Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
HarperCollins (2011), Hardcover, 400 pages
Description
Sixteen-year-old Maya suspects there may be a relationship between her paw-print birthmark, her connection with wild animals, and strange events occurring in her tiny Vancouver Island community, where a medical research facility harbors big secrets.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ReadingWithMartinis
Sounds good, doesn’t it? And it’s by Kelley Armstrong, so it must be really good, right? Sadly, no. I received an ARC of this book and was very excited to read it. I had to force myself to finish the book I was already reading before diving into The Gathering. As it turns out, I could have
I try to find something good to say about every book I read, even when I am not bowled over by it. I am having significant trouble finding anything I liked about this book. I guess I did like Maya’s supernatural ability, which is not one Armstrong has used before, that I can remember.
What didn’t I like? For starters, the book was very slow moving. I was on page 100 still waiting for something to happen. I felt like there was too much build-up, too much detail, and not enough action. I was growing bored…very, very bored. By the time the action did pick up, I was so irritated with this book that it didn’t much matter.
I did not like Maya. Not liking the protagonist in a book like this generally spells disaster for liking the book as a whole. I found Maya to be boring, uppity, snarky (not in a good way), and very bland compared to other Armstrong characters. Maya’s friend Daniel was OK, but the description of the novel plays it off like he has a supernatural ability, which I did not pick up on at all in the book. The characters didn’t stand out for me. They weren’t special or endearing, or relate-able.
The plot was very thin. That is a huge part of why the novel moved so slowly. The novel lacked substance and was made up for in tons of detail.
Overall, I did not enjoy this book. I appreciate the ARC and the lovely people who sent it to me, but I just didn’t like this book. Would I recommend it? No. I can name a slew of other Kelley Armstrong works I would recommend over and over again, but this isn’t one of them.
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waited. This book was so disappointing. I am a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong’s work, so I was expecting a heck of a story. Such was not the case.I try to find something good to say about every book I read, even when I am not bowled over by it. I am having significant trouble finding anything I liked about this book. I guess I did like Maya’s supernatural ability, which is not one Armstrong has used before, that I can remember.
What didn’t I like? For starters, the book was very slow moving. I was on page 100 still waiting for something to happen. I felt like there was too much build-up, too much detail, and not enough action. I was growing bored…very, very bored. By the time the action did pick up, I was so irritated with this book that it didn’t much matter.
I did not like Maya. Not liking the protagonist in a book like this generally spells disaster for liking the book as a whole. I found Maya to be boring, uppity, snarky (not in a good way), and very bland compared to other Armstrong characters. Maya’s friend Daniel was OK, but the description of the novel plays it off like he has a supernatural ability, which I did not pick up on at all in the book. The characters didn’t stand out for me. They weren’t special or endearing, or relate-able.
The plot was very thin. That is a huge part of why the novel moved so slowly. The novel lacked substance and was made up for in tons of detail.
Overall, I did not enjoy this book. I appreciate the ARC and the lovely people who sent it to me, but I just didn’t like this book. Would I recommend it? No. I can name a slew of other Kelley Armstrong works I would recommend over and over again, but this isn’t one of them.
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LibraryThing member DonnerLibrary
The Gathering is like the first act in a three act play. It introduces the main characters and leads into the conflict. Unfortunately, it also ends with a television like cliff hanger but instead of waiting three or four months to find out what happens readers may have to wait an entire year.
LibraryThing member jdonnelly14
***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***
Maya is a soon to be sixteen year old girl who lives in a very small island town in Canada. She's adopted, found at a hospital abandoned when she was only a babe, her only clue to her heritage are her native features and a paw-print birth mark. After
This is a book that really draws you in from page one when you witness the Selena's death through Maya eyes. The setting is so vividly described a reader can easily picture themselves in the tiny village of Salmon Creek with it's expansive forests, massive rock formations and beautiful lakes.
The characters are well rounded and intriguing. Each character is a bit of a mystery in and of themselves you can relate to each in way. You keep reading wanting to learn more about them, what makes them tick and why they behave the way they do. It's clear that there's something more to each of these children than what they appear, the question is what, the answer is even they don't really know everything.
It's not so much the pace of this novel that keeps you reading, I wouldn't describe it as fast paced by any means. It's more that it slowly draws you in as Armstrong weaves this world and characters around you. You don't even realize how hooked you are until the book is almost finished and barely any time has passed since picking it up. It the mystery of the characters more than anything else that draws a reader into this novel. Don't get me wrong there are a few fast paced action scenes that have you on the edge of your seat wondering and worrying about the character's fates. However these scenes are few and far between.
My main issue with this book is in my personal opinion it doesn't have a full story arc, it's more like an impressive beginning to another story. It doesn't follow the goal established, obstacles toward goal, goal accomplished pattern that most novels include. While I wouldn't say skip it, I might recommend waiting until the next book in the Darkness Rising series is released before purchasing it. To me the ending was so abrupt I started wondering if my e-book copy was truncated or something. When I finished this novel I really didn't think I'd reached the end, I was messaging all over the place asking for confirmation that I did indeed have the full title and didn't need to go back and re-download it from the site I purchased it at. When I learned that this was indeed the end of the novel I was pretty disappointed because I'd become so engrossed in these characters, the novel was such a great beginning and then the novel was just over. Don't get me wrong I'd definitely recommend this book, but personally I feel this is one of those series that you wait to read until the entire trilogy or series is released before reading.
Maya is a soon to be sixteen year old girl who lives in a very small island town in Canada. She's adopted, found at a hospital abandoned when she was only a babe, her only clue to her heritage are her native features and a paw-print birth mark. After
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watching her best friend violently drown the year before, she afraid to get close to anyone other than her best friend Daniel. She especially doesn't want to get close to Rafe, the first new boy to enter the tiny school in a long time. However when Rafe begins pursuing her in earnest she finds herself unable to resist his bad boy allure and find herself drawn into a world she previously never knew or would have believed existed. When strange things begin to happen in the tiny town, Maya, with the help of Daniel and Rafe, must search for answers about who she is, what really caused her best friend Selena, the captain of the swim team, to drown the previous year and the mysterious research project related to her birth.This is a book that really draws you in from page one when you witness the Selena's death through Maya eyes. The setting is so vividly described a reader can easily picture themselves in the tiny village of Salmon Creek with it's expansive forests, massive rock formations and beautiful lakes.
The characters are well rounded and intriguing. Each character is a bit of a mystery in and of themselves you can relate to each in way. You keep reading wanting to learn more about them, what makes them tick and why they behave the way they do. It's clear that there's something more to each of these children than what they appear, the question is what, the answer is even they don't really know everything.
It's not so much the pace of this novel that keeps you reading, I wouldn't describe it as fast paced by any means. It's more that it slowly draws you in as Armstrong weaves this world and characters around you. You don't even realize how hooked you are until the book is almost finished and barely any time has passed since picking it up. It the mystery of the characters more than anything else that draws a reader into this novel. Don't get me wrong there are a few fast paced action scenes that have you on the edge of your seat wondering and worrying about the character's fates. However these scenes are few and far between.
My main issue with this book is in my personal opinion it doesn't have a full story arc, it's more like an impressive beginning to another story. It doesn't follow the goal established, obstacles toward goal, goal accomplished pattern that most novels include. While I wouldn't say skip it, I might recommend waiting until the next book in the Darkness Rising series is released before purchasing it. To me the ending was so abrupt I started wondering if my e-book copy was truncated or something. When I finished this novel I really didn't think I'd reached the end, I was messaging all over the place asking for confirmation that I did indeed have the full title and didn't need to go back and re-download it from the site I purchased it at. When I learned that this was indeed the end of the novel I was pretty disappointed because I'd become so engrossed in these characters, the novel was such a great beginning and then the novel was just over. Don't get me wrong I'd definitely recommend this book, but personally I feel this is one of those series that you wait to read until the entire trilogy or series is released before reading.
