The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Source: Publisher
Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted rather frequently around Maya's home—and her reactions to them are somewhat . . . unexpected. Her best friend, Daniel, has also been experiencing unexplainable premonitions about certain people and situations.
It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret, and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy—her paw-print birthmark.
The Gathering was a really interesting book. It didn't have as many twist and turns as Armstrong's previous young adult books, but I was still interested to see what the St. Cloud Corporation is up to and how it will continue to develop in the next two books. I really loved Maya. She was a gutsy and fearless teenager that was full of spirit and strength. Daniel was confusing, because at times, he felt like a brother and other times, he seemed like he wanted more from Maya. Rafe was a sweet guy, but I still feel that he is keeping something hidden from Maya. The plot was rather engaging, even though it was rather predictable and slow at times. I am really interested to see what really happened to Serena. The ending was rather sudden, and I can't wait for the next book. Armstrong created a book with just a hint of mystery, remarkable characters, and an ending that will leave you wanting more. If you enjoyed the Darkest Power Series, The Gathering is a must read.