Crave is a young adult paranormal romance by author Tracy Wolff. Holy cow- did I ever LOVE this book! Crave is easily one of my favorite reads of 2020 so far! My love for these characters, and this world is real. And I need the second book in my hands right this very second. This book was just under 600 pages and it still wasn’t long enough. I honestly did not want this book to end because I was enjoying it so much. Crave is my favorite vampire book of all time. It is what I want all of my other paranormal romances to be like. Ok, now that I have gushed a bit, let’s get to why I love this book so dearly.

Crave is a paranormal romance set in a boarding school setting in Alaska. In it, we meet our main character Grace, who has just lost both of her parents in an accident. She has to leave to go live with her cousin and uncle, who is the head of Katmere Academy. Grace soon learns that Katmere Academy is not an ordinary school. In fact, Grace is the only “human” student. The academy is filled with Vampires, witches, dragons and wolves. And the different groups of students do not all get along. Grace finds herself not only in a world filled with creatures she didn’t know existed, but she also finds herself in the middle of a turf war she knows nothing about. I don’t want to say anything further about the plot because I loved it so much, and it is full of so many secrets, twists and turns. And watching them unfold as you are reading was part of the magic of the novel for me. And the ending! The ending knocked me flat on my butt! I was not expecting that at all, nor can I handle waiting very long for the next book. It is one heck of a surprise and one heck of a cliffhanger.

The other aspect of Crave that I adored was the romance. This book was extremely romantic. I am not going to go into the specifics of the romance because you just have to read it to see for yourself. Once you start reading, I think you will be swept up in swoons like I was. I have seen a lot of people comparing this book to the Twilight series, and while I definitely feel major Twilight vibes from the cover, other than that I think it is a completely unfair comparison. This book is so far superior to Twilight in every way. The characters are better, the writing is leagues better, the romance is better and the plot is way better. If you are a fan of paranormal romance (even if you are totally over vampire stories) or you are a fan of boarding school settings, you need to read Crave. I think it will be your new favorite novel. It certainly is a favorite of mine. This book is FANTASTIC! I need a word stronger than love to capture my feelings for this book. It completely grabbed hold of my heart and held me captive for all 592 pages.

Crave is that addicting, suck you in kind of book. Once I started reading, I just couldn’t stop.

I love boarding school or camp stories. Especially when they are of the paranormal variety. I think it’s nice to be able to bring a bunch of people into one place and with YA it makes a lot more sense to me when kids are running around without any parent supervision.

What I really enjoyed about Crave is that it’s not limited to just vampires and werewolves. It also involves other paranormals like Dragons and Witches. I love adding a little more of a mix in there and having them all interact. I kind of wish I could read some research books about them in the capacity of the world of Crave though. I have many many questions. Ha ha. There is a cute little nod to Twilight in the story too that made me laugh.

I really like Grace. She is someone who is coming from a totally different world, and I’m not even meaning that from the paranormal perspective. She’s going from perfect weather San Diego to freezing cold Alaska and without her parents. I like that her grief is not just glossed over and how sometimes she will fine one minute and the next it will hit her like a ton of bricks. She’s going through a process and I think it’s good to show it. I also really love that she is getting closer to her cousin Macy. I love my cousins and I’m sad we live so many states apart. I kept thinking this would be like if my one particular cousin and I got to go to boarding school together and it made me love it even more. I also like how Grace is pretty no nonsense especially when it comes to Jaxon. I think it’s one of those things that come with major loss, is that you kind of see the world a little differently. Like okay I don’t need this drama let’s cut to the chase here. She doesn’t play games and she doesn’t let Jaxon wander off from her truth.

Now Jaxon is his own brand of complex. Which I think he has every right to be. He has a lot going on in life and around him but I love the way he is with Grace. When he can be. I’m nt saying he has to rescue her all the time, she makes it clear that they are more of a team then one person only saving the other. It’s cute though the way he is around her. I also like the Order because they remind me of F4 but I think every group of guys reminds me of F4 (Boys Over Flowers).

I enjoyed the plot. The book is very fast paced and like I said, I couldn’t put it down. Of course the ending left me with so many questions but I can’t wait to see what happens next. I also really enjoy that at the end there are chapters written from Jaxon’s point of view.

This is just a great YA Paranormal with all the vampires, romance and drama you could hope for. I loved it.

Let me tell you guys. I am HERE for the return of sexy vampy romance! YES YES YES!

The story followed Grace. Her parents died in a freak accident, so she is sent to live with her only surviving family, her uncle and cousin. At a boarding school. In rural Alaska. Grace is from California. Major change there. Turns out, this is a boarding school for vampires, shifters, witches, and things that go bump in the night. Will Grace come out on the other side alive?

