Name: taci's review of Crush by Tracy Wolff
Item: Crush
Rating: 5
Author: taci

Tracy Wolff

Trust no one. Danger, romance and excitement await in the unputdownable and addictive New York Times bestselling sequel to Crave. When she arrived at Katmere Academy, mortal Grace's world turned upside down. Now back at the school, she is haunted by fragments of days she doesn't remember living, as she struggles to understand who, or what, she really is. Finally reunited with Jaxon, Grace begins to feel safe again - until Jaxon's brother, Hudson, reappears with a vengeance. He insists there are secrets Grace doesn't know, threatening to drive a wedge between her and Jaxon forever. But there are far worse enemies at their doorstep - and the only thing Hudson and Jaxon can agree on is that leaving Katmere would mean Grace's certain death. Unless they can defeat an unspeakable evil, everyone's lives are at risk. But winning will require a sacrifice. And it could be more than they can give. *** Praise for the Crave series: 'Fandom's new favorite vampire romance obsession' Hypable 'Throw in some deadly intrigue to mingle with the dark secret Jaxon bears, and you've got a recipe for YA vampire success' Bustle 'Wolff has a masterpiece on her hands. It's as simple as that' Vocal.Media 'Wolff exquisitely delivers girl power, romance, and a swoon-worthy hero' Lynn Rush 'An addictive masterpiece!' Emily McKay, national bestselling author of Storybound

Crush

The instant New York Times bestseller! An Amazon Best YA Book of the Month Glitter magazine’s YA Feminist Must-Reads of 2020 Everything feels off—especially me. I’ve returned to Katmere Academy, but I’m haunted by fragments of days I have no recollection of living and struggling to understand who, or what, I really am. Just when I start to feel safe again, Hudson is back with a vengeance. He insists there are secrets I don’t know about, threatening to drive a wedge between Jaxon and me forever. But far worse enemies are at our doorstep. The Circle is caught in a power play and the Vampire Court is trying to drag me out of my world and into theirs. The only thing Hudson and Jaxon agree on is that leaving Katmere would mean my certain death. And not only am I fighting for my life, but now everyone else’s is at stake—unless we can defeat an unspeakable evil. All I know is that saving the people I love is going to require sacrifice. Maybe more than I’m able to give. The Crave series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Crave Book #2 Crush Book #3 Covet Book #4 Court

taci

My hands curl into fists, my fangs explode in my mouth, and though there were a million other ways I was hoping to break my newfound knowledge to Grace, the words come out before I can even think about stopping them. "Jaxon, if you wouldn't mind, take your fucking hands off my mate."

"Oh my God!" Macy's hand flies up to cover her mouth as shock Grace doesn't answer, but as Jaxon races to sit beside her head, she You're okay?" he asks, and I've never heard such joy in my younger "Her voice cracks and she coughs, licks her lips. rockets through us all. "Grace! Grace, are you okay?" smiles up at him. brother's voice in our lives. "Here!" Macy reaches into her ubiquitous backpack and pulls out a bottle of water that she hands to Jaxon. He opens it, then helps Grace sit up in her bed of granite so that she can take a sip.

I'm cold, so cold, but I struggle to hold on just a little longer. If this is the last time I'm going to see these people my family then I'm going to hold on until the very last second. I'm going to stay with them until I no longer have a choice in the matter Macy is full-on ugly crying now. Jaxon's eyes are locked sadly on mine. And Hudson, Hudson is crouched down at the head of the grave, his fingers gently, gently, gently stroking my hair. I watch the three of them until the end. Until the stones reach past mny neck and there is no more time left. Then, and only then, do I close my eyes and let the earth and the stone take me.

Hudson's words come back to me now, as does that momernt when I was returning his powers to him- the moment when I realized just how infinite they really are. Infinite enough to reduce his father's bones to dust with the wave of a hand. Infinite enough to tear down an entire stadium with barely a thought. Infinite enough to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. And if Jaxon's gasp is anything to go by, he knows it, too. Which means he also knows that Hudson has been telling me the truth all along. 

