Nightshade

Yet another plug about my frustration with romantic trends in YA literature.

I'm currently reading a YA paranormal (what can I say, I'm a masochist with a library card) called Nightshade. I read an unfavorable review for it, but I still decided to give it a spin. It's got a lovely cover, so that really was the tipping point, I regret to admit. Anyhow, it really began interestingly enough, and there is certainly nothing wrong with Andrea Cremer's actual writing. The little problem here, halfway through, is a little thing called Shay. Or, more appropriately, Calla and Shay. Calla is the protagonist and leader of this wolf pack they call the Guardians. I was actually really interested in the specifics of their Guardian-Keeper-Master-Search world of magic and wolf-changing. It was compelling, even when the characters weren't.

Except I'm not really here to talk about the book itself, but about the relationship between Calla and Shay and Calla and Ren. So, Ren is the alpha male to Calla's alpha female. They're basically betrothed and he's a bit of a ladies man. But he's getting his act together as their union approaches and he tries to make her transition into their new life as easy as possible. He's kind to her, wants to protect to her and, for the most part, treats her as an equal. So of course she spends the book thus far calling him controlling and resisting his attempts to get to know her better. She still plans to go through with the marriage and is even attracted to him, but along comes the human boy Shay who she should not be with. To be with him would mean discarding Ren's kindness, abandoning her new pack (which includes her best friend, brother and other friends), her possible death and the endangerment of her entire world. So she really likes him, of course. Any sane person would run the other way.

And some would argue that love is love, and you should do what you can to keep it. But she and Shay don't love each other. At. All. It's the Romeo and Juliet, Edward and Bella business. Shay and Calla met when he was dying (of course she saved him, so don't worry your quickening fangirl hearts). He is the obvious, instantaneous love interest that is, well, instantaneous. And, in the midst of dying, oh so beautiful. She was drawn to Shay right away, his touch was electric. And he wasn’t even an eel. So, I just kept thinking, I don’t want this to happen. Yeah, Shay is handsome. But if he were injured or dying, his face ought to contort in the same way a normal person’s does. It would be painful and probably not incite much wonder about his beauty. He might be ugly or, in the very least, no one would care about the sheen of his eyes of hair. But she does, oh she does.

I think there should be, like normal couples, the tinging where he touches her arm or when she leans on his shoulder. But I like it where love is a warm, companionable thing and, yes, sometimes exciting. But at the same time I want characters to be able to function independently, without being intoxicated by the mere presence of one another. Perhaps some people (who?!) really have that, but what most characters need is something that isn't so wholly expressed in the tingle of their skin or the gold flecks in his handsome eyes. To rely on each other for strength, but rarely to spout their love in a dramatic confession. Something very simple, but, to me, very powerful. More powerful than the electric touch of the skin. They have trust, friendship and each others’ back. At least, if I were the alpha female to a pack of magical wolves, that's what I would want.

Which is not to say that I don't think characters shouldn't have physical feelings for one another. I mean, they should want to kiss each other and be mutually attracted,  without that being all they are. I want more for them. I do. So, I've told you about Shay and Ren. If Calla and Shay really, truly loved each other, then I could handle her risking not just her life, but the life of every person she knows. Because that would at least be feasible. But Shay looks nice and she is memorized by his electric touch and he isn't something she can have. WHY MUST YOU DO THIS. And I already know where this is going. I read it in Firelight just two months ago. She'll battle this way and that about how she wants him, can't have him, stay away - your'e dangerous! But eventually she'll let him lay ruin to her life and the lives of those around her. It happened to Jacinda and Will in Firelight, but at least Calla is a little smarter. But not for much longer, I fear.

This is more of a 'WHY DO YOU NOT LISTEN TO ME, YOU FOOLISH GIRL?!' blog. Because it's like watching a train wreck over and over again. You know what's going to happen but you can't look away.

I need to stop doing this to myself.

Toodle Pip.