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    The Summoning
    The Summoning
    The Summoning
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Summoning

    Written by Kelley Armstrong

    Narrated by Cassandra Morris

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.

    All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost—and the ghost saw me.

    Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a ""special home"" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House . . . before its skeletons come back to haunt me.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateAug 5, 2008
    ISBN9780061728174
    Author

    Kelley Armstrong

    When librarians finally granted Kelley Armstrong an adult card, she made straight for the epic fantasy and horror shelves. She spent the rest of her childhood and teen years happily roaming fantastical and terrible worlds, and vowed that someday she'd write a story combining swords, sorcery, and the ravenous undead. That story began with the New York Times bestselling Sea of Shadows and continues with Empire of Night. Armstrong's first works for teens were the New York Times bestselling Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising trilogies. She lives in rural Ontario with her husband, three children, and far too many pets.

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    Reviews for The Summoning

    4/5

    221 ratings156 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Oh, how I wanted to adore Kelley Armstrong's The Summoning.And, to be fair, there's a lot to like here between just the cover and the first handful of chapters. Armstrong promises us the dark and alluring story of Chloe Saunders, a fifteen-year-old girl who, in one day, both gets her first period and starts seeing ghosts. I was initially won over by what seemed like the depth of Chloe's character--not only does she suffer from the very real adolescent affliction of menstruation, but she also seems believably complex; she has interests (movies), flaws (she's a stutterer), and isn't perfect looking (though the cover accurately reflects her appearance, something that's unfortunately rare in YA book covers, she's short and underdeveloped for her age).But as the story progressed, and Chloe was shipped off to the Lyle House, a residential home for mentally-ill teenagers, my enthusiasm for the story waned. Initially, I thought this had something to do with Chloe's voice. Armstrong's sentences are brief and sometimes abrupt--she relies on sentence fragments just a little too much for my liking. She also has an unfortunate tendency to engage in the dreaded infodump. There isn't a single conversation or passage in here that discusses the characters' underlying supernatural powers in a way that I'd call artful.(And a brief aside: I'd die happy if I never read another YA novel where a character researches his or her supernatural predicament via wikipedia. Yes, I realize that this is how modern teenagers get information. But encyclopedia passages repeated verbatim is just never interesting, whether the source is The World Book or google, and protracted descriptions of the minutia of their search--typing in URLs and the like--are just really tiresome. I always get the feeling that the author is trying to say "Hey, I know the technology of kids these days!" but I'm never quite convinced. That Armstrong botched a description of Nintendo's PictoChat didn't help much either--I've never known anyone who would draw inscrutable hieroglyphs on there when they could just type something out--or even write it. Anyway . . .)As I read further and further into The Summoning, I found myself struggling in a way that went beyond just finicky problems with voice. I'd describe this in two words: pacing problems.The bulk of the novel's problems take a very, very long time to unravel. This would be fine if the tensions built in a gradual and meaningful way. But unfortunately, the chapters here are both very brief and very inconsistent. Characters would be talking to ghosts in one chapter and flirting over breakfast the next. Chloe Saunders, for all of her apparent genre savvy, remains painfully clueless about the very transparent conspiracy that underlies the Lyle House--most of which I'd guessed about a quarter of the way in. Worse, I never really got a sense of the characters during the novel's first two thirds, either. It wasn't until about halfway through that I could even reliably tell you which character was which, and that would be in very broad strokes: Victoria's the bitch, Derek smells, Simon's a nerd, and Rachelle is . . . uh, black? The lack of concrete characterization and consistent tensions made it very difficult for me to care through most of the book.Luckily, the novel takes a sudden turn for the better in the last hundred pages or so. Finally, Chloe catches on with regards to the sinister nature of the Lyle House and, along with several other students, she sets out to finally do something about it. By necessity, the personalities of the characters were suddenly much better defined and more interesting. But then the novel ends abruptly, with absolutely none of the plot threads resolved. I'm all for cliffhangers; I love long series with rich continuity. But I also like to have a small feeling of resolution by a novel's end. By the last page of The Summoning I had the distinct feeling that the story was just beginning. Which would have been great! Except I just wish I hadn't had to read through four hundred pages of prose to get there.
    • 4/5
