Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Chloe's POV set after The Darkness Rising trilogy.

Chloe and Derek have adjusted to life in Badger Lake. It’s not perfect, but it’s safe and they’re learning the skills they’ll need when it comes time to make a decision about their futures. They’re comfortable and they’re settled . . . until a weekend camping trip with Maya and Daniel reunites them with someone they thought they’d left in the past. Someone Derek really hoped they’d left in the past, because as much as this former friend might want to atone for past mistakes, she’s nothing but trouble.

This is a Subterranean Press ebook only release, containing 4 original illustrations. Please note that Atoning is a novella, not a full-length novel (it’s about one-third as long as the books)

84 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2014

93 people are currently reading
2369 people want to read

About the author

Kelley Armstrong

302 books33.5k followers
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
841 (47%)
4 stars
578 (32%)
3 stars
304 (16%)
2 stars
54 (3%)
1 star
12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
Profile Image for Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘.
1,314 reviews3,107 followers
May 9, 2018
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*A bit of a let down*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

A year has gone by, I think, Chloe has just turned 16 and the group has adjusted to life in Badger Lake; ‘a community custom-made for the kids and their families of supernaturals like Chloe, Derek and Simon. It's owned by the St. Cloud Cabal to let all the Edison Group kids finally stop running. He would protect them from others, and he’d give them a place to live.’ We get to see how the character we've been following are now, who they are with and so on. I was a bit disappointed as I had expected more. I also didn't like how Derek has to hold himself back. I wouldn't mind being around him all the time, nor would I mind him being overprotective or over in love or something. I believe, since he's a werewolf, he has chosen his mate, and it sucks that people is down talking that. Chloe should consider herself luck that she's gotten a man like Derek, not annoyed (or trying to change him) that he doesn't want to be apart from her. Again, I wish the characters were older, that things were more mature and that the werewolf thing was more accepted.
“Shouldn’t it? If I choose to work—”
“—your ass off to get an extra year of school in because your boyfriend whines about not wanting to Change on his own?”
“You don’t whine.”
“Yeah, I kinda do. But that’s just the excuse, and I hope you know that. Sure, I don’t like the idea of Changing without you there, but I don’t like the idea of you not being there a whole lot more. I don’t want to go to school without you because I don’t want to go to school without you. But I can’t say that to my dad, or he’ll start worrying we’re getting too serious.”
“Has he said—?”
“No, he doesn’t say it. Neither does your dad. But that’s because your aunt does it for all of them. If I admitted I just don’t want to leave you, I’d get a talk on how if we’re meant to be together, we’ll be fine, and a little distance isn’t a bad thing. .....Dad knows you’re the best damned thing that ever happened to me, and he doesn’t want to interfere with that. But he’s still a dad. He worries. In this case, he worries that I’m going to suffocate you, and you’ll back off, and I’ll get hurt.”
“That won’t happen.”
“But he thinks it. He makes little comments, like wondering if you’re spending enough time with Maya, reminding me it’s important for you to have other friends. I know that, and I don’t think I get in the way of that, and if I do, tell me.”

Profile Image for Tori.
998 reviews31 followers
November 9, 2014
MY BABIES ARE GROWING UP AND BEING SUCH MATURE ADULTS ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP!!!!!!
Profile Image for Ronda.
890 reviews179 followers
October 30, 2016
Loved revisiting this world, this novella was fabulous!!
Profile Image for Jessi (Novel Heartbeat).
1,111 reviews722 followers
July 17, 2016



Back in Chloe's POV! Yaaaayyy!! After reading three books in Maya's POV, though, Chloe seems almost...meek. Despite the fact that I enjoyed the Darkest Powers waaay more than I enjoyed Darkness Rising, I have to admit that I like Maya better. *gasp* Atrocious, right? Okay, so maybe it's not that I like her better, I can just relate more to Maya. And she is pretty badass.

Still, it was amazing to get back into the world of Derek and Chloe! I have to say that I missed them. A lot. And now they're growing up...thinking about serious relationships, and college...squee! The only reason this got a higher rating than the rest of the series did is, well, BECAUSE DEREK. <3

It was interesting to see Rae again, and get a little insight into what's going on in her mind. Oh, and LIZ!

