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    The Summoning
    The Summoning
    The Summoning
    Ebook340 pages5 hours

    The Summoning

    By Kelley Armstrong

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    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. Yet the home isn't what it seems. 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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateOct 6, 2009
    ISBN9780061971631
    Author

    Kelley Armstrong

    Kelley Armstrong is the author of over fifty novels, including the Rip Through Time mysteries and the horror novel, Hemlock Island. She lives with her family in Canada.

    Read more from Kelley Armstrong

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    Reviews for The Summoning

    4/5

    49 ratings143 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Although this is the first book in Kelley Armstrong's young adult series I still enjoyed it. I did find it hard to get into at the beginning but eventually I got lost in it and read it in one sitting.

      The Darkest Powers series is set in the same world as the Women of the Otherworld series and it shows more towards the end. I was a little surprised that this book was similar to Stolen, the second book in the Women of the Otherworld series but it was different enough that it was still worth reading. When I got to the end I was stunned to realise that it was a cliffhanger and was desperate to read more though I understand this to be part of a trilogy so more of a part one of three, something that I'm not used to with Kelley's books. I will definitely be buying the second book.
    • 1/5
      As a child, Chloe could see dead people. After her parents die, she is raised by her Aunt Lauren. Then, at 15, Chloe finally gets her first period and the ghosts are back in droves. It's so bad that her aunt has her admitted to Lyle House, a low-key mental hospital for teens-- although everyone assures her that she's merely schizophrenic, not seeing dead people. Chloe discovers that there is more to Lyle House than she imagined, and a lot more to her new house-mates than she could've thought possible. Author Kelley Armstrong spends an inordinate amount of time trying to build suspense about Chloe's 'condition' and the traits of her housemates, and the narration drags for hundreds of pages. These four hundred pages would've much better as 50, and the obvious sequel included in the original book. This title highlights an industry trend of stretching stories into multiple volumes in order to sell multiple copies of what is in reality one v e r y l o n g novel with a desperate need for an editor. The storyline is interesting enough, but there just isn't enough substance to carry the book. I haven't disliked a book this much since I read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight, and it looks like The Summoning might generate a portion of the same intense fan base. I will not recommend this book, but it seems as if I won't have to-- there is a hold list for this title in my library that is almost as long as Armstrong's endless book.
    • 5/5
      The Summoning - young adult by Kelley Armstrong. Pretty good book, glad I read it. A fifteen year old girl (Chloe Saunders) is a student at an art school. She studies film-making and deals with stressful situations by putting them into film perspectives. The problem is she is a late bloomer, feels like a freak because she stutters when stressed, hears voices and sees people that no one else sees. She keeps seeing ghosts, gets pretty scared, ends up in a group home for disturbed teens with a diagnosis of schizophrenia after an incident at school. She has to deal with quite a few teen-age personality types. There is Derek, very moody and freakishly strong and his "brother" Simon, who is the only one that doesn't attend counselor meetings, Rae who is obsessed with fire, Tori the Mean Girl, and Liz. Things get thrown and people get hurt when Liz is mad, though she never actually throws anything. It's written in the first person, with only a few words and phrases used that I wouldn't expect from a teenager. Examples; "...a swarm of kids engulfed him..."; "I awoke several times...";"...directed me to...". In spite of that I really loved the book. There's a few suspenseful episodes (my heart was actually pounding while I read - not many books do that to me anymore, not since reading The Shining when I was 18 - so long ago!) and a cliffhanger ending. Definitely not a happily-ever-after ending. This girl has a lot to overcome. There is some mystery surrounding her early childhood and the death of her mother. She has a pendant from her mother that she has worn since she was small and has nightmares involving a basement, ghosts and her child self. Kelley Armstrong has a sequel to this (The Awakening; May 2009.)
    • 5/5