      After reading the book, I’d first off have to disagree with the description…particularly the “All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys…” portion. It’s mentioned several times throughout the book that Chloe is not all about meeting boys, the romance in the book is very, very limited, this is not a paranormal romance book. (At least the first book in the series is not.) The book is so much more than many paranormal romance books offer. A girl that sees dead people and is labeled crazy for doing so meets other teens that have similar “troubles”.The setting of Lyle House is reminiscent of Girl, Interrupted and hosts a plethora of interesting characters. We follow Chloe through thinking she’s crazy, knowing she’s not, doubting herself, and finding herself. At times I was getting lost in the writing, having to reread sentences again and again because of their strange structure, the meaning getting lost, which was annoying when that happened. I wanted to keep reading as the story was gripping, wanting to see what was around the corner.The characters are all flawed in one way or another, which makes them all the more realistic. There are no perfect knights in shining armor, no people without any issues, this is no dream world. The ending is left completely open, which gives no satisfaction that any of the issues raised in the book have been solved. It does however make me pine for the next book in the series, dying to know what’s going to happen next!
    • 5/5
      I love this whole series. I'm waiting to start reading the Gathering. The characters grew on me fast, and you can see how dynamic they are through all the books.
    • 5/5
      I love Kelley Armstrong. Love, love, love her. I’ve read most of her Otherworld series, so I was excited to try out her YA debut when it came out. That was about two years ago. Now that two more books in this YA series have been published, I decided it was time to re-read and catch up.Even the second time through, I loved The Summoning. Kelley Armstrong writes paranormal really well, and she did a great job capturing the voice of her 15-year-old protagonist. Straight off the bat, I was completely drawn in by the story. The best part about it was the realistic twist that most paranormal YA books don’t have— Chloe is thrown into a group home for psychologically troubled teens when she starts seeing “ghosts”. Most YA protagonists just say, “hey, cool, I see ghosts. Let’s save the world!” Chloe believes that she really is schizophrenic.The Summoning is book one in the Darkest Powers series (trilogy?), and what a great start to a series it is! It ends with a cliffhanger, and the whole book is packed with action and suspense. I’m definitely excited to get started on book two.(Originally posted to 365 Days of Reading)
    • 4/5
      Warning: May contain spoilers The story is set around Chole, a seemingly ordinary girl. Apart from one thing, since she was a young age she's been able to see ghosts. Starting with the people in the basement at her childhood home, to the old man that chased her through her school ending in Chole, now 15, being locked up in Lyle House and being diagnosed as a schizophrenic. At first Chole believes that maybe she is what they tell her and starts looking for signs. Only to find out that she's in fact a necromancer, a powerful one at that. Lyle House is suppose to be a group home, to help you recover. Only you don't have a choice in the matter, and if you so much as slip up you're transferred to the local mental hospital.But its not all bad, Chole isn't alone in the house, and even though she doesn't always see eye to eye with the other house mates, at least its someone to talk to. There's Rachelle, or Rae as she likes to be called, another 15 year old. Who ended up in Lyle House because of her strange obsession with fire. Elizabeth, or Liz, Chole's room mate and friend. A girl who is prone to violent outburst she doesn't remember and is convinced its a poltergeist, following her around. Victoria, or Tori, 16 years old and Liz's best friend. Tori and Chole are enemies, all because she thinks Chole is trying to steal her crush away, and does everything to try and get her transferred. Simon, an easy going boy without any real problems, and is only in Lyle House because he's dad cant be found and it was the best place for his foster brother Derek. Derek is 16, very tall, and very intimidating. He's rude, been diagnosed with anti social behavior and has no time for anyone but Simon. He is also my favourite character of the lot.At first, I liked this book and then by the middle I didn't that much and anymore only to love it by the end. I wasn't sure what to make of it, but found the story line very refreshing. I didn't find this book predictable (which is surprisingly as so many people did and normal I do) but I didn't. I thought the characters where well thought out, had enough back story to give you a feel for them and the written was good. The only thing I disliked a lot about this book was Chole constantly comparing everything to a film (because she's and aspiring director) it got really annoying after a while.
    • 5/5
      The SummoningBy Kelley ArmstrongPublisher: HarperCollins Publisher# of Pages: 390Age Rating: +13My Rating: 5 StarsSynopsis:My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost—and the ghost saw me.Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? It's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House . . . before its skeletons come back to haunt me.Review:This book was amazing! I can't believe that when I first got this book, I just left it sit at the bottom of my reading pile! I started to read this book and one and a half hour later, my first reaction was wow. wow. WOW.WOW!The author did a amazing job at writing this, the characters seem real, very real and the book just grabs you!When I was reading this, it just seem so real, like the one part when Choloe was in the basement of the Lyle House and the "things" that were down there with her trying to get her, I had to cover my mouth to keep from making any noise!The one thing that I really like about this book was that this book is very clean for a teens book.I LOVE this book! GO READ this NOW! Drop everything and read it! This book is worth buying and that's what I am going to do right now!I give it 5 stars!Enjoy! :D:D:D
    • 4/5
      Somehow my ratings and reviews were lost for this book series, so my review won't be as detailed as before.

