Review - Taken at Dusk

by C.C. Hunter
publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
date of publication: April 10, 2012
format: paperback
pages: 380
source: purchased

From Goodreads:

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers.  Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.

Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean.  But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.

Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together.  Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.

I really liked the first two books in this series, Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn, but Taken at Dusk hit all the right chords. I absolutely loved it and would have picked up the next book immediately if I had had it on hand. Alas, I must wait, but while I do, I'm going to tell you about all the things that made Taken at Dusk such a great read. This series just keeps getting better and better. I'm looking forward to seeing where it will go next.

Kylie continues to intrigue me as she discovers more and more about herself. I especially admire her determination to do right by the ghosts who seek her help. Her interactions with Miranda and Della run the gamut from easy jokes to heartfelt conversations, all of which provide hilarity and touching moments. Her moments with Lucas are, as always, quite intense, though I would love if she would just pick one guy already. I'm a wee bit impatient, you see. Also, as I learn more about Kylie's past, I feel for her. I am not afraid to admit that I was in tears by the end of the book. That's right. I cried.

Since the book takes place in the same setting as the first two books in the series, there's not much I can say to build upon that aspect. However, I will say that the writing in Taken at Dusk was, simply put, awesome. The story built up very well and contained just the right amount of twists and turns. I've already mentioned the ending that made me cry. It is but one of several poignant moments throughout the book.

I'm very much at risk of going all fangirly over this series. I can barely imagine how it can get any better than Taken at Dusk, but I am definitely open to surprises. As Kylie's story progresses, I am looking forward to finding out the entirety of her past. C.C. Hunter hasn't left me wanting yet when it comes to her stories. What I am waiting for is the next book, Whispers at Moonrise, but I have the feeling that it's well worth it.

Buy Taken at Dusk at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Review - The Calling

by Kelley Armstrong
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: April 10, 2012
format: ebook
pages: 210
source: purchased
read it in: 1 day

From Goodreads:

On the heels of the wildly popular The Gathering comes the second in the "Darkness Rising" YA trilogy from NYT bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is--a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.

Now, Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.

What else can I say about Kelley Armstrong's books that I haven't already said?  So far, I have enjoyed every single one of her YA novels and have been compelled to pick up her adult novels as a result.  The Calling has continued what The Gathering started with its absorbing writing and riveting plot.  As The Calling literally picks up right where The Gathering left off, it almost feels as though I'm writing a second review of the latter.  Since I read them back-to-back, I was treated to a seamless storyline that just kept getting better and better.

We really get to see Maya in her element in The Calling.  As she and her friends wander through the wilderness, it is Maya who takes on a strong leadership role.  Her talents with all things nature are brought to the forefront and Maya really stands out as a result.  While the others struggle with their situation, Maya keeps her head together, showing just how strong and resourceful she is.  I could easily have continued following her story had the third book been available right then and there.

The plot became even more intriguing in The Calling, which I didn't think was possible.  There are even more revelations about the goings on in Maya's town, as well as its citizens, each more intriguing than the one before.  The element of danger is quite tangible and the urgency of escape is understandable.  The revelation of certain characters' true personalities and intent was so very shocking and I loved the layers it added to the story.  Overall, I was absolutely thrilled by the storyline and can't wait for the culmination of the series, just so I can know what happens to all of the characters I have become so interested in.

I can't express enough how much I have enjoyed the Darkness Rising series so far.  I enjoyed The Gathering immensely, but The Calling was even better with its increase in action, plot revelations, and character development.  The setting is near flawless and makes for an even more riveting story.  If you want a series with strong characters, paranormal elements, and non-stop action, you definitely need to pick this one up.  The Calling, as a middle novel, won't let you down in the least.

Buy The Calling in the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Review - The Gathering

by Kelley Armstrong
publisher: HarperTeen
date of publication: April 5, 2011
format: ebook
pages: 243
source: purchased
Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

From Goodreads:

Maya lives in a small medical-research town on Vancouver Island. How small? You can’t find it on the map. It has less than two-hundred people, and her school has only sixty-eight students—for every grade from kindergarten to twelve.

Now, strange things are happening in this claustrophobic town, and Maya's determined to get to the bottom of them. First, the captain of the swim team drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. A year later, 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.

After sitting in my Nook for almost a year, I finally sat down to read The Gathering.  Having enjoyed Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers trilogy, I was glad to finally have carved out the time to read this, the first book in the Darkness Rising trilogy.  Upon finishing, I was left feeling unsure as to whether I was mad at myself for waiting so long, or glad that I had waited until the second book came out.  I simply couldn't stop reading and was reminded exactly why I loved the Darkest Powers series so very much.

I adored Maya from the very start.  Her banter with her dad cracked me up more than once and the way she was when with her animal rehabilitation patients was inspiring.  She doesn't put up with much nonsense and she's a very self-sufficient character.  Daniel is a great friend to her and Rafe has a certain knack for keeping everyone guessing.  I thoroughly enjoyed the ways in which the various characters were written and couldn't get enough once I became fully immersed in their story.

While the bulk of the action didn't occur until a few chapters from the end, I found that I didn't mind at all.  There was more than enough going on with Maya's discoveries, as well as the development of a relationship between Maya and Rafe.  The plot flowed very well and did a great job at holding my interest.  The setting, however, really did it for me.  I loved reading all about the forest in which Maya lives and spends her time.  I have no complaints whatsoever in regard to the way the story was constructed.  It was simply too engaging!

Though I waited a year to read The Gathering, the same can't be said of The Calling.  When I finished reading The Gathering, I did not want to stop reading.  In fact, I connected my Nook to a Wi-fi signal right then and there and started reading The Calling immediately.  This book should be enjoyed with the understanding that you are likely going to want to read it all in one setting, so prepare yourself.  If you enjoyed Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers trilogy, you'll definitely want to read The Gathering straight away.