      Chloe Sanders wanted to be a working in films when she got older, but nothing could prepare her for what happened when she got her period. Chloe has seen people that have been chalked up to as boogeymen, but what Chloe didn?t know was the when she went to Lyle house for her mental breakdown, that the people she had seen weren?t boogeymen. She and many kids like her were part of an experiment by the Edison Group. They are called Supernaturals the powers range from, Spellcaster, Witch, Werewolf, Firestarer, and Necromancer. The book is written by Kelley Armstrong who has written various books of fiction on the supernatural. What Chloe didn?t realize was how many adults were connected to the Edison Group including Chloe?s aunt who cared for since her mother died.I really enjoyed this story, mind you it was a bit slow in the beginning like most stories but when it picked up I couldn?t put it down. I think it?s a great read, especially for teens who want to learn about the paranormal without the heavy love context that adult books offer.I wish the parts where it picked up there was more to the story there, as it took along time with the background info I found myself bored at times with it. Am reading the 2nd one now.I rate this book a 4 cups as it was a bit slow in some areas and had a bad cliffhanger, have I ever mentioned how much I hate cliffhangers cause I am always wondering what?s next? How do you all feel about cliffhangers?
    • 5/5
      Reason for Reading: I've been wanting to read this author for sometime now but her adult series has a number of books in it and with all the series I already have going it's a daunting project and I thought this new YA series would be a great place to start and see if I liked the author before trying her adult books. Comments: Chloe was a normal teenager until the day she sees a very scary ghost of a janitor in the girl's bathroom and runs screaming down the school hall. Next thing she knows, she has woken up in an exclusive home for mentally troubled teens. She's told she has a mental condition and they only want to help her get better. The handful of other patients all seem nice enough, well except a couple who have major attitude problems, and she begins to adjust to her diagnosis. But Chloe (and the others) begin to realize that something isn't right. Chloe can still see dead people and the kids don't think it's because of any mental illness. In fact, quite a few of them seem to have rather special talents. Why are they always being threatened with transfer? What's so bad with being transferred? Why can Chloe see the girl who was transferred?This is an absolutely amazing read! You need one of those rubber page-flipper thingies on your finger so you can turn the pages fast enough when you read this. Kelley Armstrong has created an amazing world, which her website reveals is the same one in which her adult books are set. The mental home the teens live in has that boarding-school feel to it but with a much closer, tighter, oppressive atmosphere. While three of the teens stand out as main characters at this point, all six of them are fully realized and each given a background and believable personality.The plot starts off with a bang and just keeps going from there. Event after event keeps the pace moving very quickly then reveal after reveal towards the end will have you gasping in shock. There is an overhanging darkness throughout the book which we are briefly let into and by the end of the book we have some idea of what it is but no real knowledge of its depth except that it has evil intentions.The book does end basically mid-paragraph though not exactly with a cliff hanger as we know what is coming immediately next but it is one of those "to be continued" endings that I'm not partial to with everything left just at the crucial moment and leaving the reader dying to read the next book. Fortunately, I have the next book on hand and don't have to wait a year to found out what happens next but I do fear that book two will leave me in the same position. However, the book is just too darn good to take any marks off so it gets a full rating from me! This is the best teen novel I've read since A Great and Terrible Beauty (which I loved!) and this is by far the better book. If you read paranormal books, whether they be adult or teen, you'll love this. Go get it now! Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      Excellent characterization and plotting--great suspense and atmosphere. It's rare for me to be surprised by plot twists, but Armstrong managed it. Great for adults, too, who like urban fantasy.
    • 4/5
      Curiosity had me peeking at the ebook chapters and then picking up the actual book since I've enjoyed all of Armstrong's books for adult audiences. Although geared towards young adults, this book wasn't too bad with some action, suspense, gore, and lots of mysteries to solve. True to the style in her other books, she keeps a reader riveted with her pace and switch ups. Good filler as you wait for the next Armstrong book for adults.
    • 2/5
      This book has been on my TBR list for a really long time, and when I came across a copy in a used bookstore for $2 I snatched it up. I vaguely remembered reading the synopsis a long time ago and thinking it had something to do with witches (which I love), but I figured for $2, it was worth the risk. Unfortunuately this book did not live up to what I expected. I actually ended up DNF at page 244 (62%) because I just could not handle it anymore. After accepting defeat, I went ahead and skipped ahead and skimmed the last few chapters so I could see where it all ended.



      This isn't a bad book, but it just wasn't my cuppa tea. I think this book is better suited for younger readers who would be able to relate to the leading lady, Chloe, who is only fifteen. It's been a really long time since I have read a book which such a young protagonist since most YA books have their main characters being at least 16, if not older. One of the thing that is discussed is Chloe getting her first period which is what triggers all this weird stuff to start happening. I guess it was supposed to represent the whole becoming a woman thing. Anyway, it was a bit awkward to read about since, again, Chloe just felt SO young and unrelatable for me. Plus there is this weird love triangle but not really thing going on, but it feels so forced because Chloe has never thought of boys really before so there is really no romance. I really just feel like this book fits more into the Middle Grades/Tween category versus YA.



      Overall, it was just really predictable and felt like the story was reaching a little too hard to be something that it just isn't. It had the vibe of a much less entertaining version of Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins which I enjoyed so much. I'm glad I didn't drop a lot on this book, and I won't be going for the rest of the series. If you're a parent or teacher looking for a good book for your young-ish reader, this is a good option. Super tame, super bland, but maybe it's just the age gap thing.
    • 5/5
      I've rarely been as creeped out as I was after reading the first chapter of Kelley Armstrong's first book in the Darkest Powers series. I read it in bed before going to sleep and it even gave me nightmares.But what an appetite wetter! I plowed through The Summoning in a mere 3 days even including my time off fussing over and nursing a sick kitty.Chole has recently turned 15, is your average arts student and doesn't anticipate any earth shattering changes in her life any time soon. But minutes after starting her first menstrual period she is suddenly being chased down by mangled people, and strapped to a gurney bound for a mental hospital. Talk about having a bad day in High School.After a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Chole finds herself in a small group home called Lyle House with 5 other teenagers. While working through her issues, she starts to uncover some disturbing truths about herself which will lead to a whole world of trouble if she accepts them. Necromancer is not the career of choice for most teenagers after all.A little bit of Heroes (while it was still good), a little bit of the best of X-Men, and a little bit of classic creepy Stephen King, The Summoning was one of the most unusual YA books I've read this year. It was fabulously good, edge of your seat kind of stuff containing some truly horrifying scenes, but the best part? No required love story. Seriously. Can you believe it? I almost can't and I've just finished it. There is the tiniest hint of something possible, maybe, but no focused love story. Honestly what publisher had that epiphany? Girls will read books without love stories? God Bless them!With a twist ending that will have you racing to the store to pick up book two, make sure you put the Darkest Powers series up at the top of your summer reading list.The Summoning, by Kelley ArmstrongPublished by Harper Collins, March 2009
    • 4/5
      I borrowed this book from the library, but I was so excited to read more that I bought the 3 volume edition the day I finished reading it! Very spooky!
    • 3/5
      The cover for The Summoning is really beautiful - to the point that I had to mention it first because all the covers for this series are rather remarkable. I am not sure how it directly relates to the story, but at the moment I feel that it is somewhat misleading. Is it just me, or does anyone else think "medieval" when glancing at the cover? Would you have thought "ghosts" and "group home" would be involved? No, not unless you already knew what The Summoning was about.I was not too impressed with The Summoning. It had great potential, but I thought it fell short on meeting my expectations. The opening prologue was pretty fantastic - very creepy! I dare not dawdle in the basement for too long... However, the rest of the story did not build upon that creepy introduction. Not to sound completely morose, but there was not enough dead people for a book about a girl who sees dead people. I think Kelley Armstrong was trying to set the stage for the upcoming books, and I really hope that the sequel really ups the ante and delivers some bone-chilling shivers.On the plus side, I enjoyed the cast of characters - they all stood out with their different personalities, and there was never a dull moment between Chloe and her housemates. I particularly enjoyed her interactions with Derek who is not exactly Mr. Social Butterfly. As they started to trust each other more and discover the extent of Chloe's powers, I thought the scrapes that they kept stumbling into really hilarious.My advice is to keep the sequel on hand if you decide to read The Summoning. The ending of the first book really hangs on a cliff, and I wish that I had the sequel to find out what happens and see if the series is worth following.
    • 3/5
      I would say this is a good book for teens but it did not grab me the way other YA books have. It?s funny reading the description, all I could think was ?I see dead people? from The Sixth Sense. The story does hook you wondering what do all these teens really have in common and who should Chloe trust. In fact it ends with quite the surprise. I am looking forward to the next book but it is not a ?I?m dying for it to come out? series.Stop here if you don?t want any spoilers. I was surprised to see that Chloe?s aunt was in on the whole thing. I wonder if this group is really going to be evil. It seems like it but Aunt Lauren really seems to care about Chloe so we will have to see what happens. I do hope Liz is still alive although if she is I don?t see how Chloe can summon her at will.
    • 4/5
      Have you ever what it would be like to see things that no other normal person saw? To then be strangled by a group of adults and brought to a 'mental illness house' when they didn`t believe your claim to see strange sights? You probably would never want to be in that position. Well, that`s the reality for 15-year old girl, Chloe Saunders.When Chloe sees a frightening custodian that nobody else can see chasing her in the hallway at school, she is brought to a special place called the 'Lyle House' to be treated for her so-called 'mental-illness'. The Lyle House is like a second home for strange kids like Chloe, so she is surrounded by kids with supernatural powers- just like her. After learning she was a necromancer (meaning she could see and talk to ghosts), she and her friends explore the locked up parts of the Lyle House. In the attic they find dead bodies of the first supernaturals to live there, murdered. This unravels the dangerous mission ahead for Chloe and her partners, Rae, Derek &Simon.
    • 4/5
      This book was great. I felt myself turning page after page and wanting to read more. Although the beginning wasn't what I quite expected, it wasn't such a bad thing and the ending was awesome and I am definitely going to add the sequel to my wishlist. The plot was great from beginning to end. It was well written, clear and had enough teasers, and although naturally all questions weren't answered some which bugged me the most were so I wasn't entirely left hanging. This book had a great way of gradually introducing you to the paranormal aspect of the plot, sort of as if you're Chloe herself and just learning about it with her. I like the way it's done as it makes it more realistic. The plot is darker than I expected and more serious for a YA book. The paranormal parts, especially when Chloe starts practicing her gift, has a skin crawling creepy effect and it's definitely well written to give you the goose bumps. The ghosts she sees, are also well done and their descriptions are chilling and menacing.I'm not that attached to Chloe even though she's the main character. I found as I read later into the book I suddenly became much more frustrated and I wanted to hit her upside the head for her stupidity at times. I'm surprised Derek has managed to keep his temper in check with Chloe bumbling about sometimes. Although Derek may seem abrasive, I actually like him the most in the book so far. He's surprisingly mature despite his surly manner and horrible attitude. He seems to be the strongest character, I think in the book. Tori was horrible and I was hoping Chloe would clock her across the face. Perhaps sometime I'll be satisfied to see Tori in a horrible demise. She's just an awful person and I hope I never meet anyone like that ever. Chloe does seem to develop through the novel although I don't think she really matures yet. I think perhaps because she doesn't really have all the information and facts concerning her and her "condition/gift". So, she still has room for development which I am looking forward to seeing in the next book.When I said the beginning wasn't what I expected, I meant that I expected a lot of paranormal activity to happen. It didn't. It was gradual, and even then there is bits and parts of it, but not as much as I thought. There's a lot of "real life" in the book and it adds realism to the plot and it's a refreshing surprise to read something like this. So it's not really a criticism, it was just interesting to read and something new to see, I think. Overall, a wonderful creepy page turner, mix in realistic life scenes and a huge cliffhanger ending, you'll want more from this series. A lot more.
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed this story which is book 1 of the Dark Powers trilogy. It's a fantasy story with twists and turns and very likable characters.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. A teen paranormal book that's not about vampires! It was just the right amount of creepy. I look forward to reading the sequels, and I might have to check out Kelley Armstrong's adult stuff.
    • 3/5
      Loved the idea of Armstrong's universe from a teen point of view. Can't wait to see what happens next.
    • 5/5
      awesome book!!!!!!!!!
    • 4/5
      A jam-packed beginning to Armstrong's new YA series. Chole thinks she has some pretty scary looking imaginary friends as a child. They recede for a bit, but suddenly, at school one day, she see a janitor no one else does. Her father and aunt decide she needs a two week "evaluation" at Lyle House. There, Chloe meets up with some other unusual teens, and they don't think she's crazy when she conjures up some more "imaginary" friends. The book is fast-paced and very plot driven. The characters were just starting to gel really well for me by the end...can't wait to learn more in the next installment. I think Armstrong has made the leap to YA quite nicely.
    • 5/5
      Kearsten says: Chloe Saunders is fifteen, and the same day she finally gets her period, she sees a ghost and has a bit of a meltdown. Her school takes her episode as an indication of encroaching mental illness and insists she spend time in a group home for metal illness for a short while for observation. At Lyle House, Chloe meets her house mates, and it soon becomes apparent that their "mental illnesses" might also be supernatural in nature. And their teachers might be doing more than simple caring for the students... This was fantastically engrossing, and a very quick read. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the books ends on a killer of a cliff hanger. And now I have to *wait* for the next one and I hate waiting!!!
    • 3/5
      "The Summoning" by Kelly Armstrong. This was a random pick from the returned shelf at the library. The book is the first in a series and Chloe, 15, girl gets admitted to a group home following hallucinations, however, all is not what it seems. I enjoyed the the progression of the main character's perception of those around her through out the book and plot wise, the first part of the book where it was still unclear whether the hallucinations were real or not was most interesting. However, the main thrust of the story some moved onto more usual territory (ghosts, conspiricy etc) and I found it a bit less enjoyable. Not a bad teen read, but all in all I think It would have been a far more interesting read if the questions re illness etc had been explored more fully. Perhaps there's a book out there that does that which I'd enjoy more!
    • 4/5
      After reading the book, I?d first off have to disagree with the description?particularly the ?All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys?? portion. It?s mentioned several times throughout the book that Chloe is not all about meeting boys, the romance in the book is very, very limited, this is not a paranormal romance book. (At least the first book in the series is not.) The book is so much more than many paranormal romance books offer. A girl that sees dead people and is labeled crazy for doing so meets other teens that have similar ?troubles?.The setting of Lyle House is reminiscent of Girl, Interrupted and hosts a plethora of interesting characters. We follow Chloe through thinking she?s crazy, knowing she?s not, doubting herself, and finding herself. At times I was getting lost in the writing, having to reread sentences again and again because of their strange structure, the meaning getting lost, which was annoying when that happened. I wanted to keep reading as the story was gripping, wanting to see what was around the corner.The characters are all flawed in one way or another, which makes them all the more realistic. There are no perfect knights in shining armor, no people without any issues, this is no dream world. The ending is left completely open, which gives no satisfaction that any of the issues raised in the book have been solved. It does however make me pine for the next book in the series, dying to know what?s going to happen next!
    • 5/5
      A novel you most certainly can't put down. With a neat plot, interesting characters and a very well written story, you won't regret reading this one. Kelly Armstrong writes a fast pace novel, that by the end of each chapter we'll leave the reader wanting more. The end will have the same affect on you. About a year ago, I bought this story from Chapters but it sat on my TBR pile for a long time. And I feel that is a shame, because this is really good read and I recommend it to anyone.The only thing that I thought could of been more developed was the description in some areas. It got a bit confusing and I felt lost. But other then that, the book was perfect. I enjoyed it as much as I enjoy the Morganville Vampire Series by Rachel Caine (which I know are 2 completely different books), which some of you might now is my favorite book series ever.An Enthralling Read, That Everyone Should Have!!!
    • 4/5
      Warning: May contain spoilers The story is set around Chole, a seemingly ordinary girl. Apart from one thing, since she was a young age she's been able to see ghosts. Starting with the people in the basement at her childhood home, to the old man that chased her through her school ending in Chole, now 15, being locked up in Lyle House and being diagnosed as a schizophrenic. At first Chole believes that maybe she is what they tell her and starts looking for signs. Only to find out that she's in fact a necromancer, a powerful one at that. Lyle House is suppose to be a group home, to help you recover. Only you don't have a choice in the matter, and if you so much as slip up you're transferred to the local mental hospital.But its not all bad, Chole isn't alone in the house, and even though she doesn't always see eye to eye with the other house mates, at least its someone to talk to. There's Rachelle, or Rae as she likes to be called, another 15 year old. Who ended up in Lyle House because of her strange obsession with fire. Elizabeth, or Liz, Chole's room mate and friend. A girl who is prone to violent outburst she doesn't remember and is convinced its a poltergeist, following her around. Victoria, or Tori, 16 years old and Liz's best friend. Tori and Chole are enemies, all because she thinks Chole is trying to steal her crush away, and does everything to try and get her transferred. Simon, an easy going boy without any real problems, and is only in Lyle House because he's dad cant be found and it was the best place for his foster brother Derek. Derek is 16, very tall, and very intimidating. He's rude, been diagnosed with anti social behavior and has no time for anyone but Simon. He is also my favourite character of the lot.At first, I liked this book and then by the middle I didn't that much and anymore only to love it by the end. I wasn't sure what to make of it, but found the story line very refreshing. I didn't find this book predictable (which is surprisingly as so many people did and normal I do) but I didn't. I thought the characters where well thought out, had enough back story to give you a feel for them and the written was good. The only thing I disliked a lot about this book was Chole constantly comparing everything to a film (because she's and aspiring director) it got really annoying after a while.
    • 5/5
      Kelley sure is getting the teens ready to read her other series when they become older. This was a good read and very enjoyable. The open ending however can be very frustrating, when you are sitting there so intrigued and wanting more. I cannot wait for the 2nd book "The Awakening" to come out. Ever since my friend introduced me to the "Women of the Otherworld series" I have been addicted to her books and I highly recommend sharing or buying this book.
    • 4/5
      The Summoning is fantastically freaky, in the best way possible. Not many books have the power to thoroughly creep me out, but with descriptive horror and intriguing plot twists, this was definitely an exception.I thought this was an awesome start to a series; nothing too big plot-wise that will guarantee a burn-out in following books. The character introductions and backgrounds were the main focus, but the book still managed to weave a dark, foreshadowing story in between all of the common first-in-a-series beginnings.Speaking of the characters, I was surprised at how much I liked them. All of them. Well, except maybe the staff of the house- I wasn?t too fond of them. Each has a purpose, despite their ranging personalities and powers, and even though I wanted to punch some of them in the face at times (*cough*Tori*cough*) I still managed to put the book down feeling somewhat appreciative of her character.Another thing I really appreciated is that Derek isn?t described as dreamily gorgeous. Don?t get me wrong, I enjoy good-looking literary hunks as much as the next book lover, but it was a nice change to read about a slightly less pretty, slightly more normal (well ?) male character. I have a hunch that his acne and body odor might clear up in future books, but it was a pleasant change for now.Overall, The Summoning was a wonderfully dark and twisted beginning to a hopefully amazing series. With a slew of ghosts, spirits, powers, and tons of other elements on the monster spectrum, it?s perfect for any paranormal lover!
    • 4/5
      After reading very good reviews for The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong I decided to give it a chance. I have to say that it wasn't what I was expecting, however, it was a good read. I'm currently reading The Awakening (second in the series) and am looking forward to finding out more about Chloe and her friends. I was expecting a darker take on magical abilities but the terminology seemed a bit comic book style. Not to say that's bad but it's just not my taste. Chloe is a very likeable protagonist, not too perfect and not annoying, other than all of the film references that is. One thing that really did bother me though was that whenever anyone was having a conversation the person they were speaking to constantly interrupted them and wouldn't let them get in a word edgewise. I understand that it is a way to give just enough details to make you interested and still keep turning the pages but not tell you too much but man is it ANNOYING! The story is very good and I really want to know what is going to happen in the end but I really wish that someone could have an actual conversation. Let's hope that in the remaining two books that will be taken care of.
