Continued from where The Summoning left off. Although a few things were resolved and the main characters reached a temporary safe place, Chloe knows that her life has been changed forever. The four teens have more adventures to go in the next installment...

Reviewed by Breia "The Brain" Brickey for TeensReadToo.com

Not too long ago, Chloe Saunders was an ordinary teenage girl with dreams of making movies when she got older.

Today she is a necromancer who has no idea how to control her powers or even what all of her powers are.

In book one of the DARKEST POWERS series, THE SUMMONING, Chloe and several of her friends escaped from the group home they had been living in. Now, Chloe and Rae are recaptured by the Edison Group, a shady organization that has genetically altered them to try and make use of the powers that many of them were born with.

I found THE AWAKENING to be well-written, descriptive, and thoroughly engaging. This book had soul-searching, action, and even a little teen angst - although it only had a little to do with being a teen and a lot to do with being a supernatural with very little control over their lives or their powers.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. Kelley Armstrong already has two popular adult series under her belt, and this is well on its way to being her third, and hopefully only the first for teens! I hope to see much more from her in the future. ( )

The second book in a series for young adults that focuses on Chloe, a teenager with supernatural powers, and the mysterious 'Edison Group' who seem to wish her and her friends ill. Somewhat average plotwise, but well-paced, and quite readable. ( )

Kelly Armstrong ended The Summoning with a major cliff-hanger, leaving me wanting more immediately. Unfortunately, even when The Awakening was released I was placed on a wait list at my library and was unable to read it until now. Armstrong definitely did not disappoint with the second book in the Darkest Powers trilogy. The Awakening has a great blend of action and information discovery. The emotions of the characters run high throughout the book and I think Armstrong did a great job capturing the voices of the teens as they face fear, confusion, and loss. While there is a slight bit of relief or a glimmer of hope at the end of this book, Armstrong still leaves many unanswered questions and leads in to the possibility of a great confrontation in the third and final book. I can barely wait to read The Reckoning which is expected to be released in May 2010. ( )

I am starting to warm up on this series. The first one I honestly think that Armstrong can't pull it off. But I was wrong. Now as we go deeper into the series, there's more mystery and I love mystery. What exactly will be the outcome of the genetic modification that the Edison Group performed to our heroes/heroine? What does Andrews means when he said "It's good to see that Simon and Tori are together"? clearly it means that they have the same father or that because together their powers are stronger. Is Derek and Chloe now liking each other? Is Aunt Lauren still alive? Will Liz be making her apparition to Chloe again? Will Rae realize that she was deceived or will she be the ultimate villain? and blah blah blah. Different types of Supernatural on the run together is pretty damn good looking to me. I hope the next book would have less running and more action and/or planning to take down the Edison Group. The book is good for paranormal lover. too subtle for adults on the romance part but good enough on the action scenes. Betrayal, Budding romance, Mystery, rolled into a sci-fi novel. ( )