Hi Again!

The other night I needed something quick to read and I decided that something quick would be a graphic novel on my Netgalley list! So while sitting in my favorite cozy reading spot, I opened my Netgalley app. I found the Crave Volume 1 graphic novel and I was super intrigued by the cover so I decided I wanted to give it a try. (Thank you so much to the publishers for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions). I was able to devour this graphic novel from my favorite cozy spot in one sitting. So without further ado, let’s jump into the story.

SPOILERS AHEAD

On a university campus, a new app has popped up called Crave. The app is becoming insanely popular among the population on campus, insanely quickly. Essentially people who use the Crave app are able to ask for one thing you crave and if the percent chance of that Craving happening is high the app will tell you how to achieve your craving. If the chance is under ten percent the app tells you that and shuts down that craving. As you can imagine things with this app are getting wild across campus from violence to relationship escapades to people having hookups all over campus. Things are very very quickly getting out of hand and some students leave campus, only to find out that the app was created on campus and can only be stopped from the on-campus servers. Will they be able to get to them? Can they resist using Crave?

I knew almost nothing going into this graphic novel but I ended up enjoying my time with it. The story had a thin layer of mystery (why is the app created? What is the original goal or purpose?). The characters were all very interesting to follow and see how they either resisted or gave in to Crave. Also for the people who gave in to Crave, it was wild to see the range of different asks and what the app said back to them. I will definitely be on the lookout for volume two. Before I wrap up this post, I do want to say that this is definitely an adult graphic novel, please keep that in mind before picking it up! Crave hits shelves on September 17th, 2024!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

***Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Wasn't my cup of tea personally. Cover art is very cute and graphic was nice. I definitely see someone enjoying it but personally i did not!

A hook-up app goes wild amongst the university students at an elite school, but it’s much more than just a hook-up app. Students start acting out of character, some start making dangerous decisions, and the school’s technology appears weirdly tied to the app. Crave centers on one group of friends and the relationships that begin and end because of the app.

With unhinged university students, a mysterious hook-up app, and a university full of technological dangers, Crave is what modern dark academia dreams are made of. It’s thrilling, sexy, and unique in the comic/graphic novel space. The characters aren’t really likable, but that’s par for the course in dark academia. Crave is erotic, but at its core, it’s a mystery. I promise there’s a plot past the spicy scenes! Llovet’s art is incredibly detailed and gorgeous, and that alone would have kept me moving through the story to the end.

As for what I didn’t like, there isn’t much. I didn’t like a couple of the side storylines, but I didn’t dislike them enough to mar my view of the story. Crave gets quite deep and dark near the end, which feels like a departure from the rest of the story. See my content warnings below my rating at the bottom of the post for more information.

Final Thoughts:
Crave is an excellent example of how dark academia can work in modern comics and graphic novels. I think those who enjoy New Adult stories, mysteries, and complicated college relationships will fall in love with Crave.

Content Warnings:
Suicidal Thoughts
Leaking of Personal (Explicit) Photos/Videos (of an adult)
Outing of an LGBTQ individual
Assault
Death
Bondage Photos (done with consent) (of an adult)

I had a lot of fun reading this; the artwork reminded me of an old school comic book in a way, and I really liked an early scene in the story that talks about how we feel with social media. It sort of felt like some of the relationships moved a bit too quick based on the way the app worked, but I think for the purpose of the storyline it works really well. Overall it was a enjoyable novel!

Timely, thought-provoking, dark. 18+. I'm not usually one for graphic novels, but this was bite sized and fun, I think it could have gone deeper into the relationships and darker aspects, more character development would make me care about them more when things go wrong.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this with high expectations and unfortunately was disappointed by this graphic novel. I thought the illustrations were gorgeous and the story easy to follow. However, I was hoping for a more complex story and maybe even a new comic series to follow. Unfortunately, since there is a neatly wrapped up ending, I do believe this is a standalone. For the most part, I did enjoy the steamy scenes. However, I hoped they would have been more of a catalyst for the plot and characterization, where as I do believe it was more just for the entertainment factor. I did enjoy reading this overall, but feel it is better suited for someone who comes in with matched expectations. This is a great palette cleanser for readers wanting something fun and not so serious.

Thank you to Image Comics, and NetGalley for giving me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

. A social media app that makes all your cravings possible is unleashed on a college campus and things escalate quickly as hidden desires are made public and relationships shift. Inhibitions are gone and nothing will be the same after you’ve used Crave.
This graphic novel isn’t for everyone. It’s very explicit however it raises some very interesting questions about social media and how that is becoming increasingly connected to all facets of our lives. I enjoyed this exploration of these ideas and would recommend it to readers comfortable with explicit sex content as an interesting read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.

3.75 stars is the actual rating. I honestly enjoyed my time reading this. Very quick paced and entertaining. The plot of the story was not like anything i have seen before. i really had a good time would consider a re read in the future.

It is an Image Comics standalone, and usually I stand by those with a loyalty that rivals peanut butter and jelly...

