Review - Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer

Title: BloodRose

Author: Andrea Cremer

Series: 3rd (Nightshade, Wolfsbane)

Page: 406

Published: January 3rd 2012 by Philomel 

ISBN:  9780399256127

Source: Personal Copy

 

Description: 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. 

I Give This ...

I picked this final book in the series up with much trepidation.  It's so hard to see a series that you've enjoyed end.  And then there's the worry about how it's going to end because you never know if it's going to live up to your expectations.  While this one had a twist I was not expecting, I was satisfied with the chain of events to get there.  

I was a little annoyed with Calla at first.  At this point in the game, I had hoped she had made a decision on who she wanted to be with.  She gives off the impression that she doesn't.  Turns out she knows what's she doing.  The minute she declares a mate, she knows she will loose one of them.  And they really need all hands on deck.  Plus, she really has a hard time letting go of Ren.  Even if she knows she doesn't love him in the same way she loves Shay.   But, men will be men and sometimes they feel the need to mark their territory.

I was also pleased to see that the author didn't drag this series out.  I think she easily could have by stretching out the plot line in between each battle.  They still have to get both swords fully assembled and face down the bad guys, all in 400 pages.  It also doesn't feel rushed.  They know they are running out of time, and so do we.  It's barely time to clean-up, eat, and rest before it's on to the next nearly impossible task.   

There's plenty of danger involved.  It's always amazing when character pulls of these crazy feats with barely a scratch.  Not here, people get hurt and people die.  And some of them I did not expect in the slightest.  I love it when authors take risks.  There are those who are not going to like how this plays out.

The ending was completely different that how I was expecting it to go.  That scenario never once popped up in to my head, but it really should have.  In a way it was extremely sad.  But, only because we are on the outside looking in.   To them, they don't know any differently.  Bittersweet really.