Review: The Awakening

The Awakening (Darkest Powers #2) by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Orbit/Atom
Published: 4th May 2009

Description from Amazon:

Chloe Saunders used to be a normal teenage girl - or so she thought. Then she learned the shocking truth - she is a walking science experiment. Genetically altered at birth by a sinister group of scientists known as the Edison Group, Chloe is an aberration - a powerful necromancer who can see ghosts and even raise the dead, often with terrifying consequences. 
Even worse, her growing powers have made her a threat to the surviving members of the Edison Group, who have decided it's time to end their experiment - permanently ...Now Chloe is running for her life with three other supernatural teenagers - a charming sorcerer, a troubled werewolf and a temperamental young witch. Together they have a chance for freedom - but can Chloe trust her new friends?


My thoughts:


I definitely preferred this book to its prequel, it didn't have as slow a start and the character development was much more significant. Plotwise, nothing major actually seemed to happen. I've seen a few people complain about this, but I actually enjoy books with the sort of plotline this one had, the 'on the run' type storyline. (It's not a spoiler, it's in the synopsis!) I liked the fact they had to worry about money too...runaways who have unlimited cash annoy me. I'm such a realist. I liked how we saw just how far the reach of the Edison group is, though it is starting to remind me a tad of the maximum ride series. 


I liked seeing the development of Chloe's powers, even though it freaked her out. We saw the development of all their powers really-which was interesting to see.  Especially Tori's, we all wondered what she could actually do...


I actually really like Tori. I love a good bitchy character and she is no exception. I love how you sorta feel sorry for her and I do find her endlessly amusing. Simon on the other hand, he's getting blander by the page. I'm not sure if it's a device by the author to thrust Derek into the spotlight more, but I just feel...nothing for him at all. It's a shame really. Jury is still out on Derek for me I'm afraid. He opened up a lot more which was good to see in this book, and it's nice to have a male character that's not dazzlingly attractive, but I'm still not sure where I stand on him. 


There were a couple of twists and character betrayals that I didn't see coming and was surprised at, but overall this book was a fairly easy and not too intense read. Definitely more enjoyable than the first and I'm looking forward to reading the 3rd. 


I give it 3.5/5