The Rising by Kelley Armstrong

Finishing a series is a weird feeling, it's both a sense of accomplishment and sometimes a bit of sadness too. I have really loved Kelley Armstrong's Darkness Rising Trilogy, which is the second Trilogy in the Darkest Powers Series, and recently I finished it up with The Rising, which was good, but I just didn't want it to be over. Luckily, it appears that Armstrong is writing a novella that takes place afterwards and I have a hope for more books.

I'm not going to provide much of a description because I don't want to give any spoilers, but basically this is a series about a group of teens with ancient supernatural powers that were resurrected in them as a part of a giant experiment. Now they are on the run, and so it is a pretty intense busy novel. As always, Armstrong's writing is easy to follow and enjoyable to read. However, there is a romantic shift that I found a bit abrupt, although eventually believable. A few familiar faces from the other trilogy also show up in The Rising and I really loved seeing Chloe and Derek again-- can never get enough of them!

Reading The Rising also really makes me want to pick up some of Armstrong's adult novels because they are all interconnected in the same world. That's both the wonderful thing and the problem with books like these, once you fall into them there is no way to get out. So much to read! Overall, The Rising wasn't my favourite book in the Trilogy (I think I prefer book 1 and 2) but it was a fun, adventure-filled read with lots of secrets revealed and lots of potential for more books that I can't wait to read as well. I don't read a ton of paranormal fiction, but I am a huge Kelley Armstrong fan and if you are at all interested in the genre I definitely recommend trying out some of her books!

Release Date: April 9th 2013 Pages: 400  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Doubleday Canada  Buy It: Book Depository

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

The Calling (Darkness Rising #2) by Kelley Armstrong  

Release Date: April 10th 2012
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Random House Canada
Also by this Author: The Summoning; The Awakening; The Reckoning; The Gathering
Buy It: Book Depository

Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.

When I picked up The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong last year, I had no idea what kind of surprise I was in for. I hadn't read much paranormal literature in the past, and I wasn't sure I'd like it. It turned out it wasn't so much the paranormal aspect that blew me away as Armstrong's writing: so exciting and easy to read. And as much as I loved The Gathering, the first novel in the Darkness Rising trilogy, when I then read the Darkest Powers trilogy, which consists of the first three books in this Darkest Powers series, I was even more impressed. To me, The Calling reaches the same level as the Darkest Powers Trilogy and in that it surpasses The Gathering.

As great as The Gathering was, it had a lot of background to build on and so was fairly slow-paced until the ending. In contrast, The Calling is explosions and crashes and kidnappings from page one right until the heart-pounding ending. It's one of those books I devoured in a day, and when it ended I just wanted more. Unfortunately there's another year to wait until the final book in this trilogy, The Raising, is released.

Everything that was great and unique about The Gathering is still present in The Calling. I loved the Canadian setting, especially because so much of this novel takes place in the wilderness, which Armstrong expertly brings to life. I loved that the main character was a strong, powerful girl and that not only was Maya not white, but she was also adopted and happens to love her family. There are plenty more secrets that come to the surface in this novel, and Armstrong handles each plot twist in a page-turning and believable way; even the ones I wouldn't normally have believed (Rafe anyone?).

I really loved the way things came together in The Calling and the character growth and dimensions that developed. Sometimes animals get one-dimensional treatment in novels, but I thought Maya's dog, Kenji, had such a real personality for a canine and loved her role in the story.

Overall, The Calling is such a thrilling novel and I absolutely adored it.  It's not a book about complex issues, instead it's easy and enjoyable to read, the kind of story you can disappear into without thinking too hard. I really have nothing negative to say about The Calling, I'll just be desperately waiting for the final book next year because like always, Armstrong ends on an intense and riveting note.

The Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong

The Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong includes The Summoning, The Awakening and The Reckoning. As I read all three books in one week and have similar comments about all of them I have decided to combine my review into one which will avoid spoilers and instead give my general opinion on the series. I picked up The Summoning after getting hooked into Armstrong's world through the most recent book in The Darkest Powers Series- although part of a distinct trilogy called Darkness Rising- The Gathering. Unfortunately the next novel in that trilogy is not due out for another year so my next best option was to go back to the initial three books and I am so glad I did.

The Darkest Powers Trilogy begins with The Summoning in which fifteen year old Chloe waits anxiously for puberty while attending art school. Chloe has plans to become a screenwriter/director and is used to being ordinary until something extraordinary starts happening to her as she begins to hear voices and see things. After being hospitalized Chloe is sent to Lyle House where she is diagnosed as schizophrenic, but the truth for both Chloe and the other teenagers sent there is far more complicated.

As a novel, The Summoning instantly hooked me into the story with Chloe's voice which was easy to relate to. It has just the right mix of fantasy and suspense to get the reader's interest as well as a unique and well-developed set of characters. Immediately I was drawn to the troubled Derek, but the dialogue between all the characters was enjoyable, especially the less likable Tori. Although The Summoning certainly ended on such a note that I picked up the next novel immediately, it was good for a first in a series in the sense that Armstrong introduced the characters and the plot well and answered quite a few of the questions I had.

That said, I was definitely glad I was able to delve into The Awakening right afterwards which picks up immediately after The Summoning ends. The entire Darkest Powers Trilogy is actually only told over maybe two weeks, which at first I found slightly odd but there was so much happening over that brief period of time that the novels were fast-paced anyway. By the time The Summoning begins, Chloe and her friends including Derek, Tori, and Derek's foster brother Simon, have a much better idea why puberty has been treating them so strangely. They also have some scary people after them because of it.

