The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Title: The Dark Divine

Author: Bree Despain

Published: December 2009

Source: Bought

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A Prodigal Son

A Dangerous Love

A Deadly Secret

Grace Divine—daughter of the local pastor—always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappearedand her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood.

Now that Daniel's returned, Grace mus choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this, but it sure wasn't what it was! This book exceeded my expectations in a big way, and I definitely want more! The paranormal aspect of this book is very original, though there are familiar things threaded through.

I have to give props to Bree Despain for writing about a pastors daughter without being preachy at all, even though their faith was interwoven with the story line. There's a fine line, and it was walked with ease. Grace is a typical teenager in most ways, except everyone looks at her to be the good example. She's a typical good girl, though she longs to do something more dangerous. Enter Daniel, very dangerous. He was once a practical part of Grace's family, but after a terrible incident that no one beside him and Grace's brother seems to know the details of, he disappeared. He's back, and with him mysterious, gruesome things.

From the first page of this book I didn't want to put it down. I was compelled to read it, and to know Daniel's secret. Like I mentioned earlier, the paranormal aspect is so completely original that it blew me away. I'm not going to tell you what it is, because I wish that I hadn't know when I read it. The romance could seem like it came too fast, but considering their history it really didn't.

I loved the way that Grace's family played a big role in things. I really got to know and understand her parents and brother, and they were very multi dimensional, not just there for show. You don't see that every day.

Basically I loved this book!

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A
Title/Cover Comments: The cover is gorgeous! And actually more relevant then you might think. The title fits.