Summer Shorts: Kelley Armstrong!

by Kay | Jul 9, 2011 | Reviews, Summer Shorts | 1 comment

Summer Shorts: Kelley Armstrong!

Summer Shorts is weekly feature of short story/novella reviews, posted every weekend of July and August, 2011. Every week has a different theme - be it featuring a specific anthology, a particular genre, or a great author.

Last week I reviewed a few tales from the Mammoth Book of PNR, and this week I'll be reviewing some YA stories by one of my favourite authors... Kelley Armstrong!

The following stories are all available online (free!) and are set in Kelley's Otherworld/Darkest Powers verse. If you haven't read her Darkest Powers series yet, a) run out and buy it b) these might not be quite as meaningful to you.

Kat by Kelley Armstrong

(Read it here! Set in the Darkest Powers verse, following the story of another Edison Group subject.)

Favourite Quote:

As I strode into the alley, the driver leapt out, raising his gun.
“I come in peace,” I said, lifting my fingers in a V.
He paused, half out of the van, his broad face screwing up in confusion.
I raised my hands. “See? No pistol. No switchblade. Not even a ray gun.”

Thoughts: Kat is the story of another Edison group experiment, Katiana, and one of her (many) encounters with Edison group minions. I really liked Kat - she reminded me of Maya from The Gathering, and for a while in the story I actually thought she might be her long lost sister. She's tough and could no doubt kick my ass. She won't back away from a fight and, if the circumstances require it, she'll run straight into one. The story is only 20 pages long, but I would have been happy to have read an entire book in her POV.

As for the style of the story - well, it felt like it was straight out of the Darkest Powers novels. Lots and lots of action, a whole bunch of running-for-their-lives, and the occasional bit of snappy dialogue. While I can't say that I was blown away by it all, I certainly did enjoy the tale. I'm hoping Kat is a lead-up to a fuller story or, perhaps, her inclusion into some of Kelley's other YA novels.

Bottom line? Kat is an action-packed tale with the same feel as Kelley's Darkest Powers series. But even if you haven't read her trilogy, you'll enjoy it!

Divided by Kelley Armstrong

(Read it here! Darkest Powers Story set between The Summoning and The Awakening.)

Favourite Quote:

"I do. I mean sure, I've liked a lot of girls and you probably think this is just the same thing. But it's not. I like being with her. Hanging out with her. Talking to her. Getting to know her. Not that I didn't want to get to know the other girls, but I really want to this time. I'm not just asking questions to make conversation. She's different and she's interesting, and she doesn't know she is and that's . . ." He glanced back at me. "I'm glad you two seem to get along." He grinned. "A nice change."

Thoughts: Spoilers for the DP trilogy! Divided follows Derek and Simon after they are separated from Chloe at the end of The Summoning. Divided is the second short story I've read from Derek's POV (Dangerous, I read and loved last year), and I can now officially say that he is the best narrator ever. Love this guy.

While - of course - it was fantastic to revisit my beloved DP characters, Divided did more than just that. It added to the canon of the trilogy. Kelley gives us more details about Chloe's mother's death (that was a real shocker), some insight into how Derek started to take more notice of Chloe, and how he felt about "using" her to get Simon to go on the run; and even some insight into how much Simon was honest-to-God pining after Chloe (see the quote, friggin' adorable and yet so sad).

Bottom line? If you love the Darkest Powers trilogy, you'll love Divided. It's a story I hadn't even known I'd wanted, and I am so glad it's been told.

FYI - If you're looking for some more great Darkest Powers stories, Kelley had completed three that are available here. She's currently in the middle of another story set post-The Reckoning, which you can follow on the Darkest Powers blog. Oh, and apparently the Enthralled anthology (edited by Melissa Marr) coming out in September is also going to be post-The Reckoning, set 2-3 weeks after the end of the book and told from Chloe's POV. Needless to say that that news got the book onto my wishlist!

Next week... Zombies vs. Unicorns!

Cover Alert! The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

by Kay | Jun 28, 2011 | Cover Alert, News | 7 comments

I’ve just discovered the US cover for the second book in the Darkness Rising series by Kelley Armstrong, and I am loving it! I was not overly keen on the US cover to the first in this trilogy, The Gathering (which I loved, by the way), but with this book, I am starting to come round. I know Kelley plans on introducing Derek and Chloe into this trilogy, and I can only hope that that happens in book 2!

The Calling (Darkness Rising #2) by Kelley Armstrong

April 2012 – Goodreads

Maya Delaney’s paw-print birthmark is the sign of what she truly is—a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly anyone 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. Plentiful action and romance in this second installment in the Darkness Rising series will keep readers enthralled to the very last page!

Now I am extremely eager to find out what the UK publishers will come up with!

Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

by Kay | May 24, 2011 | Reviews | 1 comment

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkness Rising #1
Published by ATOM
Pages: 359
Genres: Paranormal YA, Young Adult
Source: Purchased myself
Add to Goodreads
Rating:
Also in this series: The Rising

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

Thoughts: I’ll admit it, I almost didn’t want to read this book. I was such a huge fan of the Darkest Powers series and was pretty terrified that this newest trilogy wouldn’t live up to my expectations. And while it is certainly not as fierce as The Awakening or The Reckoning, I’d say it is most certainly the first book in a fantastic new Kelley Armstrong series.