I hear a lot of people say this is a Twilight ripoff. Like, ok. I guess. Girl meets vampire in school. Inexplicably drawn to him. Falls in love. Finds out hes a vampire. But this is so much more than that. Also, isn’t that the plot of most/all teen vampire romances?

I loved all the characters. Grace was interesting and down to earth. She seems like someone I would definitely hang out with. Jaxon was Mr. Tall, Dark and Sexy Vampire like he should be. Plus he seemed to actually care about Grace. Grace’s cousin was fun and I couldn’t tell if the dragon was good or bad!

Crave was also funny. Grace keeps comparing herself to a ya heroine or a ya love story which made me laugh. There’s a throwback to Twilight. It was also a super fast read. I could not believe I read almost 600 pages in four days! That shows what I can really do if I am loving a story!

The book ended on a great cliffhanger and I cannot wait for book #2! I need it like, yesterday.

Thank you to Entangled: Teen for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

This book made my YA vampire loving heart so happy! It's perfect for fans of paranormal romance and books with school settings. This filled the void that Twilight left all those years ago. I was much younger, in the "targeted audience" for Twilight when it came out so Crave was a total guilty pleasure read for me. There were a few cheesy parts and so much sexual tension, it definitely grabs your attention right off the bat. And the ending! Umm, what the heck just happened?! I cannot wait for the next book in the series! Definitely check this book out!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Fantastic Flying Book Club, Netgalley, and Entangled Teen for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

I don’t even care about the fact that this cover supposedly has some Twilight vibes, okay? When I found out I had the opportunity to get back into some YA vampire fiction, I was hooked like a fish. I was excited because I freaking love me some YA vampire novels and I miss when there were so many coming out around the same time. Thank you, Tracy Wolff, for making this!

We have the story of main character Grace and main vampire Jaxon. Grace, being our token human character, is put into a situation that may or may not be appealing to one such as herself. She finds herself in Katmere Academy after her parents were killed in a car accident, in the care of her uncle who just so happens to be the headmaster. At least she has some family trying to take care of her right? Maybe.

I would be a little bit upset with my uncle if I ended up having to attend a boarding school where I was having to fear for my life almost every day, but I guess that’s just me.

It helped that Grace also has her cousin Macy as her roommate in this new world, and it helps that Macy has been doing everything she can to make sure that Grace feels welcome at the academy. It makes me think about some of the family dynamics that books have where even though things haven’t been ideal, they somehow figure out a way to be together and help one another. It actually reminds me of A Constellation of Roses by Miranda Asebedo in that aspect.

Then of course we have the broodings of Jaxon Vega, and boy does he kind of also give me some Angel vibes, in that brooding sort of way.


This was pretty fun and I think that Wolff did an amazing job bringing vampires back to the YA world. I’m excited to see how the sequel turns out!

Crave is deliciously captivating and wholly enthralling; it’s a book I easily devoured, pun intended. It’s perfect for readers looking for the next epic love story. But take caution, because vampires are not the only creature that lurks in the night (and I’m not just talking about werewolves here).

I’ve been waiting for the next great YA vampire book, especially since vampires seem to be making a big comeback in the industry. And Crave is easily that book. There’s countless jam-packed action scenes and intriguing characters and, of course, a tall, dark, and mysterious vampire. But at the heart of this story is a love that will change the tides of the game, because there’s never a great vampire book without the whole world being at stake.

“‘I’ve got to say, if that’s the best you’ve got, I give you about an hour.’

I know I shouldn’t ask, but he looks so smug. I can’t help myself. ‘Before what?’

‘Before something eats you.'”

Grace, I found, was easily relatable and enjoyable as the main character. She felt real and her choices and actions defined the type of person she is: someone who protects those she loves. She’s snarky and sassy and is apt on putting certain people (*cough* Jaxon *cough*) in their place. Her character development was there in every chapter, especially the chapters where she was battling her grief. Her grief, her panic attacks, and her feelings were what made her feel so real to me; I’ve dealt with all of those and the author was spot on in describing what it all feels like. Grace was every bit the character I expected her to be, even when she was the damsel-in-distress.

“If this kiss is going to star a war, it may as well be worth it.”

And then there’s Jaxon. Jaxon was absolutely swoon-worthy and brooding in every way. He’s mysterious, moody, but yet sweet and protective. He’s afraid to get close to Grace because of the danger it would bring. But it’s difficult to run away from danger when it’s already afoot. He does everything in his power to protect Grace while keeping her at a distance. Readers may not see it at first (he does come off as a jerk, naturally), but his personality complements Grace’s and vice versa. These two characters are, in every sense, the next epic love story and I’m here for it all. Grace and Jaxon have both carved a spot in my heart.

“You wear indifference like a mask; you wield coldness like a weapon – not because you feel nothing but because you feel too much.”

