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GOODREADS // AMAZON // BOOK DEPOSITORY The daughter of a star and a mortal, Sheetal is used to keeping secrets. Pretending to be "normal." But when an accidental flare of her starfire puts her human father in the hospital, Sheetal needs a full star's help to heal him. A star like her mother, who returned to the sky long ago. Sheetal's quest to save her father will take her to a celestial court of shining wonders and dark shadows, where she must take the stage as her family's champion in a competition to decide the next ruling house of the heavens--and win, or risk never returning to Earth at all. This gorgeously imagined YA debut blends shades of Neil Gaiman's Stardust and a breathtaking landscape of Hindu mythology into a radiant contemporary fantasy.   ( A huge thank you to the  HOV Tours  and HarperTeen for the eARC and the opportunity to be a part of this blog tour.  ~When a book sees you~      Yes I am absolutely going to s

Review: Dark Hope by Monica McGurk

Dark Hope by Monica McGurk

( I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

For years, Hope Carmichael, survivor of a shocking child abduction, has lived a sheltered existence under the protection of her fanatically religious father. Now, liberated by her mother, Hope prepares to start life over as a normal kid in an Atlanta, Georgia, high school.

Normal, that is, until Hope meets Michael, a gorgeous emancipated teen with a mysterious past and a strong interest in Hope. And soon, Hope’s life is filled with questions. What’s behind the angry looks Hope gets from Lucas, leader of a gang of students? Who’s responsible for sending Hope a strange valentine inscribed with Bible quotations? How does this relate to the sinister business of human trafficking that operates on the periphery of Hope’s suburban world? And is Michael really a protector, or something more sinister—and just why does he seem so familiar?

In an epic narrative that takes readers from the back streets of Atlanta to the height of Vegas penthouses and beyond, Dark Hope introduces readers to The Archangel Prophecies, a new young adult saga that blends the feeling of Twilight with a vast mythological scope and moral urgency, as well as to Hope Carmichael—a young woman instantly memorable for her endurance, heart, and determination—and Michael, Hope’s dangerous companion who’s fated either to save Hope—or to kill her.


At the beginning, I actually liked Hope Carmichael. I liked the intrigue in her past and her personality of which we learn a little from her mother. She seemed mature and levelheaded. But as the story progressed, I couldn't help but feel she had transformed into a whiny, annoying and bratty teenager. While I wasn't a fan of Michael, it annoyed me how one moment she was all moony eyed about Michael and the next moment, one word from Henri makes her all cold toward Michael.

Archangel Michael. I picked up this book for one sole reason. Angels. As an obsessed Supernatural fan, I couldn't not read the book. I went in with high expectations for Michael that were destroyed utterly and completely a little while into the book. At first I felt he was quite charming and then out of the blue he turns abusive toward Hope in the name of 'keeping her safe'. After a point I felt someone should keep her safe from him. He hardly comes across as an Archangel who is like a billion years old.

Henri was this utterly freaking annoying Angel I wanted to drag out of the book and cut his head off. Enough said.


The story had a really interesting premise. I actually loved the start of the book. There was mystery, family problems, kidnapping and stuff that set such a suspenseful setting for the story. Also the story had a human trafficking story-line and I applaud the author for drawing attention to an important social issue. But my liking for the plot ends here.

Let's count the number of tropes in this story.

- Chosen one. Check.
- Unexplained connection towards a character. Check.
- Girl loves a guy who treats her like crap because Oh, he is hot and makes her heart race. Check.
- Immortal guy who hasn't been in love ever falls for the MC. Check.
- Forbidden love and angst. Check.


I don't have it in me to go on. The fact that irritated me the most was Michael falling in love with Hope. Now had Michael come to Earth for the first time and fallen in love with Hope I might have looked past it BUT here's an archangel who has roamed Earth for millions of years and for the first time in forever, falls in love. With the main character.

Also the unhealthy relationship between Hope and Michael had me fuming at most points.


The writing was something I actually enjoyed. It was fast paced and the imagery was pretty good. The writing was simple but descriptive and did not dawdle at any point.


- The premise
- The writing
- The characters in the beginning of the story
- The focus on an important issue. Human Trafficking.


- Hope and Michael as the story progressed
- The unhealthy relationship between Hope and Michael
- The tropes and cliches
- Some plot holes


This book is definitely not for me. If you can look past the things that I didn't like about the book, you might like it.

WILL I BE READING THE REST OF THE TRILOGY?

Afraid not.



View all my reviews

Comments

  1. Awesome review! I'm sorry you didn't enjoy this book. Now I know I won't be picking it up XD

    Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles

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    1. Thank you! Yes I was disappointed...Hope to find a better angel fantasy :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. That's disappointing to hear - angel books are almost always amazing! We love Angelfall by Susan Ee, perhaps you might like that instead! It's also about angels as well - the title is a big giveaway! Guess we won't pick up Dark Hope then.

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    1. Oh yes you guys have told me before how much you like the series!! A lot of people seem to love it! So gonna pick it up soon! :D Yes, Dark Hope was a disappointment...

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  3. Sorry you didn't like it. It's always sad when a book disappoints.

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    1. Yes..Especially when you had high expectations for it!

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  4. Sorry you didn't like this book so much:( I'd like to read it, but after you mentioned Micheal and Hope's relationship I think it'll just make my blood boil. That kind of 'hot but not' 'romance' is enough to make me hurl the book across the room. It's sick, offensive, typical, and speaks so badly for women and girls. Urgh, sorry, I'm rambling. It's just an issue I feel very strongly about.
    I love your review :) Brilliantly concise and informative.

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    1. IKR! And you aren't rambling! XD It annoys me like anything! It made the main character look so weak and stupid..I wish people would go for well fleshed out and believable romance than something like this!

      And Thank you :)

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  5. Oh sad you did not like it :( Hope your next read is better! Great review!!
    Prabhleen @ Booksarelife987

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  6. That's a bummer when a good premise goes awry like that. I never understand that trope either angel or whatever has been around for millenia but meets teen girl and bam- love!! For the first time *rolls eyes*. So yeah... all those tropes would be a killer I would imagine. I love the cover and the synopsis got my attention, but I don't think this would work for me either.

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    1. YES! The trope doesn't make sense and makes the characters look sooo unrealistic! Even I loved the dark cover and the blurb..Was really disappointed! Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. Sad to hear you didn't enjoy this - its annoying when the romance doesn't work and there are too many cliches... :( Hopefully your next read will be better!

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    1. Yes! Disappointment is sad :( I hope so too! Thanks for stopping by :)

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  8. Oh goodness. I won't be reading this one! It sounded great but then - ALL THE TROPES! And done terribly by the sounds of things. :( It's horrible when a book starts off so well too!

    I'm sorry this one didn't work out for you but great review!

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    1. Exactly! I was so disappointed by the whole thing! Thank you :)

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