The Lost Saint

By Bree Despain

This non-stop sequel to The Dark Divine delivers an even hotter romance and more thrilling action than Bree Despain's first novel. 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. Readers ravenous for more Grace and Daniel will be itching to sink their teeth into The Lost Saint.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Aug 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781606842003

Bree Despain

Bree Despain is the author of The Dark Divine trilogy and the Into the Dark trilogy. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and two sons. Visit her online at www.breedespain.com.

Book preview

die.

Chapter One

THE SKY IS FALLING

THURSDAY NIGHT, SESSION #82

You can do this, Grace, Daniel said between sharp breaths. You know you can.

I’m trying. My fingers trembled as I tightened them into fists.

It was the pain of the transition that always surprised me—no matter how prepared I thought I was. It started as an aching sensation deep inside my body. Pooling in my muscles, making my shoulders shake and my legs throb. My biceps felt like they were on fire.

Come on, Grace. Don’t quit on me now.

Shut up! I said, and took another swing.

Daniel laughed and countered to the left. My blow missed his mitt entirely.

Agh! I stumbled forward, but Daniel caught me before I fell and pushed me back up. I gritted my teeth and rocked back on my heels in the grass. I was supposed to be more agile than this. Stop moving around.

Your opponent—Daniel panted—isn’t going to stand still and just let you hit him. He held his boxing mitts out in front of him, welcoming a new attack.

He would if he knew what was good for him. I jutted forward with a combination of a hook and a jab, which Daniel deflected with his mitts. He spun out of my way, and my next swing went wildly into the air.

Gah. I shook my head. My moonstone necklace bounced against my chest. It felt warm against my already flushed skin, pulsing with heat.

You’re pushing your punches too much. Save your energy. Quick jabs. Send your arm out with a snap and then bring it back immediately.

"I’m trying. The pain in my muscles mounted. But it wasn’t from fatigue. It was my powers. My abilities," as Daniel called them. They were always lingering there, just out of reach, whenever we trained. And if I could just push through the wall of fire that stood between them and me, I could grab on to my powers and use them. Own them.

I cringed as the crescent-shaped scar on my arm throbbed and flared. I dropped my arm and tried to shake out the pain.

Arms up, Daniel said. Rule number one: Never drop your guard. He smacked me lightly on the shoulder. It was meant to be a playful hit, but the pain in my scar shot through my arm like electricity.

I glared at him.

You’re getting annoyed, Daniel said. That wry grin of his played on his lips.

You think? I sent another combination into his mitts. Three jabs and a hook. I felt a surge of power through my body—finally—and the last punch flew faster and harder than I expected. Daniel missed deflecting it, and my fist slammed into his shoulder.

Whoa! He jumped back and shook out his shoulders. Rein it in, Grace. Don’t let your emotions have too much control.

"Then why are you trying to annoy me?"

His smile edged from wry to devious. So you can practice balance. He smacked his mitts together and gestured for me to attack him again.

I could feel my powers pulsing through me—finally in my grasp. I laughed and bounced back several feet. How’s this for balance? I asked with a smile, and faster than I could think, my body went into a spin kick that landed squarely in one of Daniel’s outstretched mitts.

Daniel grunted and stumbled back. His knee wobbled and gave out from under him, and he went flying backward toward the ground.

Oh no! I lunged for him and caught him by the arm. But it was too late to stop him from falling, and I toppled with him onto the grass.

We landed side by side on the lawn. I was momentarily stunned—hitting the ground had knocked the wind, and my powers, right out of me. Daniel rolled onto his side and moaned, startling me back into reality.

Oh no, I’m sorry! I sat up. I wasn’t thinking. My powers kicked in and I … Are you okay?

Daniel’s moan turned into a half laugh. That’s not the kind of balance I was talking about. He winced and pulled off his mitts and tossed them aside.

Seriously, are you okay?

Yeah. Daniel leaned forward and rubbed his knee. He’d trashed it pretty badly when he fell from the parish’s balcony a little less than ten months ago. And since I’d cured him of the werewolf curse right after he fell, he’d lost his superhuman powers and had to wait for it to heal like any other regular person. Even after spending weeks on crutches and doing a regimen of physical therapy, he still had a lot of trouble with his knee. Beatin’ up on a gimp. What would your daddy say?

Ha-ha. I made a face at him.

Seriously, though. You’re getting good. He groaned and lay back into the grass, tucking his arms behind his head.

Not good enough.

It took almost an hour of intense sparring before my powers even started to manifest, and once they kicked in, they lasted only, what, like thirty seconds? That was the thing about my abilities. They came in spurts whenever they felt like it—totally uncontrolled by me. My wounds healed over more quickly than those of a normal human, but I still couldn’t draw on that power the way Daniel used to be able to. I couldn’t heal myself on my own terms. I’d get bursts of speed or agility, like my body had a mind of its own—like when I kicked Daniel just now—but I usually couldn’t control when it happened.

After Daniel’s doctor gave him the go-ahead to be active again, we started training together three nights a week—when I wasn’t grounded, that is. We’d go running, try out some parkour moves, box with mitts like we did tonight, practice trying to hear and see long distances. But even though I was notably faster and stronger than I had been even a few months ago, it was beginning to seem like, no matter how much I tried, I’d never be able to use my powers the way I wanted—instead of them using me.

Daniel sighed. He pointed up in the sky. Looks like we quit just in time. Meteor shower’s started.

I looked up as a shooting star streaked through the dark, clear night above us. Oh yeah. I almost forgot about that.

Daniel and I had planned on tracking the meteor shower after tonight’s training session. We were supposed to count how many meteors we saw in a thirty-minute period for an extra-credit science project at school.

I knew it bothered Daniel that Principal Conway wouldn’t even consider letting him graduate last year—he’d missed way too much school during the years he’d spent on the run from the curse that used to plague his every thought. But I, for one, was happy he hadn’t left for college yet. And with his attending summer school, doing some extra credit, and testing out of a few classes, we’d get to graduate together next spring.

I’ll get the light, I said after I pulled off my glove wraps. I flexed my fingers, stretching out my sore knuckles as I crossed the yard behind Maryanne Duke’s old house. I flipped off the porch light, grabbed my hoodie, and headed back over to the lawn. With my sweatshirt draped over my chest like a blanket, I took in a deep breath of autumn air and melted into the cool leaves of grass next to Daniel.

That’s six, I said after a long moment.

Daniel grunted in agreement.

Oh! Did you see that one? I pointed above my head at an especially bright star that glistened through the sky until it fizzled into nothing.

Yeah, Daniel said softly. Beautiful.

I glanced at him. He was lying on his side, staring at me.

You weren’t even watching, I teased.

Yes, I was. Daniel flashed me another one of his wry smiles. I could see it reflecting in your eyes. He reached out and brushed my cheek with his fingers. One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. He hooked one of his fingers under my chin, drawing my face closer to his.

I looked away from his deep, dark brown eyes, surveyed the curves of his muscles under the thin running shirt he’d worn for our training session. Then my gaze flitted to his shaggy hair, which had settled into a nice golden blond over the summer—all the dark had finally washed out. I followed the lines of his jaw and then rested my gaze on the curve of his smiling lips. It wasn’t his devious smile anymore, but the one he saved for moments like this—the one that meant he was truly happy.

He was still warm from our sparring match, and I could feel the heat radiating off his body only a few inches away. Drawing me to him. Willing me to close the gap between us. I looked back at his eyes, loving the feeling that I could get lost in them forever.

It was moments like these when I still couldn’t believe that he was even here.

That he was still alive.

That he was mine.

I’d watched him die once. Held him in my arms and listened to his heartbeat fade away into nothing.

It happened the night my brother Jude lost himself to the werewolf curse—just days before he left a note on the kitchen table, walked out into a snowstorm, and disappeared. The same night Jude infected me with the powers that taunted me now.

The night I almost lost everything.

There goes another one. Daniel leaned in and touched a kiss just beside my eye. He trailed his lips across my cheek and down my jaw, sending a tingling sensation through my body with the deliciousness of his touch.

