What do you think?
Rate this book
Darkness Rising #2
The Calling
Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is - a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.
Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.
In THE CALLING, the sizzling second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong pumps up the romance, danger, and suspense that left readers of THE GATHERING clamoring for more.
Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.
In THE CALLING, the sizzling second book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong pumps up the romance, danger, and suspense that left readers of THE GATHERING clamoring for more.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2012
About the author
Kelley Armstrong
278 books32.2k followersKelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,933 reviews
April 2, 2012
As seen on The Readventurer
How do I put it gently? It is time for Kelley Armstrong to stop writing the same story. This cow, unfortunately, is almost dry.
I know, it sounds mean, but even though I mostly enjoyed the process of reading The Calling OK, this book is pretty much the same thing as The Summoning, The Awakening, The Reckoning, The Gathering, plus a couple of short stories relating to this whole Darkest Powers series. ALL of these stories have exactly the same plot. I do not even need to read The Rising to know what will happen in it. Let's be honest, how fun can it be, to go through the same motions again and again?
Yes, I was complimentary in my review of The Gathering. Even though the plot of it was transparent, the setting was fresh, the new supernatural powers were interesting, the back stories were engaging. But in The Calling, here we are again - there is nothing but running around and hiding, just like in all Darkest Powers books (especially the middle one - The Awakening). Is there anyone who has read the first trilogy who does not know where the story is going in Darkness Rising trilogy? One person? No?
There is nothing but action in this book. It feels "meatless," because of the lack of background info (we already kn0w every kid who is on the run) and lack of depth. Just run, hide in the bushes, someone gets caught, rescue, run, hide in the bushes... Rinse and repeat. There are so many fortunate and unfortunate events and coincidences in The Calling that they often undermine the believability of the whole narrative. The one event that stands out in my mind is when our teens after the helicopter crash and days of wondering in the woods finally reach a public place (a restaurant), they are denied the use of a phone, because, can you believe it, they were reported dead on the news and the owner thinks these teens are just pranking her! This is just a turn of events I have a hard time swallowing.
The characters and relationships are still good in this novel though, but I wish they were a part of a completely different story, unrelated to the Otherworld and Edison Group.
Will I read the follow-up to The Calling? I am pretty sure I will. But if there is another trilogy, with another Project in addition to Project Genesis (Darkest Powers trilogy) and Project Phoenix (Darkness Rising trilogy)? No way! Six books of the same thing is more than enough.
How do I put it gently? It is time for Kelley Armstrong to stop writing the same story. This cow, unfortunately, is almost dry.
I know, it sounds mean, but even though I mostly enjoyed the process of reading The Calling OK, this book is pretty much the same thing as The Summoning, The Awakening, The Reckoning, The Gathering, plus a couple of short stories relating to this whole Darkest Powers series. ALL of these stories have exactly the same plot. I do not even need to read The Rising to know what will happen in it. Let's be honest, how fun can it be, to go through the same motions again and again?
Yes, I was complimentary in my review of The Gathering. Even though the plot of it was transparent, the setting was fresh, the new supernatural powers were interesting, the back stories were engaging. But in The Calling, here we are again - there is nothing but running around and hiding, just like in all Darkest Powers books (especially the middle one - The Awakening). Is there anyone who has read the first trilogy who does not know where the story is going in Darkness Rising trilogy? One person? No?
There is nothing but action in this book. It feels "meatless," because of the lack of background info (we already kn0w every kid who is on the run) and lack of depth. Just run, hide in the bushes, someone gets caught, rescue, run, hide in the bushes... Rinse and repeat. There are so many fortunate and unfortunate events and coincidences in The Calling that they often undermine the believability of the whole narrative. The one event that stands out in my mind is when our teens after the helicopter crash and days of wondering in the woods finally reach a public place (a restaurant), they are denied the use of a phone, because, can you believe it, they were reported dead on the news and the owner thinks these teens are just pranking her! This is just a turn of events I have a hard time swallowing.
The characters and relationships are still good in this novel though, but I wish they were a part of a completely different story, unrelated to the Otherworld and Edison Group.
Will I read the follow-up to The Calling? I am pretty sure I will. But if there is another trilogy, with another Project in addition to Project Genesis (Darkest Powers trilogy) and Project Phoenix (Darkness Rising trilogy)? No way! Six books of the same thing is more than enough.
April 25, 2013
Team Daniel all the way!
May 11, 2012
Reading The Calling so soon after finishing The Gathering is both a good and a bad thing. Good, because this book takes off exactly where we left the story in the last installment and there's absolutely no recapping for those who've forgotten what happened. Bad, because it only highlights the fact that Ms Armstrong does not have enough story for three books and this one was a complete waste of time and paper.
I really don't understand why every single publisher/author thinks that a trilogy is the only way to go. Two books are fine, two books are welcome when the alternative is a bout of middle book syndrome dawdling. Because nothing really happens in this book, and the stuff that is relevant doesn't take up enough pages that it couldn't be added to the next book. I am going to give Kelley Armstrong the benefit of the doubt and assume that she has an awesome ending planned and this book was just bridging the gap between the promising beginning and that perfect ending. I hope I'm right.
In The Calling it feels like the characters I'd come to know and love in the first book were just hanging around and waiting for something to happen... book three to arrive, perhaps? I didn't hate any of it, there wasn't really anything to hate, and I still like Armstrong's easy to read style that makes for a real guilty pleasure read when she does it properly. I don't know if it was her decision or the publisher's to make this into a trilogy, but I can tell you that it was the wrong one.
Not only that, but it also felt all too predictable. I saw everything coming and there were no surprises, mysteries or twists. It's not like we were really supposed to believe that - were we?
It's very likely that I will read The Rising when it is released, although I might wait and see what the reviews are like first to see if it was an ending worth waiting for. I think it probably is, I think Armstrong has a decent story here, I just think she had two books worth instead of three.
February 10, 2020
The Calling (Darkness Rising, #2), Kelley Armstrong
Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is - a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.
Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز چهارم ماه مارس سال 2014 میلادی
عنوان: تماس: سری طلوع تاریکی دو؛ نویسنده: کلی آرمسترانگ؛
ا. شربیانی
Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the mark of what she truly is - a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly everyone else. Experiencing intense connections with the animals that roam the woods outside her home, Maya knows it's only a matter of time before she's able to Shift and become one of them. And she believes there may be others in her small town with surprising talents.
Now Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. Then they're kidnapped, and after a chilling helicopter crash, they find themselves in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز چهارم ماه مارس سال 2014 میلادی
عنوان: تماس: سری طلوع تاریکی دو؛ نویسنده: کلی آرمسترانگ؛
ا. شربیانی
April 11, 2012
Kelley has been one of my first well-loved and favorite authors since I discovered her Women of the Otherworld series. Since then, her Darkest Powers Trilogy has also been added to my favorites, and even though I don't love this trilogy quite as much, it's still filled with the Kelley awesomeness that I live for! The Calling, the second installment in the Darkness Rising trilogy, continues immediately where we left off; it starts at a full speed that does not ease up until the end, where we're left with a lot of anxiety, and a promise of an exciting finale.
The Calling is a full length high speed chase. In the wilderness, Maya and her friends are desperate to go home, or at the very least, to survive. It's an adrenaline filled sequel with a lot of speculating and great character building, although not an incredible amount of plot development. This is not altogether a bad thing, though, as I feel we did get a lot of important discoveries that brings the characters up to par for an epic showdown in the third and final book. As in The Gathering, the last part of the story is where we get the brunt of the plot's advancement, which leaves us with with an ending that is filled with uncertainty, in addition to having us wildly theorizing what's to come.
What I love the most about Kelley's books is that they're all interconnected. Being a sister series to Darkest Powers, there is mention of our well beloved characters from the latter, as well as it having essentially the same conspiracies that came to affect their bizarre lives. With Kelley's ability to craft real, in depth characters, it always gives me a sense of nostalgia knowing the people I previously grew to love and adore in her books are still around while this is all happening. In The Calling, we not only know these people are out there, but we get a glimpse at how they're all going to come together. This makes me incredibly enthusiastic for the final book of the series. I think it's going to be all kinds of awesome!
