The Darkest Powers Series, Book 1: The Summoning

By Kelley Armstrong

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…


From the Trade Paperback edition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: May 29, 2009
• ISBN: 9780307373229

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.

Reviews for The Darkest Powers Series, Book 1

[angelarenea-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really really liked it! I think it had a really nice, believable blend of reality and fantasy. Like if someone said to me 'oh this is actually real' (and they were like credible or whatever) I might consider believing them (in a not really kind of way). Ok wait, rephrase in a less crazy way. It is believable that this could be going on without my knowledge in the world.
I liked that the author obviously researched the mental health system before writing it because there were accurate descriptions of medical things. For example: I did clinical at a youth group center (not a boarding type place, but a day time thing) and it was pretty close. I think that was my favorite thing, that there weren't huge flaws!

I also liked that Chloe did not whine internally about pointless things. I hate when I read a book and it's set in 1st person and the narrator just monologues about stupid stuff. I actually usually shy away from 1st person narrative because of that reason.

Also I love that it's a series. I always feel like there should have been another book when it's not a series.

The only thing that bugged me about the book was Derek. I feel like in the beginning he was portrayed as unintelligent like the 'big dumb brute' character, and somewhere in the middle his whole personality switched. I get that it was because he got more comfortable with Chloe, but I feel like maybe even the author didn't know where she was going with his character. But that's just the vibe I got. I know we were supposed to think that he was dumb, but she went a little overboard making us think that and he did some things that I don't feel like he would have.
Again that's just me.

But overall I really loved this book! you can always tell when I love a book because it takes no time at all to read it and so far both featured books have been like that! (Memoirs I read in a week during finals and this one in a day!)

[moniquesnyman-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I’m going to come right out and say it … The Darkest Powers trilogy became a guilty pleasure sooner than I expected. Chloe – clearly unaware of her heritage and powers – is misdiagnosed as being schizophrenic and sent to Lyle House where she meets some intriguing characters with similar ‘disorders’. Together they try to figure out what’s happening to them, to the kids that leave Lyle House, and try to decipher the bigger conspiracy behind the secrecy.

It’s a fast-paced book, one that holds exciting revelations at the end. Also, I liked Derek’s growth as a character, and he and Chloe is surprisingly well-matched as far as YA couples are concerned. Though, a lot of tropes seem to present themselves quite early in the book, they’re not necessarily obnoxious or overwhelming, which is always a good thing.

The Summoning is a book that’s entertaining and fun to read. It’s one of those “palate cleansers” that fits nicely between more serious reads.

[crystaljoy04 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Summoning is about a girl named Chole who gets put in a group home after seeing ghosts at school. While at the Lyle Home she discovers she has powers along with some of its other members. This book definitely wasn't what I expected it to be. The beginning tried to show that Chole was somewhat ordinary and succeeded but the introduction to her circle of friends and random people at her school was a little unnecessary. The author should have kept those to a minimum only including her best friend Kari and leaving out Beth, Miranda, etc. It started off much slower than I would have liked but I really enjoyed the writing and the characters. Chole is not my favorite because she doesn't seem to catch on that quickly. Her constant denial bordered on annoying without actually crossing that line. There is definite room for all the characters to develop, especially her. I did however love the fact that Chole looks at a lot of situations as if they were scenes from a movie. My favorite character is the misunderstood Derek. His secluded ways and bad attitude made me want to know what his issues were. The plot was not only good but also executed well. The build up to the supernatural things that take place in the plot was appreciated. The book eases you into the supernatural stuff and had an exciting ending with a cliffhanger that left the reader wanting more but not disappointed. It was a quick read and I can't wait to read the next one.

[thebacklistbook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Summoning can be viewed in one of two ways, as the author intended it, and as something else. It is intended to read as the coming of age story of an adolescent necromancer, in a decidedly non-magic world, full of mystery and intrigue. It can also be viewed as the teenage struggle to accept mental illness. Possible triggers for dissociative identity disorder and other illnesses present. Kelley Armstrong spins a brilliant yarn either way you choose to take it.

[katiep15 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this whole series. I'm waiting to start reading the Gathering. The characters grew on me fast, and you can see how dynamic they are through all the books.

[2wondery_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The first half of the book was reasonable and okay. It didn't put me to sleep. But the second half flipped to 'okay, this is stupid.' A couple of unbelievable scenes (yeah, I know, this is fantasy) and then everyone's strange popped out, including the adults. I'm not at all interested in continuing the series. Editor!Oh, and the reader's voice was too little girl.

[kimmyray · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

awesome book!!!!!!!!!

[sofie.roberts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book, it was beautifully written, full of great characters all of whom really grew on be quicky, a loveable narrator and just the right amount of those special 'edge of the seat' moments that keep you guessing. Kelley Armstong never disappoints

[newskepticx · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Loved the idea of Armstrong's universe from a teen point of view. Can't wait to see what happens next.

[ahnya-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Even better than the first. I really like where she is going. Can't wait for the third book.

[cynditefft · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The pace was too slow for me. I gave it 150 pages but decided not to finish.

[kanic-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was reluctant about this book from the start. It turned out to be better than I expected but it was still no real gem for me. I read this book on Kindle and I think the main thing that got me is that I felt like the story was deliberately being drawn out. Once I reached the end I really felt like my $8-$12 should have included the next book in the series. Outrageous cliffhangers here folks. And I am So. Damn. Tired. of outrageous cliffhangers.

There are two major categories of cliffhanger: (1) a cliffhanger that gently nudges or even demands that the reader carry on with a series, meanwhile staying true to the subplot of the book at hand and responsibly resolving at least some significant portion of the loose ends so that the reader feels satisfied at the end of each BOOK and not just at the end of the SERIES and (2) a cliffhanger that abruptly hacks off the end of a story, leaving absolutly no plot resolution thus making you feel like you just got ripped off. No closure whatsoever. Not cool people.

This book is solidly a cliffhanger of the second variety.

[cynical_ames · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[glade1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Read this one in a single afternoon/evening. It's a quick, fun YA story. I was a little frustrated by the abrupt ending, but since I knew it was the first in a trilogy at least I was prepared. I think the story is well written and I like the characters enough that I'll look for the next installment in the series...gotta see what happens next!

[yogiboo_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book was great! It was fun and I loved all the characters and still didn't see the aunt thing at the end! Chloe ia a lovely girl, she doesn't have a mean bone in her so made the perfect heroine in this story. Also there is a weird attraction thing with her and Derek and Simon so it will be interesting to see who she falls for in the end. Looking forward to reading the next book and reading more from Kelley Armstrong.

[lizziewrites · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this book in 7 hours, two sittings, literally. I only put it down because I had to eat dinner. I LOVED it! It was extremely creepy, well-written, and has awesome characters. Chloe's power was so... cool but definitely something I'd *never* want to have. It'd freak me out too bad!

Definitely pick this book up, as it is one the creepiest, coolest YA novels you'll ever read. Oh, and if you want the full-on creep factor going when you read this, do it under the covers, at 3 AM, with a flashlight/booklight. You'll totally get freaked out. ;)

[caitlinac · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this in high school and loved it! The plot is so unique. It's creepy and mysterious and suspenseful. The characters are all believable teenagers. Also, Chloe is a great protagonist. She's afraid of her new-found power yet she tries to learn how to control it.

[staciesnape-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[jadedlioness · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed this book, fascinating story!

[mrsdanaalbasha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After fifteen-year-old Chloe starts seeing ghosts and is sent to Lyle House, a mysterious group home for mentally disturbed teenagers, she soon discovers that neither Lyle House not its inhabitants are exactly what they seem, and that she and her new friends are in danger.

[Thursday, July 15, 2010] With every page passing I'm loving this book more!! It's like Heroes - the TV show. A punch of kids don't know how powerful they are and are being locked and watched in an institute that experiment on them. loved the book!!! I really want Chloe to be with Derek! not Simon! In any case the book was creepy and chilling! And the ending shocked me! And the cliff-hanger was mean!

[leahlo89 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

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.

[monicalynn-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[rosa.mill · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Chloe sees ghosts; which naturally gets mistaken for schizophrenia because there is no such thing as ghosts, right? Wrong. In this series there are supernaturals, however they don't always know what they are, like Chloe. Naturally these teens tend to end up in psychiatric institutes because there powers can easily be mistaken for mental illnesses. But what if the institute knew they were special and lied about it.
That's what happens in this series. The characters are seem like stereotypes but upon closer examination aren't, this is what really draws the reader in.

[christineellei · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I must admit that YA books are a bit of a guilty pleasure. Every once in a while I like to sit down with a good story that I know I can finish in the course of an afternoon. I have thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series and this YA venture into a similar genre certainly did not disappoint. The characters and story drew me in and she closed the book with a cliffhanger. I will be reading the others as they are published.

[ritastradling · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved it. But warning: the ending is incomplete (it just stops).

[shanaqui_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Okay, I have complicated feelings about this. It feels very Twilighty, and so predictable I headdesked in places, but there is actually something compelling about it. I don't think I was interested in who I was supposed to be interested in -- I wasn't so interested in Chloe and much more in Derek and Tori, who half the time it seemed I wasn't even supposed to like. I kinda hope Derek and Chloe get together in the end, though. I am actually interested in reading the other two books to find out.

I'm not so sure about the portrayal of ?mental illness? here. It maybe feels convincing if you're not the daughter of a psychiatrist and suffering from an anxiety disorder, but from the start I called bullshit on all the medical diagnoses. None of that rang true and the real plot just seemed obvious.

But anyway, sort of fun. I don't think I'd have picked it up and kept reading, though, if it weren't my WWE women of genre fiction random pick.

[mephistia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought this was very well written. The plot built quickly and easily, the story moved along smoothly and the characters were well-drawn and believably written.

The one and only quibble I had was the cliffhanger ending. The book felt unfinished and I felt kind of cheated and a little angry and admiring of the author all at once.

I felt cheated of a proper ending, because of the way she wrote the lead-in to the next book. Normally books -- even books that are in series -- can stand alone, to some extent. When it's the first book of a series, I don't think I've ever read one before that so completely and blatantly requires the reader to continue to the next book to gain any sort of resolution.

Because of that, I felt a little angry with the author, as though she was trying to "get one over" on me. At the same time, I admired the perceived deviousness of her technique. The story was so well written, the characters so engrossing that even though I'm upset at the lack of resolution to anything in the first book, I'm definitely going to read the next.

I haven't read the next book yet (obviously, because I don't think it's even published, grrrr), but I suspect that they should have been published as a single volume. I don't know if that was her decision or her editors, but it just wasn't cool to leave the ending with so many things up in the air and no semblance of a resolution.

*** Edit ***

It's now January of 2010, and I actually don't remember this book well enough to want to read the second book anymore. All I can remember is my anger at the author's cliffhanger ending. I've always disliked cliffhanger endings, and after reading this book in August, it blossomed into an absolute hatred. I honestly can't recall much of the writing, characters, or pacing. I'm surprised I gave it such a good review when I'm still so upset, months later, with the author for the cliffhanger ending, the absolute lack of any resolution whatsoever.

I am not going to read any more books by this author, ever.

[jenj5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I flew through this book and would like to read the next one right now, please. It also reminds me that I've been meaning to get to the Women of the Otherworld series (Armstrong's adult series set in the same world). This one was still pretty much all setup - you can tell there's lots of revelations to come. I'm greatly looking forward to Chloe figuring out that it's actually Derek she likes - not Simon. Also, I would bet my bottom dollar that it's Rae who revealed they were running away, not Tori. I think Tori's going to end up being an ally. We'll see if I can hold off buying the second one until it comes out in paperback - but I doubt it!

[flanneryac · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.

[krumbs_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very much a frustrated-teenager-discovers-huge-powers-and-tons-of-trouble-at-the-same-time novel. It was a fun quick read, but even in a trilogy I want a book to stand on its own, and this one didn't. Glad I had the second book on hand or I think I would have given this fewer stars due to the cliffhanger ending.