Daniel’s lips came to my mouth. He brushed them softly there at first and then pressed gently. His lips parted, and he mingled them with mine.

My legs ached as I pulled him closer—finally closing the distance between us.

I didn’t care that we were out in the yard behind Maryanne Duke’s old house. I didn’t care that we were supposed to be tracking the meteor shower for class. Nothing existed outside his touch. There was nothing under the falling stars except Daniel and me and the blanket of grass underneath us.

Daniel jerked his head back slightly. You’re buzzing, he whispered against my lips.

Huh? I asked, and kissed him.

He pulled away. I think it’s your phone.

I noticed the buzzing, too. My cell phone in my sweatshirt pocket.

So what? I grabbed the front of his shirt playfully and pulled him closer. They can leave a message.

It could be your mom, Daniel said. I just got you back. I don’t want to lose you for another two weeks.

Damn it.

Daniel smirked. He always thought it was hilarious when I swore. But he did have a point—about my mom, that is. She had only two modes since Jude left: Zombie Queen and Crazed Mother Bear. It was like her own personal brand of bipolar disorder.

I’d left for the evening before she got back from seeing Aunt Carol off at the train station, so I wasn’t sure what mode she would be in, but if it was of the overbearing sort, I could possibly be grounded again just for the act of not answering her calls on the second ring.

I sat up and dug into the pocket of my hoodie, but I’d already taken too much time, and the call ended before I pulled out my phone.

Crap. I couldn’t take another two weeks of not seeing Daniel outside of school. I flipped open my phone to check the missed call info, mentally crossing my fingers that it hadn’t been my mother, but what I saw made me cock my head in confusion. Where’s your phone? I asked Daniel.

I left it inside. On my bed. Daniel yawned. Why?

I stood up, still staring at the display on my phone. A dark feeling crept under my skin. My hair stood up on the back of my neck, and my muscles tensed in that way they did when my body sensed danger. The phone started ringing again in my hand. I almost dropped it.

Who’s calling you?

You are.

I fumbled with the phone and almost dropped it again. I pushed the Answer button. Hello? I asked tentatively as I put it to my ear.

Silence.

I looked at the screen on my phone to make sure I hadn’t missed the call or accidentally hit the Disconnect button. I returned it to my ear. Um, hello?

Still nothing.

I looked at Daniel and shrugged. It must be some weird kind of flyaway. I was about to hang up when I heard something on the line. It sounded almost like a hand covering the receiver.

Hello? My skin tingled. Goose bumps pricked up my arms. Who’s there?

They’re coming for you, a muffled voice said over the phone. You’re in danger. You’re all in danger. You can’t stop them.

Who is this? I asked, panic rising with the tension in my muscles. How did you get Daniel’s phone?

Don’t trust him, the trembling voice said. He makes you think you can trust him, but you can’t.

Daniel reached for the phone, but I shook him off.

What are you talking about? I asked.

You can’t trust him. The voice on the line seemed suddenly clearer—like the hand muffling the receiver had moved out of the way—and the familiarity of it made my heart nearly stop. "Please, Gracie, listen to me this time. You’re all in danger. You have to know that—" The voice cut off with a clatter, like the phone had been dropped, and the line went dead.

Jude! I shouted into my phone.

ABOUT TEN SECONDS LATER

Wait! Daniel called after me as he tried to push himself up from the ground.

But I’d hit the button to call back Daniel’s cell, and was off the grass and across the back patio before it even started ringing. I could hear his ringtone faintly playing a metal guitar version of Moonlight Sonata from his apartment in Maryanne’s basement. I felt a burst of supernatural speed and, in a matter of seconds, flew around the house and down the cement stairs that led to the apartment.

The old yellow door was slightly ajar. My palms suddenly went sweaty. Daniel was normally a bit compulsive about keeping his door locked. The hinges groaned as I pushed the door open a little farther.

Jude? I called into the studio apartment. The phone had stopped ringing, and the apartment was dark, but I could see a pair of Daniel’s Converse lying on the ground next to a crumpled pile of laundry. The sofa bed was pulled out but the blanket was missing, and the sheets were halfway off the thin mattress.

Gracie, wait. Daniel appeared at the top of the stairs. That may not have been your brother on the phone.

It was him. I’d know his voice anywhere. I was absolutely, upon threat of death from my father, not allowed to enter Daniel’s apartment with him alone—but I took a step into the doorway anyway. Jude, are you here?

That’s not what I mean. Daniel limped down the steps. "I mean, Jude may not have been your brother when he was calling. He may have been under the influences of the wolf."

Once again, Daniel had a point, and I shivered at the reminder of the things my brother had done before while under the control of the wolf. The crescent-shaped scar in my arm twinged, as if to punctuate the memories. But still, if Jude was here, I needed to know. My heart sped up as I took a step inside the apartment.

Jude? I flicked the light switch a couple of times. Nothing happened.

My footsteps kept time with my heartbeat as I walked deeper into the dark room. Apprehension tightened in my muscles. Tingling pain spread through my tendons. My body was preparing for something—flight or fight.

I passed the sofa bed, inspecting the crumpled sheets for the phone Daniel said he’d left there. Daniel opened the bathroom door and cautiously eased inside the tiny room. I heard the opening and closing of cabinets, and then the rustling of the shower curtain.

The tingling pain spread to my fingertips, and I tightened my hand around my cell phone. I hit the Redial button once more. I could hear the ringing through my end before the metal tone of Daniel’s phone began. The noise was soft at first, but then it rapidly got louder and closer.

My body whirled on instinct toward the sound. I landed in a crouching position, ready to pounce. A small growl escaped from my lips.

Whoa, Gracie! Daniel said. He stood in front of me, his hands up in a defensive position, and his cell phone clutched in one of his fists. It’s just me. I found my phone in the shower.

I lunged at him and threw my arms around his neck. Holy crap, I thought you were … were … I held my breath and pressed my moonstone necklace to my chest, letting anxiety slowly drain out of my body. I don’t know exactly what I’d thought was behind me. A werewolf with a phone in its jaws? I felt positively ridiculous now.

It’s okay. Daniel brushed his fingers through my hair. Nobody’s here.

"But someone was here, I said. Unless you have a habit of talking on the phone in the shower."

Try using your powers to tell if it was Jude, Daniel said. Use your senses like I taught you.

I didn’t have much hope that it would actually work, but I took a deep breath, held the air in the back of my mouth, and tried to let it fill my senses like Daniel had explained to me at least two dozen times in the last few months. I was supposed to be testing the air for hints of my brother, trying to sift out a faint familiar taste or smell beyond Daniel’s almondy scent and the tang of oil paint that always filled his apartment. I let my breath out in a long, frustrated hiss.

Daniel gave me a hopeful look.

I shook my head. I’d failed again.

It’s okay, Daniel said. It’ll come. It just takes time. That’s what he always said.

Yeah, I know. I hoped he wasn’t going to launch into his usual speech about how it takes balance, and how I’m doing great so far, and how most Urbat take years to develop their powers. Besides, I don’t even know if I remember what my brother smells like, and I certainly haven’t ever tasted him before.

Daniel smiled. Lecture averted.

I took his cell phone from him and used my human eyes to inspect it for clues. The face was cracked, like it had been dropped, and I was surprised it still worked. I checked the time and the number of the last call made from the phone. He definitely called me from this. I shuddered. He was right in here while we were just outside.

What did he say? Daniel asked.

He said I was in danger. That we were all in danger. He said, ‘They’re coming for you,’ and that I couldn’t stop them. And he said that I couldn’t trust someone else … I bit my lip and hesitated. I don’t know, but I think he meant you.

Daniel crossed his arms in front of his chest. Sounds like his feelings toward me haven’t changed. A look of concern settled in his dark brown eyes.

