Review: Crave by Melinda Metz

Crave by Melinda Metz & Laura Burns

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 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (September 21, 2010)

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages (Paperback): 278

Series: Crave (Book 1)

Source: Library

ISBN-13: 9781442408166

Genre: Paranormal (Romance)

Shay could never do the things her friends could--never try out for sports, never go to parties, never fall in love. Because of the mysterious and incurable blood disorder she was born with, she can barely make it through three days of school a week.

But now, her doctor-turned-stepfather has a brand-new treatment that he thinks will change everything. And it does. As soon as the new blood starts pumping into Shay's veins, she has visions of a different life...Gabriel's life. She sees an orphanage, loss, fangs, blood, and lust that she can't explain.

Is Gabriel real? And if he is, could he really be what she thinks he is?

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I went into reading this book having nothing to go on but the cover and the synopsis; I picked it blindly off the library shelf and I was nervous. But sometimes, that experience is when we find the true jewels of the stacks and this book is one of them.

This book has deep and complex characters that tell their stories in dual perspective voice. Shay, the Sick Girl, finds an addiction to life; but it isn't just her life she is addicted to because there is Gabriel...Gabriel's life. Who is Gabriel? What is Gabriel? These questions compel her actions and her addiction and you find yourself wanting to ride the roller coaster with her; you want to experience life for the first time and with Shay, you can.

Through Gabriel's eyes, Shay has a remarkable connection to Gabriel and her unique take on life makes her stand out, makes him forget she's human...she's Shay. Love blossoms and grows into a complex relationship; one inspired through hope but started from desperation.

Their stories wrap into each other as you witness more and more of the history and the visions unfold until finally you hit the end. This book quickly replaced Twilight for me because of the elaborate character creation. Gabriel has true and sincere complexities unlike the popular Edward Cullen who simply feels he is a monster and dangerous. Gabriel has genuine family ties, clear and concise memories of his human life, his emotions, his last sunset; all the things that make him who he is. All the things that make Shay fall in love with him.

The worst part of this book is the cliffhanger ending. Towards the end of the book, the plot had me flipping pages and reading as fast as my eyes could cover the lines, the plot had reeled me in, I was in character heaven, then it was over. Gone. Done. Finite. And I am stuck in miserable suspense until Sacrifice releases in September. I long to continue my love affair with the Sick Girl and the Vampire.