Happy Saturday y’all! Today, and for the next several weeks, I’ll be sharing a series that I’m buddy reading with Jan @ J.R.’s Book Reviews. I’ve had the Crave series sitting on my shelves for a while. I just never had the push to read them until Jan asked if anyone wanted to buddy read them with her. If you are a fan of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, you are in for a treat!
Crave by Tracy WolffNarrator: Heather Costa, Tim Paige
Series: Crave #1
Published by Entangled: Teen, Tantor Audio on 2020-04-07
Length: 571 pages
Length: 14 hours and 56 minutes
Reviewing Audiobook, Hardcover from My Book Shelf, TN R.E.A.D.S.
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2024 Audiobook Challenge, 2024 Backlist Reader Challenge, 2024 COYER Unwind, 2024 Library Love Challenge
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.
What a ride! Crave by Tracy Wolff is the first in a six-book series that follows a young girl who has recently lost everything as she navigates a world full of paranormals she thought were fairy tales. The book begins with Grace traveling to a remote boarding school in Alaska to live with her uncle and cousin. Her parents recently died, and Grace is learning how to live life without them. Upon arriving at Katmere Academy, Grace realizes that not all is as at seems. The students act oddly, staring at Grace like they’ve never seen a new girl before, impervious to the Alaskan winters, and abnormally strong. What is going on with her new classmates, and will she survive the random accidents that keep happening to her?
If you’ve looked into this story at all, then you know what is happening at the school. It was made fairly obvious, and poor Grace is clueless. I liked seeing Katmere through her eyes as a human who had never been exposed to paranormals except through bad TV shows. But Grace is smart, and while she picks up on all the clues that are given to her, she doesn’t put the pieces together until bite marks appear on her own neck.
The world-building in this book is a lot of fun. I like how the author has included different paranormals at the school, learning and training together. There are vampires, witches, dragons, and werewolves all under one roof. Grace’s new friends comprise of a mix of them without her knowledge. Once she discovers the truth, rather than be afraid or freak all the way out, she extends her friendship and lets curiosity guide her.
The plot of this one is two-fold. The first is Grace adjusting to Katmere and all that that entails. The second is the mysterious accidents that she keeps having, as if someone wants her dead. The question is who and why. I like the mystery that surrounds this, and I loved getting to know the paranormal world through Grace’s interactions.
Overall, I devoured Crave. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s almost parallel to Twilight in a sense. Jaxon just can’t seem to get enough of Grace, and neither she him. While the romance leaves a bit lacking (very much insta-lust, not what I’d call love), the rest of the story’s elements more than make up for it. If you are a fan of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, I highly recommend it.
Audiobook Note: While I have a hardcopy of this book, I did follow along by listening to the audiobook. This is mostly narrated by Heather Costa with Tim Paige narrating the final chapter. Costa is easy to follow. I enjoyed how she portrayed Grace, it was very much a SoCal teenage girl which was perfect. I did listen at an increased speed of 2.5x.
I buddy read this book with Jan @ J.R.’s Book Reviews. She rated it 5 stars. You can see her original review here.
Robin enjoys these books.
Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted…Sunday Post – 14 July 2024 @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality
I’m enjoying them so far. I’ll be finishing book three today and moving on to book four.
What a gorgeous cover. I love the sound of the series and am glad you enjoyed it so much.
sherry fundin recently posted…Sherry’s Shelves 7.7 – 7.13.24 #weeklyupdate
I’ve got to read this series! I don’t know how anyone can listen to it as fast as some of you do! But hey, if I could do that I’d read so much more! Great review!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…Tell Me Something Tuesday: July 23rd, 2024 – Book Conventions
I like to listen and follow along in my hardcopy which is the only reason I can listen so fast. If I don’t have the hardcopy or when I’m driving, my normal speed is 1.5x.