The Summoning: a book recommendation
5 out of 5 stars.
Wow, just wow. I don’t know why it took me so long to pick up this book–I really regret not starting Armstrong’s The Summoning sooner. The book opens with a darn GOOD prologue that officially scared the willies out of me, and the story just builds and builds after that.
As I’ve mentioned before, I love a good ghost story, and trust me when I say this is a GREAT ghost story.
After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.
At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…
Chloe is one heck of a protagonist. Sure, she’s the typical doesn’t-fit-in teen, but…she actually is. In other words, she’s not a pseudo-freak (e.g. Bella Swan who thinks herself a freak but isn’t). Chloe is just an average teen trying to get through high school and coasting right down the middle-popularity path. She’s heroic while also being afraid, and she really develops as the story progresses.
As for the secondary characters, Armstrong has created a brilliant cast! I love that no one is quite what they seem, and that for once, the guy we like is…well, I won’t spoil the romance! Let’s just say he’s not your average Swoon-Worthy Hero (though he’s still majorly swoon-worthy!).
Throw in some creeeeeepy ghosts, a few nasty corpses, and an escalating mystery, and you’ve got the perfect formula for a satisfying read–heck, for a satisfying series. The Darkest Powers series has quickly become one of my favorites, and the fact that I devoured all three books–The Summoning, The Awakening, and The Reckoning–in one week should tell you how much I love it!
If you’re in the mood for some stellar paranormal YA or a real spine-tingling ghost story, then you’ll definitely want to read Kelley Armstrong’s The Summoning.
You tell me: Have you read this book or the series? Have you read anything else by Kelley Armstrong?
♥
June 26, 2011 @ 7:10 pm
This book has been on my TBR for awhile, but not very high up. But apparently it might need to be moved up a little, because this sounds totally awesome.
June 27, 2011 @ 1:33 am
Um, yeah…it wasn’t high on mine and that was a mistake. I LOVED IT (obviously). 🙂
June 26, 2011 @ 7:22 pm
Oh, you sold me! Thanks for the great review. This series sounds great! Amazon here I come…
June 27, 2011 @ 1:33 am
YAAAY! Let me know what you think!!
June 26, 2011 @ 10:14 pm
Exciting! I need to get my hands on this! Thanks for bringing its greatness to my attention! ;D
June 27, 2011 @ 1:33 am
You’re so welcome! Let me know if you love/hate/like it! <3
June 26, 2011 @ 11:27 pm
I have seen this book at Barnes & Noble (one Noble) before, but I’ve never paid much attention to it because it’s always buried amongst the thousands of vampire stories flying around. And the cover didn’t convince me that it wasn’t sooo…
What was that about not judging a book for its cover? Uh huh. I’m being shallow here.
Anyway, but it does sound really interesting 😀 And I don’t have any TBR books at the moment, so I might have to go steal my dad’s nook and buy it 😉 Talking about that (not really), I finally finished THE SWEET FAR THING of the GD trilogy after like 1287319021 times of being scared out of my mind lol But it was soooo good. So, against my etter judgement, I’ll have to read this ghost-story too 🙂
Btw, are we gonna get a post about time conversions for the Workshop before we have to apply? I tried to look up what 5pm EST would be in Venezuela and I ended more confuzzled than I was. LOL. Sad, indeed.
Sheez, long post.
Loves,
A
June 27, 2011 @ 1:35 am
Um…1) yes get it on the nook.
2) I’ll try to be really clear about the timezone I’m posting the application in (I’ll have a reminder post up tomorrow morning before the submissions go live tomorrow evening). I can’t do conversions, but I’ll try to find a website or something…okay??
June 27, 2011 @ 1:42 am
Kay. Thanks.
Sorry for the overwhelming post. :p
June 27, 2011 @ 2:58 am
It wasn’t overwhelming. I LOVE YOUR POSTS AND EMAILS. <3 <3 <3
June 27, 2011 @ 5:32 am
I LOVED the first two books (and Derek!) but I felt slightly disappointed with the final one since there were a few plot lines that weren’t wrapped up… but I’m hoping that her new series will mention Chloe & the rest of the characters. I really grew attached to them 🙂
June 27, 2011 @ 1:40 pm
Oh wow, that sounds awesome! Thanks for the rec. 🙂
June 29, 2011 @ 8:03 pm
I read THE SUMMONING earlier this year. I’ll admit at the end I thought, “What? That’s it?! She’s going to end the book like this???” It bugged me so much I haven’t checked out the other two yet lol. I think I’m over it enough now to go find them at the library. I agree about the characters tho – loved them!