If you're new to this series, I highly recommend you start it already! Especially if you enjoyed Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers Trilogy. As usual, you can expect to be entertained to your full potential with this newest installment.
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
The Calling is a full length high speed chase. In the wilderness, Maya and her friends are desperate to go home, or at the very least, to survive. It's an adrenaline filled sequel with a lot of speculating and great character building, although not an incredible amount of plot development. This is not altogether a bad thing, though, as I feel we did get a lot of important discoveries that brings the characters up to par for an epic showdown in the third and final book. As in The Gathering, the last part of the story is where we get the brunt of the plot's advancement, which leaves us with with an ending that is filled with uncertainty, in addition to having us wildly theorizing what's to come.
What I love the most about Kelley's books is that they're all interconnected. Being a sister series to Darkest Powers, there is mention of our well beloved characters from the latter, as well as it having essentially the same conspiracies that came to affect their bizarre lives. With Kelley's ability to craft real, in depth characters, it always gives me a sense of nostalgia knowing the people I previously grew to love and adore in her books are still around while this is all happening. In The Calling, we not only know these people are out there, but we get a glimpse at how they're all going to come together. This makes me incredibly enthusiastic for the final book of the series. I think it's going to be all kinds of awesome!
If you're new to this series, I highly recommend you start it already! Especially if you enjoyed Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers Trilogy. As usual, you can expect to be entertained to your full potential with this newest installment.
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
April 10, 2012
Second disappointing installment in series
After narrowly escaping a suspicious forest fire that threatened to destroy their island home, Maya, Daniel, and their friends find themselves in even more danger as their rescue helicopter crashes and they’re left to survive and outwit their pursuers in a remote wilderness. As their potential captors get closer, Maya must struggle to decide whom to trust and what to believe about herself and her friends. Strange rumblings start to surface as others in the group begin to learn about their own special powers and as Maya learns more about what may have really happened when her best friend drowned a year before.
I went into reading The Calling with some anxiety because I didn’t enjoy the first book in this series, The Gathering. Sadly, my unease was warranted. Unlike Armstrong’s first young adult series (Darkest Powers), I just can't get into this trilogy or feel attached to any of the characters, even now after reading the second book. Most notably, this book (and this trilogy in general) feels like a rehashing of the author’s previous books. With the repetition of the same plot points (run, be captured, escape, then repeat) and the same world of the St. Clouds and the Cabals, I’m just not intrigued anymore. The idea of genetically-modified supernaturals and a conspiracy-laced research firm was exciting in her first few books, but it now feels overused and uninspired.
Because so much of the book is action-focused, little character development also occurs, and when it does, it seems superficial. I was also bothered by the author’s clumsy attempt to include a gay/lesbian character; though it seemed well-intentioned, the characterization only served to reinforce stereotypes. The story doesn’t take any real risks with the plot, the characters, or any of the potential (and likely) bad outcomes that would result in a situation like this. When villains appear, they are too easily foiled or appear from nowhere for the purpose of simply creating another action scene. Finally, as the book closes, it ends on a cliffhanger with little resolution. Armstrong has explained that her trilogies are meant as one plot line across three books, but it still makes each book feel abrupt and unfinished to me.
On the plus side, if you like Armstrong’s formula and her world, then this book will be a good fit. Also, like her other books, this installment is a quick, easy read and very action-based. I also appreciate that the superpowers that these teens possess vary from what’s seen in her previous books.
These things, however, weren’t enough to make this book an enjoyable read for me. I’m sure I’ll read the final installment (The Rising) to see how things end, but I’m already feeling apprehensive about it because I fear it too will be too similar to her other stories. Even with this gloomy outlook, I hope I’m proved wrong and that Armstrong brings unexpected plot twists and well-rounded character development to the final book.
Note: This review refers to an advance review copy.
February 26, 2012
THINGS I’D DO TO GET MYSELF A COPY OF THE RISING:
1. Force everyone I know to buy a copy of The Calling
2. Actually get down on my knees and beg for one
3. Burn my copy of [insert-bad-angel-book-here], or donate it, if that’d make my case look better
4. Go a week without my headache meds
5. Jump through a ring of fire
Okay, maybe not those last two – both seem pretty painful – but I’d definitely sacrifice quite a bit to get myself the next book.
The Calling was a very strong book. While furthering the plot from the first book in the series, The Gathering, it also succeeded in being a fast-paced adventure that brought out secrets hidden deep within each and every character. With an intelligent group of characters and a great, intriguing storyline, The Calling is sure to be a hit with fans of the series.
Although the book could have easily fallen into the trap of Middle Book Syndrome, it was just as captivating and enthralling as the first book in the series, possibly even more so. The antics and bars are raised, and suspense is a killer. Small-town kid Maya and her friends are kidnapped and escape, only to find out none of them are what they seem – and by that I mean human. Separated from their families and deserted in the wild of Vancouver’s forest, these kids are on the run from scientists that want more from them than DNA-samples, and it’s scary. In The Calling, friendships are built and destroyed, purposes are undone and discovered, and tendrils of romance blossom between unlikely characters. And if there’s one thing for sure: not everyone is going to get out alive.
I’ve credited Armstrong for her great casts of characters before, but I need to do so again. Maya, the leading lady, could not have been a greater protagonist; quick as a whip, book smart and smart-mouthed, the girl is so much fun to follow. Many times while reading, I stared at the book wondering if I could be as collected as Maya while going through as much as she did. I’m glad we got to see more of Daniel and that Rafe wasn’t so there all the time, too, because the former has certainly earned his role in the series; the boy consistently kept this book together whenever Maya would go and push it off its hinges. As for the rest of the cast – which I’d call “supporting” if they weren’t just so much more than that - I couldn’t get enough of any character! The group dynamics were clearly thought out well, and every teen had a presence and reason.
Finally I see where Armstrong has joined her previous trilogy with this one, how they both flow into one. The key plot points that were never quite smoothed over at the end of The Reckoning are starting to click into place, and though they’re never solved and simply added to, a resolution is slowly forming. While sometimes I felt and thought that That Calling was leaving a lot to be solved in the final book, this story was definitely necessary for the characters and plot to get where they need to be for the big finale.
My only disappointment lies in the WHOLE YEAR WAIT I need to endure before I can get my cougar paws on The Rising! Besides that, anything by Kelley Armstrong – but specifically The Calling - is wholeheartedly recommended!
1. Force everyone I know to buy a copy of The Calling
2. Actually get down on my knees and beg for one
3. Burn my copy of [insert-bad-angel-book-here], or donate it, if that’d make my case look better
4. Go a week without my headache meds
5. Jump through a ring of fire
Okay, maybe not those last two – both seem pretty painful – but I’d definitely sacrifice quite a bit to get myself the next book.
The Calling was a very strong book. While furthering the plot from the first book in the series, The Gathering, it also succeeded in being a fast-paced adventure that brought out secrets hidden deep within each and every character. With an intelligent group of characters and a great, intriguing storyline, The Calling is sure to be a hit with fans of the series.
Although the book could have easily fallen into the trap of Middle Book Syndrome, it was just as captivating and enthralling as the first book in the series, possibly even more so. The antics and bars are raised, and suspense is a killer. Small-town kid Maya and her friends are kidnapped and escape, only to find out none of them are what they seem – and by that I mean human. Separated from their families and deserted in the wild of Vancouver’s forest, these kids are on the run from scientists that want more from them than DNA-samples, and it’s scary. In The Calling, friendships are built and destroyed, purposes are undone and discovered, and tendrils of romance blossom between unlikely characters. And if there’s one thing for sure: not everyone is going to get out alive.