Let’s start off with our new heroine, Maya. For starters, she’s a lot more experienced than Chloe – she’s confident in all sorts of social situations, with guys, and holds no prisoners even when speaking to her parents. Even though Chloe could certainly stand up for herself, Maya let’s no one think she can’t handle herself. This is a girl who can – literally – scare off a cougar… she’s awesome. And just because she’s tough, it doesn’t make her mean. Yeah, she has quite a few defense mechanisms in place to stop from getting emotionally hurt, but she isn’t bitchy in the least.

I also adored Maya’s relationship with her adoptive parents. Armstrong avoids all the parental YA tropes! If you want to read a realistic, loving relationship between two parents and their daughter, then read The Gathering. In fact, Armstrong gets an A+ for all characters in this novel. Love interest Rafe was fabulous. Slightly twisted by circumstance, but fundamentally a good guy. Reminded me of Derek despite being nothing at all like Derek. In fact, this entire book reminded me of its predecessor trilogy despite being very, very different…

Then there’s the plot. Although the book left me going “what! that’s it! I need MORE!”, it is by no means lacking in substance. While those of us who have read the Darkest Powers trilogy might see a couple of clues that first-time Armstrong fans will not, by the end of the book, I’m certain you’ll be just as mystified as everyone else. After I finished The Gathering, I filled my Books Moleskine with over a dozen questions I wanted answered asap. I wasn’t sure what side I should be on, I didn’t know who the bad guys were, and I sure didn’t know whether or not Maya was making the right decision. All the same thoughts/feelings I had after reading The Summoning!

Guh.

Ok, so I tried and failed to review this book without mentioning the first trilogy… but read that as the compliment it is meant to be!

Bottom line? Kelley Armstrong can do no wrong. Read this. Now.

10 Best Reads of 2010

by Kay | Jan 2, 2011 | List-o-pia | 6 comments

2010 has been a rather awesome year for me, book-wise. I managed to read 71 books – perhaps not as impressive as some lists out there, but certainly a record for me. The past few months have made it hard for me to read and review as much as I used to, new job, new course and – basically – a whole new life in a new area. But what hadn’t changed is my love for reading – so don’t expect me to be going anywhere!

So, my ten favourite reads of 2010. I list these with lots of love, as I have discovered some fantastic new authors this year (Ann Aguirre, Jaye Wells) and read some fantastic reads from old favourites (The Reckoning!).

Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane #1) by Jaye Wells

The Mage in Black (Sabina Kane, #2) by Jaye Wells

1. Red-headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells
2. The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells

OMG this series. The first book in this series was such a surprising read. I can’t even remember buying this book, and I only picked up as part of the New Authors Challenge. But reading it was practically transformative. I hadn’t felt this way about a book since The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong! As soon as I got my copy of The Mage in Black, I started reading it and didn’t stop till I had finished it. It was just as good as the first!

3. The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
4. Firespell by Chloe NeillI was worried that The Reckoning wouldn’t live up to all my expectations for the Darkest Powers series – I needn’t have. It was beyond amazing! If I could only recognise one YA series, it would be this one.

Firespell stood out from the other YA debuts of 2010. Chloe Neill is a fun and funny writer, with a very different twist on the whole paranormal YA scene. Her adult series is also fantastic – so give her a shot!

5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
6. Grimspace by Ann AguirreGraceling was my Poison Study of 2010 – high fantasy that made me want to just sink into the novel and never return. I adored every word and am nervous/excited about reading Cashore’s second book, Fire.

Grimspace. Grim-OMFG-space. I adored this book. Aguirre set my heart a flutter and just… yeah. OMG this book. And what’s even more astounding is that she keeps up the quality in the second novel of the series, Wanderlust. I can’t wait to review that one!

7. Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
8. Vampire Academy by Richelle MeadRules of Attraction was fantastic. Everything you could possibly want from a Contemporary YA romance – if you want a fab, Romeo-and-Juliet-esque romance, read this!

I am so very glad I finally read the Vampire Academy series! I knew everybody loved it, but I had no idea why until I read it. I haven’t finished the series yet, but it is certainly one of my favourite YA series… ever.

9. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
10. Linger by Maggie StiefvaterI haven’t written a review for Shiver or Linger, because I really don’t know what to add to the conversation. These books are stunning. Seriously, beautiful beautiful books which I highly recommend to ALL readers. It was hard to choose between Shiver and Linger for the Top Ten of 2010 – so both made the list!

So, that’s all for 2010. I am super excited about this new year, and I want to thank all DBD followers for sticking it out with me this year. It’s been great reading your comments and following your blogs – so thank you!

Cover Alert! The Gathering (UK) by Kelley Armstrong

by Kay | Aug 28, 2010 | Cover Alert, News | 5 comments

OMG there is a new cover for The Gathering! Apparently the UK publishers, in their infinite wisdom (and no, I am not being a smart ass this time), decided to revamp the cover for Kelley Armstrong’s first book in her new YA trilogy Darkness Rising. The US cover (which I flailed about here) was all well and good, but I think that this cover is just brilliant.

Isn’t it just lovely? I think there might be a revamp of this version before it comes out, but I am extremely excited nonetheless! Kelley Armstrong wrote about the new UK covers on her Darkest Powers blog, and kindly put up a very high quality version of the cover.

So… what do you think!?