The Awakening

Title: The Awakening
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkest Powers (Book 2)
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal


When we left Chloe in the last book, she had been betrayed by her Aunt Lauren, recaptured and was stuck with the Edison Group. In this installment, we learn that the Edison Group was a group that has been working on genetically altering supernaturals. That way other supernaturals can have children without worrying so much about their powers. Their goal isn't to take the powers away permanently, but to have the powers show up when the kids are older and ready for them.

The Edison Group doesn't like to fail, and when they feel like one of their subjects is a "fail" then they are killed. Because of this Chloe is able to have contact with Liz, who has finally gotten control of her powers (a little too late).

Chloe escapes from the Edison Group with an unlikely partner, Tori. The two meet up with Simon and Derek at the rendezvous point and continue on their journey to find someone they can trust and to get some help. Simon and Derek decide they should start looking for their father's friend, Andrew, who they were always told they should contact in case of an emergency. So starts the groups trek to New York to find Andrew and hopefully some answers.

The four get separated in two groups: Derek & Chloe and Simon & Tori. We follow Derek and Chloe in their attempt to get to New York and Andrew. Although, when they get there, it looks like Edison Group beat them once again.

This was an edge of your seat treat. I enjoyed the relationship that is growing between Chloe and Derek and can't wait to see that explored more. Another little twist that I noticed, being a Women of the Otherworld reader, is the overlap. Derek and Chloe meet two werewolves that talk about The Pack and how they chop up Mutts and spread the pictures. This was Clay from the Otherworld series.

There is something about this series that really sticks with me. After I read the first book, I dreamed about it, and I did again with this book. It's such a mental delight.

Burned

Title: Burned
Author: P.C. and Kristin Cast
Series: House of Night (Book 7)
Genre: Young Adult

At the end of the last book, Zoey’s soul had shattered and she followed Heath to the Otherworld in pieces. Burned was the story of how her friends helped her get her soul back together and return from the Otherworld.

Steve Rae imprinted on Rephaim, the head Raven Mocker and #1 son of Kalona. Their relationship in this book seems so sweet to me. I love seeing Rephaim’s good side and how he tries to battle his naturally bad self for Stevie Rae.

Overall, I was sorely disappointed with this book. So far I’ve enjoyed each of the House of Night installments, but this one (I can’t believe I’m going to say this about a fictional Vampire story) seems a little more far fetched. I think one of the things that was missing was Zoey’s normal character. She was present in the book, but only as a slip of herself in the Otherworld.

The next release is Awakened.

The Darkest Lie

Title: The Darkest Lie
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Lords of the Underworld (Book 6)
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Gideon is the keeper of Lies. He cannot utter any truth without being overwhelmed by pain and incapacitated. It has gotten to the point where he cannot even call anyone by their name, because that indeed is a truth. Most of the Lords have gotten use to "Gideon Speak." They know he means exactly the opposite of what he is saying. Gideon can also tell if what anyone is saying is truth or lie.

Scarlet is the keeper of Nightmares. She cannot be awake during the daytime, as soon as the day hits she falls into a sleep that she cannot be woken from until it is nighttime again. While she is asleep, Scarlet visits others in their dreams and gives them nightmares, which satisfies her demon.

Gideon has tattoos of a pair of eyes, lips and the phrase "To part is to die." These things haunt him in his dreams and he gets the feeling that it is someone that he should know. Everything connects when Scarlet is captured by the Lords and thrown in their dungeon. Gideon meets her and knows she is the one he dreams of. Scarlet then drops the bomb on him that they were/are married. Gideon has no idea how he cannot remember her, but he is drawn to her none the less.

He decides he's going to "kidnap" Scarlet so they can learn each other and he can learn the information she is hiding. It drives him nuts that she has memories of him that he cannot remember. The two have to work together against the Gods and Hunters.

Initially I had a difficult time with this book, having to read everything twice. Once in Gideon Speak, then thinking about it and translating it to what he really meant. After I was a bit into the book, however, I didn't notice anymore. There even becomes one part where Gideon is able to speak the truth without being in pain. I was amazed at the skill used for this part of the book, I could immediately see a different Gideon, one who wasn't weighed down by the need to lie.