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LibraryThing member mountie9
The Good Stuff
I cannot believe I have never read one of Kelley's books before, she is an incredible storyteller. She is also a lovely women who sent me a signed copy of one of her books for my SB&H (Spina Bifida Association) raffle
The story grabs your attention from the 1st chapter and doesn't let
Maya's parents are AWESOME -- this is the first YA book I have read where the parents aren't self-involved, clueless douche bags - Thank you Kelley for this I will buy and read all your books
Intriguing mysterious story with lots of twists and turns
Wonderfully dry fun dialogue -- it was hard to pick just a few good quotes for this review
Lots of Cougars and I don't mean old chicks like me, actual Cougars (and for you Americans otherwise known as Mountain Lions). I love animals what can I say
Set in Canada -- I know, I know but I am a geeky Canadian when I recognize City/Province names I get excited
Strong female lead and interesting secondary characters
Love the relationship between Maya and her parents and Maya and her friends, especially Daniel
The Not so Good Stuff
The story ended on a cliffhanger and I am reading this on March 6th and this book hasn't even been published yet -- how long do I have to wait for the next book -- I'm impatient : )
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"UM, yeah. She climbed a tree to escape a cat. She's suffering from a serious case of stupid."
"In Nanaimo? Must be a low-budget Canadian production."
"Is there any other kind?"
"Takes care of me? Did I go to sleep and wake up in the nineteenth century?" I looked down at my jeans and T-shirt. "Ack! I can't go to school like this. Where's my Corset? My bonnet?
Dad sighed as Mom walked in with her empty teacup.
"What did I miss?" she said
"Dad's trying to marry me off to Daniel." I looked at him. "You know, if you offer him a new truck for a dowry, he might go for it."
"Apparently, I said the wrong thing," Dad told Mom
What I Learned
That I so need to go to Vancouver
That I need to go get the rest of Kelley's books
Who should/shouldn't read
My neighbors daughter actually squealed when she found out I had got a copy of this. I even let her read it before me because I know she WILL go out and buy her own copy -- she has all of Kelley's books and they are all signed (Kelley lives near where we live)
Anyone who likes paranormal YA stories -- or quite frankly anyone who likes a good story
5 Dewey's
I received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review -- hmmm, think I might have to beg them to put me on the list for all of Kelley's new releases
I cannot believe I have never read one of Kelley's books before, she is an incredible storyteller. She is also a lovely women who sent me a signed copy of one of her books for my SB&H (Spina Bifida Association) raffle
The story grabs your attention from the 1st chapter and doesn't let
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go until the very last pageMaya's parents are AWESOME -- this is the first YA book I have read where the parents aren't self-involved, clueless douche bags - Thank you Kelley for this I will buy and read all your books
Intriguing mysterious story with lots of twists and turns
Wonderfully dry fun dialogue -- it was hard to pick just a few good quotes for this review
Lots of Cougars and I don't mean old chicks like me, actual Cougars (and for you Americans otherwise known as Mountain Lions). I love animals what can I say
Set in Canada -- I know, I know but I am a geeky Canadian when I recognize City/Province names I get excited
Strong female lead and interesting secondary characters
Love the relationship between Maya and her parents and Maya and her friends, especially Daniel
The Not so Good Stuff
The story ended on a cliffhanger and I am reading this on March 6th and this book hasn't even been published yet -- how long do I have to wait for the next book -- I'm impatient : )
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"UM, yeah. She climbed a tree to escape a cat. She's suffering from a serious case of stupid."
"In Nanaimo? Must be a low-budget Canadian production."
"Is there any other kind?"
"Takes care of me? Did I go to sleep and wake up in the nineteenth century?" I looked down at my jeans and T-shirt. "Ack! I can't go to school like this. Where's my Corset? My bonnet?
Dad sighed as Mom walked in with her empty teacup.
"What did I miss?" she said
"Dad's trying to marry me off to Daniel." I looked at him. "You know, if you offer him a new truck for a dowry, he might go for it."
"Apparently, I said the wrong thing," Dad told Mom
What I Learned
That I so need to go to Vancouver
That I need to go get the rest of Kelley's books
Who should/shouldn't read
My neighbors daughter actually squealed when she found out I had got a copy of this. I even let her read it before me because I know she WILL go out and buy her own copy -- she has all of Kelley's books and they are all signed (Kelley lives near where we live)
Anyone who likes paranormal YA stories -- or quite frankly anyone who likes a good story
5 Dewey's
I received this from Random House in exchange for an honest review -- hmmm, think I might have to beg them to put me on the list for all of Kelley's new releases
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LibraryThing member JRlibrary
Warning: This review contains spoilers.
I loved this book as soon as I found out that Maya has a German Shepherd named Kenjii! Okay, perhaps I'm a bit biased!
Maya, a 16 year old teen has had a pretty great life until the summer before she turns 15 when her best friend drowns right in front of her.
Book One is a wonderful beginning to this new series by Armstrong. It is significantly different from her Darkest Powers series, but equally enthralling. I predict that YA readers will eat this up!
In order to hook the readers, there are lots of unanswered questions when book one ends. Here are just a few of mine...Why was Maya abandoned as a baby? How much do her adoptive parents really know about her background? Do the scientists at Salmon Creek have anything to do with Maya's latent talents? Is Daniel normal, or is he also more than he appears? Who is after them, and why? Who set the fire and who is Aduros? Can't wait for book two. Anyone know when it's coming out?
I loved this book as soon as I found out that Maya has a German Shepherd named Kenjii! Okay, perhaps I'm a bit biased!
Maya, a 16 year old teen has had a pretty great life until the summer before she turns 15 when her best friend drowns right in front of her.
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Maya and her best male friend, Daniel, have to function without Serena, and although a year has past, both are having trouble forgetting her. A new boy comes to town, Rafe, and as Maya gets to know him, she finds that he is not at all the bad boy that he appears to be, but is, instead, a really nice guy who is very attractive to her. She learns some secrets about his life, and then learns some things about herself as well. Book One is a wonderful beginning to this new series by Armstrong. It is significantly different from her Darkest Powers series, but equally enthralling. I predict that YA readers will eat this up!
In order to hook the readers, there are lots of unanswered questions when book one ends. Here are just a few of mine...Why was Maya abandoned as a baby? How much do her adoptive parents really know about her background? Do the scientists at Salmon Creek have anything to do with Maya's latent talents? Is Daniel normal, or is he also more than he appears? Who is after them, and why? Who set the fire and who is Aduros? Can't wait for book two. Anyone know when it's coming out?
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LibraryThing member BookPurring
The Gathering is the first book in a new trilogy by Kelley Armstrong, it is a companion series to the The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1). I very much enjoyed the first trilogy, and was willing to give The Gathering a shot. Unfortunately it didn't deliver. The character relationships are pretty
The pacing of this books is also not very good, pretty much nothing happens for the first 15 chapters. The ending does leave you with more questions than answers, so I suppose it's a good hook for the next book. I did enjoy speculating who the St. Cloud corporation was, and finding a couple of 'easter eggs' that reminded me of the first series.
Will I read the next book in the series? Right now I'm not sure I want to read the next book in the series I felt I had to force myself to finish this book. Perhaps I will wait until the series is completed because truly this book doesn't reveal much, so as a standalone it really didn't do it for me.
Cover Commentary: Gorgeous, I think Maya is gorgeous and I love the sparkly earring!