The Awakening was a fantastic middle book for a trilogy, and my favourite in the entire Darkest Powers Trilogy. By this point the reader has a fairly clear understanding of what is going on in Chloe's world and is completely pulled into the suspense of the chase that is going on as The Awakening has even more action than The Summoning. The reader also gets to spend more time with my favourite character, Derek. Because Chloe wants to be a screenwriter, she occasionally relays scenes in the novels as if they were scenes in a movie, wishing they were so that things would be as easy as they are in a film. I enjoyed this unique perspective and it definitely made me smile a couple times throughout the books. I also liked how even though Tori really has to rely on Chloe in this book, it doesn't stop her from speaking her mind, even if that means she's not too well-liked. Chloe herself is a strong main character although I did wish she would stand up for herself sometimes at not be so "nice", it was great to see her recognize this was a problem and realize that sometimes she has to do what is right even if it is not what other people agree with.

The final book in the trilogy is The Reckoning, and I was so glad that I didn't have to wait to read it next. It offers closure to many of the issues brought up throughout the book, including the conflict Chloe has over the two boys in her life. In fact, it was the first book with a real dash of romance in it and even though it technically wasn't that long since Chloe met Simon and Derek, it did really feel like they had gotten to know each other of the last couple weeks and it wasn't just one of those insta-love situations that sometimes plague young adult literature. I do hate that there was a love triangle at all but this one did feel slightly more reasonable than they sometimes are at least. Of course I won't offer any spoilers but I will say I was definitely happy with how things turned out.

In terms of actual plot however, The Reckoning was unfortunately my least favourite in The Darkest Powers Trilogy. I had become so connected to the characters that I was a bit disappointed in the storyline which at times felt unoriginal compared to the first two books. I also felt like quite a bit of the novel, especially the beginning, was pretty slow-paced compared to the rush of the rest of the series and there were quite a few new characters introduced that I didn't really get to know well enough to care about. There were also a few new concepts that I didn't quite grasp surrounding the organization involved in the novels that I wish had been clarified better.

The ending of The Reckoning didn't really have the closure I was craving, and left quite a few questions unanswered, in particular I really want to know the story behind the necklace, especially considering it's featured on all three covers! The books take place over quite a short period of time so I really wished for an epilogue that let you know how the characters were doing later on. Perhaps The Darkness Rising Trilogy will answer some of the remaining questions? Either way, I'll be reading as this trilogy has me even more excited about what the rest of the Darkest Powers Series will offer. I was surprised how easily Armstrong sucked me into her world, a world I couldn't leave until I had read all three novels. The characters felt authentic and the supernatural twist was enjoyable and not cliched. Overall, The Darkest Powers Trilogy is fast-paced, original and insanely addicting collection of books.

The Summoning:  
Release Date: July 1st, 2008
Pages: 390
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The Awakening:
Release Date: May 1st, 2009
Pages: 368
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The Reckoning: 
Release Date: April 6th, 2010
Pages: 391
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The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong takes place in a town so small it's not even on the map. Salmon Creek is located on Vancouver Island and almost entirely privately owned by a company that does medical research there. Maya moved there when her father became park ranger, and instantly bonded with Serena and Daniel. But recently, odd things have begun happening. Serena drowns in a calm lake despite being captain of the swim team, and a year later cougars begin appearing frequently surrounding Maya's house. At the same time, a new boy, Rafe, has moved to town and he shows a strong interest in Maya, but is it her, or just her paw-print birthmark he's wanting to know more about?

This was my first book by Armstrong who is quite popular when it comes to both YA and adult paranormal fiction. I pleasantly surprised by The Gathering which was really enjoyable to read. The main character, Maya, was authentic and I appreciated that even though she was adopted she was really happy with her family. Although she doesn't know which tribe she is from, she appears to be Native and it was also nice to have a non-white main character. Also, on a personal note, I really loved the Canadian setting and the fact that Armstrong incorporated it so well into the book, from the fact that she calls them cougars instead of mountain lions to a Canadian Idol joke. The Gathering is not the book to pick up if you are looking for some profound thoughts on life, but it is definitely fun and easy to read and a great way to spend some time.

As much as I enjoyed Armstrong's writing, and will definitely pick up the sequel, I didn't really feel like The Gathering was a complete book. Sometimes this happens when authors are writing series unfortunately, but really not much happened in this book, and basically nothing happened except near the very end. It ends on a cliff-hanger, but even in a series I expect books to offer some answers on their own and in The Gathering there are very few and a whole lot more questions. Although it was a slow start, I do appreciate how much time Armstrong took setting up the premise and the town where Maya lives. However I wish that following the slow start there had been more substance to the story and I have a feeling that The Gathering will work much better as one of three books in the Darkness Rising Trilogy than it does on its own. It has convinced me to pick up the Darkest Powers Trilogy which Darkness Rising is a spin off from, and luckily all three of those books are already published so I can read them in one-go rather than waiting for answers.
 
Although there is a romance in The Gathering the book doesn't center around it, it focuses more on the odd happenings going on. I did find the chemistry between Rafe and Maya believable, and all of the teenagers in Salmon Creek felt authentic although Maya may have been a bit too perfect. The great thing about the novel being set in such a small town is that the reader really gets a feel for the setting, as well as the fact that Armstrong can introduce you to everyone Maya's age, give them each distinct personalities, and it doesn't feel overwhelming. By the end of The Gathering I really felt like I could visit Salmon Creek and run into these characters and know who they are. Overall, even if I wished for a few more answers in The Gathering it is an enjoyable novel with a believable setting that has definitely hooked me into reading the rest of the Darkness Rising Trilogy.

Release Date: April 12th, 2011
Pages: 368
Source: ARC From Publisher
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