      I loved this book series and I read them as fast as I can. I love the main character Chloe and the world the author created. Chloe and the people she meets along the way go through quite a roller coaster of events.

      This has a little bit of everything with action, paranormal, fantasy, and a little romance (Which is just how I like it, just blended into the story and not the main focal point.)

      I would definitely recommend this book series to people.
    • 5/5
      I'm loving the plot of this series. The first book is well written for the most part, but the parts that aren't stand out. In the beginning the author sometimes shifts into a style that is different from the rest of the book and it doesn't achieve the desired effect. She writes short sentences like, "Too dark. Must run," when Chloe is supposed to be afraid or disoriented. It comes off as confusing and distracting to the reader. But there were only a few paragraphs of that style, so it wasn't too bad. Additionally, the jargon the characters use is clearly written by an older person trying to sound 15, but she misses the mark. Simon and Derek say bro way too often for example. Simon says "Sundown festival," which Chloe corrects and says "Sundance festival." This type of word mix up is not one a teen would make. More like my mother saying Spacebook instead of Facebook. Another time they make a reference to Lizzie Maguire, which is more like a tween reference than a high school one. There are other instances that bugged me, but I won't go into them.Overall the story was good enough to forgive the problems with the characters words. I see some people had an issue with the pacing, but I actually liked it. I didn't think it was too slow at all. And the best part was that this heroin wasn't stupid. In fact she was pretty smart. Which is unusual for YA books. Anyway, I would recommend this book for paranormal YA fans.
    • 3/5
      Very much a frustrated-teenager-discovers-huge-powers-and-tons-of-trouble-at-the-same-time novel. It was a fun quick read, but even in a trilogy I want a book to stand on its own, and this one didn't. Glad I had the second book on hand or I think I would have given this fewer stars due to the cliffhanger ending.
    • 4/5
      "I see dead people." No really, she does. Sure, it's encased in a maybe schizophrenic condition, but other than that, Chloe Saunders totally does. See dead people, that is. And what's more intriguing than a person who sees dead people? Not much. Now , I usually bitch and moan when it comes to young-adult fantasy novels just cause they tend to bug with the contrived storylines, cheesy romance plots, and extremely pathetic and unlikeable heroines. So, I pretty much proceed with caution when it comes to these types of books. Luckily for me, The Summoning didn't really suffer from these maladies. The whole storyline with the necromancer thing was intriguing. Like I need more NOW intriguing. That was my favorite part of the storyline. I really wanted to know more about Chloe's (as well as her friends') powers. I was a bit bummed at the fact that this was only slightly alluded to. Sure, I understand the need for mystery especially since this was going to be a trilogy, but seriously, couldn't Kelley Armstrong just given us A BIT more knowledge than what she did give? Anyway, intriguing plot that wasn't totally contrived (sure, some of this did remind me of The Sixth Sense and more than a smidge of Supernatural, but it wasn't wholly unoriginal)? Check. Sort of. Cheesy romance plots? Not really. Yay for me, who hates cheesy and borderline unhealthy romances ala Twilight. There is some potential for romance and maybe a love triangle (must there be a love triangle? I've had enough of those from my numerous viewings of Dawson's Creek as a preteen/teenager), but in The Summoning, it doesn't seem to be the focal point like it does for mostly every other young adult fantasy novel. Again, yay. But the most important thing for me when reading a young-adult novel with a female protagonist is a strong heroine. None of that pathetic, "the only thing I want is a boyfriend with whom I can surrender my dreams and passions for" behavior. I want a teenage heroine who is smart, independent, and not a bitch. Not much to ask for. Chloe Saunders was all three of these things. Except for one tiny, teeny little thing. MILD SPOILER HERE: Okay, so Chloe, it's okay to be shocked when you are duped by someone because you didn't think that the nasty behavior would manifest. You didn't think it'd go that far after the behavior seemed to exhaust itself. So, again, it's okay to be shocked THE FIRST TIME. But you still remain vigilant around that person. You don't let it go that fast. But when you let your guard down because you seriously thought that it was over this time, you give up the right to be shocked. Because you really should've known better. Especially if you've watched all those movies. Otherwise, you tend to have a teeny bit of that dumb heroine in you. END OF SPOILER. So smart, strong, independent heroine? Semi-check. I have one actual complaint though (besides the mini ones above). This book was a tad bit bloated. It felt a bit repetitive and it didn't go as fast as I had assumed it would. I kept thinking, "I have HOW MUCH left?!" A big book is fine. I love big books as long as everything in that book seems to be necessary. Not everything seemed necessary in The Summoning. Maybe some of the things are foreshadowing what's coming next with the other two books (that I have on my Kindle), but otherwise, it needed to be cut down a smidge. So, The Summoning wasn't really my favorite young-adult fantasy novel (far from it actually), but I did like it. It had an intriguing and creepy premise, interesting characters, and not a lot of eye roll inducing