The Gathering

By: Kelley Armstrong

Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda

Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted rather frequently around Maya's home and her reactions to them are somewhat . . . unexpected. Her best friend, Daniel, has also been experiencing unexplainable premonitions about certain people and situations.

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 anatom - her paw-print birthmark.

©2011 KLA Fricke Inc (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

mixed feelings ---- interesting characters

I enjoyed the narrator. Male and female characters sounded believable and I always knew which character was speaking. (In truth, she probably deserves 5 stars --- but I just finished listening to a story in which the narrator that was so crazy good that everything is paling in comparison at the moment.)

The storyline/ premise was interesting and I want to keep on with the story. Here's the thing though..... BIG WARNING.... if you do not enjoy cliff hanger endings then do NOT get this book. (Or wait until the entire series is out?) I do have the next book in the series and will be listening to it directly after finishing this review. (And with my luck, it will end suddenly, too.)

The characters are endearing enough that I want to continue with the series; however, the story ends abruptly enough that it is somewhat annoying. I don't always mind a cliffhanger ending, but I prefer books in a series to have a full story in that book and then have a larger series arc. This is not the case with this book. It VERY much reads like part I / too be continued.

* Also, I am HUGELY grateful that I didn't read the snippet about the book before listening to this story as it tells far too much. (Like when a movie is ruined because all the best parts are shown in the trailer.)

Having said all that.... It is a decent story (the part of it told in this book anyway) and I like the characters enough to continue with the series to see what happens next & to learn if more of my hunches turn out correctly. (:

This audiobook is addictive!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Gathering to be better than the print version?

Although I have not read the print version of The Gathering, I am sure it is equally as wondering as the audio edition.

What did you like best about this story?

What I loved the most about the story was that it was so descriptive. You could envision in your mind how the characters felt.

What about Jennifer Ikeda’s performance did you like?

Jennifer Ikeda was excellent. I enjoyed listening to her smooth voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I had time I would listen to this book in one sitting.

left at a cliffie

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. totally yes. It was better than her darkest powers and that was good, even great. It was fast paced with action and romance. (+ I already have)

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Gathering?

mina's death, when Rafe told her everything about himself, maybe

Have you listened to any of Jennifer Ikeda’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no. but I liked how she changed her voice, it's nice. I listen to the book and it just sounds nice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

well, because I stifle my laughs alot I can't really laugh, but i was squeaking which is really the best I can do.

Any additional comments?

sure. read it, the next book comes out in April, you won't have that long to wait

Slow to start and then.......

This story is slow to start, but then it took off towards the end. I am hoping that book 2 of the trilogy will be better.

Take the time to read you won't be sorry

This series is showing so much promise and is looking to be the linchpin to all of the K. Armstrong books. I wondered how she would tie things together and now I begin to see. K.A. is truly a genius when it comes to building believable characters and relationships in an unbelievably realistic fantasy. When reading these I thought of James Patterson - Max series and DanielX. There is just enough reality to believe and plenty of fantasy to lose yourself in.
I am seriously impressed by J. Ikeda her voice and emotion transport you smoothly into a world of "special" teens and their interactions. She has my attention enough that if in the future I am on the fence about buying a book and she is the narrator; I will buy it because she read it.

Good Story of teenagers coming into there powers

This story centers on Maya, a teenage girl, coming into her powers. It set in the Otherworld Series, world. It has a bunch of teens in prepower state. Very interesting.

Perfect

Would you listen to The Gathering again? Why?

I love Jennifer Ikeda's voice I could listen to it all day

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Gathering?

Sarina dying is a huge part of the whole series

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Ikeda – was your favorite?

Mia is my favorite character shes brave and beautiful and a cat!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES!!

Any additional comments?

this is the kind of book you can get lost in and never want to put it down. It always leaves you wanting more.

Where are the last few chapters at????

Would you try another book from Kelley Armstrong and/or Jennifer Ikeda?

NO. She forgot to have an ending to the story I listened to and was dissipointed that I wasted 8 hours listing to a story with out an ending.

Has The Gathering turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes

Not a full story.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Stories, even if they are a part of a series, have certain structural components that identify them as COMPLETE stories. It's OK to leave a few strings dangling that tie the book to the next, but this thing practically ends in the middle of a sentence. Nothing, not one single thread gets resolved. In retrospect, there isn't even a single character that gets fully developed.

Any additional comments?

I liked the read and the story right up to the end when I realized that I had been sold a book that was incomplete. You don't create a trilogy by taking a book and indiscriminately ripping it into three parts.

audio book skips around

This terrible audio book skips around and I really want my money back; very disappointed.