The Summoning (Darkest Powers #1) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Sep 13, 2010 Yz the Whyz rated it really liked it

Shelves: kelley-armstrong, 2012-challenge-books, 2012-reads

Crap! This book ends with a cliffhanger. Unfortunately, it's not enough to make me rush out and read the next installment (although I own the complete trilogy).

The Summoning is the story of Chloe whose 'normal' life turned tupsy-turvy when she started seeing ghosts. Diagnosed as crazy she was sent to Lyle House, where she met other kids with supernatural powers.

Told in first person, the story started out slow for me. I've always found Armstrong's prose to be fluid, so it was no hardship for me ...more

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Mar 25, 2010 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it it was ok

For readers of her Women of the Otherworld series The Darkest Powers trilogy seems to be set periphially within that world.
The opening sequences were good but the overall pace was pretty uneven - it flattened out considerably for the middle third of the book where very little happened, and then raced to the finish, before ending abruptly.
I wanted to like Chloe more than I did - Derek probably stole the show for me in terms of characterisation.
I might feel different about the book if I had the ...more

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Jul 22, 2008 Cindi Kelley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2009-read

Chloe happens to see ghosts but she doesn't find out till she reaches puberty. And when she does they cart her off to a mental help house for teens with problems. They say she's schizo but is she really? Why are all the other teens at Lyle House also with special powers. We hope she can get out here before it's too late.
Kelley's back with her great writing style. Like Bitten this is well written not just fluff read. Yes this is a teen book but it isn't all angst like the Twilight books. ...more

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Aug 31, 2009 Kristen rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult

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 think 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 abili ...more

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Apr 20, 2009 The Flooze rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal, vanquished_2010, ya_teen, the_magic_number

Fantastic! The Summoning is a thrilling book, with characters who are truly teenagers and a plot that’s disturbing and twisted. Kelley Armstrong sucked me in with a terrifying and gripping opening chapter, promising a strong story and fascinating characters. She certainly delivered.

The story is well-paced and Chloe is a likable heroine. For once, the lead in a YA is more concerned with sorting out her life than she is with the opinion of the cute boy down the hall. She suffers the appropriate d ...more

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Jan 06, 2017 Marla rated it liked it

Shelves: series, mixed-reviews, challenged, audiobook, young-adult, recommended-to-me, paranormal, ghosts, shape-shifters, zombies

This book sets up the scene and characters, but nothing really happens. It wasn't boring, but I kept waiting for something to happen. And just when I'm getting interested, the book ends. Planning to listen to the next book.

Likes:
* Special powers
(view spoiler)

Dislikes
* Not enough happens in this book. We meet the characters, they live in Lyle House, most of them have paranormal powers.
* Special powers ...more

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Sep 24, 2009 Samantha rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook-own, 2010

I'm a little on the fence about this new YA series from Armstrong. The plot was very similar to another book I've read by her, but I can see how it's a useful plot device to get all of the characters in one setting. The strength of this story (imho) were the characters. I really liked Simon, Derek, and Chloe and I will be reading the next in the series to find out what happens to them. Recommended, especially if you're familiar with her Women of the Otherworld series.

(Sidebar: Another pet-peeve ...more

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Oct 01, 2008 Daphne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, urban-fantasy, 2009

I want to read the next one so bad I've come very close to buying the hardback. And I never buy hardbacks. ...more

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May 22, 2008 Christal rated it liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, female-lead, shady-government-agency, demons, ya-and-na, ghosts, magic, weres-and-shifters, witches-warlocks-and-mages, necromancers

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