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much the same as in the Darkest Powers series (and like 80% of paranormal YA books too). Special teen finds out she's special on her birthday, there's a pseudo triangle, and same as the original series there's another girl chasing one of the boys in the triangle and hates hour special teen heroine. The only difference is the setting and the abilities of our special teen. That said, I found Maya very likeable, as well as Daniel and Rafe, the boys closest to Maya. The pacing of this books is also not very good, pretty much nothing happens for the first 15 chapters. The ending does leave you with more questions than answers, so I suppose it's a good hook for the next book. I did enjoy speculating who the St. Cloud corporation was, and finding a couple of 'easter eggs' that reminded me of the first series.
Will I read the next book in the series? Right now I'm not sure I want to read the next book in the series I felt I had to force myself to finish this book. Perhaps I will wait until the series is completed because truly this book doesn't reveal much, so as a standalone it really didn't do it for me.
Cover Commentary: Gorgeous, I think Maya is gorgeous and I love the sparkly earring!
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LibraryThing member dearheart
Just like The Darkest Powers trilogy, this first book in the Darkness Rising trilogy starts off at a slow pace. Think of the trilogy as one large book and the pace makes sense for the first third of the book. We get to know the characters and begin to learn that things in this small private
Maya and her adoptive parents came to the area years ago when her father was hired to be the Forest Ranger and they live in the middle of "The Park," surrounded by the forest and wild animals. I love Maya's relationship and teasing with her parents. Maya has a natural affinity for many creatures and takes care of injured animals so they can be released back into the wild. One, a cougar, refuses to leave and becomes part of the family. She's never known anything about her biological parents or which Native American tribe her heritage hails from. But through outside sources she starts to learn she's something other, but doesn't have time to deal with any of it before the story picks up steam and she's confronted with a number of things and threatening situations. At her side are her best friend, Daniel, and Rafe, a new guy to the area that Maya is drawn to but doesn't trust.
The characters, especially Maya, are very likable, although at 16 they seem somewhat mature for their age when it comes to reasoning and responsibility. And while there are teenage hormones and underage drinking at parties, what we don't see is a teen's rebellious attitude towards their parents; possibly because they have less outside influence or grew up in a village setting where everyone knows everyone else? This series is set in the same world as the Women of the Otherworld.
The slow pace through a good part of the book didn't bother me as I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the small hints that the kids might be something different, and that the research hospital's secrecy might involve more than corporate secrets from competitors. The story is an easy read that picks up in intensity, resulting in a cliffhanger ending, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. From what I've seen so far, this trilogy should equal the intensity and action of the Darkest Powers trilogy.
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corporation-owned town in the middle of nowhere aren't quite what the kids believe. The main employer in this town of under 200 is a medical research facility which purchased all surrounding land and houses to provide housing for their employees and the best of schools for the kids. They live an hour from the nearest town. Maya and her adoptive parents came to the area years ago when her father was hired to be the Forest Ranger and they live in the middle of "The Park," surrounded by the forest and wild animals. I love Maya's relationship and teasing with her parents. Maya has a natural affinity for many creatures and takes care of injured animals so they can be released back into the wild. One, a cougar, refuses to leave and becomes part of the family. She's never known anything about her biological parents or which Native American tribe her heritage hails from. But through outside sources she starts to learn she's something other, but doesn't have time to deal with any of it before the story picks up steam and she's confronted with a number of things and threatening situations. At her side are her best friend, Daniel, and Rafe, a new guy to the area that Maya is drawn to but doesn't trust.
The characters, especially Maya, are very likable, although at 16 they seem somewhat mature for their age when it comes to reasoning and responsibility. And while there are teenage hormones and underage drinking at parties, what we don't see is a teen's rebellious attitude towards their parents; possibly because they have less outside influence or grew up in a village setting where everyone knows everyone else? This series is set in the same world as the Women of the Otherworld.
The slow pace through a good part of the book didn't bother me as I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the small hints that the kids might be something different, and that the research hospital's secrecy might involve more than corporate secrets from competitors. The story is an easy read that picks up in intensity, resulting in a cliffhanger ending, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. From what I've seen so far, this trilogy should equal the intensity and action of the Darkest Powers trilogy.
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LibraryThing member AverysBookNook
I must preface by saying that I love Kelley Armstrong, she is one of my most favourite authors of all time. There isn't anything of hers that I have read before that I haven't enjoyed, from her "Darkest Powers" trilogy to her "Women of the Otherworld" series. But while I did enjoy this book I don't
I think that Derek and Simon (from the "Darkest Powers" trilogy) made more of an impact on me than this book's Daniel and Rafe did, however Maya totally made a bigger impact upon me than Chloe did (I found Chloe to be really dependent upon the boys in the first two books of the trilogy and somewhat of a quiet character). But Maya? Yeah, the girl had balls. She wasn't afraid to tell it like it was and she had so many great one liners throughout the book, there were so many times I found myself bursting out laughing at what came out of her mouth, for instance this little conversation:
Maya: "Have you met the tattoo artist? Is he hot?"
Mom: "He's a she."
Maya: "Is she hot? Cause I'm still young, you know. My sexual identity isn't fully formed." (pg. 37)
I think that what really frustrated me about this book was that because it is the first book in the trilogy I assumed that we would learn lots about Project Phoenix, like we did about Project Genesis in the first book of the "Darkest Powers" trilogy, "The Summoning", but we really don't. Whatsoever. I only have some sort of knowledge about what Project Phoenix entails (Spoiler alert: The resurrection of extinct magical races) from my own personal researching (reading lots of blog posts, tweets and whatnot) and I don't feel like it is my duty to do outside research to comprehend a book, the writer should provide us with everything we need to know to understand their story.
Also, I found the plot-line to be quite slow in some parts (I am used to the fast-paced-on-the-run-adventure of the "Darkest Power" trilogy I suppose) and I found that there was the whole teenagers-fall-for-one-another-as-soon-as-they-meet-one-another thing going on which was a bit of a bummer (I really liked how relationships didn't form in the "Darkest Powers" until the very last book, the characters really got to know one another before they formed any sort of relationship).
But like I said, Maya is a really great character and the epitome of snark and she really does make this story. While I do seem to have many complaints of this story I do think that it is a good story, not as great as the "Darkest Power" series, but better than many YA books that are currently out there.
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know if I enjoyed it quite as much as her others books, especially her "Darkest Powers" trilogy.I think that Derek and Simon (from the "Darkest Powers" trilogy) made more of an impact on me than this book's Daniel and Rafe did, however Maya totally made a bigger impact upon me than Chloe did (I found Chloe to be really dependent upon the boys in the first two books of the trilogy and somewhat of a quiet character). But Maya? Yeah, the girl had balls. She wasn't afraid to tell it like it was and she had so many great one liners throughout the book, there were so many times I found myself bursting out laughing at what came out of her mouth, for instance this little conversation:
Maya: "Have you met the tattoo artist? Is he hot?"
Mom: "He's a she."
Maya: "Is she hot? Cause I'm still young, you know. My sexual identity isn't fully formed." (pg. 37)
I think that what really frustrated me about this book was that because it is the first book in the trilogy I assumed that we would learn lots about Project Phoenix, like we did about Project Genesis in the first book of the "Darkest Powers" trilogy, "The Summoning", but we really don't. Whatsoever. I only have some sort of knowledge about what Project Phoenix entails (Spoiler alert: The resurrection of extinct magical races) from my own personal researching (reading lots of blog posts, tweets and whatnot) and I don't feel like it is my duty to do outside research to comprehend a book, the writer should provide us with everything we need to know to understand their story.
Also, I found the plot-line to be quite slow in some parts (I am used to the fast-paced-on-the-run-adventure of the "Darkest Power" trilogy I suppose) and I found that there was the whole teenagers-fall-for-one-another-as-soon-as-they-meet-one-another thing going on which was a bit of a bummer (I really liked how relationships didn't form in the "Darkest Powers" until the very last book, the characters really got to know one another before they formed any sort of relationship).
