Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Goodreads
454 pages, YA Paranormal (Werewolves)
Nightshade #1
My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis

Calla is the alpha female of a shape-shifting wolf pack. She is destined to marry Ren Laroche, the pack's alpha male. Together, they would rule their pack together, guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But then, Calla saves a beautiful human boy, who captures her heart. Calla begins to question everything - her fate, her existence, and her world and the orders the Keepers have asked her to follow. She will have to make a choice. But will she follow her heart if it means losing everything, including her own life?

My 2 cents

This is the first full fledged "werewolf" book that I have read. I've read other paranormal books that had werewolves in them, but not as the whole subject. I wasn't sure if it would be my thing, but I ending up really liking it! And it really had nothing to do with the werewolves, it was more about the characters for me!

Some of the ideas and traditions in this werewolf society were quite strange, and made me cringe at times. The story had almost a dystopian theme at times, as Calla starts to figure out that her pack has no freedom. Calla was an amazing MC, tough and strong. When other alpha males were threatening her and she couldn't do a lot about it, that is when it hit me the hardest.

I also loved Shay, the human boy that starts to tear her world apart. He sees her life as the reader does, and makes her question things. She also feels an instant attraction with him, and he gets her into trouble numerous times. There is also the question the entire story--who is this guy, and why is he running around with werewolf packs?

The rest of the characters were not quite as developed, with exception to some of the Bane tyrants. But they were all interesting, and I loved the scenes were we got to see the pack intermingle, and its dynamic. 

I had pretty much guessed the big twist by the end, but there are still a lot of questions left for the next book!