Crave

The theme of danger, safety, and protection is integral to the plot, creating multiple conflicts. From the start, Grace struggles with the dangers of the Alaskan wilderness, including flying in a small plane into the tundra, the frigid temperatures, and untamed animals, all of which are unlike San Diego. Unknown to her, Katmere is inherently dangerous, as she’s the only human in a school for supernatural creatures who can easily kill her. When she meets Jaxon, her safety is brought into question. He threateningly warns her to leave before she’s hurt, though Grace thinks he’s bullying her. When Grace protests, Jaxon relents but tells her not to “look too closely at anyone or anything” (35). She doesn’t understand his warnings or intimidating nature, which sets the tone for Grace’s naivety in the perilous place. The novel’s starting chapters, with the harsh setting, her interactions with Jaxon, altitude sickness, earthquakes, and her falling out of a tree and spraining her ankle, show the repeated theme of danger for Grace. She’s not as safe as she believes, and the hazards only increase when she finally learns that Katmere Academy is a school for supernatural beings.