Chloe is an unremarkable teenage girl. She is fifteen, spends most of her time alone with her father off on business trips, is not hated or loved at school, tiny but not particularly strange looking…Chloe is no one special. Until one day. In a very short space of time, Chloe dyes red streaks in her hair in the school bathroom, gets her first period, and sees a ghost. Yes, a ghost. Of course, this isn’t something she expects, so she freaks out entirely–enough to get her strapped to a stretcher, taken out of school, and sent to a group home for troubled teenagers where they tell her she is schizophrenic, not psychic. Lyle House predictably turns out to be more than what it seems at first glance, and so do Chloe and the other residents…
I almost gave up on The Summoning after 50 pages or so, but then I noticed that it was blurbed by Melissa Marr, who I think is totally awesome. I decided to trust her taste and keep reading, and I’m sure glad I did. The start of this book did not shine. The prologue was intriguing, sure, but the writing and characterization are unremarkable. Those technical aspects of this book never got better. They’re not distractingly bad, and I suppose we did get to know Chloe a bit better, but they are, as I said, no reasons to keep reading.
But this book certainly has its redeeming qualities. Suspense, mystery, and an interesting mythology keep it going as it gets closer to the end, and by the last page, I was anxious for the sequel. I also enjoyed how Chloe’s ambition to write and direct movies was evident: she compared her life to movies, saw good shots, etc., almost like she sees life through a camera lens. Had that device been used more, and sometimes less awkwardly, it could really have improved the boring narration. However, I read to the end, something I certainly don’t always do. And I will probably read the sequel if it comes my way, though I won’t make any extra effort to get my hands on it. This book does not linger on in my mind. I enjoyed reading it, though, and sometimes that’s enough. Also, I have decided it might be helpful to sum up books in six words, my replacement for having ratings/grades, so here you go: in six words: Supernatural, mysterious, and fun but unremarkable.
October 15, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I know I didn’t like it all that much when I read it. I held out hoping it would get better than the beginning but it didn’t exactly win me over. You are, however, the only other review I have read that didn’t gush about how fabulous the book was. That makes you my hero even more. ;)
October 15, 2008 at 5:12 pm
You know, I’m usually pretty critical but this one didn’t bug me; in fact, I really liked it. Unlike Cat, all of the reviews I’ve read have been negative so you and Cat definitely aren’t the only ones who found it lacking.
October 16, 2008 at 5:22 am
Thanks for the review. I do have a copy of this to get around to as I love her Women of the Otherworld series. I will bear your criticisms in mind though when I get around to it.
November 14, 2008 at 10:23 pm
[…] Pope I Knew So Well)61. Amy @ Hope Is the Word (All Over but the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg)62. Jocelyn (The Summoning)63. Jocelyn (Graceling)64. Jocelyn (The Hunger Games)65. Heidi@MtHope (Deconstructing Penguins)66. […]
December 1, 2008 at 11:06 am
unlike this review,
i disagree.
the book held my attention throughout it all, and i was utterly intreged by how simple the characters where. the story line seemed realistic with a twist that many people may not have found appealing.
in general though, i loved this book and found it very addicting.
February 4, 2013 at 10:45 pm
Ohmygosh, when i read this review (and this is the first one that i’ve read so far) i thought i was the only one who thought the book was really good.
December 12, 2008 at 2:10 pm
i loved this book as soon as i read the first page, and i still loved it, as i read on! :)
i think that this was a very interesting book! and i would love to read another book by Kelly Armstrong, or another book just like this ! :)
December 12, 2008 at 2:11 pm
this book is also very addicting! which i lovee:D <3
March 1, 2009 at 7:56 pm
didn’t read the book yet but like after reading these reviews i guess i’m not gonna read it anymore
than you all !!!
:)
January 20, 2016 at 6:35 pm
(“-_-)
July 25, 2010 at 5:29 am
I have to say i am impressed i usually don’t read but this got my attention I love book 1 book 2 and book 3 The Summoning- Great Book, The Awakening- Couldn’t put the book down, The Reckoning- AMAZING like the awakening couldn’t put it down finished it in one day. Chole and Derek were perfect =) recommend it!
January 15, 2014 at 12:40 am
Hi! This is my first comment hdre sso I just wanted to give a quick
shout out aand say I genuinely enjoy reading your posts. Can you
recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects?
Thankks a ton!
March 21, 2014 at 9:31 am
I thought the book was awesome althogh i am only twelve this book changed my life
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