Wolff’s writing provided this strong YA voice that many readers, myself included, could resonate with. Her writing and the tone of the story were spot on and worked well with the plot of the story. Which, I’ll add, is phenomenal. There’s so much going on with the plot that it made for one heck of an incredible story. It’s fast-paced and filled with plot twists I never saw coming. Crave is, all in all, a story perfect for paranormal readers and readers looking for a book with swoon-worthy characters.

The bad part about reading Crave? I have to wait until 2021 to read the sequel, which I absolutely need now. But like the saying goes: all good things come to those who wait. And book two is definitely worth the wait.

Crave follows Grace, sent to live with her uncle and cousin in Alaska after her parents’ tragic death. Shortly after settling in, Grace starts classes at Katmere Academy, where her uncle, Finn, is the headmaster and her cousin, Macy, also attends. Katmere Academy, however, is not a normal school. Grace is about to enter a world filled with creatures she didn’t know existed.

I’ll start off with addressing any comparisons to Twilight, since it’s been hailed as “the new Twilight.” While there are some similarities at the beginning– e.g. moving to a new town and aloof vampire that tries to stay away from the main character —Crave is very much its own thing.

For starters, unlike Twilight, Crave is funny! Right from the start, you can see this in the chapter titles. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book with chapter titles. While the have faded out of fashion in YA, I actually love chapter titles. The chapter titles serve as a little teaser of the chapter and reveal a lot about the characters. We see a lot of this humor on the page and in dialogue, as well. There’s even a scene where Grace tells Jaxon a– albeit bad– knock-knock joke. I’m a sucker for puns, though, so I liked the joke!

Another aspect of Crave that I really liked was the family dynamics. I was weary that this would be another story in which the family would either be absent or painted in a negative light. I was pleasantly surprised that Grace had a good relationship with her uncle and Macy. I think it’s especially important given that Grace moved to Alaska because of her parent’s death. Seeing that her uncle and Macy providing support for her helped me gain more empathy for Grace and her situation.

One critique, however, is the insta-attraction between Grace and Jaxon. I would have preferred that they had spent more time getting to know each other, maybe even being platonic friends, prior to exploring romantic feelings. This wasn’t a big point of contension for me, though, since their relationship does get fleshed out as Crave progresses.

Grace is an independent, fierce, and humorous character and I had a lot of fun reading from her perspective. I enjoyed that Grace actually questioned what was going on, even before she came to find out what it was. There is also a lot of sass and banter between Grace and Jaxon, which I lived for!

The only other aspect that I had any qualms about is the length of the book. While I understand that it takes time to set up the layers of conflict, context, and relationships, it could have been done without making Crave such a long book. Crave is still an engaging read, but it is by no means a “quick” read at over 500 pages.

Crave is a story filled with secrets, plot twists, and “creatures that bump in the night.” There’s an underlying thread of darkness and mystery in Crave, but it also has some levity and humor, which provides a good balance. It will keep you entertained till the end.

My Thoughts:

Crave was a book that immediately pulled me in. In a challenging time where reading, watching tv, or focusing on any other enjoyable activity feels impossible, this story was the escape that I desperately needed.

Grace has been forced to leave San Diego, after her parents were killed in a car accident. Now she's moved to Alaska to attend Katmere Academy, where her Uncle Finn is the headmaster. Things don't go so well when Grace arrives. While she's impressed by the architecture of her boarding school, which resembles an elaborate gothic castle, she gets severely ill with altitude sickness, isn't received well by most of the other students, and finds her life in danger too many times to count!

Her cousin Macy, also her new roommate, goes out of her way to try to make Grace feel welcome, but the rude, brooding, and gorgeous Jaxon Vega, comes off as cold, as he warns her that she needs to leave, because she isn't safe at Katmere. Then there's Flint, who is Jackson's opposite in every way, from his warmth, to his flirty and teasing manner. He makes Macy comfortable, but doesn't make her heart beat or her stomach flutter the way Jackson does. One thing is for certain, the students at Katmere Academy are very different from Grace...

Fans of the Twilight franchise, as well as the Lux franchise, are going to love this story. We have Grace and Jaxon, two characters full of combustible chemistry, that will leave you giddy and spellbound at their every interaction. Crave is told exclusively through Grace's eyes, and I enjoyed her viewpoint. We see Jaxon start off as a bit cold, but he still goes out of his way to protect Grace right from the very beginning of this story, and it was an Edward and Bella type of Twilight dynamic.

Ms. Wolff did a great job of entertaining me throughout the entire story. The pacing was perfect! For being a 592 page book, this story flew by! The characters were fascinating, and I enjoyed the air of mystery that surrounded them all, as well as trying to guess at what kind of paranormal being they were. There was such a fun and eclectic variety too; with vampires, witches, and dragon and wolf shifters!