I wondered if he was thinking the same thing as me—that maybe Jude had other intentions for breaking into the apartment. Maybe Jude had thought Daniel would be here alone and vulnerable? But that didn’t make any sense. If he had wanted to attack Daniel, my presence certainly wouldn’t have stopped him. It hadn’t stopped him before.

Did he say anything else? Daniel asked.

No. The call cut off. I think he dropped the phone. He seemed nervous. Maybe his hand was shaking. Or maybe he’d been about to go through the change.

Do you think he was messing with you? Daniel asked. Maybe this is just some kind of twisted game to him. He never wanted us to be together in the first place.

I don’t know. I looked down at the phone in my hands. I guess it’s possible. But it doesn’t make sense that he’d come back here just for a practical joke. I think he’s got some other motivation.

Maybe it was my new wolf instincts taking over again, or maybe it was just some kind of sibling connection, but something deep down told me that Jude was right … we were all in danger. I just didn’t know if he was the one we were all in danger from.

Chapter Two

BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

HOME, TWENTY MINUTES LATER

Daniel insisted on following me home on his new—to him, anyway—motorcycle. I drove slowly as I navigated the few miles between my house and Oak Park, scanning the streets as I went. I slowed every time I came upon a pedestrian, which wasn’t often, since it was after ten o’clock.

I dialed Dad’s cell phone over and over, but it kept going straight to voice mail. What was the point of his finally getting us all cell phones so we can stay connected if he always forgot to charge his? Call me, was the message I left each time. Considering how much energy he’d put into looking for Jude over the past few months, I didn’t want to just tell Dad on his voice mail about his being back. That was the kind of thing you sprang on someone in person, preferably when they were standing—okay, sitting—right in front of you.

Chaos was the only word that could describe the scene that met us when I opened the front door to my house. The ten o’clock news blared from the family room, like someone had turned it up to full volume to hear the anchorman speaking over the sounds of James’s wailing as he thrashed in Charity’s arms on the stairs. It looked like she was trying to haul him up to his bedroom, but the toddler flailed so hard they were both in danger of falling down the steps.

The vibration of the sound suddenly burst tenfold inside my head. I winced and clasped my hands over my ears. Great time for my superhearing to decide to pay me a visit. What’s going on? I called over the din. I put James to bed two hours ago. I’d made sure James was tucked in for the night and Charity was started on homework before I’d left for the evening. It was the least I could do with Dad being gone.

I don’t know. He woke up screaming about an hour ago, Charity said, narrowly missing getting smacked in the face by James. I finally got him calmed down, but then he started freaking when I tried to take him back to his room. I think maybe he had a nightmare that there was something at his window.

I exchanged a look with Daniel. He nodded. What James had seen at his window might not have been a nightmare.

Arg, James! Stop! Charity yelled as James arched his back in her arms and kicked his legs. She nearly lost her grip and almost dropped him down the stairs.

I’ll take him. Daniel slipped past me in the doorway and pulled James out of Charity’s arms. Calm down, Baby J, Daniel said, and bounced him on his hip. James quieted almost immediately and wrapped his trembling arms around Daniel’s neck. Daniel was still his mighty hero, and James, in his footie pajamas, looked so tiny wrapped in Daniel’s strong arms. I couldn’t help remembering the way Daniel had caught him when he fell off that forty-foot cliff in the woods behind our neighborhood.

How about I read you a story? Daniel asked, and nuzzled his nose against James’s cheek.

James nodded and wiped his puffy, red eyes.

"How about that Wild Things one? I like the kid with the wolf suit." That was James’s favorite book—a present from Daniel when he turned two six months ago.

James shook his head. Nah, too scawey. His chin quivered. He must have really had a fright.

"Winnie-the-Pooh, then? Daniel swung James onto his shoulders and looked at me. I’ll put James to bed."

Thanks, Charity and I said in unison.

I watched Daniel trot up the stairs, talking to James in his best Eeyore voice—which sounded more like Marlon Brando, if you ask me. How could anyone not love him? And why would Jude still think he couldn’t be trusted?

Finally, Charity grumbled. I’ve got like three more pages of math homework to do.

I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have stayed out so late if I’d known.

It’s okay. Charity traced the grain on the oak banister with her finger. You’re not the one who should be dealing with James anyway. She glanced down the entry hall toward the family room. Do you think you can get Mom to turn it down? I really need to concentrate.

So it’s Zombie Queen mode again?

Charity nodded.

I should have known better than to think a day with Aunt Carol would have made Mom feel any better. Carol liked to come out to help every once in a while when Dad was gone, but her snide remarks about how our Divine little family wasn’t so perfect after all got old really fast.

Wonder how long it’ll last this time, Charity said, and headed up the stairs.

I sucked in a deep breath and made my way to the family room. James had stopped crying, and I could even make out a trill of his laughter coming from his bedroom, but the TV volume was still up at full blast. My ears throbbed as I got closer to the set. I picked up the remote just as the newscast started in on a new story.

A reporter stood in front of a police line outside a jewelry store called the Family Jewels that I’d passed more than once while in the antiques district of the city. Two jewelry stores were hit in broad daylight in the last two days, the reporter said, but with no eyewitnesses of these bold crimes, the police are left scratching their heads. Employees at both stores claim to have been knocked unconscious before seeing anything, and both stores were completely vandalized and robbed of all their merchandise in a matter of minutes. Security cameras failed to pick up anything at either scene, and authorities speculate that the cameras were somehow disabled before they were able to capture anyone on film.

The screen cut to a plump anchorman with puffy hair sitting behind a desk. Wow, Graham, the anchorman said. These robberies sound frighteningly familiar, don’t they?

Yes, the reporter said. These two robberies may be related to a string of other bizarre and unexplained thefts and attacks in the city, which we’ve reported on in the last few months. But it seems the police are just as baffled as everyone else.

Hmm, the anchorman said. Perhaps we should all be worried that the Markham Street Monster has turned to a life of organized crime.…

I turned down the volume, cutting off the anchorman chuckling at his own lame joke. I never did find any kidding about the Markham Street Monster funny—especially now that I knew the truth about it … or him, I guess I should say. Mom didn’t protest my messing with the volume. She just stared at the footage of bystanders being interviewed about the mysterious robberies. Her eyes flicked from face to face in the crowd. I knew who she was looking for.

Mom? I picked up the empty wineglass and the bowl of cold tomato soup off the coffee table in front of the couch. You didn’t eat. Do you want me to make you something else?

Mom shifted slightly so she could see the TV past my legs.

Dad said I should call Dr. Connors if you stopped eating again.

She didn’t even blink.

Every ounce of me wanted to tell Mom about Jude’s calling. That he’d been right here in Rose Crest. That I’d talked to him. That while she was busy watching the news for any sign of him, he may have been right outside her other son’s window.

But it was that last thought that stopped me. I didn’t know why Jude had come back. I didn’t know what he wanted. I didn’t know if he was more monster than human now, staring into the windows of the people he’d once called his family. And I didn’t know if he’d even come back again after tonight. What I did know was that it was best not to say anything to Mom—at least for now.

She reached for the remote and clicked the volume up a few notches. I took her bowl to the kitchen sink and dumped out the contents, watching the red of the congealed tomato soup slip down the drain. I rinsed the bowl and then started in on the rest of the dishes, filling the sink with the hottest water possible. I don’t know why, but I liked the way heat swallowed my hands as I plunged them into the scalding water and scrubbed the dishes. Mom’s Zombie Queen mode always made me want to feel something extra—like I was feeling pain for both of us.

I prayed silently while I scrubbed a pot that Mom wouldn’t see anyone on the news she thought looked like Jude. She’d get all worked up, call Dad, and make him go looking in whatever city or state or even country she thought she’d seen him in. And Dad would go, even if he’d already been gone for almost two weeks, because maybe this time it really was Jude. Maybe this time he’d find him and bring him home.

