The Gathering

Let's start with the pros:

The setting:
I loved the setting of the book, an isolated town in rural Canada (Canada's Pacific Coast more precisely). There's just something about it that gets to me, every time.

Enjoyable, normal romances:
None of that obsessive, angsty, borderline creepy romance that's frequently portrayed in YA. No brooding, abusive, stalkers for love interests here.

The characters:
I really enjoyed Maya's and her friendships. She starts out a little judgmental but there is character growth and she becomes better throughout the book. I also appreciated that rest of the characters had all a distinctive voice and none of them bothered me which has not been the case with YAs for a good while. I also enjoyed her relationship with her parents, I just wish it there was more of it.

I also liked that the the supernatural element was based on Native Canadian mythology but it would've been great if it had been explored even further.

The only thing I was not overly sold on was the plot, not exactly where I thought it was going.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

This book was terrific, from beginning to end. The plot was captivating in all aspects and I will definitely be reading Armstrong's other books. I thought this book was actually going to be too short but it seemed just the right length without being too drawn out.

To begin with, I will mention the only thing I didn't quite love about this book- the style of the writing. I was actually going to give this book four stars instead of five for that matter but because everything else about this book was perfect, I had to go with five. What I particularly didn't like about the writing style was that it was a bit awkward, the wording of the sentences in some places. Once I got used to it, it was fine, but before that I had a hard time understanding who certain things were happening to and whom the author was talking about. Now, this wasn't a hard thing to get used to by any means- after a few chapters I didn't even notice it anymore.

On the other hand, the thing I loved most about this book was the fast-paced and very intriguing plot. It wasn't drawn out and it didn't drag, it moved at the perfect pace. And within that plot, it had something for everyone- from romance to adventure, therefore I believe anyone could enjoy this book. Originally, I would prefer a book with a little more romance then adventure but in this case I really didn't mind because it was the perfect balance and it was executed beautifully all throughout the book.

Another thing that blew me away in this book was the whole idea of skin-walkers. Maybe that's because it's my first book with them ( I haven't read that many books yet) but it definitely left me fascinated about this topic. And they turn into big cats? How fucking awesome is that? Love it, love it, love it.

In addition, the characters were a good representation of real people because they included what the main character, Maya, was feeling and thinking. And because the book was from her perspective, that was good. I got to see somewhat into her head. A very unique aspect of this book in particular, were the flashbacks and I really enjoyed reading those. It gave me a better sense of how things actually happened, instead of just taking her word for it. Also, they showed us what happened in the past and how it led up to what's happening in the present moment. And the relationship between Rafe and Maya was so freaking adorable, I couldn't take it. I can't wait to see what happens between them in the next book. Also, I want a friendship like Daniel and Maya have, okay? Seriously, what a strong bond.

All in all, this book was truly enjoyable and I will be continuing her series shortly. Whether or not I will need to read a different book before continuing, I am not sure. I recommend this read to anyone who enjoys some fantasy but still wants to feel like the world created by the author is possible in real life. Also, fans of both adventure and romance will dig this book as well.