I’ve credited Armstrong for her great casts of characters before, but I need to do so again. Maya, the leading lady, could not have been a greater protagonist; quick as a whip, book smart and smart-mouthed, the girl is so much fun to follow. Many times while reading, I stared at the book wondering if I could be as collected as Maya while going through as much as she did. I’m glad we got to see more of Daniel and that Rafe wasn’t so there all the time, too, because the former has certainly earned his role in the series; the boy consistently kept this book together whenever Maya would go and push it off its hinges. As for the rest of the cast – which I’d call “supporting” if they weren’t just so much more than that - I couldn’t get enough of any character! The group dynamics were clearly thought out well, and every teen had a presence and reason.
Finally I see where Armstrong has joined her previous trilogy with this one, how they both flow into one. The key plot points that were never quite smoothed over at the end of The Reckoning are starting to click into place, and though they’re never solved and simply added to, a resolution is slowly forming. While sometimes I felt and thought that That Calling was leaving a lot to be solved in the final book, this story was definitely necessary for the characters and plot to get where they need to be for the big finale.
My only disappointment lies in the WHOLE YEAR WAIT I need to endure before I can get my cougar paws on The Rising! Besides that, anything by Kelley Armstrong – but specifically The Calling - is wholeheartedly recommended!
August 17, 2016
Bullet Review:
That was awful. Painful. Drawn out. Meandering. Pointless. A cash-in.
Okay, so there's probably worse out there (IS worse), but in terms of my disappointment and absolute abuse of my favorite plot (the survival story), this is the bottom of the barrel.
Full Review to come after the weeping and sprinkling of ashes.
Full Review:
Maya and company run around like chickens with their heads cut off in the woods. One by one, the kids get kidnapped. Plot points are dropped like anvils from Wiley Coytoe. Then the book ends.
I don't know whether I am angry at this book or just plain hurt. Angry that this waste of trees got published while another more talented author is buried on Amazon Kindle. Angry that this book never should have existed. Hurt that one of my favorite authors wrote this. Hurt that my favorite storyline/plot (the survival/escape story) is horribly abused.
Since there's a lot to criticize, let me attempt to alleviate some of it with compliments. I really do think Kelley Armstrong is a good writer. Or maybe not a "bad writer". She has a craft. She's not like some YA authors where the book is solely about getting Female Parts to bump uglies with Male Parts. She can do action scenes, which tends to be something women authors shy away from. Also, her characters tend to be far more realistic and refreshing than the Pure and Holy Virgins populating most other YA books.
Or maybe, let's face it, I DON'T WANT TO NOT LIKE ARMSTRONG. I have very fond memories of the Darkest Powers series - I FLEW through the first two books and had to wait an agonizing amount of time for book 3 (which, of course, never quite rose to the height of the previous two books). I LOVED those books and therefore, I want to LOVE everything Armstrong does ever.
But I don't. The previous book was garbage - over 300 pages of teenaged angst, makeouts, NOTHING HAPPENING and people making excuses all over the place to ignore the obvious weird sh!t happening. But somehow, this book is even worse.
See the last book, you could use the excuse that it was setup, and I'd begrudgingly buy it. It was bloated setup, but it was establishing characters and situations (although somewhat badly). But this book? All it is is a bunch of teens running around in the woods, getting into the most RIDICULOUS scenarios that Armstrong manhandled into her book to force the book to be longer. And yes, fiction is ridiculous, but when your story has the following in the first 100 pages, maybe it's too much author influence:
+ Inexperienced teenager flying a helicopter
+ A teen sliding out of said helicopter, getting caught by Maya; Maya nearly falling and getting caught by Corey and Daniel; then teen falls out anyway
+ Fighting the pilot in the helicopter
+ Crashing the helicopter in the water (all teens in the helicopter survive)
+ Swimming to an island
+ Wrapping up their clothes (which get wet anyway) and then swimming to the mainland
+ Freezing and shivering but it somehow goes away even though their clothes are wet and they have no fire (and the night is cold)
+ Escaping the bad guys on the beach
+ Having one of their own "shot"
+ Angsting after the shot kid and the one who fell out of the helicopter
+ Wandering through the woods
+ Going around/over a mountain
+ Hearing an ATV and evading ATV
+ Sneaking into a cabin to grab food
+ Hiding under a bed in the cabin and watching as Bad GuyTM grabs a beer out of an ice chest (this particular baddie pretty much has a beer EVERY TIME THE KIDS MEET HIM, which means he's an alcoholic)
And this is ONLY the beginning! This is followed by ANOTHER hideout in a store (where in the kids do CRAZAY HIJINKS to hide in the crawlspace while another runs off as a distraction and gets caught!), the kids going to a restaurant where the server thinks they are just playing a YouTube prank (!!!), a guy who agrees to help but turns out, is ANOTHER BAD GUY (!!! The woods are FULL of these bad guys!), Maya dropping in on Nicole in a tent (cue Revelation Sequence and Bad Guy Monologue), and then ANOTHER capture attempt by Dr. Inglis, leaving one man in shock tied to a tree (you wouldn't do that to a dog, but you will do that to an injured human being???) while the remaining kids finally flee.
This. Is. Ridiculous. I thought I would never say this, but there is just way too much action! It's all GO GO GO GO with some exposition crammed in there (oh here's some convenient papers laid out! Oh let's canoodle and chat about our new abilities!).
I love action as much as the next person, but I think one of the reasons I like survival stories is that it's a combination of action and character development. It's the author, carefully crafting these people (who may or may not have the appropriate skills for survival) who get thrown into a scenario (such as a chase from the authorities) wherein they have to think on their feet. Sure, they get downtime, to contemplate who they are, what they are doing, how life was before and what life will be like afterwards.
But I don't care whether Maya, Daniel, Corey, Nicole, Hayley, Rafe, Sam or Kenjii (well, maybe Kenjii) live or die - because ultimately, I know that Maya, Daniel and Rafe won't die, and no one else matters. Corey is a goofy doof with headaches. Nicole is the faux sweet girl (her change of character and the resolution to what happened to Serena was dreadful). Hayley is the Tori of this book - the Queen B!tch who makes a turn around. Sam is our token lesbian (if you think this is a spoiler, you are sadly mistaken). And if Armstrong kills the dog, she's the worst type of person ever.
The setup for the survival is pathetic. It comes out of nowhere - one minute the kids know nothing about their weird small town owned by a giant corporation and the next, the entire West Coast of Canada is out to get them, with the audience left wondering what happened. And the entire time, ham-fisted attempts to explain this world are tossed in like chunks of tomatoes in a salad. And while the book seems to want to be about the resurrection of supernaturals via science, I can't help feeling that this is like most YA, where the most important thing is Team Rafe or Team Daniel. Which is weird, because Maya and Daniel have zero sexual chemistry and while Maya and Rafe do have sexual chemistry, Rafe is a horrible person, who lied and canoodled his way to Maya's panties. And you can't help but wonder why Maya, on the run from random people who want her, whose friends are dropping like flies left and right, is constantly thinking about the boy she's kissed more than talked to. (And don't get me started on all the excuses Maya has for not being friends with her female classmates. Good grief.)
The saddest part perhaps is that this might have made a good one-shot or duology. To end the review, here are my ideas for tightening Books 1 and 2 into one book:
Book 1: This book needs to be heavily trimmed, so that the fire happens somewhere 1/3 - 1/2 through the book. Tighten up the introduction of characters. Get people to investigating sooner - have Maya actually talk with Mina. I'd get rid of the Rafe Insta-Lust crap and remove the "Daniel is sweet on Maya" business (come on, you know it's true). If you need a romance, I'd pair Maya with Sam.
Book 2: Condense, condense, condense! Remove the first cabin scene, the restaurant scene and the scene where Maya goes back to see Nicole. If someone falls out of a helicopter, they die. Period. No divulging information while half-naked in the shower. Keep chapters 26 - 28 whole.
It's sad, because I want to love Maya. I want to love this survival story. But while I love the inclusion of non-white characters, that doesn't automatically make a great story. Maya deserved a better story than this (based on her initial character, not the Mary Sue she's quickly becoming). It's also sad because this trilogy definitely makes me wary of reading anything else by Armstrong (particularly anything new she's written).
