jmeyers888's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Blood, Violence, and Kidnapping
cady_sass's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Twilight but make it gen z. That’s it, that’s the review.
Just kidding.
As someone who was a teenager when twilight hit the shelves, no YA vampire love story is going to touch it. But I can fully appreciate the audience this was written for and know that it’s successful in its execution. The issues for me lie specifically with just how painfully, cringing-ly (this is a word now) Gen Z it is. I don’t enjoy dialogue that includes “AF” unironically (and all the time). The characters are dumb, lovable but dumb, and i think that’s a disservice to all of them. The fact that Twilight, as a book, exists in this universe and it is GIVEN to the protagonist as a very obvious gift/clue and she still can’t figure what’s going on? The reader is never going to believe that. But someone could easily have similar gripes about Twilight, and I refuse to reconsider the 5 star the rating my teen heart gave those books. So, I get it. This is definitely that for some swooning teens out there
I devoured this and thoroughly enjoyed it. Will definitely continue the series!
Just kidding.
As someone who was a teenager when twilight hit the shelves, no YA vampire love story is going to touch it. But I can fully appreciate the audience this was written for and know that it’s successful in its execution. The issues for me lie specifically with just how painfully, cringing-ly (this is a word now) Gen Z it is. I don’t enjoy dialogue that includes “AF” unironically (and all the time). The characters are dumb, lovable but dumb, and i think that’s a disservice to all of them. The fact that Twilight, as a book, exists in this universe and it is GIVEN to the protagonist as a very obvious gift/clue and she still can’t figure what’s going on? The reader is never going to believe that. But someone could easily have similar gripes about Twilight, and I refuse to reconsider the 5 star the rating my teen heart gave those books. So, I get it. This is definitely that for some swooning teens out there
I devoured this and thoroughly enjoyed it. Will definitely continue the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
stephs1531's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved it! I can definitely see how it was influenced by twilight, but I liked how this series includes other supernatural creatures. And Jaxon is swoon-worthy hot damn. My high school self would have been completely in love with him and he would have ruined me for all other men.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Blood
sam8977's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Car accident, Death, Violence, Bullying, Cursing, Murder, and Kidnapping
littletiramisu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Bullying, Car accident, and Physical abuse
brindolyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Bullying
dkgreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Oh man, this was campy and trope-y and great distraction! I’ve seen this book/series mentioned EVERYWHERE, but just never got around to it. I get some of the complaints that are lobbed around some of the less flattering reviews, but that didn’t make this any less entertaining for me. Sure, the world building and magic system could have been more fleshed out, but, in the book’s defense, it’s all from Grace’s POV and since *she* doesn’t know how things work, *we* don’t know how things work. I’m hoping that is rectified in the next book. But honestly, even if it’s not, I don’t think it’ll bother me too much—there’s enough drama to keep me coming back! My favorite thing though, hands down, had to be when Jaxon sent Grace a copy of Twilight because COME ON! THAT is freaking HILARIOUS! IYKYK 🤣
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Death of parent
brooklynncm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Cannibalism, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Death of parent
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
You know that it's a good book when you literally can't put it down, fly through it, and then have the worst book hangover ever after reading it. That's how I felt about Crave.
The best way to describe this book is a throwback to 2010's YA paranormal romance - and I loved every second of it. There's no depth. There's a ton of cringe. There's teen angst. There are all of my favorite paranormals (vampires, werewolves, dragons, witches, and gargoyles). There are moments that get your heart racing and other moments that make you roll your eyes. It was fantastic.
I buddy-read this book, and if you were to go through the comments we wrote during our buddy-read, you would be cackling. We were ridiculous with the number of times we predicted things, laughed over cliches, and just fangirled throughout the book. It was so fun to read with someone else who grew up loving the same kind of books as I did because it just made the experience even more enjoyable.
Honestly, if you were a Twilight or Vampire Academy fan, you will love this book. I'm gonna even go so far as to say "love this series" because even though I haven't read the rest yet, I can't see myself being anything less than obsessed with the next few installations in the series. In fact, I have a strong desire to just toss aside my carefully planned TBR to binge them all! It's that good.
Don't go into this thinking you're going to read some profound fantasy with political intrigue and emotional depth. Look elsewhere for that. But if you want something REALLY FUN and nostalgic, this is definitely the next book you should pick up!
The best way to describe this book is a throwback to 2010's YA paranormal romance - and I loved every second of it. There's no depth. There's a ton of cringe. There's teen angst. There are all of my favorite paranormals (vampires, werewolves, dragons, witches, and gargoyles). There are moments that get your heart racing and other moments that make you roll your eyes. It was fantastic.
I buddy-read this book, and if you were to go through the comments we wrote during our buddy-read, you would be cackling. We were ridiculous with the number of times we predicted things, laughed over cliches, and just fangirled throughout the book. It was so fun to read with someone else who grew up loving the same kind of books as I did because it just made the experience even more enjoyable.
Honestly, if you were a Twilight or Vampire Academy fan, you will love this book. I'm gonna even go so far as to say "love this series" because even though I haven't read the rest yet, I can't see myself being anything less than obsessed with the next few installations in the series. In fact, I have a strong desire to just toss aside my carefully planned TBR to binge them all! It's that good.
Don't go into this thinking you're going to read some profound fantasy with political intrigue and emotional depth. Look elsewhere for that. But if you want something REALLY FUN and nostalgic, this is definitely the next book you should pick up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Blood, Torture, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Murder
roseamillerg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, and Kidnapping
Minor: Eating disorder and Genocide
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