I’d been just as hopeful as Mom the first time she thought she’d seen Jude on the TV. I’d waited with her by the window all night long while Dad was gone looking for him. But when Dad came back—alone—it felt like Jude had left all over again. Mom didn’t eat for an entire week—that is, until she thought

Reviews for The Lost Saint

[catholickittie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns.The tag line should truly read: These mofos just keep lying for no reason...lol seriously everybody that claims to love one another lies to each other. Why? There is no why as far as I can see but that frustration aside...This is truly one of my werewolf series! I know I'm hard on Grace but she really is a great character. I still hate Jude he is such a simp. He is truly worthless, a simpering idiot and pretty much has no point other than give Grace something new to save. April grew on me. I think I only hated her in Dark Divine because of her attachment to Jude, same for Grace I suppose. Daniel is still great but less so than last go round and that is partly due to his lying habit and largely due to...enter Talbot- I swoon! A highly recommended read. I enjoyed this book so much. It made me giggle, it made me angry, it definitely made me swoon, but more importantly it kept me panting and coming back for more.

[mrsboswellbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice when she chose to cure Daniel Kalbi and save him from the werewolf. In the process, she herself was infected and ended up losing her brother, Jude, for choosing Daniel over him.Grace enjoys the time she spends training with Daniel. He's teaching her balance and she is hoping to be able to use her skills for good, and become a true Hound of Heaven. Suddenly, Daniel cuts off her training, becomes distant and begins avoiding her. She suddenly feels that she can't trust Daniel.When a mysterious phone call comes in warning Grace that someone is coming for her, and the mysterious voice sounds an awful lot like her brother, Grace is suddenly on a mission to find Jude and bring him home.In the process of hunting down Jude, Grace meets and befriends Nathan Talbot. He knows what she is, and he resumes her training with her. She's able to tap into more power than she ever was with Daniel, and she feels more like a Hound of Heaven. They're is also a voice in her head, one that isn't her own, and it begins leading her down a dark path.With someone after her, who can Grace trust on her mission? Daniel, who she suddenly feels is holding her back and hiding things from her? Or Talbot, who is urging her to use her powers to be all that she can be?The cover, with the pop of blue, is very pretty. Although, I must admit, feet kind of creep me out! While I enjoyed The Dark Divine, I enjoyed The Lost Saint just a little more. I liked Grace and Daniel's relationship in the previous novel, but I liked reading about the distrust between the two characters in this book. I've felt the same feelings before, and I could imagine being back in those times where I felt like that... as I'm sure most can. Avoiding phone calls, secrets and lies, hurtful words. It was very well written. Gabriel played a larger part in TLS, giving us some more insight into the werewolf history and how things have worked in the last 800+ years of his life. While I like Daniel, I enjoyed Talbot's presence in this book and I felt myself torn in two as to who I would like to see Grace with. I can't wait to read more about him in the next book of the series. The inner battles Grace had with the wolf reminded me of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type of scenario. There was a lot of drama and a lot of emotion in TLS. I was pretty sure I knew what the end result would be, but there were instances where Ms. Despain had me second-guessing myself and I did have receive a couple shockers. Each character had a dark journey of their own they had to take and the ending left me with a bit of anguish. Very well written an a satisfying read. I can't wait to hear more about Ms. Despain's third novel.

[xxlovelyxladyxx · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I cannot even begin to say how much this book annoyed me. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love this series but this book just killed me. I am so mad at Grace. She just...didn't do it for me in this book. I felt so bad for Daniel and all he went through. This book just left me really unsatisfied I get. The third book better be more enjoyable because even if I liked this book, I didn't love it.Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars

[sithereandread · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

THE LOST SAINT, by Bree Despain, was a fantastic addition to the series. This book explores the relationship between Grace and Daniel in the wake of Jude's disappearance. Tensions run high with their relationship and the Grace's constant battle between body and wolf.Despain wasted no time in the continuation of the story. She jumped right into the chaos that was Grace's life after she save Daniel and was cursed herself. Grace's generous and loving nature was put to the test in learning to balance body and wolf. But within their small town was threat of danger and Grace wanted to use her superpowers to fight for good when everyone told her not to. At that point, Talbot is introduced.Talbot is a very interesting character. His appearance is a bit too convenient and I found myself falling for him but at the same time, wary of whose side he was playing on. He was good competition for Daniel and it surprised me at the end which side he was really on.Even with the seed of doubt planted in Grace's mind, I know that Daniel and Grace have to be together. They are created from the same mold and both are willing to sacrifice everything to keep each other safe. Their relationship is anything but perfect but they stand to be one of my top YA couples.Despain brought some serious action into this book and I found myself wishing each scene would bring Grace to her full superpower potential. I felt the anticipation and thrill that came along with each villain that crossed her path. And the big battle scene at the end kept my heart thumping with anxiety for the outcome.Overall, great book, great series. I gave TDD 5 stars and I will definitely give this book no less. Despain left me with a massive cliffhanger and I will patiently wait for the next book to quench my Grace/Daniel thirst.

[misshavoc_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm afraid to say I was a little disappointed. I loved The Dark Divine so much and had such high hopes for The Lost Saint, but for me, it just didn't get there.I found Grace to be very annoying and needy in TLS. In the beginning Grace was just so insecure. It was all, "poor me, I can't do anything. I just want to be normal so my boyfriend will love me, but I'm not normal so woe is me..." Gah! She was so strong in TDD, and I just couldn't enjoy TLS with her acting this way.So finally she starts acting like normal, strong willed Grace and goes all superhero with a new boy, which causes some tension with everyone else in her life. And lets not get into the way she acted and/or reacted to what Daniel was doing, which was very "bad girlfriend" to me. I had hoped that she wouldn't put up with some things, but she just tried to make two wrongs a right. I don't know, it just wasn't working for me.Then she's so trustful of people she shouldn't be and it leads her astray.I did however LOVE the ending, and the complicated mess we are left with. I'm so going to read the last of the trilogy, since hopefully everything will work out. It wasn't one of my favorites, but I've heard other people loved it. I think it's just that I have no tolerance for needy and co-dependent characters. I need my heroines to be strong and independent and make the right choices when it comes to such obvious options. I know this is what makes stories interesting, but I'm really over these love-triangles and forcing complicated relationships to work out when they really seem unhealthy to me.Sorry about that rant. The story overall was great. It ties up some loose ends from TDD and leads up to a thrilling conclusion in the final chapter. There was a ton of action and intrigue and even a little double-crossing. I loved the final scene and am looking forward to finding out what's going to happen with Daniel and Grace and Jude. Other than the MC bugging me, this was a great read. So, with that said, if you liked TDD, check out TLS and let me know what you think.3.5/5 Stars

[lyricaltwin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An even more compelling read than the first book, the Lost Saint is absolutely splendiferous. With a dark setting and plot, Bree Despain turns this book into a masterpiece with action and dark romance. And of course, who doesn't love werewolves?

[mjmbecky · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Dark Divine series has been a surprising read, one that I wasn't expecting to get me so engaged in the unfolding story of Grace Divine, her family, and her boyfriend Daniel. Having felt a bit burned out by paranormal stories recently, I wasn't sure that a book about a werewolf clan and curse would be up my alley, but I was wrong. In The Dark Divine, the story left off with a bit of a cliffhanger. The action was intense in the first book, so I was eager to dive into the second to find out what happened to Grace. Once again, the action in the second book was also pretty intense in certain scenes, and Grace's anger at being cursed was more than evident throughout the story. My feeling is that Despain really knows how to write action scenes that keep you flipping pages, because I'm not one to like drawn out action, but both books have had me eager to read more.Obviously, there is a love story involved in both books; one that is developed mostly throughout book one. In book two, as with many YA romances, a conflict is introduced in the second that pulls the couple apart. Let me be honest in saying that putting a couple together, only to have the guy then turn moody because he's being protective but comes off going cold on the girl makes me want to scream. When the love interest is pulled apart because one or the other acts like they no longer care just makes me want to smack one of them for not communicating! Yes, it created a good deal of tension, and cast Grace out on her own to figure out how to deal with her curse, but it made me want to shake them at times. I get that sometimes teens like these "I love you. No, I hate you" twists, and it did give the story a good bit of added tension that had you hanging on to figure out why they were being so stupid to one another!Overall, I really have liked this series and thought it was really well written. There is a lot of action, believable dialogue, and engaging characters. I was pretty into the story and thought it really stood out from many of the paranormal books I've read recently.

