazy Book Club: Nightshade by Andrea CremerLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405609039631555117noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996680915678450767.post-35748723274852937512010-12-23T13:46:58.314-05:002010-12-23T13:46:58.314-05:00Good point about her lust being her "animal&q...Good point about her lust being her "animal" side and her crush/love being her "human" side. That is something I never even considered-and that makes me even more comfortable w/ her being all hot for Ren and Shay. I was already comfortable with it, but this idea explains it better-especially since she isn't really human, not completely. And most animals, including wolves are not monogamous. There's an alpha and all the lucky ladies get to be his. So, that adds an interesting element-while her animal side wants to be with the Alpha, her human side disagrees. <br /><br />Anyway-babble babble babble :) I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and New Year's!!!Picksee77https://www.blogger.com/profile/08808679686124743010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996680915678450767.post-68525412131823136412010-12-20T22:32:24.556-05:002010-12-20T22:32:24.556-05:00Picksee - I love that about the Girly. I think th...Picksee - I love that about the Girly. I think that is one reason I liked Paranormalcy, even though the MC was over-the-top Girly. But, it was fun to see a YA MC who wasn't afraid to wear pink and be pretty. Good point!Stacie @ Whimsical Ficeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162530942087705921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996680915678450767.post-19480407540178883232010-12-19T18:00:31.397-05:002010-12-19T18:00:31.397-05:00Ooh, and this wouldn't fit, but one final comm...Ooh, and this wouldn't fit, but one final comment/request to YA writers-Please please PLEASE stop making strong/main character females hate being feminine (yet always look like beauty queens the minute SOMEONE else dresses them). And, it doesn't have to preppy/super trendy girly-but being feminine/girly or knowing how to be is not weakness or being less. Too many female characters hate being girly and have "annoying friends" who force them to be girly-oh no! Not that! I did appreciate her style early on and that she didn't like dressing as her mom wanted-in skirts and the like-that's normal. But, the hating getting fitted for a dress, etc and the "girl stuff" was insulting. Liking things that are identified as girly is not a bad thing.Picksee77https://www.blogger.com/profile/08808679686124743010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996680915678450767.post-80492284703442379492010-12-19T17:59:00.860-05:002010-12-19T17:59:00.860-05:00After getting through the book I'm about 50/50...After getting through the book I'm about 50/50 on really liking it and not. I particularly like that the story revolves around an Alpha female. She runs her pack, she's respected, & she's destined for greatness. But, I agree w/ the comment that Calla she bends too easily to both boys -even when it comes to things that are burned into her as being forbidden by penalty of death. It's funny that someone found Shay kind of pushy-and I agree-he wanted to her to do all of these things that were dangerous for her. But I couldn't get over how pushy sexually Ren was-I was like dude, keep it in your pants and quit grabbing at her like she is your own personal piece! Especially since he understood the (totally obnoxiously misogynistic) purity rules. And his "love" for her seemed kind of tacked on...argh, I'm so horny and enraged with jealousy, yet it's because I’m insecure and in love!" Really? You do? Really? Or is it that she's a challenge that you know you're going to win because it's been decided? BUT then with Shay, he was able to push Calla to break every rule. I understood the saving of his life. But, beyond that-I wasn't sure why she'd read a book that was forbidden to the point that she hissed at it at first. But, okay, let's go to the library and read it-what?! And go into the cave THAT THEIR ENTIRE PURPOSE REVOLVES AROUND -What?! And then to TAKE the item that they're all sworn to protect in order to protect the humans, just like that? WHAT?! It was too much. I can understand her sudden infatuation with Shay-he's new, he's somewhat charming and smart and doesn't necessarily try to maul her at every turn. BUT, I do see that she was attracted to Ren physically too. She planned for that to be her fate-so she might as well enjoy it. Why she was so ready to turn her back on this fate so readily seemed weird, but, I get it. I am like SO OVER love triangles, but I agree with Stacie's original review that it was done well here. The betrothed vs. shiny object. But, I found the love story portion BORING. I was captivated by the mythology and where the guardians fit in-and the magic of it all. But, once the action faded, so did my attention. And, while her relationship with Shay was tied in to them learning the history of the witches war and whatnot-we'd take 2 steps forward of interesting and 5 steps back of "hehe kiss me, don't kiss me, touch my hand, no!” Gah! <br />I ultimately didn't like either of them. I'm just "Team Calla needs to just take