BLOODROSE

Fast paced and full of action, the Nightshade trilogy comes to a howling conclusion.

As with the second installment, Cremer writes little to no exposition of the overall plot, clearly expecting that new readers will begin with the first book. Heroine alpha–woman-wolf Calla remains in love with alpha–man-wolf Shay, while still burning for her previously intended mate, other alpha–man-wolf Ren. Shay, the only person alive who can wield enchanted swords, must find the final three pieces of two swords that can slay the evil force that threatens them. Calla, her wolf pack and their allies magically travel to exotic locales for suspenseful fights to retrieve them. After suffering casualties, the group faces the final, desperate showdown, but Calla still can’t disentangle from her romantic problems. With abundant action and sexy heavy breathing, the trilogy ends in a nifty resolution that readers won’t see coming. The author sustains the pace throughout by filling even her peaceful scenes with aggressive behavior, and she keeps romantic pulses constantly pounding. She briefly returns to her earlier underlying theme of freedom, but this series finally becomes more about action scenes and sexual tension than about lofty ideals, a development that should keep its many fans briskly turning pages. Yet the saga’s clever surprise ending intimates that Calla’s long-sought freedom comes with limitations.

Fans will eat it up.