Tuesday, June 28, 2011

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

9 comments:

  1. I've read the first two books in this trilogy and I love both of them quite a bit. I love anything that Kelley Armstrong writes, including her adult novels Men of the Underworld and her Women of the Underworld series. She's just super fantastic like that.

    And I really love her ability to write her character's in such a likeable and relatable way. I can't say that I wasn't a team!this or team!that brother, but certainly by the end of the second book in the trilogy I was definitely a Chloe/Derek shipper. I need to pull the third down from my shelf and just finish this series up! :)

    I want to see how this all ends and who she ends up with, too. Great review!

    Happy Reading! ;)
    Suz @ A Soul Unsung
    My WoW!

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  2. @soulunsung : I haven't read any of Kelley Armstrong's other books but I'm definitely planning to! And I have to agree that I liked Chloe with Derek a lot better than her with Simon ;)

    You should definitely read the last book! It's so good! :)

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  3. Hi Mimi!

    Fangirl moment- looooooved this series. Own it. Read it. Twice. Three times (lost count). Kelley Armstrong came out with another book just recently The Gathering and it kills me that I haven't read it yet. I've heard good things about it!

    ok. Fangirl moment over- You are so nice. Really. So I came to your blog to tell you that and then I saw this and got distracted.

    Have a great weekend too! :)
    ♥ Trish

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  4. @Trish : S'okay, I'm a fellow fangirl too! ;D And I actually just finished reading The Gathering last weekend! It was a good book, but I still liked The Darkest Powers Trilogy a bit better ;) You should still definitely read it!

    Aww, thank you so much! x) Your comment just made my day. You're super sweet too, y'know that? :)

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  5. Oh, I love this series! Brilliant review!
    :D

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  6. @TheBookAddictedGirl : I love it too -- Kelley's an awesome writer! Thanks so much! :)

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  7. i LOVED the books! they were grate, despite not having a dramatic climax i still fell head over heels for it! the characters were strong and unique. it was beautify written and amazing from cover to cover. i loved it. the vice was strong and well crafted. i've reread the books at 18 times now. yes, i keep track, i'm a total loser and don't care. i was just checking out some of kelley armstrong websites and it said there would be more books featuring chloe, derek (<3), simon, tori, and... well if you count liz! i sure do! if you go on to the official darkest power site you can read a short story about derek and chloe! it's really great.

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  8. I've heard before about this trilogy, but Mimi you make it sound even better!! I should definitely read it! :) ;)

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  9. You know what Mimi? I ordered it right now on BookDepository :P :P This serie will be on my shelf!! :D :D Yeeeeeeeeeeey! Thank you so much my darling :P

    PS. One of these days, you'll make me so broke haha :D

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Thanks so much for leaving your thoughts! I love hearing what you have to say, and I always try to comment on one of your blog posts in return! :)

It's really nice to meet you!