Crave was such a high energy read! Bookworms are going to love the book and movie quote references, the romance, magic, danger, and lure of a book full of exciting magical paranormal creatures. If you are looking for light, entertaining, and exciting, then look no further for the perfect reading escape!

**Disclaimer: I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.**

Title Crave

Author Tracy Wolf

Release Date April 7, 2020

Publisher Entangled Teen

Description from Amazon

My whole world changed when I stepped inside the academy. Nothing is right about this place or the other students in it. Here I am, a mere mortal among gods…or monsters. I still can’t decide which of these warring factions I belong to, if I belong at all. I only know the one thing that unites them is their hatred of me.

Then there’s Jaxon Vega. A vampire with deadly secrets who hasn’t felt anything for a hundred years. But there’s something about him that calls to me, something broken in him that somehow fits with what’s broken in me.

Which could spell death for us all.

Because Jaxon walled himself off for a reason. And now someone wants to wake a sleeping monster, and I’m wondering if I was brought here intentionally—as the bait.

Initial Thoughts

Be still my vampire romance loving heart. I saw this book and I knew I had to be a part of this tour. I read Twilight when I was 15 and I think that was my first foray into the epic world of YA literature. I was a reader as a child but I strayed away from it in middle school. Finally, an epic vampire sage brought me back to my roots. When I saw the synopsis of this book, it brought back all of the feelings and love I remembered discovering back then.

Some Things I Liked

The chapter headers. They were witty, hilarious, and just downright amazing. I loved each one and I thought they struck a perfect balance between informative and humorous.
Jaxon > Edward. Jaxon is my new fictional supernatural boyfriend. DIBS. I loved Jaxon’s character. He was broody and helpful and just all around the stuff of good book boyfriends. I loved his character development and the way he didn’t really keep secrets, but rather, skirted around the truth that was in plain sight.
Nods to Twilight. Major props to Tracy Wolff and the team at Entangled Teen for using the clear cut comparisons to their advantage. One could easily make arguments for parallels between these stories but I loved the fact that Crave referenced the older vampire saga. I loved that. Now, I’m not trying to compare, but instead, I understand that Grace is using working from the same knowledge base that I am as a reader. I’m thinking WWBD (what would Bella do) and so is Grace.
THAT 👏 BABY 👏 YODA 👏 REFERENCE 👏 It was everything I wanted and more. It was perfection. I loved the analogy (no spoilers, but the reference was really well done).

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

I’m not a huge fan of slow burn plots. I’m a self-proclaimed detective of motives and I am always trying to guess the plots of stories. Therefore, I don’t do super well with slow burn. My overly-analytical mind is always trying to make guesses about the plot and motivations of the characters (which sometimes end up being wrong), and I ruin the story for myself.

Series Value

I’m super excited for the next book in this series. I’ve seen on Instagram that not only has the next cover been announced, this is being picked up for a screen adaptation. I think this series has tons of potential and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed this book. The story started out a bit slow but it picked up around halfway through. I’m definitely going to continue with this series and I’d be very interested in trying the audiobook for a re-read before Crush hits shelves.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Crush (Crave #2) by Tracy Wolff – this one is a no brainer rec, if you liked Crave, definitely add the stunning sequel to your TBR.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer – again, this rec should go without saying. Crave actually references Twilight. And, if that’s not recommendation enough, the Twilight series is basically the main reason I fell in love with vampires (longer ago then I care to admit 😂).
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead – if you like hot AF vampires, boarding school in the middle of nowhere, and outspoken, kick-ass main characters, try this finished series by Richelle Mead.

OMIGOD READ THIS!
5 out of 5, put this in your shopping cart, get ready for teen angst and fangs, and go!

Crave is my new obsession. I’m not usually a fan of stories that begin with tragic orphans, but I will make an exception! After the sudden loss of her parents, Grace moves up to Alaska to live with her uncle, who runs a prestigious boarding school in the middle of nowhere. Upon arrival it becomes clear that the other students don’t want her there and that the school is clearly divided into cliques taken to the next level. But her outsider status and the burgeoning interest of *the* prince of the school, Jaxon, makes Grace stand out—and not always in a good way. It soon becomes clear that there is more to the school and it’s students than she ever knew...and that someone may just want her dead.


I freaking live for the tropes at play: the seemingly normal girl who somehow snags the attention of the hottest, coolest, most dangerous guys in school; her ability to transcend the clique’s exclusivity; the slow and tortuous revelations that increasingly show that things are not as normal as they seemed. Everything about it is just brimming with the teen drama I CRAVE! Throw in a bunch of supernatural teenagers, hot vampire romance, cool magic, DRAGONS, and the never ending love between two souls so similar yet so different *chef finger kiss* it’s everything I want in a YA fantasy romance.