[reader_barbara · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel by Bree Despain is the second of the Dark Divine novels. The story picks up where The Dark Divine left off. Grace's world is falling apart: Jude is still missing, her father is gone all the time trying to find him and her mother is a mess. On top of all this, she is trying to deal with her newly found strength and anger, while Daniel just wants everything to remain 'normal'. And, in walks the perfect stranger: friendly, handsome, always in the right place at the right time and willing to help Grace find Jude. A recipe for disaster...I have to admit that I had a hard time reading this book. I was very surprised since I really enjoyed The Dark Divine. I was bothered by Grace's anger and bouts of self-pity. It is quite a turn from Grace of The Dark Divine. Grace, however, is evolving, in more ways than one, and her evolution is painful and hard. It's painful to read as well, but pushing through it was well worth it.I did enjoy The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel, although it was not at all what I expected. I'm not quite sure what I did expect, but the process of Grace's transformation certainly threw me for a loop. It is a great second segment of the Dark Divine series and I look forward to reading the next.

[4sarad_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Things I liked about this book: First off, I started to really hate the main character which was making me not want to read the book until I realized that my hatred of the main character was part of the story. She was turning bad. Cool. Got it. I also liked that I couldn't tell for sure if the new guy was good or bad... it kept me guessing.Things I didn't like about this book: The cover has nothing to do with the book at all, and the story was pretty see-through. This book was sort of like New Moon where the entire time you were just pissed of that Edward was gone. Daniel is distant in this book which makes it less fun to read. Finally, I can't stand books like this where the most interesting thing to happen in the book happens RIGHT at the end and you have to wait until the next book to find out more. Grr.....

[lisagibson_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed The Dark Divine (the first book in this series). I always hope that the sequel and subsequent books will be as good and I kind of hold my breath when I first start reading. This one definitely was! I liked this book so much. I particularly liked the fact that Grace was stronger and more independent in this book. I would absolutely recommend this book. If you haven't read the first book, I would do that first. The cover is simply gorgeous! I can't wait to see what's next for Grace and Daniel. I'm giving this one 5 smooches!

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A gripping sequel to The Dark Divine. The Lost Saint picks up where its predecessor ended and continues the tale of the Divine family and the werewolf curse. Bree Despain has put an original twist on werewolf mythology without loosing the tradition. Grace and Daniel remain compelling characters and their struggles are understandable. I would recommend this to anyone who liked The Dark Divine or enjoys YA paranormal romance.

[millett23 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a way to end the book. I really am hoping there is a 3rd book. I liked this book, I liked Grace, Daniel and Talbot. Nothing like a love triangle to get things going.

[ccourtland_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After the climax in book #1, Grace is faced with major changes, or at least should be. When this occurs to a character a reader has some expectation of growth or growing conflict. Despite what has happened to Grace, she continues for the first half of the book to 'just want to help' everyone, which is noble, but comes across as childish rhetoric. The naivety in book #1 is understandable, but by book #2 I wanted to see Grace mature and own her strength. Instead, she wandered around talking about wanting to help, bumbling like she'd did before and blaming. Frankly, the lack of character development across the board was disappointing. Daniel even fell by the way side and actually seemed to regress and at times disappear from the picture. So when he re-emerges as hero in the end I didn't get the same emotional reaction. Also, I'm not a big fan of inserting summary into book series. The retelling of events is fine for those who didn't bother to read book #1, but for those who did, it becomes a little annoying. I'm reading book 2 because I want a new story, not a recap of the first. Because of this, I almost tossed the book aside. At mid-point this goes away and book 2 begins. I'm glad I hung in there because the second half was better. However, it does not live up to or outdo book 1 and because of this, I was let down.

[theepicrat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First and foremost, if you can manage to hold off on The Lost Saint for a little while longer, this is one of those books where you definitely want the 3rd book on the ready before you swallow the sequel whole! This will not be kind to those of us who dislike hanging off cliffs...literally.I am sad to say that I have mixed feelings for this sequel to The Dark Divine after my raving review last month. It just did not move me as much - I was not too impressed with Grace and felt a little disappointed in her behavior this time around. Perhaps it was deliberate on Ms. Despain's part - and I'll grant that Grace's actions might have been slightly colored by the wolf's demon nature and frustration with Daniel's apparent brush-off. However, I thought Grace would react a little bit differently - or had more sensibility to listen to the more experienced who were looking out for her.The Lost Saint definitely takes the story arc to a darker edge and plunges even darker when we reach the final page. To see the toll of Jude's disappearance on the Divine family was heart-wrenching, and I could not help but share Grace's desperation to find her brother and heal their broken family. I am definitely itching for the 3rd book! I cannot believe it ended the way it did, and I am absolutely heartbroken for Grace and Daniel - and how things stand between them! What a HUGE obstacle for this couple! What does it mean?!I only hope that the final chapter of this series is finished next year as anticipated! I don't think I can wait that long to find out what happens to Grace, Daniel, and company!

[bookswithbite · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Is there some kind of rule that say the second book has to be an emotional roller coaster?This one was filled with drama and major emotions. Grace saved Daniel. Thinking everything was okay, things all of the sudden began to change. Daniel becomes more distant leaving a wide open space for a new boy to come in. Grace is lonely and that is bad. Grace begins to lies and falls into a trap that she doesn't see.First off, major emotions. Poor Grace. After all that she has done, Daniel goes and treats her badly. He stops answering calls, stood her up on dates, and just become different. Grace becomes agitated. She is hurt a lot and let her emotions play her. Instead of doing rational things, she allows her emotions to over run and is always putting herself in danger. I was glad for one that she wanted to be strong, that she can prove that she didn't need Daniel. But I felt like Grace only responded that way because of Daniel. His fault.Daniel leaves for the same reason all guys leave in the second book. They don't want to hurt the girl, they are better off without them, blah, blah, freaking blah. Seriously, I'm so over this plot. Daniel is dumb and need to get his head out of his butt.Even though the plot is overplayed, I still enjoyed it. The writing and the way the emotions played out was good. The characters were brought to life as the emotions flowed freely through her writing. The new boy in the book made for a great change. He certainly was cute and an eye opener for Grace. Although I am sad that it had to end badly. The secrets in this book did have me gasping. I couldn't believe the things that were happening. I was just taken back and WOWed.As I said before I didn't really like the plot between Grace and Daniel. But the rest of the book was good. The family betrayal I had not seen and I admit I was even hurt by it. It was shocking and well....it was good.

[monsterofbooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a sequel that surpassed it's predecessor. I don't know if I've ever credited Ms. Despain for this but she dead on with dialogue and interpreting teenagers.I loved the sequel more then the first one. The Lost Saint has everything The Dark Divine has but more. New Characters, more action and a riskier Grace Divine.Grace will do anything to find her brother, even if it means unleashing the demon inside. You really felt Grace's pain, confusion and her misunderstanding of being unwanted. Even though everyone around her was trying to protect her, she translate it differently. She feels unwanted, unspecial. And like a lot of people would do she find someone who cares for her and will make her feel special and that person is Talbot. Talbot makes Grace feel good about herself but at the same time is unleashing what everyone around her has been trying to protect.The Lost Saint, though a adventure packed book, is a bit predictable in areas and plot twisty in others. As a reader I always felt one step ahead of Grace, and sometimes I wondered how she didn't realize that when I did so simply. Other bits of this novel were confusing. I really wished the author would have put more back info in the novel. It's been a year since I read the first book and the whole Gabriel thing escaped me.All the new and old characters are fun to read about. The book ends in a cliffhanger and if your like me then you'll be dying for more. I enjoyed reading The Lost Saint and am glad I picked it up.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I still can't believe that it took me so long to get to The Lost Saint. I mean, I really loved Bree Despain's first book. Grace and Daniel stole the show for me, and all I wanted to know was what would come next. After doing a reread of the first book (and swooning all over again) I was ready to tackle and devour the second I knew I was in for a treat.

