Friday, March 12, 2010

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong Book Review




The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
(HarperCollins, Hardcover, April 2010)
Rating:

In this third volume of Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers trilogy, Chloe is finally beginning to control her ability to raise the dead.  The usual cast of characters—Simon, Derek, and Tori—are with her at a safe house and as they began to unravel the mystery of the Edison Group, Chloe also begins to sort out her feelings for Simon and Derek.

I was hooked on this series after reading the first book, The Summoning.  I loved the whole idea of a psychiatric ward for teens being a front for kids with supernatural powers.  Over the course of the series, Chloe has gradually become more comfortable with her necromancy skills, scary as they are.  While the second book in the series, The Awakening, fell a little flat for me as it served only to get Chloe and her friends from Point A to Point B with little character or plot development, this third volume has a lot to offer.  I enjoyed reading about Chloe's developing feelings for Derek and about her growing confidence in her supernatural abilities.

However...and this isn't a flaw at all, just an observation...I felt like there was more to Chloe's story.  The ending was satisfying, action packed, and closed a lot of plot lines, but throughout this third book, several clues were dropped that perhaps this won't be the last book in the series.  For example, Margaret, one of the adults who takes Chloe and her friends in, looks scared when Chloe mentions that the stone in her protective necklace changed colors, but we never find out what the changing colors means.  Also, there are several allusions that the Edison Group isn't the only group that Chloe needs to fear.  Finally, Chloe meets a demon at one point and his parting words made me think that it wasn't the last she would see of him.  I don't mean to imply that this trilogy doesn't feel finished, just that it would be great to extend it into a four or five book series.  One can only wish.  :)

10 comments:

  1. I sort of agree with you on this, the ending was kind of confusing, it'd be great if it went on into a series, to explain more.

    Great review!

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  2. Great review! I really like your new header:]

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  3. I've got this one on my list. (And it sounds like the author's keeping her options open!)

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  4. This sounds like an interesting series. It's on my TBR list now. Thanks for posting about it.

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  5. Can I just ask because it is driving me nuts and I have to wait until april 6th for the book, but to save me either crying or doing a happy dance at the bookstore, Simon or Derek?

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  6. O my gosh I am SOOOO Hooked on these books I cannot wait till Tuesday!!!! I have been reading them over and over like crazy plus the excerpt of The Reckoning!!! I have been looking at reviews like all day too! I'm obsessed and I pray Chloe ends up with sigh...Derek!

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  7. OMG!!!!!!!
    This series is the BEST in the world!!!!
    I've read The Summoning and the Awakening like 3 times And I can not wait to get the Reckoning!!!!!!!!! Im obsessed and have been looking for chapters of it on google, I LOVE THE BOOKS!!!! please keep writing Kelly!

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  8. Oh and The last comment was by Hannah,... Just saying....
    And again I adore the books!!!! I really hope Chloe ends up with Derek!!! she is the only one who he REALLY opens up to, i would love to see them together
    simons a really nice guy, but Derek alll the way!

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  9. She's writing and releasing a kind-of follow up series to this one, beginning with 'The Gathering'. These focus more on a second group of experimens, called something like the Phoenix project? I don't remember exactly, but it's on the harpercollins website, along with the first (unproofed) chapter.
    (here's the link if anyone wants it :P >>> http://www.harperteen.com/contests/kelleyarmstrong/excerpt.pdf )
    The main character of this series is going to be 16 year old Maya, i think. I haven't read The Reckoning yet; it's taking forevveerrr to post to me, and i can't wait! thanks for the review, it's only making me want it more! :P

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  10. i fell for this series! I sooo wish that Kelley would write some more about Chloe and Derek and simon and Tori. Any books that have to do with paranormal just totally rock! Especially this one!Write some more kelley!

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