Read at your own risk.
That was awful. Painful. Drawn out. Meandering. Pointless. A cash-in.
Okay, so there's probably worse out there (IS worse), but in terms of my disappointment and absolute abuse of my favorite plot (the survival story), this is the bottom of the barrel.
Full Review to come after the weeping and sprinkling of ashes.
Full Review:
Maya and company run around like chickens with their heads cut off in the woods. One by one, the kids get kidnapped. Plot points are dropped like anvils from Wiley Coytoe. Then the book ends.
I don't know whether I am angry at this book or just plain hurt. Angry that this waste of trees got published while another more talented author is buried on Amazon Kindle. Angry that this book never should have existed. Hurt that one of my favorite authors wrote this. Hurt that my favorite storyline/plot (the survival/escape story) is horribly abused.
Since there's a lot to criticize, let me attempt to alleviate some of it with compliments. I really do think Kelley Armstrong is a good writer. Or maybe not a "bad writer". She has a craft. She's not like some YA authors where the book is solely about getting Female Parts to bump uglies with Male Parts. She can do action scenes, which tends to be something women authors shy away from. Also, her characters tend to be far more realistic and refreshing than the Pure and Holy Virgins populating most other YA books.
Or maybe, let's face it, I DON'T WANT TO NOT LIKE ARMSTRONG. I have very fond memories of the Darkest Powers series - I FLEW through the first two books and had to wait an agonizing amount of time for book 3 (which, of course, never quite rose to the height of the previous two books). I LOVED those books and therefore, I want to LOVE everything Armstrong does ever.
But I don't. The previous book was garbage - over 300 pages of teenaged angst, makeouts, NOTHING HAPPENING and people making excuses all over the place to ignore the obvious weird sh!t happening. But somehow, this book is even worse.
See the last book, you could use the excuse that it was setup, and I'd begrudgingly buy it. It was bloated setup, but it was establishing characters and situations (although somewhat badly). But this book? All it is is a bunch of teens running around in the woods, getting into the most RIDICULOUS scenarios that Armstrong manhandled into her book to force the book to be longer. And yes, fiction is ridiculous, but when your story has the following in the first 100 pages, maybe it's too much author influence:
+ Inexperienced teenager flying a helicopter
+ A teen sliding out of said helicopter, getting caught by Maya; Maya nearly falling and getting caught by Corey and Daniel; then teen falls out anyway
+ Fighting the pilot in the helicopter
+ Crashing the helicopter in the water (all teens in the helicopter survive)
+ Swimming to an island
+ Wrapping up their clothes (which get wet anyway) and then swimming to the mainland
+ Freezing and shivering but it somehow goes away even though their clothes are wet and they have no fire (and the night is cold)
+ Escaping the bad guys on the beach
+ Having one of their own "shot"
+ Angsting after the shot kid and the one who fell out of the helicopter
+ Wandering through the woods
+ Going around/over a mountain
+ Hearing an ATV and evading ATV
+ Sneaking into a cabin to grab food
+ Hiding under a bed in the cabin and watching as Bad GuyTM grabs a beer out of an ice chest (this particular baddie pretty much has a beer EVERY TIME THE KIDS MEET HIM, which means he's an alcoholic)
And this is ONLY the beginning! This is followed by ANOTHER hideout in a store (where in the kids do CRAZAY HIJINKS to hide in the crawlspace while another runs off as a distraction and gets caught!), the kids going to a restaurant where the server thinks they are just playing a YouTube prank (!!!), a guy who agrees to help but turns out, is ANOTHER BAD GUY (!!! The woods are FULL of these bad guys!), Maya dropping in on Nicole in a tent (cue Revelation Sequence and Bad Guy Monologue), and then ANOTHER capture attempt by Dr. Inglis, leaving one man in shock tied to a tree (you wouldn't do that to a dog, but you will do that to an injured human being???) while the remaining kids finally flee.
This. Is. Ridiculous. I thought I would never say this, but there is just way too much action! It's all GO GO GO GO with some exposition crammed in there (oh here's some convenient papers laid out! Oh let's canoodle and chat about our new abilities!).
I love action as much as the next person, but I think one of the reasons I like survival stories is that it's a combination of action and character development. It's the author, carefully crafting these people (who may or may not have the appropriate skills for survival) who get thrown into a scenario (such as a chase from the authorities) wherein they have to think on their feet. Sure, they get downtime, to contemplate who they are, what they are doing, how life was before and what life will be like afterwards.
But I don't care whether Maya, Daniel, Corey, Nicole, Hayley, Rafe, Sam or Kenjii (well, maybe Kenjii) live or die - because ultimately, I know that Maya, Daniel and Rafe won't die, and no one else matters. Corey is a goofy doof with headaches. Nicole is the faux sweet girl (her change of character and the resolution to what happened to Serena was dreadful). Hayley is the Tori of this book - the Queen B!tch who makes a turn around. Sam is our token lesbian (if you think this is a spoiler, you are sadly mistaken). And if Armstrong kills the dog, she's the worst type of person ever.
The setup for the survival is pathetic. It comes out of nowhere - one minute the kids know nothing about their weird small town owned by a giant corporation and the next, the entire West Coast of Canada is out to get them, with the audience left wondering what happened. And the entire time, ham-fisted attempts to explain this world are tossed in like chunks of tomatoes in a salad. And while the book seems to want to be about the resurrection of supernaturals via science, I can't help feeling that this is like most YA, where the most important thing is Team Rafe or Team Daniel. Which is weird, because Maya and Daniel have zero sexual chemistry and while Maya and Rafe do have sexual chemistry, Rafe is a horrible person, who lied and canoodled his way to Maya's panties. And you can't help but wonder why Maya, on the run from random people who want her, whose friends are dropping like flies left and right, is constantly thinking about the boy she's kissed more than talked to. (And don't get me started on all the excuses Maya has for not being friends with her female classmates. Good grief.)
The saddest part perhaps is that this might have made a good one-shot or duology. To end the review, here are my ideas for tightening Books 1 and 2 into one book:
Book 1: This book needs to be heavily trimmed, so that the fire happens somewhere 1/3 - 1/2 through the book. Tighten up the introduction of characters. Get people to investigating sooner - have Maya actually talk with Mina. I'd get rid of the Rafe Insta-Lust crap and remove the "Daniel is sweet on Maya" business (come on, you know it's true). If you need a romance, I'd pair Maya with Sam.
Book 2: Condense, condense, condense! Remove the first cabin scene, the restaurant scene and the scene where Maya goes back to see Nicole. If someone falls out of a helicopter, they die. Period. No divulging information while half-naked in the shower. Keep chapters 26 - 28 whole.
It's sad, because I want to love Maya. I want to love this survival story. But while I love the inclusion of non-white characters, that doesn't automatically make a great story. Maya deserved a better story than this (based on her initial character, not the Mary Sue she's quickly becoming). It's also sad because this trilogy definitely makes me wary of reading anything else by Armstrong (particularly anything new she's written).
Read at your own risk.
April 5, 2016
A finished unsolicited copy was provided by the publisher for review.
The book picks up right after The Gathering ended and boy did that book end well! Teens Maya, Daniel, Cory, Hayley, Nicole and Sam are all on the rescue helicopter with the pilot, mayor, and Rafe (who is unconscious). The plane goes down and Rafe is thrown out of the copter, as the rest of the teens survive the crash they head into the forest and decide to get back to the main land. Maya and Daniel lead the teens back to civilization only to find hidden truths to the powers that are growing inside of them.
Maya is a pretty relatable character, she would act how any teenager would if they found out they had power beyond their control. I liked Daniel. A lot more than I liked Rafe. I just couldn't trust this new boy. We find another novel where the world as they knew it has hit the fan. Things aren't what they seem in Salmon Creek and Maya is determined to find out what happens. I can't stress enough how creeped out I get when characters have to survive on their own. Knowing how to find shelter, water and food must be hard if you lack the proper skills.