For those of you who haven't started this series yet, Grace had to make a huge sacrifice to save Daniel. In other words, she loves this boy to death. So you can imagine my utter annoyance when Daniel suddenly starts treating Grace like she has the plague. Let's be honest. I knew it was a plot device. I understood that it was necessary to allow a new guy to come into the story. That doesn't mean I liked it though. Daniel's behavior drove me crazy.

The good part about all of that is Grace is allowed to show her true colors once again. Despain allows the reader to see how strong a person Grace really is. Sure, she's a teenager. Yes, she makes mistakes. Still, it is that she stands up for herself that makes her so likable. I wasn't always happy with her decisions, but I was always glad that she made them herself. Even with Daniel being odd in the background, I liked Grace a lot in this book.

In terms of plot, The Lost Saint brings a lot of new information into play for these starcrossed lovers. I loved the in depth explanations that were given about the Urbats and their history. I also had no problem eating up Talbot's story as well. I wouldn't say that this plot moves as lightning fast as the first book did. However it is paced in a way that will keep you reading on. Each time I had a question, it would be answered a few pages later. It made for a very immersive read.

If you've already started The Dark Divine Series, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what is waiting for you between the pages of the The Lost Saint! More Grace, more Daniel, more dark twists and turns. This is the book that you've been waiting for.

[readingdate · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Though it’s been a while since I’ve read the first book, I quickly got caught up to speed with the sequel. This book is more action packed then the first book and gives some additional background on the wolf mythology, as it continues to mix religion into the story. It’s a better than average middle book that keeps the story interesting with romance, action, and plot twists galore.

In this installment Grace is trying to balance the wolf side of her nature and to use it for good. She is also focused on finding her brother Jude. Daniel is going through some inner turmoil, and that is putting a bridge between him and Grace. It is not surprising to see the lovebirds struggling since that is typical for a middle book, and a new character is introduced to cause more of a rift between them. When Grace meets Talbot, he says all the right things and quickly gains her trust by offering to help with wolf training when her boyfriend is unavailable. I didn’t mind the potential love triangle, and Talbot added interest by coaxing out a stronger side of Grace.

Grace is tested when the dark wolf side of her emerges, and she has to decide where her allegiance lies. She is in the middle of a growing conflict, and being pulled in different directions. She has grown a lot as a character, but still has more to learn, and her communication issues with Daniel are a little trying at times.

The action is what sets this installment apart. There is danger lurking around every corner, and new reveals about the wolf mythology and the threats that face the familiar characters.

Eileen Stevens narrates the audiobook, and it was my first time hearing her narration, though she is an audio veteran. Ms. Stevens reads at a nice pace, and does not sound too old or too young for the main character. She gives the reading her all, giving different voices to all the different characters in the book, both male and female. Though I was most impressed with her female voices, she delivers the male voices with conviction as well. The reader really acts out the parts and makes listening to the audio version worth it. Regarding the production quality, the sound is clean and clear. There is a snippet of mysterious music at the beginning and end of each disc, along with the announcement of the disc number. I only mention this because I haven’t come across that too much in audiobooks, but it does help as a reminder of where you are in the book. I would listen to this narrator again.

I was pleased with the conclusion, and where the story left off, though it is a cliffhanger. Fans of The Dark Divine should be pleased with the direction in the series, and readers of Shiver and Nightshade should give this series a try.

[kresslya · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Werewolf’s, demons, monsters, teenagers and saints, this novel has it all. It even has an unexpected twist. This is book two in the Devine series and as a YA book it’s a good entertaining read.

[zibilee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Coming hot on the heels of The Dark Divine, Grace Divine is having trouble dealing with her newly altered circumstances. The mysterious events with her boyfriend Daniel have all been sorted out and there’s no longer any danger that he’ll be forever morphed into a dangerous creature beyond the realm of humanity. But things aren’t as easy as all that because Grace’s brother Jude has been greatly changed and is on the run, trying to escape the terrible monster inside him. To make matters worse, Grace has also been attacked and altered and is just beginning to discover what it means to have unusual powers and impossible strength.When a few newcomers to town begin to shake up the status quo, Grace will find herself both with an unlikely ally and in thrall to a very handsome man who might not be what he seems. As Grace discovers more about this man, she becomes embroiled in a plot to hunt down and kill other unlikely creatures that have invaded her town, much to the disappointment of Daniel and the other people who care for her. But with Jude still on the run and a dangerous contingent of supernatural criminals on the loose, it will take all that Grace and Daniel have to keep the inner monster struggling inside of her from breaking free. Fast paced and utterly thrilling, this second installment of The Dark Divine series will leave readers breathless with anticipation until the final act is closed.This book was very different from the first in the series because, while it basically continued the story from the first installment, it was much more robust and action packed than The Dark Divine. While the first book moved a more slowly and sedately, this one ratcheted up the suspense and tension to a much higher degree. It’s understandable that the first book would have a lot more scene setting and exposition, and because I liked that book so very much, I was excited when this second installment began and I was thrust directly into the action so quickly.At the close of The Dark Divine, many things have changed. It’s no longer a mystery why Jude has chosen to leave his family, and the secret that Daniel has been hiding from Grace has been dealt with head-on, resulting in both terrible and wonderful repercussions for both of them. Grace now finds herself in a strange predicament, because now it's she who’s not fully human and she has to deal with the newly encroaching powers that will one day take over her life. Most of Grace’s angst comes from the fact that she has no idea how to harness these powers, and though she wants to be a force for good, she’s coming to suspect that she will not be able to use the gifts she has in any kind of positive way. This conflict within Grace sets her in the perfect position to be both exploited and revered by the two very different men who make an unexpected appearance in the town. Grace takes an immediate liking to one of the new visitors and a dislike to the other, but are her powers of discrimination another one of those things that she just doesn’t have a handle on quite yet?Into the confusion that are Grace and Daniel’s lives comes the news that a crime wave is sweeping the city and no one can discover who’s responsible. Security cameras consistently go on the fritz during these crimes and there are no fingerprints or physical evidence left at the scene. Grace finds herself thrown headlong into investigating these crimes by her new acquaintance Talbot, a man whose mysterious background is only overshadowed by his rugged and handsome good looks. Before Grace knows it, she’s hunting down these criminals with a vigilante’s sense of justice, and she begins to get in way over her head. These events must be kept secret from all those who love Grace, for she’s in terrible danger, and the more she immerses herself into this world, the more risks she begins to take.When it’s finally revealed who is behind these crimes, the unlikely Jude resurfaces, but his presence now is malignant and horrible. With Daniel also being secretive, Grace resorts to putting more trust in Talbot, but comes to discover that he’s not who she believed him to be. All these questions and suspicions boil down to an ugly and dangerous confrontation between a group of other-worldly criminals pitted against Grace and Daniel, and it’s unclear if they’ll survive the ordeal. Someone from both of their pasts is orchestrating these nightmarish events, and he won’t stop until he's dispatched Daniel and taken possession of Grace.I must say that by the end of this book, I was flipping pages madly, racing to discover what would become of the heroic Grace and the steadfast Daniel. When I finally got to the conclusion, I was flabbergasted! Despain leaves the reader with such a dramatic and unexpected cliffhanger that I was frantically searching the interwebs to see when the next book would be published. Alas, there was no information to be had, and I was almost overwhelmed with impatience to find out what happens next. It certainly was an unexpected development in an already superlative book.This series clearly worked for me, and was so full drama and pathos that by the end of the book, I made myself a promise that I would see this series to the end, no matter what the cost. In these books Despain creates both a set of characters and a mythos that I found to be utterly irresistible. With a plot that seems to move forward on oiled springs and a handful of unexpected twists and turns, this is series that shouldn’t be missed. It transcends the YA genre and does its best not only to be relevant, but genuine. If you haven’t gone out to get these books, you simply must do it now. It’s a rockin’ good paranormal series and I very highly recommend it!