This is marketed as the new twilight but I honestly think I love this more. Grace is definitely not Bella. Grace is like a dozing pit bull ready to snap at anyone who dares to order her about. Jaxon is a bit of a dark horse, and clearly has no idea how to respond to her for the most part. His bafflement fuels my enjoyment a hundred fold. I especially like that he clearly sticks around in spite of if not because of her stubborn and sassy streaks.

I literally pine for book two. How can I possible wait?!? The writing is diverting and fun. It’s also very colloquial—lots of teen slang. One day this book could serve as a time capsule preserving teen language. If you are not hip with the times (I’m archaizing), you might end up googling the references. But I don’t think it will detract from your enjoyment. The plot is so eventful—lots of action and mystery—that it was hard to put it down. I just want more!!! But before you read this please note that the ending will crush your soul—because that cliffhanger is bananas and you will have so many questions! I don’t mean that in a bad way. You will simply be as addicted to this story as I am. You will, in fact, crave it. One taste is all it takes. Then it just sucks in your attention and refuses to spit you back out. (Ok I’m done with the vampire/title puns). I read this fast considering it’s a behemoth of a book in your hands. I recommend giving yourself time to binge!

For fans of Twilight, Vampire Academy, the abundance of vampire romances out in the PNR world, lovers of teen romance and suspense, anyone looking for a book set at an academy, and basically all warm blooded women. I think I got everyone.

That being said, this isn’t Maas so you don’t have to worry about a downright filthy sex scene in the middle of the book—Lots of making out though! The majority of the book is about the crazy stuff that keeps happening to Grace (she’s got the same amount of luck as other girls involved with vampires, which is to say almost none at all) so if you are ace or aro and find kissy books unappealing, consider your preferences—I love this book but I also binge romance novels so my preferences are showing. As far as triggers, I don’t recall any rapey bits, nothing hinting at domestic abuse/controlling bf, it’s more just a general sense of doom and attempting to avert it. It’s fairly violent towards the end.

No question about it - Crave was written with Twilight fans in mind. Not only does it give us readers the same vibes, but it outright plays with the tropes and lets you know exactly what kind of book it is from the beginning. With that in mind, I’m here to give you reasons fans of Twilight (and paranormal romance) will LOVE Crave plus a few reasons why it’s so much more than a copy of the story we all fell in love with so long ago.

For fans of Twilight

1. A love triangle. If you loved the love triangle in Twilight, this is for you. It’s angst light and it’s clear who you’re shipping from the beginning.
2. Familiar paranormals. Tracy shapes the paranormals around familiar tropes, though she does give them their own spin!
3. Turf wars. There’s no shortage of drama happening in Crave!

And something new!

1. Academy setting. Tracey is obv a fan of Legacies (also mentioned in the book) so fans of the academy setting will get a taste here. I hope we see more of it play out in book 2!
2. The last chapter. OMG. If you were looking forward to Midnight Sun, that chapter is for you. Tracy, I NEED MORE.
3. Variety of supernatural characters. It’s more than vamps and werewolves, which is what I love about the Legacies world, so it’s nice to see it play out here.
4. Steamy. For a YA novel, there’s quite a bit of steam. I’m here for it.

Tracy Wolff has created a deliciously dark, satisfyingly fun, and utterly fascinating supernatural world that sucked me in from the very first page and left my heart bleeding. Crave is filled with humor, thrills, swoons, and plenty of feels and I loved it all. Oh and this book has not only vampires, witches, and werewolves, but dragons too!! So, yes cravings quite satisfied, but I am absolutely and undeniably thirsty for more!

I feel like every paranormal vampire romance book I read is a little similar to Twilight, so if you’re not into that, then you might not like Crave very much. It’s not flawless and there are definitely some things I wish happened sooner rather than later to make the story even more interesting. So yes, this book was’t perfect, but was it fun? Yasss! Did it keep me up late at night? Totally! Did it make me laugh, swoon, and feel? Absolutely! Twilight wasn’t perfect either and I was completely addicted and would be for years. And after reading Crave, there is no doubt in my mind that I have a new obsession and a book vampire boyfriend to swoon over and over.

I love the world-building in this book and was utterly mesmerized by everything and wanted to know more. I love the details and descriptions of the breathtaking scenery, exploring the gorgeous castle, and just being immersed in this terrifying, but fascinating world. Wolff definitely adds her own creative and intriguing ideas and I really enjoyed them. The pacing is slow at times, but for the most part, the plot moves along quite smoothly. There’s humor, drama, mystery, suspense, and romance. It’s definitely quite thrilling that I was holding my breath a few times and felt my heart beating fast. This book is wicked, intense, surprising, and twisty in the best way and I loved it! Wolff definitely kept me guessing about a few things and though I had a bad feeling about one thing, I was never quite sure and I loved just never knowing how the story would go. The ending caught me off guard and now my heart is broken, but also I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I adore the characters and thought they were all interesting. Grace is definitely a strong, sassy, and likable heroine you’ll root for and Jaxon is the perfectly broody and sexy vampire you won’t be able to resist. I obviously enjoyed the romance and even though it’s totally cheesy at times, I loved the chemistry between Grace and Jaxon. I also really like Macy and enjoyed seeing her and Grace bond and get to know each other. I like that there’s playful bantering and some heartwarming moments between the characters.

