Thank you to Monica McGurk for providing me a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
Awhile ago, I shared my thoughts on Dark Hope with you. (If you’re looking for a new book to read, definitely check it out!) But today, I’m super excited to share my thoughts on the sequel in the Archangel Prophecies series!
About The Book from Monica McGurk: Hope Carmichael is on the run. The only question is, from whom?
The mark on her neck has branded her as part of an ancient prophecy, the Bearer of the Key. But the Fallen Angels have misunderstood and think Hope is their long-awaited way to regain Heaven by force. Now Hope is chasing down the artifact that could open Heaven’s Gates, while seeking to destroy it before the Fallen catch up with her. Will the Triad crime ring track Hope and exact their punishment before she gets the chance? Is the ragtag band of angels surrounding her now there to protect her, or imprison her? And will Michael, the Archangel sworn to defend Heaven at all costs, be forced to deny his love for Hope and take her life, instead, so that the artifact won’t fall into enemy hands?The epic narrative introduced in Dark Hope continues in Dark Rising as Hope crisscrosses some of the most ancient sites in Europe and plumbs the depths of history in search of the truth about the Key, herself, and love. Exploring themes of identity, fate, jealousy, trust, and forgiveness, Dark Rising’s mythological scope and moral urgency deepen as we come to understand the choices and consequences faced by a young woman determined to follow her heart and chart her own destiny.
Dark Rising picks up where Dark Hope left off and shifts the focus from the original storyline a bit. Dark Hope focused heavily on human trafficking and while that theme still extends to Dark Rising, it’s much more focused on the main characters Hope and Michael. I really liked this transition into being able to see more behind their relationship with each other. It’s definitely not an easy one and Monica McGurk really brought some raw emotion to their storyline.
It also built upon other characters that were in the Dark Hope, like Hope’s parents. I loved being able to see more of their side of the story and their worries. I really enjoyed how McGurk truly developed the characters from the first book in Dark Rising as it made it really easy to connect with them.
One of my favorite parts of Dark Rising was how it was filled with tons of historical references as well their journey through SO many different locations in an attempt to save the world. The details around these destinations made the book really come to life and have a bit more of a realistic feel to it.
Overall, I loved continuing the series and would highly recommend it if you like paranormal/fantasy novels. (I would definitely recommend picking up Dark Hope before starting this book if you’re interested in this book though!) This series has always left me on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next book and that’s exactly what I’m doing again. I’m very excited to read Dark Before Dawn when it comes out next year!
Want to learn more about Monica McGurk? You can find her on:
And if you’re interested in this book, today is your lucky day! I’m giving away a copy to a lucky reader!