| List Price: | |
| Price: | $7.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details... |
| You Save: | $0.00(0.00%) |
| Binding: | Kindle Edition |
| EAN: | |
| Feature: | |
| Label: | HarperCollins e-books |
| Publisher: | HarperCollins e-books |
| Studio: | HarperCollins e-books |
| Tags: |
Editorial Reviews
My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.
All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost—and the ghost saw me.
Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House . . . before its skeletons come back to haunt me.
Related Reviews
I read all of KA's other books so when I saw this in the young adult section - I bought it out of curiosity. I'm glad I did. It is about young high school age children but it's still her slow build writing that holds the readers interest without losing any of the detail of the world she creates. It's her adult supernatural universe focused on some children who are lost in it and their too strong abilities.
I like the style and if she writes this series the way she writes her adult books they won't all be left on cliffhangers and some could be stand-alones with some character crossovers. The only fault I could find - and it's purely because I'm an adult now I would assume -is that I really couldn't lose myself in the character as I can typically with most of her stories. I found the lead character's desire to storyboard everything distracting... and yet I remember doing something similar at that age -so it still comes across realistic. Hopefully a sequel will come out soon...
I like the style and if she writes this series the way she writes her adult books they won't all be left on cliffhangers and some could be stand-alones with some character crossovers. The only fault I could find - and it's purely because I'm an adult now I would assume -is that I really couldn't lose myself in the character as I can typically with most of her stories. I found the lead character's desire to storyboard everything distracting... and yet I remember doing something similar at that age -so it still comes across realistic. Hopefully a sequel will come out soon...
When Chloe was a toddler, she lived in a house that had ghosts in the basement. One of the ghosts was a hanged man. Another liked to scare her. Chloe's mom talked her dad into moving them to another place and Chloe forgot all about the experience and now doesn't believe in ghosts. Her mother died when she was 8 and she's been raised mostly by housekeepers as her dad travels for his job.
A late bloomer, she doesn't get her period until she's turned 15. On that day she wakes up dreaming about her last experience in that basement, still not recalling that she ever lived there. Later that day, the ghost of a custodian at school who had obviously been in a fire, notices Chloe and won't leave her alone, wanting to talk to her. Chloe is totally freaked and runs from him screaming. The school staff has to tackle Chloe, sedate her and she's taken by ambulance to a hospital before being transferred to Lyle House, a group home for kids with mental issues.
Like all of the other kids there, she's put on drugs and for her daily therapy session with the doctor, acts like she's accepted her schizophrenic diagnosis in order to get out of there sooner.
At first this seems to be a story about someone with unique abilities (she's a necromancer) who is labeled with mental problems and drugged because the establishment doesn't understand or believe that there could be a perfectly healthy reason for what the person experiences. But it comes to light that other teens in the home have their own abilities and something bigger is going on.
Unlike the author's other series, this one appears to be one continuing story by the viewpoint of the same character. The biggest difference is that when the book ends, you don't feel like a story has completed; like the book ended in the middle. There is no feeling of conclusion to the drama that had taken place near the end of the book. Everything is left hanging.
The story itself and the characters are good, although for me (an adult who does like to read YA), it was getting kind of boring at times, at least until we get to the point of realizing that something bigger is going on. But it's that ending that has me downgrading the rating to 3 stars.
A late bloomer, she doesn't get her period until she's turned 15. On that day she wakes up dreaming about her last experience in that basement, still not recalling that she ever lived there. Later that day, the ghost of a custodian at school who had obviously been in a fire, notices Chloe and won't leave her alone, wanting to talk to her. Chloe is totally freaked and runs from him screaming. The school staff has to tackle Chloe, sedate her and she's taken by ambulance to a hospital before being transferred to Lyle House, a group home for kids with mental issues.
Like all of the other kids there, she's put on drugs and for her daily therapy session with the doctor, acts like she's accepted her schizophrenic diagnosis in order to get out of there sooner.
At first this seems to be a story about someone with unique abilities (she's a necromancer) who is labeled with mental problems and drugged because the establishment doesn't understand or believe that there could be a perfectly healthy reason for what the person experiences. But it comes to light that other teens in the home have their own abilities and something bigger is going on.
Unlike the author's other series, this one appears to be one continuing story by the viewpoint of the same character. The biggest difference is that when the book ends, you don't feel like a story has completed; like the book ended in the middle. There is no feeling of conclusion to the drama that had taken place near the end of the book. Everything is left hanging.
The story itself and the characters are good, although for me (an adult who does like to read YA), it was getting kind of boring at times, at least until we get to the point of realizing that something bigger is going on. But it's that ending that has me downgrading the rating to 3 stars.
From when Chloe Saunders was just a little girl, she saw ghosts. Of course then, she thought they were only nightmarish imaginary friends. And her life seemed to become almost normal when they moved out of that haunted house and after her mom died. But when Chloe hits puberty, she starts seeing the ghosts again. Now she's forced to stay in Lyle House so she can learn to cope with her "schizophrenia." But the other kids at Lyle House have also been incorrectly diagnosed with mental problems. There's a reason certain doors remain locked and there special kids are gathered in this institution. As Chloe works to uncover these sinister secrets, she starts to question everything around her, from her "schizophrenia," to what happened to her roommate who was taken away, and even to her mother's death.
My first reaction after finishing this novel was WOW. Kelley Armstrong does an amazing job of connecting Chloe's past with her present and weaving the other characters' stories in as well. the story was highly suspenseful and action-packed and the exciting twists and turns kept me guessing. The novel focuses mainly on plot, so there isn't much characterization, but the suspense, secrets, and action were more than enough to hold my interest.
I most definitely recommend this novel, especially to fans of the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson or the Uglies and Midnighters series by Scott Westerfeld. The Summoning will be part of a trilogy, which I am very excited about.
My first reaction after finishing this novel was WOW. Kelley Armstrong does an amazing job of connecting Chloe's past with her present and weaving the other characters' stories in as well. the story was highly suspenseful and action-packed and the exciting twists and turns kept me guessing. The novel focuses mainly on plot, so there isn't much characterization, but the suspense, secrets, and action were more than enough to hold my interest.
I most definitely recommend this novel, especially to fans of the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson or the Uglies and Midnighters series by Scott Westerfeld. The Summoning will be part of a trilogy, which I am very excited about.
I thought the book very good up until the end - actually, I don't think you can call it an end. I've always believed that a novel had a beginning, a middle and an end. I realize that many authors, these days like to write trilogies - and that's OK - as long as there is a semblance of progress being made in the story line. For example, A book that introduces a character that, obviously, will be a main character in a future book is excellent. Even a book that wraps up a part of the story at the end works fine. Just dropping the whole thing in the end DOES NOT. Had I known how this was to play out, I'd not have ever started reading this book and I will, definitely, NOT buy the second or third ones. The major problem with most series of books like this is that when one finishes, they tend to feel manipulated, as if the author simply wanted to insure sales of future works. Manipulation irritates me. K. Wl Varner Jr.
As a big fan of Kelley's Otherworld series I, of course, went and ordered this. The premise being young supernaturals coming into their own, which is a great idea as the characters in her 'Women' series have already had their powers, so it would be interesting to see that side of things. I know being a YA novel that it wouldn't be as graphic as the others in the series, but I felt a little disappointed in this as the main girl, Chloe just didn't make me feel sympathetic towards her. It was an easy read (just under 2 days to finish) and may be a good primer for Kelley's younger fans to ease into the main OW series when they're older. I'll probably buy the next (because I'm a completist on stuff like that) and hope that it begins to pick up.
This book does a good job of introducing all the principals and whetting your appetite for what's to come, but anyone considering reading it should be forewarned that it is not a stand alone story and that it ends cliffhanger style. Having said that though, the author did a good job of setting up each character and making this introductory story readable. I found the characters likable and believable. The story moves along at a nice pace and the setting is well utilized. I would have preferred the story stand alone, but I will probably be back just the same for the next one to see what happens next. FWIW though, a much better series in the same genre, teen supernaturals, is Richelle Mead's "Vampire Academy" series. Thanks for listening. Happy reading!
Wait and buy it when the whole trilogy is out.
I have a lot of faith in Kelley Armstrong, although I could have left Haunted and the Nadia Stafford book. Haunted (from the Otherworld series) was a little grotesque (I only read it once, as compared to about a dozen times of reading the others) and Nadia Stafford is just wasting time that could have been spent on Armstrong's other two series.
I gave this book 3 stars because of the confusing plot (what is the use of keeping supernaturals drugged and in a home instead of trained for your own purposes like the X-Men?) and then the terrible cliffhanger ending. Seriously, here at the end of the book, some reasonable explanation for an unreasonable scenario is about to appear- then BAM! NOTHING.
If you could read the 3 books all in a row it would be better. However, I do like the overall storyline and will buy the next books. Maybe just leave this one on the shelf until the others are out unless you can take the frustration of the extended wait.
I gave this book 3 stars because of the confusing plot (what is the use of keeping supernaturals drugged and in a home instead of trained for your own purposes like the X-Men?) and then the terrible cliffhanger ending. Seriously, here at the end of the book, some reasonable explanation for an unreasonable scenario is about to appear- then BAM! NOTHING.
If you could read the 3 books all in a row it would be better. However, I do like the overall storyline and will buy the next books. Maybe just leave this one on the shelf until the others are out unless you can take the frustration of the extended wait.
This book was drool worthy fantastic. I read it in one sitting. Absolutely spectacular. It blew other teen series like Twilight or my much beloved House of Night, right out of the water.
Things are fairly typical for Chloe Saunders; she's a regular 14 year old with her circle of friends and she's very into films. Though she misses her mother who died years earlier, she's got a father and a trusted aunt who care for her. So what if she's a bit of a late bloomer? It's all good--until the day she sees a terrifying ghost. Suddenly she's no longer normal; she's diagnosed as schizophrenic and shipped off to the Lyle House, an in-house treatment center so that she can learn to cope with her illness. The problem? It's not really an illness; it's fact, and Chloe's going to have to convince herself that she's got a special power she's going to have to learn to deal with, despite the adults who are trying to get her to believe otherwise.
The Summoning is engaging right from the opening pages and doesn't let up throughout. Once Chloe figures out she's not schizophrenic, you know she's going to have to get herself out of Lyle House, but it seems next to impossible. Her friendships with Liz, Derek, Simon, and Rae provide Chloe with the realization that perhaps she's not alone in her gift, but none of them seem to know what's going on...and it's obvious as the mystery grows that things are much darker and deeper than any of the kids had suspected.
