Kelley Armstrong is book crack. I literally say this every time I review one of her books, but friends, I inhaled The Gathering – the first of a spinoff series to Darkest Powers. You do not need to have already read any of the Darkest Powers books to enjoy or understand The Gathering, however, reading the Darkest Powers books will enhance your experiences as minor characters make appearances.
The Gathering
16 year old Maya lives in a small -population of 200- town on a Vancouver island. The nearest town is like an hour away. Maya’s tow is centered around a medical research center called St. Cloud. Almost everyone who lives there works for St. Cloud basically. Maya lives with two parents and describes them as winning the adoption lottery. You see, Maya is Native American but her adoptive parents are white. The only thing that tying her to her biological family is a paw print birthmark on her hip. FYI Maya is a supernatural creature.
Of course, if you read the Darkest Powers books you know Kelley Armstrong can heat up the page with just a heated glance or a simple hand on the arm. There’s a new boy in Maya’s school – Rafe – who is something of a badass Lothario. And he’s interested in Maya. But then there is her BFF Daniel, who I think, because I’m not an idiot, feel something for her — but I could be wrong. Anyways, it’s a not quite love triangle that has me sighing all over the place.
The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong has LOTS of exposition, which is not a bad thing in this book’s case. Armstrong has to build her world AND get you invested for the future books. Seriously, her writing is not 10 pages of purple crap, but actually setting the path and tone for the next books. And it reads so fast. The Gathering has 359 pages and you would think that would take so much time to read, right? NOPE. If you block out some space and turn the twitters off, you can totally get through The Gathering in no time, it’s that kind of book crack.
Disclosure: Borrowed from my local library (YAY TAXES I CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF)
Other reviews of The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong:
Two Readers Reviews
Forever Young Adult
Fyrefly Books
The YA YA YAs
Series Order:
Darkest Powers:
The Summoning (Book One)
The Awakening (Book Two)
The Reckoning (Book Three)
Darkness Rising (Spin-off series)
The Gathering (Book One)
The Calling (Book Two)
The Rising (Book Three) – out in 2013
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Gah! I have been meaning to pick this one up forEVER and it seems like if it’s not in front of my face, I forget about it.
I feel like that with a lot of series — like the Sarah Rees Brennan Demon series. I really WANT to read it but it’s not getting face time.
I read Darkest Powers books. I was not impressed at all with the first one of that series.. I felt like nothing happened till the very end, but the following two were great. I also felt like it left me hanging, so I’ve held of on getting this one.
I do love Kelley Armstrong. Her writing is superb. To this date though, I’m a much bigger fan of her adult series. I read the first 4, I really need to continue with those, because they are great. š
I’ll for sure give this one a try, but prob get it from the library.
I really need to get on her adult books as I love her YA.
The library rocks!
Ohhh it’s set in Vancouver? *adds to to read list*
Yes it is š
Hmm. Do you have to read the Darkest Power books before this series, or are they only tangentially related?
I would say you don’t NEED to read the Darkest Powers, but it will enhance your enjoyment.
Vancouver Island is pretty. Well okay, it looks the same as Vancouver the city but Victoria (the city on the island) is gorgeous. Especially the apartment buildings which kinda look like the Taj Mahal when lit up and not a place where stuffy politicians plot ruin my life. Anyway, back to the book, I’m glad you thought there was something up with the friend as well. Because if we go by the Darkest Powers book, there’s bound to be a shift in the love loyalties sooner or later (or so I hope). Fun, fun book.
Right, I bet Daniel will leave the friend zone. I can’t wait to find out. š
Just immediately went and put The Summoning on hold at the library š
YES! Oh my goodness you will love it.
I LOOOOOVED her Darkest Powers series. In fact, I don’t think I’ve reviewed all of them on the blog for some reason. I can’t wait to start this series!
And I love the name Rafe. Don’t you? I totally do. I’m looking forward to this romance. Not sure if it’ll beat out or run in the same league as Derek and Chloe, though. Also, you’re totally right: Armstrong books ARE book crack.
– Asher (from Paranormal Indulgence)
I’m not sure how I feel about the name Rafe – lol I think of Raffi the children’s singer because I don’t know how Rafe is pronounced.
ALSO I’m glad I am not the only one who thinks these books are book crack.
You know, I’ve never actually read anything by Kelley Armstrong. I’ve never really needed to “sell” her books to my teen readers in my library so I think she’s slipped off my radar. Her books are very popular!
You should check them out — so you can be in the know with your teens. I’m glad her books are popular. š
I loooooove Kelley Armstrong! Her Otherworld series is one of my favorites! Those were totally like crack for me! I read them one after the other. I also loved her Darkest Powers series, so I’m looking forward to this one. š
I really really need to read the Otherworld books. It seems like everyone loves them.
I grabbed my first Kelley Armstrong book at the library the other day without stopping to check if it’s the first in a series or second or what! Think I’d better check. Crossing my fingers, I’d love to be able to read an author who sounds so awesome!
Hopefully it’s the first. Because while the middle ones catch you up, I think that it’s best to start from the beginning. š
Kelley’s books are definitely crack! I’m happy you liked it. š
This was a fantastic book, and I can’t wait for The Calling! I have big love for all of Kelley Armstrong’s series. Like you said, there was a lot of exposition but it set up the series and still told a good story.