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

Tracy Wolff

Unravel the mystery of the missing four months between Grace and Hudson—when she finds herself trapped with the last boy she ever expected, and certainly the most obnoxious one she's ever met. If he doesn't shut up, she just might kill him...if she doesn't kiss him first. Reading order suggestion of the Crave series: Crave Crush Covet Court Charm, the missing four months of time between Crave and Crush, can be enjoyed anytime after reading Crave.

Charm

taci

"Anywaaaay." I roll my eyes. "I think you're forgetting, though, who was hit with dragon fire which, as you know, doesn't kill you. It just resets your timeline. " Who?" he says as we walk down the stairs and let ourselves out the front door. Well, I'm not one hundred percent sure here, but have you considered the possibility that Smokey didn't die? I think she just went back to a different point in time."

I love you, Hudson Vega." I take the box from him and lift the lid so he can see the bracelet inside. The bracelet made of giant chains knotted together at first glance, but they're really hearts when you look more closely. «Till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old," I whisper as I unclasp the bracelet and show him the engraving on the inside of the clasp. The xact engraving that I now know is on the inside of my promise ring. He looks shocked, even through the tears that are still falling. "How did you know?" "I didn't," I tell him. "I just love you the same way you love me. I think I always have. I know I always will."

And if it couldn't stand up to us returning to Katmere, I figured what was the point. We'd never get back what we lost, so why burden you with it?" "And yet you gave me a promise ring when we were in Giant City. You repeated the same words the same promise to me there that you made me in the Shadow Realm." He nods. "I did. Yes." But why?" For the first time since I got my memories back, he looks confused. "Why what?" "Why would you promise to love me again when you thought I would never love you back? Why make a promise with ancient magic that would bind you to me forever, even though you didn't know if I would ever fall back in love with you?"

I remember," I whisper as memories flood my system. "Oh my God, Hudson. I remember everything." My hands are shaking as I reach up to cup his face. But then, so is the rest -day after day comes flooding back to of me as memory after memory me in a tidal wave of moments and emotions. Hudson's eyes go widewider than I've ever seen them. And when he reaches for me, I realize his hands are shaking, too. "What do you mean? What do you remember, Grace?" "Everything," I say again as the memories continue to pour through me

"How do I get us free of the lair?" I look around at the place that was home to us for so long and feel just a little sad, because who knows if well ever be here again. Hudson gives me the sweetest smile, though, and I know it won't matter if we never make it back here. Because he really is my true north, really is my home, and wherever he is is where I know I'll always want to be. It's easy," he tells me. You've just got to believe in me." I do," I answer, going up on tiptoes to press one more kiss to his too- sexy lips. “And I always will" Warmth spreads through me and I pull it into my chest. I pull Hudson's smile and his kindness and his sarcasm and his love into me right along with it, and then…the world goes black.

Holy shit! I roll over in a hurry, reaching a hand out for Hudson as I do. And nearly end up rolling right off the couch. What the hell? I hold on to the cushion for dear life. When did we even get a couch? And why am I sleeping on it instead of in bed with Hudson? We always sleep together. Confused, disoriented, and more than a little concerned, I sit up quickly and look around. As I do, I realize I'm not at the inn. In fact, I'm not in the Shadow Realm at all. I'm back in Hudson's lair. How? Why?

No one remembering me at all, certainly not the woman I love. The loss of Grace is already an emptiness inside me. It's an acid in my blood, a burning, gnawing ache that will be with me as long as I live. I've never loved anyone the way I love her, never even imagined it was possible to love someone this way. But I do. And because I do, I'l do anything for her. Even this. Especially this. Because it's worth it. More than worth it, if it means that Grace, my beautiful, loving, perfect Grace gets to live. Even if that life doesn't include me.

And as Souil explodes, his own essence turning into drops of energy of magic just like the dragon's before him, I realize we might have a problem. Because the tiny little dots of time magic that exploded out of Souil are re-forming, the energy looking for another place to go. And in that moment, even before Grace focuses on the magic. Even before her eyes get wide. Even before she takes a breath and lets it out as she opens her arms, I know what it is she's going to do. She's realized as I havethat that much power, that much magic, needs somewhere to go. And for whatever reason, she's entreating it to herself

He tries to raise his force field, tries to blink away, but he only moves a pitiful couple of inches. And then it's too late. The energy finds him and slams into his chest. It hits him so hard, it knocks him straight into the air. He hangs there for one second, two, mouth open, gaping, as the time magic races through him. As it does, he grows brighter and brighter, until he's lighting up the early- morning dawn like the disco balls he so loves. And then he explodes.

