Crave

A dark, intimidating, handsome, and secretly vulnerable teen, Jaxon is Grace’s love interest, protector, and frequent conflict catalyst. He’s portrayed as surly, arrogant, and abrasive at first, as he threatens Grace to leave the school. He tells Grace she should fear him, and they shouldn’t be together—all because he wants to protect her and feels uncomfortable being vulnerable. Grace shocks him by standing up to his rudeness when they meet. As a guarded person, Jaxon doesn’t want to reveal his true vampire identity or compassionate side, but Grace sees through him as their romance builds: “You think if people are scared enough, if they hate you enough, they won’t dare step out of line. They won’t dare to start another war because you’ll finish that one too” (345). Grace notices his strength, loneliness, and coping mechanisms to push people away after killing Hudson. She understands and supports him, rather than fearing him like most others.

Jaxon’s character depth and dark facade relate to his tragic past, and he connects with Grace because she understands loss. Before Grace, Jaxon thought he was unworthy of love, preferring to be feared and respected than known for his deep, kind, funny personality. After killing Hudson, Jaxon lives with the guilt of this decision, though he knows he had to murder his brother to save the world from his wrath. He accepts his mother’s lack of forgiveness, symbolized by the scar on his face, but he needs Grace to help him feel happy and whole, rather than lonely, guilty, and self-deprecating.

Since he wants to suppress his growing love for Grace, Jaxon also creates multiple conflicts with her, trying to push her away. Soon though, they can’t resist each other, and he convinces Grace to accept his protection and listen to him for her own safety, which is a main theme. In the end, Jaxon tells Grace he loves her, but he feels so guilty over Grace’s multiple near-death experiences that he’s willing to give up their relationship to keep her safe, believing that she’s better off without him: “It’s always going to be like this. The fact that I love you means you’re always going to be a target. You’re always going to be in danger” (435). His continued value for her wellbeing over his desire for her creates conflict again, with Grace refusing to end their romance. Grace knows that the two make each other better, since Jaxon “smiles in a way he never did before” (449), laughs, and seems lighter with her. Jaxon agrees to be her boyfriend, despite impending dangers, grows to accept that life is full of risks, and to fully succumbs to love.

Macy is Grace’s cousin, and she is Grace’s guide to the new world of Katmere. Many of the clues that Katmere is not a normal school come from Macy’s near slipups when she almost reveals the school’s supernatural nature to Grace. Macy is caring, but like her father, she wants to protect Grace. This means keeping Grace in the dark instead of telling her the truth, and Grace’s lack of knowledge about the school puts her in danger. Macy is prone to worrying, which Lia notes when Grace must text Macy with her location. Ultimately, Grace must leave Macy’s protection and discover Katmere for herself.

As a witch, Macy is a foil for Lia. She uses her powers benevolently, such as boiling a kittling to make tea, and at first, Lia also seems to be a homey friend who wants to get to know Macy and do things like drink tea and get mani-pedis. Macy is a support character; she does not have major conflicts and is always available for Grace when Grace needs her. Like Jaxon, Macy is part of Grace’s core support system that will protect her going forward.

Uncle Finn is Grace’s paternal uncle and Macy’s father. He is also the headmaster of Katmere, which gives him special access to and power within that world. Though Finn doesn’t feature in most of the novel’s action, his key functions are to bring Grace to Katmere and reveal the truth of Grace’s heritage to her. Letting her know that her father was a warlock fundamentally changes Grace’s sense of identity. Finn does not know the whole story; he doesn’t know Lia is behind Grace’s parents’ deaths or that Grace is a gargoyle. As this is the first book in the series, Finn may have other information that he chooses not to reveal at this time, as this is a common trope of YA fantasy novels in which the protagonist discovers their family’s secret. Finn is the only adult character in the novel, which is also a convention of YA novels since the young protagonists must face the greatest challenges on their own. Like Macy, Finn is a support character who jumps in when needed but is not the focus of the action.

Lia is the novel’s antagonist. She is a vampire and Hudson’s girlfriend. At first, she acts coldly toward Grace, but she eventually befriends her. Grace sees her as someone else who has experienced loss and tries to comfort her. Despite Flint’s warning, Grace does not know that Lia has bad intentions. Lia’s growing friendship with Grace is a misdirection Tracy Wolff uses to make Lia’s role as the antagonist a surprise. Grace is also misdirected by her questions about whether Lia has a romantic relationship with Jaxon. She sees them arguing together, and this makes her doubt Jaxon’s intentions toward her.

Lia is a foil for Jaxon because she uses her extreme powers destructively, whereas Jaxon uses his to protect others. Hudson’s death was a tragedy for Lia, and now she wants revenge on Jaxon and everyone else. Grace’s role as Jaxon’s partner is the reason Lia needs her as a sacrifice to bring Hudson back. This shows the truth behind Jaxon’s warning that Grace will always be in danger if she stays with him. Grace’s heroism allows her to subdue Lia long enough for Jaxon to arrive and defeat Lia.