With heart-pounding suspense, fascinating characters, twists and turns, and a swoony romance, Crave by Tracy Wolff had me gripping the edge of my seat and engrossed until the last page. I love world-building, the storyline, the paranormal aspects, the thrills, and the lighthearted moments sprinkled here and there. I honestly can’t recommend this book enough and I think it’s a must read for fantasy, paranormal, and romance lovers. So grab your copy of Crave and get ready to have a bloody fangtastic time!

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author and publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review and for participating in a Blog Tour hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club (FFBC). I also received free hardcover copy of the book for joining the Bookstragram Tour also hosted by FFCC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After the untimely and sudden death of her parents, San Diego, CA native Grace ends up being unceremoniously shipped to Alaska to live with her uncle Finn and cousin Macy. Uncle Finn is the headmaster at a large, gothic, school academy that is full of monsters. Not just the clique-y groups of high school students, but flat out monsters. After a horribly uncomfortable trip from CA to AK, Grace didn't think the day could get any worse. Then, Grace comes face-to-face with the hottest guy she's ever seen, who decides scaring her and telling her to leave the school is the best way to welcome her. Grace knows there is something weird going on at this school but can't put her finger on what it is.

Jaxon can't believe headmaster Finn brought his human niece to Katmere Academy. Full of shifters, vamps, and witches, the academy is absolutely no place for Grace. He tries to scare her away but when you've lost everything in her life like Grace has, clinging to what little bit of family she has left means more to her than the subtle warning of a hot, broody guy. Jaxon is the leader of the vampires and harbors many secrets that have molded him into the person he is today. All it takes is one human teenage girl to unravel his very existence. By the time Grace is finally privy to the goings on within the walls of Katmere it may be too late for anyone to protect her.

I've been a huge fan of vampire stories for a very long time (think, Bunnicula c. 1979) and it doesn't matter what genre: adult, new adult, young adult, or children's. Young adult, paranormal novel Crave consumed my life for two days. As a huge fan of the Twilight saga (the books more than the movies), I noticed several similarities between Crave and Twilight. However, there were enough differences to keep the story and the characters original and fresh. I'm still lost on why heroines become obsessed with heroes that are moody, rude, and treat them badly during the initial meeting(s) between them. I understand why Jaxon acted the way did but Grace did not and she still obsessed over him when he ignored her, disappeared on her, and was verbally unfriendly (I don't want to use "verbally abusive" because Jaxon was never that way).

Despite the obsession with the rude bad boy persona, I was mesmerized by Grace, Jaxon, Macy, Flint, and Lia. Grace is a strong teenager, forced to be upon the death of her parents, but is that - just a teenager. A teenager who was just uprooted from her whole life and moved to a new school filled with strangers. While Jaxon is a broody vampire, his intentions toward Grace are honorable. Macy is a wonderful cousin that tries to help Grace acclimate and get comfortable in her new environment.

This is my first book by author Tracy Wolff and I love her writing style. The descriptive passages had me easily visualizing the scenery, making me feel like I was in the book with characters. I found the author wrote the book with depth and emotion and there were several scenes where I teared up. The revelations revealed at the end of the book are shocking and the cliffhanger has me wanting more.

I look forward to Book 2 in the series.

There are so many things I want to say about Crave that its hard to know where to start.

I'm an unashamed fan of Twilight. I binged those books and even reread them. They are ridiculously entertaining and the perfect form of escapism, unless people take them too seriously. So, I knew going in that I would be predisposed to like Crave unless it was woefully bad.

It was not.

Do you want to know when I fell in love with Crave? Not just liked it, but really loved it? Pg 196. Now before you tell me, "that's too far in the book. How could you not have loved it by then?" I will tell you that I was already binging the book, completely geeking out over Tracy Wolff's writing style and feeling Grace's vibe, when the main love interest, Jaxon (our vampire) sends the naive, unsuspecting Grace a gift.

He sent he Twilight.

And I died laughing.

She had no idea about vampires, and the fact that she wanted to read it because she wanted to see what all of the fuss was about all of those years ago, made me feel only slightly old. What's beautiful here is what Tracy Wolff did. She lets her readers know she's in on the joke, the undeniable similarities, but also marks the exact moment Crave will be different than Twilight. From this point on, the books diverge entirely, with Tracy Wolff building her own tortured and captivating cast that is far from sparkly.