But like I said, Maya is a really great character and the epitome of snark and she really does make this story. While I do seem to have many complaints of this story I do think that it is a good story, not as great as the "Darkest Power" series, but better than many YA books that are currently out there.
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LibraryThing member sch_94
My Summary: Maya's lived in a town of 200 people since she was five years old. Thanks to the medical research facility in town owned by the St. Clouds (sound familiar?), she and all the rest of the kids get the best of everything: the best schooling, the best health-care...
Maya is content living
And then there's Rafe, the guy who nobody trusts. Maya can't seem to shake the feeling that he knows something he's not telling her... especially when she sees his paw-print tattoo - one that matches hers perfectly.
My Thoughts: Kelley Armstrong is one of my absolute favourite authors, so I might be a little bias when I say this, but I seriously loved this book! I thought there was no way I could like it as much as I adored The Darkest Powers, but it's definitely close.
Kelley's writing is always flawless, and the way she describes Maya's town seriously makes me want to plan a trip to Vancouver. And the characters are awesome - each one is realistic, and each one has a history that you can't wait to find out more about. I especially loved Rafe and his attempt to keep everyone away with his 'bad-boy' persona - that guy definitely needs a hug (preferably from Maya).
And I may seem a little obsessed when I say this, but the little mentions of things we heard about in the Darkest Powers series made me all giddy and whatnot. Especially when I found out that Maya's last name is Delaney and who the statue in the town square was memorializing...
Final Thoughts: Whether you've read the DP series already or not, I think you'll really enjoy reading The Gathering. My advice, though, is that you pick up the DP series first - you find out a lot more important info that way (plus the Darkest Powers series kicks ass... just sayin'). You should definitely pick this one up when you get the chance!
Maya is content living
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with her adoptive parents and her friends Serena and Daniel, believing everything she's been told by the St. Clouds. But then Serena dies under mysterious circumstances, and Maya is left to wonder just what is going on in her tiny town when, less than a year later, a reporter disappears while looking for answers about the lab.And then there's Rafe, the guy who nobody trusts. Maya can't seem to shake the feeling that he knows something he's not telling her... especially when she sees his paw-print tattoo - one that matches hers perfectly.
My Thoughts: Kelley Armstrong is one of my absolute favourite authors, so I might be a little bias when I say this, but I seriously loved this book! I thought there was no way I could like it as much as I adored The Darkest Powers, but it's definitely close.
Kelley's writing is always flawless, and the way she describes Maya's town seriously makes me want to plan a trip to Vancouver. And the characters are awesome - each one is realistic, and each one has a history that you can't wait to find out more about. I especially loved Rafe and his attempt to keep everyone away with his 'bad-boy' persona - that guy definitely needs a hug (preferably from Maya).
And I may seem a little obsessed when I say this, but the little mentions of things we heard about in the Darkest Powers series made me all giddy and whatnot. Especially when I found out that Maya's last name is Delaney and who the statue in the town square was memorializing...
Final Thoughts: Whether you've read the DP series already or not, I think you'll really enjoy reading The Gathering. My advice, though, is that you pick up the DP series first - you find out a lot more important info that way (plus the Darkest Powers series kicks ass... just sayin'). You should definitely pick this one up when you get the chance!
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LibraryThing member renkellym
Summary: Maya has been raised in Salmon Creek, a small medical-research town with an abundance of wildlife. She attributes her unique connection with animals to her Native ancestry, but there are certain things Maya can’t explain—like her paw print-shaped birthmark. After Maya’s best friend
My thoughts: The best thing about Kelley Armstrong’s books is that despite all being set in the same world and being about the same types of paranormal creatures, they still manage to capture and hold my attention. The Gathering is no exception. From the very first chapter, Kelley Armstrong builds excitement and suspense. The Gathering was almost impossible to put down! The main character, Maya, is likable and strong-willed; the love interest, Raffe, has a bad-boy exterior but is ultimately vulnerable and sweet; and the story was just an intense roller-coaster ride.
Fans of the Darkest Powers series (or Kelley’s Otherworld series) will recognize some name-drops and concepts mentioned in The Gathering. Fortunately, this does not affect the mystery aspect of the book in any way. The mystery itself is initially simple, but over the course of the novel it becomes more and more complex. The Gathering does quite a bit of set-up for the future novels.
The only thing I really have to complain about is the ending. It’s a major cliffhanger! Barely any of the major questions are answered, which was frustrating. I literally shouted, “What? Nooo!” upon turning the final page. Still, I must admit that Kelley Armstrong did an excellent job of making me really want to read the next book. Is it 2012 yet?
If you haven’t read any of Kelley Armstrong’s books, The Gathering is an excellent place to start. It’s engaging, fun, and just overall awesome. I’d recommend it to fans of paranormal YA. Though the paranormal aspect isn’t played up too terribly much in this installment (it focuses more on mystery-solving), you can be sure it’ll take center stage in the sequel.
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mysteriously drowns, other strange things start happening in town. Reporters show up to investigate just exactly what kind of research is being done at the facility; a new boy named Raffe and his odd sister Annie move in… Maya needs to get to the bottom of what’s really going on in Salmon Creek.My thoughts: The best thing about Kelley Armstrong’s books is that despite all being set in the same world and being about the same types of paranormal creatures, they still manage to capture and hold my attention. The Gathering is no exception. From the very first chapter, Kelley Armstrong builds excitement and suspense. The Gathering was almost impossible to put down! The main character, Maya, is likable and strong-willed; the love interest, Raffe, has a bad-boy exterior but is ultimately vulnerable and sweet; and the story was just an intense roller-coaster ride.
Fans of the Darkest Powers series (or Kelley’s Otherworld series) will recognize some name-drops and concepts mentioned in The Gathering. Fortunately, this does not affect the mystery aspect of the book in any way. The mystery itself is initially simple, but over the course of the novel it becomes more and more complex. The Gathering does quite a bit of set-up for the future novels.
The only thing I really have to complain about is the ending. It’s a major cliffhanger! Barely any of the major questions are answered, which was frustrating. I literally shouted, “What? Nooo!” upon turning the final page. Still, I must admit that Kelley Armstrong did an excellent job of making me really want to read the next book. Is it 2012 yet?
If you haven’t read any of Kelley Armstrong’s books, The Gathering is an excellent place to start. It’s engaging, fun, and just overall awesome. I’d recommend it to fans of paranormal YA. Though the paranormal aspect isn’t played up too terribly much in this installment (it focuses more on mystery-solving), you can be sure it’ll take center stage in the sequel.
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LibraryThing member MissHavoc
I had such high hopes for this new series. It has been a WoW of mine for quite some time and I was so looking forward to getting a chance at an early read. As I've said hundreds of times now, I am a lover of all things shifter, so of course I HAD to put it at the top of my TBR pile. The first half
I love the world Ms. Armstrong created. The town and it's people are all very imaginative and made me want to learn more about them. I love that the story is set in Canada, as a lot of the YA out right now is taking place somewhere in the US. It's neat to hear the different dialects the characters use and how even the smallest detail is described, like the currency they use. For me I felt like I was over there, and that is always a good thing.
Maya's character was really interesting. I felt a little ignorant because I wasn't very aware of Canadian Native Americans, but the whole story revolves around them and their Skin-Walker tales. It's oh so interesting. Maya knows she's from a tribe, but not which, and that is really hard on her personal identity. A lot of the story is centered on Maya trying to figure out where she is from and why things keep happening to her because of what she is. The only thing I didn't like about Maya is how self-righteous she is. I mean it's a good thing and she's a great character, but I felt she needed more flaws. Oh yeah, and it's not a Werewolf tale, just a FYI.
