Book Review: The Dark Divine

Media Type: Print Book (ARC)
Title: The Dark Divine
   * Series: The Dark Divine #1
Author: Bree Despain
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: Hardcover; 372
Release Date: December 22, 2009
Source: Around the World Tours
—————————————-
Intended Reading Group: Young Adult
Content Screening: Mild Violence
—————————————–
HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart
Recommended to: Readers who love a good, honest, and twisty paranormal romance.

Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon / B&N

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared–the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood–but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude’s high school. Despite promising Jude she’ll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel’s shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy’s dark secret…and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it–her soul.

Bree Despain is definitely a master of suspense if this book is any indication. The Dark Divine is a book that plunks you down into a roller coaster car, tightens the harness and takes off without even giving you a chance to think twice. From the very first page I was hooked and there was no going back.

We meet Grace Divine, her sister Charity Divine and her brother Jude Divine. How much do you love their names? I know I did. They are the children of (fittingly enough) a pastor and have the “perfect family” vibe going on. Grace is a really fantastic main character. I’ve heard others say that she doesn’t actually contribute a lot to the story, but I disagree. Following her through the story is intriguing, and seeing how her upbringing affects her decisions is intense. There are so many times in the story that Grace is stuck in a moral quandary and still makes a great decision.

Then there is Daniel Kalbi. A spectre from Grace’s past, he comes back into the picture rather unexpectedly. Even more unexpected are the feelings that Grace still seems to have for him after all this time. What I loved about the relationship between these two was that it felt so read. This wasn’t just lust, or co-dependence. Grace and Daniel actually have what can be considered love. Grace is willing to do anything for him, no matter what the cost.

There were a few small things that didn’t click for me here, but overall The Dark Divine held my attention extremely well. I loved Daniel, I loved Grace, and I more than loved their starcrossed and dark story line. Fans of paranormal romance will greatly enjoy this story! I can’t wait for more.