moments. I'm definitely going to read the next two in the series (although not this month. I have too many creepy reads stacked up) since I have to know what happens. All in all, not a bad fluff book and highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      I liked this way better than TWILIGHT (yes, I read it to see what the fuss was all about...it wasn't all that). Kelley Armstrong writes a grittier, less angst-filled paranormal story of well-drawn characters going through the trials of being a teen, let alone being a teen with supernatural abilities. Chloe discovers she can talk to ghosts, she's a necromancer. She is slowly discovering the abilities of the fellow housemates at the center and that the staff members aren't exactly as willing to help as they claim to be.The draw is there for anyone who likes a little horror, a little teen issues, a lot of good paranormal. This is a great beginning to the series. I listened to the second one first...that didn't diminish my enjoyment of this one. I am caught up and got re-introduced to everyone, good guys and evil scientists.Now on to #3, THE RECKONING...Five I see dead people beans....
    • 3/5
      "The Summoning" by Kelly Armstrong. This was a random pick from the returned shelf at the library. The book is the first in a series and Chloe, 15, girl gets admitted to a group home following hallucinations, however, all is not what it seems. I enjoyed the the progression of the main character's perception of those around her through out the book and plot wise, the first part of the book where it was still unclear whether the hallucinations were real or not was most interesting. However, the main thrust of the story some moved onto more usual territory (ghosts, conspiricy etc) and I found it a bit less enjoyable. Not a bad teen read, but all in all I think It would have been a far more interesting read if the questions re illness etc had been explored more fully. Perhaps there's a book out there that does that which I'd enjoy more!
    • 4/5
      YA in Kelley Armstrong's awesome supernatural world. Greatly enjoyable, but it doesn't end so much as just stop - I might wait for the rest of the series to come out and then read them all as one really satisfying long story.
    • 4/5
      Curiosity had me peeking at the ebook chapters and then picking up the actual book since I've enjoyed all of Armstrong's books for adult audiences. Although geared towards young adults, this book wasn't too bad with some action, suspense, gore, and lots of mysteries to solve. True to the style in her other books, she keeps a reader riveted with her pace and switch ups. Good filler as you wait for the next Armstrong book for adults.
    • 4/5
      Chloe sees ghosts; which naturally gets mistaken for schizophrenia because there is no such thing as ghosts, right? Wrong. In this series there are supernaturals, however they don't always know what they are, like Chloe. Naturally these teens tend to end up in psychiatric institutes because there powers can easily be mistaken for mental illnesses. But what if the institute knew they were special and lied about it.
      That's what happens in this series. The characters are seem like stereotypes but upon closer examination aren't, this is what really draws the reader in.
    • 5/5
      Chloe sees ghosts and thinks she is losing her mind. She saw them when she was a small child but stopped after her mother died and she and her father began moving from place to place. But now puberty has hit and the ghosts are back. She is sent to a group home - Lyle House - where there are five other kids. She gradually learns that all of them have some sort of supernatural power. She becomes friends with Simon, a sorcerer, and Derek, a werewolf. They learn more about the house and decided they have to escape. Good start to a series that ends with lots of unanswered questions.
    • 4/5
      This book is fun and thrilling. The writing and character developement aren't the best, but they aren't meant to be. Despite the semi-slow beginning, it really picks up speed towards the end, and will keep you awaiting the next installment. A nice, fun read. I doubt you'll be disappointed. It was also a great starter to what is sure to be a best-selling series.
    • 4/5
      another teen romance superpower fantasy and.... I like it, couldn't believe it ended like a cliff hanger. Now I have to get the rest of the series.
    • 3/5
      Chloe Saunders is like any other 15 year old, focused on friends, school and boys. However, this all changes when she wakes up one morning and discovers she can see ghosts and they want to talk to her. Chloe is sent to a home for troubled teens after her school finds her screaming that she is seeing dead people and is subsequently diagnosed with schizophrenia. At the home she meets other teens with troubles of their own. Having read many of her other books, it was fun to figure out who/what these other kids are.Kelley Armstrong, the author of The Women of the Underworld Series (which is one of my favorites), has written her first YA novel about a girl discovering she is a necromancer and also about other's supernatural abilities. She has given us another very strong female protagonist and one that teens can identify with, to a point. This book is a mix of The Sixth Sense and X-Men. If you liked those movies you will like this book. Entertaining, frightening. Don't read it at night alone if you scare easily.
    • 5/5