So the beginning of the story is great and full of actions and suspense, plus some totally hot guys, but the ending just fell flat. I get that it was supposed to be a cliffhanger, but really, I was just confused. I don't understand who or what the antagonist is, or where the conflict is going. I mean, we get a glimpse of some "bad guys" running around in a fire trying to capture people, but who are they? What do they want? What is the town really up to?
For me it didn't answer enough questions to really understand where the series is going. I hope to read the next book and go from there, since it's a really interesting concept, I like the world and the characters and I really enjoyed the paranormal aspect to said characters. I just didn't get a full grasp of where we're going. So for the first half I gave it 4 stars, but since I didn't like the ending at all, I gave that 3 stars. So lets leave it at 3.5 out of 5 stars and agree to read book 2 and hopefully love it enough to devour the entire series.
3.5/5 Stars
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of the book convinced me that The Gathering was going to be a knock out. Unfortunately, the second half nearly made me stop reading.I love the world Ms. Armstrong created. The town and it's people are all very imaginative and made me want to learn more about them. I love that the story is set in Canada, as a lot of the YA out right now is taking place somewhere in the US. It's neat to hear the different dialects the characters use and how even the smallest detail is described, like the currency they use. For me I felt like I was over there, and that is always a good thing.
Maya's character was really interesting. I felt a little ignorant because I wasn't very aware of Canadian Native Americans, but the whole story revolves around them and their Skin-Walker tales. It's oh so interesting. Maya knows she's from a tribe, but not which, and that is really hard on her personal identity. A lot of the story is centered on Maya trying to figure out where she is from and why things keep happening to her because of what she is. The only thing I didn't like about Maya is how self-righteous she is. I mean it's a good thing and she's a great character, but I felt she needed more flaws. Oh yeah, and it's not a Werewolf tale, just a FYI.
So the beginning of the story is great and full of actions and suspense, plus some totally hot guys, but the ending just fell flat. I get that it was supposed to be a cliffhanger, but really, I was just confused. I don't understand who or what the antagonist is, or where the conflict is going. I mean, we get a glimpse of some "bad guys" running around in a fire trying to capture people, but who are they? What do they want? What is the town really up to?
For me it didn't answer enough questions to really understand where the series is going. I hope to read the next book and go from there, since it's a really interesting concept, I like the world and the characters and I really enjoyed the paranormal aspect to said characters. I just didn't get a full grasp of where we're going. So for the first half I gave it 4 stars, but since I didn't like the ending at all, I gave that 3 stars. So lets leave it at 3.5 out of 5 stars and agree to read book 2 and hopefully love it enough to devour the entire series.
3.5/5 Stars
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LibraryThing member idroskicinia
Believe it or not, this is the first book by Kelley Armstrong I read. I had heard a lot about some of her series, like The Darkest Powers, but I never had the opportunity to read any of them. So I was really happy to read this one, and to meet (finally) her work.
The Gathering has a good plot. A
What Happened? I don't know exactly, maybe I was waiting more, o maybe I had read too many YA books in less than a week.
The plot like I said before is full of mystery, but sometimes was a little bit predictable and not so surprising like the writer wanted to be. Specially Maya's birthmark, Annie, and Maya's relationship with the cougars… everything was too clear… but at the ending, things are a little more darker, with all the story of the research, and I really liked that part.
Maya's character wasn't entirely of my liking. She was kind of the brave girl, who likes sports and she is more strong than a group of boys… and the way she behaved was like she was the best, and the rest of the group were… only the rest. Sometimes I enjoy this kind of characters like Katniss from The Hunger Games, but this time, was too much.
I didn't like Rafe either. Maybe because I liked Daniel from the very first moment, or maybe, because he was supposedly to be the bad guy, but he wasn't soooo bad at all. All his story, about his family is sad, of course, but the way he opened immediately to Maya, make him less mysterious and less important. I saw their romance lack of feeling, like a normal teenager romance of a few weeks… (Ok, I'm not saying is not good to see a normal romance in a novel, but I was waiting more… I'm tired of normal things… That's why I read YA fiction novels… and Paranormal stuff) So, when I read how she, in a few hours started making out with him, because he was sincere with her about his sad life, I said, what the hell!!!!! If a guy is sincere with me, I'm definitely not making out with him.
Daniel was my only favorite character, and I don't have too much to talk about him.
So, what can I say? I'm not fan of this book, but I recommend it to everybody who liked books like Shiver, or Nightshade. Or any kind of book related with werewolves or salvage animals.
2/5 Stars, It was OK.
The Gathering has a good plot. A
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different story, full of mystery, Native American tales and believes, and the idea of an Island, a Research Island, (Made me remember LOST : D ) was really nice. But… I didn't enjoyed the book too much.What Happened? I don't know exactly, maybe I was waiting more, o maybe I had read too many YA books in less than a week.
The plot like I said before is full of mystery, but sometimes was a little bit predictable and not so surprising like the writer wanted to be. Specially Maya's birthmark, Annie, and Maya's relationship with the cougars… everything was too clear… but at the ending, things are a little more darker, with all the story of the research, and I really liked that part.
Maya's character wasn't entirely of my liking. She was kind of the brave girl, who likes sports and she is more strong than a group of boys… and the way she behaved was like she was the best, and the rest of the group were… only the rest. Sometimes I enjoy this kind of characters like Katniss from The Hunger Games, but this time, was too much.
I didn't like Rafe either. Maybe because I liked Daniel from the very first moment, or maybe, because he was supposedly to be the bad guy, but he wasn't soooo bad at all. All his story, about his family is sad, of course, but the way he opened immediately to Maya, make him less mysterious and less important. I saw their romance lack of feeling, like a normal teenager romance of a few weeks… (Ok, I'm not saying is not good to see a normal romance in a novel, but I was waiting more… I'm tired of normal things… That's why I read YA fiction novels… and Paranormal stuff) So, when I read how she, in a few hours started making out with him, because he was sincere with her about his sad life, I said, what the hell!!!!! If a guy is sincere with me, I'm definitely not making out with him.
Daniel was my only favorite character, and I don't have too much to talk about him.
So, what can I say? I'm not fan of this book, but I recommend it to everybody who liked books like Shiver, or Nightshade. Or any kind of book related with werewolves or salvage animals.
2/5 Stars, It was OK.
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LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary
Confession: I don't have a good relationship with Kelley Armstrong. Okay, I know that sounds weird, but I mean that purely in a "not-a-good-relationship-with-her-books" kind of way (I don't know, when I read a book I almost feel like I have some sort of connection to the author, like I know him/her
So, why, then am I reading and reviewing the newest book from Armstrong? I guess I wanted to give her another try. The first book in a new series called Darkness Rising, The Gathering introduces sixteen-year-old Maya, who lives in a tiny town that's far from interesting. Until her friend Serena, captain of the swim team, dies. Then Maya's friend Daniel starts to have visions of the future. Then a new boy shows up in town, Rafe. And, to top it all off, Maya discovers that she may not be as human as she thinks.
Okay, how many times have I heard this story before -or something similar? It seems like these types of paranormal romances just come off an assembly line now. And, sadly, The Gathering didn't really add anything new to the genre. Maya was a decent character, and her conflicts do feel real and just make sense in the context the story. The story even offers some twists to at least keep it interesting (I did finish the book), but it just wasn't enough for me to get fully invested in the story and the characters.
Maybe I just naturally don't mesh well with Armstrong's writing, but it, along with this book, is just not for me.
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personally almost). I've tried her Otherworld series and her Darkest Powers series and, considering the types of books I usually like to read, both of these series should be staples. But they just aren't. I've read Bitten (first of the Otherworld series) and The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1) and didn't really like either of them. So, why, then am I reading and reviewing the newest book from Armstrong? I guess I wanted to give her another try. The first book in a new series called Darkness Rising, The Gathering introduces sixteen-year-old Maya, who lives in a tiny town that's far from interesting. Until her friend Serena, captain of the swim team, dies. Then Maya's friend Daniel starts to have visions of the future. Then a new boy shows up in town, Rafe. And, to top it all off, Maya discovers that she may not be as human as she thinks.
