The Calling: Darkness Rising Trilogy, Book 2

Maya and her friends are no ordinary teenagers. Maya is a Skinwalker, an ancient being with the ability to transform into a cougar. And her friends have special powers as well. All this is part of a top-secret genetic experiment. Having survived a forest fire, a kidnapping, and a deadly helicopter crash, the teens face their greatest challenge yet—the vast and dangerous Vancouver Island wilderness. With both the Nasts and the St. Clouds hot on their trail, the teens’ only hope is to find their way home to Salmon Creek. But rather than sanctuary, they find an abandoned town. When one of them miraculously returns from the grave, they realize too late that they’ve walked into a trap. Left alone in the aftermath, Maya must rescue her friends and find a way for them all to return to their families. But could this undertaking be too great—even for someone with Maya’s unique abilities? Kelley Armstrong proves a true master of the paranormal genre with this gripping follow-up (2012) to The Gathering (2011, both HarperCollins). Well-rounded characters leap from the page, and the suspense builds. Jennifer Ikeda’s expert interpretation of the text breathes further life into this already vibrant tale. A cliffhanger will have listeners eagerly awaiting the final installment of this trilogy. Give this to fans of Amanda Hocking and Karsten Knight.–Alissa J. Bach, Oxford Public Library, MI