Review: Darkest Powers Trilogy

Book Series: Darkest Powers Trilogy
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Release Date: November 2, 2010
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Pages: 832
Source: purchased from Chapters
Stars: 5/5

The Summoning
The Darkest Powers Series, Book I

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 Awakening
The Darkest Powers Trilogy, Book II 

Book II in the Darkest Powers trilogy takes us deeper into a world where the supernatural intrudes on the everyday with riveting effect.

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 group of people who call themselves 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.

I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends – a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch – and we have to find someone who can help us gain our freedom back before The Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

The Reckoning
The Darkest Powers Trilogy, Book III

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 take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:

This series was amazing!

I bought the whole Darkest Powers Trilogy in one bound book, not expecting too much. But once I started, I just couldn't stop! Kelley Armstrong managed to hook me on from page one!

Chloe was an awesome heroine. She wasn't the dumb little blonde that everyone thought she was — she was smart, witty, and skeptical-but-not-too-skeptical. Chloe was likable, caring, and intelligent, a combination which tends to be a difficult thing to accomplish in YA books. Plus, she was extremely easy to relate to, often referencing to or thinking of things the same way I probably would in her situation.

Another thing I really liked about Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers Trilogy was that there was no love at first sight. The reasons why Derek (♥) and Simon gradually came to like Chloe were merely for the same reasons I adored her as a character. It was realistic but still 100% enjoyable!

The premise of genetically modified supernaturals was perfectly executed, where you have your successes and your failures... and ways of dealing with each. The whole supernatural world was set up effortlessly and perfectly. I loved everything about it!

Armstrong's Darkest Powers Trilogy was a quick, fun read that captured me for the entire 800+ pages! For anyone who loves a good supernatural series with a strong heroine, a distinctive supporting cast, and some quick-witted humor, this one is a must-read!  

BUY or BORROW?: Buy it, for sure! This series makes a perfect edition to the growing collection of recommendations on my shelf! :)

-Mimi