I feel this book did not answer most of the questions that I had, it only brought up more questions! I can't wait until I read the final installment. Kelley Armstrong writes well and I can't wait to hear if she has more books in the future.
The book picks up right after The Gathering ended and boy did that book end well! Teens Maya, Daniel, Cory, Hayley, Nicole and Sam are all on the rescue helicopter with the pilot, mayor, and Rafe (who is unconscious). The plane goes down and Rafe is thrown out of the copter, as the rest of the teens survive the crash they head into the forest and decide to get back to the main land. Maya and Daniel lead the teens back to civilization only to find hidden truths to the powers that are growing inside of them.
Maya is a pretty relatable character, she would act how any teenager would if they found out they had power beyond their control. I liked Daniel. A lot more than I liked Rafe. I just couldn't trust this new boy. We find another novel where the world as they knew it has hit the fan. Things aren't what they seem in Salmon Creek and Maya is determined to find out what happens. I can't stress enough how creeped out I get when characters have to survive on their own. Knowing how to find shelter, water and food must be hard if you lack the proper skills.
I feel this book did not answer most of the questions that I had, it only brought up more questions! I can't wait until I read the final installment. Kelley Armstrong writes well and I can't wait to hear if she has more books in the future.
Want to read
July 31, 2011I really hope Derek, Chloe, and the others from the Darkest Powers are in this book.
November 4, 2015
Holy hackjob. The first was bad enough with Armstrong stepping in to walk all over Maya talking to anybody about her heritage. This one has that, too, but it's so much worse. The author's hand lies heavy on this starting from the word go until I just couldn't stand it any longer. Sam accidentally hits a button that opens the helicopter door and it jostles just enough for Rafe (and only Rafe), who just happens to be unbuckled (not the only one unbuckled, just the only one to fall out of the helicopter—that's cat-like reflexes right there, that is), to fall out only Maya has just enough time and presence to grab him only Sam can't control the copter so the turbulence is just enough that Rafe lets go to save Maya from being pulled with him. It was so, so bad and it just kept on going from there. Whether it's bad guys getting just close enough to interact but not capture the teens or encounters with a half-dozen people who won't do anything to help a bunch of teens in trouble the author couldn't have been more intrusive if she'd pasted her photo across every page as background.
Seriously, I thought Armstrong was better than this. The first series was really good and this one is just forced and awkward and nobody makes any sense. It's tragic, really. I'm trying to find a reason to justify even two stars and just can't find it...
Seriously, I thought Armstrong was better than this. The first series was really good and this one is just forced and awkward and nobody makes any sense. It's tragic, really. I'm trying to find a reason to justify even two stars and just can't find it...
April 9, 2012
The first book was amazing, and this was a good follow up- not as good but good. I've always hoped she'd give Daniel a chance, I love him he's such a great guy, wish i had a friend like him! I dont know what to make of Rafe, but I couldn't care i'm for daniel all the way hands down unless he turns out to be a real jerk which i doubt. Feel so sorry for him because he has a crap abusive dad! How can she not love him? Cant wait to see what happens.
I gave this one 4 stars because shes still not giving Daniel a chance as more than a friend even when he was talking to her about his ex, and said that he was gonna break up with her before she died.
I like most think it was because he likes her!I was going to give this a three because I sat there and finished this book really quickly- like in an hour. Waiting for something to happen, maybe just a kiss- whatever but SOMETHING atleast. Daniel was so protective of her and looking out for her and they share everything with eachother.
I wish Rafe did die to be honest, I dont see the point in him being in the story other tha1n a love interest. She would have found what she was without him eventually anyways didnt need him to tell her.
I would have given this a 3, but because Rafe was hardly in it and there was lots more of Daniel, I decided id give it a 4 for him!
Maybe in book 3 ill get what I want haha!
I gave this one 4 stars because shes still not giving Daniel a chance as more than a friend even when he was talking to her about his ex, and said that he was gonna break up with her before she died.
I like most think it was because he likes her!I was going to give this a three because I sat there and finished this book really quickly- like in an hour. Waiting for something to happen, maybe just a kiss- whatever but SOMETHING atleast. Daniel was so protective of her and looking out for her and they share everything with eachother.
I wish Rafe did die to be honest, I dont see the point in him being in the story other tha1n a love interest. She would have found what she was without him eventually anyways didnt need him to tell her.
I would have given this a 3, but because Rafe was hardly in it and there was lots more of Daniel, I decided id give it a 4 for him!
Maybe in book 3 ill get what I want haha!
April 16, 2012
I'll let my dear Sheldon to show you my reaction after reading this book
As some of you know I really love Kelley's books but not this one. I just got the feeling like this book is written only because it had to be done. I won't even start talking about know much I'm disappointed.
I'll write my reasons now and DON'T read it if you're planing to read the book. You've been warned.
So if somebody is willing to beat my arguments I'm here and I'm listening. If you show me really good POV to all this I'll gladly read this book again.
So 2 stars because of those good things I named there.
As some of you know I really love Kelley's books but not this one. I just got the feeling like this book is written only because it had to be done. I won't even start talking about know much I'm disappointed.
I'll write my reasons now and DON'T read it if you're planing to read the book. You've been warned.
So if somebody is willing to beat my arguments I'm here and I'm listening. If you show me really good POV to all this I'll gladly read this book again.
So 2 stars because of those good things I named there.
May 3, 2012
Quick review
Cover: Okay
Rating PG
Thumbs Up 4.5
Overall: Hearth Thumping.
Characters: Well crafted.
Plot: Action packed like running for your life.
Page Turner: Yes.
Series Cont.? Yes.
Recommend Yes.
Book Boyfriend: DANIEL
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
Where we left off in the previous book, I was anxious to get started on the next installment. This book had a lot more action from the beginning. Again the storyline was slightly predictable, but it didn’t stifle my enjoyment of the story. It however was well worth the read.
To see my full review and pic, check out my blog post below.
http://mybookboyfriend.blogspot.com/2...
Audio Review
Jennifer Ikeda did a wonderful job again this story. You won’t be disappointed.
Cover: Okay
Rating PG
Thumbs Up 4.5
Overall: Hearth Thumping.
Characters: Well crafted.
Plot: Action packed like running for your life.
Page Turner: Yes.
Series Cont.? Yes.
Recommend Yes.
Book Boyfriend: DANIEL
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
Where we left off in the previous book, I was anxious to get started on the next installment. This book had a lot more action from the beginning. Again the storyline was slightly predictable, but it didn’t stifle my enjoyment of the story. It however was well worth the read.
To see my full review and pic, check out my blog post below.
http://mybookboyfriend.blogspot.com/2...
Audio Review
Jennifer Ikeda did a wonderful job again this story. You won’t be disappointed.
September 7, 2023
I want an irl daniel pls
I love this friend group btw
I love this friend group btw
April 27, 2012
I have a feeling that some people are going to hate Kelley Armstrong's The Calling. It's almost impossible that she didn't think this was going to piss a few people off. This is a book you can't take at face value. Because at face value, this is a slow progressing plot, the romance is largely missing (though not entirely, it's just not with the same guy - shock horror), and as we get more answers about Maya, her friends and the bad guys, we also get more questions.
This is an adventure book. It's a prolonged action scene. It was like a cross between the Blair Witch Project, Mantracker and Survivorman. There's a lot of hiding, running, fighting, all that jazz. It started to become frustrating because if you're someone who looks for plot development, then this might be a bit of a challenge. If you're someone who's content as long as the pages are readable, then this might be your next best read. Because despite the bogging down of actual narrative movement with internal monologue and trading confidences in hushed voices, this was still very exciting.