Hudson cuts him off with a wave of his hand. And just like that, Cyrus screams in agony...as he seems to melt before my very eyes.

Hudson scoops me up into his arms, his face ravaged witn a Ted rage like I've never seen from him before. "Grace!" he shouts hoarsely. "Grace, hang on." There's nothing removed about him now. Nothing sardonic or defensive or even snarky at all. AndI suddenly realize, even through the pain, that I might be looking at the real Hudson for the very first time. I like what I see. Except...the sudden tears in his blue eyes only make them look deeper. I reacha hand up and brush them away. "Hey, it's okay," I tell him even though I know it's not. "Don't do that."

I start to crumple, brace myself for the impact of the ground and whatever else will come from Cyrus when I'm finally lying there defenseless. But I never hit the ground, because just as suddenly as Cyrus struck, Hudson is here, beside me. Catching me. 

It works, his voice turning to ice as he says, "You know we can't both win, right, Grace?p" I would congratulate myself for getting under his skin, but there's something in his tone that tells me I pissed him off t0o much. Something that puts me on high alert and has me pulling on the platinum thread. I start to shift even though I'm exhausted and I know it will cost me. But I'm too worn out; my gargoyle is sluggish. And that's when Cyrus strikes, fangs flashing a millisecond before he sinks them into my neck, right over my carotid artery.

"You don't really think I'm going to let you leave, do you?" I think you don't have a choice," I answer. "I played your little game and I won. And now I'm walking away. From you. From this arena. From everything." I start to pull my elbow from his grip, and that's when his fingers tighten, pinning me in place. And there's nothing I can do. I'm fighting a fatigue so powerful, my entire body is shaking with the effort to stay on my feet. "You think I don't know you cheated?" "Do you think I care what you know?"I shoot back "1 designed this Trial. There's no way you beat it on your own." His fingers dig into my elbow a little more with each word that he hisses. 

"I know," he answers. "That's why you need to listen to me. I left my powers inside you so that You left your powers inside me? Why? How do I get them out?" Tl accept them back from you eventually. I'm just loaning them to you for a while. You're a conduit, remember? You channel magic, and I've given you mine to channel for now." "Loaning them to me?" I look at him like he's got two heads. What does that even mean?" The smirk is back, but it's coupled with a tenderness in his eyes thatI can't begin to understand. It means I'm mortal right now." "What?" Horror explodes through me. "You said we couldn't do that to you. You said it would ruin everything. We decided Don't worry about what we decided. I know my parents. No way did they make this Trial something you can pass on your own. Remember, they were planning on you and Jaxon, so the Trial would. have been close to impossible for the two of you. For you alone.." He shakes his head. «That's why you don't have a choice. You need to take my powers."

"Hold on a minute," I tell Hudson as I careen to a stop. There's no time to wait, Grace!" He shoots me an impatient look. You've got to get on the field." Yeah, well, I don't think I can afford to get on the field without doing this, so they're all just going to have to wait a little bit longer, whether they want to or not. " Iunzip the front pocket of my backpack and take out the small pouch I have hidden in the secret compartment at the back of it. I know it was a risk to bring these things with me to the cave of the Unkillable Beast, but I was afraid I might get injured while I was thereor worse. And if that Or happened, I wanted the others to have a way to get Hudson out of my head. I didn't want him to have to die with me.

hear Jaxon shout, and I use the last ounce of strength I have to turn my head toward him. He's writhing on the ground, legs drawn up, body arched in pain. Jax I reach a hand out toward him, try to call his name, but I can't reach him. I've got nothing left. Darkness wells up inside me as I collapse back onto my stomach, and I do the only thing I can do to get to Jaxon. I reach for the mating bond..and then scream all over again when I realize it isn't there.

