Burn Bright Book Club: Crave by Melissa Darnell
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 .
Belinda:
Cover
A sepia picture of a girl in a white strapless gown on a leaf strewn lawn. Her eyes are accented in blue and her hair has slightly auburn tinges. Around the edges of the cover are the foiled images of foliage.
Characters
Though there is a cast of many in Crave, the non-essential players are useful tools to move the storyline along.
Favourite
Emily, mainly because she kept her cool, was supportive but protective all at the same time.
Least Favourite
Savannah’s Mum. If I was going through all the changes Savannah was and my Mum wasn’t there I would be royally p.o’d.
Beginning
The beginning is a little confusing, and makes very little sense until later on.
Storyline
Savannah falls ill and is made aware of her true family heritage upon awakening. The consequences of her family’s past demons is more than enough to alter her future.
Ending
Finally the beginning makes more sense and that’s all I will say on the matter.
Thoughts
Initially when I started getting into Savannah’s dance club whimsy, I was rolling my eyes. Melissa managed to keep things atypical and I was really getting into the groove of it by the time Tristan entered and added his spice in the mix. Then the whole scenario went to a whole new level.
Score one for the guy following the girl for once!
Quote
“I’m sorry, was there something to actually see?” Savannah to Dylan
Krista:
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….
Paperback, 416 pages Published October 25th 2011 by Harlequin Teen (first published October 18th 2011)
ISBN 0373210353 (ISBN13: 9780373210350) series: The Clann #1
Cover
I love the colors and the contrast between the background and her dress. The dress does make some sense for the story as the main character is a dancer.
Characters
There is more than just a paranormal romance factor in the story. We get to see great family dynamics as well as the friendships, romance and a generations-long battle that has been happening between creatures living in the world.
Favourite
Savannah was my favorite character. She is a little headstrong in some scenes of the story, especially when it comes to the relationship she has with her father. But I felt all of her reactions and actions were something I myself would do in her situation.
Least Favourite
I agree with Belinda on this one. I, for one, did not like Savannah’s parents. The mother or the father. I was happy to see a novel in which the parents actually take a pretty large role in the story, but the scenes that they were in really made me the most upset. More the father than the mother, but that is how I came to understand Savannah’s actions better as well. The relationship she had with her parents may have been understandable, but at most times they were not very supportive. That is where her grandmother comes into play.
Beginning
In the beginning of the story we learn that both Savannah and Tristan have been feeling really sick lately. Savannah has never been sick a day in her life so the reader knows that something is off. We also learn that Savannah is bullied and somewhat of an outcast at school, but Tristan is pretty popular and outgoing. And that they have a long past that has been broken somehow.
Storyline
We get alternative perspectives between Savannah and Tristan’s points of view. They have both been feeling ill lately, and because of some long history in their town, there is rumors and mysteries surrounding the Clann. Most of the town is part of this mysterious Clann, and Tristan is from one of the well known Clann families as well as hanging out with the popular girls at school. Savannah used to be best friends with this group, but in the fourth grade something happened and she has been pushed out. When Savannah’s illness takes a turn, her family sits her down to explain to her that nothing she ever could have imagined was happening to her, and everybody in the Clann knows she is different. But her and Tristan have a overpowering attraction to each other that must be confronted.
Ending
This section is the only part I have a hard time commenting about because I hate spoilers. The ending is perfect, it ties up all of the mystery and confusion. This is my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time. But I went into it knowing the ending. It’s action packed, mysterious and intriguing. You will definitely want to pick up book two COVET.
Thoughts
My favorite thing about this book is Tristan and Savannah’s “Dream Dates”. These are the parts when these characters seem to really open up for the readers. They are so open and honest with each other, you get the dialogues between Savannah and Tristan in the dream sequences. There is a good balance of events that happen, great anticipation and I loved all the twists to paranormal aspects that this story brings. Tristan learns a lot of new things about his heritage and Savannah is put through several different tests to determine who she is meant to be.
Quotes
“I understood then why humans have noses. So we can find each other to kiss in the dark.”
Lisa:
Cover
I don’t have very much to say about the US paperback cover. It doesn’t have any connection to the story, at all. This cover is so generic, it could be used for any other Young Adult paranormal novel. Besides having no real meaning (towards the story line), nothing really sticks out or catches your eye when walking by. This cover is such a disappointment, especially since Crave was such an AMAZING read!
Characters
The main character is Savannah who is in the process of changing into a vampire. Though her mom and grandmother are both witches, the vampire inside of her is from her dad’s side of the family. What I thought was the most interesting was the tons of rumors going around that the Clann had some sort of magical powers, which is true, but no one really believed it.
Favorite
I really loved the main character. Savannah wasn’t as dramatic about all the things changing, not only in her appearance, but also her thoughts, emotions, and…cravings as Twilight made vampires seem. She was so down to earth, and that’s what I really liked about her.
Least Favorite
At the beginning of Crave, I had to say my least favorite character was Savannah’s dad. But after finishing the book and learning why he isn’t around as much as a dad should be, I can happily say I don’t dislike any of the characters!
Beginning
Crave seems to start off with a normal teenage girl, going to high school, dealing with not only the daily bullying from the Clann kids who run the school (The Clann, are the decedents of the original founders of the town), but also with her father, who isn’t around. When he is there, he doesn’t care about Savannah or her hobbies.
Story Line
Soon Savannah starts the process of changing into a vampire. At first she assumes it’s just a seasonal flu. But sitting down with her mom, grandmother, and dad (shocker!), she learns a lot about herself, and her family. Her dad is a vampire, her mom and grandmother are witches, and Savannah’s family was part of the Clann, until they were kicked out, due to some of her mother and father’s decisions and life choices.
Ending
Besides dealing with the changes of becoming a vampire, trying to impress her father, and following the directions of her mother, Savannah is having a hard time staying away from the boy she loves, Tristan (who is next in line to become the Clann’s leader). I don’t want to say much more, because I don’t want to ruin the ending for you. Buuut … Savannah doesn’t have a choice, she has to do, what her mother and father didn’t do, stay away from the one she loves.
My Overall Thoughts
his is one of the best books I’ve read this summer! Though the cover isn’t anything special, the story is! The ending is like nothing I’ve read before. Rumors of it being a cliff-hanger are true. But it’s the good kind of cliff-hanger that makes you want to run to the bookstore at midnight in your pajamas just to pick up the next book!
Paperback, 416 pages
Published April 6th 2012 by MiraInk (first published October 18th 2011) ISBN 1848450966 (ISBN13: 9781848450967)