Okay, how many times have I heard this story before -or something similar? It seems like these types of paranormal romances just come off an assembly line now. And, sadly, The Gathering didn't really add anything new to the genre. Maya was a decent character, and her conflicts do feel real and just make sense in the context the story. The story even offers some twists to at least keep it interesting (I did finish the book), but it just wasn't enough for me to get fully invested in the story and the characters.
Maybe I just naturally don't mesh well with Armstrong's writing, but it, along with this book, is just not for me.
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LibraryThing member WMGallaway
THE GATHERING is the first installment of the Darkness Rising series by Kelley Armstrong. I shall warn the first-timer here - expect to be instantly mesmerized with a healthy addiction to soon follow. As an experienced K.A. reader I enjoyed this book very much.
We get to meet Maya after she had
A reporter shows up in town and starts asking questions and is particularly interested in the students at school. She asks a lot about their hobbies and interests. The community has a procedure to follow when outsiders start snooping which everybody has had drilled into them since childhood. Eventually the woman is found dead and Maya and some friends get some curious information out of her cabin. All the while Maya becomes aware of what her own native ancestry truly means to her.
The only part of the book I did not like was the abrupt ending! However, I am predicting the next Clay/Elena in the Rafe/Maya situation :)
We get to meet Maya after she had
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lost her best friend in a swimming accident. I believe that she is the first native american that K.A. has created. Maya has an affinity for animals - they trust her and heal quickly while in her care. She lives in the middle of nowhere in a community owned and ran by the St. Clouds, though the local teens do not really seem to understand the magnitude of that statement.A reporter shows up in town and starts asking questions and is particularly interested in the students at school. She asks a lot about their hobbies and interests. The community has a procedure to follow when outsiders start snooping which everybody has had drilled into them since childhood. Eventually the woman is found dead and Maya and some friends get some curious information out of her cabin. All the while Maya becomes aware of what her own native ancestry truly means to her.
The only part of the book I did not like was the abrupt ending! However, I am predicting the next Clay/Elena in the Rafe/Maya situation :)
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Maya's always known that her town is not exactly normal. It's isolated in the woods of a national park in Vancouver Island, it's small - 200 people small - and it's owned by the medical research company that employs most of its residents. But things have been getting stranger. First Maya's
Review: I liked this book more than I probably should have, given what I can objectively recognize as some serious issues with its pacing and plotting. But subjectively, I really, really enjoyed it, to the point of leaping out of bed way too early on a Sunday morning just so I could tear through the second half of the book. So, the bad stuff first: the plot takes a long, long time to establish a direction, and even then it doesn't move particularly quickly. The ending happens really abruptly, and is more of an act break than an ending, answering essentially none of the mysteries set up in the rest of the book. And speaking of mysteries, Maya is rather clueless, taking until page 250 or so to twig to the "reveal" that's been glaringly obvious to readers since roughly the first chapter.
BUT! Even though I couldn't help but notice all of that, I still enjoyed reading this book. Armstrong's prose is smooth, her descriptions are vivid, her dialogue is funny (Maya and her dad's banter in particular had me laughing more than once), and her characters are interesting. I also really appreciated that she stayed far away from most YA paranormal cliches: No love triangles, no absent parents, no meeting in biology class, no assholish obsessive paranormal guy who just wants to protect that fragile mortal girl, etc. Armstrong was also able to create a group of high schoolers who acted like high schoolers, without leaning too heavily on established teen stereotypes, and their interactions and relationships felt real. Armstrong also creates plenty of mystery in Maya's little town - certainly more than enough to keep me absorbed - I just wish we'd gotten a few more answers. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: I enjoyed this book enough that I'm going to hunt down some more of Armstrong's work... but while I think fans of teen paranormals will like this one, I'd actually recommend waiting until the rest of the series has been published, to save the frustration of coming to The Gathering's non-ending without the next book ready to hand.
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best friend, the captain of the swim team, drowns in the lake on a perfectly calm day. Now the cougars in the park seem to be developing a strange affinity for Maya, the school's new students are obviously keeping secrets, and there are strangers snooping around asking too many questions. But Maya has to figure out what's really going on... and what it all has to do with her bookmark that looks just like a pawprint.Review: I liked this book more than I probably should have, given what I can objectively recognize as some serious issues with its pacing and plotting. But subjectively, I really, really enjoyed it, to the point of leaping out of bed way too early on a Sunday morning just so I could tear through the second half of the book. So, the bad stuff first: the plot takes a long, long time to establish a direction, and even then it doesn't move particularly quickly. The ending happens really abruptly, and is more of an act break than an ending, answering essentially none of the mysteries set up in the rest of the book. And speaking of mysteries, Maya is rather clueless, taking until page 250 or so to twig to the "reveal" that's been glaringly obvious to readers since roughly the first chapter.
BUT! Even though I couldn't help but notice all of that, I still enjoyed reading this book. Armstrong's prose is smooth, her descriptions are vivid, her dialogue is funny (Maya and her dad's banter in particular had me laughing more than once), and her characters are interesting. I also really appreciated that she stayed far away from most YA paranormal cliches: No love triangles, no absent parents, no meeting in biology class, no assholish obsessive paranormal guy who just wants to protect that fragile mortal girl, etc. Armstrong was also able to create a group of high schoolers who acted like high schoolers, without leaning too heavily on established teen stereotypes, and their interactions and relationships felt real. Armstrong also creates plenty of mystery in Maya's little town - certainly more than enough to keep me absorbed - I just wish we'd gotten a few more answers. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: I enjoyed this book enough that I'm going to hunt down some more of Armstrong's work... but while I think fans of teen paranormals will like this one, I'd actually recommend waiting until the rest of the series has been published, to save the frustration of coming to The Gathering's non-ending without the next book ready to hand.
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LibraryThing member sithereandread
THE GATHERING, by Kelley Armstrong, is the start of her second YA series. After reading the whole Darkest Powers series, I was dying to jump into the start of this new one, still taking place in the same 'world' but with new characters.
I love Kelley Armstrong. Ask anyone who knows me and they can
The first chapter hooked me right away, the drowning of Maya's best friend sent shock waves of sadness through me. I needed to know what happened. Also, the mysterious heritage that Maya soon discovered via a crazy old woman made me crazy with anticipation. Let's add in a new kid who is hot and has the hots for our leading lady (with an equally hot best guy friend). These elements raised questions that I was dying to have answered. But sadly, at the end of the book I felt I needed more.
This book felt like just an introduction to the series and not a self-contained book. Maya's heritage was explained somewhat, but a zillion other questions were left hanging. The pace was always high but I felt it ended too quickly and easy.
Overall, I did like the story. I fell in love with the characters (Rafe and Daniel especially, yum!) and the unique circumstances Maya experienced. The romance was steamy and the mystery of the small Canadian town piqued my interest. I loved Maya's connections and powers with animals and I yearned for each time she experienced them. The book as a whole was a great start to the series and although I expected more from it, I am actually dying to read the next book for more of my questions to be answered.
Cover note: Love this cover! The blue hues make it look mysterious and I would definitely buy this book right off the shelf for the cover alone.
I love Kelley Armstrong. Ask anyone who knows me and they can
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probably tell you she is one of my favorites. I will read anything with her name on it no questions asked. I love the 'Otherworld' that she created that spans across her series's. BUT, I have to say this was the first time I was slightly disappointed. Let me explain...The first chapter hooked me right away, the drowning of Maya's best friend sent shock waves of sadness through me. I needed to know what happened. Also, the mysterious heritage that Maya soon discovered via a crazy old woman made me crazy with anticipation. Let's add in a new kid who is hot and has the hots for our leading lady (with an equally hot best guy friend). These elements raised questions that I was dying to have answered. But sadly, at the end of the book I felt I needed more.