My only complaint about this one is that there was MORE running/thwarting adults. I feel like that's all the entire Darkness Rising series was about O_O

Also, I was kind of hoping there's be an appearance from the mentioned Pack near Syracuse, but oh well. Maybe in another spin-off, Kelley?
Profile Image for Kelly.
5,668 reviews227 followers
October 5, 2023
Oh, man. This book reminded me exactly why I adore Chloe and Derek so darn much. Something about the two of them together makes me so happy. I could read snippets about them FOREVER and not get tired of the way they interact.

*makes happy, giddy noises for a few more minutes*

Right. So Derek and Chloe. Maya and Daniel are there, too. And they're pretty awesome when they all join forces. Especially since the Nast Cabal has been teaching these kids how to defend themselves and fight back. Which they do nicely.

There's some backstabbing (not between Derek and Chloe) and some twisty moments when they come face to face with a familiar face. And there's kissing. I like the kissing parts.

All in all, a solid jump back into a world I adore with characters I can't get enough of.

(PS. I'm on a Darkest Powers reread now. For reasons.)

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Profile Image for Samantha.
534 reviews90 followers
March 13, 2017
Atoning is set after Armstrong's Darkness Rising trilogy. Chloe, Derek and gang go on a mini-camping adventure that gets interrupted when someone tries to kidnap them. This novella is more for fans of the series, but I read it to see if I could to get into Armstrong's Young Adult books. After reading this one, I'm unsure if I can.

Armstrong has said that she started writing Young Adult because she wanted to create something that her daughter could read, and it shows. This story was laden with morals that Armstrong probably wanted to pass on to her kid. This is fine, except when all of your main teen characters are extremely responsible and understanding to the point of having no major flaws. It makes the characters boring and gets pretty heavy handed when the adults are all commenting on how crazy responsible they are.

However, I'm willing to give Armstrong the benefit of a doubt and will probably one day read a full length book in this series. I'm just not in any rush to do so.
Profile Image for Mikky.
974 reviews275 followers
January 1, 2015
Originally posted at:


I am a pretty big fan of Mrs. Armstrong's Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising series, so when I was browsing through her site and found a link to a free short story that she was currently writing and adding chapters every 15 days I was VERY excited!

This short story combines characters from both her YA series (mentioned above) and it shows how grown up and mature they have become as people. I am also a fan of Chloe ♥ Derek, so I was very happy with how the story turned out. I'm still hoping for another sequel for them. As they say in Brazil, hope is always last to die.

This was a very quick "adventure". It was paced amazingly well and kept me on my toes the whole time (considering I had to wait 15 days for every chapter to release).
Profile Image for Cindy.
531 reviews16 followers
April 23, 2015
It's so good to read about Chloe and Derek again! Yes, yes, I ship them so hard. I thought it was really interesting to read about Rae and how she's trying to make up for the mistakes she made in the past, but she ends up making the same mistake. I also love how in the background we get to explore Chloe and Derek's relationship and how real-life problems (like college) affect them. I was never a fan of Maya and her trilogy, but I might pick it up again just because of the promise of more Chloe and Derek. So, if you're a fan of Darkest Powers, I totally recommend this (how could you not want to read this?).
Profile Image for Page.
310 reviews11 followers
August 15, 2015
All the feels are still there!!!!!

My babies are growing up. I love Chloe and Derek! The Darkest Powers trilogy is still my favorite out of all the YAs I've ever read. Being able to experience another adventure with them was amazing. I've always felt like pacing of the trilogy was too fast with no enough time passing. So, having now read this story a few years into the future I just love it.

I thought this was an interesting story and I really liked the quick glimpse back into the world. I'm glad it focused on the Edison group kids more so than the Salmon Creek, because I still would have preferred more Darkest Powers books over the entire Darkness Rising trilogy ... but I digress.

I loved this novella as much as I have loved all the novellas that have came out. This is a close second behind Becoming because Derek's POV is always going to be my favorite.

Excellent read. Still want more, will always want more.
Profile Image for Marie.
504 reviews39 followers
April 1, 2016
CHLOE AND DEREK YOU SAY? Yes please! The entire story was a short one and the plot wasn't the focus for me. It was the more wow have things changed aspect. There is still a lot I would love to see in Derek and Chloe's story...(like meeting the pack? Pretty please?) but this was a welcome look into their lives.
Profile Image for Penny Ramirez.
2,002 reviews30 followers
November 10, 2014
4.5, but I rounded up because I've missed these guys.