[ericajsc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The unique aspects of The Dark Divine are what prompted me to read the second installation of this series. Those aspects – the mix of Christian parables with werewolf lore, the surprise ending – are definitely there, but I must say that I wasn’t as impressed as I was with the first book. The parable of the Good Samaritan is featured in the book, but instead of the story feeling constructed around the common theme, it was more like it was only important because they kept saying “Good Samaritan”. Some of the ideas of that parable are present, but the parable didn’t seem as integral to the plot as in The Dark Divine. Instead the story was packed with the standard second book in a series fare: someone comes between the couple that is Meant To Be and makes one (or both) of them question their love for the other person, which results in Secrets and Misunderstandings, and that new person usually has Big Issues that relate to the Big Conflict facing the main character. It’s not that this is necessarily bad – every story needs conflict – but if it’s not done perfectly, it begins to drag. The middle definitely hit some bumps for me. Sure, there’s lots of action of the Kicking Butt variety, but the torn between two hot boys thing? Eh. I could’ve done without it. What I would’ve liked more of, in place of Grace’s romantic confusion, is the smoke and mirrors from book one. I mean, I knew it was about werewolves, yet I still thought, “No, he’s not a werewolf. Right?” But here, I felt like I knew what was coming from early on. Part of that is because the foreshadowing is there, as it should be, but I never had the sense that I was being played in this one. And let me tell you, when there’s supposed to be a mystery, I want to feel a little played. (I don’t mean totally played, like, “Ha! It wasn’t Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Candlestick; it was ninja cats from outer space. Sucka!) There was still enough of an aura of mystery surrounding the story that I stayed interested, but there were definitely points when I had to Just Keep Reading.One last thing I want to comment about on this book is the fact that I love – LOVE! – the fact that Grace and the Divines aren’t this squeaky clean, we love Jesus and we love you, perfect family, nor do they go in the other direction of being completely broken and hypocritical and rebellious. They are real. Grace isn’t dropping the F-bomb every ten minutes (or, um, ever), but when she gets emotional she’s known to say more than, “Oh, gee, that’s bad.” Anyone who absolutely loved The Dark Divine will probably be a fan of this book. For me, it was a little more work to get through this book than the last one. But the story is still compelling enough to keep me on board for the next book.

[nikkayme · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Much like the opener in the series, The Lost Saint is an addictively good read. Grace’s newly wolfish state sets her up as an almost entirely different person. The old Grace is still there, but I loved seeing this new, strong, dangerous Grace. The majority of the book throws hints about how she may or may not be losing herself to the wolf. Despain even adds little angry and sometimes menacing wolfy thoughts.Grace’s change in personality means that her relationship with Daniel changes quite a bit as well. The Daniel we got to know in The Dark Divine isn’t gone, but like Grace, he’s changed. Their relationship hits more than a few bumps in the road and I was thrilled by that. No two people could have gone through all that Grace and Daniel went through, and are still going through, and come out unscathed.The inclusion of gorgeous older man/lumberjack looking Talbot brings so much tension to the book; both for Grace internally and externally. He’s attractive and attracted to her – hello sexual tension! Still, all of the tense, 'let me fight the world to find my brother' moments are lightened thanks to April. Seeing as how I hated April in TDD, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the character this time around.The Lost Saint also delves much more deeply into the Urbat world and what it means to be the wolf. Biblical references abound, as well as demons and the repercussions of killing another being, human or otherwise. Grace grows a lot in this installment and really begins to come into her own. Was the story somewhat predictable? Absolutely – I had figured out much of the ending before I even got there, but I still enjoyed reading it. Grace’s need to save Jude, to do for him what she had done for Daniel, is raw and pure. She gets a little lost along the way, but don’t we all? Even the best intentions can get lost in the shuffle and become muddled in our worlds.Bree Despain has once again created a werewolf story that, while full of supernatural elements and plot twists, is still carried by a simple girl who can’t give up on those she loves. The Lost Saint may not be for everyone, with its more than obvious Christian overtones, but that never overpowers the storyline and how losing your way does not have to mean you’re lost. If you loved The Dark Divine or even if you only enjoyed it a little, pick up The Lost Saint because it is even more thrilling and heart-pumping. Oh, and the cliff-hanger ending? That killed me – I need more now!Opening line: “Do what he wants, and you might survive,” a harsh voice said into the boy’s ear before he felt a sharp blow to the kidneys. ~ pg. 1Favorite lines (I had to pick one with Talbot): “You swear there are no demons waiting inside to jump me?” I could just picture a room full of Gelals with their claws out, ready to pounce on me the second I entered.Talbot smirked. “Well, I might jump you – but only if you ask for it.”“I’d like to see you try.” ~ pg. 252

[malbebe · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Bree Despain does not disappoint with her sequel, The Lost Saint. The story takes off a little under a year after Grace’s brother Jude ran away. Before starting The Lost Saint I was wondering how Bree could pull off a second novel after her amazing debut The Dark Divine. Well I found myself one again captivated in Grace’s world and breezing through the pages just to get to the end. Not only has Bree continued to give us an awesome book but she also introduces more characters to the story. Talbot and Katie. Katie is a classmate who seems to want Daniel as her boyfriend. I felt the same way as Grace did about Daniel and his seemingly blossoming friendship with Katie. Talbot was a mysterious guy who seems to be into Grace. For some reason I liked Talbot more than Katie. I guess its because he was more in the story and we got to know more about him. Oh and we also get to see more of Gabriel when he comes to town. Grace gets a call from her brother and a string of vandalism and robberies follow. Grace and Daniel wonder if Jude has something to do with these crimes. Grace and Daniel tell each other that they would not keep secrets from each other. Turns out they both start hiding a lot of important things from each other. Grace and Daniel’s love for each other is tested with the addition to the 2 new characters and with their hidden secrets. The ending was a little predictable. I was able to guess who the leader of the pack of vandals were. Still I was shocked at how everything went down in the battle. At the end it all made sense about why Daniel was acting so distant from Grace. How could anyone ever doubt him for a second? I love Daniel he is such a great boyfriend to Grace. Even if he ignored her for practically the whole book. Although all of their problems could have been avoided if they were just open and honest to each other. To try and make a long review short, The Lost Saint is an epic sequel that had me feeling almost every emotion. Fans of The Dark Divine will never be let down as they join Grace as she goes undercover to fight crime with her growing powers and discover who is behind the crimes and find her brother.