This book felt like just an introduction to the series and not a self-contained book. Maya's heritage was explained somewhat, but a zillion other questions were left hanging. The pace was always high but I felt it ended too quickly and easy.
Overall, I did like the story. I fell in love with the characters (Rafe and Daniel especially, yum!) and the unique circumstances Maya experienced. The romance was steamy and the mystery of the small Canadian town piqued my interest. I loved Maya's connections and powers with animals and I yearned for each time she experienced them. The book as a whole was a great start to the series and although I expected more from it, I am actually dying to read the next book for more of my questions to be answered.
Cover note: Love this cover! The blue hues make it look mysterious and I would definitely buy this book right off the shelf for the cover alone.
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LibraryThing member thereisabook
This is a great spin-off of the darkest powers series! It's not too similar to the books but this is definitely a good thing. It uses a different myth - the Navajo skin walkers - but still has links such as Dr Lyle and Davidoff. It reminds me a lot of Rachel Hawthornes series, but I think thats
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just because they both have a character called Rafe and a research facility. I love Kelley Armstrongs work and this is a great new book for her current fans and a great place to start reading for new YA readers. Show Less
LibraryThing member krystal_osmond
Honestly, this book was great! I read this book quick and it had me wanting more. I'd sit down for a coffee and find myself an hour later (done my coffee) but still reading. Kelley Armstrong's books do this to me though, when I read the Darkest Powers (The Summoning, The Awakening, The Reckoning),
We have what seems to be the typical characters in books like this - girl, girl's friend, new boy in town - but Kelley Armstrong still makes these characters original and her own. Maya, the girl who loves animals, and lost her best friend has a relationship with her parents where she can talk about her sexuality and about her dog being the only "protection" her and a guy will need for going on a walk in the forest. She's a teenager who lives in this small town in Vancouver, and loves to wander the forest. The new guy, Rafe, is the mysterious one who lives in an old abandoned cabin with his sister and people just aren't sure about him. He's got a secret and of course he's totally cute and only interested in Maya and her paw print birthmark. Then we have Daniel, Maya's best friend. He's a genuine guy who looks out for Maya and keeps her out of trouble. He's my favourite character in the book and I'm really looking forward to knowing more about him.
Overall, The Gathering is an exciting read and the fact that it's set in Canada AND Kelley herself is Canadian, is awesome. I love reading books with beautiful Canada as the backdrop and it's also so great and important to support talented local authors!
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it was the same thing. What I loved about The Gathering was that I was hooked right away, on the first page. There is no slowly introducing characters, plots etc before anything happens, you get a major event playing out in the first chapter and then BAM! you're hooked and there's no turning back!We have what seems to be the typical characters in books like this - girl, girl's friend, new boy in town - but Kelley Armstrong still makes these characters original and her own. Maya, the girl who loves animals, and lost her best friend has a relationship with her parents where she can talk about her sexuality and about her dog being the only "protection" her and a guy will need for going on a walk in the forest. She's a teenager who lives in this small town in Vancouver, and loves to wander the forest. The new guy, Rafe, is the mysterious one who lives in an old abandoned cabin with his sister and people just aren't sure about him. He's got a secret and of course he's totally cute and only interested in Maya and her paw print birthmark. Then we have Daniel, Maya's best friend. He's a genuine guy who looks out for Maya and keeps her out of trouble. He's my favourite character in the book and I'm really looking forward to knowing more about him.
Overall, The Gathering is an exciting read and the fact that it's set in Canada AND Kelley herself is Canadian, is awesome. I love reading books with beautiful Canada as the backdrop and it's also so great and important to support talented local authors!
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LibraryThing member Kayla-Marie
I thought this novel made a fun read, though it didn't suck me in quite as much as the Darkest Powers trilogy did.
Despite following the same story line as the previous trilogy, it had a completely different feel. Instead of following a group of teenagers with supernatural abilities, this book
All in all, though, I thought the book was very well-written, and I found this new direction with the science experiment plot line (though not as entertaining as the first trilogy) was very refreshing and interesting. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
Despite following the same story line as the previous trilogy, it had a completely different feel. Instead of following a group of teenagers with supernatural abilities, this book
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really only focused on Maya and her discovery of her new power. Her power (plus a handful of other abilities that were merely hinted at) were very different from the powers we came across in the past trilogy. I won't spoil what Maya's supernatural ability is, but I will say that Maya never truly experienced her power. She just discovered that she possessed it. Because of this, I thought that this book was kind of slow going. There was also very little mention of the science experiment, which was brought into the book only at the very end, leaving us with a heck of a cliffhanger. All in all, though, I thought the book was very well-written, and I found this new direction with the science experiment plot line (though not as entertaining as the first trilogy) was very refreshing and interesting. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
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LibraryThing member jacindahinten
Kelley Armstrong is a wonderful story-teller. I was captivated through the first third of the book without much of the paranormal aspect of the story coming into play yet. Many situations and such seemed very contemporary. Only at the end were we really reminded The Gathering is not…well,
Maya is very strong character! She built strong relationships with the people around her. She’s very loyal to her family, friends, and all the furry (or scary) animals she rehabilitates. There’s just something about Rafe, I don’t even know what it is. Maya actually mentions in the book he isn’t drop dead gorgeous, but probably the mystery initially about him drew her too him. Rafe never gives up and has loyalty and determination just like Maya. Rafe can be very sweet and I love how he acts when he’s around Maya. Daniel, Maya’s best friend, is the quintessential best friend. He’s pretty much perfect in that area. He voices his opinions to Maya, but still lets her do things on her own. Maya acts the same way towards Daniel.
The Gathering left me with many questions and such. I’ve read a couple of reviews who already had read the Darkest Powers Trilogy beforehand and made it a bit less mysterious for them. I was fine with the mystery and still am even though it seemed like way too many questions are left unanswered. Those open-ended questions are making it seem like the next book is going to take forever to release! I seriously am a kind of clueless as to what is happening, which is fantastic!
I’ve never read a Kelley Armstrong book before, The Gathering is my first. After reading The Gathering, I’m planning on reading her other books!
P.S. Maya’s relationship with her father…I cracked up all the time! The uncomfortable situations she put him in by being very blunt about herself with boys and other teenage girl problems, even though it was false, had me laughing. Watching her dad squirm and embarrassed was memorable.
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contemporary. Maya is very strong character! She built strong relationships with the people around her. She’s very loyal to her family, friends, and all the furry (or scary) animals she rehabilitates. There’s just something about Rafe, I don’t even know what it is. Maya actually mentions in the book he isn’t drop dead gorgeous, but probably the mystery initially about him drew her too him. Rafe never gives up and has loyalty and determination just like Maya. Rafe can be very sweet and I love how he acts when he’s around Maya. Daniel, Maya’s best friend, is the quintessential best friend. He’s pretty much perfect in that area. He voices his opinions to Maya, but still lets her do things on her own. Maya acts the same way towards Daniel.
The Gathering left me with many questions and such. I’ve read a couple of reviews who already had read the Darkest Powers Trilogy beforehand and made it a bit less mysterious for them. I was fine with the mystery and still am even though it seemed like way too many questions are left unanswered. Those open-ended questions are making it seem like the next book is going to take forever to release! I seriously am a kind of clueless as to what is happening, which is fantastic!
I’ve never read a Kelley Armstrong book before, The Gathering is my first. After reading The Gathering, I’m planning on reading her other books!
P.S. Maya’s relationship with her father…I cracked up all the time! The uncomfortable situations she put him in by being very blunt about herself with boys and other teenage girl problems, even though it was false, had me laughing. Watching her dad squirm and embarrassed was memorable.
