The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1) by Kelley Armstrong

Do you see things that aren’t there? Maybe your mind is playing tricks on you. Maybe your seeing a ghost.

Chloe Saunders is your average teenager. She likes talking to her friends, wears cool designer clothes, and talks to cute boys. Then one day at school, Chloe see a custodian with half of his face burned off. She runs off screaming, but he follows. The teachers thought Chloe needs some help, some counseling, but Chloe is still shaking from her first episode of seeing a ghost. Regardless, Chloe is sent to a group home that specializes in trouble teens, Lyle House.

Lyle House isn’t so bad. It’s run by a few female nurses who make sure the kids eat nutritious meals, exercise, and get their homework done. In between their day of schooling, there is usually an hour or so put aside for their individual counsel sessions. Chloe is told she may be schizophrenic and she just wants to get better so she can go home. But either the medication isn’t working or she really is seeing ghosts because she keeps seeing them everywhere.

After Chloe’s roommate is transferred from the facility, strange behavior from the remaining teens flourishes. Chloe believes there may be more to her housemates besides a mental illness. How else could Rachelle burn people with her hands or Simon levitate items with just his mind? But digging into the dangerous secrets that surround Lyle House may reveal more skeletons than Chloe can handle.

I’ve read all of Kelley Armstrong’s adult series to date, and was intrigued when I found out about her new Young Adult DARKEST POWERS series. She has done another wonderful job of world-building and character development. Just the right mix of drama, mystery, and a touch of the paranormal turns THE SUMMONING into a superb, engaging read. The ending though is a cliffhanger, so be prepared! I will be looking to read more about Chloe’s adventures in THE AWAKENING.