[averysbooknook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked the previous book in this series, “The Dark Divine”, I thought that it was an okay read, not the best book that I had ever read, but not the worst by any means. But this book? I loved this book, it is hands down the best book that I have read since reading “The Last Sacrifice” by Richelle Mead and I am happily surprised, since I never expected this series to be added to my most favourite book series list, which it now has. It becomes evident that author Bree Despain is very much developing as an author and therefore I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us in the next book in this series.Whereas “The Dark Divine” had a slower pace, with almost all of the action taking place at the end, this book is saturated with non-stop action. I found that this book mainly revolves around new characters, save for Grace and Daniel, and in all honesty, I didn’t really find myself missing the original characters who were so predominant in the first novel, such as Pastor Divine, mainly because the new characters are so intriguing and interesting. Ummm... Talbot anyone? *Swoon*. When he was first introduced I kept thinking to myself, I should be wary of his character and find him to be suspicious, but I just couldn’t, mainly because he was such a nice guy and he clearly cares about Grace. And what happened towards the end of the novel? I didn’t believe it for one second, if anything, it made me like him even more. Okay, so I know that Charity played a role in the first book, but barely and as such, I hadn’t really formed an opinion of her. Though in this book, even though she played as little of a role as the last time, I did find myself liking her quite a bit. She reminds me of Grace a lot, strong, smart, and more than willing to look after those that she cares about, I think that she will grow up to be an extremely kick-ass woman. And then there is April... Oh April, the trembly cocker-spaniel like character, whom I really couldn’t stand in “The Dark Divine” mainly because she seemed so dependent upon Jude, but whom I loved in this book (except for the beginning when she was shunning Grace). If I were to have to pick only one character who changed the most/ for the better in this book, it would be April. She grew a backbone and really found her place in this crazy world that she was thrust into. As for Gabriel? Well, I must be honest and say I don’t really know what to think of him. I do think that in theory he is a really cool guy, you know, being a legend/ hundreds of years old and whatnot, but I just felt like his character was kinda flat. But, I did feel extremely bad for him when Grace was being a jerk to him, he didn’t have to help her whatsoever, in fact, he was told not to and he disobeyed his orders and for that he could get in a lot of trouble, but he thought that she was worth it, so I suppose I can respect him, though I wish that he had a bigger personality. And Jude? Well, I still find him to be extremely selfish, but you know what? He works for the story. A story wouldn’t work if all of the characters were nice and we loved them all, we need characters whom we loathe and would really like to be squished by a bulldozer in order for the plot to be fuelled and the story to be successful, so that is what he is for me, an annoyance that I would rather not have to read about, but an annoyance that I understand is necessary.Typically when the male of a character knows of the paranormal world and the female character doesn’t and they fall in love and he wants to protect her from the paranormal world because she doesn’t understand the dangers that she could face, but she still doesn’t trust him and seeks out to learn more about this world and finds herself in a dangerous situation where the boy has to save her, I want to shake some sense into her/ I become extremely frustrated and grumpy at the female character. The boy knows what he is talking about girl! He has been saturated in this way of life forever and knows how to protect himself and everyone he cares about from it, what makes you think, you who have only known about this world for 2 days (or however long it has been- usually it hasn’t been very long), think that you know more about it than he does? That’s right, you don’t! So imagine my surprise when this does occur in this book, yet I don’t want to shake Grace and scream, “Listen to Daniel! He knows what he is talking about, whereas you are totally a clueless girl from an apple-pie kind of life!” Nope, didn’t find myself thinking that at all (kudos to you Bree Despain, you are one of few authors that I have read who I think have successfully pulled this off), and why didn’t I think this? Because of my biggest (actual) frustration of this book... *Ahem, I am talking to you Daniel*. What were you thinking? You do remember that girl, Grace, who risked everything to free you from your curse, and as such took on the curse herself? HOW COULD YOU JUST STOP TALKING TO HER? You excuse for not talking to her? Lame! She wasn’t asking you difficult questions by any means and wasn’t being the stereotypical whinny girlfriend, “But why? Where are you going?” No, she deserved the answers to the questions that she was asking. As such, I don’t think that Grace should feel guilty for breaking her “non-promise” to Daniel that she would stay out of trouble/ not find Jude/ not train; she had to do what she had to do. However, there is something that I do believe that she should feel guilty for; developing feelings for Talbot, even though she denied it to herself throughout the novel, obviously there is something between them.If you were one of those people who read the first book and were on the fence about it, thinking that you wouldn’t bother continuing on with the series (as I hope it becomes evident in this review) this book is much better than the first and I think that you will really regret not reading this book!

[abookwormshaven · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Seriously, this book rocked! I love this series! End of review. Okay, just kidding. I did have to think about my review for this book because I was not sure how to put into words how much I loved it. Bree has done a wonderful job of telling a dark story filled with suspense and love. The relationship between Grace and Daniel drew me into the first book, The Dark Divine, and in this book I remember why I love the two of them together so much. They have a unique relationship because they have been friends since childhood and have grown up together. They are also bonded by their secret. The only trouble is, they are teenagers. They are new to the whole idea of love and events in this book put their relationship to the test. They both want what is best for the other and try to protect them, but in doing so they are inadvertently unraveling all the groundwork they have laid in this relationship. It was heartbreaking to watch the events unfold and the relationship strain, but at the same time I felt it was necessary. No relationship is perfect and if Grace and Daniel never had any bumps in the road it would not be believable. So while I felt it was tough to read it, I admire Bree for writing a realistic relationship.I will also admit that I started and finished the book in one night. I could not put it down. There was so much going on and so many questions I needed answered, I could not go to sleep without knowing how it ended. And it was quiet and ending! I am of course, not going to spoil it for you, but I think once you get there you will understand.The Lost Saint had a dark edge that kept me fully engrossed with plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t dare put it down!

[katiedoll_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After reading The Dark Divine, I didn’t really have high expectations for The Lost Saint. The first book was so explosive and so epic, so the second book had to be a step down, right?Wrong. Very, very wrong.The Lost Saint is just as intense as the first book, with all the romance and action and eerie mystery as well. Grace still has to struggle with controlling a wolf, but it’s not Daniel this time. The monster inside of Grace, that makes her feel angry and violent, is written to flow with her natural mindset, so it was kind of shocking, brilliant and thrilling when it crept up on her in certain situations.Of course, all of the swoon-worthy romance from the first book has returned between our favorite couple, Daniel and Grace. But while it has its cute moments, nothing can stay perfect forever, right? New characters like Katie, a perky girl who pays way too much attention to Daniel, and Talbot, someone who can relate to Grace, who helps her deal with her inner wolf, threaten their relationship. But never fret, all of that drama builds up for one of the most epic endings ever. Emphasis on the epic. I was gasping. I was crying. I was screaming and shaking and trying not to rip the pages on my galley. And finally, when I closed the book, I was stunned speechless.Getting an advanced copy of this book? Maybe not the best thing in the world. It means your wait for the next one is unbearably longer.Overall, I absolutely loved The Lost Saint. I can’t even appropriately sum up just how much I loved it in words. But if you were a fan of the first book, you should love The Lost Saint just as much as I did, maybe more. It’s intense, romantic and action-packed with an ending so epic, it’ll leave you flabbergasted. That’s right. I said flabbergasted. I definitely recommend!

[truthbetoldblog · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Lost Saint is one of those sequels you are dying to read the minute you finish the first book. I was so excited when I got the chance to review this book. I honestly had no idea what to expect, there were so many ways the story could have gone that I didn't know which route the author would take. In the beginning of this book you find out Grace and Daniel are training together. Daniel is helping Grace figure out how to keep her powers under control while still using them for good, she is trying to change the reputation of the Urbats back to being hounds of heaven. I love that Bree Despain continued the layout of the book. There were still descriptions of time such as That Night, The Next day and so on. My favorite thing about The Lost Saint was that you got to see things you didn't in The Dark Divine. You hear the way the wolf speaks to Grace and the way she was slowly change without even realizing it. It really made it much more interesting, throughout the Dark Divine you spend much of the time wondering how people fall to the curse of the wolf and now you find out how easy it can be for them.While I LOVED Daniel in The Dark Divine I didn't like him so much in this novel. I thought he was different than the first book. In the beginning he’s hiding things from Grace and is even going around to old places. However, in the end I understood why he was doing this and eventually he won my heart back.Now, in the ending of The Lost Saint, I was totally left on a cliffhanger. I was kind of angry at first, I felt like it was just too big of a cliffhanger, however, it’s easy to see why the author did this. I totally want to read book three even more now.In this novel another character is introduced, Talbot. He’s totally a hunk. He sounds gorgeous and I can see why Grace is distracted by him. Talbot wants to help her after everyone has told her to stop training so of course Grace starts sneaking around and things get a lot more interesting.I was really happy to see Grace grow out of her shell and become a totally kick butt heroine type of girl. In the Dark Divine we witnessed her be tough because she loved Daniel, well in The Lost Saint she grows and does things for herself. She made me want to learn how to fight demons and monsters and such.This book was packed with a ton of action and a bit more humor than the last. Overall it was a great read. It really met up to, and surpassed the standards of The Dark Divine. I'm going to give The Lost Saint 5 lanterns. This is a sequel you will want to read. Oh and apparently The Dark Divine movie rights have been bought so look forward to seeing it on the big screen in the next few years, well hopefully sooner.