READING: Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

Publication date: January 3rd, 2012
Published by: Philomel
Genre: YA Paranormal, Werewolves
Rating: 3,5/5

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 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.

Whew, that's it. That's the end of the Nightshade series. 

Saying it like that sounds depressing and sad, I know. Well, that's because it is.

It's been a weird ride for me, this series. Nightshade, book 1, I didn't much care for, Wolfsbane, book 2, I absolutely loved, and now Bloodrose, book 3, leaves me with an empty feeling towards an undeserving ending.

Let me elaborate:

Or rather before I elaborate, I must warn you there are some spoilers up ahead. I cannot possibly write this review without recounting some of the events that took place in Bloodrose. Don't worry though, you'll be warned. IN CAPS! :)

Now, where was I? Yes, Calla.

*long sigh, reeking of disappointment*

Why? Andrea, if you're reading this(I know there's not a chance in hell, but whatever), I'm asking you: why??? Why did you make the protagonist of your 3-books series, your female heroine, such an immature, spoiled, brat? It wasn't of course that I adored her in the first two books and her character changing shocked me, but still! I can't possibly believe in or support a heroine who makes out with two guys, at the same time, behind their backs. No, it's unacceptable to me. Call me a prude, I don't care. I'll silently endure the love triangle since I willingly chose to read it knowing it is in the book, but that doesn't justify everything. I don't care if she's a teen, an adult, an aunt, a mother, a sister. She just can't fool around with 2 guys at the same time and then, on top of it all, act all tormented because she doesn't know who to choose. It's, to put it simply, laughable. Also, it made me lose respect for the guys who were still drooling over her.

I fear this is gonna be a long review and I don't want it to be, because I know people hate long reviews. So, I'm gonna wrap it up real quick.

What I liked most about Bloodrose, were the action scenes. The tasks Shay and co. undertook in order to put all sword pieces together. They were indeed cool, and they reminded me of Harry Potter's trials in The Goblet Of Fire a little bit. I found myself still liking the Searchers but I seemed to have forgotten how childish Connor sounds. Was he like that in Wolfsbane, too? Does anyone remember? I don't remember him being such a dork, and not in a good way. Best scene in the book for me, and when I finally cracked a smile amidst all the wincing, was what Ren says to Connor concerning Adne. That's all I'm gonna say about it.

*DRUMROLL* SPOILERS COMING! BEWARE *DRUMROLL

So.

Ren.

Well, I didn't see that coming. I knew Calla wouldn't choose Ren in the end, that was obvious, at least to me. And to be totally honest with you, I was glad Ren didn't end up with Calla because she doesn't deserve him. But to go like that? Without even some last words? It was like his character never even existed. He was just gone, poof. OK, moving on.

Seriously now? Come on! That's just ridiculous. And to add insult to injury, Calla's life became much easier with Ren gone. She was starting to have doubts about Shay for a minute there(tell me you all saw that)but when Ren dies, she was like "No, no. It was Shay all along". Pfff come off it! I hated it that the death of an alleged loved one, worked to her advantage, and that it showed so much in the book. If Ren lived and Calla had to ultimately choose and she chose Shay, I wouldn't mind at all. I have no problem with Shay - I like him. But a decision like that shouldn't be given to her(like everything else it seems), she should have earned it and owned it. And she didn't it. And it was horrible.

*DRUMROLL*  SPOILERS ARE LEAVING! GOODBYE SPOILERS *DRUMROLL*

When all is said and done, I can't help but feel disappointed in Bloodrose. And that angers me to no end, especially when I repeatedly told myself "Don't care whatever it happens, just don't, detach yourself completely". And I don't care what happened in the end, honest. I care about the way it happened. Also it's a bit difficult not to care at all after 3 books and several sleepless nights. 

To me 3,5/5 is because I loved Wolfsbane and because of what Bloodrose could have and should have been.

Now, off to greener pastures!