The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

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

Published by Egmont
Released Now.

'The Dark Divine' by Bree Despain follows the story of Grace Divine the daughter of a pastor. we as the reader see her easy relationship with her brother unfurl when childhood friend - and crush- comes on the scene after a three year absence. One is able to guess, something isn't quite right with Daniel and we soon learn what, and who else has been infected.

Having a scrawl through my school library i come across this book. I took it out and started reading it on my way home and was suprised not be immediately engrossed. Yes the plot was a good start but it was maybe just a bit too slow and trying to fill in too many gaps. It is written with a certain childish flair, very simplistic writing that is easy to understand. For me, i like a challenge in books i read with the language if the stroy-line itself doesn't keep me interested. What kept me on was Becca Fitzpatrick's review praising it, i've read (and enjoyed) her books and ones she commends but i was sorely disappointed with this read and felt that her praise was not worthy.

Daniel is inexplicitly the books 'bad-boy'. Who could resist? Obviously not Grace who couldn't see a bad bone in his body. But she couldn't tell who  was good or bad so i don't take her account. About 50 pages in the great 'secret' is guessed by the reader and leaves them thinking, story over. But no a few chapters at the end reveal another twist to try keep the reader with her, to little success as they will have already guessed.

Overall this book is an ok read with lots of glaring holes, it didn't leave me wanting more, it left me returning it back to the library dissappointed.

Talia x