He smiles, like he can see what's going on in my head. t's not an engagement ring, if that's what you're afraid of" he tells me with a roll of his eyes. "I didn't say I was afraid of anything," I tell him with a sniff. But I still It's a promise ring," he says. "And right here, right now, I'd like to make "A promise?" I repeat, because I want to be sure I know what's haven't taken my eyes off that box, either.

I'm halfway down the boutique-lined street when I find the perfect shop and almost pass out when I see the shopkeeper inside. A fist clamps around my stomach as I open the door, but I ignore it and keep on walking. Nerves have no place here, not when I've already made up my mind. It's a small shop, and I take my time, walking around slowly untilI find exactly what I'm looking for. Then I stand there for a minute, looking down at it as joy and terror war inside me. 

I walk over to the window Hudson had been staring out, and I can just make out the giant statue at the other end of the town square. The statue ISn't.. "A statue" Hudson finishes. "No, I don't think she is." My pulse is racing, I whisper, "I'm not the only gargoyle in Noromar, am Hudson puts an arm around my shoulders, pulls me in tight by his side. The statue is an actual gargoyle," I whisper in awe. But then my eyes go I?" "No, Grace, I don't think you are." wide. "A gargoyle frozen with a time dragon."

"But I would have to remain stone as well," I gasp. Yes, but both realms would be safe," Nyaz says. The chill becomes icicles slicing their way down my spine. 

Hudson must have the same feeling that I do, because he scoots his chair a little closer to mine. He holds Nyaz's gaze with frigid blue eyes. And then he asks, What are you trying to tell us?" Nyaz simply whispers, "We have a secret weapon." Hudson's face goes blank instantly. "By secret weapon, I assume you are not referring to Grace in any way." Yes." For the first time, Nyaz looks uncomfortable. "Grace is a gargoyle. She can turn the mayor to stone, trapping him here forever."

"It is." Nyaz nods. "But seriously. You two have lived here for months. Haven't you ever wondered why everything here is purple and looks a little different, yet so much is also close in function and form to your world in so many ways? It's because the people who live in Noromar are from your world. We just live in the shadows of that world now, instead of in the actual world." You mean all of you are cursed to live in the shadows of our world without ever being able to go back?"I ask, feeling a little sick. That's the thing," Nyaz tells me. "Most of us don't want to go back. We' ve been here for a thousand years, and we're happy. We have families, jobs, a community we love. 

 Souil is here. He's the one pulling forth this fine gold-and-silver mist from within the dragon. And under my horrified, watchful eye, he's the one who opens his mouth and starts to pull the dragon's essence deep inside himself. "What are you doing?" I gasp, trying to get between him and the dragon's soul. "You can't do that. You can't He shoves me out of the way so hard that I stumble into the slick blood and nearly fall. But Hudson's there to catch me even as he whirls around to see what the mayor is doing. You sick fuck," he growls

to know I'm not going to get out of this, close enough that all I can do is pray that I can shield Grace-and make it to the ground so that I can save her before the dragon kills me. But I'm not the only one who has that idea, because I'm still turning still bracing myself-when at the very last second, Smokey comes racing through the night. I have one millisecond to yell for her to stay back, to get down, but it's too late. She throws herself between the dragon's fire and me. And she takes it all.

supposed to have taken place?" "Anytime I thought I might lose you," he answers. "Hudson." Iroll over to face him, cup his face in my hands. And kiss him with all the love and fear I have inside me. He pulls away almost immediately. "Don't do that." "Don't do what?" "Don't kiss me like you think it's the last time," he whispers. And I realize, in shock, that his eyes are wet and my heart cracks. Hudson hasn't cried since he was a kid, according to his journals. That's not going to change tonight.

"Well, it sure as shit isn't mine," I tell him sarcastically. “AII you have to do is tell me how you feel, and you can't do it. You won't do it." "I love you!" he snarls.

His grin turns soft. "'m so glad you're okay with the mating bond. I was worried you'd be upset or disappointed." He dips his head again, goes back to licking and kissing his way across my skin. But I don't feel it, don't feel him. I'm too busy trying to make sense of the words that just came out of his mouth. But I can't. They make absolutely no sense to me at all. "What did you say?" I ask, because I'm sure I didn't hear what he said He glances up at me, confused. "I said I'm glad you're not upset about "Mated to you?" I repeat as shock hits me right in the chest. "We're "I thought you knew," he says, a wariness slowly replacing the heat in his correctly. I couldn't have. being mated to me." mated?"" gaze.

Except I don't need to be taken care of right now. I just need to be taken. "Of course I'm sure," I growl even as I grab fistfuls of his hair and yank his head back so that our gazes meet. "I want you, Hudson VegaI want us more than I've ever wanted anything in my whole life." second, two, Hudson doesn't say anything. He doesn't move. In fact, I'm pretty sure he doesn't even breathe. But then, all of a sudden, he's spinning us away from the wall and holding me up with one hand while he

Jaxon knew the best parts of me, loved the best parts of me. Hudson lived in my head for a year...and he saw every part of me. He was privy to every bad mood I've ever been in, every mean word I've every regretted, every catty thing I may have thought. He knows my every irrational fear, all the things I hate about myself or wish I could change. And yet, he's still here. Fighting with me. Laughing with me. Building a life with me. I remember my mom once telling me one of the reasons she loved my dad was that he put up with her snoring. She was joking, of course, but I get it now. How truly special is it to find someone who just accepts you exactly you are. Maybe even loves you because of all those little things you try to keep hidden from others. Which is why I've always known, for far longer than I was able to admit, that Hudson is everythíng I want, everything I need, and more importantly, I accept him exactly as he is, the same way he accepts me.

"And yet, you guys elected him mayor." Elected is a pretty strong word for what happened, fromn what I understand. It was before my time. What do you mean?" I ask as alarm bells start going off inside me. "You don't have elections in Adarie?" I mean, not really. When he got here, Souil decided we needed a mayor to represent our interests with the Shadow Queen. When no one stepped up for the job, he volunteered himself and passed a petition that he be appointed mayor. He got a lot of the town to sign it and then suddenly started calling himself mayor." "How long ago was that?" I ask. "He's been mayor for two hundred years, hasn't he?" He was here before my great-grandparents were alive. So maybe, yeah."

Panic is welling up within me, and I don't know how to stop it. I try to take a deep breath, but it turns out that stone doesn't breathe all that well. I try to count, but the counting usually comes with the breathing. 1 can't dig my feet into my shoes, can't ground myself with sensory details, because there are none. I mean, I can see and I can hear, but that's about it. And I can't even see that much-only what's right in front of me, which at the moment happens to be Hudson. The panic gets worse, starts to cloud my head. Starts to make it harder and harder for me to think. Ineed out of this. I just need out of it. I need-

Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

I simply looooved learning more about the time Grace froze as a statue,, the way hudson cooped with Grave forgetting about all their history😫😫😫😫 love him even more for that 

Unravel the mystery of the missing four months between Grace and Hudson--when she finds herself trapped with the last boy she ever expected, and certainly the most obnoxious one she's ever met. If he doesn't shut up, she just might kill him...if she doesn't kiss him first. The Crave series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Crave Book #2 Crush Book #3 Covet Book #4 Court Book #5 Charm

Rebecca Hurd

Tracy Wolff has done it again!! She pulled me in from the beginning with these characters that there was no possible way that I wasn’t going to snatch up this book to see what went down between Grace and Hudson while they were trapped inside her head!!!! And it did not disappoint AT ALL!! Hudson gave me EVERYTHING that I needed!! It was such an interesting experience to read Grace forget who she is or more importantly what she is and seeing her discover it all over again!! Loved loved loved and I can’t wait for the next installment!!!!

Mia Caven

I have been obsessed with this series for years. But this in all honesty was the BEST book of them all. I loved it so much. I don’t have words. Plus this one seemed to have less mistakes than the others. I’m so attached to these characters it’s stupid. It’s a MUST read

Hailey Rae

This was so marvelous. This connected so many dots from the previous books in the series, and the fact that we finally find out what Hudson and Grace were doing while they spent that much time in her head - BEYOND THRILLING! As well as, finally figuring out what precisely her promise ring truly stands for. I cannot wait for “Cherish” in 2023

Truthfully I really didn't think I was going to like this one, but I was very wrong and I loved the wholesome shadow farm and shadow town living before all the chaos broke loose (I liked the chaos too, but it was just really great seeing them have as much normalcy as they could). But it also broke my heart 10000 times over knowing that Hudson was stuck in the last book knowing all of these things while she couldn't remember them. 

But yeah, this could've been done really poorly, but I'm glad that was absolutely not the case. I'm happy I finished it right before the next one comes out :) 

samantha lias

Truthfully I really didn't think I was going to like this one, but I was very wrong and I loved the wholesome shadow farm and shadow town living before all the chaos broke loose (I liked the chaos too, but it was just really great seeing them have as much normalcy as they could). But it also broke my heart 10000 times over knowing that Hudson was stuck in the last book knowing all of these things while she couldn't remember them. 

But yeah, this could've been done really poorly, but I'm glad that was absolutely not the case. I'm happy I finished it right before the next one comes out :) 

freya.nightwolf

Unlike the previous one, "Charm" was a little better. A little. And I say this because I skipped all those damn endless descriptions... to understand, there are 2 types of narratives: long, repetitive, endless descriptions and vague descriptions when you're thinking "what the actual f*ck"??!!!?!

1. STARFALL!!!??!!!! Just so we get straight, I LOVE ACOMAF, it's my favorite book ever, but the "tribute" is done... well... horrible! If you want to have that iconic moment in the history of books, you better know how to do it, because you'll have to put up with all the expectations in the world. How it ended up?? Flat, horrible, insignificant, and I'm going to stop here because I can go like this all day. Let's just say I expected better... although I don't know why... WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS BOOK IS NOT STARFALL!!!!

Grace... I'm not going to repeat myself. I've put my anger out in the "Court" review. Bottom line: annoying as hell, with a mind that won't shut up. You won't escape her monologues so I just skipped them. Yeeeey

2. Hudson. BIRD CALLING????? MATING CALLING????!!!! That was the most idiotic scene I have ever read!!!!! The most dangerous, powerful vampire in the history of vampires is starting to yell, sing, call, whatever you want to call it, like a bird!!! 

3. Purple realm??? God help me! 

The world-building is chaotic, has no rhythm, and jumps from here to there and back. If you're looking for romance, don't. The romance is like the second or the third side of the story, although you expect to find more. Just don't. This book could've had 200 - 300 pages and would've been enough. I would've loved to see more of their time in the lair, to read more about Hudson's childhood from his journals than to spend three quarters of the time in the purple realm. When I learned they were in the Shadow Realm, I was really excited, but the way it was built... again, too many expectations.

Honestly, I don't have any interest in "Cherish". What's next? Shadow Queen named Maeve??? Or one that has purple eyes [since everything is purple and why not use that eye color:))] and also has bat wings and is surrounded by shadows????? Let's see if it will be my "lucky" guess :)) I know we have a curse here... the curse of dying from descriptions...

Sooo, why didn't I just give this book 1 star??? Well, here it is:

1. Hudson told Grace to her face, exactly how she is:
(view spoiler)[
  Has any human ever been more annoying?
 (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[
  It's either naivete or willful ignorance. Which one do you prefer?
 (hide spoiler)]
Looks like even the author got pissed off by her main female character 🤣🤣🤣 There are many more of these 🤣 This is the main reason I got to enjoy the book a little. Every time Hudson got to Grace and told her all those hard truths. Even when they got together, she pissed him off. So, go Hudson!!! 

2. I wanted to know what happened in those missing months too much. So, take it as a bonus.

3. For me, it was a tiny, little better than "Court", and since that one got 2 stars, this one gets 3 stars, although the real rating is 2.5

I kust love these two! I even cried at the end. 

Elaine

TW: panic attacks, death and violence, suicidal thoughts, life-and-death situations, torture, imprisonment, insect-related situations, death of a parent, sexual content

WOW. This was good! I thought Crave was pretty cheesy, but this was great. If anyone is looking to read this second, I would recommend reading up until the epilogue and then going back to the epilogue after you’re done with Court, as there’s many spoilers in it. Hopefully won’t be too painful to jump back into Crush after reading this!!

(Bre)anne✨

TW: panic attacks, death and violence, suicidal thoughts, life-and-death situations, torture, imprisonment, insect-related situations, death of a parent, sexual content

WOW. This was good! I thought Crave was pretty cheesy, but this was great. If anyone is looking to read this second, I would recommend reading up until the epilogue and then going back to the epilogue after you’re done with Court, as there’s many spoilers in it. Hopefully won’t be too painful to jump back into Crush after reading this!!

Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &
Charm by Tracy Wolff

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Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &Charm by Tracy Wolff

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Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &
Charm by Tracy Wolff