#29 The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Maya lives in a small town of only a few hundred people. Although her life is mostly happy, she finds herself haunted by the loss of her best
friend Serena, who died in front of her eyes when both were fourteen. Now sixteen, Maya's life starts to change when a reporter begins poking around in town. Maya can't help but wonder if she has any information that could solve the mystery of Serena's death. Meanwhile, strange things begin to happen to Maya that will change everything she knows about who she is, and where she comes from.
The Gathering is the first book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, a sequel series to The Darkest Powers trilogy, but with a whole new set of characters. I came into The Gathering with very high expectations, as I had really enjoyed The Darkest Powers books, especially the third book The Reckoning. I was surprised to find myself disappointed. It's not that The Gathering is an awful book that I had to force myself to finish. It possesses many positive elements. For one thing, I really like the protagonist Maya, who's snarky, smart, and tough. I loved the unique setting and Maya's positive relationship with her parents. The book is a very easy read that I finished in just a few days. As a fan of Armstrong's other work, I loved the fact the The Gathering is embracing new paranormal types, pushing beyond vampires, witches and werewolves, to discover something new.
So why did the book leave me feeling so blah? I think the main problem stems from the fact that The Gathering feels a little too much like The Darkest Powers books. Again, we're introduced to a young female protagonist who slowly comes to discover her own supernatural abilities. In the meantime, she must deal with a budding love triangle between two very different guys, as well as the sometimes complex world of female friendships (and female enemies). The result is a book that feels like a recycling of old ideas in a new setting, and things aren't as satisfying the second time around. The book is painfully predictable, and lacks the satisfying tension and mystery found in The Summoning (the first Darkest Powers book). What makes it worse is the fact that even less is resolved in The Gathering, then was in The Summoning, which was mostly build up but not to this extend. In The Gathering, a lot of elements are thrown at us, but they don't really go anywhere.
The Gathering was a fast read with a great protagonist. I won't deny that. At the same time, I can't deny that it left me feeling pretty disappointed. Part of the reason why Kelly Armstrong's books are typically so satisfying is she's not afraid to take risks to keep things from getting stale. This can be seen with the shifting narrators in The Otherworld Series. With The Gathering, it feels like she's playing it safe. Since I enjoyed The Darkest Powers Trilogy so much (and most of Kelley's adult work), I'm planning on continuing the series and I will hope for the best.
Rating: two and a half stars
Length: 359 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Similar Books: Armstrong's own Darkest Powers trilogy.
I've read by this author: Bitten, Stolen, Dime Store Magic, Industrial Magic, Haunted, Broken, No Humans Involved, Personal Demon, Living with the Dead ( my review), Frostbitten ( my review), Waking the Witch ( my review), Men of the Otherworld ( my review),Tales of the Otherworld ( my review), The Summoning ( my review),The Awakening ( my review), The Reckoning ( my review), Exit Strategy ( my review), and Made to be Broken ( my review). I've also read the stand alone novella Angelic ( my review), the novella "Chaotic' from Dates from Hell, the short story "Kat" from The Eternal Kiss ( my review), and the short story "The Ungrateful Dead" from Blood Lite ( my review)
Next up I will be reviewing The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner.
xposted to temporaryworlds , bookish , and goodreads
friend Serena, who died in front of her eyes when both were fourteen. Now sixteen, Maya's life starts to change when a reporter begins poking around in town. Maya can't help but wonder if she has any information that could solve the mystery of Serena's death. Meanwhile, strange things begin to happen to Maya that will change everything she knows about who she is, and where she comes from.
The Gathering is the first book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, a sequel series to The Darkest Powers trilogy, but with a whole new set of characters. I came into The Gathering with very high expectations, as I had really enjoyed The Darkest Powers books, especially the third book The Reckoning. I was surprised to find myself disappointed. It's not that The Gathering is an awful book that I had to force myself to finish. It possesses many positive elements. For one thing, I really like the protagonist Maya, who's snarky, smart, and tough. I loved the unique setting and Maya's positive relationship with her parents. The book is a very easy read that I finished in just a few days. As a fan of Armstrong's other work, I loved the fact the The Gathering is embracing new paranormal types, pushing beyond vampires, witches and werewolves, to discover something new.
So why did the book leave me feeling so blah? I think the main problem stems from the fact that The Gathering feels a little too much like The Darkest Powers books. Again, we're introduced to a young female protagonist who slowly comes to discover her own supernatural abilities. In the meantime, she must deal with a budding love triangle between two very different guys, as well as the sometimes complex world of female friendships (and female enemies). The result is a book that feels like a recycling of old ideas in a new setting, and things aren't as satisfying the second time around. The book is painfully predictable, and lacks the satisfying tension and mystery found in The Summoning (the first Darkest Powers book). What makes it worse is the fact that even less is resolved in The Gathering, then was in The Summoning, which was mostly build up but not to this extend. In The Gathering, a lot of elements are thrown at us, but they don't really go anywhere.
The Gathering was a fast read with a great protagonist. I won't deny that. At the same time, I can't deny that it left me feeling pretty disappointed. Part of the reason why Kelly Armstrong's books are typically so satisfying is she's not afraid to take risks to keep things from getting stale. This can be seen with the shifting narrators in The Otherworld Series. With The Gathering, it feels like she's playing it safe. Since I enjoyed The Darkest Powers Trilogy so much (and most of Kelley's adult work), I'm planning on continuing the series and I will hope for the best.
Rating: two and a half stars
Length: 359 pages
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Similar Books: Armstrong's own Darkest Powers trilogy.
I've read by this author: Bitten, Stolen, Dime Store Magic, Industrial Magic, Haunted, Broken, No Humans Involved, Personal Demon, Living with the Dead ( my review), Frostbitten ( my review), Waking the Witch ( my review), Men of the Otherworld ( my review),Tales of the Otherworld ( my review), The Summoning ( my review),The Awakening ( my review), The Reckoning ( my review), Exit Strategy ( my review), and Made to be Broken ( my review). I've also read the stand alone novella Angelic ( my review), the novella "Chaotic' from Dates from Hell, the short story "Kat" from The Eternal Kiss ( my review), and the short story "The Ungrateful Dead" from Blood Lite ( my review)
Next up I will be reviewing The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner.
xposted to temporaryworlds , bookish , and goodreads