It was very satisfying to FINALLY have the kids interacting, not only with each other, but with someone from the Otherworld series. I always did like Sean. It is great fun to watch them growing up.
Profile Image for Barbara.
480 reviews
March 21, 2016
I love Chloe and Derek. I love seeing them so sure of themselves and with great friends. More more moreeee...I need more!
Profile Image for Joti.
Author 3 books13 followers
November 10, 2014
KILLER SHORT STORY LOVED IT
So all the kids at Badger Lake; Maya, Daniel, Chloe, Derek, & Ash, Corey, Tori, Simon, Hayley & Sam - so they're happy there & Maya, Daniel, Derek & Chloe have a trip planned & we start with a prologue from Rae (back from Lyle House) who betrayed Chloe & thinking she has to save Chloe from the Nast Cabal & Sean Nast, whose set up this whole Badger Lake deal - so it turns out Rae got tricked again & at the theatre, she tries luring chloe away but Chloe calls Derek & they hatch a plan & they grab Rae & tell her she's wrong & that she screwed up - they take down the people Rae was supposed to take them to & go back tot he campsite where they've got their 2 guards; Moreno & Luke & it turns out Luke's the traitor & Moreno shot him in the tent when Luke attacked him & so he's dead - they leave Moreno unconscious & make a plan; Maya, Daniel, Rae, Chloe & Derek - Rae takes Chloe with her & they get captured on purpose & Derek comes in & also gets captured - and Liz, whose a ghost now, helps them escape from the abandoned paper mill was it? & Chloe uses her necromancer powers to reanimate Luke's dead body & they tie up all their attackers & find out they actually wanted Tori, a half-witch & sorcerer for some prophecy thing - the whole thing SAVANNAH GOT TANGLED UP IN 13, the last book of the Women of the Otherworld series!!! - & then they call up Sean & he comes early & sends a Nast team to clean up that mess & everything works out - they have Maya & Ash's birthday party & Ash makes a running space for her SO SWEET!! & Rafe & Annie are still there too - Rae's going to be staying at Badger Lake now too with her mom Jacinda - & Chloe & Derek work out college stuff - she was studying ahead to catch up so they could go to school together but he says he should take it at her own pace & that he'll go into college early a term so they'll only be apart for 4 months & then she can come join him at college & she's happy with that - the characters have changed & are different now :D :D <3
Did they have sex there at the end in the woods? I wasn't sure LOL
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mari.
54 reviews44 followers
November 29, 2014
IT was PERFECT better than I imagined it would be. We saw the improvements that Chloe and the others made during their stay in Badger Lake, the advantages and disadvantages of that and my favourite =>> We saw more of Chole&Derek, and their relationship, and their love!!!

Reading this was so refreshing! I haven't read a good quality book with good writing and storyline in weeks!! I LOVED THIS!!

BUT I WANT TO READ MORE!! I want Chloe&Derek to meet with "the pack", I want their FAMILIES to meet with Jamie&Jeremy, I want more and more from this story; it just can't end, and I just can't imagine a sequel as good as Kelley Armstrong writes, it's not my fault I can only read... And there are no other like this story no matter what anyone says. No author writes like this one, no story has a world OR characters like this one and they CAN'T! Sure there are other unique and pleasing stories -however rare they might be- BUT they can not substitute for OTHERWORLD ;_;

Profile Image for Kikiromao .
58 reviews
July 8, 2021
Meehh too short. It was all too "simple" (how they got away from the bad guys and won the whole thing) and what was that thing with Ray? It was just... boring. The motive that carried what was happening wasn't that interesting like the trilogy. The cool part was to see the characters again.

I wish Chloe had fought more and shown all the things that she had gotten better at. Could have raised more dead things, literally fought rather than just stand by because she is a necromancer. I mean: really?? What about that terrifying power in the other books?!?!