I can barely put into words how much I enjoyed myself while reading Crave. I found every excuse I could to read another page because I just liked it. I felt the tension, the drama, but also the lightness and fun of teen love. I love that this book made me remember the feelings I had in high school even though, obviously, my high school was nothing like Grace's.

About 75% through the book, you really start to realize the far reaching implications of everything that is happening. Yes this is a YA fantasy novel about two teenagers, kind of, falling in love, but you can also see where the series is going. It will outgrow these more childish constraints, as we all do, and become a more mature and consequential version of itself.

The end was spectacular, with so much action it was almost hard to keep up with and a cliffhanger ending that left me craving more - see what I did there? Any fan of the young adult genre will enjoy Crave immensely.

Also, quick shout out to Tracy Wolff for adding the three chapters at the end from Jaxon's perspective. I loved, loved, LOVED reading his thoughts and feelings, then adding that to what I already knew.

Thanks so much to Tracy Wolff, Entangled Teen, and the FFBC for my copy of Crave. Congratulations on the movie announcement!

People read book reviews in order to decide if they want to read a book or not. Let me help you out. DO NOT read any reviews for Crave! Just buy the book!! Why do I say this? Crave is an amazing story that will have you glued to the pages. My fear is that some reviews will include spoilers that will ruin the reading experience. For me, not having any idea about what was going to happen made the book so much better and heightened my reading enjoyment.

At first glance, when you look at the cover of Crave, you immediately think about that other vampire book, Twilight. Outside of the cover, the fact that there's a vampire or ten and an epic love story, these books have nothing in common.

“Are you ready for an adventure?”

Seventeen-year-old Grace Foster has just had her whole world turned upside down with the death of both of her parents. A Southern California girl, Grace now finds herself trading in her shorts and flip-flops for six layers of clothing and a parka to live with her uncle Finn and cousin Macy in Healy, Alaska.

Finn is the headmaster at Katmere Academy, a boarding school in the middle of nowhere. When Grace arrives, she knows things are going to be different, she just has no idea how different things are going to be. Everyone is staring at her. Some kids seem friendly and some seem to detest her on-site. Everyone seems to be in a clique and none of the cliques seem to interact with the others. Then there's Flint Montgomery and Jaxon Vega, two guys who could not be more different. Flint is all smiles and welcoming. Jaxon is brooding and mysterious.

Weird and unexplainable things start to happen at the academy. The only thing they have in common is that Grace is around when they’re happening. Soon she discovers those supernatural and paranormal books she's read aren't so make-believe after all. And that yes, it appears she has “become the heroine in some YA romance.”

Crave will have you glued to your seat with so many mind-blowing moments. Forget about the rest of the world. Sleep is overrated. Welcome to Katmere Academy and Tracy Wolff’s Crave series. “This is going to be a lot of things. Easy isn’t one of them.”

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“There’s not much to be afraid of when you’ve already lost everything that matters.”

“The heart wants what the heart wants.”

“The truth is, Grace, sometimes the most obvious answer really is the right one.”

“Most of us are human, Grace. We just also happen to have a little something extra, that’s all.”

“You’re more than you think you are.”

“Perception becomes truth eventually, even when it’s wrong.”

“Jaxon was never meant to be the hero of my story...because I was always meant to be the hero of his.”

Let me start by asking, WHERE. IS. BOOK. 2?!? I need it like yesterday. Lol I mean it.

Crave is truly a little gem. This young adult fantasy/paranormal novel was a wonderful surprise. I adored this story so much. Now, let me tell you a few things.

First, you may have heard that this book is very similar to Twilight. And it is! Now, it’s not Twilight. If you’re a hardcore fan, you might be disappointed… or not. I enjoy reading Twilight, but honestly, I preferred this book.

The writing style is entertaining with more of a YA voice - very easy to read. I read this book really fast despite having close to 600 pages. As for the story, the romance is pretty obvious, a tad too much at times, but I enjoyed the direction it took. Jaxon is a complicated almost brooding character with that alpha vibe going on. Grace is a bit naïve, but she shows compassion, courage, and strength despite what’s happening in her life.

This story was fast-paced as it was full of mystery and plot twists. The world-building isn’t very developed but enough for what we need. I would have liked to know where they all come from for example, but this did not prevent me from truly enjoying the story. I’m assuming book 2 will dive a bit more into this part.

What I enjoyed is that the book doesn’t stop at vampires and werewolves like in Twilight. It goes beyond, which was fun to read about. I would say there is a lot of bullying, make-out sessions, and near-death experiences, which will definitely keep you on your toes.

Now the ending… ***Sigh*** Did I mention I wanted to read book 2? It was nothing short of spectacular. I loved it!!!

So- Do I recommend it? Oh yes! Get ready for a fun and entertainment story with some swoony moments.

A Vampire Novel A Day Keeps The Doctor Away. Or something like that.

