The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong Series: The Darkest Powers #1
Also in this series: The Awakening, The Reckoning
Also by this author: The Awakening, The Reckoning, The Calling, Life Is Short and Then You Die
Published by HarperCollins Publishers on 2011-06-14
Genres: Paranormal, Teenage girls, Young Adult
Pages: 400
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
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…
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong is in two words “brain candy”. I don’t know why, but The Summoning reminded me of Twilight, only I actually enjoyed it. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong is a paranormal YA about Chloe, who finds herself in a group home for teens with mental illnesses.
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong is quite captivating, I would look up from reading 15 minutes, and discover I had read 30 pages. However, the reason could be that I read a heavier adult book prior to reading The Summoning. Unfortunately, I do have some criticisms of this book. A bit of the dialogue seemed contrived, i.e. you are trying to steal my guy? LOL. Some of the characters were kind of flat like Tori and Rae. However, I was rooting for all of the characters.
The action in The Summoning was well-done. Much of the plot had me on edge. Lots of WHAT, NO WAY while I was reading The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong. I like when I react verbally to the words I am reading. The ending was a cliff-hanger, I suppose it is a lucky thing that I have the Awakening out from the library.
While reading The Summoning, I suggest you drink a cotton-candy flavored slushy, since it’s drink-candy, essentially. These are the perfect light drink for a hot summer day or between serious drinks like coffee and milk and water, just like the Summoning by Kelly Armstrong is the perfect book to read between weightier tomes.
Series Order:
The Summoning
Latest posts by April (Books&Wine) (see all)
- The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth | Audiobook Review - May 12, 2025
- Stay Awake by Megan Goldin | Audiobook Review - May 10, 2025
- Mapping The Interior by Stephen Graham Jones | Novella Review - May 4, 2025
I am all about the verbal reactions to books and TV shows. It's like talking to yourself, only better.
I have never had a cotton candy flavored slushie, but if it is anywhere near as good as a Louisiana cotton candy flavored snow cone, it must be awesome!
I have been wanting to read this and I am on the reserve list at the library and I think I am next, so whoooo hooo. Sounds like it might be good.
I really love this series, it's great. And a cotton candy slushie you say? Sounds amazing haha. ;D
I LOVE this series! The Awakening is even better if you can believe it!
I completely agree with your review! It was a nice read overall with a lot of twists at the end, but I did feel like the dialogue was so cliche at time. And, those candy slushies sound very interesting, I must try one sometime! 🙂
What I loved about this series was that it was exactly what I would have expected from a Kelley Armstrong ya series. It was like her adult books but ya appropriate. And I think it's getting better. Love Derek, even though he can be hard to love.
Sweet drink choice 😉
Now I want a slushie, haha! Great review — I love this series.
I enjoyed this but liked the Awakening even better so check out the sequel when you get a chance.
Definitely going to add this to my TBR pile! It sounds like a great book to me 😉 I always love reading some paranormal novels.
Thanks for your review!