The Awakening (Kelley Armstrong)

"The Awakening" is the second book in "The Darkest Power" series and it basically picks up from where the last book left off. Armstrong's writing is, yet again, fluent and, through the use of twists and turns within the plot, simplistically addictive.

Chloe Saunders is a self-conscious teenager in need of social confirmation at all turns; which can at some points gets rather irritating, but at others the reader realises that Chloe is in fact an influential protagonist within the story, providing the need for many stunts within the book that otherwise would have seemed boring, if not for Chloe's input as the "damsel in distress". Simon attracts Chloe in many ways, but serves more of a friendly person within the storyline. Whereas, although Derek should be the antagonist of the group, there is an almost unspoken (at this point in the story) attraction between them both; and although, at various points in the story, the "ditzy" Chloe views Derek as somebody that would rather be rid of her than make it out of the situation safely: as the story progresses the couple get closer and closer. The antagonist of the group is almost certainly Tori as, although she has been looked after and cared for by (most) of the group, still seems to vent her anger at Chloe and the others; even though her real problem lies with her Mother's underlying rejection throughout her life.

The story begins with both Chloe, Rae and Tori being held (unassumingly) prisoners by Davidoff and the other member of the Edison Group; including her long-term guardian; Aunt Lauren. As Chloe and the others fight for freedom, Chloe begins to question whether or not she can trust her newly formed friends. When Chloe and Tori escape from their "prison" they soon meet up with Simon and Derek and consequently all four of them end up "on the run" from their previous captors. With many action scenes and some "edge-of-the-seat" action throughout this book, at first glance, seems to be just the average teen book. However, after delving deeper into the plot you begin to realise that, underneath the relentless action, there is in fact quite a complex plot that leaves you begging for more.

Although I do not like ending on bad notes, I have to admit that not only Chloe, but also the other characters do seem extremely immature and un-thought-provoking at best. The characters, even when in a serious situation, seem to act in an exceptionally child-like manner that I ended up finding irritating as opposed to intriguing.

Rating:3.5/5

The Dark Beneath (Alan Gibbons)

This is the second book that I have reviewed by Alan Gibbons and let me start by saying that I was not in the least bit disappointed. "The Dark Beneath", in effect, picks up from the previous book: not in the storyline; but in the moral dilemmas within it. It seems to me that Gibbons is a man on a mission to create awareness for many forms of discrimination and make us see that there are two sides to every story.

Imogen is a sixteen-year-old just looking for a bit of fun in a lazy summer; whereas the ghostly pale Anthony, is looking forward to a summer full of Imogen. Brought up to fight for what is right she ends up meeting three refugees, who are seeking asylum in England yet who are going to be sent back to their countries to face whatever hells they have run from. Farid is a secretive, un- communicative man; that Imogen can't help but perceive as a mystery to be solved. Throughout the book, Gibbons leads to us to a conclusion that we cannot help but believe to be concrete. Yet, with a twist halfway through, when the reader believes s/he has solved the "mystery"; we are all proven wrong. This then furthermore ignites interest within the reader and subsequently paralyses them in a sense of anticipation; s/he is unable to put the book down and is permanently held in the same position of the afore-mentioned anticipation for the duration of the book.

Gibbons has yet again created a book that will, most likely, ignite a mental epiphany within the reader; that then forces him/her to question, not only the beliefs they have been brought up to follow, but also the beliefs that we are fed from the Government. Yet again, Gibbons creates a sense of paranoia at its fiercest.

Rating: 4.3/5