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The Dark Divine
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Read The Dark Divine
The Dark Divine: Book 1

The Dark Divine (2009) (edit title/settings)

by Bree Despain (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

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... read more

Summary edit see section history

After three years of absence from Rose Crest, Daniel has come back into Grace's life. In their first encounter we get the sense that Grace still has feelings for him. Grace knows that Daniels name is a taboo for her family, she knows that something happened 3 years ago between Daniel and Jude... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

After three years of absence from Rose Crest, Daniel has come back into Grace's life. In their first encounter we get the sense that Grace still has feelings for him. Grace knows that Daniels name is a taboo for her family, she knows that something happened 3 years ago between Daniel and Jude that caused Daniel to run away and her family to hate him. Daniel begins to consume her thoughts and Jude takes notice. Jude warns Grace that Daniel is dangerous and asks her to promise him she'll stay away. As luck would have it, Daniel keeps appearing in Grace's life, when on her date with Pete Bradshaw their car malfunctions Pete goes off for help. Daniel arrives and fixes her car, mentioning he lives right in front where their car had died. Seeing Daniel in filthy clothing Grace decides to take him a backpack full of clothing and food, being the angel he describes her to be. There Grace learns of Daniels reason for coming back, he wants to attend Trenton to major in the arts and his only chance of getting in is by attending Holy Trinity Academy and taking an AP Art course. Grace goes back home only to find out that one of her father’s beloved parishers has died, an old women whom everyone Grace's age was baby sat by. Not only had she died outside and frozen to death but she was mulled by an animal. Pastor Divine feels like this whole situation was his fault, that he should have pressured the old women to see a doctor and is deeply depressed by her death. Jude seems to be more reserved, or so his friend Pete mentions to Grace, so April goes up to Jude and tries to cheer him up and received an invitation for a coffee date. Jude keeps reminding Grace to keep away from Daniel but it's proving to be a challenge with Daniel now attending her high school. In the memorial service for the death of the beloved parisher, Grace end’s up going with Daniel on a motorcycle to a place Daniel regards as "special". Afterwards he takes her to his apartment where a party by Daniels roommates is in bloom. When a girl appears and wisps Daniel away Grace is left stranded and has to take the bus back home. *Throughout the story we get flashbacks of Grace's, Jude's and Daniel's childhood. We learn that Daniel's father beat him regularly while his mother remained passive in the background. We also learned that when the police chased off Daniels father his mother was devastated and left Daniel to the care of the Divines. There Daniel felt firsthand what it was to have a loving family.* Each Thanksgiving, the Divines hold a big feast for anyone who wants to attend. The whole day is spent with cooking and baking. When everyone sits down to eat the door bell rings and Daniel appears, Grace having invited him last time she had seen him. Grace's mother asks Daniel to leave before a scene occurs but Pastor Divine interferes and allows Daniel to eat the dinner with them. Jude is offended by Daniels presence and excuses himself from the table. The Bell rings again and its Don, whom says there’s blood all over the front porch, after a quick search of the house they can't find baby James, Grace's little baby brother. Daniel quickly goes to the forest in the outskirts of their house with Grace at his heel. It seems to Grace that Daniel is following James's scent and they quickly find James all the while witnessing the extraordinary abilities that Daniel possesses. James is safe and sound and Grace tells everyone that Daniel is the hero. Jude accuses Daniel of taking James and later finding to try and be a hero but Pastor Divine quickly interferes, siding with Daniel. Later that night Daniel shows up at Graces window where they talk about what Grace had seen Daniel do. Having seen too much of Daniels extra abilities, Daniel explains to Grace that his family, the Kalbi are the creation of God, a species meant to protect the world of monsters. He called it The Urbat or Hounds of Heaven. He mentioned that his necklace he always wears helps him control his abilities and he refuses to answer anymore of Graces questions. The next day Grace is drawing a tree in her front yard with much difficulty when Daniel arrives. He takes Grace up in the tree and tells her to draw what she sees. There they’re about to share their first kiss when they are interrupted by Graces father. Daniel had promised to meet Grace the next day after dinner but as 10 o'clock draws nearer Grace begins to get impatient. She goes outside and finds Daniel sitting next to the tree they had climbed the day before. There Daniel talks about how alone he is in this world, fearing that no one loves him. Grace kisses him and tells her that she loves him and Daniel abruptly ends their first kiss claiming that he can't do this anymore, he can't be around her. He leaves as Jude comes back from a date with April, there Grace finally confronts him demanding the truth of what really happened that night three year ago. Jude claims that Daniel was a murderer, a liar and a thief. He claims that Daniel has everyone in some sort of spell, and that he lied about what his name really means, that Urbat doesn’t mean Hound of Heaven. Jude mentions that Daniel stole the fund raiser money from the church and left him for dead. Jude runs away into the night leaving Grace alone. Grace searches Urbat online and finds that Urbat means Dogs of Death and begins to realize that maybe Daniel hasn’t been truthful with her. Grace goes to Daniel and asks him all about what Jude had told her. Daniel explains that Hounds of Heaven was the name first given to his family but as their human emotions began to dominate the Urbat, they began to feel superior and lost their will to do Gods bidding, killing innocent humans and getting the name of Dogs of Death. Jude also acknowledges that he did steal the money and that he got into a fight with Jude. Jude being the self-righteous one never fought back which only made Daniel angrier. Daniel then says he doesn’t remember what happens and woke up to a bloody scene and running away. Grace leaves Daniel; she couldn’t look at him the same anymore. Grace goes to her father and asks him about Daniel. She knows that he was involved in Daniels return and her father acknowledges it. He says that he's been trying to help Daniel find a cure to his "sickness". Grace's dad asks Grace if she loves him and she says yes, Grace's father then tells her that the cure is out of his hands and into hers. Grace is left confused and she receives a book from her father, one he insists on her to read. Grace reads part of the book but locks it away in the end, not wanting to betray Jude again. As days pass Grace ignores Daniel in school and outside of it even though Daniel is always trying to get her to talk him. Grace wants to be on Jude’s good graces and says yes to Pete's school dance invitation. When Grace is at the church in a group sermon Daniel shows up. There Daniel tells Grace that he loves her but Grace tells him that if he really does love her he'll get as far away from her as possible. When Grace gets home she reads from the book and learns that a wolf can only be cured if the one who loves him kills him. Grace then learns why Daniel had such a hard time telling her how he felt and his awkward behavior when