The Reckoning: The Darkest Powers Trilogy, Book III (Darkest Powers, #3)

by Kelley Armstrong

Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I'm on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We're hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We'll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we'd left behind and take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope.

• ISBN10: 0385665369
• ISBN13: 9780385665360
• Publish Date: 6 April 2010 (first published 1 January 2009)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: CA
• Imprint: Doubleday Canada
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 400
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/isbn/9780385665360

Reviews

[Leigha]

A young woman learns she has extraordinary powers in this young adult romance.

I read the Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong ages ago. During a reading slump around Thanksgiving last year, I decided to re-read the series again. I devoured the trilogy in less than a week! I’ll be writing an overview of the series rather than a review of each book, but I will attempt to be as spoiler free as possible.

I absolutely adore the main character, Chloe Saunders. She is smart, practical, and caring without being boring or unrelatable. Her motivations are always understandable. Her film screenwriting aspiration not only developed her character beyond the immediate story, it created a more atmospheric setting. The secondary characters all contain a certain amount of depth too. I adore the relationships Chloe builds with the others, especially with Tori. Chloe and Tori have a contentious relationship throughout the series. Their relationship seems to be a realistic portrayal of two women with very different personalities stuck in very close quarters.

The action-packed pacing moves forward the characters and plot at a pleasing clip. Two devices that usually drive me crazy in a story – love triangles and short timelines – are seamlessly woven into the narrative. I actually enjoyed both these devices so much more than in other stories! The intriguing world-building invests me not only in this series, but the rest of the world. I adore its focus on necromancy. Not something you read about every day!

My only complaint is the story feels unfinished. While the immediate arc is completed, so many other elements are left unfinished. I intend to read the companion series, The Darkness Rising, in hopes some of these lose ends are officially tied up.

tl;dr An action-packed thriller with a strong female character learning about love and life.

Somehow my ratings and reviews were lost for this book series, so my review won't be as detailed as before.

I loved this book series and I read them as fast as I can. I love the main character Chloe and the world the author created. Chloe and the people she meets along the way go through quite a roller coaster of events.

This has a little bit of everything with action, paranormal, fantasy, and a little romance (Which is just how I like it, just blended into the story and not the main focal point.)

I would definitely recommend this book series to people.

[Amanda]

A satisfying conclusion the the trilogy. I was worried a bit that there would be a love triangle, and while, sure, maybe there is, there just hasn't been enough focus on the romance angle (despite what the synopsis says) to make it awful. And it doesn't last long.

This book was fun. We got to see THINGS HAPPENS. And I do so adore when THINGS HAPPEN, especially when I like the THINGS that HAPPEN. And let me assure you, lots of THINGS HAPPEN in The Reckoning.

There is backstabbing and secrets revealed and KISSING with a sweet romance.

When I finished this, I immediately wanted to go pick up The Gathering, which is another series set in this same world. I may just do that now.

[elysium]

Chloe, Tori, Derek and Simon are safe now with Andrew, a friend of Simon and Derek’s father. Andrew introduces the kids to group of supernaturals (necromancer, witch and shaman) hoping they could teach the kids and helping them to control their powers. They don’t seem to believe that the Edison Group is actually trying to kill them. And when they found out how powerful the kids really are without training, things are starting to go from bad to worse.

Chloe has always been little too nice and I’m happy she’s finally learning to stand up and not letting others run her down. She finally stands up to Derek who seems to take out his frustrations on Chloe more than anyone else. Derek has his first Change and I love how supportive Chloe is about the thing. But I found it little funny how well she seems to understand Derek in his wolf form. How many different snort/frown can a wolf have? I love it how in books everyone knows what others are thinking and how eyes seems to show everything...

Tori has made some growing up and while she’s still bitchy she seems to be more part of the group. And the thing about her dad was so unexpected! I wish there would have some more information on that.

Simon wasn’t much in the book and it seemed his only purpose was to be a part of a love triangle. But for once the triangle didn’t bother me and the guys weren’t really fighting each other for it.

I still wish there would have been more about their powers. Like why were they given the experiences? What was the ulterior motive?

I enjoyed the book but it left the feeling that it was unfinished. As far as I know there’s no more books but I could be wrong though.

[Melanie]

I think this book had a great ending for the triology. I think this whole series is one of the best YA series I have read. It does not have all the teenage angst in it that most of the others have. There is also not a lot of romance in it (I do not mind and even enjoy romance in adult books, but not YA). Yes, there is a little, but it is more of a sideline to the story, if you could even call it that. The thing that drives me crazy with some YA books, is that these kids fall in love and cannot live without each other any more. Get real. In this book, you can see the romance blossom and that they care for each other and are protective of each other, but at a normal level. Not the "I am going to kill myself if I cannot be with whoever" level. Great book!! Can't wait until the next triology comes out.