The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Book Summery:

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. -goodreads.com

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
For this review, I am going to do something different. Instead of melding everything together, I am going to piece it apart into two categories. What I liked, and what I didn't. Let me know if you like this format, or prefer the old one.

What I Liked:

*Grace. She is a gracious, sensitive character with curious instincts. She makes a great narrator for this story.
*Daniel. Despite everything that surrounds him, I found Daniel to be kindhearted, intelligent young man, who was a bit rough around the edges at times.
*The use of art and creativity as one of the main components of the storyline. Some of my favorite times where when Grace and Daniel were drawing and/or painting together, and sharing some serious conversation.
*Grace's family as a whole. They show the reader how she became the grounded, sensible, sweet, yet somewhat flawed character we are introduced to.
*The overall story. Lot's of action, with plenty of time for reflection. The mystery in this story kept me up, turning page after page.

What I didn't Like:

*Grace's interactions with her brother, Jude. Throughout the book I felt like Grace kept telling us what a generous, kind person he was, but I did not see this reflected in his behavior very often.
*Grace's best friend April. She seemed much more interested in Jude rather than Grace.
*At times, it seemed like Grace would be determined to find out an answer. Then when confronted with the person in question, she would back out, leaving her questions (as well as ours) postponed or unanswered. It really was my biggest pet peeve of the book.
*The End! I am dying to know what happens next!!!! :P

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read. If I had it available in my rating system, I would give this book a 4.5 rating. While I enjoyed the story and the characters, there were a few minor flaws (not an overwhelming amount), that kept this a 4 star rating. What I loved MOST about this book, was the portrayal of family. While not always perfect, they were there for each other, supported each other, and knew when to give each other space. I eagerly anticipate the next installment of the series...which I will begin right now! :P

Favorite Quote:

"I stood in the stream of hot water and let the head prick at the numbness under my skin, washing away the shock. That's when the tears came." (p. 244)

Cover Art Commentary:
I really like the colors of this cover. However, is it just me, or do those legs look reallllly skinny? Like too skinny?

 Overall Rating: