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kerameia's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! The chapters are relatively short and easy to get through, especially as the plot thickens and the mysteries behind Maya's origins and the secrecy of her small hometown are explored. I also really enjoyed how the author establishes the story in Canada by referencing native folklore, tribes, and terminology, as well as featuring Canadian wildlife as a key component of the story.
crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
2.0
Bullet Review:
75 pages of plot ballooned out to 359 pages. Characters are complete morons, without a shred of common sense. All the plot twists I called A HUNDRED PAGES before the characters were told it (because investigating? Ain't nobody got time for that!). Instead, let's focus on the stupid teen DWAMA romantic plot tumor.
You cannot say that I'm bloating the rating just because I liked Armstrong's earlier books. Massive disappointment; if I didn't already own the rest of the trilogy, I would quit here.
Full Review:
Maya is totally not a normal teen in a totally not normal town - but even though those two are fairly obvious, no one even bats an eye. Maya heals animals super fast, talks with cougars like it's no big deal, and has visions of running through the forest - but that's what everyone has, right? Everyone can do that?
The town was built by the totally-not suspicious St. Clouds and has a set-up straight out of a Stephen King horror novel - but again, totes legit.
Maya's friend, Serena, died "drowning" the previous year in a lake that should be called a kiddie pool, but even though Serena was a top notch swimmer, no one bats an eye. Maya has a friend Daniel, who is totally not into her in the romantic way. Nope nope, that would be weird.
And the new "bad boy", Rafe, is totally hot and sexy in that Latino way, so that means it's totally okay to break your rule about dating local boys for a makeout session or seventeen - RIGHT??!
All the problems of this book go back to One Ultimate Problem: there is too little story spread out over 359 pages.
There is nothing inherently wrong with Maya's character (I love how she's Native with Native culture) or Daniel or Rafe or the setup of the town or the mysterious death of Serena. Actually, all this could be a setup to a great horror movie! (Okay, maybe not great, but scary, definitely.)
The problem is, this book is basically the first two chapters or so of a real book. It's all setup, not even a teensie bit of a payout.
Do we find out how Serena died? Nope.
Do we find out how Mina died? Nope.
Do we find out how the fire was set? Nope. (Bonus: How were the kids SO SURE that the fire was set?)
Do we know anything about Maya's family? Nope.
Do we get confirmation about Rafe's assertions or do we just believe him because he's HAWT? Hot, duh!
And on. And on. And so forth.
It doesn't help that so much of the book feels like the same basic plot as Darkest Powers - girl finds out (from someone else who infodumps it to her, because GOD FORBID a woman know her own magical powers without being told by a male!) she's something special, super-evil medical corporation wants to use kid(s) for EVUL. Perhaps if we hadn't already read this plot in Darkest Powers, we could put up with Maya slamming her tongue down Rafe's throat for 200+ pages, but come on, Armstrong. We aren't idiots. Your characters aren't idiots. Open their eyes and let them see what's standing right in front of them.
Oh and some of the survival tactics run completely counter to everything I'd read before. Pepper spray? Actually, it is ILLEGAL to have in Canada, though it will allow bear and dog spray - neither of which are mentioned in the book. Most sites say not to run away if you meet a cougar. And probably the biggest one is about climbing a tree to escape a bear. Armstrong, I hate to be rude, but did you do research or just make some of this up for drama?
Common sense tells me I should avoid the sequel based on my dislike of this book; however, I am hopeful, with 359 pages of setup out of the way, perhaps we can get to the actual story. Plus I own all three books.
(On a side note...I used to snap up all of Armstrong's books when they came out. Glad I'm not doing that anymore.)
75 pages of plot ballooned out to 359 pages. Characters are complete morons, without a shred of common sense. All the plot twists I called A HUNDRED PAGES before the characters were told it (because investigating? Ain't nobody got time for that!). Instead, let's focus on the stupid teen DWAMA romantic plot tumor.
You cannot say that I'm bloating the rating just because I liked Armstrong's earlier books. Massive disappointment; if I didn't already own the rest of the trilogy, I would quit here.
