The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Book Summery:
Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved mother. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven. Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot - a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities - not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung. -goodreads.com

Book Review:
Author Bree Despain steps it up a notch in her Dark Divine sequel The Lost Saint. The roles have changed. Now Grace is the one struggling with her now found powers, and Daniel tries to keep her grounded, reminding her not to give into the overwhelming urges of the wolf. At first, I didn't think I would like this role reversal. However, I was surprised to find that it gave the characters more versatility and complexity. I really enjoyed learning more about werewolf lore and history. What really makes this novel are the characters. I found Grace to be more independent and self-reliant. While she didn't always make the best choices, she followed through on her actions and relied more on herself and her own instincts. I felt like this was a big step up from the first novel. I found Daniel just a little disappointing, mostly due to his absence throughout the story. Gabriel is a most interesting addition. I find him knowledgeable and mysterious. I do hope we find out more about him further along in the series. Talbot is another intriguing character. I'm getting the sense that there is more to his story, and I am eager to find out! I did miss the focus on art in this one; but honestly, there was so much going on that I didn't feel like it detracted from the story.

Overall, I found The Lost Saint to be darker as a whole. There is plenty of mystery, secrets, and action to go around. There is definitely more emphasis on werewolves this time around, which ties in nicely. Fans of YA paranormal romance will be sure to fall in love with action-packed sequel. I am can not to read the next installment of the series!!!

Favorite Quote:

"I was almost through the door when Gabriel called after me. 'Remember Grace. If you let anger into your heart, it will push out your ability to love.' " (p. 263)

Cover Art Commentary:
I really love the colors. The light blue really pops against the black background. I think I might actually like this cover more than the first book, The Dark Divine. :)

Overall Rating:

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: