The Rising

May 1, 2013

Gr 8 Up-On the run from two powerful Cabals that want to control their supernatural abilities, Maya Delaney and company are struggling to find the answers they need to master their powers, to make sense of their situation and determine whom they can trust. Following a lead, they discover Maya's twin brother, Ash, who is gifted but not a shape-shifter like Maya. He is able to share some key information that convinces her and her friends that they must fight the Cabals to regain some semblance of normalcy. In this conclusion to the trilogy, Armstrong expertly weaves an action-packed plot full of intrigue and suspense with a dynamic cast of characters. Readers will identify with the issues of friendship, trust, belonging, and betrayal, and with Maya's emotional turmoil over her feelings for Rafe and Daniel. A captivating read that includes a stunning conclusion featuring characters from Armstrong's "The Darkest Powers" trilogy (HarperCollins).-Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2013
This final book in the Darkness Rising trilogy resolves the issues introduced in the first two and continues to expand the large cast of characters. Sixteen-year-old Maya can turn into a mountain lion, although not at will. Stress and anger cause the change, which can come at inconvenient times, and the more time she spends as a cat, the harder it is to control her anger. Nearly every time seems inconvenient while Maya and her friend Daniel and boyfriend Rafe, both also endowed with paranormal gifts, are on the run from a wealthy cabal that wants to capture them. In an earlier installment, the cabal faked the teens' deaths in a helicopter crash, severing them from their families and the small Canadian town that had sheltered them for years. Maya wants her former happy life and family back. The plot thickens when Maya learns that her own biological father runs the cabal and that other, rival cabals have entered the picture. Can Maya continue her romance with Rafe when he becomes jealous of her deep friendship with Daniel? How will Maya's newfound twin brother Ash fit in? Armstrong delivers, although only those who have read the previous books will understand everything that's going on. Maya's confusion over her romance and friendship resolves with some maturity, breaking with conventions in a nicely effective way. A satisfying conclusion for those following the series. (Paranormal suspense. 12 & up)

COPYRIGHT(2013) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2013
Grades 7-11 Skinwalker Maya Delaney, adopted Native American star student and athlete, grew up on a tiny island near Vancouver in a protected community, attending a specialized private school and glorying in her close friendships and the beautiful natural surroundings. When she realized her paw-shaped birthmark actually meant she could change into a cougar, she also learned that she and other young people with her abilities had been raised as research subjects. Having spent most of the second book running from pursuers, Maya and her friends turn and fight in this final volume of the Darkness Rising trilogy, challenging the two powerful cabals hunting down the paranormal teenagers. There are plot twists galore and an overly full cast of characters, which unfortunately means Maya's first-person narrative is necessarily heavy on explanations, deflating the more authentic teen voice of earlier titles. However, romance readers will enjoy the predictable yet satisfying resolution of Maya's conflicted romance, and action fans will savor the many cinematic moments, as the teens evade their pursuers, plot revenge, and settle family differences, all the while continuing to develop their special powers. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: This title wraps up the New York Times best-selling Darkness Rising trilogy (The Gathering, 2011; The Calling, 2012) with an impressive national marketing campaign that includes a book trailer.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2013
Maya and her friends (The Gathering; The Calling), all genetically altered part-supernatural beings, are on the run from rival Cabals of scientists and supernaturals. They meet other teens like themselves (including Maya's long-absent twin brother), learn about their abilities, and navigate treacherous Cabal politics. The exploration of Maya's family dynamics adds depth; a love triangle is less successful.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)