nooo its the fucking paper jackson asked for😭😭😭

I know I shouldn't ask he's too smug and I don't want to give him the satisfaction. But I'm tired and obviously easily bait-able, and the words come out before I know I'm going to say them. "For what?" He looks me straight in the eye as he pulls a piece of paper, obviously ripped into pieces some time ago and now held together with tape, out of P his pocket and says, "For this." Jaxon's eyes go wide and he yells, "No!" as he makes a grab for Cole. But suddenly all of Cole's minions are there. Two wolves grab on to me, two of them grab Jaxon, and the last three position themselves between him and Cole. You're just so arrogant, aren't you, Jaxon? You didn't even hesitate to tear up something this powerful that could be used against you and throw ít into the trash in front of everyone" His smile is pure malice and something more..jealousy. "What must it be like to be that confident everyone fears you, that no one would ever even dare to hurt you or your mate? Well just remember: you brought this on yourself." And then Cole is reading a series of words that don't make much sense to my already addled brain words that sound like a spell or a poem. I don't know. I'm so tired and it's so hard to follow... Except as he finishes, there's a giant wrenching inside me, a ripping in my soul that hurts like nothing has ever hurt before in my life.

"No," Macy says. "No, we didn't." "He's not here," Eden says, running for the closest trees.Where is he? Oh my God, where is he?" "He's light," Macy says, and her voice is thick with tears as she looks up at the ever-lightening sky. "We're still alive, so we could re-form back into our bodies. He wasn't, so my life-force magic couldn't work on him. He's gone." She starts to cry. "He's really gone."

Oh my God. The heartstone isn't a jewel he's protecting. It's his stone heart. And after everything we've done to him, he's still willing to give it to us for no other reason I can guess than that we stopped trying to kill him. I fall to my knees again on a painful sob. Who did this to him? Who could be so cruel? The gargoyle taps his chest again. Need heart stone? No, I answer. No, I dont. But thank you. We' ve crossed too many lines to get here, sacrificed far too many things. Lost Xavier. I'm not going to compound that by killing this innocent creature, too. I ruined everything because I didn't fight harder for what I believed in,

The horor and the grief turn my knees to nothing just like the rest of me and my legs go out from under me. hit the ground hard, my shin scraping against a slab of rock that fell from the walls, but I barely notice. How can I when Xavier is right here, his sightless eyes staring into the distance? He was alive. Two minutes ago, he was alive, and now he's not. Now he's gone, and I could have stopped it all if I had just listened to what Hudson had tried so desperately to tell me. This is my fault. This is all my fault.

I look at the craggy, broken rocks of his exterior. At the stone rubbed smooth beneath the iron shackles. At the top of his head and the one broken remnant of a horn that rests there, and I realize what I should have known all along. The reason Macy's magic didn't work on him. The reason Jaxon's telekinesis didn't, either. The reason Eden's lightning and Flint's ice didn't so much as faze him isn't because he's all-powerful. It's because, like me, he's totally immune to magic. Because he's a gargoyle.

Talk to him," Hudson tells me. Talk to him? Talk to who?" I shriek. The Unkillable Beast. Can't you hear him? He's been talking to you all along you need to answer him. You're the only one who can." Talking to me? Nobody's been talking to me!" T hear him, Grace. I know you hear him, too. That voice telling you to go, telling you not to die. That's him." "No. You're wrong. That's my gargoyle." Im not wrong. You need to trust mne, Grace. "I don't believe" "Goddammit!" he yells as he falls to his knees, tears in his eyes, fac twisted in agony. "T've fucked up, okay? A lot. I know that. You know that. But I'm not fucking this up. I know that's his voice

"Break off a piece of your stone," Hudson tells me. "A piece of my stone?" I repeat, glancing down at myself and the thick, heavy pieces of stone that make up my entire body now. "How do I do that?" Mekhi gasps and clutches at me, his hand wrapping around my arm and squeezing hard. At first I think he's trying to break the stone off me, but then I realize he's shaking his head, mouthing no, no, no as he grows more and more sickly looking. T have to, Mekhi," I tell him. You'll die if I don't." out of air and starts to be strangled by his own blood. balance between what Mekhi wants and what I know is the right thing,. He shakes his head again, continues mouthing no to me, even as he runs I don't understand," I tell Hudson, close to tears as I try to find a It's because you're Jaxon's mate," Hudson says grimly. "He knows you're going to be queen one day and, close friends or not, he can't allow you to sacrifice a piece of yourself for him. It's an etiquette thing, ancient

"Then we go without you." Jaxon swallows but holds my gaze. "This is more important than any one person, Even you, Grace. Pain swamps me, threatens to drag me under, and I don't have a clue what to say. Because there is no way to solve this dilemma, no way to find common ground among us, even though the stakes are death.

