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

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.

Enjoyable but doesn't give any answers.

I enjoyed this book and liked getting to know the characters, but it's obviously the beginning of a series. We are given lots of mysteries (like, how did Maya's best friend really die? What's the mystery the medical testing facility is hiding? Why are the high schoolers being investigated? etc.) There's also lots of intriguing information given about the characters and a good build-up of romantic tension between Maya, her best friend, and the new bad boy, but there's absolutely no resolution to any of the questions posed in this book - only further mysteries and questions. I'm with the other reviewer. It's probably best to wait until the other books are out so you can get some answers.

Better but not great

First, context. I'm a fan of Kelley Armstrong's adult Otherworld books. I enjoyed Armstrong's first three books in the Darkest Powers series, although I found many of the characters irritating. They were almost caricatures in many cases. Just a little too goody two-shoes too, in many cases.

Now for the Gathering, which is the first book in the Darkness Rising trilogy. The narrator is great. I liked the characters in this book a great deal more than in Darkest Powers. They feel more realistic to me. This may be related to their age -- Darkest Powers are 9th grade students, or thereabouts, whereas Rising students are more like 11th grade. Certainly, the relationships are more sexually mature. Sure, all there's been is making out clothed lying down, but there's a lot less blushing and hand holding, and when the main couple make out, there's some real passion.

However, the plot moves very slowly, and the book ends on a cliffhanger with nothing resolved. I don't know when the next book is scheduled to come out. But my recommendation is to seriously consider waiting until you can read the entire trilogy.

On the other hand, I expect that with its slow start, this is one of those series that will be getting better as it goes on, and I'm looking forward to that happening.

Too many questions unanswered. . .

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I was really enjoying this story in the beginning and throughout the book. . .until the last few chapters. The characters are interesting and there are a lot of mysteries that are explored, BUT, as another reviewer mentioned, you get absolutely NO resolution to anything in the end. The end is very much a cliffhanger, but in an annoying way. This was very obviously done to entice readers into reading the next book in the series. And honestly, I do like the characters and the storyline enough that I probably will read the next one. However, I just really wish this book had not ended so abruptly.

Would you recommend The Gathering to your friends? Why or why not?

My recommendation of this book depends on how the next book in the series turns out. . .I like the story and the characters and I think this author is developing a unique take on a rather played out idea. Although this book is marketed to teens-- and there are some scenarios in the book that are very much reminiscent of high school-- much of the story is intelligently written and I enjoyed listening to it as an adult. However, I cannot recommend this as a stand alone read because it just leaves too many things hanging. If the next book in the series proves to be more satisfying, then I would recommend this one with a caveat that the ending is not what you anticipate. . . we shall see. . .

What does Jennifer Ikeda bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed the narration and thought Jennifer did an excellent job portraying all of the teenage characters. I could easily imagine her voice coming from the main character Maya-- much better than some books when the narrator does not sound at all how you would think the characters should sound.

What happened?

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I don't know. I liked the book but I hated the ending!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mia - her strength in learning the truth about her life.

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

Mia

Do you think The Gathering needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes! The book just abruptly ended with everything left open. It was very frustrating!

Wait until the rest of the series is available

I enjoyed this book and the narrator was excellent. I would have given the story a higher rating if the cliff hanger ending was not such a let down. If the next in the series was available I might have not been so disappointed. Anyway I suggest you wait to listen to this book when the complete series is available.

New Trilogy Will Keep You On the Edge of Your Seat

The new characters that Armstrong introduces into the Darkest Powers world/series are far more grown up then the previous foursome. The group of teens in Armstrongs latest series delve into more makeout sessions and drinking parties that I am not sure the Chloe, Derek set from the first trilogy would have even contemplated. Unlike the previous group, which we (and Chloe) all met in the middle of a mental institution, this group of teens has known eachother for years, and allows us to experience their "normal" lives more then the previous bunch.

I was immediately drawn in to this novel with Maya Delany's strong voice and character. The setting of Salmon Creek is a richly drawn, and the feeling of the remote, small town was strong. The love-triangle in the book does not feel forced, as many do in young adult novels. In fact, the relationships that Maya has with all the townspeople (and animals in the forest) felt remarkably realistic.

Armstrong throws in hints about the Edison Group, the St. Cloud corporation and Lyle House/Samuel Lyle throughout the book - allowing the readers of the previous trilogy to know and understand the consequences of the medical research facility far before our main characters (who actually end the book still seemingly unaware).

While I was initially hesitant to begin this new trilogy, with new characters, after enjoying the first trilogy in this series so much; it did not take long for me to get sucked into the new storyline. I cannot wait to listen to The Calling, and am hoping that I will be able to withstand the wait that will come to hear the last of this series.

4 Stars because of the Ending

This could have been a 5 star book easily if just one of the plot lines had been resolved. I was left frustrated. What happened to Annie? Was that Maya's twin brother, if so how did he know she was out there trying to escape from the fire? Who set the fire and why? What was going on in the medical lab? Who killed Mina and why? Who/What is the Cabal? Why all the interest in the children? Is Sam a killer? Did she off Serena? Did she kill her parents? How does Rafe know so much about Maya's history? Geezzz I could go on and on. I really liked the book, it is a good beginning to a series. But please solve something at least. Now on to download the next book.

Jennifer Ikeda is a great narrator. If you want to hear more of her work check out "A Discovery of Witches," she did an excellent job with that one also.

Another Hit for Armstrong

What made the experience of listening to The Gathering the most enjoyable?

In my oppinion if the narrator does not rock the entire book is ruined. The narrator of this story Jennifer Ikeda, individualizes the characters very well and her voice is enjoyable to listen to. I have read many Kelley Armstrong ebooks and have enjoyed both her writing style and storylines. This is one of her young adult science fiction series and initially I had no interest in reading it but when it went on sale on Audible I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did. I just recently purchased the second audio book in the series and I think many people will like this series.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Daniel her BFF. I think he will have an interesting story of his own.

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

Maya, because Jennifer made her a real personality. Someone you'd like to hang with. Even though she had flaws, when she realized it she tried to make herself better.

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

No, it wasn't a tearjerker nor exceptionally comedic. More of a mystery, suspense, what the heck is going on in this town kind of vibe.

Any additional comments?

I look forward to listening to more of this series.

Surprise

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

yes.

Any additional comments?

I purchased this because it was $4.95. I didn't know what to expect, but it's a really good story. I'm looking forward to the next book.