Crave, by Melissa Darnell (The Clann #1)

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….

In a world of witches and vampires that she has yet to know about, Savannah is stuck in the middle of the two groups. She also has a giant crush on Tristan, a member of the Clann, who have made it very clear they don't like Savannah and have no qualms about making her life miserable. However, her masochistic longing for the one guy she can't have isn't unrequited, as Tristan finds Savannah irresistible after she comes back to school after being sick. Savannah and Tristan know they must avoid each other, but they can't. Will these star-crossed lovers give in to temptation or will they respect their families' wishes?

Based on the cover and the summary I expected a grittier story than what was inside the book. Where I felt there should have been more angst and darkness were Savannah's childish (and self-centered) thoughts and the school dance team. Savannah acted really petty, especially considering her new situation. I get that it can be terrifying to learn you aren't fully human and that witches and vampires exist, but she could have handled it with a lot more aplomb. Yeah, she's only 15 for most of the book, but you'd think her unique situation would cause her to grow up a bit faster.

I know that this is supposed to be a Romeo and Juliet type tale but I couldn't help but find the whole thing immature. I felt like if you give Sav and Tristan another two months together they'd break up and that the attraction is based in the knowledge that they can't be together. And as much as they proclaim their love there is also evidence that it is all caused by the magic inside them. Savannah is told that members of the Clann will be more attractive to her because of her transformation, and even though she had a crush on Tristan before, I think it was more of an infatuation that would have gone away eventually. And Tristan is only motivated to act on his attraction to Sav because he's jealous of all the other male attention she's getting. For him in particular I feel the whole thing was just an act of defiance against his parents.

Maybe, just maybe, had I read this book five years ago I would have liked it. That's a giant maybe. I would not recommend this to anyone who wants to read a book with some actual brainpower put into it, but its ditziness and bubbliness would probably be enough for younger readers.

2.7 stars.