Full Review:
Maya is totally not a normal teen in a totally not normal town - but even though those two are fairly obvious, no one even bats an eye. Maya heals animals super fast, talks with cougars like it's no big deal, and has visions of running through the forest - but that's what everyone has, right? Everyone can do that?
The town was built by the totally-not suspicious St. Clouds and has a set-up straight out of a Stephen King horror novel - but again, totes legit.
Maya's friend, Serena, died "drowning" the previous year in a lake that should be called a kiddie pool, but even though Serena was a top notch swimmer, no one bats an eye. Maya has a friend Daniel, who is totally not into her in the romantic way. Nope nope, that would be weird.
And the new "bad boy", Rafe, is totally hot and sexy in that Latino way, so that means it's totally okay to break your rule about dating local boys for a makeout session or seventeen - RIGHT??!
All the problems of this book go back to One Ultimate Problem: there is too little story spread out over 359 pages.
There is nothing inherently wrong with Maya's character (I love how she's Native with Native culture) or Daniel or Rafe or the setup of the town or the mysterious death of Serena. Actually, all this could be a setup to a great horror movie! (Okay, maybe not great, but scary, definitely.)
The problem is, this book is basically the first two chapters or so of a real book. It's all setup, not even a teensie bit of a payout.
Do we find out how Serena died? Nope.
Do we find out how Mina died? Nope.
Do we find out how the fire was set? Nope. (Bonus: How were the kids SO SURE that the fire was set?)
Do we know anything about Maya's family? Nope.
Do we get confirmation about Rafe's assertions or do we just believe him because he's HAWT? Hot, duh!
And on. And on. And so forth.
It doesn't help that so much of the book feels like the same basic plot as Darkest Powers - girl finds out (from someone else who infodumps it to her, because GOD FORBID a woman know her own magical powers without being told by a male!) she's something special, super-evil medical corporation wants to use kid(s) for EVUL. Perhaps if we hadn't already read this plot in Darkest Powers, we could put up with Maya slamming her tongue down Rafe's throat for 200+ pages, but come on, Armstrong. We aren't idiots. Your characters aren't idiots. Open their eyes and let them see what's standing right in front of them.
Oh and some of the survival tactics run completely counter to everything I'd read before. Pepper spray? Actually, it is ILLEGAL to have in Canada, though it will allow bear and dog spray - neither of which are mentioned in the book. Most sites say not to run away if you meet a cougar. And probably the biggest one is about climbing a tree to escape a bear. Armstrong, I hate to be rude, but did you do research or just make some of this up for drama?
Common sense tells me I should avoid the sequel based on my dislike of this book; however, I am hopeful, with 359 pages of setup out of the way, perhaps we can get to the actual story. Plus I own all three books.
(On a side note...I used to snap up all of Armstrong's books when they came out. Glad I'm not doing that anymore.)
caeralee's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely awesome book!! Teen series but has bare minimum of the gushy love a lot of teen series have just enough to cause conflict and you are at the edge of your seat in anticipation
cheshirephysics's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
breezy610's review against another edition
5.0
reading it the second time was much better. Maya still get on my nerves thought.
kaitiecakes's review against another edition
2.0
I didn’t dislike this book, there was just not much to hold my interest. Throughout the book we were given plots with no answers. No, for that you have to read the next books. I’m not interested enough to read the next ones unfortunately
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
First in the Darkness Rising urban-fantasy series for young adults set, for this story, in a company town, Salmon Creek, on Vancouver Island. Upon first appearance, this series appears to run in conjunction with Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series. At least in that it involves the cabals; the St. Cloud Cabal in particular.
The Story
The Gathering begins with an introduction to everyone in Maya's life including the animals. The real start is her trip to Nanaimo with her parents where she gets the birthday surprise she's been bugging them about for months. Except, she doesn't get it. The artist's great-aunt drives them off with insults. The final insult is calling Maya a witch, Yee naaldlooshii in Diné.