Armstrong can write. Contradictory and unhelpful as it sounds, I didn't actually find a single page boring at all. The scene moved from scene to scene, and it was exciting. I'm not sure if it's even necessarily that she's a great architect of words because I didn't find anything particularly beautiful or distinct about her writing style (as opposed to Lauren Oliver, for example, who writes prettily). Armstrong's strength, in my humble opinion, comes from the simple fact that she knows what to write about, what to focus on, where to go in a scene, what kind of characters readers will like...and that is invaluable, especially when you've read as many underwhelming books as any average YA reader has in the past while.
The characters are great. Maya, as I mentioned in my The Gathering review, is probably one of the most level-headed, capable young characters I've ever read in YA. She's strong, she's smart, she's likeable. Her batch of secondary characters were also intriguing: Sam, the tough chick; Corey, Mr. Popular with jokes; Haley, the bitch who isn't really a bitch; Nicole, the angel who turns out is the spawn of Regan MacNeil; Rafe, the sympathetic love interest; and Daniel, THE BEST FRIEND WHO IS ALSO SO OBVIOUSLY THE ONE FOR HER -- ahem -- excuse me... As I was saying,the characters were nicely done. Their only downside is that they might be a little too impressive.
There were other things that bothered me. One in particular was the absolute eternity it took for Maya's powers to actually unfold. Not only did it take most of the novel, but by the end, she still hadn't used it in any truly effective ways. And since this is a trilogy, I feel like this should've been the time for Maya to become acquainted with her powers, so that she can prepare for whatever is coming in the final book. If it took this much to prep for the third installment, I can't imagine how much will be thrown at us by the time The Rising comes along (although if the title is any indication, we already know exactly what we might be getting).
Though perhaps, the most troubling aspect of Armstrong's books is their lack of momentum, particularly in the end. Armstrong may be the queen of the anti-climatic. Not just for overall plot, but even her chapters sometimes just...end. There isn't always a strict dramatic structure. Words and action just fall off the page, and you're looking to see where it went so you can pick up where you left off, only to find that that was it, and you must now move on to the next chapter. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so uncomfortable, jarring, and disorienting. The end, specifically, doesn't exactly inspire raging excitement for the next book. It's more like a see you when I see you, rather than a teasing gesture that evokes impulsive cupidity.
Overall, this book is slow, yes, but a damn good read. And the story itself is interesting - I didn't mean to leave that part out of this review. It's creepy, suspenseful, and different. Like I said, we're still not given much, but what we do read is enticing enough to persuade us onto the third book.
This was tricky. I flit back and forth between 3.5 and 4 stars. Either one is appropriate. So while there isn't much to say for plot development, there is something to be said about a book that gives so little, yet leaves you satisfied nonetheless.
It's like that student who does the least amount of work but still gets an A. You want to flunk them but oh, you just can't.
This review also appears on The Midnight Garden
This is an adventure book. It's a prolonged action scene. It was like a cross between the Blair Witch Project, Mantracker and Survivorman. There's a lot of hiding, running, fighting, all that jazz. It started to become frustrating because if you're someone who looks for plot development, then this might be a bit of a challenge. If you're someone who's content as long as the pages are readable, then this might be your next best read. Because despite the bogging down of actual narrative movement with internal monologue and trading confidences in hushed voices, this was still very exciting.
Armstrong can write. Contradictory and unhelpful as it sounds, I didn't actually find a single page boring at all. The scene moved from scene to scene, and it was exciting. I'm not sure if it's even necessarily that she's a great architect of words because I didn't find anything particularly beautiful or distinct about her writing style (as opposed to Lauren Oliver, for example, who writes prettily). Armstrong's strength, in my humble opinion, comes from the simple fact that she knows what to write about, what to focus on, where to go in a scene, what kind of characters readers will like...and that is invaluable, especially when you've read as many underwhelming books as any average YA reader has in the past while.
The characters are great. Maya, as I mentioned in my The Gathering review, is probably one of the most level-headed, capable young characters I've ever read in YA. She's strong, she's smart, she's likeable. Her batch of secondary characters were also intriguing: Sam, the tough chick; Corey, Mr. Popular with jokes; Haley, the bitch who isn't really a bitch; Nicole, the angel who turns out is the spawn of Regan MacNeil; Rafe, the sympathetic love interest; and Daniel, THE BEST FRIEND WHO IS ALSO SO OBVIOUSLY THE ONE FOR HER -- ahem -- excuse me... As I was saying,the characters were nicely done. Their only downside is that they might be a little too impressive.
There were other things that bothered me. One in particular was the absolute eternity it took for Maya's powers to actually unfold. Not only did it take most of the novel, but by the end, she still hadn't used it in any truly effective ways. And since this is a trilogy, I feel like this should've been the time for Maya to become acquainted with her powers, so that she can prepare for whatever is coming in the final book. If it took this much to prep for the third installment, I can't imagine how much will be thrown at us by the time The Rising comes along (although if the title is any indication, we already know exactly what we might be getting).
Though perhaps, the most troubling aspect of Armstrong's books is their lack of momentum, particularly in the end. Armstrong may be the queen of the anti-climatic. Not just for overall plot, but even her chapters sometimes just...end. There isn't always a strict dramatic structure. Words and action just fall off the page, and you're looking to see where it went so you can pick up where you left off, only to find that that was it, and you must now move on to the next chapter. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so uncomfortable, jarring, and disorienting. The end, specifically, doesn't exactly inspire raging excitement for the next book. It's more like a see you when I see you, rather than a teasing gesture that evokes impulsive cupidity.
Overall, this book is slow, yes, but a damn good read. And the story itself is interesting - I didn't mean to leave that part out of this review. It's creepy, suspenseful, and different. Like I said, we're still not given much, but what we do read is enticing enough to persuade us onto the third book.
This was tricky. I flit back and forth between 3.5 and 4 stars. Either one is appropriate. So while there isn't much to say for plot development, there is something to be said about a book that gives so little, yet leaves you satisfied nonetheless.
It's like that student who does the least amount of work but still gets an A. You want to flunk them but oh, you just can't.
This review also appears on The Midnight Garden
April 14, 2012
I really liked The Gathering, the first book in this series, but even for a middle book, The Calling is disappointing. It's not that this series is eerily similar to Armstrong's first YA trilogy, the Darkest Powers books, because that didn't bother me with The Gathering -- I thought it was a successful refresh of a similar group of characters in a similar plot, with better characterizations and a better setting than the original. And I already expected the second book to be the weakest, because Armstrong's already used this three act formula: the first book is intriguing set-up; the second is running and hiding with some strategic information gathering; and the third is the pay-off to putting up with a unnecessarily drawn-out story. But The Calling just feels . . . shallow. Entertaining, fast-paced, yes -- I read it all in one sitting -- but without even the well-described setting and heartfelt characters I'd seen in The Gathering. And even more annoying than I remember Book Two in the Darkest Powers series being.
I'm still engaged enough to read Book Three, obviously; there are still a lot of questions that need answers, and I still like reading about the characters and their paranormal powers. But I think I could have skipped this one and just read Book Three and not missed much, and that's not a great sign.
I'm still engaged enough to read Book Three, obviously; there are still a lot of questions that need answers, and I still like reading about the characters and their paranormal powers. But I think I could have skipped this one and just read Book Three and not missed much, and that's not a great sign.
September 15, 2012
Oh my gooodnesssss :D
The cover IS HERE!!!! I love the title, it really does suit the entire series really well (in my opinion of course)
I can't wait for this and 2012 is a still a long way to go! WRITE FASTER KELLEY!!!!!!
One last thing: TEAMMMM DANIEL!!!!!!!
The cover IS HERE!!!! I love the title, it really does suit the entire series really well (in my opinion of course)
I can't wait for this and 2012 is a still a long way to go! WRITE FASTER KELLEY!!!!!!
One last thing: TEAMMMM DANIEL!!!!!!!
April 9, 2017
4 stars
So I was originally going to power read through The Calling but I had a test I needed to study for (I passed... Not a high grade but I passed), so it took me a while to read. But I finally finished it around 12 in the morning.