      This book is the first in Kelley’s new YA series, “Darkest Powers.” For those who have read her “Women of the Otherworld” series, this is set in the same universe, and supposedly book 2 has mention of the adult characters, but the two sets of books are not scheduled to overlap at all.This book is awesome. Just a really good read.It focuses on a teenage girl and what happens to her on the day she sees her first ghost… “and it sees her back.” From there, the book progresses to how she learns to deal with the fact that she can, indeed, see dead people — and what she does when she learns her new friends also have strange talents.If you know Kelley’s series at all, you will definitely pick up on hints and clues about the other characters. If not, you are given some clues, but they won’t be as obvious. One way or the other, however, the book is fast paced (once it gets going - it’s a bit slower at the beginning as everything’s introduced) and the twists that Kelley is so good at are still there and enjoyable. If I have a complaint about the book, it’s that it is a series and I don’t get to have the second one now. ;) Seriously, though, the ending is definitely a series ending and not a novel ending. There is an end to the book, but it’s almost as if it’s an Act ending, and not a story ending.But. That said, I still don’t have any complaints about this book at all. It was fantastic.
    • 4/5
      I absolutely loved this book! It was a quick read and when it ended I was pouting for wanting more. It ties in well the the Women of the Other World series that she has allowing these teen readers to be able to start in on that series when they are ready to be reading adult novels. I like the premise of some of the people who are looked at as having mental problems as a possible cover for something else. I can't wait until the next in the series comes out!
    • 5/5
      Chloe isn't your ordinary girl. She used to see and hear things in her basement when she was little. Over time, it stopped, and she forgot about it. Until she got to be a teenager, and that rite of passage for teenage girls came about. Which she was cool with, had been waiting for. But something else came with it. Her gift was back. She could talk to the dead, and they could talk to her. Which wasnt a good thing to have happen at school.. That gets you locked up, in a house for disturbed, troubled teens. Only where Chloe went, wasnt for bad teenagers, it turned out it was for supernatural ones. And they needed out - bad. Chloe, unfortunately, learns that who she can trust, and who she thought she could trust are entirely different. A good build up story, great background, and a perfect cliffhanger, leaving the reader craving the next int he series.
    • 4/5
      The Summoning is Kelley Armstrong's (author of The Otherworld Series) debut young adult series book. The teenagers in this book, live in the same universe as the characters in The Otherworld Series, but we get a younger perspective of the already familiar world.I absolutely love Armstrong's books and this one's no different. Armstrong recaptured her writing style, but for a much younger audience. For those who have read the other novels in The Otherworld Series, you can step right back into this world where you know supernatural creatures exist and you can just go along for the ride as Chloe discovers that the world around her is not as "normal" as she thinks.Chloe is a great character to read. I think she identifies with a majority of teenagers in the fact that she doesn't feel like she fits with the "in crowd". She is strong and independent and really spreads her wings when she finds out that it's okay not to be "normal".This "coming of age" novel is very fast paced and fun for all ages. It was really great to see how these teens dealt with their powers at a critical point in their mental and physical developments... and I thought puberty was hard!I highly recommend this book for all Kelley Armstrong's fans and also for those who want to begin a journey into the world of the supernatural.
    • 4/5
      How woul your friends and family react if suddenly, while at school, you start running through the hallways screaming about some man who was chasing you? What if there was no man visible to anyone, but you? What if you began to think you could see ghosts? Would you thin you were going crazy? That you were afflicted with some form of mental illness? Kelley Armstrong's book, The Summoning, addresses these issues as well as others as she jumps into this very popular genre of YA lit.Chloe thinks she is just an average 15 year old. She attends an arts-focussed high-school and generally blends into the crowd. That is, until, her gift for seeing the dead begins to reveal itself. Immediately she is sent off to a group home where she is given treatment for her "mental illness". Quickly she discovers that the other kids in the home all share some interesting abilities. As she learns more, she begins to question the treatment being offered.Armstrong includes many expected plot elements in this book. There is the develpoing romance bewtween Chloe and one of the boys, there is the antagonistic relationship between Chloe and one of the other girls, there is the kids teaming up against the adults....These are all pretty expected when reading a YA book. Despite these common themes, Armstrong does a good job of keeping the reader's interest and throws in some twists to make you want to continue reading.I would definitely recommend this book to all YA Readers. If you read Twilight, The Hunger Games, or the Mortal Instruments series, you will enjoy this series too. Oh, did I mention this is just the first book in the series?
    • 3/5
      I’m going to come right out and say it … The Darkest Powers trilogy became a guilty pleasure sooner than I expected. Chloe – clearly unaware of her heritage and powers – is misdiagnosed as being schizophrenic and sent to Lyle House where she meets some intriguing characters with similar ‘disorders’. Together they try to figure out what’s happening to them, to the kids that leave Lyle House, and try to decipher the bigger conspiracy behind the secrecy.

