Kat Kennedy's Reviews > Nightshade
Nightshade (Nightshade, #1)
by Andrea Cremer (Goodreads Author)
by Andrea Cremer (Goodreads Author)
Kat Kennedy's review
bookshelves: to-ya-or-not-to-ya, ya-pnr-maddness, kat-s-book-reviews, too-painful-to-finish
Jan 03, 12
bookshelves: to-ya-or-not-to-ya, ya-pnr-maddness, kat-s-book-reviews, too-painful-to-finish
Read from December 23, 2011 to March 01, 2012
Usually, as a reviewer of YA and one who attracts a relative amount of trolls, I get told often that someone as OLD as me shouldn't be reviewing YA books. And at the staggeringly long-lived age of 25, I might as well be on Kidney dialysis and walking around with a zimmerframe to these people.

Coincidentally, how do you like my tiara?
Usually, I ignore these people because I can easily pretend to turn off my hearing aid and go to sleep. They stop annoying me when I "pretend" to fart in my sleep and snore simultaneously.
For the first time, probably ever, I really feel the distinction. I didn't like this book, so I'll still rate it. In fact, I didn't get past page 46 because I was afraid my eyes would roll out of my head if I kept pressing on.
This book is for teenagers. Like, teenagey teenagers. Of which, I am not one of them.
This book will relate to people who still think your clothing defines absolutely every aspect of your personality and who you can be friends with. Who still think that the most important thing is that's you're listening to the right bands and doing you're hair the way it's cool to do it now. People who GET Fred. *Disclaimer here: By "get Fred" I don't mean, "Get Fred and choke the life out of him because he shouldn't be allowed to exist." But if you did think that's what I meant then I think we can remain friends.
I am not teenagery. My teenage cousin spent her Christmas money on hair products because she needed to update her range. I spent my Christmas money on NOT defaulting on my homeloan by spending the GNP of Brazil on haircare products. I dress nicely and I will never, ever, get mistaken for a teenager. I wear PEARLS! Real pearls.
This book is SO not for me.
This review also appears on my blog:

Coincidentally, how do you like my tiara?
Usually, I ignore these people because I can easily pretend to turn off my hearing aid and go to sleep. They stop annoying me when I "pretend" to fart in my sleep and snore simultaneously.
For the first time, probably ever, I really feel the distinction. I didn't like this book, so I'll still rate it. In fact, I didn't get past page 46 because I was afraid my eyes would roll out of my head if I kept pressing on.
This book is for teenagers. Like, teenagey teenagers. Of which, I am not one of them.
This book will relate to people who still think your clothing defines absolutely every aspect of your personality and who you can be friends with. Who still think that the most important thing is that's you're listening to the right bands and doing you're hair the way it's cool to do it now. People who GET Fred. *Disclaimer here: By "get Fred" I don't mean, "Get Fred and choke the life out of him because he shouldn't be allowed to exist." But if you did think that's what I meant then I think we can remain friends.
I am not teenagery. My teenage cousin spent her Christmas money on hair products because she needed to update her range. I spent my Christmas money on NOT defaulting on my homeloan by spending the GNP of Brazil on haircare products. I dress nicely and I will never, ever, get mistaken for a teenager. I wear PEARLS! Real pearls.
This book is SO not for me.
This review also appears on my blog:
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Reading Progress
| 12/27/2011 | page 1 |
|
0.0% | "I don't want to start reading you because I'm pretty sure you're not going to be as good as Angelfall and I don't think I'm ready to come down off that high." 4 comments |
Comments (showing 1-45 of 45) (45 new)
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Ceren
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rated it 2 stars
Dec 28, 2011 01:49am
hated this...annoying whiny main character? check. Stupid love triangle? Check again! Main character can't decide who she is 'in lurve' with? Check! argh
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awh i liked this one :( mostly cuz of the world & guardians though. second one was horrible compared to this one so if you dont like this one u wont like the series
♡ K J Shadows ♡ wrote: "awh i liked this one :( mostly cuz of the world & guardians though. second one was horrible compared to this one so if you dont like this one u wont like the series"I think I wanted more to happen and that I was at a critical point with love triangles, as in if I read was one more I was going to go feral and start biting people.
Third book came out today..I read some spoilers about ending and..ugh! I don`t think I`ll read it. Don`t even bother with this series...Or you can just for laughs...there are some good characters..but the main girl is dumb idiot..
I'm under the impression that Fred should never be allowed to use his vocal chords again. But that's just me...
Someone should probably put Fred out of his misery...My favorite part was when her mother forced her to wear new clothes. "Oh noes! My life is so difficult because I'm forced to wear pretty clothes! I wish I'd just die!"
Yeah, I can't relate to that...