Finding a stopping point was a big problem for me while reading The Summoning because Ms. Armstrong often ends chapters on cliffhangers. I kept thinking "just one more page...just one more chapter..." and before I knew it, fifty more pages had flown by. If at times Chloe seemed a little naive, it was understandable, given her background and the work the adults had done to ensure that she was kept in the dark. The Summoning had lingered for quite a while in my to-be-read pile, but it's a sure thing that its sequels, The Awakening and The Reckoning, certainly won't. Great fun and highly recommended.
The Summoning is engaging right from the opening pages and doesn't let up throughout. Once Chloe figures out she's not schizophrenic, you know she's going to have to get herself out of Lyle House, but it seems next to impossible. Her friendships with Liz, Derek, Simon, and Rae provide Chloe with the realization that perhaps she's not alone in her gift, but none of them seem to know what's going on...and it's obvious as the mystery grows that things are much darker and deeper than any of the kids had suspected.
Finding a stopping point was a big problem for me while reading The Summoning because Ms. Armstrong often ends chapters on cliffhangers. I kept thinking "just one more page...just one more chapter..." and before I knew it, fifty more pages had flown by. If at times Chloe seemed a little naive, it was understandable, given her background and the work the adults had done to ensure that she was kept in the dark. The Summoning had lingered for quite a while in my to-be-read pile, but it's a sure thing that its sequels, The Awakening and The Reckoning, certainly won't. Great fun and highly recommended.
When I first heard of this book I was quite intrigued. I felt like it was something new and had tons of potential. That part of the book didn't let me down. I still feel that this book has all the potential in the world but man, it was really hard to get into. The pace of the book (until the last 90 pages or so) moved at the pace of molasis. There were a couple of chapters that were kind of creepy but other than those few chapters.... meh. I didn't really feel like I could get a good read on the characters. I know that Chloe is the main character but I really felt like I got to know Tori and Derek and found myself only caring about Derek. He was mysterious and for sure wasn't some sort of cookie cutter character. I loved finding out his secret at the end of the book and that's the main reason I will read the next book.
Sixth sense without the twists
I think this book needs to be read with its sequal, otherwise the 'cliff hanger' ending comes across as a slight slope downhill or random halt just as things get interesting.
The plot revolves around a young girl who fears she is going insane, due to the rotting undead ghosts that keep appearing in her life (cue both sixth sense and the movie version of Constantine) Fairly quickly we learn that she really can see the dead and teams up with a bunch of other teenage kids who have their own supernatural problems.
The people in the novel are well fleshed out, and the magic is interesting but like mentioned before, not enough really happens in this introductory novel. Read with the second episode on hand
The plot revolves around a young girl who fears she is going insane, due to the rotting undead ghosts that keep appearing in her life (cue both sixth sense and the movie version of Constantine) Fairly quickly we learn that she really can see the dead and teams up with a bunch of other teenage kids who have their own supernatural problems.
The people in the novel are well fleshed out, and the magic is interesting but like mentioned before, not enough really happens in this introductory novel. Read with the second episode on hand
An Enthralling Read, That Everyone Should Have!!
A novel you most certainly can't put down. With a neat plot, interesting characters and a very well written story, you won't regret reading this one. Kelly Armstrong writes a fast pace novel, that by the end of each chapter we'll leave the reader wanting more. The end will have the same affect on you. About a year ago, I bought this story from Chapters but it sat on my TBR pile for a long time. And I feel that is a shame, because this is really good read and I recommend it to anyone.
The only thing that I thought could of been more developed was the description in some areas. It got a bit confusing and I felt lost. But other then that, the book was perfect. I enjoyed it as much as I enjoy the Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine (which I know are 2 completely different books), which some of you might now is my favorite book series ever.
An Enthralling Read, That Everyone Should Have!!!
The only thing that I thought could of been more developed was the description in some areas. It got a bit confusing and I felt lost. But other then that, the book was perfect. I enjoyed it as much as I enjoy the Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine (which I know are 2 completely different books), which some of you might now is my favorite book series ever.
An Enthralling Read, That Everyone Should Have!!!
Spooky and a well-written story
I am an adult that enjoys reading YA from time to time. I've read and enjoyed the Twilight series, Vampire Academy series, & House of Night series to name a few, and I must say that "The Summoning" (or Darkest Powers series) rates very high on story content and entertainment. Even with just one book done, it has drawn me in, anxious for the second book to be released.
Chloe is a character that the reader can sympathize with, even if we've never had the same personal experiences she's had, and a world that, though fictional, can be believable. She's not perfect and the friends she makes in Lyle House are also not perfect. She develops an interest in a young man who isn't the typical handsome mesh we read in so many other series. And her power is something we would hate to have for ourselves. Her's in not the "superpower" that makes you wish you had it.
This book both creeped me out and kept me interested at the same time. There were parts that were just down right scary and then there were tender moments as well. A bit of warning: this book has no ending; it's a cliffhanger for the next book, and a clever way to bring the reader back for more. It was well done, however, like a tv show wrapping up for the summer break.
I rented this from the library and I was glad I did because I don't like to spend money on authors or books that are bad. But this book was not and would not be a waste of money.
Chloe is a character that the reader can sympathize with, even if we've never had the same personal experiences she's had, and a world that, though fictional, can be believable. She's not perfect and the friends she makes in Lyle House are also not perfect. She develops an interest in a young man who isn't the typical handsome mesh we read in so many other series. And her power is something we would hate to have for ourselves. Her's in not the "superpower" that makes you wish you had it.
This book both creeped me out and kept me interested at the same time. There were parts that were just down right scary and then there were tender moments as well. A bit of warning: this book has no ending; it's a cliffhanger for the next book, and a clever way to bring the reader back for more. It was well done, however, like a tv show wrapping up for the summer break.
I rented this from the library and I was glad I did because I don't like to spend money on authors or books that are bad. But this book was not and would not be a waste of money.
"A banner week for me. Getting short-listed for the director spot. Nate asking me about the dance. My first period. And now my first criminal act. After I fixed myself up, I dug into my backpack for my brush and emerged instead with the tube of hair color. I lifted it. My reflection in the mirror grinned back."
Chloe Saunders is a very special girl. Not just because she has an in-depth and intense obsession with movies, filming, and directing. Not just because of her unusual home life. She is special, because on top of all this, Chloe Saunders can see ghosts.
On the day of her first period, she goes to the bathroom and skips class. She dyes her hair, feeling particularly rebellious. Upon exiting, Chloe sees a strange man wearing an old custodian's uniform, who follows her around school. She thinks she is in trouble for skipping class...
When he starts to talk to her, she ignores him. He gets angry, and deliberately shows her his face... and she sees it is burned so badly she can barely distinguish his features. When he disappears into thin air, she starts making a scene and freaking out, and school officials round her up. When she accidentally punches a teacher, they sedate her and take her to the hospital.
From there she is sent to Lyle House, which is a place for troubled teenagers. There she meets a wide variety of people - a pyromaniac, a girl with a poltergeist, an unusually moody girl, a boy with extremely bad people-skills, and a boy who, strangely, she finds nothing unusual about. As her new friends' stories unfold, Chloe begins to question the
motivation behind Lyle House.
With everything from ghosts and magic to romance, humor, and growing up, THE SUMMONING will have you laughing, wondering, and in disbelief. This book has many plot twists that will keep the reader guessing throughout the course of the novel. Kelley Armstrong uses great characterization and dialogue, which makes THE SUMMONING an overall good read.
Reviewed by: Margaret Waterman
Chloe Saunders is a very special girl. Not just because she has an in-depth and intense obsession with movies, filming, and directing. Not just because of her unusual home life. She is special, because on top of all this, Chloe Saunders can see ghosts.
On the day of her first period, she goes to the bathroom and skips class. She dyes her hair, feeling particularly rebellious. Upon exiting, Chloe sees a strange man wearing an old custodian's uniform, who follows her around school. She thinks she is in trouble for skipping class...
When he starts to talk to her, she ignores him. He gets angry, and deliberately shows her his face... and she sees it is burned so badly she can barely distinguish his features. When he disappears into thin air, she starts making a scene and freaking out, and school officials round her up. When she accidentally punches a teacher, they sedate her and take her to the hospital.
From there she is sent to Lyle House, which is a place for troubled teenagers. There she meets a wide variety of people - a pyromaniac, a girl with a poltergeist, an unusually moody girl, a boy with extremely bad people-skills, and a boy who, strangely, she finds nothing unusual about. As her new friends' stories unfold, Chloe begins to question the
motivation behind Lyle House.
With everything from ghosts and magic to romance, humor, and growing up, THE SUMMONING will have you laughing, wondering, and in disbelief. This book has many plot twists that will keep the reader guessing throughout the course of the novel. Kelley Armstrong uses great characterization and dialogue, which makes THE SUMMONING an overall good read.
Reviewed by: Margaret Waterman
I am a huge Kelley Armstrong fan. I ordered this hoping that, while written for younger readers, it would still have enough there to keep me interested. Unfortunately, not quite.
If I had read this as a teenager, I probably would have given it a 5. It has everything you could want - suspense, an interesting main character, a mystery, supernatural activity, etc.
As a more experienced reader, I'm giving it a 3.5. There could have been more characterization and a grander story arc. I was left wanting something. That said, I'll probably read the sequel, though I'm not sure I'll buy it in hardback.
If I had read this as a teenager, I probably would have given it a 5. It has everything you could want - suspense, an interesting main character, a mystery, supernatural activity, etc.
As a more experienced reader, I'm giving it a 3.5. There could have been more characterization and a grander story arc. I was left wanting something. That said, I'll probably read the sequel, though I'm not sure I'll buy it in hardback.
This book could have been so much better but the plot was too slow and too simple. It should have been condensed to 100 pages and been the beginning on the second book. That being said, I read the second book since I already had it and it was much better. I'd still recommend this book b/c the second is better but don't expect much.
Great Adventure Story with lovable characters!
I have heard a lot of great things about the Darkest Powers Series. I love Kelley Armstrong's writing, so I figured it was about time to read The Summoning. I have to say, this is one of those wonderful cases when the book lives up to all the hype.
Kelley does an amazing job, as always, creating a well-rounded, diverse, cast of characters. Chloe Saunders is the main character in this book and she soon discovers she is an necromancer. Chloe in a great character - she is loyal and determined, but still possess the qualities of an average teenager. I hate when books that are about kids and teens feature characters who act like adults. Chloe is constantly afraid of her surroundings and reacts to situations in the way a normal girl would. Oh, and her stutter is ingenious and completely endearing.
The fact that Chloe is a necromancer is a huge bonus. I have only read a few ghost stories, so the idea is still relatively new to me. The change in pace from vampires and other immortal characters was utterly refreshing.
The rest of Chloe's gang, if you will, are also fabulously written. There are two brothers, Simon and Derek who live at the Lyle House with Chloe. Simon is a sorcerer and Derek, well he is special in his own way; I don't want to spoil it for you. My favorite of the two boys is easily Derek. At first he comes off as a complete jerk, but he really isn't. He is just afraid. I love complex characters and Derek is definitely complex. I really hope that there is more, um, lets say interaction between him and Chloe in the feature books. I cannot tell you how hilarious I found the scenes when they pretend to be an item. For those of you who have read the book, you know what I mean.
The rest of the cast, Rae, Liz and Tori are more of secondary characters. All three of them live at the Lyle house with the rest of the teens; Rae and Liz become friends with Chloe. Tori, however, assumes the role of Chloe's sworn enemy. I enjoyed all of these characters as well, and I am excited to see more of them in the next book.
Like most books that begin new series, there was a lot of build up weaved into the storyline. However, the author was able to keep the plot moving, while sewing seeds for future setups. Not once did I feel the urge to skip a paragraph or page, which is quite rare.
The only gripe I have with this book, is the massive cliffhanger at the end. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for those of you who read this book back in 2008. I would not want to wait an entire year to see what happens next. In fact, I already placed book 2, The Awakening, on hold at library.
As you can see, I thoroughly enjoyed The Summoning. The characters were all beautifully written, the premise was exciting and intriguing and it left me eagerly anticipating the next book. I know that I am extremely late on the bandwagon for this one, but if you haven't read it yet, please do. You will not regret it.
Kelley does an amazing job, as always, creating a well-rounded, diverse, cast of characters. Chloe Saunders is the main character in this book and she soon discovers she is an necromancer. Chloe in a great character - she is loyal and determined, but still possess the qualities of an average teenager. I hate when books that are about kids and teens feature characters who act like adults. Chloe is constantly afraid of her surroundings and reacts to situations in the way a normal girl would. Oh, and her stutter is ingenious and completely endearing.
The fact that Chloe is a necromancer is a huge bonus. I have only read a few ghost stories, so the idea is still relatively new to me. The change in pace from vampires and other immortal characters was utterly refreshing.
The rest of Chloe's gang, if you will, are also fabulously written. There are two brothers, Simon and Derek who live at the Lyle House with Chloe. Simon is a sorcerer and Derek, well he is special in his own way; I don't want to spoil it for you. My favorite of the two boys is easily Derek. At first he comes off as a complete jerk, but he really isn't. He is just afraid. I love complex characters and Derek is definitely complex. I really hope that there is more, um, lets say interaction between him and Chloe in the feature books. I cannot tell you how hilarious I found the scenes when they pretend to be an item. For those of you who have read the book, you know what I mean.
The rest of the cast, Rae, Liz and Tori are more of secondary characters. All three of them live at the Lyle house with the rest of the teens; Rae and Liz become friends with Chloe. Tori, however, assumes the role of Chloe's sworn enemy. I enjoyed all of these characters as well, and I am excited to see more of them in the next book.
Like most books that begin new series, there was a lot of build up weaved into the storyline. However, the author was able to keep the plot moving, while sewing seeds for future setups. Not once did I feel the urge to skip a paragraph or page, which is quite rare.
The only gripe I have with this book, is the massive cliffhanger at the end. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for those of you who read this book back in 2008. I would not want to wait an entire year to see what happens next. In fact, I already placed book 2, The Awakening, on hold at library.
As you can see, I thoroughly enjoyed The Summoning. The characters were all beautifully written, the premise was exciting and intriguing and it left me eagerly anticipating the next book. I know that I am extremely late on the bandwagon for this one, but if you haven't read it yet, please do. You will not regret it.
"I see dead people." No really, she does. Sure, it's encased in a maybe schizophrenic condition, but other than that, Chloe Saunders totally does. See dead people, that is. And what's more intriguing than a person who sees dead people? Not much. Now , I usually bitch and moan when it comes to young-adult fantasy novels just cause they tend to bug with the contrived storylines, cheesy romance plots, and extremely pathetic and unlikeable heroines. So, I pretty much proceed with caution when it comes to these types of books. Luckily for me, The Summoning didn't really suffer from these maladies.
The whole storyline with the necromancer thing was intriguing. Like I need more NOW intriguing. That was my favorite part of the storyline. I really wanted to know more about Chloe's (as well as her friends') powers. I was a bit bummed at the fact that this was only slightly alluded to. Sure, I understand the need for mystery especially since this was going to be a trilogy, but seriously, couldn't Kelley Armstrong just given us A BIT more knowledge than what she did give? Anyway, intriguing plot that wasn't totally contrived (sure, some of this did remind me of The Sixth Sense and more than a smidge of Supernatural, but it wasn't wholly unoriginal)? Check. Sort of.
Cheesy romance plots? Not really. Yay for me, who hates cheesy and borderline unhealthy romances ala Twilight. There is some potential for romance and maybe a love triangle (must there be a love triangle? I've had enough of those from my numerous viewings of Dawson's Creek as a preteen/teenager), but in The Summoning, it doesn't seem to be the focal point like it does for mostly every other young adult fantasy novel. Again, yay.
But the most important thing for me when reading a young-adult novel with a female protagonist is a strong heroine. None of that pathetic, "the only thing I want is a boyfriend with whom I can surrender my dreams and passions for" behavior. I want a teenage heroine who is smart, independent, and not a bitch. Not much to ask for. Chloe Saunders was all three of these things. Except for one tiny, teeny little thing. MILD SPOILER HERE: Okay, so Chloe, it's okay to be shocked when you are duped by someone because you didn't think that the nasty behavior would manifest. You didn't think it'd go that far after the behavior seemed to exhaust itself. So, again, it's okay to be shocked THE FIRST TIME. But you still remain vigilant around that person. You don't let it go that fast. But when you let your guard down because you seriously thought that it was over this time, you give up the right to be shocked. Because you really should've known better. Especially if you've watched all those movies. Otherwise, you tend to have a teeny bit of that dumb heroine in you. END OF SPOILER. So smart, strong, independent heroine? Semi-check.
I have one actual complaint though (besides the mini ones above). This book was a tad bit bloated. It felt a bit repetitive and it didn't go as fast as I had assumed it would. I kept thinking, "I have HOW MUCH left?!" A big book is fine. I love big books as long as everything in that book seems to be necessary. Not everything seemed necessary in The Summoning. Maybe some of the things are foreshadowing what's coming next with the other two books (that I have on my Kindle), but otherwise, it needed to be cut down a smidge.
So, The Summoning wasn't really my favorite young-adult fantasy novel (far from it actually), but I did like it. It had an intriguing and creepy premise, interesting characters, and not a lot of eye roll inducing moments. I'm definitely going to read the next two in the series (although not this month. I have too many creepy reads stacked up) since I have to know what happens. All in all, not a bad fluff book and highly recommended.
The whole storyline with the necromancer thing was intriguing. Like I need more NOW intriguing. That was my favorite part of the storyline. I really wanted to know more about Chloe's (as well as her friends') powers. I was a bit bummed at the fact that this was only slightly alluded to. Sure, I understand the need for mystery especially since this was going to be a trilogy, but seriously, couldn't Kelley Armstrong just given us A BIT more knowledge than what she did give? Anyway, intriguing plot that wasn't totally contrived (sure, some of this did remind me of The Sixth Sense and more than a smidge of Supernatural, but it wasn't wholly unoriginal)? Check. Sort of.
Cheesy romance plots? Not really. Yay for me, who hates cheesy and borderline unhealthy romances ala Twilight. There is some potential for romance and maybe a love triangle (must there be a love triangle? I've had enough of those from my numerous viewings of Dawson's Creek as a preteen/teenager), but in The Summoning, it doesn't seem to be the focal point like it does for mostly every other young adult fantasy novel. Again, yay.
But the most important thing for me when reading a young-adult novel with a female protagonist is a strong heroine. None of that pathetic, "the only thing I want is a boyfriend with whom I can surrender my dreams and passions for" behavior. I want a teenage heroine who is smart, independent, and not a bitch. Not much to ask for. Chloe Saunders was all three of these things. Except for one tiny, teeny little thing. MILD SPOILER HERE: Okay, so Chloe, it's okay to be shocked when you are duped by someone because you didn't think that the nasty behavior would manifest. You didn't think it'd go that far after the behavior seemed to exhaust itself. So, again, it's okay to be shocked THE FIRST TIME. But you still remain vigilant around that person. You don't let it go that fast. But when you let your guard down because you seriously thought that it was over this time, you give up the right to be shocked. Because you really should've known better. Especially if you've watched all those movies. Otherwise, you tend to have a teeny bit of that dumb heroine in you. END OF SPOILER. So smart, strong, independent heroine? Semi-check.
I have one actual complaint though (besides the mini ones above). This book was a tad bit bloated. It felt a bit repetitive and it didn't go as fast as I had assumed it would. I kept thinking, "I have HOW MUCH left?!" A big book is fine. I love big books as long as everything in that book seems to be necessary. Not everything seemed necessary in The Summoning. Maybe some of the things are foreshadowing what's coming next with the other two books (that I have on my Kindle), but otherwise, it needed to be cut down a smidge.
So, The Summoning wasn't really my favorite young-adult fantasy novel (far from it actually), but I did like it. It had an intriguing and creepy premise, interesting characters, and not a lot of eye roll inducing moments. I'm definitely going to read the next two in the series (although not this month. I have too many creepy reads stacked up) since I have to know what happens. All in all, not a bad fluff book and highly recommended.
I admit it, the supernatural has always been a little intriguing to me so this is right up my alley. When Chloe Saunders starts seeing people that aren't there she is quickly whisked away and labeled schizophrenic. Chloe is placed on medications to clear up her mind and get her back to "normal." What Chloe soon realizes is that the ghosts may not be related to schizophrenia, but rather be a strange gift handed down to her from her mother. The only way for Chloe to find out for herself is to stop taking the medications and see what happens. The book takes you on many twists and turns sure to keep your pages turning. I don't believe I have ever read a 400 page book before, but if I have it I certainly did not finish it in only four days. I think I would have locked the door to my room and read it until it ended, but I had company up for the weekend and couldn't be too rude. I am in hot pursuit to get the second book in the series so I can read on to find out what happens to the cast of characters.
