Book Review - Crave by Melissa Darnell

Book Title - Crave
Author - Melissa Darnell
Publisher - Harlequin Teen
Release Date - October 18, 2011
Pages - 416


Synopsis from 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….


My Review - Savannah and Tristan used to be best friends. In fourth grade they even got "married"! The day following their little wedding, Tristan and all of her friends refused to even talk to her. Not once. With no explanation Savannah was left alone and brokenhearted, confused by the sudden change.

Now seven years later, Tristan can't even walk into a room without Savannah's own body letting her know he is there against her own will. For reasons she can't fathom, let alone explain, she is drawn to Tristan and against her better judgement can't help longing for him and wishing even after all this time, that he would just talk to her, and be friends with her again. Before that happens, Savannah gets sick with a strange illness and she ends up learning something about herself and her family she never dreamed. She is told she must stay away from Tristan and other members of the towns "clann" at all costs. However, ever since her illness, she is drawn to Tristan more than ever before.

Tristan has spent every day of the last seven years missing Savannah and secretly watching her and keeping an eye on her, even protecting her, although she has no idea. His parents forbid him to ever speak to her again, for reasons he doesn't understand, and he has hated it every day since. As a descendant of the oldest witch clann in their town, Tristan is destined to become the next clan leader taking after his Father. It is a future he didn't ask for or want. Tristan is getting tired of his parents and the clann trying to dictate his life and future. Tristan wants to start making his own decisions and plan his own future, starting with Savannah.

I really liked this book. You have two people that fall in love against their families wishes due to this age old law that prohibits them from being together or else a war between their species could hurt them all. I admire that they chose to make decisions for themselves, and try being together against all odds, fighting to make it work. Of course, things never go as planned do they?

The love between Tristan and Savannah is sweet and is one you can understand and it develops over time. Plus, given their history it made their feelings for one another make sense and not feel rushed and forced together. I really enjoyed reading their moments together. The history behind the clann is a world that Melissa Darnell made interesting and at the same time easy to follow. One of my biggest pet peeves is when an author over does the paranormal history lesson behind their storyline and I'm left scratching my head thinking, "huh?" and have to read it a few times to get what they are saying. Not the case at all here.

One of my absolute favorite parts about this novel is the fact it is written from both Savannah and Tristan's point of view. How many times have you read a book longing to know what the guy is thinking when certain things happen, or something is said? Darnell makes the point of views flow so well. The timing of how one pov ends and then the other picks up on and off throughout the book, is perfectly well written. I hope she does that again for the next book because it really added to the story.

I can't wait for the second book in the series. The end of this book leaves you with a big cliffhanger and I can't wait to read what happens to Savannah and Tristan next.



Review by Jen