Kat wrote: "My favorite part was when her mother forced her to wear new clothes. "Oh noes! My life is so difficult because I'm forced to wear pretty clothes! I wish I'd just die!""Am I the only one who grew up LOVING new clothes and ECSTATIC when my mom bought me new clothes (or *GASP* when *I* bought me new clothes)? Who are these teenaged girls that whine about pretty clothes?!?! Certainly not me at that age!!
I don't understand the concept that a good female heroine must loathe actually looking good. I am the stereotypical nerdy, abnormal teenage girl but I still love getting new clothes. I've scarcely met a girl who doesn't.
It's been a while since I read this book, but wasn't the whole "you need to wear pretty clothes" thing intended to make her look attractive for her arranged marriage to Ren? Lots of things bothered me about this book, and that would have if it was just about the clothes, but it was more about making her over into a good little soon-to-be wife. That's what I remember about it, in any case.
Kat wrote: "I think the author was doing the whole strong female characters must hate pretty clothes thing."I've seen so many authors do that; it's a shame that in order to make a "strong, female character", she can't like dresses or nice clothes (occasionally--we aren't asking for Carrie from Sex and the City). :P
but this doesn't seem to have all that much to do with age. Plenty of adult books I read recently have exactly the same kind of character. She wears jeans and t-shirts (and judges people who wear other stuff) and (apparently) looks average ... yet still she and only she catches the attention of big, cool, sexy boss of vampires / shifters etc. I have the impression it's just wish-fulfillment ...
Do I admit this out loud? I've, uh, made it through Fred, more than once, without having an aneurysm. I may have even laughed. Shh! Don't tell anyone! But I still think he's obnoxious. I figure it's this generation's version of PeeWee, whom I didn't get when I was young. It helps to have a 10-year-old in the room to see it through her eyes.But I totally get the real teenager thing vs adults who read YA. Since I'm way older than you (practically dead), I think I'll pass.
Maya - the difference is that in YA it's more brand related with band shirts and converses. In adult books it's more about wearing sensible clothes for ass kicking.
Thank you again. I am in my last year as a teenager, but I was never the teenager who you described so I'm glad there are people like you who can recommend things that are past that level. (Though I will say, I can still enjoy some of those other books as well... :) )
I agree Ebony. I was pissed that I spent money on this shit while people were like OMGEE, I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK!! Eff this series. I happened to read them all because I just enjoy punishment and now I wanna erase them from my memory. I keep thinking did I waste valuable space in my long-term memory because of these POS BOOKS!! Omg, what if I remember this book but forget my favorites, like Karen Chance's Cassandra Palmer series and don't realize that I have forgotten it??? **panic attack***** But on a serious note, don't even bother with Wolfsbane and Blood Rose. The characters are great but Calla and Shay suck that little bit of good right out of the story.
I actually really enjoy your rants, they pointed out the flaws of books that I didn't notice and they are actually extremely funny. However, this review just seemed like you wanting to talk about how you're not old... not the actual book...
Thanks for the heads up, I almost downloaded it....almost.*wipes hand across forehead in relief*
I now know that at 27 I am too old for this.
Thanks again!!
I've tried to get on with this book, but at just over 70% of the way through, I can assure you it doesn't get any better. What a waste of money!
Just reading this here...there is no way in hell now that I will read this. I personally find it more than stupid to think that clothes decide who you are and whom your friends with.... Thanks for the warning :O
You're smart for not reading past page 46. I like the worldbuilding and the writing is decent, but this female Alpha is too dumb to be in charge of anything.
OHMYGOD KAT, I JUST SNORTED ALOUD IN A LIBRARY. This is hilarious because I was iffy on it. But I do feel that I got it because I'm (SORT OF) teenagey-teenager. But hell no do I spend my allowance on hair care products and clothes. I spend it on these books. *slinks away*
I wonder if the people who think you are too old to review these books realise that the people who write them are forty year olds?
LOL. I don't think they thought that one through, Rennie.And Jazimn, there's nothing wrong with being a teenagey-teenager - I just can't afford to be!
Rennie wrote: "I wonder if the people who think you are too old to review these books realise that the people who write them are forty year olds?"Thank you.
Sigh...It's always the pretty books with the nice covers which dissapoint you the most. Thanks for the warning and lol love your blog. I guess my expiration date is at an end being as I'm 21...might as well be middle aged lol.
This dissapoints me. After reading Jillian's review I ordered all 3 books at my local library, but now I'm not so sure. I absolutely can't stand YA that features this kind of shallow b/s.
Thank you for writing this. I looked at this and thought, I might enjoy this! But if you are too old at 25... I'm 27. I might as well start getting measured for my coffin. So I better not even try this series!
I totally agree. I, however, am a partial "teenagery teenager" (lol) so, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I still think i was very generous to give it four stars, though.
Haha, I really enjoy your reviews. As a fellow senior citizen (25 here) I definitely have to agree with your assessment on this. I love YA paranormal books but they are either becoming younger and younger or I'm just getting really old. Bummer