she mentioned she loved him. When Grace wakes up the next day she finds a note from Daniel informing her that he is leaving and that he will always love her. He also encloses money to deliver to her father for having stolen the fund raiser year before. Grace realizes she doesn’t want Daniel to go and goes to find him. She finds him at the market where Daniel worked, having just quite. There she confesses that she truly loves him and doesn’t want him to go. Grace also mentions that she is willing to kill Daniel to save his should from the sickness. Daniel begs Grace to stay home tonight because of the dangers of the full moon but Grace had made arrangements for attending a dance with Pete. Grace breaks her promise with Daniel and goes to the dance with Jude Pete and April. As they head for the dance they pass the market where there is a blob of police cars. They learn that a body was found in the dumpster of a girl and Jude automatically assumes that it was Daniel. Jude Pete and Grace go to the dance and there Jude leaves telling Pete to stop Grace from following him. Pete, having drunk alcohol prior to the dance begins to sexually assault Grace but Pete falls to the floor having been stabbed by Don who appears out of nowhere. Don accidently hurts Grace and Grace awakens in the art room with Daniel. Daniel knocked out Don and took Grace inside the school, hiding from Jude. Grace then realizes that Jude had different eyes before he set off to find Daniel and asks Daniel if he turned Jude into an Urbat. Daniel says that he did. Daniel and Jude end up fighting in their wolf forms with Grace in the middle. Jude bites Grace in the arms as Grace stabs Daniel in the heart. The police and ambulance comes. We learn that Daniel is in the hospital having sustained severe injuries. Grace realizes that since she is bitten she has the possibility of becoming an Urbat. Jude ends up run away from home leaving a note behind claiming he needs to find himself. Daniel tells Grace that she can overcome becoming an Urbat because she’s in a loving family and that together they can face anything.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Grace Divine: Pastor Divine's daughter who is a 3.8 GPA student and academically focused. She loves to draw and paint and sometimes feels out of place from her self-righteous family. Grace is the only girl, second oldest in her family of three children.
  • Daniel Kalbi: Grace's former adopted brother who's just returned to town after disappearing nearly 3 years ago. He was Grace's childhood crush. Daniel is the same age as Jude Divine and they are ex-best friends. Recently caught the attention of Grace again and is determined to stay in her life.
  • Jude Divine: Grace's self-righetous older brother. Formerly best friends with Daniel, but now hates him and forbids Grace from talking to him. Grace is forever curious to know why.
  • Pete Bradshaw: Jude's friend who has an interest in Grace.
  • Pastor Divine: Grace and Jude's father and local pastor to the town. Highly regarded figure in the community. Very self-less and moral man. He cares for everyone in town and believes in second chances.
  • April: Grace's best friend. April as a crush on Grace's older brother Jude. Multiple time, Grace describes her as a 'Cocker Spaniel'.
  • Don Mooney: Described as "big as a grizzly with a smile resembling a snarl". Although he holds a frightful demeanor his intentions are always kind. Arbitrary characteristics and devoted follower to Pastor Divine and his family. Grace sometimes finds herself uncomfortable around him. Described as mentally challenged.
  • Meredith Divine: Grace and Jude's Mother
  • Baby James: The youngest of the Divine siblings.
  • Lynn Bishop: Girl in Holy Trinity, considered the gossip queen of the private school.
  • Mishka: Some sort of supernatural who gives Daniel a makeover. Also some sort of ally of Daniel's.
  • Maryanne Duke: An Old Woman who lives in Rose Crest, and a beloved member of the church and the community.
  • Mr. Barlow: AP Art Teacher in Holy Trinity
  • Gabriel: A man that helps Daniel in his past.
  • Markham: Add a description of this character.
  • Katharine
  • Brett Johnson: Jude's friend. Plays ice hockey. Likes Grace and want's to date her.
  • Carol Divine
  • Mr. Day: The owner of 'Day's Market'
  • Mrs. Howell
  • Jessica Day: Daughter of Mr. Day, known for often running away. Also known for getting mixed up in trouble.
Show all 21 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “The problem with promises is that once you've made one, it's bound to be broken. It's an unspoken cosmic rule" p.g 18”
    Narration
  • “The truth was that I was afraid of answers. Ignorance may not be bliss, but it seemed preferable to all the pain that accompanied the answers I'd found already" p.g 253”
    Narration
  • “Did people who knew the secrets of the underworld go to dances?" p.g 262”
    Narration
  • “That's what makes it so right. Your eyes - your soul is there, but the rest of you is still so undefined. That's the beauty of childhood. The eyes show everything you've seen so far, but the rest of you is still open to possibility, to whatever you might become." p.g 265”
    Mr. Barlow
  • “Daniel had done something undeniably wrong. But did he have to live with that mistake forever? Couldn't he be redeemed? Couldn't everyone? That's what dad taught with every sermon. It's the meaning of my name. Grace." p.g 293”
    Narration
  • “I wished this responsibility could pass to someone else. I wished for another way. I wished for a world free of darkness. But I knew those wishes couldn't come true. So I wished for something different. I wished for time.”
    Narration
  • “As terrible as the truth was, there was something restful about it. Like knowing the answers finally calmed my brain enough for me to sleep peacefully for the first time in weeks" P.g 300”
    Narration
  • “All this time, I'd been trying to fix Daniel - save him - but you can't save someone unless he wants to be saved. I understood that now. Like I understood a lot of things" P.g 305”
    Narration
  • “You really are one of a kind. I mean, it's not every day my girlfriend offers to kill me" p.g 306”
    Daniel Kalbi
  • “People will think you're nuts if you keep talking to inanimate objects." pg. 368”
    Daniel Kalbi
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • “There’s a difference between people who do hurtful things because they’re evil and people who do bad things because of their circumstances. Some people are desperate because they don’t know how to ask for His grace.”
    Highlighted by 49 Kindle customers
  • “‘Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to the dark side.’”
    Highlighted by 38 Kindle customers
  • “God is the ultimate judge of what is truly in our souls. But we are required to forgive everyone.”
    Highlighted by 34 Kindle customers
  • “You really are one of a kind. I mean, it’s not every day my girlfriend offers to kill me.”
    Highlighted by 32 Kindle customers
  • “Well, since I’m not a golden retriever …”
    Highlighted by 27 Kindle customers
  • “We don’t forgive people because they deserve it. We forgive them because they need it—because we need it.
    Highlighted by 24 Kindle customers
  • For the only cure to free my soul is to be killed, in an act of true love, by the one who loves me most….
    Highlighted by 22 Kindle customers
  • “But I want you, Daniel.” I brushed my fingers into his hair. “I’ve always wanted you.”
    Highlighted by 21 Kindle customers
  • “No.” Yes. “I am excited for you.” Not. “It’s just that …” You’re supposed to be my best friend.
    Highlighted by 20 Kindle customers
  • “There are many names. Hundreds, actually. The Skin-Walkers, Loup-Garou, Oik, Varkolak, Varulv. The name you are probably most familiar with is Werewolf.”
    Highlighted by 15 Kindle customers
Show all 20 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