By Kerri J. Busteed
Author of Will's First Hunt Will's First Hunt
By Kerri J. Busteed
Author of Will's First Hunt Will's First Hunt
An entertaining paranormal read
I've been hearing about this series for months, but I only just got around to reading this first book. I quite enjoyed it. The characters were well developed and the premise was interesting. I did have some issues with the pacing (it seemed like not much happened until near the end), but, overall, it was an entertaining book.
I bought the second book when I bought the first. That's a good thing, because The Summoning ends with a bit of a cliffhanger and I want to find out what happens next!
I bought the second book when I bought the first. That's a good thing, because The Summoning ends with a bit of a cliffhanger and I want to find out what happens next!
N.R. Wick Book Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
Fifteen year old Chloe Saunders can see the dead. Unfortunately, after having an episode at school, none of the adults believe her. She is diagnosed with Schizophrenia and placed in a group home where other teenagers staying there are not what they seem to be.
The Summoning is the first book in Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers series. I can't lie; I love this book. I was so intrigued and interested that I read it in a day, then turned right around and read the second book, The Awakening. Also, I am DYING to read the final book, The Reckoning (which comes out in April, I believe).
Chloe is a great character who is easy to sympathise with and easy relate to. She's a vulnerable but strong and a great character. Her flaws are natural, but she learns from her mistakes and uses what she learns to grow as a person. Even though sometimes she doesn't make the best choices, Chloe takes responsibility for her actions and tries to fix them or learn from them. These are important attributes for a lead character in a YA novel to have.
In addition to good values, Chloe has a passion for movies. The great thing about how her passion for movies is incorporated into the story is that she does very little title dropping. Meaning, she doesn't really try to compare events happening in the book with specific movies. Perhaps it helps that she is interested in the screenwriter and director's side of movies, but I have read other books with film lovers who title-drop non stop and it's irritating. (And coming from a HUGE movie fan, that says something.)
The overall story is great as well. I'm always fascinated by concepts where reality and fantasy are connected to psychosis. The adults continuously try to convince Chloe that she needs to be medicated and that she is schizophrenic, and Chloe herself even fights to understand if she's mentally ill or if she truly has power over the dead. The way Armstrong describes Chloe's encounters with ghosts and corpses is chilling. I'm a huge fan of ghosts and zombies and this story kept my attention every step of the way.
My final note is something I found weird. The opening of The Summoning was somewhat bizarre. It's a great thing I read the "Twelve Years Earlier..." prologue before the first chapter because it was very well done. I understand why the beginning is so strange and that it's supposed to be that way. Chloe acts very strange and it helps make her (and others) doubt her sanity, but I have to admit I was thrown off by the beginning.
In the end, I rate this book a 5/5 Stars.
The Summoning is the first book in Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers series. I can't lie; I love this book. I was so intrigued and interested that I read it in a day, then turned right around and read the second book, The Awakening. Also, I am DYING to read the final book, The Reckoning (which comes out in April, I believe).
Chloe is a great character who is easy to sympathise with and easy relate to. She's a vulnerable but strong and a great character. Her flaws are natural, but she learns from her mistakes and uses what she learns to grow as a person. Even though sometimes she doesn't make the best choices, Chloe takes responsibility for her actions and tries to fix them or learn from them. These are important attributes for a lead character in a YA novel to have.
In addition to good values, Chloe has a passion for movies. The great thing about how her passion for movies is incorporated into the story is that she does very little title dropping. Meaning, she doesn't really try to compare events happening in the book with specific movies. Perhaps it helps that she is interested in the screenwriter and director's side of movies, but I have read other books with film lovers who title-drop non stop and it's irritating. (And coming from a HUGE movie fan, that says something.)
The overall story is great as well. I'm always fascinated by concepts where reality and fantasy are connected to psychosis. The adults continuously try to convince Chloe that she needs to be medicated and that she is schizophrenic, and Chloe herself even fights to understand if she's mentally ill or if she truly has power over the dead. The way Armstrong describes Chloe's encounters with ghosts and corpses is chilling. I'm a huge fan of ghosts and zombies and this story kept my attention every step of the way.
My final note is something I found weird. The opening of The Summoning was somewhat bizarre. It's a great thing I read the "Twelve Years Earlier..." prologue before the first chapter because it was very well done. I understand why the beginning is so strange and that it's supposed to be that way. Chloe acts very strange and it helps make her (and others) doubt her sanity, but I have to admit I was thrown off by the beginning.
In the end, I rate this book a 5/5 Stars.
I've loved all her Otherworld books, even though I'm not a teen, I loved both the Summoning and the Awakening and cant wait for the Reckoning. They are a very good read.
Great First Book in the Darkest Powers Series
I have heard such good things about the series by Kelley Armstrong, and I've had the first two books in my TBR pile for a while, but hadn't had a chance to get around to them. I'm so glad that I finally did. It was a great, intriguing story!
While I didn't personally connect with any of the characters, I really liked them all. Even Derek--there was a soft spot in my heart that knew he couldn't be as bad as he was portrayed at first. The ending definitely surprised me. And the plot keeps you hanging on. What is Lyle House really? And why are the kids that are there, there? We only find out some of the answers, and some questions leave us hanging. I am really glad that I have the next book, The Awakening, ready to read next!
While I didn't personally connect with any of the characters, I really liked them all. Even Derek--there was a soft spot in my heart that knew he couldn't be as bad as he was portrayed at first. The ending definitely surprised me. And the plot keeps you hanging on. What is Lyle House really? And why are the kids that are there, there? We only find out some of the answers, and some questions leave us hanging. I am really glad that I have the next book, The Awakening, ready to read next!
Setting the stage for an amazing series
This book is quite original in its portrayal of the dead and those who see ghosts. The main character isn't a possessed child living in a haunted mansion. Chloe is just your average, insecure, awkward fifteen year-old girl. This made the plot more realistic. It also made it easier to relate to the characters.
Chloe did begin to bother me after the first couple of chapters. To the reader, the truth is obvious; Chloe can see dead people. Chloe refuses to believe this and lives in denial for the first fifteen chapters or so. But a little after I was halfway through, everything changed. The story finally began to really pick up pace. Before I knew it, I was totally addicted to the book. I read every chance I could. I think my friends were getting annoyed with me. One of my book-lover friends actually walked around school with her nose stuck in this book!
While it does take a long time for Armstrong to set the stage, once the you reach the midway point, the story unfolds rapidly. I now realize that the author was building her characters, and that is something I can really appreciate.
Let me make a recommendation: if you should choose to give this book a try (which I highly recommend), make sure that you have the sequel on hand. There's a bit of a cliff hanger at the end. I get the feeling that the second book will be even better than the first, now that the story is rapidly unfolding.
Chloe did begin to bother me after the first couple of chapters. To the reader, the truth is obvious; Chloe can see dead people. Chloe refuses to believe this and lives in denial for the first fifteen chapters or so. But a little after I was halfway through, everything changed. The story finally began to really pick up pace. Before I knew it, I was totally addicted to the book. I read every chance I could. I think my friends were getting annoyed with me. One of my book-lover friends actually walked around school with her nose stuck in this book!
While it does take a long time for Armstrong to set the stage, once the you reach the midway point, the story unfolds rapidly. I now realize that the author was building her characters, and that is something I can really appreciate.
Let me make a recommendation: if you should choose to give this book a try (which I highly recommend), make sure that you have the sequel on hand. There's a bit of a cliff hanger at the end. I get the feeling that the second book will be even better than the first, now that the story is rapidly unfolding.
The Summoning
By Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher
# of Pages: 390
Age Rating: +13
My Rating: 5 Stars
Synopsis:
My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.
All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost--and the ghost saw me.
Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House . . . before its skeletons come back to haunt me.
Review:
This book was amazing! I can't believe that when I first got this book, I just left it sit at the bottom of my reading pile! I started to read this book and one and a half hour later, my first reaction was wow. wow. WOW.WOW!
The author did a amazing job at writing this, the characters seem real, very real and the book just grabs you!
When I was reading this, it just seem so real, like the one part when Choloe was in the basement of the Lyle House and the "things" that were down there with her trying to get her, I had to cover my mouth to keep from making any noise!
The one thing that I really like about this book was that this book is very clean for a teens book.
I LOVE this book! GO READ this NOW! Drop everything and read it! This book is worth buying and that's what I am going to do right now!
I give it 5 stars!
Enjoy! :D:D:D
By Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher
# of Pages: 390
Age Rating: +13
My Rating: 5 Stars
Synopsis:
My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.
All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost--and the ghost saw me.
Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House . . . before its skeletons come back to haunt me.
Review:
This book was amazing! I can't believe that when I first got this book, I just left it sit at the bottom of my reading pile! I started to read this book and one and a half hour later, my first reaction was wow. wow. WOW.WOW!
The author did a amazing job at writing this, the characters seem real, very real and the book just grabs you!
When I was reading this, it just seem so real, like the one part when Choloe was in the basement of the Lyle House and the "things" that were down there with her trying to get her, I had to cover my mouth to keep from making any noise!
The one thing that I really like about this book was that this book is very clean for a teens book.
I LOVE this book! GO READ this NOW! Drop everything and read it! This book is worth buying and that's what I am going to do right now!
I give it 5 stars!
Enjoy! :D:D:D
After reading Vampire Diaries (VERY DISAPPOINTING), I gave up on young adult vampire series. I saw this book at the library and since the book I really wanted was checked out, I picked this one up. The Summoning (bk 1) & The Awakening (bk 2) were both there, but I figured I wasn't going to like it anyway, so I only checked out book 1--just to pass time while I waited for my real book.
Boy did I make a mistake by taking out only The Summoning!!!! I LOVE this book!!!! I can't say enough good things about it and it has renewed my faith in YA books (I have since started Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead..hehehe). When I finished this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Book 2.
I love all the characters in this book. The events were interesting and kept me guessing--what a page turner! Since I do get spooked easily (hahahha), I got scared at certain parts. Every night, I would get tired and think, "just one more chapter". But, it was really hard to put the book down. I ended up finishing The Summoning within 2 days. And wow!!! What a cliffhanger at the end!
Boy did I make a mistake by taking out only The Summoning!!!! I LOVE this book!!!! I can't say enough good things about it and it has renewed my faith in YA books (I have since started Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead..hehehe). When I finished this book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Book 2.
I love all the characters in this book. The events were interesting and kept me guessing--what a page turner! Since I do get spooked easily (hahahha), I got scared at certain parts. Every night, I would get tired and think, "just one more chapter". But, it was really hard to put the book down. I ended up finishing The Summoning within 2 days. And wow!!! What a cliffhanger at the end!
Wow that was great! The characters had depth, the plot was never boring, it was just fantastic! I highly recomend it. It completely beat Twilight. I am finding it hard to find a good enough book to follow it....
I read The Summoning in one day. It's a fantastic story about a film-enthused teenage girl who finds herself in a situation reminiscent of the movies she loves: seeing people that aren't really there, she is sent to a home for troubled teenagers and put on psychotropic medication. But there is more to her situation than meets the eye, and many of the secrets don't come out until the very end.
PROS:
-Great prose style. Very readable without ever feeling cheesy or oversimplified. It easily mirrors the internal thought process of a mature teenage girl and is interspersed with cultural references that make the story seem more realistic and relevant to today.
-The story keeps moving and keeps the reader interested. It's almost impossible to put down because every chapter seems to end with a cliffhanger.
-The characters are likable and realistic. The plot, while fantasy, is aided by the characters' realistic reactions to its twists and turns. There are few cliches, and those that exist are lampshaded humorously.
CONS:
-The Summoning is not going to win any awards for depth or social commentary, but it serves quite well as an entertaining and escapist young adult novel.
-Some of the characters seem a bit underdeveloped, particularly a few of the other teenagers at the group home and their nurses/caretakers. I had trouble differentiating between some of the background characters. A very minor flaw, but something the author could easily fix with attention.
All in all, The Summoning was an excellent quick read with lots of interesting layers and amusing side notes. Definitely a must-buy (especially at its low price!) for fans of YA, magical fantasy, and adventure stories.
PROS:
-Great prose style. Very readable without ever feeling cheesy or oversimplified. It easily mirrors the internal thought process of a mature teenage girl and is interspersed with cultural references that make the story seem more realistic and relevant to today.
-The story keeps moving and keeps the reader interested. It's almost impossible to put down because every chapter seems to end with a cliffhanger.
-The characters are likable and realistic. The plot, while fantasy, is aided by the characters' realistic reactions to its twists and turns. There are few cliches, and those that exist are lampshaded humorously.
CONS:
-The Summoning is not going to win any awards for depth or social commentary, but it serves quite well as an entertaining and escapist young adult novel.
-Some of the characters seem a bit underdeveloped, particularly a few of the other teenagers at the group home and their nurses/caretakers. I had trouble differentiating between some of the background characters. A very minor flaw, but something the author could easily fix with attention.
All in all, The Summoning was an excellent quick read with lots of interesting layers and amusing side notes. Definitely a must-buy (especially at its low price!) for fans of YA, magical fantasy, and adventure stories.
In Kelley Armstrong's young adult debut, The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1), we meet Chloe Saunders. On the day she gets her first period, late at age 15, she starts seeing ghosts again for the first time since childhood. After an encounter with a ghostly janitor, Chloe is sent off to receive treatment at a teen group home. However, Lyle House isn't what it first seems, and she finds herself surrounded by other teens with supernatural powers that all have been labeled as mental disorders. Soon, readers are sucked into Chloe's world where spirits are raised, friends and enemies are made, and conspiracy runs deep.
I really enjoyed this book. Armstrong's writing was strong for a YA novel, and I liked the backstory she built for her characters, especially Chloe and Derek. Chloe is smart and sure of herself, even when boys are around; it was refreshing to see such a strong female character. When romantic or sexual tension appears, it's done well with a light touch. There's a lot of mystery and suspense, especially at the end, and I'm looking forward to what happens to the characters in the next book.
On the down side, the writing was a bit slow during the middle and the ending was unsatisfying. I knew the book was part of a series before starting, but the ending literally leaves the reader in the middle of a conversation. The cliffhanger did pique my interest for the next book, but it left me also feeling very frustrated at the author for creating such an unfinished ending.
If you're looking for romance, be forewarned that this book focuses more on character development and action. The story is really about Chloe, her friends, and the trials they must go through as teens with supernatural powers. You can sense there will be more romance in the books to come, though. I'm really looking forward to delving into the sequels, The Awakening (Darkest Powers, Book 2) and The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, Book 3).
I really enjoyed this book. Armstrong's writing was strong for a YA novel, and I liked the backstory she built for her characters, especially Chloe and Derek. Chloe is smart and sure of herself, even when boys are around; it was refreshing to see such a strong female character. When romantic or sexual tension appears, it's done well with a light touch. There's a lot of mystery and suspense, especially at the end, and I'm looking forward to what happens to the characters in the next book.
On the down side, the writing was a bit slow during the middle and the ending was unsatisfying. I knew the book was part of a series before starting, but the ending literally leaves the reader in the middle of a conversation. The cliffhanger did pique my interest for the next book, but it left me also feeling very frustrated at the author for creating such an unfinished ending.
If you're looking for romance, be forewarned that this book focuses more on character development and action. The story is really about Chloe, her friends, and the trials they must go through as teens with supernatural powers. You can sense there will be more romance in the books to come, though. I'm really looking forward to delving into the sequels, The Awakening (Darkest Powers, Book 2) and The Reckoning (Darkest Powers, Book 3).
The first thing I have to say is, "NOOOOOOOOOOoOOooooooOOO! You can't stop there!" This book ended too soon for me!
Chloe Saunders is seeing ghosts. Everyone, including Chloe herself, thinks she is crazy, schizophrenic to be exact. She is sent to live in a group home for teenagers with mental illness. She begins to believe she isn't so crazy after all. There is something strange happening to her, and in the group home in general. While she is there, she befriends other teens with odd symptoms as well and makes an enemy of one moody, disturbed girl.
I loved Chloe's inner monologue (dialogue?!?! Not sure which word I want to use there!). It read with lots of sarcasm and self-doubt. It made Chloe very likable as a character. Her comments and her unwillingness to accept that she is actually seeing ghosts makes her believable. I hate when you read a story and someone just accepts something paranormal without doubt. Would anyone really do that in real life? I think not! You would think you are crazy, dreaming, drinking too much coffee....anything before you believed it was ghosts or werewolves or zombies!
I really am looking forward to reading the second book in the series, The Awakening. I hope it is as action-packed as the first book. It feels good to be back in my normal reading routine!
[...].
Chloe Saunders is seeing ghosts. Everyone, including Chloe herself, thinks she is crazy, schizophrenic to be exact. She is sent to live in a group home for teenagers with mental illness. She begins to believe she isn't so crazy after all. There is something strange happening to her, and in the group home in general. While she is there, she befriends other teens with odd symptoms as well and makes an enemy of one moody, disturbed girl.
I loved Chloe's inner monologue (dialogue?!?! Not sure which word I want to use there!). It read with lots of sarcasm and self-doubt. It made Chloe very likable as a character. Her comments and her unwillingness to accept that she is actually seeing ghosts makes her believable. I hate when you read a story and someone just accepts something paranormal without doubt. Would anyone really do that in real life? I think not! You would think you are crazy, dreaming, drinking too much coffee....anything before you believed it was ghosts or werewolves or zombies!
I really am looking forward to reading the second book in the series, The Awakening. I hope it is as action-packed as the first book. It feels good to be back in my normal reading routine!
[...].
Things I liked:
-I like the characters, even the ones you're meant to hate.
-It was definitely engaging and I never felt bored reading it.
-Dialog and writing was well done.
-I liked watching Chloe learn to use her powers to talk to ghosts.
Things I Disliked:
-It felt like I only got the first half of a book, there was a ton leading up to the climax during the last few pages and then it abruptly ends. I like cliffhangers just as much as the next person, but this left waaaay too much unsaid.
-Personally mental health facilities give me the creeps and I didn't really like that it took place in one.
-While I did enjoy this book and I don't have a lot of points to make in this section, there weren't very many things that stood and grabbed my interest enough to make note of
Overall I did enjoy reading this, it just wasn't my kind of story. I probably will pick up the sequel The Awakening to see what happens though. I liked this book soo much more than I did Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, which was the first novel I had read by this author, I guess I just like her YA style better. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books that star supernatural beings, although I think this leans to more of a girls read than a guys.
I give this a 3.75 out of 5
-I like the characters, even the ones you're meant to hate.
-It was definitely engaging and I never felt bored reading it.
-Dialog and writing was well done.
-I liked watching Chloe learn to use her powers to talk to ghosts.
Things I Disliked:
-It felt like I only got the first half of a book, there was a ton leading up to the climax during the last few pages and then it abruptly ends. I like cliffhangers just as much as the next person, but this left waaaay too much unsaid.
-Personally mental health facilities give me the creeps and I didn't really like that it took place in one.
-While I did enjoy this book and I don't have a lot of points to make in this section, there weren't very many things that stood and grabbed my interest enough to make note of
Overall I did enjoy reading this, it just wasn't my kind of story. I probably will pick up the sequel The Awakening to see what happens though. I liked this book soo much more than I did Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, which was the first novel I had read by this author, I guess I just like her YA style better. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books that star supernatural beings, although I think this leans to more of a girls read than a guys.
I give this a 3.75 out of 5
Chloe is a late bloomer. She is only five feet tall, looks like a little girl, and hasn't developed curves yet. No sooner does she turn fifteen than things begin to look up. A film buff, she one day she discovers she is considered as play director at her private arts school. To make things better, a popular boy asks her out to a dance and she finally gets her period. But she also discovers that she can see ghosts. An incident at school lands her at Lyle House, a private mental hospital for troubled teens. There she meets some interesting people -- a girl obsessed with fire, another with a so-called poltergeist, and an over-developed sixteen-year-old boy with abnormal physical strength. But are these kids mentally disturbed, or is something more sinister going on inside the gates of Lyle House? Why is Chloe there? Is she schizophrenic, or is she a necromancer?
Halloween season is just around the corner, and that means that I'll be reading lots of paranormal/horror/gothic stories. This one fits the bill in all three categories. The Women of the Otherworld series was a favorite of mine right until Personal Demon. I have been curious about Kelley Armstrong's new teen series and couldn't wait to give it a whirl. Based on the supernatural characters and their abilities, this series seems to take place in the same world as the one found in Women of the Otherworld. Chloe seems to be the one heroine for this particular series and it'll focus on her and her imprisonment at Lyle House. The mounting tension and mysteries surrounding the facility are well done. The one frustrating factor is that the book ends just when it gets interesting. Lucky for me, the second book, The Awakening, is out in hardback. I very much enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the ones that follow.