The Calling picks up where The Gathering left off. It was an intense moment at the beginning and soon became more intense when the characters find themselves in the wilderness with no means of survival except finding civilization. As they do that, more secrets are revealed about the town of Salmon Creek, the St. Clouds, and what powers Maya and her friends have.
I'm a fan of survival situations where the main character and their friends have to rely on themselves and their skills to survive the wilderness. That aspect of the book is what made me love it even more! Add on top of that the conspiracies, and you have a genuine mystery involving the paranormal.
What Kelley Armstrong does best is keeping you waiting to uncover the secrets that lie in the book and within the characters. It leaves you guessing and wanting more, something I like in a book. If an author can manage to do that, then it gets a good grade.
As for the characters, we get more development with them, especially the side characters. Like in Armstrong's previous series, the Darkest Powers, the side characters (as well as the main one) develop more and we start to like them. If they remained static throughout the series, then they'll start to become boring. That isn't the case with both series.
If I had any minor complaints, it would have to be the secret keeping. It isn't a really big complaint, in my opinion, but if there are things that could affect your group, I think it's best to tell them.
Verdict
I'm really enjoying my time rereading these books! I don't know why I kept putting it off for so long. But I"m glad I decided to read them again this year.
Now, all I have to do is finally read The Rising... after I finish reading a book for my English class. -_-
Thanks for reading my review!
-Cesar
July 15, 2013
Wow - another fabulous book by Kelley Armstrong....
...Book 2, The Calling, picks up literally where book 1 left off and it carries on as though it was all one book... nothing to catch up on, no repetitive writing, simply back into the story line...
...What I can't say is why I am loving these books so much, the story line is great, the characters are fabulous but, if I'm honest, I've read books that have had me on the edge of my seat, I've read books that has had me holding my breath and I can pin point areas of eye stinging emotions... These books (a bit like Kelley's previous trilogy)keep me turning the pages, dying to find out what is happening and definitely worth the 5 stars, but not in the way other books are... and that is in a good way I might add...
These books are in a league of their own for sure... I just keep right on reading and I can't wait to get stuck into book 3 to find out what is happening with Daniel, Maya, Cory, Rafe, Sam and the rest...
...Book 2, The Calling, picks up literally where book 1 left off and it carries on as though it was all one book... nothing to catch up on, no repetitive writing, simply back into the story line...
...What I can't say is why I am loving these books so much, the story line is great, the characters are fabulous but, if I'm honest, I've read books that have had me on the edge of my seat, I've read books that has had me holding my breath and I can pin point areas of eye stinging emotions... These books (a bit like Kelley's previous trilogy)keep me turning the pages, dying to find out what is happening and definitely worth the 5 stars, but not in the way other books are... and that is in a good way I might add...
These books are in a league of their own for sure... I just keep right on reading and I can't wait to get stuck into book 3 to find out what is happening with Daniel, Maya, Cory, Rafe, Sam and the rest...
February 13, 2013
It better be Jan 1st 2012!!
November 9, 2017
“Remembering. Forgetting. I'm not sure which is worse.”
This book basically felt like a filler. An enjoyable filler, but filler nonetheless.. Also, while I really liked Raffe in the first book and felt like he and Maya had the most chemistry. Now, I actually want her more with Daniel. While Raffe is charming, I like Daniel's selflessness and personality a lot. For some reason, he reminds me of a more mature version od Derek from The Darkest Powers. Though I doubt I could ship Maya and Daniel quite as much as I once did Chloe and Derek. I loved those two dorks and miss them reading this sequel series now. In The Darkest Powers, I was 100% sure who I shipped with the MC after the first book, but here I actually like both.
As for the heroine: I like how intelligent, self sufficient and decisive Maya is. She seems far more mature than Chloe. But the fact that Maya already is such a strong character means there probably won't be as much character development, which was certainly the best thing about Chloe's character arc. That she was very flawed at the beginning and undergone such a growth. Just as Derek did. But, I don't know, with Maya and Daniel, it feels more like they already are their own developed characters and there's just no such room for the amazing development I loved in Darkest Powers. Excited to meet Chloe and Derek once again in the last book of this series!
This book basically felt like a filler. An enjoyable filler, but filler nonetheless.. Also, while I really liked Raffe in the first book and felt like he and Maya had the most chemistry. Now, I actually want her more with Daniel. While Raffe is charming, I like Daniel's selflessness and personality a lot. For some reason, he reminds me of a more mature version od Derek from The Darkest Powers. Though I doubt I could ship Maya and Daniel quite as much as I once did Chloe and Derek. I loved those two dorks and miss them reading this sequel series now. In The Darkest Powers, I was 100% sure who I shipped with the MC after the first book, but here I actually like both.
As for the heroine: I like how intelligent, self sufficient and decisive Maya is. She seems far more mature than Chloe. But the fact that Maya already is such a strong character means there probably won't be as much character development, which was certainly the best thing about Chloe's character arc. That she was very flawed at the beginning and undergone such a growth. Just as Derek did. But, I don't know, with Maya and Daniel, it feels more like they already are their own developed characters and there's just no such room for the amazing development I loved in Darkest Powers. Excited to meet Chloe and Derek once again in the last book of this series!
May 15, 2012
I really enjoyed the second installment, didn't go very far with the plot but it does mean were going to better get a kick ass third book, the ending was just screaming that were going to get the old gang back.
October 28, 2020
Armstrong's The Calling is a unique take on urban fantasy. Rather than focusing on well-known supernatural entities, Armstrong researches and explores ancient ones to bring about a very engaging and interesting story-line. The characters and setting are the powerhouses of this novel, keeping readers interested and wanting more. Though the story lacked depth regarding the plot development, other parts of this book make up for this.
↠ The Gathering (Darkness Rising, Book One): ★★★★
THE PROS
That beautiful British Columbia setting is worth it in itself to read this novel. Armstrong does an impeccable job of carefully crafting the setting, making the reader feel as though they're surrounded by the extravagant forest scenery. For lovers of rural settings novels, this is DEFINITELY a great choice.
The Calling is VERY entertaining, with it's action-focused and past-paced plot. After their escape from the fire, Maya and her friends are constantly faced by a number of obstacles, all in the hopes of finding their families and escaping their captors. There's LITERALLY no lull in action.
I think the biggest (and most interesting) surprise for me was Armstrong's use of the adventure story to also explore racism, prejudice, and other serious topics. During their travels, the Indigenous characters experience stares and grunts and distrust, simply due to their native heritage. There are moments of gender discrimination and other forms of prejudice, which really made the book feel more relatable to our world setting. But it also brings up good discussion points, as Armstrong uses this as an opportunity to illustrate the continued racism and prejudice that occurs today.
THE WOES
There's A LOT of running through the forest ... and more forest ... and more forest. Honestly, the story started to drag on a bit. Armstrong's story just started to feel too action-oriented, with little depth into the character exploration and overall plot-line.
Another element that was a HUGE letdown was the lack of focus on their powers. With them being on the run, I figured it was going to be time for the characters to discover and explore their supernatural abilities. Maya's the main character that we see this with, which was disappointing since there are so many other interesting powers to explore. And yet again --- the characters are SO CALM about their new profound abilities ... I still find this VERY unrealistic.
I recommend this novel if you enjoy: fast-paced plot; a diverse cast of characters; urban fantasy; action-oriented novels; strong female leads.
↠ The Gathering (Darkness Rising, Book One): ★★★★
THE PROS
That beautiful British Columbia setting is worth it in itself to read this novel. Armstrong does an impeccable job of carefully crafting the setting, making the reader feel as though they're surrounded by the extravagant forest scenery. For lovers of rural settings novels, this is DEFINITELY a great choice.
The Calling is VERY entertaining, with it's action-focused and past-paced plot. After their escape from the fire, Maya and her friends are constantly faced by a number of obstacles, all in the hopes of finding their families and escaping their captors. There's LITERALLY no lull in action.