The next day Maya experiences her first vision and one of her patients is healing much too fast. Then she runs into Mina Lee, the reporter whom Maya rescued from Marv. Salmon Creek has a policy about strangers asking questions about the town, the lab. The kids string 'em along and tell the adults about them.
Rafe's a bit of a player except that he only goes after the girls until they say "yes"; that's when he walks away. This time however, he's coming back at Maya. At her sweet sixteen party at Daniel's with some very unexpected results.
Another run in with the artist's great-aunt provides a better definition of yee naaldlooshii which, when reinforced by a sly message from the reporter, Mina Lee, really does a number on Maya's nerves. Which get worse when they simply cannot find or get a response from Lee. Until Maya and Rafe discover why they aren't getting a response. Things just get worse. An assault from Sam on Maya; Rafe and Annie take off for the unknown; and, a purpose-set forest fire with armed guards searching for Rafe and Maya. With all that Maya's been learning from Rafe about her biological mother and the experimentations, the great-aunt, and then this attack…something's not right…
The Characters
Maya Delaney is an adopted Native child with an interesting birthmark and an affinity for animals which she primarily expresses by caring for those animals found injured in the forest. The rest of the family is Mom, a Haida native, who is an organic architect who designs buildings to blend into the natural surroundings. Her Dad is the park warden for Salmon Creek. Fitz is a three-legged bobcat whom Maya rescued and Kenjii is her protective German shepherd.
Marv is a ragged-ear cougar who seems protective of Maya although he doesn't seem to mind treeing tourists.
Daniel Bianchi is probably Maya's best friend and she'd like to make him her boy friend but the timing still seems off. It hasn't been that long since Serena drowned—his girlfriend and her best female friend. He's pretty much the class leader, excels at sports, and has an affinity for identifying wrong people. After his mother ran off, his dad started to drink and Daniel sometimes needs a refuge, which he finds at Maya's where the Delaneys keep a room for him.
Their friends include Nicole Tillson, the mayor's daughter; Rafe Martinez who has recently moved to Salmon Creek with his sister, Annie, to live in their inherited cabin; Hayley Morris who does everything she can to hurt Maya; Hayley's sister, Brooke; Travis and Corey Carling, the police chief's sons; Samantha (Sam) Russo who seems to hate everyone); and, Brendan Hajek, the vet's son.
Salmon Creek is populated by everyone necessary for the running of a town to enable a town full of employees to operate the drug-testing lab the St. Cloud Corporation has set up—less than 200 people. The school is the best possible including sports activities for all 68 students with a chef and cloth napkins, laptops replaced every two years with desks built to accommodate the laptops.
You may remember Dr. Davidoff from Darkest Powers…yup, he's showing up here too.
My Take
This is too fascinating! The early mention of Davidoff had my wires hummin'. I didn't make the connection of the St. Cloud Corporation with the St. Cloud Cabal until much later which is when the speed reading kind of took over. Salmon Creek was too perfect. It sounded like such an ideal place that there had to be a catch. With the information Rafe provides…hoo, boy. Then the trauma of the forest fire and its goons after Maya and Rafe has me wondering just who in town is safe. Who isn't in on Maya's true identity? Was Mina Lee really in town to find Maya? With the type of questions Lee was asking and the clue she left for Daniel and Maya… It's got me worried for Maya, Daniel, Rafe, Annie, heck, all the kids. And are their parents in on this??
The Cover
The cover doesn't feel right. It's a profile of a girl with dark hair, painted lips wearing a drop earring of four gradated beads with a blue overcast. Maya just didn't sound like a girly girl so it can't be her. The title now could refer to a Gathering up either through "penning" people in Salmon Creek or during the evacuation.
The Story
The Gathering begins with an introduction to everyone in Maya's life including the animals. The real start is her trip to Nanaimo with her parents where she gets the birthday surprise she's been bugging them about for months. Except, she doesn't get it. The artist's great-aunt drives them off with insults. The final insult is calling Maya a witch, Yee naaldlooshii in Diné.