Halloween season is just around the corner, and that means that I'll be reading lots of paranormal/horror/gothic stories. This one fits the bill in all three categories. The Women of the Otherworld series was a favorite of mine right until Personal Demon. I have been curious about Kelley Armstrong's new teen series and couldn't wait to give it a whirl. Based on the supernatural characters and their abilities, this series seems to take place in the same world as the one found in Women of the Otherworld. Chloe seems to be the one heroine for this particular series and it'll focus on her and her imprisonment at Lyle House. The mounting tension and mysteries surrounding the facility are well done. The one frustrating factor is that the book ends just when it gets interesting. Lucky for me, the second book, The Awakening, is out in hardback. I very much enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the ones that follow.
feel like it ended just as it was getting good
I am not really sure what to say about this book at the moment. I liked it - and I like most of the characters. A few things caught me by surprise and a few things didn't. Since it, in my opinion, so abruptly ends, I think I need to reserve any judgement until I read the next book. The only thing I will say is that some of the dialogue I found myself skimming, and for me, that's a sign that the dialogue isn't very good. And the fact that it didn't impact my understanding of the story or my ability to see some things coming a mile away leads to me have to hope that the dialogue is better in the next one. I did like the general idea of the book and most of the plot - and I am interested in seeing what is going to happen to the teens. But I can't say I loved it and I am going to wait to read the next one until I get a library card or it comes out in paperback.
I am a fan of Kelley Armstrong, have been since Bitten first came out all those years ago. So when I discovered she was writing a YA series that took place in her Other world I was intrigued. At first I had a hard time with this book. The characters are a little cookie cutter and the narrative was a bit young and like a lot of YA recently reliant on technology/brand names which is distracting and dangerous in fiction.
But as the midway point approached I really started to get into the story, and the characters. By the end I was absolutely riveted and then saddened by the brief To be continued ending which gives no resolution whatsoever and makes the book impossible to read as a stand alone. I will say that the character of Derek is the only reason I am sticking around and looking forward to the next book. I think Armstrong is phenomenal and at her best when writing about SPOILER (werewolves) . The potentially complex and interesting relationship between the young Chloe and the dark brooding Derek is what kept my eyes on the page.
The rest is just a little cliche, with mysterious supernatural schools, an X men team of kids, and big conspiracies....
But as the midway point approached I really started to get into the story, and the characters. By the end I was absolutely riveted and then saddened by the brief To be continued ending which gives no resolution whatsoever and makes the book impossible to read as a stand alone. I will say that the character of Derek is the only reason I am sticking around and looking forward to the next book. I think Armstrong is phenomenal and at her best when writing about SPOILER (werewolves) . The potentially complex and interesting relationship between the young Chloe and the dark brooding Derek is what kept my eyes on the page.
The rest is just a little cliche, with mysterious supernatural schools, an X men team of kids, and big conspiracies....
I have never read any other works by this author, but I found I really enjoyed this book. Chloe is just an average teen when she starts seeing ghost, and finds herself locked away at an institution with a small group of kids. From there the story really gets good as she interacts with the other characters and finds that they aren't so different from her, and the institution isn't what its cracked up to be. The ending did leave you hanging, but it was such a great read that I can't wait till the next book comes out!
Bookalicio.us review of The Summoning
I discovered Kelley Armstrong about two years ago. I picked up a copy of a book from her "Women of the Otherworld" series and really enjoyed it. So when I heard Kelley was working on a new trilogy well I had to pick up "The Summoning". This book was quite a lot different from what I have previously read from Armstrong. It was meant more for a teen audience, when I am used to reading her adult series. It was a bit over simplified even for a teen plot. The book took a while to get going, the main character was a bit too self conscious and not confident to the point you got annoyed and if Chloe Saunders was in front of you, you would probably slap her and scream at her to stop being such a baby. The character whines a lot for a character who is constantly showing how tough, and out of the box thinking she is supposed to be.
The plot was super slow through two thirds of the book and it gave me the feeling the ending was rushed, the plot unties itself in the last small bit of the book and I felt it moved too fast after the first part of the book dragged on so slowly. I felt the book ended in a weird way. Like ending in the middle of a chapter, not ending a story. I understand the first book of a trilogy needs to end open, but this was like WAY OUT IN LEFT FIELD open. Like middle of a conversation open. I was really disappointed in the ending. When something ends like that, I really don't want to read the second book, its apparently really not worth my time if it is going to upset me and if I don't like the writing style.
All that being said, the book does have three stars for a reason. The book flowed together well. Armstrong understands the supernatural world like no one else. When she fits several genres of supernatural together it doesn't ever feel meshed or complicated. It just fits. The Lyle House where the supernaturals are being held on the pretense of mental illness was described well. You feel like you are also inside the walls of the house while you are reading.
If you are a fan of Armstrong or really like teen supernatural books, like Meyers or Bray have written then I suggest you pick up a copy of The Summoning. You may really like the character of Chloe and her friends. I did think the supporting characters of the book were awesome. Simon and his foster brother Derek are especially well developed and also are supernaturals. So yeah go ahead and read it. I am hoping on my personal feelings of Armstrong's previous works that the second book coming soon is going to tie all this together for me and not end in such an open way. I think the Darkest Powers series is worth a chance.
The plot was super slow through two thirds of the book and it gave me the feeling the ending was rushed, the plot unties itself in the last small bit of the book and I felt it moved too fast after the first part of the book dragged on so slowly. I felt the book ended in a weird way. Like ending in the middle of a chapter, not ending a story. I understand the first book of a trilogy needs to end open, but this was like WAY OUT IN LEFT FIELD open. Like middle of a conversation open. I was really disappointed in the ending. When something ends like that, I really don't want to read the second book, its apparently really not worth my time if it is going to upset me and if I don't like the writing style.
All that being said, the book does have three stars for a reason. The book flowed together well. Armstrong understands the supernatural world like no one else. When she fits several genres of supernatural together it doesn't ever feel meshed or complicated. It just fits. The Lyle House where the supernaturals are being held on the pretense of mental illness was described well. You feel like you are also inside the walls of the house while you are reading.
If you are a fan of Armstrong or really like teen supernatural books, like Meyers or Bray have written then I suggest you pick up a copy of The Summoning. You may really like the character of Chloe and her friends. I did think the supporting characters of the book were awesome. Simon and his foster brother Derek are especially well developed and also are supernaturals. So yeah go ahead and read it. I am hoping on my personal feelings of Armstrong's previous works that the second book coming soon is going to tie all this together for me and not end in such an open way. I think the Darkest Powers series is worth a chance.
When I saw this book I had a good feeling about it. The cover was cool, and when I read the description I bought it without hesitation.
I haven't read any other of her books, unlike some of the other reviewers but I have to say after reading The Summoning I hope she writes better in those.
The plot was great up until the middle, when it started to go on hyper-speed in certain parts and then super slow on others. Then the ending came and I was confused at the abrupt cliffhanger.
One thing I will give this book is that its well-done up to the middle. Then...well I can't say I wasted $17 but I definetly wished I had waited to get it from the library.
I haven't read any other of her books, unlike some of the other reviewers but I have to say after reading The Summoning I hope she writes better in those.
The plot was great up until the middle, when it started to go on hyper-speed in certain parts and then super slow on others. Then the ending came and I was confused at the abrupt cliffhanger.
One thing I will give this book is that its well-done up to the middle. Then...well I can't say I wasted $17 but I definetly wished I had waited to get it from the library.
Definitely a series to invest in!
What would you do if you woke up one day and saw a ghost? If you're like 15-year-old Chloe Saunders, you end up in a group home for "troubled" kids. All Chloe wants to do is get back to her normal life, but she keeps seeing ghosts, and is starting to suspect that this isn't a normal group home - and that the doctors might have something sinister in mind for all the kids. This is Kelley Armstrong's first book for young adults, and it is fantastic. With strong, witty characters and danger at every turn, this is the start of a must-read series.
I consumed this book in one sitting... and I am looking forward to the rest of the series and how these young people get back together and grow up; and how Ms. Armstrong is going to integrate these people into the 'Women of the Otherword' and the 'Men of the Otherworld'.... I am facinated by the whole concept of reality that exists within our 'mundane' world.... More please.. :)
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
Chloe Saunders is an ordinary teenage girl. She wants to meet boys, hang out with her friends, and become a movie director. Chloe realizes she's not so ordinary when she sees a horrifying ghost in the halls of her art school. She has a breakdown and is sent to the "Lyle House", a group home for teenagers with mental illnesses.
The Lyle House is full of interesting characters, and Chloe wonders if any of them are really on her side. The nurses tell her with the medications her hallucinations will go away, but why is she still being contacted by ghosts? What do they want from her, and can she help them? Chloe and the other kids realize that their symptoms don't match up with the illnesses the doctors have pigeonholed them into, thus making them question what they really are and what really goes on at the Lyle House.
I recently just started Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld Series, and knew I had to have this book when it came out. I couldn't wait to see what she could do in the Young Adult Paranormal Arena! She definitely didn't let me down. I love the characters, especially Derek. He's so dark, strong, and scary, but deep down he cares. He just has a hard time showing it. Simon and Rae are still kind of mysterious, and I don't feel like they were developed enough. I'm sure we will get to know them better in future books. There of course is the mean girl at the home, Victoria. Thanks to the evil Victoria there is one scene in a crawl space...in a basement that is super intense! I think the book took an interesting twist at the end, and leaves us with a cliff hanger! Evil...Evil Authors!
I think this is a great beginning to a YA series, and can't wait to read the rest.
If you love Kelley's other writings, please don't hesitate to pick this one up when you see it. I thought it was really fantastic to see the teenage side of this world.
The Lyle House is full of interesting characters, and Chloe wonders if any of them are really on her side. The nurses tell her with the medications her hallucinations will go away, but why is she still being contacted by ghosts? What do they want from her, and can she help them? Chloe and the other kids realize that their symptoms don't match up with the illnesses the doctors have pigeonholed them into, thus making them question what they really are and what really goes on at the Lyle House.
I recently just started Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld Series, and knew I had to have this book when it came out. I couldn't wait to see what she could do in the Young Adult Paranormal Arena! She definitely didn't let me down. I love the characters, especially Derek. He's so dark, strong, and scary, but deep down he cares. He just has a hard time showing it. Simon and Rae are still kind of mysterious, and I don't feel like they were developed enough. I'm sure we will get to know them better in future books. There of course is the mean girl at the home, Victoria. Thanks to the evil Victoria there is one scene in a crawl space...in a basement that is super intense! I think the book took an interesting twist at the end, and leaves us with a cliff hanger! Evil...Evil Authors!
I think this is a great beginning to a YA series, and can't wait to read the rest.
If you love Kelley's other writings, please don't hesitate to pick this one up when you see it. I thought it was really fantastic to see the teenage side of this world.
