Summary
The Summoning is the first installment in Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers series, set in a mysterious group home for troubled teens who possess supernatural abilities. Published in 2008, this young adult paranormal novel follows 15-year-old Chloe Saunders as she discovers her unusual gift, or curse—seeing and communicating with ghosts. Blending elements of horror, urban fantasy, and teen drama, The Summoning explores relatable themes of identity, friendship, and the struggle between good and evil through a cast of truly exceptional characters.
Plot
In The Summoning, life takes a sudden dramatic turn for 15-year-old Chloe Saunders when she starts seeing ghosts. After a disturbing incident at school, she is diagnosed with schizophrenia and sent to Lyle House, a group home for troubled teens. As Chloe adjusts to her new surroundings, she begins to suspect that there's more to her housemates and the facility than meets the eye.
At Lyle House, Chloe meets a diverse group of teens including the jealous Tori, antisocial Derek, and charming Simon. As she gets to know them, she discovers that they all possess unique supernatural abilities. Chloe learns that she is a necromancer, capable of communicating with and raising the dead. She forms close friendships with Rae, a half-demon who can manipulate fire, and Simon, a sorcerer who can cast spells.
Chloe's suspicions about Lyle House grow when she is contacted by her former roommate, Liz, who was supposedly transferred to another facility. Realizing that Liz must be dead, Chloe becomes determined to uncover the truth behind Lyle House and its inhabitants. With the help of her new friends, Chloe begins to investigate the secrets of the facility and the true nature of their powers.
As they unravel the mysteries surrounding Lyle House, Chloe and her friends realize they are in danger and must escape. Working together, Chloe, Derek, Simon, and Rae plan their breakout. However, their attempt is fraught with complications, leading to Chloe and Rae being recaptured. The novel ends with Chloe fleeing her town to avoid recognition, setting the stage for further adventures and revelations in the subsequent books of the Darkest Powers series.
Themes
Coming of age and self-discovery
Supernatural abilities and their consequences
Trust and betrayal in relationships
Isolation and belonging in a group setting
Uncovering hidden truths and conspiracies
Friendship and unlikely alliances
Struggle for independence and control
Setting
The Summoning is set in the early 2000s, based on the technology mentioned and cultural references. The story takes place in a typical North American city, with scenes occurring at Chloe's high school, her home, and other urban locations familiar to contemporary teenagers and young adults.
A significant portion of the novel is set within Lyle House, a group home for troubled teens where Chloe is sent after her apparent mental breakdown. This facility serves as a microcosm for the larger supernatural world Chloe is discovering, housing other young people with paranormal abilities under the guise of mental health treatment.
As the plot progresses, the setting expands to include various locations around the city as Chloe and her companions attempt to uncover the truth about Lyle House and escape those seeking to control them. The urban environment provides both obstacles and opportunities for the characters, with busy streets and public spaces contrasting against hidden supernatural elements lurking just beneath the surface of everyday life.
Characters
Chloe Saunders: The protagonist. A 15-year-old girl who discovers she can see ghosts, Chloe is sent to Lyle House after a traumatic incident at school. Chloe is a necromancer, able to raise and communicate with the dead. She is determined to uncover the secrets of Lyle House while navigating her newfound abilities and relationships with other residents.
Derek Souza: A 16-year-old werewolf with exceptional strength and intelligence. Initially intimidating to Chloe, Derek gradually becomes her ally. He struggles with controlling his supernatural abilities and the social challenges that come with them. Derek is protective of his foster brother Simon and eventually helps Chloe understand her powers.
Simon Bae: A 15-year-old sorcerer of Korean and Swedish descent. Charming and easygoing, Simon develops feelings for Chloe. He has diabetes and is at Lyle House because his father is missing. Simon's magical abilities include casting spells like levitation and mist projection.
Rachelle “Rae” Rogers: A 15-year-old half-demon with the ability to produce and project fire. She befriends Chloe at Lyle House and is later captured along with her. Rae's powers manifest when she's angry, leading to her being labeled a pyromaniac.
Victoria “Tori” Enright: A 16-year-old witch-spellcaster with a confrontational personality. She initially clashes with Chloe and has unrequited feelings for Simon. Tori struggles with her own supernatural abilities and the high expectations set by her mother.
Elizabeth “Liz” Delaney: Chloe's former roommate at Lyle House who is supposedly transferred out of the facility. Liz is actually a deceased half-demon with telekinetic powers and appears to Chloe as a ghost throughout the story.
Dr. Lauren Fellows: Chloe's aunt and a doctor involved with Lyle House. She initially betrays Chloe but later helps her escape.
Dr. Marcel Davidoff: The head of Lyle House who oversees the supernatural teenagers. He is involved in capturing Chloe and Rae.
Diane Enright: Tori's mother and a powerful witch-spellcaster. She is a financier of Lyle House with significant influence over its operations.
Quick facts
The Summoning is the first book in Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers trilogy.
It was published in 2008 by HarperTeen.
The main character, Chloe Saunders, is a 15-year-old necromancer, able to raise and communicate with the dead.
Armstrong was inspired to write a young adult series after her daughter became a teenager, and completed the first draft of The Summoning in just six weeks.
The Summoning blends elements of paranormal, horror, and urban fantasy genres.
The story is set in a group home for troubled teens called Lyle House.
The Summoning features supernatural characters like werewolves, sorcerers, and witches.
Despite its paranormal focus, The Summoning deals with relatable real-world themes of identity and coming to terms with new abilities.
About the Author
Kelley Armstrong (1968-) is a prolific Canadian author best known for her works of fantasy. Born in Sudbury, Ontario, she has been writing stories since childhood, though her early works featuring “undead girls and evil dolls” were not always appreciated by her teachers. After studying psychology and computer programming, she sold her first novel Bitten in 1999, launching a successful career as a full-time writer.
Armstrong is the creator of several popular series, including the New York Times bestselling Women of the Otherworld trilogy and the young adult Darkest Powers trilogy. Her works often blend elements of fantasy, horror, crime, and romance, featuring supernatural characters like werewolves, witches, and demons in contemporary North American settings, and typically include mystery plots with protagonists investigating unusual situations. To craft authentic details for her books, Armstrong has studied various skills including aikido, archery, and fencing, though she admits to not excelling at any of them. She has also explored cave systems and attempted mountain climbing to gain firsthand experiences.
Armstrong's success has led to adaptations of her work, including the Canadian television series Bitten, based on her Women of the Otherworld series. She has published more than 30 fantasy novels to date, as well as crime fiction, young adult thrillers, and middle-grade fantasy, and continues to write prolifically. Armstrong resides in southwestern Ontario with her family and “far too many pets,” where she works from her “basement writing dungeon." When not writing or researching, she enjoys coffee and considers herself a connoisseur of chocolate chip cookies.
