2.5 stars. Shay's whiny ass really fubared some of the book for me, but think the last half redeemed some of it, and I really liked Ren. 
 Nightshade was an entertaining read for the most part, but the author took me on a roundabout journey to give up some info that could have been spilled earlier in the story, leaving me a bit confused throughout the first half. 
 Considering that this book almost felt like two stories mashed into one (basic love triangle turns into "wtf are all these creatures at the end?"), it's almost surprising that I even liked it at all. It wasn't one of the great books I've read recently, but it was alright. 
 *updated January 2012* After reading a spoiler for the third book, this is where the trilogy and I part ways. I'm done.