I think the biggest (and most interesting) surprise for me was Armstrong's use of the adventure story to also explore racism, prejudice, and other serious topics. During their travels, the Indigenous characters experience stares and grunts and distrust, simply due to their native heritage. There are moments of gender discrimination and other forms of prejudice, which really made the book feel more relatable to our world setting. But it also brings up good discussion points, as Armstrong uses this as an opportunity to illustrate the continued racism and prejudice that occurs today.
THE WOES
There's A LOT of running through the forest ... and more forest ... and more forest. Honestly, the story started to drag on a bit. Armstrong's story just started to feel too action-oriented, with little depth into the character exploration and overall plot-line.
Another element that was a HUGE letdown was the lack of focus on their powers. With them being on the run, I figured it was going to be time for the characters to discover and explore their supernatural abilities. Maya's the main character that we see this with, which was disappointing since there are so many other interesting powers to explore. And yet again --- the characters are SO CALM about their new profound abilities ... I still find this VERY unrealistic.
I recommend this novel if you enjoy: fast-paced plot; a diverse cast of characters; urban fantasy; action-oriented novels; strong female leads.
June 17, 2019
This was unfortunate.
I read the first book in this series, The Gathering, last week and I really enjoyed it - the setting, the magic/science, the First Nations rep, the shapeshifting. The Calling picks up exactly where The Gathering left off but you don't need to read it immediately after the first book because Armstrong gives us a solid two-page summary (which is mildly annoying, but whatever).
The Calling showcases Armstrong's poor writing skills. This book has zero plot - it's completely driven by action (which is terribly written itself). This series is a trilogy, but this book should have been dropped entirely, leaving us with a duology. Nothing new happens here - it's all about running around in the woods and hiding from the bad guys. We learn absolutely nothing new - not about the world, the magic/mystery, or the characters. Nothing. And the plot is so basic and uninteresting that we know exactly what will happen in the third book. Instead of writing according to the basic YA trilogy format I wish Armstrong had edited this book down to a few chapters and stuck them in the other two books.
Will I read the next book in the series? Part of me thinks I might as well - it's sure to be a quick read, and I hate leaving series unfinished (especially when there's only one book left!). But The Calling is shockingly bad - Armstrong shows just how unimaginative and uninspired she is, and I am confident I know exactly how the series will end. Life is short and we should spend our time reading books we enjoy.
I read the first book in this series, The Gathering, last week and I really enjoyed it - the setting, the magic/science, the First Nations rep, the shapeshifting. The Calling picks up exactly where The Gathering left off but you don't need to read it immediately after the first book because Armstrong gives us a solid two-page summary (which is mildly annoying, but whatever).
The Calling showcases Armstrong's poor writing skills. This book has zero plot - it's completely driven by action (which is terribly written itself). This series is a trilogy, but this book should have been dropped entirely, leaving us with a duology. Nothing new happens here - it's all about running around in the woods and hiding from the bad guys. We learn absolutely nothing new - not about the world, the magic/mystery, or the characters. Nothing. And the plot is so basic and uninteresting that we know exactly what will happen in the third book. Instead of writing according to the basic YA trilogy format I wish Armstrong had edited this book down to a few chapters and stuck them in the other two books.
Will I read the next book in the series? Part of me thinks I might as well - it's sure to be a quick read, and I hate leaving series unfinished (especially when there's only one book left!). But The Calling is shockingly bad - Armstrong shows just how unimaginative and uninspired she is, and I am confident I know exactly how the series will end. Life is short and we should spend our time reading books we enjoy.
July 3, 2018
This sequel was so good. I actaully really like the love triangle that developed in this book and I honestly don't mind who she ends up with because they're both really good guys although I have a sense On who she's gonna pick.
January 14, 2022
actual rating: 3.5 stars
chaos and mess the moment the book started. maya, daniel and sam were cool, calm and collected unlike the other three. can't really blame the three though, they are different from the first trio who have prior experiences to danger. still, maya and daniel were great leaders throughout their whole expedition to NOT get murdered or captured by hostile forces.
while not much more information is known about who was chasing them or what's going on, maya
one thing that i enjoyed was the trust and understanding between daniel and maya. they truly have faith in one another and would, without hesitation, throw oneself in front of the other to save them. it's pretty cool to see a platonic relationship between the opposite sexes. however, there's some hints of it being more of a one-sided thing now and i don't want that to happen SO BADLY. please, i don't think a love triangle should happen.
rafe and maya's romance doesn't developed much. unfortunately, for majority of the book, they were separated. but the moments they were together, readers still could feel the connection and trust between them.
books in the series:
1. the gathering: ✰✰✰✰
2. the calling: ✰✰✰½
3. the rising
chaos and mess the moment the book started. maya, daniel and sam were cool, calm and collected unlike the other three. can't really blame the three though, they are different from the first trio who have prior experiences to danger. still, maya and daniel were great leaders throughout their whole expedition to NOT get murdered or captured by hostile forces.
while not much more information is known about who was chasing them or what's going on, maya
one thing that i enjoyed was the trust and understanding between daniel and maya. they truly have faith in one another and would, without hesitation, throw oneself in front of the other to save them. it's pretty cool to see a platonic relationship between the opposite sexes. however, there's some hints of it being more of a one-sided thing now and i don't want that to happen SO BADLY. please, i don't think a love triangle should happen.
rafe and maya's romance doesn't developed much. unfortunately, for majority of the book, they were separated. but the moments they were together, readers still could feel the connection and trust between them.
books in the series:
1. the gathering: ✰✰✰✰
2. the calling: ✰✰✰½
3. the rising
August 21, 2012
Well, first of all, I can no longer call Maya The Girl With The Blue Face.
Darn.
Seriously. This girl looks nothing like the other girl did! And what am I supposed to call this female?! The Girl With The (what color is that?!)....Purple? Face? Light Grey? The Girl With The Light Grey Face. Meh. Also, what's up with the earrings? It's like the Darkest Powers series. Darkness Rising also has the Changing Jewelry Syndrome. -.-)))
I have a prediction to make!
At the end of the book, when that
Well, not really a prediction, but a comment.
What the HECK! It's OUT??? How long has it been out??? How do I keep missing these things????????
*UPDATE: READ*
Well, it was all right. I was right about the spoiler. :D Not as good as The Gathering, but pretty okay.
Darn.
Seriously. This girl looks nothing like the other girl did! And what am I supposed to call this female?! The Girl With The (what color is that?!)....Purple? Face? Light Grey? The Girl With The Light Grey Face. Meh. Also, what's up with the earrings? It's like the Darkest Powers series. Darkness Rising also has the Changing Jewelry Syndrome. -.-)))
I have a prediction to make!
At the end of the book, when that
Well, not really a prediction, but a comment.
What the HECK! It's OUT??? How long has it been out??? How do I keep missing these things????????
*UPDATE: READ*
Well, it was all right. I was right about the spoiler. :D Not as good as The Gathering, but pretty okay.
January 24, 2013
I have a 73 page rule where if I can't get into the book after about 73 pages I stop reading it. While I hate the idea that I spent money on a book I'm not going to finish, there are too many good books out there to waste time reading ones that I don't really like or can't get into. That happened with this book. I got about 100 pages in and became bored. I put it down a few weeks ago and am not sure if I'm going to go back to it. It's disappointing because I really like Kelley Armstrong - she's one of my favorite authors. But I just can't get into the Darkness Rising series. I had some hesitance in buying this book because I wasn't sure how I felt about the first book in the series. Now that I'm feeling the same way about the second book, I think this is a series that I won't be finishing. I'm sure a lot of people loved it since Kelley is such a great writer but I just wasn't feeling this one.
September 14, 2015
I can't believe it's already over :( this book how do I describe
Awesome
Intense
Keeps u on ur toes
A whole whack of secrets
Mysterious
Awesome oh wait I already said it but it sooo is awesome ;) so it counts
Awesome
Intense
Keeps u on ur toes
A whole whack of secrets
Mysterious
Awesome oh wait I already said it but it sooo is awesome ;) so it counts
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,933 reviews