Kidzworld reviews The Summoning, the first book in Kelley Armstrong’s gripping new series, Darkest Powers.
Author Kelley Armstrong
What would you do if you started seeing ghosts? Would you run? Would you scream? Would you help them? That’s the exact problem Chloe faces, when a dead school janitor tries to contact her from the other side. Terrified, Chloe runs and screams through the halls of her school, alerting the teachers and stunning the students. When she’s cornered by the ghost, a group of teachers step in and sedate her.
Lyle House
Chloe wakes up in the hospital, only to find that her Aunt Lauren has arranged to send her to Lyle House, a recovery center for troubled teens. At Lyle House, they tell her that she’s schizophrenic, that the so-called “ghosts” she sees are a figment of her imagination. Chloe can’t help but doubt herself.
The Troubled Kids
Chloe makes friends at Lyle House with Rae, a pyromaniac; Liz, a girl with anger issues; and Simon, who only seems to be there for his step-brother, Derek. Unlike the others, Derek acts hostile towards Chloe, creeping her out by staring or sneaking up on her. He calls her a necromancer—a person who raises the dead. But it’s not until later that Chloe learns his name calling was not an insult. Soon, Chloe, Derek and Simon discover the haunting secrets about Lyle House—why it was built and why the three of them are in grave danger.
The Bottom Line
The Summoning is captivating, thrilling and leaves you craving more. It has a slow start compared to the adrenaline-pumping second half. If you like reading about supernatural powers, about mediums and werewolves and demons, definitely read this book. It’s a masterpiece!
The Summoning Book Rating:
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