There are so many twists and turns to this story, which I guess reflects on the story being about lies. I never really felt a pull toward Gideon, but as usual, this story was written in a way where I became emotionally invested in his well being. I loved learning that his demon (Lies) is a female.

Next up in the series is Amun, keeper of Secrets story. The Darkest Secret is currently set to be released March 2011.

The Summoning

Title: The Summoning
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkest Powers (Book 1)
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal



Chloe is a 15 year old student at a prestigious art school. A good student, a daughter who behaves, an all around good girl. One day she has her first period and while cleaning herself up in the bathroom at school, decides to dye red streaks into her blond hair as well. As she's leaving, she's spotted by a custodian who yells and chases her.

Chloe stammers an excuse and flees. Only when he catches up to her and her hand goes right through him does things seem not right. She freaks out, and is sent to Lyle House. Lyle House is a home for mentally distrubed teens. Their goal is to get them on medication, help them learn about their problems (Or is it?). They diagnose Chloe is schizophrenia and start her on medication.

Things still seem a bit off and when another teen at the house, Derek, tells her she's not nuts, she's a necromancer. She starts to believe him. She and Derek, along with other paranormals of the House hatch a plan to get away and look for Derek and Simon's (Derek's "brother," a sorcerer) Dad. Things seem to go from bad to worse when things don't all go their way.

I love Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, and when I realized she wrote this series (whose books I always see at Target) I jumped at the chance to read it. This was another quick read, one that I had to find out what happened in. There are many loose ends, that should be tied up in the next books in the series. I am so intrigued to learn more about Chloe's necklace.

Keys to the Repository

Title: Keys to the Repository
Author: Melissa De La Cruz
Series: Blue Blood (Extra)
Genre: Young Adult


I was highly disappointed in this book. I went into it knowing that it wasn't the next book in the series in the way of a storyline, but instead just information on characters and what not. That being said, I didn't feel that there was much information there that was new/relevant. I disliked how it seemed to me basically to be a quick retelling of the other books so far in the series.

I felt that reading the information/stories about the vampires in their previous lives was a bit difficult. I know of few of their angel names, but not all of them. This led the stories to seem to be about totally different people.

There were a few tidbits that made reading it not totally worthless, and I highly enjoyed the first two chapters from Misguided Angel, the next book in the series.

Gone

Title: Gone
Author: Michael Grant
Series: Gone
Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction



Imagine if in the middle of one day, everyone the age of 15 and over just disappeared. "Poofed" right where they were, didn't "die" just poofed. Well, I guess I can't imagine, because I would have poofed too.

That's what happens. One day Sam was sitting in class, the teacher was teaching and then he just wasn't. The worst part about this over 15 poofing? On your birthday when you turn 15 (to the second when you were born) you poof too.

The main kids at Perdido Beach try and put some order together. In the midst of this Caine and his posse from Coates Academy show up in an organized car procession and proceed to take over. He creates his own rules, and delegates jobs. Children are replacing the roles of: Mayor, Fire Chief, Deputy, Caregiver and even someone to run the McDonald's.

Caine runs the city in a very dark, you'll be beaten if you disagree way. There isn't much that anyone can do about it, until they discover "the power." Select children have different abilities. They can suspend gravity, run at a super speed, telekinesis, an ability to shoot green-white light, teleport and others.

Add into the mix talking coyotes, flying snakes and other oddities and you have a world filled with new and strange things. The kids start to fight for control that centers around twin brothers, both with major power. Caine wants a world of fear and punishment, where Sam wants to run things in a nicer way.

It's a race to their 15th Birthday, and the hope that they can beat whatever causes them to poof on that day.

About a year ago I read The Girl Who Owned A City I had anticipated Gone being similar, although I don't think it was too much. Gone had a much more Science Fiction feel to it.

I enjoyed the book overall, but did feel that it was a little repetitive and I felt like it could have been a little shorter. I'm definitely going to move on with the series, I'm highly intrigued with "the darkness" and want to see if what they think caused the disappearance, really did.