I have checked this issue on thre seperate 1.13 Pre-release 2 worlds and I've encountered the same issue each time. Any attempt to craft utilising the recipe book causes a fatal crash of the world. Any attempt to re-load the world will cause the game to crash again.

World data and  player data seem to be unaffected as copying those files into an older backup restored the world and player inventory to as it was at the moment of the crash.

Here is a copy of the Crash Report recived upon trying to use the Recipe book:

---- Minecraft Crash Report -------- Minecraft Crash Report ----// But it works on my machine.
Time: 17/06/18 22:25Description: Rendering screen
java.lang.NullPointerException: Rendering screen at col$a.c(SourceFile:109) at col.a(SourceFile:70) at coo.a(SourceFile:306) at cnm.a(SourceFile:83) at cwe.a(SourceFile:796) at cit.c(SourceFile:816) at cit.a(SourceFile:379) at net.minecraft.client.main.Main.main(SourceFile:144)

A detailed walkthrough of the error, its code path and all known details is as follows:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
– Head --Thread: Client threadStacktrace: at col$a.c(SourceFile:109) at col.a(SourceFile:70) at coo.a(SourceFile:306) at cnm.a(SourceFile:83)
– Screen render details --Details: Screen name: cnm Mouse location: Scaled: (103, 123). Absolute: (413.000000, 494.000000) Screen size: Scaled: (480, 270). Absolute: (1920, 1080). Scale factor of 4.000000
– Affected level --Details: Level name: MpServer All players: 1 total; [cvp['jordster100'/1156427, l='MpServer', x=-1724.41, y=45.00, z=1378.68]] Chunk stats: MultiplayerChunkCache: 729, 729 Level seed: 0 Level generator: ID 00 - default, ver 1. Features enabled: false Level generator options: {} Level spawn location: World: (-54,63,-116), Chunk: (at 10,3,12 in -4,-8; contains blocks -64,0,-128 to -49,255,-113), Region: (-1,-1; contains chunks -32,-32 to -1,-1, blocks -512,0,-512 to -1,255,-1) Level time: 5709733 game time, 6282566 day time Level dimension: 0 Level storage version: 0x00000 - Unknown? Level weather: Rain time: 0 (now: false), thunder time: 0 (now: false) Level game mode: Game mode: survival (ID 0). Hardcore: false. Cheats: false Forced entities: 83 total; [aqg['Creeper'/1208862, l='MpServer', x=-1713.50, y=64.00, z=1302.50], amz['Bat'/1208832, l='MpServer', x=-1648.23, y=52.12, z=1331.54], anu['Squid'/1208587, l='MpServer', x=-1674.25, y=61.13, z=1411.06], arj['Zombie'/1208843, l='MpServer', x=-1716.44, y=64.00, z=1451.82], anu['Squid'/1208590, l='MpServer', x=-1685.50, y=61.05, z=1415.18], anu['Squid'/1208588, l='MpServer', x=-1682.53, y=61.00, z=1422.14], anu['Squid'/1208589, l='MpServer', x=-1683.41, y=62.46, z=1415.21], aqg['Creeper'/1208845, l='MpServer', x=-1709.30, y=66.00, z=1454.33], aqg['Creeper'/1208886, l='MpServer', x=-1673.50, y=33.00, z=1343.50], aqg['Creeper'/1208887, l='MpServer', x=-1676.50, y=33.00, z=1345.50], apz['Egg'/1205300, l='MpServer', x=-1702.34, y=43.00, z=1378.63], apz['Egg'/1206837, l='MpServer', x=-1704.42, y=43.00, z=1377.64], aqg['Creeper'/1208885, l='MpServer', x=-1678.52, y=32.00, z=1345.20], aqg['Creeper'/1208868, l='MpServer', x=-1772.50, y=93.00, z=1359.50], ard['Spider'/1208620, l='MpServer', x=-1802.00, y=76.00, z=1383.04], ane['Chicken'/1156433, l='MpServer', x=-1701.80, y=43.00, z=1377.48], aof['Llama'/1156432, l='MpServer', x=-1705.90, y=44.00, z=1381.32], ane['Chicken'/1156434, l='MpServer', x=-1705.23, y=43.00, z=1378.46], ane['Chicken'/1156436, l='MpServer', x=-1708.13, y=44.00, z=1381.52], aqg['Creeper'/1207893, l='MpServer', x=-1788.50, y=79.00, z=1330.50], anu['Squid'/1208414, l='MpServer', x=-1665.04, y=61.21, z=1341.15], anu['Squid'/1208412, l='MpServer', x=-1662.75, y=62.24, z=1329.66], anu['Squid'/1208413, l='MpServer', x=-1664.25, y=62.60, z=1330.15], amz['Bat'/1208903, l='MpServer', x=-1649.67, y=54.10, z=1333.48], apm['Armour Stand'/1156429, l='MpServer', x=-1718.50, y=45.00, z=1385.50], apm['Armour Stand'/1156428, l='MpServer', x=-1718.50, y=45.00, z=1382.50], anl['Parrot'/1156431, l='MpServer', x=-1704.90, y=43.00, z=1377.69], apo['Item