Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion

Now that you are finished, what are your overall thoughts?

I liked it. I think it worked well as a stand alone, but will still read the sequel.

I think Grace put A LOT of trust in Daniel, someone she hadn't seen in awhile, but who wants to believe that the boy they've loved forever is no good. I loved the way it ended! I like authors who can wrap up major questions and still leave me to fill in the blanks-that's why I hope the sequel doesn't disappoint.

Not one of the best books I've read, but I would still recommend it.

I liked it as well. I liked the different take on when someone turns into a werewolf. How the wolf takes over the man rather than it being one in the same. I agree that it would've been a good stand alone book, but will definitely read the next one.

I also liked the different view. There are so many books about werewolves these days, I was apprehensive about reading this. I was pleasantly surprised.

This was my second perusal of the book. I still liked it, but not as much as I did before. I began to wonder if this really had to be a paranormal romance. I think it would've worked just as well as a story about a bad boy that returned home, his jealous former friend, and the girlfriend that could redeem him.

I still loved reading about Daniel, but I had problems with Grace. At times, all the facts were right there, but she couldn't see them (in regards to Jude and Pete).

Also did anyone notice that Charity, Grace's younger sister, seemed to act more mature than Grace? At the beginning, I kept picturing Charity as an older sister, but it's only at the end that it's mentioned she's a middle school student.

Regardless, I still liked the book and I'll probably read the sequel.

I also felt like Grace was a little naive. Personally, I would have forced the truth out of Jude before anything else. But I suppose naivety has its positives.

I liked it. Read it in one night. Reminded me alot of "Shiver"... but liked the family dynamics of the story as well. I really loved Grace's relationship with her dad as we read many YA books with absent parents. It did leave room for a sequel... but not sure if I need to know more about the story.

awww my library hasnt got this book . . . . . i feel like im missing out now lol

I loved it, which was completely unexpected! The ending was perfect, and I'll definitely read the sequel.

My complaints about Grace are the same everyone else. She was a little too trusting when it came Daniel, but hey...she's a teenager in love.

Helen, I also noticed how mature Charity seemed. I wonder if she'll get some attention in next book.

I enjoyed it, though I did take a week long hiatus from reading it, but once I picked it back up again I could not put it down. I don't know why, but for a good half of the book I kept saying "So he's a werewolf?" "He's not?" "He is a werewolf." I don't know why it confused me, when it was so clear.

Grace being too trusting isn't what upset me about this book it was how April made it seem like she was the getting distant when it I felt it was the other way around.

Characters that upset me, but still managed to bring a smile to my face, okay it isn't more than one, just Jude. I absolutely disliked him from the beginning. Goodie-goodies always kill me. But I did enjoy is breakdown at the end when he finally changes. Probably the best scene in the book! (to me)

Saddest moment is when you find out what happened to Don. I nearly cried, because he was such a nice man.

I'll read the sequel, though it would be great as a stand alone. Hoping it will be "Truly Divine"

Helen wrote: "This was my second perusal of the book. I still liked it, but not as much as I did before. I began to wonder if this really had to be a paranormal romance. I think it would've worked just as well a..."

Yeah I also thought she was older and felt like I'd been thrown though a hoop when I found out she wasn't

I guess Charity's maturity didn't throw me that much because I have a younger brother that is extremely mature. I can understand how a younger sibling could be more mature than an older sibling.

I can understand that even though I don't have any siblings. Comparing myself to my peers at school, I found myself more mature than them in terms of my interests.

But what threw me in the book was the descriptions of Charity's class assignments—her research on the behavior of wolves. For me, her in depth studies seemed more suitable for a college course in Animal Behavior than for a middle school science project. I don't remember having to do something that advanced for school.

Though, I can see why Despain had Charity choose this topic....

How about I never saw that twist with Jude coming?! Looking back at it now, I realize that his behavior parallels Daniel's in so many ways (the brooding, the agression, etc).

I really enjoyed TDD. And despite my many misgivings about it in the beginning, I'm glad I stuck with it.

I didn't see Jude's story twist coming either, Jheanelle. The first time the black wolf is mentioned I thought "oh no, this is all about werewolves? Really?" and I was kind of disappointed because I had expected something else instead of the usual paranormal-blah. That's why I really liked the Jude-twist at the end, I didn't see that one coming.
All in all I thought the book was decent. I had expected (hoped for?) something else, something having more to do with religion or a daughter from a religious family, instead it were same old wolves :P

I'm glad I'm not the only one who was totally caught off guard when Jude morphed into a wolf. It was so obvious but I completely missed it!

I was so surprised I didn't even think it was obvious ;D but it makes a lot of sense if you look back at the story. I guess it would be more obvious if I reread the book.

i almost didnt finished i was so sure daniel was going to die, but i loved the ending and the romantic dark essence of the book.

I did not like this book AT ALL! I thought it was just drawn out. I did like the take on the wold being a different being, but ughhh. I just hated the whole religious parts in the book. I started to suspect Jude was a werewolf when the events would happen and Jude would be in a rage when they occurred.

Lots of comments so I'll throw my two cents in ;)

When I read the book I

1) was surprised that Jude was the werewolf
2) that Don wasn't a bad guy
3) the family relationships, especially with the parents
4) the religious parts

Things that did not surprise me

1) Having a mature younger sibling. I've seen it happen in families where the younger child(ren) are mature than the oldest.
2) Have you seen the homework assignment they give kids these days? I have a 9 yr old and this past school year they had to write a "expository" paper about an animal. You should have seen the questions she had to answer! And she was only in 3rd grade and was not in any advanced classes.
3) having a naive heroine. Although I think the boundary was pushed a little bit much in the naive department.

All in all, I would recommend this book to others.

I thought the ending was alright but written rather cheesily. Also the whole name-things like Divine, falling from Grace etc. were just too much and too plain.

I loved the character of Daniel. He was full of complexity and contradictions that made him seem authentic and interesting.

The rest of the characters were pretty flat, especially Grace. I didn't feel much empathy towards her or Jude. The parents were stereotypical. And it was obvious that Pete, with his "triple threat" smile was malicious. April was just plain annoying.

I thought the general plot was excellent. I would love to have seen this same story fleshed out a little better.

I found the characters rather bland particularly Grace, half of the time I really didn't care for being inside her head, she just bored me. I wanted to be where Daniel was, even Jude at times.

In spite of this I found the gist of the plot quite interesting and unique and that is what kept me reading, I just needed to know what he was! and what the heck was going on! To be honest Bree Despain's take on werewolf is not my favourite, I don't like that the wolf is so despised. I personally hope that if Grace really wants to be a hero she could do it working with the wolf inside of her. Why does the wolf have to be the bad guy?!

All in all, I liked it and if there is a sequel I'd read it. Just because. =)

There is a sequel, Victoria, it's called The Lost Saint.

I hadn't even thought of the wolf as something negative but you're right, none of the characters likes the thought of turning into a wolf, probably due to their beliefs.

I was shocked to see that Jude turned into a werewolf. I didn't see that coming. I am glad that don was actually a good guy. He was just doing his best to stop the bad guy. I am looking forward to the sequel.