the Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong

Hi! Today is a 3 in 1 review of the Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong.The reviews will be a little bit shorter since I will be writing three. These are older books, the newest one being published in 2010. Boo hoo! I'm always late to the party :(

the Summoning

Published:2008

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Audience: Teen

Story Catcher:

My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again. All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost--and the ghost saw me.

Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Don't tell anyone, but I think  there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye.  The question is: whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House...before its skeletons come back to haunt me.

My Thoughts:

This book was recommended by a friend and I admit I didn't want to read it at first. But whenever I visited the library, this book always seemed to pop out at me and whisper "Read me!". So I did.

This book is a really nice fantasy novel, with just about any kind of paranormal beings you can think of(except vampires, for once). It was easy to read, and I finished it in about one and a half days. I like the drama, the suspense and the magic of the book overall. It has a well thought out and interesting plot, and I can understand why my friend recommended this book.

the Awakening

Published: 2009

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Audience: Teen

Story Catcher:

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl--someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment--not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control: I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I'm running for my life with three or my supernatural friends-- a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch--and we have to fond someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

My Thoughts:

In my opinion, this was better than the first installment. There's so much more drama and twists in the plot. The author really thought this one through. Again, this was an easy read and I zoomed through it. It also helps that my nose was practically glued to this book 24/7. There's romance, suspense and thrills. I think this has to be my favorite one.

the Reckoning

Published:2010

Author:Kelley Armstrong

Genre:Urban Fantasy

Audience: Teen

Story Catcher:

My name is Chloe Saunders. I’m fifteen, and I would love to be normal.But normal is one thing I’m not.For one thing, I’m having these feelings for a certain antisocial werewolf and his sweet-tempered brother—who just happens to be a sorcerer—but, between you and me, I’m leaning toward the werewolf.Not normal. My friends and I are also on the run from an evil corporation that wants to get rid of us—permanently. Definitely not normal. And finally, I’m a genetically altered necromancer who can raise the dead, rotting corpses and all, without even trying.As far away from normal as it gets.

My Thoughts:

Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of the three. Yes there is a good plot and yes there is a lot of action, but I felt there were so many thing s left unanswered. I really hope I read wrong when I saw that this was the finale. The romance was was kind of slow and even though there was a twist, there wasn't much of a build up. You never get the answers to some of the happenings in the book.

Has anyone else read these? If so, what were your reactions?

Starters by Lissa Price

Hello! This is my first post and I figured a good way to begin was by reviewing a book I just read called Starters. I think it's a good way to start off my blog, haha.

Published: 2012

Author: Lissa Price

Genre: Science Fiction

Audience: Teen

Story Catcher:

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie.

Callie’s only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie’s head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator’s grandson.

It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations’ plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined.

My Thoughts:

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but honestly its what got me to pick up this book in the first place. The story catcher was also very intriguing so I decided to give this book a try. And I loved it! It was recommended for those who are fans of the Hunger Games and it has a bit of the same feel to it. It also reminds me of the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, very creative.

Spoilers:

First off, the relationship between Michael and Callie didn't really mesh for me. You knew they had some kind of romance going on, but I wanted it to be expanded upon a bit more. I did, however,like the chemistry between Callie and Blake, but in the end you find out that Blake's body was taken over by the Old Man, so I'm not too sure if that counts.

I loved the ending! What a perfect way to ensure your readers will come back for more. It was such a cliff hanger, and it made me think that the Old Man might be Callie's father. If he is that's pretty nasty because he and Callie did plenty of smooching when he was in Blake's body.

I'm glad that Callie had a somewhat happy ending, inheriting money and a house from the lady who was renting her(Helena) and having enough money to take care of Tyler and his sickness. It's sad Helena had to die though. At first I thought she was no good, but then I was starting to like her. I always have to remember not to get attached to the characters.

I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book, Enders, which doesn't come out until 2013. I'll be quick to grab it. You know, unless the world ends in 2012 :/