her pack and get the deuce out of town." Calla was tricky for me though-in the first half of the book-I was ON BOARD with her. She was kind of edgy, funny, and dangerous-she dispatched a Searcher like it was nothing. AWESOME. And another character makes a big deal out of it being her first kill and she's all "whatevs, it's what I do." But then all the sudden she's all, hehe, kiss me! ooh, no, don't kiss me! But then do kiss me, hehe!" And she did cry a lot-which she admits is confusing for her. Fine, but get it together Alpha! <br />Back to the other stuff-the mythology and magic and witches history-fascinating! I typically do not care for werewolf stories because they're steeped in the "politics" of alphas etc-where the "animal" leads everything. But here, while they have alphas, their charge is to be loyal to their Keepers, which is an interesting take. And the relationship between the guardians and the Keepers seemed just right –there is great fear and respect of their Keepers, yet a deep loyalty. I was frustrated with the cliffhanger ending b/c I felt cheated not getting more about the history and the Searchers before starting a new book. But, I guess that's good strategy b/c now I feel like I have to read Wolfsbane :) <br />So, you can see, I was torn. The love story was a snore and made Calla into in a teary ding dong, but the action surrounding it was really interesting.Picksee77https://www.blogger.com/profile/08808679686124743010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996680915678450767.post-85890263541754797622010-12-16T17:36:18.017-05:002010-12-16T17:36:18.017-05:00I'm pleased for the "around" part of...I'm pleased for the "around" part of this month-I'm almost done, but have obviously missed the 15th-d'oh! <br /><br />But, so far, I do really like it. I usually do not care for Werewolves or their tales (no pun intended...or maybe intended, I'll think about it :)) but this book has made me realize WHY I don't usually-I couldn't really put a finger on it before. BUT, because this book has illuminated it for me-I'm actually really enjying this book so far--I love that this isn't a typical wolf pack-but there's more to it (ie Keepers and the like)...<br /><br />More soon when I finally finish!Picksee77https://www.blogger.com/profile/08808679686124743010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996680915678450767.post-88287606249808354282010-12-01T23:07:14.137-05:002010-12-01T23:07:14.137-05:00My favourite part of the book was definitley Calla...My favourite part of the book was definitley Calla's description of being a wolf. It seemed to be the part that rang true the most. What really bugged me was how Calla's character was so...everywhere all at once. She keeps repeating to herself "I'm the Alpha, I'm in charge, I'm powerful, I'm strong, etc." but then at the drop of a hat it shifts and she's this girl crying in the woods because of Shay. I was expecting something a little more consistent from her - something more consistently *darker* considering the descrption of her on the author's blog is that she'd rather be ripping out some throats any day. In agreement with the other comments so far, I was a little irritated at how quickly she fell for Shay too. A few pages in and she's utterly devoted. I did, however, like how we were introduced to Calla in the middle of something. It wasn't the normal "so-and-so was sitting in class and..." introduction. Overall, I was expecting something a little different, but I'm still going to read the second book.Shaideneusehttp://shaideneuse.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996680915678450767.post-61278088024790239152010-11-30T22:21:56.676-05:002010-11-30T22:21:56.676-05:00I really liked the book. A lot. I was really inter...I really liked the book. A lot. I was really interested in the folklore involving the wolves and everything. Calla kinda irritated me. She seriously 'loved' Shay that quickly? I always root for the guy that held the girls attention first (Edward, Gale--until the end of Mockingjay--,Dimitri) and in this case: Ren. I LOVE Ren. A lot. I really hated that Calla was so involved with both. Ren seriously liked her and she was trying to get used to the idea that she really liked him too, and then BAM! Shay. I found him completely uninteresting, he was actually a little pushy. But other than my dislike for Shay, the book was great. I loved Calla's brother's relationship. And I also LOVE the cover. It was like the #2 reason I bought it--#1 being the great reviews. Anyway...that's that. I'll definitely be reading the sequel--though the cover's not as pretty. Okay, I'm done.Gee__Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15427939357628312664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996680915678450767.post-91343884460378696752010-11-24T07:40:00.669-05:002010-11-24T07:40:00.669-05:00I really liked the book but it botherd me that Cal...I really liked the book but it botherd me that Calla was so turned on by both of them in a matter of minutes!! She could be with one and then immediately with the other one and both would turn her on. ugh. Also it seemed her relationship with Shay was too quick and not enough depth. I'm team Ren any day.yaquelinnoreply@blogger.com