The truth is, Grace, it doesn't matter what you think," Jaxon tells me. Because you're outvoted, seven to one." I stare at him incredulously for long seconds, then glance around the room to see if anyone else thinks he sounds as autocratic as I do. But they all just look back at me solemnly. Which just pisses me off more. I take a deep breath, try to calm dowm enough to be rational. Which is hard when my friends are all looking at me like I'm being ridiculous. Worse, like I'ma non-paranormal.

I don't bother to answer Mekhi. Instead, I plead with the group, "Are you really sure that you've got the full story?I know what you believe, but have you ever stopped to ask why he did what he did? Have you ever stopped to wonder if there was a justifiable reason?" For murder?" Jaxon narrows his gaze on me. You're starting to believe whatever lies he's been feeding you. Grace, you know he can't be trusted."

everyone keep mentioning your gift of persuasion but not the fact that you can literally destroy matter with your mind? What about the memory with your dad? No offense, the fact that you can disintegrate things with a mere thought seems even scarier than the persuasion thing. "Because they don't know about it. No one does." He sighs. Well, except my parents. But my father believes the gift is unusable. That his attempts to force it to grow unfettered didn't make it stronger, it made it go dormant." Why? His impenetrable blue eyes hold mine, not a flicker of emotion moving in them. "Because he ran out of things to threaten that I love." The fact that he says it so simply, so emotionlessly, only makes it worse. Every word slams into me like a bullet, and I sink down on the couch, slowly bleeding out.

"Challenge for inclusion," Hudson tells me. "Do it loud and make sure it's on the record." Inclusion? Whats that? "Just do it before they close the assembly. You don't have much time." "Wait," I shout, and Cyrus turns, a furious set to his normally placid face at being openly challenged. I take a deep breath. Am I really going to trust Hudson? "Do you have a choice?" he huffs. I don't. So I shout out as loudly and as clearly as I can, I challenge for inclusion." And the room goes eerily quiet. Oh fuck. What have I done?

Victoria Marling

I cried, I laughed, I experienced so many emotions in this book and what a fucking plot twist Hudson was

WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?!?! I NEED MORE RIGHT NOW 

AMAZING 

I cried, I laughed, I experienced so many emotions in this book and what a fucking plot twist Hudson was

WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?!?! I NEED MORE RIGHT NOW 

Jaxon and Grace’s story continues in New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff’s captivating sequel to Crave. I’m in the fight of my life. For my humanity. For Jaxon. And for the world I’ve only just begun to be a part of. I’m all in, even if saving the people I love means I risk losing myself forever. The Crave series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Crave Book #2 Crush

Rebecca Hurd

Yessss!!!! This takes the first book which was great and makes it soooo much better!! Adventure, love, danger, and friendship this has it all!! Can’t wait to see where this story goes in the next book!!!!

I absolutely loved this book. I read the entire thing in a day and couldn’t put it down. I think the author did an incredible job getting so many emotions out of me. The character develop through this first book was very good! I’d do any thing to reread this book for the first time again! 