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

      The Summoning is a book that’s entertaining and fun to read. It’s one of those “palate cleansers” that fits nicely between more serious reads.
    • 3/5
      The cover for The Summoning is really beautiful - to the point that I had to mention it first because all the covers for this series are rather remarkable. I am not sure how it directly relates to the story, but at the moment I feel that it is somewhat misleading. Is it just me, or does anyone else think "medieval" when glancing at the cover? Would you have thought "ghosts" and "group home" would be involved? No, not unless you already knew what The Summoning was about.I was not too impressed with The Summoning. It had great potential, but I thought it fell short on meeting my expectations. The opening prologue was pretty fantastic - very creepy! I dare not dawdle in the basement for too long... However, the rest of the story did not build upon that creepy introduction. Not to sound completely morose, but there was not enough dead people for a book about a girl who sees dead people. I think Kelley Armstrong was trying to set the stage for the upcoming books, and I really hope that the sequel really ups the ante and delivers some bone-chilling shivers.On the plus side, I enjoyed the cast of characters - they all stood out with their different personalities, and there was never a dull moment between Chloe and her housemates. I particularly enjoyed her interactions with Derek who is not exactly Mr. Social Butterfly. As they started to trust each other more and discover the extent of Chloe's powers, I thought the scrapes that they kept stumbling into really hilarious.My advice is to keep the sequel on hand if you decide to read The Summoning. The ending of the first book really hangs on a cliff, and I wish that I had the sequel to find out what happens and see if the series is worth following.
    • 5/5
      this book is quite strange.. she has to figure things out and see whats going on.. no one believes her when she says that she can talk to ghost they just thing shes crazy.. she4 has to over come this and pretend like shes getting better because they think she is a schizophrenic.. she meets two others with power one is a sorcerers and the other has inhuman abilities. they all become very close and help each other out.
    • 5/5
      My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again. All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost-and the ghost saw me.Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all of, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" fro troubled teens. yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? it's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House....before its skeletons come back to haunt me.
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed this story which is book 1 of the Dark Powers trilogy. It's a fantasy story with twists and turns and very likable characters.
    • 4/5
      The Summoning is about a girl named Chole who gets put in a group home after seeing ghosts at school. While at the Lyle Home she discovers she has powers along with some of its other members. This book definitely wasn't what I expected it to be. The beginning tried to show that Chole was somewhat ordinary and succeeded but the introduction to her circle of friends and random people at her school was a little unnecessary. The author should have kept those to a minimum only including her best friend Kari and leaving out Beth, Miranda, etc. It started off much slower than I would have liked but I really enjoyed the writing and the characters. Chole is not my favorite because she doesn't seem to catch on that quickly. Her constant denial bordered on annoying without actually crossing that line. There is definite room for all the characters to develop, especially her. I did however love the fact that Chole looks at a lot of situations as if they were scenes from a movie. My favorite character is the misunderstood Derek. His secluded ways and bad attitude made me want to know what his issues were. The plot was not only good but also executed well. The build up to the supernatural things that take place in the plot was appreciated. The book eases you into the supernatural stuff and had an exciting ending with a cliffhanger that left the reader wanting more but not disappointed. It was a quick read and I can't wait to read the next one.