Book Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

CHALLENGE BOOK: 2010 Debut Authors

Title: The Dark Divine

Author: Bree Despain
Publication Date: January 2010 (was out in December)
Genre: YA
Pages: 384
Series: 1st in a series (I believe)
Book Acquisition: received a copy from the author

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.

Wow! This book totally blew me away! I devoured it in about a day. I have to say, I was a bit skeptical at first. I didn’t think I would be able to warm up to a preacher’s daughter. I also assumed her parents wouldn’t play important roles in the story – only there for the occasional reprimand. I’m glad I was wrong on both counts.

Grace Divine is such a strong character. Her family isn’t perfect and although her mother does try to cover up a few of the families short comings, Grace’s father is very real. It’s is faith and his belief in forgiveness that really drives the book. If he didn’t raise Grace the way he did, if he didn’t expect and trust her to make her own decisions, her life could have turned out much much different.

Without giving much away, I do have to say that the paranormal element in The Dark Divine is one we have seen many times before. The author did put a few different spins on it though, which I liked. I have to stop myself; because each time I think “I’m done reading books about (insert popular paranormal character here)” I find a book, like The Dark Divine that totally makes me eat my words.

I’m excited by the fact that there seems to be a sequel in the works. Again, without giving anything away – a few of the characters have some unfinished business that needs attending too. I can’t wait to see what happens.

For those of you that like romance in your YA fantasy books, there is a nice amount here. It is by no means the driving force behind the book, which, again, was nice.
I highly recommend this book to any YA fans – fantasy, fiction, whatever. For her first novel Bree has done a tremendous job!

5/5 stars

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