Dark Hope: Book One of the Archangel Prophecies

Dark Hope is the first book in the Archangel Prophecies Trilogy written by Monica McGurk. I loved this book (I read it in three days!) and I think it promises to be an exciting series. I already looked to see if the second one was out and sadly it is not. Now, I want to summarize the story, but not give it away or spoil it in any way. So, bear with me as I do the best I can.

Dark Hope: Book One of the Archangel Prophecies

• Dark Hope features two main characters, Hope and Michael. By the end of the book, it looks like her parents will also become main characters.
• Hope is 15 years old and has just switched from living with her father, to instead living with her mother. At her new high school, she quickly makes friends with an extra good-looking guy, Michael.
• Michael is actually the Archangel Michael making his interest in Hope forbidden.
• Not only that but there is a side issue happening at the same time dealing with the sex trafficking of children.

So, needless to say, this is not your typical love story nor is it your typical angels versus demons story. It is an almost love story while also dealing with good and evil and the evil is primarily illegal child trafficking. On top of this, the author has weaved in Hope’s parent’s dynamics which range from mental health issues to divorce dynamics to overzealous religious beliefs.

I am a Christian, so as I was reading I was a little alarmed when the book referred to the book of Enoch. Because there is no book of Enoch in the Bible. At least not in any Bible I have read. So, I looked it up, because I thought maybe this was Mormon or Catholic or possibly just something the author made up. Here is what I found out according to Wikipedia:

• • • The Book of Enoch is an ancient Jewish religious work, ascribed by tradition to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah, although modern scholars estimate the older sections (mainly in the Book of the Watchers) to date from about 300 BC, and the latest part (Book of Parables) probably to the end of the first century BC.^[2]
    • Most Christian denominations and traditions may accept the Books of Enoch as having some historical or theological interest or significance, but they generally regard the Books of Enoch as non-canonical or non-inspired.

With that in mind, I was able to continue reading the book and enjoying it as a wonderful piece of fiction, not to be confused with Christian fiction or some other type of religious fiction.

Book 2: Dark Rising

The author of Dark Rising: Book 2 of the Archangel Prophecies was so kind to send me a copy of her new book.

I am pleased to report that I have enjoyed Monica McGurk’s second book in the series just as much as I loved the first book! So, I have decided to do a book review of her new book as well. Now if you haven’t read the first book yet you need to. Too much happens for you to be able to just skip the first book. There were all kinds of various things that happen in the first book that do not matter until late into the second book.

Dark Rising picks up right where Dark Hope left off. If you have read the first book you know that we, the readers, were totally left hanging at the end of book 1.

Dark Hope was a new young adult saga in the Twilight tradition about the love between a human named Hope and Michael an archangel.

Dark Rising continues this “love” story, despite the fact that there is basically no “love” in this book. Here is what the website says about the book, because they are way better at summarizing the book than I am!

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. Hope is now 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?

I love historical fiction and I although this book is not a work of historical fiction the author did wrap all kinds of history into it about various places throughout Europe. Kind of like the DaVinci code did.

Dark Hope can be used to meet your Common Core Standards. Get your teacher’s guide now.