Scan barcode
A review by paulaks
Crave by Tracy Wolff
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The short review and main lesson: Big book doesn't mean good book. Now let's break it down.
Characters: Ugh, the main character wanted to be so different that it hurt me as a reader. The background story and her flaws were based around the most basic trope "both of my parents died". Not that this isn't scaring and unrealistic, it's just over used and the easiest way to scar a character. The love interest was actually well down but also uncreative. A postive I want to mention is the diverse cast! She has done a great job at giving a little bit of their ethnicity away and leaving room of interpretation.
Cliché and Tropes: I don't know which category this will fit but I want to talk about the use of clichés. I'm not sure how to put it in words but the book wanted to be "not cliché" so bad but exactly that (a cliché / basic situation) happened over and over. As a reader this is so frustrating!!
The fantasy aspect: I was so amazed by the world building, honestly! It definitely helped to make it feel more cozy, tense, etc.. Where she went completely wrong in my opinion is unwrapping the actual fantasy. The MC is a normal person, so she spents 50%+ of the book discovering these mysterious beings. But why? It's literally so obvious? I don't get it, should it seem more realistic that she doesn't belive in e. g. magic? Which wouldn't make sense since she is a reader herself...
Last but not least, the end build-up: In the last (around) ten chapters it suddenly starts to be so chaotic for no reason!? I was so overwhelmed while being bored since it wasn't authentic anymore. Then, expecting closure it has an open ending-
Now you could think that my rating is too high for ranting that long about it, I honestly need to admit: I'm attached to the characters and the world and can't rate it lower :( Anyway, not gonna continue with the series. It takes to much energy.
Characters: Ugh, the main character wanted to be so different that it hurt me as a reader. The background story and her flaws were based around the most basic trope "both of my parents died". Not that this isn't scaring and unrealistic, it's just over used and the easiest way to scar a character. The love interest was actually well down but also uncreative. A postive I want to mention is the diverse cast! She has done a great job at giving a little bit of their ethnicity away and leaving room of interpretation.
Cliché and Tropes: I don't know which category this will fit but I want to talk about the use of clichés. I'm not sure how to put it in words but the book wanted to be "not cliché" so bad but exactly that (a cliché / basic situation) happened over and over. As a reader this is so frustrating!!
The fantasy aspect: I was so amazed by the world building, honestly! It definitely helped to make it feel more cozy, tense, etc.. Where she went completely wrong in my opinion is unwrapping the actual fantasy. The MC is a normal person, so she spents 50%+ of the book discovering these mysterious beings. But why? It's literally so obvious? I don't get it, should it seem more realistic that she doesn't belive in e. g. magic? Which wouldn't make sense since she is a reader herself...
Last but not least, the end build-up: In the last (around) ten chapters it suddenly starts to be so chaotic for no reason!? I was so overwhelmed while being bored since it wasn't authentic anymore. Then, expecting closure it has an open ending-
Now you could think that my rating is too high for ranting that long about it, I honestly need to admit: I'm attached to the characters and the world and can't rate it lower :( Anyway, not gonna continue with the series. It takes to much energy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Medical content