In the third and final instalment of the Nightshade trilogy, the stakes are as high as ever and once again Calla and co find their very lives on the line in their attempt to return peace and harmony to us all.  If you have already discovered the magic of Nightshade and Wolfsbane, no doubt you’re champing at the bit to find out just where destiny will lead our bunch of heroes.

Well, I must say Cremer blew me away with the bittersweet and triumphant way she has wrapped up the war we have all become so vested in and despite what losses may fall our way, you leave the scene happy and content that the action could not have led to any other conclusion. This is a tale that will make you laugh, cry and want to hide in fright – often at the same time. There is also a deep realism that will leave you utterly breathless.

All our surviving main players, both the good and not so good, return in a high action seat-of-your-pants tale that is as good, if not superior, to its predecessors. Calla once again finds herself torn between the two alphas in her life and on top of dealing with what could very well be their final ever battle, she must decide between them once and for all.  Our supporting cast also steps it up a notch with new relationships and twist and turns in their past histories exposed to liven up the down time.

We hop from one end of the globe to the other, and face range of downright terrifying creatures and tasks to secure our Holy Grail. You truly are drawn right into the action, alternating between wanting to be a guardian and a searcher and set the devilish schemes of our enemies to rights. I must say I don’t think I’ll ever get the thought of wolves consisting wholly of fire out of my mind ever again, or the horrifying sight of the true form of our biggest baddie.

Cremer has an amazing gift for keeping her characters real to the core and yet having them evolve and mature in such an honest way, that it’s almost like watching your little cousin grow up before your very eyes. If you are a fan of the light and fluffy, “everyone lives” ending – well Bloodrose is most likely going to make you want to scream. We do say goodbye to one of our favourites, but oddly this just made the experience all the more real for me.  If you haven’t read the previous two in the series, please make sure you do before delving into Bloodrose. The journey Cremer gifts you with will stay with you long after its end. As sad as it is to leave Calla and her pack of amazing friends, wolf and human alike, I seriously can’t wait to see what Cremer brings us next.

Bloodrose-  Andrea Cremer

Atom

ISBN:978-1907411-37-3

406 Pages

Released- March 2012

Katelyn McBride is a ballet dancer, a gymnast and has dreams of joining Cirque du Soleil. Her life in Santa Monica, California comes crashing down around her ears in the form of an earthquake; one which claims the life of her last living parent, her mother.

In the weeks that follow, she buries her Mum and is shipped off to a backwater town called Wolf Springs to live with a grandfather she barely knows. Salvation comes in the form of a Mustang-driving young man called Trick.

There are mysteries in Wolf Springs, strange noises and young girls being found dead in the woods. Katelyn suffers extreme culture shock as she is required to learn how to shoot a gun and is warned off going out alone after dark. But a flat tire changes her life completely.

Who is the owner of the blue eyes that will forever haunt her dreams and what’s going to happen on the night of the next full moon?

The market seems to be flooded with angels and vampires at the moment so I was excited to switch things up a little and pick up the first book in the Wolf Springs Chronicles, Unleashed.

I started reading this on a stormy Sunday afternoon; the ambience of the weather matched the mood and the setting of the book so well that before I knew it I was 300 pages in and having to put it down to catch some sleep, but the decision to stay up to finish was a near thing.

The first thing to hit you head on with this amazing book is that it is surprisingly sensitive without being mushy. Our lead character, though vegetarian, isn’t used to being molly coddled and finds aspects of her new home quite restrictive.

I felt like I was in Katelyn’s skin, I could empathise with her about being the new girl and the need to hold it all together so you’re not given the label of ‘freak’ in the first few weeks, and yet needing to let loose and be yourself.

I’m a big fan of getting out into the middle of nowhere and my wild side was awakened with scenes of Trick and Katelyn tearing down woodland roads to get to school in the Mustang. Must admit I’m a rev head too, so these moments were doubly thrilling for me.

As for the romance side of things, there is a few smoldering embers that will need only a breath to ignite, and the forecast says wildfires are due in the next book; but who will be consumed by her passion?

I have no complaints about this book except that I ran out of pages long before my appetite was sated… I want to know more. I want the best for Katelyn and I will probably go a little insane waiting to find out what transpires in the next book.

If you’re in the mood for something just a little different consider Unleashed to add to your shelves. You really won’t regret it.

Paperback, 383 pages

Published December 8th 2011 by Doubleday Children’s Books (first published November 22nd 2011)

ISBN

0857530712 (ISBN13: 9780857530714)

http://www.debbieviguie.com

http://nancyholder.com

http://www.wolfspringschronicles.com

Since their world was torn apart two years ago, siblings Cyrus, Antigone and Daniel Smith have run made their homes at a run-down Archer Motel.  Here, amongst the faded carpet, rusting walkways and pool complete with a cracked bottom, life has settled into somewhat of a hum-drum routine. That is until the strange old Billy Bones with his skeleton tattoos and mysterious manner turns up requesting a room.

Within 24 hours Billy is dead, the motel in ashes and Daniel is missing. And for Cyrus and Antigone life just turned upside down all over again. Suddenly, they find themselves on their knees, swearing an oath to an order of explorers who have long served as the caretakers for the world’s secrets. The keepers of the most powerful relics from civilisations long lost, and the jailers to the unkillable criminals who have terrorised mankind for millennia.  Now the Smith’s are in the criminal’s crosshairs and have a lot of lessons to learn to get Daniel back before his time runs out.

The Dragon’s Tooth has all the markings of becoming the next must-read especially for boys aged 10 and up. Full of high octane action and adventure, traitorous behaviour and of course the much loved “chosen child finds his path” theme, The Dragon’s Tooth is reality based fantasy at its best.

The world building is absolutely superb and the hidden twist and turns throughout the plot will keep you double guessing throughout. The relationship between Cyrus and Antigone, in particular, is beautiful to behold and certainly adds another dimension to the already fantastic tale.  The fact that the two youngest siblings were the ones tasked with saving the older one also added to my enjoyment. Here we get to see two fairly ordinary kids face the toughest forms of adversity the author could throw at them and not only beat the odds but thrive.

There is an overly “boyish” feel to the story, I was stuck with a “rough and tumble” vibe and even though Antigone’s trials and tribulations are just as full on, Cyrus still strongly emerges as the lead player, whether intentional or not.  That’s not to say girls won’t also enjoy the tale- I certainly did and quite frankly Cyrus as the “lead” just plain worked.

The Dragon’s Tooth is the first in the Ashtown Burials series and despite being aimed at younger readers, it’s one of those fantastic and beautifully written books all ages will enjoy.

The Dragon’s Tooth- Ashtown Burials Book 1

N.D. Wilson

Random House Australia

ISBN:978-1-74275-506-9

482 Pages

Released  Feb 1 2012