Kayley Herremans

Lowkey feel like a teenager again reading this series giggling and kicking my feet. OMFGGGGG 

Shai

Kelsey Munson

Yeah. Started this at midnight. Finished at 6:00 AM.
#nosleep #noregrets

Mia Caven

i almost threw myself off my balcony when I read “end of book two”. i need more IMMEDIATELY. Just like book one there are some printing errors - whether that’s on Wolff or not idk but like some sentence are split into half and some “” are missing. But do I care? No. The plot of this book is so bloody good and not ruined like a lot of series. And my obsession? With the characters? EVEN HUDSON?????? UNGODLY. Ungodly. I am attached and need Court right now thank you :)))))

Lucía 

Este libro ha sido increíble de leer, vaya que me lo he acabado de en 5 días. Siento que me contradigo con los sentimientos acerca de los personajes… pero cuando Hudson va avanzando como personaje, MADRE MÍA, lo siento Jaxon pero Hudson ha llegado, jajaja. Una pasada de libro. Te felicito Tracy.

becky oh

My mind is officially blown.

Crush has so many deep takes and (let's be honest) more interesting than the first book, Crave. This book takes a few months after the ending of Crave. And she doesn't remember what happened to her in those lost moment. Well, she is determined to know what happened and save those who she loves.

------

We learn so much about Gargoyles and the 'rules' and magic. The book takes us into a whole deep meanings and behind the scenes. The history, the political events in the fantasy world, I loved it so much.

And wow. The book is so easy and fun to read since the writing style is quite similar to Crave. While reading the book, it didn't feel like 700 pages long because the build-up and actions were always there. It was fast-paced and it kept me wanting to find out more about the secrets inside this book. Plus, this book made me smile so much I couldn't help but laugh at some bits. 

While Crave felt like the particular YA Vampire Romance, this book took a slight change. Crush was more of a Paranormal Fantasy and more magical. 
More special to me.

I don't want to spoil anything about the characters because the book completely changes my heart.
I am so in love with the character that always battles away with Grace because that character somehow captured my mind. I so loved the dynamic between them and I didn't realize until half-way through that I was just so in love with both of them.

Let's just say Jaxon is still the sexy, badass himself along with Flint. I liked the ways they developed but somehow, I feel so sad at the ending that the next book, I might not love Jaxon. Sure, he was a lovable character at Crave but then, because of 'this character' I couldn't quite reach out for him. 

There are so many other characters that gets introduced and I love all of them. But just a reminder, you will HATE Cole (aka. asshole werewolf). Because what he does and how he is out for blood? Nope, he won't be forgiven for what he did.

Overall, I enjoyed and loved this book!!

WARNING: SPOILER SECTION
(view spoiler)[A prediction of what might happen in the next book and what I thought of crush.
-I am completely trashed but how the romantic direction headed because it's just to. . . WHY DO I SHIP GRACE AND HUDSON?? 
-Since at the ending, Hudson says Grace is her mate and I was gawking at the last sentence(and reading it about the hundredth time). Now, I'm happy that they will fall in love with each other but I'm just so sad for Jaxon. I don't think I will ever forget his relationship with Grace at the beginning. 
-Since Flint confessed that he is gay and was in love with Jaxon, I have a feeling they might be together in the next book (although it did say Jaxon becomes really cold on Covet).
-If Jaxon and Flint don't end up together, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW HE WILL BE HAPPY. PLEASE PLEASE MAKE HIM HAPPY IN THE END BECAUSE I STILL LOVE HIM.  (hide spoiler)]

I was skeptical at first because the writing of the first book just seemed rudimentary. But, this book picked up speed and I was so engrossed! Especially loved the descriptions of the Ludares tournament and the trial. SO exciting. Can’t wait to read more.

Sara Turner

I was skeptical at first because the writing of the first book just seemed rudimentary. But, this book picked up speed and I was so engrossed! Especially loved the descriptions of the Ludares tournament and the trial. SO exciting. Can’t wait to read more.

Also, Hudson…swoon!

Mae Erceg

THAT ENDING !!! A rare occasion that the 2nd book is better than the first. Very yes !!!!

Teodora Nagy

Hudson. that's it. that's the review. go read it now

honestly I really enjoyed this one, the writing and character work feels much much better than the first book and I like the direction the romance is going much better. I am a flint stan and eden, if you’re free on friday night I am free on friday night 

fris🐝

Bri Billaney

This was possibly the longest book I've ever read, even though I know it's actually not. But I enjoyed every second of it. Also I am loving Hudson!