This was a pretty enjoyable read! I’ve been in a total vampire story mood lately and this hit the spot! The story follows Grace, as her whole life gets upended and she is sent to the middle of nowhere Alaska to live with her uncle and her cousin, Macy. It just so happens her uncle is the headmaster of a prestigious boarding school. So prestigious in fact, there’s like no information on the internet about it. Grace takes it all in stride though, as there is no other choice but to do just that. But upon her arrival she is greeted with a not so welcome party, in that of Jaxon Vegas. His cold greeting to her ends with a grim warning that she does not belong there and basically she will not survive if she stays. I’d be like aight I’m out peace, but our girl Grace just sorta shrugs it off.

I will start off by saying I really loved the chapter headings. They were funny and catchy and I was eager to see each one. This is minor thing I know but hey, it’s the little things. Okay now moving on I will start with the characters. Macy is definitely up there with my favorites. She was funny, understanding, and just an all around cool chick. Our MC, Grace was just alright. I felt her naivety and oblivious-ness to be rather annoying at times and I was like girlfriend, open your eyes something is clearly different her. I don’t know. I mean I guess I wouldn’t want to believe something supernatural was going on at first either. Besides her naivety, she was pretty funny and sarcastic and I loved her inner dialogue. Jaxon was a very mysterious, interesting character that I wish we could have gotten a bit more insight to. Also, I just am not the biggest fan of insta-love type deals. Ah I’m sorry okay! I really do try to like it, it just grates on my nerves. This luckily wasn’t a shoved in your face insta-love and it did drag out a bit. So maybe insta-love isn’t the correct term. Hmmm how about eventual love. Delayed love? Eh no that’s not right either. Whatever, you get the picture.

Besides the few issues I had, I really did find the overall story and plot to be very entertaining. There was a wide variety of supernatural themes, not just vampires! Dragon Shifters! Witches! OOOohhhh very fun! I loved all the twists, even if some were predictable. Our villian was truly a villian and even though I did guess who it would be I still felt a bit of shock that I was actually right! This story kept me hooked and I couldn’t put it down until I finished. And that cliff hanger-whoo boy gimme gimme gimme book 2! I am giving this a 3.75 out of 5 stars. I was so close to 4 but just wasn’t quite there all the way.

This book was fast paced and witty. The humor was perfect and sometimes corny, which I loved. This is definitely a perfect book for teens. It was such a fun read and the main protagonist is very relatable.The author captured life as a teen well with an emphasis on loneliness that I think is so important to address with teens.
I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the next book!
Thank you entangled teen for the opportunity to read this before release date.

A young girl named Grace loses her parents, and in the aftermath she is sent to a boarding school in Alaska. Katmere Academy is no ordinary boarding school, for it resides in a castle and, as Grace soon learns, it is bubbling with supernatural goings-on. What really has her blood hot though is the aloof boy Jaxon. He doesn't seem to want much of anything from her, but she can't keep her mind off him. Then she finds out he's an honest-to-garlic™ vampire, and she realizes she's fallen right into a rather unusual murky magical mess.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Crave is a book that I simultaneously enjoyed, and yet wanted more out of. I ended up reading it quite quickly, however two things rankled at me that matter. I felt like some words or phrases were shoehorned in to meet some invisible "cool" quota, such as youthful-sounding acronyms and other such noise. I also felt like the romance developed somewhat quickly and predictably. With that in mind, I still enjoyed Crave, and the relationship once built was fun and satisfied my thirst for vampiric (blood)lust. The plot moves along well, and while this is definitely not Twilight, there are echoes of other vampire-driven young adult novels you're sure to recognize. If you like vampires, an all-in romance, or enjoy unique settings, then you won't be disappointed by Crave's charms, so long as certain youth-driven aspects don't ward you off. Sink your reading fangs into Crave today!⁣⁣

It’s been awhile since I’ve read the trope that started my love of YA books. The Vampires are back! CRAVE is an exciting vampire read! With witches, dragons, wolf shifters & more, not everything or every character is as they first seem. There’s magic, danger, betrayal, hot character chemistry and a twist at the end I was not excepting.

CRAVE was not at all what I thought it would, but was just the book I needed. I really liked the world Wolff created with this story. There’s more than just blood sucking that her vampires can do. I’ll admit, I may have been team dragon for it, am definitely team witch, and I can not wait to see more what a certain someone turns into, in the sequel.

I enjoyed this book and reading the trope that fueled my love of reading YA 10+ years ago (before Twilight there was The Vampire Diaries). I devoured this book within a day of receiving an arc of from the publisher. I’m looking forward to reading it’s sequel!

I have add that NO, this is not another Twilight story nor is it a spin off from that series.

*There is some language, use of the f word, and sensual scenes that may not be suitable for younger YA readers