This one didn’t do it for me. I could see fans of Riverdale enjoying this, and if it weren’t for the 🌶️spice level🌶️I would categorize this as a YA comic. it is not.

Its just not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, whoa. I read the tags for this but I did not full realize what I was getting into. Definitely not for the faint of heart. Crave follows a group of new adults at university where a new app, Crave, suddenly appears on every phone and lets people satisfy their deepest, darkest cravings, sometimes very publicly.

The art style didn't resonate with me at first but around halfway through the first issue, it clicked and I loved it. It was so simple but added so much emotion to the story. 4/5 for art

Now for the story. Based on spicyness alone, 7/5 stars. But there were parts that felt a bit...jumpy and reached for. Not a bad story by any means, but not quite 5 stars.

This was kind of stupid. It's basically a cut Black Mirror episode. It's about a dating app running through a school that is answering everyone's desires, to the point where teens are all having sex right in the hallways of the school. There is the downside that everyone saw coming. It hits about every trope it can. Llovet also goes down the manga path of not drawing faces on half the characters. Some people will say that it was done because you're so absorbed with the only character that matters in a scene that you can't even see the other people. I think it was done to cut corners.

Crave is a graphic novel about a new dating app that’s spread across a college campus only it might make you think it’s giving you what you “crave” it’s actually causing turmoil and chaos!

I really enjoyed this graphic novel and the art was fantastic! The storyline was super unique and I kept finding myself wanting more and more to know what’s going on in the best sort of way.

It is pretty adult so I would NOT recommend it for anyone younger than upper teens (I’m talking 16 and under) but for an adult graphic novel it was really well done and the intimate scenes were done well and interspersed well throughout. Definitely a fun quick read and I hope the author makes a sequel!

Erotic and salacious! WOW what a ride!

Just the pallet cleanser I needed! I loved the art and how deliciously chaotic the story line was! It was a bit predictable but overall a lot of fun!

I requested this book because of the gorgeous cover and the crazy premise! It was an entertaining read as I expected but the plot and characters didn't have enough depth to them. Additionally, I'm not really satisfied with how little information we got about Crave. I wish there had been some type of interrogation with the creators behind it.

Thank you to Image Comics and NetGalley for the ARC.

Crave is a graphic novel collection consisting of smaller magazines. It tells the story of an app that claims to fulfil your wildest cravings. Released in a university, ultimately, chaos ensues. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and felt like it was a gripping and interesting storyline. I would have loved for it to be longer!

Thanks so much to @netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review

First of all a big thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publishers for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.

I really enjoyed this, I found the premise of a dating app that just appears on everyone's devices which in the long run ends up causing absolute chaos. The artwork in this is absolutely beautiful. I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment and seeing where the plot takes us next.

Rating 3.5

Thanks to NetGalley and image comics for the arc of this book.

First of all the covers are absolutely gorgeous for each of the 6 issues in this collection (it’s what made me notice the title initially) and the art for the comic throughout are great as well.

The premise for this book though is what drew me in, a social media app that will give you what you crave. It’s like reading a black mirror episode with hints of Squid Game scattered throughout as well.

I think the social commentary in the book is spot on and I loved how ironic it was with during the social media lecture when the college was becoming obsessed with crave with good foreshadowing.

For a short collection it manages to tackle quite a few issues church I liked but I think it is also a downside as it was so short that none of the characters were really fleshed out. You didn’t really get a chance to connect with them at all and had to take everything at face value.

The premise is so so smart and cool and I would have loved if there was more to it, the whole book felt rushed and everything went so fast that I kind of get the feeling that I’m missing context. I wanted to know more on who created crave, when it started at the college, the build up to it getting out of hand because when you start reading it, its pretty much already at the disaster stage.

All in all I did really enjoy the book but I think it needed more, more issues (it could have easily been made into 10/15 issues and really get to know the characters) and more background on how crave came about. I’m saying that though I think the author is on to something and whatever they publish next I’m absolutely here for.

Honestly I was expecting a lot more from this. I don't know that I would really classify it as erotica; there really wasn't much sex in it at all, other than the overall premise. I was expecting a ridiculous plotline (check), no real explanation for what's happening (check), and lots of spicy scenes (missing). Since I was going in expecting a sexier story I was disappointed, so maybe it's just the marketing. I did really enjoy the art style but to me the execution of the story fell flat.

Crave is one of the best graphic novels I have ever read. The plot was amazing and kept me intrigued the whole time, I did not want to stop reading. The art was phenomenal.

I was lucky enough to have this as an ARC reader, and I’m so glad I was approved! The premise sounded super interesting and the artwork looked beautiful. This comic did not disappoint! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to be an ARC reader!!🫶🏻

I loved the Black Mirror vibes!! It really made me think how AI can impact people’s lives in this age of online dating. It was dark and sexy, and really kept me entertained throughout. I couldn’t stop reading because I just had to find out how this app was impacting students on campus.

I was captivated by the art throughout, and the spice scenes were well done🌶️ And again, I just can’t get over how beautiful the artwork is! Absolutely gorgeous. Highly recommend reading this!♥️✨