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LibraryThing member roxyrolla
Great book, really enjoyed the characters!
LibraryThing member readerworm12345
This book was really good book i read it all in one day because i couldn't put it down. I really liked Annie and felt kinda sorry of her. I didn't like Rafe no matter what he does for his sister I don't think he was a very nice person. I really liked Daniel I think he was really nice and a very
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good person and a great friend to the main caracter Maya. In the end this was a great book and I can't wait for the next one to come out. I would recomend this to anybody that liked the Darkest Powers books. Show Less
LibraryThing member Tristan_Bruce
Wow this story starts off with a KABOOM, and it just keeps coming, right up to the last page. I love Kelley Armstrong's writing, i don't have to TRY to put myself in a characters shoes or imagine their world, you just get sucked right in. It makes the whole experience that much more fun. I wasn't
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sure what to expect with another bunch of genetically altered kids i thought it may end up being too similar to The Darkest Powers trilogy. I.Was.Wrong. Maya her friends and their whole world is so different. I may even like these Characters more. I'm Canadian so i loved that the book took place here, the little references were cool, like Maya and Daniel using toonies (two dollar coin). The story is fast paced and engaging, i read it in 6 hours. I just couldn't not read it once i started, now i have a long wait till the sequel GAH!. Totally a must read I'm giving it 5 out of 5!! Show Less
LibraryThing member YABookieMonster
I'm a huge fan of Kelley Armstrong's The Darkest Powers series, but I have to say that I loved The Gathering even more! I especially loved the fact that it was set in Canada (being Canadian and all!), which is something that I don't see very often in the YA books that I read, so that was just the
Maya was a really awesome character, someone who I could see myself being friends with, which was really nice. She was quite a feisty girl, definitely had some spunk, and I really liked that about her. She was brave, most definitely not afraid to speak her mind and stand up for herself, which is an attribute that I really value in a character! I thought that she was so mature and I was really impressed with how she dealt with some hard situations and was able to keep herself composed. Overall, I thought Maya was such a strong and intelligent girl and she pretty much embodied everything that I love in a main character!
I also really liked the character Rafe! I have such a weakness for the bad boy character, even more so when the bad boy is such a sweetheart underneath their persona, and Rafe was just that type of bad boy. At the beginning of the book, he seemed like such a player, quite cocky and full of himself, but as we got to know him better, we really saw a different side of him, a much softer, more vulnerable side of him and I really liked that!
The plot of this book was quite interesting and different! It had a little bit of mystery, a touch of romance, and some supernatural elements to it! I loved the way that Kelley Armstrong blended it all together to create this great and unique story! I really loved that the plot kept me guessing what was going to happen next, that I wasn't able to predict everthing. This book definitely kept me reading and I finished it quite fast! It was such an easy read and Kelley Armstrong's writing is awesome and just flows so well!
I would really recommend checking out The Gathering if you are a fan of Kelley Armstrong's The Darkest Powers series, or if you are just a fan of YA paranormal romance novels in general, as I am! This book had great, easy to connect with characters, an awesome, intriguing plot and lovely writing! I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel to this great book, especially after the huge cliffhanger that we were left with! I think that Kelley Armstrong has yet another great series on her hands!
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cherry on top of this awesome read!Maya was a really awesome character, someone who I could see myself being friends with, which was really nice. She was quite a feisty girl, definitely had some spunk, and I really liked that about her. She was brave, most definitely not afraid to speak her mind and stand up for herself, which is an attribute that I really value in a character! I thought that she was so mature and I was really impressed with how she dealt with some hard situations and was able to keep herself composed. Overall, I thought Maya was such a strong and intelligent girl and she pretty much embodied everything that I love in a main character!
I also really liked the character Rafe! I have such a weakness for the bad boy character, even more so when the bad boy is such a sweetheart underneath their persona, and Rafe was just that type of bad boy. At the beginning of the book, he seemed like such a player, quite cocky and full of himself, but as we got to know him better, we really saw a different side of him, a much softer, more vulnerable side of him and I really liked that!
The plot of this book was quite interesting and different! It had a little bit of mystery, a touch of romance, and some supernatural elements to it! I loved the way that Kelley Armstrong blended it all together to create this great and unique story! I really loved that the plot kept me guessing what was going to happen next, that I wasn't able to predict everthing. This book definitely kept me reading and I finished it quite fast! It was such an easy read and Kelley Armstrong's writing is awesome and just flows so well!
I would really recommend checking out The Gathering if you are a fan of Kelley Armstrong's The Darkest Powers series, or if you are just a fan of YA paranormal romance novels in general, as I am! This book had great, easy to connect with characters, an awesome, intriguing plot and lovely writing! I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel to this great book, especially after the huge cliffhanger that we were left with! I think that Kelley Armstrong has yet another great series on her hands!
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LibraryThing member jadestar31
First off, I have to admit that I love all of Kelley Armstrong's work, her adult series and her young adult series. That having been said, it pains me to admit I didn't enjoy this book very much. There was a certain charm to the Darkest Power Series. Chloe and her friends were far more genuine.
The setting seemed picturesque and the idea of a privately owned medical research town was definitely interesting and unique, but it still didn't sell me on the characters. Speaking of characters, there were so many, it was almost confusing. In the first few chapters, we were introduced to a lot of teenagers AND adults.
I don't want to say this book was all bad because Kelley Armstrong is a master at creating a foreboding atmosphere. I was definitely interested in learning what Maya was, and I'm so glad this series doesn't revolve around a typical vampire/werewolf paranormal romance. Also, Maya is a fantastic role model. She's smart, independent, athletic, and thinks for herself. She doesn't let men define her and she doesn't let her feelings for them overwhelm her, which I find admirable.
There isn't much action in this book, but that seems to be formulaic for a trilogy. The first book has the intrigue, the second book has the answers, and the third has the action. I have high expectations for the next two books, but I know they can't compare to the Darkest Powers.
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Maya and her friends seemed contrived. All of them seemed a little one dimensional and as much as I wanted to care about them, I couldn't. Rafe is no Derek. He was pushy and tried entirely too hard to be charming, but I respected the way Maya handled herself with him. She was clear in her feelings towards him and made sure he knew it. The setting seemed picturesque and the idea of a privately owned medical research town was definitely interesting and unique, but it still didn't sell me on the characters. Speaking of characters, there were so many, it was almost confusing. In the first few chapters, we were introduced to a lot of teenagers AND adults.
I don't want to say this book was all bad because Kelley Armstrong is a master at creating a foreboding atmosphere. I was definitely interested in learning what Maya was, and I'm so glad this series doesn't revolve around a typical vampire/werewolf paranormal romance. Also, Maya is a fantastic role model. She's smart, independent, athletic, and thinks for herself. She doesn't let men define her and she doesn't let her feelings for them overwhelm her, which I find admirable.
There isn't much action in this book, but that seems to be formulaic for a trilogy. The first book has the intrigue, the second book has the answers, and the third has the action. I have high expectations for the next two books, but I know they can't compare to the Darkest Powers.
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Awards
Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award (Shortlist — 2012)
White Pine Award (Nominee — Fiction — 2012)
The Willow Awards (Finalist — 2012)
Language
Original publication date
2011-04-01
Physical description
368 p.; 8.25 inches
ISBN
0061797022 / 9780061797026
Local notes
Maya lives in a small medical-research town on Vancouver Island where strange things are happening. First, the captain of the swim team drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then mountain lions start appearing around Maya's home, and they won’t go away. Her best friend, Daniel, starts getting negative vibes from certain people and things. It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret—and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy: Her paw-print birthmark.
Nice Canadiana, but really only half a story (cliffhanger ending), which I object to on philosophical grounds!
Nice Canadiana, but really only half a story (cliffhanger ending), which I object to on philosophical grounds!
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