Frame'/1156430, l='MpServer', x=-1718.03, y=46.50, z=1384.50], ara['Skeleton'/1201781, l='MpServer', x=-1755.51, y=56.00, z=1378.71], arj['Zombie'/1208441, l='MpServer', x=-1715.32, y=70.00, z=1327.50], aqg['Creeper'/1205629, l='MpServer', x=-1730.17, y=74.00, z=1381.49], aqg['Creeper'/1208675, l='MpServer', x=-1778.51, y=72.00, z=1447.81], arj['Zombie'/1208931, l='MpServer', x=-1702.50, y=69.00, z=1395.50], apz['Egg'/1208420, l='MpServer', x=-1700.16, y=43.00, z=1376.87], ard['Spider'/1208677, l='MpServer', x=-1782.30, y=71.00, z=1442.51], ara['Skeleton'/1208942, l='MpServer', x=-1753.50, y=83.00, z=1363.50], cvp['jordster100'/1156427, l='MpServer', x=-1724.41, y=45.00, z=1378.68], ara['Skeleton'/1208941, l='MpServer', x=-1757.50, y=83.00, z=1365.50], aqg['Creeper'/1208721, l='MpServer', x=-1770.56, y=74.00, z=1431.20], ang['Cow'/1156502, l='MpServer', x=-1779.54, y=91.00, z=1377.81], amz['Bat'/1208469, l='MpServer', x=-1668.46, y=32.10, z=1345.75], amz['Bat'/1207198, l='MpServer', x=-1799.36, y=55.02, z=1445.73], ang['Cow'/1156491, l='MpServer', x=-1801.52, y=78.00, z=1350.78], anm['Pig'/1156492, l='MpServer', x=-1793.45, y=77.00, z=1394.21], amz['Bat'/1205391, l='MpServer', x=-1742.75, y=25.10, z=1365.25], anr['Sheep'/1156528, l='MpServer', x=-1750.78, y=84.00, z=1387.62], ara['Skeleton'/1208502, l='MpServer', x=-1708.50, y=70.00, z=1407.50], apz['Egg'/1207479, l='MpServer', x=-1701.15, y=43.00, z=1377.32], arj['Zombie'/1190580, l='MpServer', x=-1721.70, y=34.50, z=1356.70], anr['Sheep'/1156537, l='MpServer', x=-1742.55, y=72.00, z=1305.72], apz['Egg'/1206459, l='MpServer', x=-1708.05, y=44.00, z=1381.88], ane['Chicken'/1156541, l='MpServer', x=-1709.22, y=43.00, z=1380.50], ane['Chicken'/1156542, l='MpServer', x=-1705.16, y=43.00, z=1378.91], anr['Sheep'/1156517, l='MpServer', x=-1766.99, y=84.00, z=1370.45], ang['Cow'/1156516, l='MpServer', x=-1770.50, y=93.00, z=1368.19], anm['Pig'/1156518, l='MpServer', x=-1771.30, y=88.00, z=1370.50], anr['Sheep'/1156525, l='MpServer', x=-1758.50, y=84.00, z=1366.27], anm['Pig'/1156527, l='MpServer', x=-1755.52, y=86.00, z=1380.28], anm['Pig'/1156526, l='MpServer', x=-1757.25, y=83.00, z=1388.45], ara['Skeleton'/1208493, l='MpServer', x=-1776.50, y=79.00, z=1305.50], apm['Armour Stand'/1156560, l='MpServer', x=-1727.50, y=45.00, z=1393.50], aqg['Creeper'/1208791, l='MpServer', x=-1755.50, y=88.00, z=1370.50], amz['Bat'/1207253, l='MpServer', x=-1795.75, y=55.74, z=1446.88], ara['Skeleton'/1208798, l='MpServer', x=-1737.50, y=83.00, z=1383.50], anx['Iron Golem'/1156575, l='MpServer', x=-1704.12, y=23.00, z=1401.02], anx['Iron Golem'/1156574, l='MpServer', x=-1704.02, y=15.00, z=1401.02], ane['Chicken'/1156545, l='MpServer', x=-1700.52, y=43.00, z=1376.85], arj['Zombie'/1208259, l='MpServer', x=-1720.50, y=72.00, z=1333.50], ard['Spider'/1208257, l='MpServer', x=-1720.50, y=72.00, z=1332.50], anu['Squid'/1208522, l='MpServer', x=-1667.15, y=60.34, z=1413.52], anu['Squid'/1208521, l='MpServer', x=-1664.01, y=60.00, z=1414.00], anz['Snowball'/1156557, l='MpServer', x=-1701.13, y=43.00, z=1374.45], ara['Skeleton'/1205967, l='MpServer', x=-1653.50, y=63.00, z=1301.50], anx['Iron Golem'/1156559, l='MpServer', x=-1717.63, y=10.50, z=1405.32], anw['Turtle'/1156598, l='MpServer', x=-1673.76, y=68.00, z=1314.32], amz['Bat'/1198841, l='MpServer', x=-1750.34, y=59.10, z=1385.96], anx['Iron Golem'/1156577, l='MpServer', x=-1705.87, y=39.00, z=1400.06], anx['Iron Golem'/1156576, l='MpServer', x=-1704.90, y=31.00, z=1400.04], arj['Zombie'/1186277, l='MpServer', x=-1728.53, y=26.00, z=1396.80], ara['Skeleton'/1208554, l='MpServer', x=-1726.50, y=71.00, z=1311.50], ara['Skeleton'/1208552, l='MpServer', x=-1727.50, y=71.00, z=1309.50], ara['Skeleton'/1208556, l='MpServer', x=-1732.50, y=71.00, z=1308.50], ara['Skeleton'/1208557, l='MpServer', x=-1733.50, y=71.00, z=1308.50]] Retry entities: 0 total; [] Server brand: vanilla Server type: Integrated singleplayer serverStacktrace: at ctm.a(SourceFile:391) at cit.b(SourceFile:1830) at cit.a(SourceFile:387) at net.minecraft.client.main.Main.main(SourceFile:144)
– System Details --Details: Minecraft Version: 1.13-pre2 Operating System: Windows 10 (amd64) version 10.0 Java Version: 1.8.0_25, Oracle Corporation Java VM Version: Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (mixed mode), Oracle Corporation Memory: 129189696 bytes (123 MB) / 1073741824 bytes (1024 MB) up to 1073741824 bytes (1024 MB) JVM Flags: 9 total; -XX:HeapDumpPath=MojangTricksIntelDriversForPerformance_javaw.exe_minecraft.exe.heapdump -Xss1M -Xmx1G -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:G1NewSizePercent=20 -XX:G1ReservePercent=20 -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=50 -XX:G1HeapRegionSize=16M Launched Version: 1.13-pre2 LWJGL: 3.1.2 build 29 OpenGL: GeForce GTX 1060 6GB/PCIe/SSE2 GL version 4.6.0 NVIDIA 388.13, NVIDIA Corporation GL Caps: Using GL 1.3 multitexturing.Using GL 1.3 texture combiners.Using framebuffer objects because OpenGL 3.0 is supported and separate blending is supported.Shaders are available because OpenGL 2.1 is supported.VBOs are available because OpenGL 1.5 is supported.
Using VBOs: Yes Is Modded: Probably not. Jar signature remains and client brand is untouched. Type: Client (map_client.txt) Resource Packs: Current Language: English (United Kingdom) Profiler Position: N/A (disabled) CPU: 4x Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-7400 CPU @ 3.00GHz

