Calla has always welcomed war.Reading and finishing Bloodrose was like a wake up call. It's been a long, long while since I've finished an entire series for the first time, and I don't think I've ever written a review for the final novel in a series during the nine months that my blog has been in existence. For these reasons, among a few others, I put off creating my review post--that is, of course, until now. It's taken me two months to come to terms with the fact that the Nightshade books I've come to love and adore over such a short period of time have finally come to a definite end.
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.
As with the previous two novels, Bloodrose picks up where Wolfsbane left off. Calla Tor, faced with not only having to choose between the two males in her life but also an all-out war between the two respective groups, the Searchers and the Keepers, again proves to be the embodiment of ferocity and strength that I've always appreciated in a heroine. I also loved the reappearance of alpha male Renier Laroche, and continued to despise the guts of Shay whatever-his-name-is (No offense, Team Shay; I just don't remember his last name).
I'm aware from a wide range of reviews or posts that there are plenty of people out there who disliked/refused to finish Bloodrose due to certain plot events and/or the ending. While I respect their opinions, I've tried my very best to write a review that is in no way based upon personal preference toward a certain character or particular potential end result. Now, I'm not saying I was bursting with joy at the picture that Cremer chose to paint, but I honestly believe she followed her heart in doing so. I may not be satisfied with the final outcome, but nonetheless, I can see how and why it occurred in such a way.
Aside from the heavy, there were a few comedic moments (brought to us by a particularly awesome young man named Connor) that kept me from falling into an emotional black hole. As always, I truly enjoyed the magnificence of the writing style and the impeccable weaving of plotline. I was glued to the pages, never able to predict what would happen next. Additionally, I recently learned of Cremer's plans to create a prequel series to her Nightshade novels, beginning with the release of Rift in August of this year, so I'm very happy to know that, though some of my favorite characters are now locked away in some faraway land, their story will continue.
Rating: 5/5 stars
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