    • 4/5
      YA in Kelley Armstrong's awesome supernatural world. Greatly enjoyable, but it doesn't end so much as just stop - I might wait for the rest of the series to come out and then read them all as one really satisfying long story.
    • 5/5
      Curtains fluttering in the breeze, the dark pressing down like a blanket. You turn the pages slowly, absorbing every word and detail as the soft sent of the paper fills your nose. The tension in the book is at a max and you glance over your shoulder to make sure that the sliding shadows behind you are really just that: shadows. Back to the book, you dive in, completely immersed in the terror that's overcoming the main character.Suddenly your husband walks into the room with a loud creak of the floor boards and very ungraceful clomping. You leap out of bed, just about pee your pants and threaten to throw your book at his head if he ever dares to scare the living crud out of you again.Yep. Been there.THE SUMMONING by Kelley Armstrong taught me a few things. One is to never read a book at night, by yourself, in a house that you are not 100% convinced is empty of ghosts. The other is to tie a stinking bell on your husband, parents, siblings, small children, pets, and any other moving critters in your house lest you wind up in the situation I described above. Seriously - I need some more bells.We all know I'm not one to get creeped out by the normal monsters; werewolves, vamps, and zombies just aren't that scary. In fact, they can be pretty hot at times (Edward, Jacob, Jasper, Marc, The Black Dagger Brotherhood, Kenyon's men, etc.). What does scare me is ghosts. Something about the there, but not really there nature of them is just not cool. If I can't lock them out with a good steel door and a deadbolt, they're going to give me nightmares.Why Ms. Armstrong? Why?Even as I ask, I know the answer. For a really great story, that's why. Combining some great characters, a few lighthearted moments, a good deal of suspense, and a few scenes that should be rated PG-AAAAHHHHH!!!!!, she has managed to create one killer book. In fact, despite the whole almost peeing my pants thing, I've got the second book, The Awakening, cued up and ready to go, that's how much I loved the first.THE SUMMONING is the story of Chloe Saunders, a teen who has been practically orphaned. With her mother long since passed away and her father inaccessible due to his work, Chloe has grown up pretty much under the hand of hired help. When things start to go a little crazy for her, they really go crazy. Beginning to see some strange things, it's the man with the half-melted face chasing after her that really sets her off. Sent to the Lyle House for her own protection, Chloe has to figure out how to survive in this home for troubled teens while at the same time keeping her sanity. That's not easy to do when the house holds secrets and someone wants her to unearth them.Don't like scary stories? It's possible that I'm a wuss and you won't find the scary parts as frightening as I did. Then again, it's also possible that you will and we'll have to go out and buy stock in bells and motion detector lights. The parts that truly creeped me out were few in number but intense. They truly added to the story and gave it that edge that signifies a really great read. Would I read THE SUMMONING again? You betcha!My favorite aspect of the first in The Darkest Powers trilogy was probably the character development. I loved how we got to learn right alongside Chloe. As you meet each character, Ms. Armstrong gives you enough to get an inkling that something other might be going on. As the story progresses, you get to learn the whole story. Her way of leading you through the book, enticing you with little niblets here and there is masterful. To me, that is the one aspect that takes this book from being one that young adults might love, to a book that anyone can get into.I highly suggest THE SUMMONING to any lovers of creepy books, suspenseful books, or anything paranormal. Don't let my observation that there are creepy parts discourage you from picking it up. Even though the book gets the adrenaline pumping at times, the story is such that there was never a question that I would continue reading it. The only question was how quickly I could get everything required of me done so I could dive back into the story.
    • 5/5
      Chloe sees ghosts and thinks she is losing her mind. She saw them when she was a small child but stopped after her mother died and she and her father began moving from place to place. But now puberty has hit and the ghosts are back. She is sent to a group home - Lyle House - where there are five other kids. She gradually learns that all of them have some sort of supernatural power. She becomes friends with Simon, a sorcerer, and Derek, a werewolf. They learn more about the house and decided they have to escape. Good start to a series that ends with lots of unanswered questions.

    Book preview

    The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong

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