Throwback Thursday Book Review: The Gathering (Darkness Rising #1) by Kelley Armstrong

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Publication Date: April 12th, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

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.

Review

        Okay, so how do I feel about this one.....well, let me just start off by saying I love this women and the style of her writing. It's easy, fun and...addictive! My first brush of her was her very first YA series, Darkest Power. Which consists of three books, The Summoning & The Awaking & The Reckoning, completing a trilogy. Which I thoroughly enjoyed and if it wasn't because of those books and her I would have never truly have gotten into writing and to be able to create my first book, Broken. So I'm going to work really hard on this review because it needs a descent one.

         Everything from the forest to the small town I love. I don't know what it is but I just love those settings. Anyways, most of you will probably compare this to the other trilogy if you read them. And you can see how completely different they are. So you have in, Darkest Power series, it's fast pace and moving while in this first installment in the, Darkness Rising series, it's more slow and developing. But still enjoyable. Huh, bare with me guys I'm really, like, really new at reviews so, yea...

         In the Darkest Power series theres kind of a little love triangle, in this one (for now) doesn't have much of one, which is refreshing to say the least. Don't get me wrong I love reading books like that, who is she going to pick? Is she going to pick the one I like or the other? But for some reason lately they just seem to be in every book, no matter what the story line or genre it is. And after awhile it just gets... tiring. So I was glad there wasn't one in this one. 

        Lets see, characters. Maya (the protagonist) is just turning sixteen and now for some reason things are a changing, lol. Anyways, she's an animal lover and takes care of the injurys that pop out around her house, which is in, like, the middle of the forest....bonus! She always had a healing touch but now it's just remarkable at how quick the animals are healing and for some reason, when she isn't wearing gloves when she handles them, she's able to see how they got injuryed as if being them. If you get that...hopefully that made since.

         Why she can do that we figure it out with her, along the same journey she's on. However what she is the readers will probably, no doubt, figure it out before she does. I think that's the only thing I have a problem with, that and the cliffhanger. Then again I think that's the best thing Kelley Armstrong can do... always wanting to leave you hanging, making you crave for the next book. And she certainly did, like always. 

         They'res two main people she hangs out with; her best freind Daniel and the guy she likes Rafe (whom is looking for something special in a girl) you'll learn more about that later in the book. Though some of you may not like this book, I've read complaints that it's to slow and nothing at all like Kelley Armstrong first YA series, and I think there's a point to that. She wanted something different but enjoyable and it was. I'm on the other hand, from those people who complain, was thoroughly Pleased with the book. I couldn't put it down and was really sad that it ended and where it ended, then again it was a cliffhanger. Like always with Kelley Armstrong.

         The last six or so chapers I really got into it, fast pace and exciting. That's when you start to see who's really behind on all those fires. So when I read sometimes I listen to music and for those fast pace and exciting scenes I (and I mean I, if you read it you may not think so) but the song I think that would go perfect with those scenes, was Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine. So if you read it listen to that song from chapter Thirty- four and on.

         I wasn't going to talk much about the main two boys but....I thought different. Sorry long post I just want to do a really good review. Anyways, Daniel the best friend. So I couldn't really visualize him until now. He's kinda like the boy next door. He's sweet, kind, and he'll always have your back. And I think I found the perfect person to play him if this ever turned into the movie (and if it does, hopefully it doesn't turn out badly like Twilight. Sorry it just showed how flawed it really is) and sorry to those who are reading this that love Twilight. I did to but at the time I just got started into liking reading but now that I've read more since those books I've seen better. Sorry again to those who like it. 

       Anywho, is name is Drew Van Acker and I loved him in the series that was on cartoon network called Tower prep and I just enjoyed his character, so I think he would be perfect as Daniel. In that picture over there ->

     Now Rafe, he's the bad boy, always gotta have one of those. I just love there type definitely in books, always teddy bears that protect there girls. :) They make me smile. Though I can't think of who to play him in real life but I can picture him perfectly in my head. :) 

         

         Another character I loved was Sam. Ever since the beginning I have pictured Jordan Todosey whom plays Adam on the show called Degrassi who is a bad ass just like the character in the book. So, yea....

         Okay I think I covered everything now my ratings.


            Ratings:
                 
                  Cover art: 5/5
                  Plot: 5/5
                  Characters: 5/5

          Over all: five out of five stars.....can't wait for the next one :)
                

Though I loved this one, the second one was so-so and I have yet to take the time to read the third one. Which saddens me because I loved her original series that this book spun off of

Sweet Readings Everybody!