The Gathering

Title: The Gathering
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkness Rising (Book 1)
Genre: Young Adult



I can't believe I didn't read a single book for the month of May, I don't believe that has ever happened to me before. I just felt like there was nothing I really wanted to read. I was in a slump. But back on track.

The Gathering is the first book of new Trilogy Darkness Rising, it is connected to the Darkest Powers Series. It is the same world, but in The Gathering we are introduced to all new characters.

Maya lives in a small town which is a bit odd. There are less then 200 people in the town, everyone knows everyone and they are not even found on a map. The town was founded and is continued to be populated by a company: The Edison Group.

Everyone has something special about them. Maya is really good with animals, her best friend gets "vibes" about people. All the students are required to be part of something extra curricular, and they are all good at something.

New to the town Rafe, takes an interest in Maya and the two start getting closer as the town seems to start getting more weird.

I love Kelley Armstrong's worlds and was trying my best to figure out what was going to happen throughout the book. I had several good ideas that panned out, but also a few things that threw me through a loop. I have my suspicions on what may be happening in the next book in the series, and can't wait for it's release so I can confirm or dismiss my suspicions.

The Reckoning

Title: The Reckoning
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkest Powers (Book 3)
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal


The Awakening ended with Derek, Simon, Tori and Chloe being safe with Andrew and a group of supernaturals who are against the Edison Group and what they are doing. Or so we thought. Of course, that is not the case and the group has to think of another way to run and get away from a few individuals in this group.

It is all about who to trust and what to do. Are they doing the right thing to get away or just running into the arms of the enemy. It takes them several attempts to seemingly get it right.

This is the last installment of this trilogy. There will be another trilogy (Darkness Rising) that comes out in April. It will not involve the same main characters, but will be set in the same "world" and I think eventually there will be some crossover.

I continued to enjoy the budding relationship between Derek and was sad when the book ended. It ended very much on a starting of a new relationship, but after watching the two struggle, I would have loved to see something of them together. I really felt for Simon and Chloe when she had to turn him down and could barely keep from covering my own face in embarrassment.

We see the return of some other characters: Liz, Aunt Lauren and the Edison Group. A very suspense-filled second half of the book. I thought it was a decent ending for this trilogy, but a good way to leave things open for the rest of the series to come.

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.

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.