And here is a copy of the Crash Report upon trying to reload the world after the crash:

---- Minecraft Crash Report -------- Minecraft Crash Report ----// Hey, that tickles! Hehehe!
Time: 17/06/18 22:26Description: Ticking memory connection
java.lang.IllegalStateException: Not a JSON Object: null at com.google.gson.JsonElement.getAsJsonObject(JsonElement.java:90) at vy.a(SourceFile:81) at vy.<init>(SourceFile:47) at uz.a(SourceFile:923) at sp.<init>(SourceFile:160) at uz.g(SourceFile:443) at to.b(SourceFile:118) at to.Z_(SourceFile:65) at hv.a(SourceFile:221) at tl.c(SourceFile:175) at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.w(SourceFile:719) at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.v(SourceFile:626) at dir.v(SourceFile:156) at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.run(SourceFile:531) at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745)

A detailed walkthrough of the error, its code path and all known details is as follows:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
– Head --Thread: Server threadStacktrace: at com.google.gson.JsonElement.getAsJsonObject(JsonElement.java:90) at vy.a(SourceFile:81) at vy.<init>(SourceFile:47) at uz.a(SourceFile:923) at sp.<init>(SourceFile:160) at uz.g(SourceFile:443) at to.b(SourceFile:118) at to.Z_(SourceFile:65) at hv.a(SourceFile:221)
– Ticking connection --Details: Connection: hv@17dac7b4Stacktrace: at tl.c(SourceFile:175) at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.w(SourceFile:719) at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.v(SourceFile:626) at dir.v(SourceFile:156) at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.run(SourceFile:531) at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745)
– System Details --Details: Minecraft Version: 1.13-pre2 Operating System: Windows 10 (amd64) version 10.0 Java Version: 1.8.0_25, Oracle Corporation Java VM Version: Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (mixed mode), Oracle Corporation Memory: 153361536 bytes (146 MB) / 385875968 bytes (368 MB) up to 1073741824 bytes (1024 MB) JVM Flags: 9 total; -XX:HeapDumpPath=MojangTricksIntelDriversForPerformance_javaw.exe_minecraft.exe.heapdump -Xss1M -Xmx1G -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:G1NewSizePercent=20 -XX:G1ReservePercent=20 -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=50 -XX:G1HeapRegionSize=16M Profiler Position: N/A (disabled) Player Count: 0 / 8; [] Data Packs: vanilla Type: Integrated Server (map_client.txt) Is Modded: Probably not. Jar signature remains and both client + server brands are untouched.