"Oh i can't change into an animal like Maya or Derek, and I can't fight like Daniel"
USE THE POWERS YOU GOT YOU FISHMONGER!!
(I am having some classes of Shakespeare, don't mind me with the insults)

Soooo overall, good recap of everyone's abilities, the no non-sense crap that Maya has got for her (luv you gurl!) And just a short story to end the "I MISS THE CHARACTERS" sob through the night. Lol
Profile Image for Tina ♥ Bookaholic.
958 reviews134 followers
April 17, 2016
Nicht perfekt, aber gut, wenn man die Charas mag, was ich ja tue. Chloe & Derek *yeah* <3
Außerdem glaube ich, dass sie jetzt endlich Sex hatten... war aber nicht ausdrücklich beschrieben, kann also auch nur meine Wunschvorstellung sein ;)
Profile Image for Jade.
851 reviews12 followers
December 31, 2015
A nice short story detailing events since the end of the trilogy. I did initially by thinking this was a new Armstrong book and not sure I'll bother paying out to read all the other little additions, but a nice catchup and quick read.
Profile Image for keikii Eats Books.
1,079 reviews55 followers
May 3, 2018
78 points/100 (4 stars/5).

Chloe and the rest of the teenagers are settling in to the new town, but there is still some unfinished business.

This novella is actually the best out of the entire series. It wasn't looking to be more than it was. It wasn't trying to extend the story to fill word counts. It did what it came to do, and then it was over. Nothing was wasted. My only issue is that it was just more of the same things we have been in both Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising.

Taking place after the Darkness Rising and Women of the Otherworld series, this was a nice almost slice-of-life story. The kids are basically getting ready to go off to college, but they're still in danger. This was short, about a quarter of the size o fthe novels. Still, it was good and I enjoyed reading it.
Profile Image for Miss Clark.
2,888 reviews223 followers
October 18, 2019
2.5 - 3 stars

Set after the end of the Phoenix series, it follows Derek and Chloe and Maya and Daniel and the others as they live with the Nast Cabal at Badger Lake. Rae shows back up, trying to get Chloe away from the evil cabal, etc.

It was nice to see the characters all together, (and Liz!) but it was rough that all the adults were still so apprehensive and worried about Chloe and Derek. Listen, they have a better handle on their relationship than pretty much any adult in either series so maybe let them be?

I would still like to hear more about them down the road if Kelley ever decides to, but I also don't care for the sexually explicit content of her adult series and this had more "content" than anything previous in the Darkest Powers series/novellas.
338 reviews3 followers
October 4, 2018
4.5 stars
Quick read, fast paced.
Chloe and Derek <3
Nice to have a catch up on the gang, and see how they're doing in their "non-captivity".
Moreno is fast becoming one of my favourite characters.
Kinda sad to see Ash take a back seat in this one, as I would like to know more about him.
Rafe: Completely forgotten, which was pretty upsetting, as he is one of my faves in the series. Also not much on Annie.
The door is left open for more books, but whether the author will step through is yet to be seen.
Profile Image for Leilani Osmundson.
250 reviews
March 11, 2025
I’m glad we get to revisit Chloe’s world, but all of the kids are suddenly top-tier assassins with no flaws, the dialogue is entirely over-explaining and plot dumping, the amount of telling vs. showing is astronomical, and the stereotypes are once again in full swing … I mean, this is an actual quote:

“Tori might have been the token ‘mean girl’ at Lyle House, and I won’t say she turned out to be a misunderstood nice girl, but, as with most people, there was more to it than that.” P. 56

Just disappointed with how this world panned out, as I loved the original trilogy so much.
Profile Image for °☆.。.:*・Nanna°☆.。.:*・.
488 reviews62 followers
June 12, 2017
The rating is actually at 3.5 stars.

Another book in Chloe's perspective, which is sweet. What makes it better is the fact that it has the Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising characters joined together. What only could make this better is if there was more. I just love seeing Derek and Chloe together. I also like having all the characters interact. It was also nice to hear them planning their futures and finding some happiness in their lives for once.
Profile Image for Brett Tourscher.
Author 10 books18 followers
March 12, 2022
I loved this book! I realized I read the 3rd one first but it’s okay😂

This novel was amazing! I love all Kelley Armstrong novels! She is a superb writer, and can make her characters stand out! Her stories are always amazing!

This novel particularly was a wonderful read! I love Kelley’s setting of Canada (where I reside) and it always makes me feel close to home! I flew through this one like all her others!

Now I just need to read the entire series ahahah
3 reviews
March 28, 2019
An okay read

I struggle with books that introduce a new cast list that solves the initial cast list's issues. I don't plan on reading the books in between The Reckoning and Atoning, but this is a nice in between piece to give me at least a bit of closure on the Lyle house gang.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.