Book one of the Darkest Powers Series
THE SUMMONING is my first Kelley Armstrong book. This is also the first book in the Darkest Powers series. The book's main character, Chloe Saunders, reminds me of the Ghost Whisperer. She sees dead people, only she doesn't know it. With John Edward, Sylvia Browne and other psychics on TV, I'm not sure why she doesn't realize she is seeing ghosts. Instead, she believes she is having a psychotic breakdown and ends up in the Lyle House - a group home for kids with mental issues diagnosed with schizophrenia.
As the story unfolds, Chloe discovers there is a dark past attached to the Lyle House. She also learns she's a bit more than a ghost whisper. She's a necromancer, a person who can raise the spirits of the dead. What she does realize until later is that she is abnormally powerful. She also discovers some of the resident teens at Lyle House also have special abilities. There is Simon who can create mist. Derek has superhuman strength and heightened senses. They aren't 100% sure what Rae is yet.
Questions mount and Simon needs to find his father. He believes his father will have the answers needed. There are a lot more of them - people with special powers - out there, but in hiding. When Chloe and the other three set out to find him, the staff hunts them down. Derek now has the ability to morph into a primitive creature. Since the staff at Lyle House have discovered this, he'll be hunted and killed. Chloe isn't sure the same fate won't happen to her.
I hate to continually label books as page-turners, but that's the correct term for THE SUMMONING. I skipped work in order to finish the book. I simply couldn't put down. The question will be why not five stars? One reason has been mentioned - believability. In the age of Google and cable TV, teens aren't stupid. In fact, they know more than adults. I just don't buy the fact she didn't get she was seeing ghosts.
The next issue I had was with the ending. Teens might love cliffhangers, I don't. I don't mind lingering questions when another book is coming, but this ended right in the middle of a scene. "There's something I need to tell you." The End. Stuff like that makes me scream and not in a positive way. Leave me wanting more, but not just hanging in the wind screaming "WHAT?"
If you haven't read this book, do so. When you do, make sure you have the second book, THE AWAKENING, too. You aren't going to want to stop. Trust me.
As the story unfolds, Chloe discovers there is a dark past attached to the Lyle House. She also learns she's a bit more than a ghost whisper. She's a necromancer, a person who can raise the spirits of the dead. What she does realize until later is that she is abnormally powerful. She also discovers some of the resident teens at Lyle House also have special abilities. There is Simon who can create mist. Derek has superhuman strength and heightened senses. They aren't 100% sure what Rae is yet.
Questions mount and Simon needs to find his father. He believes his father will have the answers needed. There are a lot more of them - people with special powers - out there, but in hiding. When Chloe and the other three set out to find him, the staff hunts them down. Derek now has the ability to morph into a primitive creature. Since the staff at Lyle House have discovered this, he'll be hunted and killed. Chloe isn't sure the same fate won't happen to her.
I hate to continually label books as page-turners, but that's the correct term for THE SUMMONING. I skipped work in order to finish the book. I simply couldn't put down. The question will be why not five stars? One reason has been mentioned - believability. In the age of Google and cable TV, teens aren't stupid. In fact, they know more than adults. I just don't buy the fact she didn't get she was seeing ghosts.
The next issue I had was with the ending. Teens might love cliffhangers, I don't. I don't mind lingering questions when another book is coming, but this ended right in the middle of a scene. "There's something I need to tell you." The End. Stuff like that makes me scream and not in a positive way. Leave me wanting more, but not just hanging in the wind screaming "WHAT?"
If you haven't read this book, do so. When you do, make sure you have the second book, THE AWAKENING, too. You aren't going to want to stop. Trust me.
If You Like Supernatural Suspense & Romance...
A likely bet for fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Armstrong's teenage characters seem weak on reasoning and planning skills--but that's not an altogether unheard of pubescent condition. Or is the book just weak on motivation and plot? Well, perhaps. The strongest element of this YA novel is probably its depiction of various relationship tensions between the inmates of Lyle House's rehabilitation program for mentally disturbed teens. One certainly senses the nascent love triangle between Chloe, the main character, and the brothers Simon (a super-cute sorcerer) and Derek (a self-hating werewolf). Then again, Armstrong has crafted a real page-turner here, complete with an unsuspected plot twist and cliffhanger ending. Her greatest achievement in the novel might be in creating an audience eager--desperate even--to read the next installment of the planned trilogy.
If you enjoyed The Summoning or Twilight, I highly recommend Margaret Mahy's The Changeover, one of the best, most enjoyable books I've ever read. (Yes, Ever.)
If you enjoyed The Summoning or Twilight, I highly recommend Margaret Mahy's The Changeover, one of the best, most enjoyable books I've ever read. (Yes, Ever.)
I cannot remember the last time I wanted to throw a book across the room in absolute, unequivocal disgust. Calm down, believe it or not, this is a good review. Well, sort of. I totally wanted to toss this book through a closed window, just not for the reasons you'd expect. The Summoning was AMAZING. I literally could not stop reading it, turning page after page, and chewing the insides of my cheek like I had some kind of obsessive/compulsive disorder (they're pretty ratty right now to be honest - I may need to go find some mediocre books just to let them heal).
So as usual, good things first. From the first page, I was sucked in. By the end of the first chapter, I was gone, hook, line and sinker. Captivated. I loved the story. It wasn't necessarily original, but the author weaved and twisted it enough to make it different.
Chloe Saunders can see ghosts, but she defines it as necromancy, which gives it some added dimension. It's not just about Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense or Jennifer Love-Hewitt in Ghost Whisperer. This is more of a power that doesn't just talk to the dead, it can raise the dead. Add in a superhero twist along the line of the popular series Heroes, a fake home for mentally-distressed kids, power-hungry doctors trying to control these so-called supernaturals, and you've got a recipe for something really interesting, not to mention gripping. When you take all of those plot and character elements and mix in Armstrong's incisive imagery, effortless dialogue, and non-stop pacing, you get absolute book magic. I was in book heaven...until I got kicked in the teeth.
And that brings me to the bad thing. Yes, I wrote "thing", as in singular. And it's bad, really BAD...as in administer a beat-down bad. WHO ENDS A BOOK THIS WAY?! Seriously. The supernaturals escape the house, are chased by doctors, get split up, are betrayed by the protagonist's aunt, tell a ghost it's dead, and then you END? I got to the end and thought to myself - there must be a mistake, maybe some pages are missing? I read them again and checked again. Nope, that was it. It really just ended. I have never felt so completely cheated in my life (I guess I should thank my lucky stars that it was just by a book).
For this reason, I rate this book 4 stars out of 5, instead of 5 stars. That's right - one whole star for making me feel like an un-paid Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Would I recommend The Summoning? Yes, absolutely. It was a gripping, well-written page-turner. But be forewarned. You will probably get as mad as I did! But other than that, it was pretty amazing.
For more reviews, hit my profile for my site info.
So as usual, good things first. From the first page, I was sucked in. By the end of the first chapter, I was gone, hook, line and sinker. Captivated. I loved the story. It wasn't necessarily original, but the author weaved and twisted it enough to make it different.
Chloe Saunders can see ghosts, but she defines it as necromancy, which gives it some added dimension. It's not just about Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense or Jennifer Love-Hewitt in Ghost Whisperer. This is more of a power that doesn't just talk to the dead, it can raise the dead. Add in a superhero twist along the line of the popular series Heroes, a fake home for mentally-distressed kids, power-hungry doctors trying to control these so-called supernaturals, and you've got a recipe for something really interesting, not to mention gripping. When you take all of those plot and character elements and mix in Armstrong's incisive imagery, effortless dialogue, and non-stop pacing, you get absolute book magic. I was in book heaven...until I got kicked in the teeth.
And that brings me to the bad thing. Yes, I wrote "thing", as in singular. And it's bad, really BAD...as in administer a beat-down bad. WHO ENDS A BOOK THIS WAY?! Seriously. The supernaturals escape the house, are chased by doctors, get split up, are betrayed by the protagonist's aunt, tell a ghost it's dead, and then you END? I got to the end and thought to myself - there must be a mistake, maybe some pages are missing? I read them again and checked again. Nope, that was it. It really just ended. I have never felt so completely cheated in my life (I guess I should thank my lucky stars that it was just by a book).
For this reason, I rate this book 4 stars out of 5, instead of 5 stars. That's right - one whole star for making me feel like an un-paid Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Would I recommend The Summoning? Yes, absolutely. It was a gripping, well-written page-turner. But be forewarned. You will probably get as mad as I did! But other than that, it was pretty amazing.
For more reviews, hit my profile for my site info.
LOVE Kelley Armstrong; HATE Cliffhanger "Endings"
I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series, and this trilogy is set in that universe, but completely separate from the characters we already know. I was sucked into the story of Chloe and her growing knowledge that she is a necromancer, but just when things started to pick up, the "novel" abruptly ends. I'm all for leaving a few strands of a larger storyline unresolved, but I get the feeling Ms. Armstrong wrote a great longer novel and the publisher literally chopped it up into three pieces and published each section as a separate "novel." If it's about money, then charge more for the one book, but don't expect me to wait 6 months to a year for resolution of the initial story. On principle, I will not be buying parts 2 and 3 and if Ms. Armstrong allows her publisher to do this crap with the Otherworld series as well, she will have lost a fan and reader. READERS of serial books - this seems to be a common trend in these novels (see the Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine, Dead and *** series by MaryJanice Davidson). If like me, this money-grabbing ploy drives you crazy, then stand up for your rights and REFUSE to give in! Stop buying these partial works at full price and let the publisher know you are not going to take it anymore! And authors, understand that you are LOSING readers by allowing your publishers to put out unfinished works.
wonderful addition to the YA paranomal genre...
Chloe Saunders has always seen ghosts. Of course, she didn't know they were ghosts. After another particularly frightening episode, Chloe's mom decides it's time to move, and that is the last Chloe sees of them.
Fast forward to age 15. Chloe is now living with her maid because her mother has died and her father is too busy working all over the world. She's attending yet another school, but at least this time it's an art school and she's managed to be there for more than one year. It's nice not being the new girl for once. She's your average teenage girl just trying to get through the typical trials of high school - exams, friends, and boys. When Chloe officially hits puberty and finally starts her period at school and kind of gets asked on date to the school dance, she thinks life couldn't get any better. Evidently, she's wrong because with the onset of her period, the ghosts come rushing back at her. After having a breakdown at school, Chloe finds herself admitted to Lyle House - a group home for troubled teens.
Diagnosed as schizophrenic, Chloe vows to the doctors and her family that she's determined to get better. She dutifully takes the medications they give her and tries to ignore the strange phantoms talking to her. After all, if she's schizo, hearing voices isn't all that uncommon - right? As Chloe slowly gets to know the rest of the teens at Lyle House she begins to question that reasoning. After one of the girls is taken from Lyle House, Chloe begins to have doubts about the group home. Chloe and the rest of the group slowly come to realize that Chloe really isn't crazy - and neither are they. But why are they all here and who are these doctors that claim they just want to help them to get better? And most importantly, can they really be trusted?
While Kelley Armstrong is a huge presence in the urban fantasy genre, this is her first foray into the YA arena and I must say she does a fine job of it, too. The story is set in the same world as Armstrong's adult urban fantasy series, Women of the Otherworld. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Chloe and riding along while she begins discovering who - and what - she really is. Up until she's placed in Lyle House, Chloe had lived a very sheltered, but pampered lifestyle. When she ends up teaming up with some of the residents at Lyle House she's exposed to more than she could imagine is really out in the real world. While there are times that I have to remind myself that Chloe is just a teenager and there's a reason she acts/reacts in certain ways, overall I really enjoyed the book. By the end of the book there is a lot of action happening and I found myself not wanting the story to end, knowing I'd have to wait for the 2nd book, The Awakening, to release months from now. If you are a fan of the ever-growing YA paranormal genre, I recommend this book.
Fast forward to age 15. Chloe is now living with her maid because her mother has died and her father is too busy working all over the world. She's attending yet another school, but at least this time it's an art school and she's managed to be there for more than one year. It's nice not being the new girl for once. She's your average teenage girl just trying to get through the typical trials of high school - exams, friends, and boys. When Chloe officially hits puberty and finally starts her period at school and kind of gets asked on date to the school dance, she thinks life couldn't get any better. Evidently, she's wrong because with the onset of her period, the ghosts come rushing back at her. After having a breakdown at school, Chloe finds herself admitted to Lyle House - a group home for troubled teens.
Diagnosed as schizophrenic, Chloe vows to the doctors and her family that she's determined to get better. She dutifully takes the medications they give her and tries to ignore the strange phantoms talking to her. After all, if she's schizo, hearing voices isn't all that uncommon - right? As Chloe slowly gets to know the rest of the teens at Lyle House she begins to question that reasoning. After one of the girls is taken from Lyle House, Chloe begins to have doubts about the group home. Chloe and the rest of the group slowly come to realize that Chloe really isn't crazy - and neither are they. But why are they all here and who are these doctors that claim they just want to help them to get better? And most importantly, can they really be trusted?
While Kelley Armstrong is a huge presence in the urban fantasy genre, this is her first foray into the YA arena and I must say she does a fine job of it, too. The story is set in the same world as Armstrong's adult urban fantasy series, Women of the Otherworld. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Chloe and riding along while she begins discovering who - and what - she really is. Up until she's placed in Lyle House, Chloe had lived a very sheltered, but pampered lifestyle. When she ends up teaming up with some of the residents at Lyle House she's exposed to more than she could imagine is really out in the real world. While there are times that I have to remind myself that Chloe is just a teenager and there's a reason she acts/reacts in certain ways, overall I really enjoyed the book. By the end of the book there is a lot of action happening and I found myself not wanting the story to end, knowing I'd have to wait for the 2nd book, The Awakening, to release months from now. If you are a fan of the ever-growing YA paranormal genre, I recommend this book.
This book gripped me from the start to finish.. The entire series is very exciting. The story has some similarities to The James Patterson Maximum Ride series but is far more suspenseful and well written. I like that the author only had three books in the series. When authors drag out a series each new book seems to become incomprehensible and has no excitement. This was short and sweet. I highly recommend this book.
This book really draws the reader in and keeps you hanging on until the very end. When starting this book, know where to immediately find book 2 in the series because you will find yourself hooked!
I picked up this book when i saw it was about a girl (Chloe) who could see ghosts and eventually raise the dead. I really like ghost stories... basically anything having to do with the paranormal, so this book seemed like a good option.
And i wasnt wrong. Chloe's life changes abruptly in one day after she saw her 1st ghost at school. And everything goes downhill from there. She gets sent to a group home to "rehabilitate". But this place is more than just a group home for crazy kids. There she meets a witch, a sorcerer, and a werewolf. And things get worse when she finds out that one of the girls who lived there, and was Chloe's friend, was killed. They eventually escape from the house that has so many horrible secrets involving Chloe and her friends being put through experiments. After leaving she runs into the one person she could trust... or so she thought.
The mystery and suspense in this book kept me turning the pages wanting for more, until the book ended. Then i just wanted the next book altogether.
And i wasnt wrong. Chloe's life changes abruptly in one day after she saw her 1st ghost at school. And everything goes downhill from there. She gets sent to a group home to "rehabilitate". But this place is more than just a group home for crazy kids. There she meets a witch, a sorcerer, and a werewolf. And things get worse when she finds out that one of the girls who lived there, and was Chloe's friend, was killed. They eventually escape from the house that has so many horrible secrets involving Chloe and her friends being put through experiments. After leaving she runs into the one person she could trust... or so she thought.
The mystery and suspense in this book kept me turning the pages wanting for more, until the book ended. Then i just wanted the next book altogether.
Did this really need to be three books?
**NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN INCLUDE SPOILERS**
I read this entire trilogy in a little over a day. It was a decent story, but my main complaint was that I didn't see the need to break it up into three separate books for the story. It seems that each story ends in the middle of a scene and the length of the novels was short, therefore I'm not really seeing the need to have made three books out of the story.
The prologue begins with a little girl being tricked into the basement of her home by a frightening ghost. It doesn't really give an explanation as to why or tell what happens next and the scene isn't really mentioned again in any of the rest of the series, however despite that the prologue is interesting enough to hook you into the book from page one. I do find it unfortunate that none of this material is really brought up later, explained or expanded upon.
When we really enter the story at chapter one Chloe is 15, attending an art school in Buffalo, she seems totally normal except for being a little bit of late bloomer as far as puberty is concerned. When she gets her period though her world is turned upside down when a gory looking janitor only she can see chases her through her school resulting in her being subdued by teachers and removed from the school on stretcher. The next twist in this book however seems a little odd. Chloe isn't described as having ever been a trouble maker or ever prone to violent outbursts, but the school is requiring her to spend two mandatory weeks in a home for teens with mental issues before she returns to school unless she wants for the incident to appear on her permanent record and therefore destroy her dreams of a good college and future. While the story after this point is interesting, the plot twist that throws her into Lyle house seems incredibly unlikely to have happened. I could see the school making her see a counselor, but without a history, I can't see them forcing her into a home.
So she enters a group home of children with mental issues just like her, the doctors tell her she's schizophrenic, the other residents tell her she's a necromancer, a person who can communicate with ghosts and raise the dead and the focus of this section of the story is mostly Chloe's journey to deciding which one is the truth, is she crazy, or cursed?
The pacing is good, but not excellent and while I did enjoy the book I might not have bought the sequel if she didn't save the climax of the story for the very end of the book and leave the book off mid-scene. The Darkest Powers Trilogy might have received an all 5 Star Rating from me if it had been one solid book, however for a stand alone title the first story itself does leave much to be desired. Don't get me wrong there are quite a few exciting and intriguing scenes within the book, but you won't really understand how good what you're reading is unless you buy the entire trilogy at once and read them all together. What the first book in this series really reads like is the opening to a longer and more intriguing novel. Without the additional parts, it's definitely missing something.
I read this entire trilogy in a little over a day. It was a decent story, but my main complaint was that I didn't see the need to break it up into three separate books for the story. It seems that each story ends in the middle of a scene and the length of the novels was short, therefore I'm not really seeing the need to have made three books out of the story.
The prologue begins with a little girl being tricked into the basement of her home by a frightening ghost. It doesn't really give an explanation as to why or tell what happens next and the scene isn't really mentioned again in any of the rest of the series, however despite that the prologue is interesting enough to hook you into the book from page one. I do find it unfortunate that none of this material is really brought up later, explained or expanded upon.
When we really enter the story at chapter one Chloe is 15, attending an art school in Buffalo, she seems totally normal except for being a little bit of late bloomer as far as puberty is concerned. When she gets her period though her world is turned upside down when a gory looking janitor only she can see chases her through her school resulting in her being subdued by teachers and removed from the school on stretcher. The next twist in this book however seems a little odd. Chloe isn't described as having ever been a trouble maker or ever prone to violent outbursts, but the school is requiring her to spend two mandatory weeks in a home for teens with mental issues before she returns to school unless she wants for the incident to appear on her permanent record and therefore destroy her dreams of a good college and future. While the story after this point is interesting, the plot twist that throws her into Lyle house seems incredibly unlikely to have happened. I could see the school making her see a counselor, but without a history, I can't see them forcing her into a home.
So she enters a group home of children with mental issues just like her, the doctors tell her she's schizophrenic, the other residents tell her she's a necromancer, a person who can communicate with ghosts and raise the dead and the focus of this section of the story is mostly Chloe's journey to deciding which one is the truth, is she crazy, or cursed?
The pacing is good, but not excellent and while I did enjoy the book I might not have bought the sequel if she didn't save the climax of the story for the very end of the book and leave the book off mid-scene. The Darkest Powers Trilogy might have received an all 5 Star Rating from me if it had been one solid book, however for a stand alone title the first story itself does leave much to be desired. Don't get me wrong there are quite a few exciting and intriguing scenes within the book, but you won't really understand how good what you're reading is unless you buy the entire trilogy at once and read them all together. What the first book in this series really reads like is the opening to a longer and more intriguing novel. Without the additional parts, it's definitely missing something.
Share your thoughts with other customers
Create your own review
Create your own review
Lyle House is for mentally-ill teens who must work through their problems, or at least that is what it is advertised to be. Bizarre situations are occurring at this house, not only with herself, but also with other residents of the house. And no matter how much she tries not to believe it, Chloe sees more ghosts. Through strange events, the secrets everyone is hiding spills out, connections are made, and soon nothing is as it was thought to be. But with secrets.... there are always people who want to keep them quiet.
The Summoning was unlike anything I had expected. Kelley Armstrong has managed to mix a supernatural drama with a dash of teenage angst and a whole lot of conspiracy. This novel had an underlying sense of eeriness throughout it, waiting to burst. The middle of the story did drag a little, I will admit, but the end was thoroughly exhilarating. This book was amazing and the ending left it completely open for what is sure to be a fantastic trilogy.