Faith Kitowski

** spoiler alert **
           3.5/5. a gargoyle? a freaking gargoyle? really? i tried to ignore it every time it was mentioned but it just made me cringe so hard. and when did jaxon become so cringy??? i did like hudson, so he bumps my rating up a little but still, the amount of cringy things that were said and/or thought in this book was ridiculous. also, this book could have been cut by probably 300 pages. why is it so long? it felt so unnecessary.

Kacy

Ob.Sessed. 

Just when I think maybe with the next book in this series I’ll finally grow tired of the characters or the subject and move on — I don’t and the book is done. I love every single character (except perhaps Hudson and Jaxon’s parents) and am constantly being torn on who I’m rooting for and when. 

The writing style is easy to digest in large chunks and never gets old. (Except the extra short chapters are sometimes a bit head scratching, but it doesn’t bother me that much.) And I’ve found that I’m constantly buying the next book before even being close to finishing the one I’m reading. Now, back to book 3!

Finally finished this one. I admit I struggled through it but I think it’s because I’m overdoing it with fantasy because this book was really good and I was into it once I started reading it. I really like that this reminds me of Harry Potter and Twilight mixed together and it pissed me off towards the end and yes it made me cry! I do love this series and I will continue it after my fantasy break. 

Kaitlyn Grooms

After reading the first book, I was skeptical going into the second, but I was really taken aback by the way I connected with this one. I think the author making the choice to limit the constant usage of FML and OMG in text blocks this time made it so I wasn’t taken out of the moment/experience. I definitely found myself crying and caring more for the characters than I thought I would. I’ve already started book #3.

samantha lias

Katy

I'm not sure if 4 stars is an accurate rating? But that's what I'm giving it, if only for the bantering between Grace and Hudson. I definitely felt like there were somethings that were an unnecessary inclusion and caused the book to drag on? But regardless, I enjoyed it and I plan on continuing on with the series because I need to know what happens next.

Loved it! I listened to the audio version this time so that took a little bit away (otherwise I think it’d be 5 stars) but I loved the appearance of Hudson and also that Grace gets so strong! Like, YES! POWERWOMAN! I lovveee her opinions, it just annoyed me a little bit that sometimes things or conversations were a little bit stretched out. Otherwise amazing really

Lara 

It was even better than the previous one (like ACOTAR just to be clear).

But frankly speaking, at first it was a bit boring. Nevertheless it recovered very well on the ending. I really appreciated the evolution of the main characters. 

Francesca Citarelli

It was even better than the previous one (like ACOTAR just to be clear).

But frankly speaking, at first it was a bit boring. Nevertheless it recovered very well on the ending. I really appreciated the evolution of the main characters. 

Jacklyn Nguyen

I swoon for Hudson soooo freaking hard. I just can’t. I haven’t felt like this about a character in years. Characters with deep rooted pain really tug at my heartstrings and I feel so much for Hudson. He tries so hard to protect everyone else and is always so selfless when it comes to Grace. Ugh my heart. 

Definitely my most favorite book so far. I haven’t read Charm yet but I definitely can’t wait to.

Better than the first. Loved trying to figure out all the different details and how they all fit together. I also love how Hudson was incorporated back in. Definitely has me wanting to read the third. Great cliffhanger!

Amanda 

Definitely a move up from Crave! More engaging. Writing not as good as Charm (to be expected as this is older), but sucked into it nonetheless because ✨Hudson✨

(Bre)anne✨

TW to be added later

Definitely a move up from Crave! More engaging. Writing not as good as Charm (to be expected as this is older), but sucked into it nonetheless because ✨Hudson✨

I wasn’t expecting Grace & Hudson to end up as mates at the end, but I should have! I’m excited for the next book!!!

Victoria Marling &
Crush by Tracy Wolff

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Victoria Marling &
Crush by Tracy Wolff