The next day Maya experiences her first vision and one of her patients is healing much too fast. Then she runs into Mina Lee, the reporter whom Maya rescued from Marv. Salmon Creek has a policy about strangers asking questions about the town, the lab. The kids string 'em along and tell the adults about them.
Rafe's a bit of a player except that he only goes after the girls until they say "yes"; that's when he walks away. This time however, he's coming back at Maya. At her sweet sixteen party at Daniel's with some very unexpected results.
Another run in with the artist's great-aunt provides a better definition of yee naaldlooshii which, when reinforced by a sly message from the reporter, Mina Lee, really does a number on Maya's nerves. Which get worse when they simply cannot find or get a response from Lee. Until Maya and Rafe discover why they aren't getting a response. Things just get worse. An assault from Sam on Maya; Rafe and Annie take off for the unknown; and, a purpose-set forest fire with armed guards searching for Rafe and Maya. With all that Maya's been learning from Rafe about her biological mother and the experimentations, the great-aunt, and then this attack…something's not right…
The Characters
Maya Delaney is an adopted Native child with an interesting birthmark and an affinity for animals which she primarily expresses by caring for those animals found injured in the forest. The rest of the family is Mom, a Haida native, who is an organic architect who designs buildings to blend into the natural surroundings. Her Dad is the park warden for Salmon Creek. Fitz is a three-legged bobcat whom Maya rescued and Kenjii is her protective German shepherd.
Marv is a ragged-ear cougar who seems protective of Maya although he doesn't seem to mind treeing tourists.
Daniel Bianchi is probably Maya's best friend and she'd like to make him her boy friend but the timing still seems off. It hasn't been that long since Serena drowned—his girlfriend and her best female friend. He's pretty much the class leader, excels at sports, and has an affinity for identifying wrong people. After his mother ran off, his dad started to drink and Daniel sometimes needs a refuge, which he finds at Maya's where the Delaneys keep a room for him.
Their friends include Nicole Tillson, the mayor's daughter; Rafe Martinez who has recently moved to Salmon Creek with his sister, Annie, to live in their inherited cabin; Hayley Morris who does everything she can to hurt Maya; Hayley's sister, Brooke; Travis and Corey Carling, the police chief's sons; Samantha (Sam) Russo who seems to hate everyone); and, Brendan Hajek, the vet's son.
Salmon Creek is populated by everyone necessary for the running of a town to enable a town full of employees to operate the drug-testing lab the St. Cloud Corporation has set up—less than 200 people. The school is the best possible including sports activities for all 68 students with a chef and cloth napkins, laptops replaced every two years with desks built to accommodate the laptops.
You may remember Dr. Davidoff from Darkest Powers…yup, he's showing up here too.
My Take
This is too fascinating! The early mention of Davidoff had my wires hummin'. I didn't make the connection of the St. Cloud Corporation with the St. Cloud Cabal until much later which is when the speed reading kind of took over. Salmon Creek was too perfect. It sounded like such an ideal place that there had to be a catch. With the information Rafe provides…hoo, boy. Then the trauma of the forest fire and its goons after Maya and Rafe has me wondering just who in town is safe. Who isn't in on Maya's true identity? Was Mina Lee really in town to find Maya? With the type of questions Lee was asking and the clue she left for Daniel and Maya… It's got me worried for Maya, Daniel, Rafe, Annie, heck, all the kids. And are their parents in on this??
The Cover
The cover doesn't feel right. It's a profile of a girl with dark hair, painted lips wearing a drop earring of four gradated beads with a blue overcast. Maya just didn't sound like a girly girl so it can't be her. The title now could refer to a Gathering up either through "penning" people in Salmon Creek or during the evacuation.
byp's review against another edition
3.0
I would've given this four stars if a few more questions had been answered, but I fell in love with the setting and the believable characters.
vicky30312's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book back in high school and all I remember was really liking it. I recently acquired a copy from my amazing friend, so when I get around to re-reading it I will give it a proper review. c: