The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 19/20
Originality: 20/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 19/20
Overall: 95/100 or A
Source: Publisher
Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now, along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I’m on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We’re hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We’ll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we’d left behind and to take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope.
Kelley Armstrong creates a fantastic sequel to The Summoning and The Awakening. I loved how this book's world was so unique and one of a kind. The teens at Lyle House were a part of an experiment and the people were trying to convince them that they were crazy. This is such a unique idea and found it fantastically awesome. I also liked that more was revealed about what happened with the experiment. Chloe became more comfortable in who she was and especially with her necromancy skills. I also found her growing feelings with Derek were so cute. I have been cheering on them since book one. I love Derek, he is so sweet and amazing. Simon also seems to find out who he is in this book and contributed to the romatic tension that is in the book. Tori surprised me and was a really strong character. I found her to be fierce at times. The Reckoning wrapped up nicely and I am excited to see what will happen in the next book in the series. Armstrong is a gifted writer that creates amazing characters and a wonderfully unique premise. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed the previous books in this series or anyone looking for an original series should start with The Summoning. I know that you will love it.

Contest with a lot of Awesomeness!

Hey everyone, Contest time!?

Kelley was nice enough to giveaway a signed copy of The Summoning and The Awakening, Bookmarks, and a Tote Bag to one very lucky winner.

Here is what the two books are about:

Chloe Saunders sees dead people. Yes, like in the films. The problem is, in real life saying you see ghosts gets you a one-way ticket to the psych ward. And at 15, all Chloe wants to do is fit in at school and maybe get a boy to notice her. But when a particularly violent ghost haunts her, she gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. Her seemingly crazed behaviour earns her a trip to Lyle House, a centre for 'disturbed teens'. At first Chloe is determined to keep her head down. But then her room mate disappears after confessing she has a poltergeist, and some of the other patients also seem to be manifesting paranormal behaviour. Could that be a coincidence? Or is Lyle House not quite what it seems...? Chloe realizes that if she doesn't uncover the truth, she could be destined for a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. Or could her fate be even worse...? Can she trust her fellow students, and does she dare reveal her dark secret?

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. I'm a living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I can raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever. I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends and we have to find someone who can help us gain our freedom back before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

To enter, you must answer this question:

What sort of "power", would you like most?

Extra Entries:

New and Current followers get +5.

If you link to this contest, you get +3. (Once per social network.)

If you are referred or refer someone. +1

Comment on Review of The Awakening or Kelley Armstrong Interview. +1 each

This contest ends August 14th and is open to US and Canada only.

Good Luck, Sarah.

Interview with Kelley Armstong

Kelley Armstrong is married with three children and lives in rural Ontario, Canada. After graduating from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in psychology, she moved on to study computer programming. She is now a full-time writer and parent.
She has written The Otherworlds series, The Darkest Power Series, and Nadia Stafford Series.

1. Before writing for Teens, you were a bestselling author for Adults. What did writing for the young adult readers appeal to you?
It was a couple of things. I had an idea inspired by my second adult novel, Stolen, but it was about supernaturals just coming into their powers, which in my world happens at puberty. So it wouldn't work for an adult series. That idea was in the back of my mind as I was getting email from readers I considered a little too young to be reading my other books! So I decided to give my YA idea a try.

2. All of the main characters in Darkest Powers series have some sort of "power". What "power" would you like the most?
I would love to be a werewolf and experience life in a different form? The secondary characteristics would be cool, too, but those "extras" also make it hard for werewolves to blend, so in a more practical sense, I'd go with spell-casters. Their powers take work to learn, but overall they have fewer drawbacks.　

3. What books can we expect from you in the future?
The next two Otherworld books are Savannah's. She's 21 and finally able to get into trouble without the others to protect her. For the YA, I’m working on the first of the second trilogy, which is set in the same world as the first, but with new characters and a new Edison Group experiment.

4. You have 13 books out, 2 coming in the next year, and a lot of short stories. Where do you get the inspiration for so many books?
Questions like that were so much easier to answer when I first started writing, because I knew exactly where ideas and inspiration came from! Now, with all those books out, I’m influenced by so many sources that it’s a fluid and invisible process. Everything goes into the creative pot and if I sit back and think "where did I get that ingredient from?" I honestly have no idea.

5. What does writing in a series appeal to you?
Writing in a series gives me the chance to develop characters and fantasy worlds beyond what I can do in one book. With each new one, I’m able to try something a little different and tap further into what I’ve already created.
6. What is a normal writing day for you?
A typical writing day starts at about 5:30. I work until I get my kids up, then send them off on the bus at 7:30. 　I usually write all morning and into the early afternoon, then spend the rest of the afternoon doing business stuff. 　I stop at 4 when the kids return, then try to get in another hour or two in the evening. 　On weekends I get caught up on snail mail, email, interviews etc. In summer, like now, it’s more of a mishmash, taking time when I can get it and trying to stay on schedule while enjoying having the kids around.

7. What do you do other then writing, reading, and being an author?
My other hobbies would include cooking, learning, hiking and spending time with my family.

8. Is there anything that you would like to add?
Just a thank you for the interview!

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 19/20
Originality: 18/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 19/20
Overall: 93/100 or A
The Awakening is the second book in Armstrong’s Darkest Powers series. I am giving you a quick spoiler warning.
Chloe Saunders used to think that she was a normal teenage girl. Recently, she found out that she is a walking science experiment. She is a necromancer, and can see ghost and raise the dead. She was sent The Edison Group to get better, when they were the people that started it all. She is now on the run with three of my supernatural friends – a charming sorcerer Simon, a cynical werewolf Derek, and a disgruntled witch Tori. We have to find someone who can help us gain our freedom back before The Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.
The Awakening was just as good as The Summoning, if not it might be even better. The characters were more developed and more interesting, in the book. The plot was amazing. I liked the parts of them being on the run. It was pretty original. The writing was well done. I can wait for more from her. I think that I will have to check out a few of her adult books. I recommend checking out this series. I can't wait till the third book of this series. By the way, I love the cover. It is amazing and so pretty.

Cover Art Saturday: The Awakening by Kelly Armstrong

This probably one of the sequels(That is saying a lot with all the sequels that are coming out.) that I am looking forward to the most. The cover is amazing. The main character looks like Chloe and almost like her necklace, except it has a heavy chain. I have read the sample chapters and now I really just want to read the book. If you have read The Summoning, then you know how the plot was left at and if you haven't... I highly recommend it.

Anyways here is the blurb from the authors website:

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. I'm a living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I can raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever. I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends and we have to find someone who can help us gain our freedom back before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

So what do you think of the cover?