The Summoning (Darkest Powers #1) in And So It Begins Reading Challenge

Dec 24, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it really liked it

Chloe has just hit puberty and with puberty has come some strange happenings, she has just started to see ghosts and they are making her scared and crazy. She finds herself in a semi-breakdown , next thing she knows her father and Aunt Lauren pull her out of the school and into a special rehab titled Lyle House. When Chloe arrives at the house , she discovers that not all is what it seems and that all the students in the house have special gifts from fire to necromancer. As the story goes along ...more

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Mar 08, 2011 CrystalBookSnob rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewd

This book was definitely something that was unexpected. But not unexpected bad, unexpected good. At first I was not really sure what it was about. Is it about seeing dead people or is it about witches and sorcery. And then toward the end I was thinking, “oh so there’s werewolves in this book too.” But I guess in the book’s defense I was fore warned because one of the main characters called “their kind” the “supernatural.” But the werewolf thing definitely came out of left field; it was excited a ...more

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Apr 14, 2010 Nicole rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorites, signed-by-the-author

After reading some of the reviews I was apprehensive, but not that I'm finished reading it I'm not quite sure what everyone was talking about... Anyway it was really good (better than I expected). The idea is not used too often so that was refreshing. All in all a very enjoyable read.

**SPOILERS!!**

There's not much I can think to change in this novel other than the beginning. The way I would have done it is have the main character Cloe already be in Lyle house and give the reader's flashbacks as After reading some of the reviews I was apprehensive, but not that I'm finished reading it I'm not quite sure what everyone was talking about... Anyway it was really good (better than I expected). The idea is not used too often so that was refreshing. All in all a very enjoyable read.

**SPOILERS!!**

There's not much I can think to change in this novel other than the beginning. The way I would have done it is have the main character Cloe already be in Lyle house and give the reader's flashbacks as to how she got there. It just felt like the fact that we knew her from the beginning as a normal girl, and then for most of the book she could see ghosts and was at some home for the mentally ill. Just my opinion but it seems to fit.

Chloe is now one of my favorite female protagonists I've read in a YA novel. She brings up many points that those in her situation would think of, but for some reason other authors don't think to add that sometimes. Armstrong did, and that made her writing and the character stronger. And I didn't feel like the author was trying too hard. The language was not difficult, but what really matters is that it flowed nicely and therefore I was able to read it in a couple days. I just couldn't put it down. It was suspenseful and had a little sexual tension that satisfied me enough to the point that I didn't need to give this a lower star.

It was already spoiled for me that Chloe chooses Derek in the last book, which I could have possibly guessed, but that means I read those parts differently. But I thought about it and realized that even if I hadn't known who she'd pick, I'd probably still be rooting for Derek over Simon. I strangely like to see how the inconsiderate jerks soften and change under the power of a strong-willed woman, and Derek is the definition of that jerk (to Chloe anyway).

I couldn't believe that Chloe's aunt had betrayed her like that; that she had basically been pretending to love her her whole life. And I couldn't believe that Liz actually died! Just the fact that Liz herself doesn't even believe she's dead and the fact that Chloe has to tell her just... well sucks! I'm really excited to see how this all plays out in the next installment. I need some answers!! ...more

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Apr 11, 2011 Avital rated it it was ok

A great disappointed. Didn't even bother to finish. ...more

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Jun 02, 2009 A rated it really liked it

Shelves: boys-and-girls, young-adult, sci-fi-fantasy, series, creepy, sexy, paranormal, ghosts

As good as Jane said! Couldn't put it down. Now I need the sequel. ...more

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Nov 22, 2010 Angela rated it really liked it

Its a YA book and I found the characters believable and appropriate. I'm 34 years old, so I would definitely need to chase this book with an adult paranormal, but I did like it and will continue the series. ...more

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