Title: The Calling
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: 4.10.2012
Pages: 326
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Yes (Darkness Rising #2)
Source: ARC from publisher
Rating: B-
Summary (from Goodreads):
Maya and her friends--all of whom have supernatural powers--have been kidnapped after fleeing from a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set, and after a terrifying helicopter crash they find themselves pursued by evildoers in the Vancouver Island wilderness.
Review:
I was so excited to read The Calling, a follow up to The Gathering. I love that The Calling jumps in right where book 1 left off. No time has passed, therefore there’s no three page summary of what we missed while we were away (I really dislike those). The reader is immediately thrown back into the action and drama.
Kelley Armstrong does a great job of keeping the story moving. The Calling hits the ground running and doesn’t stop. More happened in the first five chapters than happens in most books, almost to the point where it can be a little overwhelming. I also wasn’t very happy that one of my favorite characters from The Gathering is absent for most of the book, which I found unnecessary.
I love that a lot of back story and little details were unearthed that pulls the series together even more, but I feel like this was a “filler” book. It does what I’m finding a lot of second books do—they cover what happened in the past so things make more sense in the present, twist up a few more storylines for dramatic flair, and then ultimately leave with more questions than when you started.
While I will definitely be grabbing the last book in this series to see how it all plays out, this book really didn’t live up to the expectations I had after reading The Gathering. Armstrong is a great writer, as is evident in all her novels. She creates these amazing characters in these detailed, lush setting that can sweep you away. I’m hoping the final book in the trilogy makes up for this one.
Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository
Awesome review! Hope that the 3rd book is as good as the first :)
ReplyDeleteDanielle Williams
ssromans828@yahoo.com
I just finished the first book a few days ago and I'm excited to pick this up soon! Thanks so much for the non-spoilery review. I'm glad you liked it :)
ReplyDeletewouw!! thanks for the review.. looking forward to read this ^^
ReplyDeleteThanks for the very honest review! I just got my copy of The Gathering in the mail and I can't wait to read it! I'll keep your review points in mind when I start reading The Calling, though, so I don't get my hopes up too high!
ReplyDeletejwitt33 at live dot com
I keep seeing Kelley Armstrong's name pop up on blogs, but never give her much thought--so many books out there to be read--but the idea of a fantasy novel set in British Columbia strikes me as interesting. I'd have to go back and read the first book though, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to keep an eye out for her work.
Thank you for your honest review. I have not yet read this series, but I will most likely be trying it since you recommend the first one. :)
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that summaries of the previous books are annoying! Just read the previous book again!
ReplyDeleteI was kinda disappointed that it was more of a filler book too. I want the two trilogies to meet up NOW! I don't think I can wait until April!!
Hmmm, good review. I haven't read anything by this author, so now I will have to get on the band wagon and check it out. Thanks!
ReplyDelete