The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong Series: Darkest Powers #2
Published by HarperCollins on April 28th 2009
Also by this author: The Summoning, The Reckoning
Also in this series: The Reckoning
Pages: 360
Goodreads
If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl - someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I’m as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment - not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters. I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control: I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.
Now I’m running for my life with three of my supernatural friends - a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch - and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.
The Awakening is the second book in the Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong. The story of Chloe Saunders continues now that she knows about her powers. If you haven’t read the first one yet, The Summoning, be aware there might be some minor spoilers ahead.
Chloe is on the run from the Edison Group. Tori joined her in her escape and they found Derek and Simon again. Tori, everyone’s least favourite girl, actually uses Chloe to get out and when she realises that she has no place to go, she wants to come with the others.
Reading The Awakening, I had a feeling that this was just a very small part of a larger story. I had that same feeling reading The Summoning, but it made sense that not everything was explained in the first book. That’s what a second and/or third book was for. This one focused more on the relationship between Chloe and Derek, and getting them from point A to point B than it did on giving answers. There were still a lot of questions unanswered and the list was growing.
I’m no fan of Victoria and she shows absolutely no growth. At the end of the book, she still makes hurtful remakes and I’ve seen no sign of emotion when Simon shows affection for Chloe. Even after all she’s been through. I can’t believe that she’s over her crush, nor do I believe that Tori and Chloe haven’t gotten on better terms after everything that happened. It’s disappointing. Chloe’s relationship with Derek does show growth and it feels natural how the two of them become friends.
The Awakening gets four stars. I enjoyed the story and some of the characters show development. I still have a feeling there is more to be told about this world of supernaturals. I’m looking forward to The Reckoning, the last book in the series. Hopefully, the series has a satisfying ending.
