A Review for Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer

Posted by Donna
Published Date: January 3rd, 2012
Finished Date: January 7th, 2012
Publishers: Philomel
Source: Bought
Format: Hardback
Pages: 406
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The Blurb from Goodreads: The Ultimate Sacrifice. 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 unamable 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 the final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Andrea Cremer creates a novel with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final pages. A dynamic end to this breath-taking trilogy.

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Non-spoiler review:
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Before I started Bloodrose I was so nervous. I was actually pretty scared because all I’ve heard for the last few weeks was how disappointed people were and they were not satisfied with the ending of the book. We’ll let me tell you, Bloodrose was frigging amazing and I loved every minute of it.

Andrea Cremer has knocked out an entire series of pure awesomeness and has left me wanting more of her work. It only seems like yesterday that Nightshade was released but it sure was one hell of a ride. With action all the way through, a love triangle that will have to rooting on both teams and danger waiting around every corner, what’s not to like?

I loved every single character is this book. I’ve always been a fan of Calla but she was so much stronger this time around. Yes, she still doesn’t know which boy to choose but I’m glad she took no crap from either of them. Yes, she kind of made out with both of them but well, who wouldn’t? Ren and Shay….sigh! And yes, she does finally pick her guy….FINALLY.  And overall I was happy with the outcome.

The secondary characters were awesome as well. It was so good to see Ren and Adne connect as brother and sister, despite how hard it was, it was nice to see how quickly they connected. And then there’s Sabine, Ethan, Connor, Adne, Bryn, Ansel, Mason & Nev who I became so attached to in this novel, you just can’t help root for their happy endings.

Now the ending of the book was an unexpected one. I have to admit it wasn’t something I had even thought about but I loved it. It was such a great twist to the whole Guardian story but Andrea wrote it in a way that left me satisfied as a reader and I'm so pleased. 

Overall, Andrea Cremer definitely out did herself with Bloodrose. It proves that as a writer she isn’t afraid to go to the extreme and I have to respect her for that. The Nightshade series has been fantastic one from start to finish and I’m so glad I was a part of the journey. PURE AWESOMENESS! Highly recommended! 

Want to know my thoughts with spoilers? See below:

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MAJOR SPOILERS!!!!!!!

So Ren dies, yeah he dies! I know what you’re thinking? And I have made my review sound like I’m happy with his death. But firstly I’m not happy that he died and I’m so, so sad but looking back on the overall book, I think everything fits so well. 

I’ve always been on the fence of the whole Ren/Calla/Shay love triangle so I guess I have a different outlook than most people that are just set on one team. I’ve never really been able to pick between the two of them because they both have good and bad qualities. BUT after reading the epilogue everything just kind of fell into place for me…and here’s why:

Firstly, there cannot be two Alpha males in a pack, there can’t be, it just wouldn’t work because Ren and Shay will always be Alpha’s in their own way. Calla herself even says that one of them would have to leave for it to work and I don’t think anyone would be happy with Ren leaving. Secondly, Calla already chose Shay before Ren died so I don’t think Andrea took the easy way out. Calla clearly says Shay is her choice because he changed her whole life. And thirdly, the epilogue; it just proves that Shay was always destined to become a wolf even though he wasn't born into it. Even the Nightshade pack mates had started to see Shay as an Alpha because he really came into his wolf in this book and I think he really grew as a person.

Team Ren fans either way aren’t going to be happy with this ending. I’ve heard a few people say Ren should of met someone else and even I’ve played with that idea myself but personally, had that of happened I don’t think it would of fit the story. Everything would have been tied up too nicely. So I do think Andrea did the right thing. I know a lot of people won’t agree with my thoughts on this book, so it’s going to be a case of we’ll have agree to disagree. But for all of you that haven’t read the book yet and are put off by what other people are saying, READ IT and make your own mind up.