Crave by Melissa Darnell

Published: October 25th, 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 416

e-copy: courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher

Summary: Goodreads

Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.



For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

Don't you just love stories about doomed lovers - I know I do.  I'm a real sucker for all that angst and true love and destiny and etc, etc.  Happily, 'Crave' did not disappoint me in any way.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching Savanah and Tristan fight their attraction, all the while knowing that they might as well just give in and accept it - but the journey is half the fun, isn't it?

Ms Darnell has managed to put together a remarkably clean story that is more than suitable for all teens.  Savanah and Tristan just seem like such genuinely kind kids, who are caught in a situation that is not of their own making and have to suffer the consequences.  With the narrative alternating between both of them it was interesting to hear their different takes on the same events.  Savanah's friend Anne was an interesting person.  Strong and opinionated, but not too judgemental.  I liked her.  I also really enjoyed disliking Dylan.  He was the perfect opinionated jock, full of himself and his perceived entitlements.  Between him and the brat twins, who were perfect 'mean girls', Savanah's life of torment was assured.

I don't want to give any real spoilers, so I can't tell you why Sav and Tristan are forbidden to talk to each other, but it is just so unfair.  Their feelings for one another seem so genuine, and while there is a fair amount of angst, I did not find it quite as whiney as usual - not so much 'woe is me' - and it was very easy to read.  So with vampires, witches, controlling councils, school spirit teams and a whole host of obsessed males, Crave was lots of fun to read.  Give it a try.  There was even a few pages of the second in the series 'Covet' just to whet our appetites, as if mine needed it!