Wolfsbane (Nightshade, Book 2) by Andrea Cremer

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com):

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

Jillian’s Review:

I was sadly disappointed in this second book of the Nightshade series. Most of it was wood shaving-filler for a story who wants to be a real book. About ¾ of it was background story for a whole new set of characters that could have been cut down to one chapter and left room for a plot and action. I can’t count how many pages there were of people just standing (or sitting) around talking. There was some good action but it was few and far between and that’s pretty sad coming from a book about human/wolf shape-shifters trying to form an alliance with their former enemies.

And then the romance… so, I’m a huge romance fan. I think there should be some in every novel; it keeps me turning the page. But for YA, this one went too far on detail. Seventeen year old Calla was smart enough to know she was too young to get married (you’ll have to read the first one for the scoop on that), then why didn’t she know she wasn’t ready for the reproductions of having sex with a guy who she earlier insisted wasn’t her boyfriend? I hate it when these teenage characters - whether in books, movies, or TV shows – sleep around! I can’t believe how everyone seems to think it’s OK to have teenagers having sex in their materials. I remember being a teen and thinking, “I know I’m not the only one who’s not doing it. Why do they have to make everyone have sex with everyone else?”

ANYway, enough of that rant. Had Cremer cut out most of the filler she would have had room to write an ending instead of leaving it completely unfinished. I do want to know what will happen to these characters, they’re real enough for that, but I don’t want to wait a year just to read another “to be continued” disappointment.

(Because the characters were real-ish and I want to know what will happen to them, and because of the the action bits, which were pretty good.)