  • Holy Trinity Academy: A private religious high school that is considered academically rigourous as well as prestigious. Grace and Jude Divine attend this high school.
  • Trenton: A highly competetive college known for its art courses. Grace and Daniel both have their sights set towards attending
  • Heaven
  • Oak Park
  • Rose Crest: Rose Crest: A small town in Minnesota where everyone in town knows each other. The book mentions that the majority of the town is religious going weekly to Pastor Divines sermons.

First Sentence edit see section history

Blood fills my mouth.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Sacrifice
1. Prodigal
2. Promises, Promises
3. Tabula Rasa
4. D-Vine Intervention
5. Charity Never Faileth
6. Miracle Worker
7. Obligations
8. Temptation
9. Thanks Giving
10. Unexpected
11. Revelations
12. Questions Unanswered
13. Hounds of Heaven
14. Such Great Heights
15. The Lost Sheep
16. Undone
17. Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
18. Book of Secrets
19. Choices
20. Fears
21. Hopeless
22. Alpha and Omega
23. Truth
24. Always
25. The Other One
26. Hero
27. Fall from Grace
28. Redemption

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 4 in The Dark Divine. (standard series)

Followed by The Lost Saint.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Bree Despain (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Egmont USA
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: December 22, 2009
ISBN: 9781606840573
Page Count: 385

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Never mentions any bad cuss words but they are inferred. Some mild cuss words said a few times. One drinking scene and someone drunk. Recommended for 12+

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

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