My Book Review of Ghost Mark (Dark Dreams Book 2)

Posted on October 28, 2022 by J.M. Northup 3 comments

Ghost Mark by JP McLean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An Emotional Follow-up

Though the trial is still waiting to play out from events that happened in book 1, Blood Mark, this series continues with new adventures for our beloved characters. This time, the mistakes Jane has made impact her life in unexpected ways that haunt her in more than just her dreams. They create a new plot that is as thrilling as it is emotional.

The character arcs are beautifully written. It was lovely to see how each person is growing past what occurred in their past to try to have a better future. The connections between them are tested, but the love is enduring. That was something I loved in book 1 and was happy to see continue throughout book 2. Their struggles were painful for me because I am invested in these people. I would suggest strongly that readers pick up Blood Mark before delving into Ghost Mark. The story can stand on its own, but you will miss the emotional nuances if you don’t read them in order.

The dynamic of this tale is different from book one because the villains are completely opposite. You have typical thugs, but then you are also surprised by some of the betrayals that come unexpectedly. There’s a tremendous amount of action, but it has its own pace and style. I found it refreshing to see such a unique twist to the storytelling from the author. It showed her versatility while keeping me interested in what all these characters could encounter.

I was somewhat disappointed by a few small errors I noted. There were a few examples of inconsistencies that happened in the text (Garvin being called Gavin or Ethan texting a list to Hunter at a moment when he wasn’t supposed to have a phone). The attention to detail I noted in book 1 was not as present. For me, it pulled me out of the story, which is why I gave this a 4-star rating instead of a 5.

I do highly recommend this book and series. I’ve become quite a fan of J.P. McLean, and I cannot wait for the next installment of Dark Dreams. There’s still a lot on the table to discover. The author’s tantalizing tales have me hooked!