The Calling: Number 2 in series (Darkness Rising, #2)

by Kelley Armstrong

Maya Delaney's paw-print birthmark is the sign of what she truly is - a skin-walker. She can run faster, climb higher, and see better than nearly anyone 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 including local bad boy Rafe, with whom she shares a dangerous, powerful secret. Now, Maya and her friends have been forced to flee from their homes during a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set. After a terrifying helicopter crash, they find themselves stranded in the Vancouver Island wilderness with nothing but their extraordinary abilities to help them get back home. But can Maya really trust her friends? And can she learn how to control the frightening new gift she has discovered before it controls her?

• ISBN10: 1907410473
• ISBN13: 9781907410475
• Publish Date: 5 April 2012
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: ATOM
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

My reviews and ratings were lost for this book, so it won't be as detailed as before.

This book picks up right where book one ended. This book was better than the first one and had more action. I believe the action continues for the whole book and we learn many things about what's going on with the characters, especially Maya.

It ends with you wanting to read more and wanting to see the how this is all going to come together in the third book. I remember trying to get the 3rd book as fast as I can after reading this. I wanted to see how it was going to end.

I would recommend this series to everybody, the author has a way with building worlds and characters.

[lizarodz]

You can find the original post of this book here: Reading with ABC

The Calling is the second installment in the Darkness Rising series, which is a spin-off of the Darkest Powers series, which I adore.
I felt that this book was more about discovery than anything else.

The Calling picks up right where the previous book ended; the group of teens is evacuating the island after the forest fire. What comes after is a series of mishaps, chases, escapes, and other misfortunes. This book is more about the discovery of what they are, the reasons for being raised isolated and where they come from. The most amazing part is that most of their discovery arises from their own experiences and they little research they have been able to do. It’s not like anyone is getting out of their way to help them.

A lot happens to the group of teens in a very short period of time (I think the book spans for about four days?), and it is actually mind blowing. I won’t share with you the details, but let me just say that they seem to ‘drop’ like flies, and at the end only three remain to find a way to rescue the rest, to get more answers, and hopefully someone they can actually trust. However, it seems that although a lot happened in the book, they didn’t actually make much progress on their situation.

I have to confess to being a bit confused about Maya and Daniel’s relationship. They are the very best of friends and very protective of each other, but it seems to me that Daniel wants something more (not sure…) and that Maya’s interests lie elsewhere. Rafe did not make a lengthy appearance in this book, so I am still debating if I like him or not. Corey was a surprising character and I actually like him a lot (what is he, btw?!), Sam was forthcoming with the little information that she had and other characters where more ‘present’ this time around.

I really love Kelley Armstrong’s writing and this book didn’t disappoint. The plot is fast paced and full of twists and turns, even though we already knew or suspected some of them. The Calling didn’t end up in a cliffhanger, so I guess I will patiently wait for book #3. (*sigh*)

The best part is that at the end, Maya and company goes in search of our friends from the Darkest Powers series, and I do hope they find them. I can’t wait to see how Chloe, Derek and Simon are doing! I’m so excited for the last book in the series, check out the cover for The Rising, it’s really pretty.

About the cover: I really like these covers, Maya is portrait on them and it seems like the farther along we get in the series the ‘lighter’ the cover gets.

[Kelsenator]

Originally posted on my blog Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf

One thing I have to comment on first, was that it’s been a while since I read the first book. I’m very glad the author added little bits of information for what happened before, so I wasn’t completely lost.

After being rescued in the helicopter after the first book, things go wrong and they end up crashing. Trying to survive and get home is their top priority, especially since they’re being chased by a group of people. Maya knows she’s a skin-walker, part cougar (not the older woman kind), and her abilities include hearing better and seeing better in the dark than others. This helps her lead her fellow teens into the woods, and away from the crash, with Daniel helping to rally everyone. Of course, only she knows about her special abilities.

As they journey, they have to fight hunger, thirst, and the possible wild animal that could find them for dinner. They start finding out things, connect the info together about who is after them and why. Maya isn’t the only talented person there like she believed, and we start to find out exactly what the Medical Center back in town really was.

I loved that this was connected into the author’s world, with mentions of the Cabal and the little bit from her other teen series (Darkest Powers Trilogy) and what happened with that experiment. I loved how both stories kind of tie together in a way too.

There was lots of action in this, Maya was an awesome character and I loved her more in this than the first book since she starts to develop more, in her way of thinking and also with her powers. I’m very happy with how it ended, and I really can’t wait to see how the next book is done, especialyl with the hint at the end of the book.

Although this series isn’t my favourite out of all of them, it’s still very good and well written and will definitely keep you wanting to finish it in one sitting. I’m super excited to read the next one in this series!

Recommended for Paranormal fans.

[Melanie]

Let me say first, I'm a huge Kelley Armstrong fan. I love the adult Otherworld series. I enjoyed the YA series Darkest Powers. This trilogy is even better. I love Maya, Rafe and Daniel. I'm also a very large fan of Kenjii. She is a cool dog. Now have I have to wait a year for the next book, that sucks.

[kimbacaffeinate]

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong is the second in the Darkness Rising series. Armstrong picked up right where we left off and delivered non-stop action. Filled with shape-shifters, witches and other supernatural beings this book has ensured Armstrong a place on my favorite authors list. I plan to begin her other series as well.

I strongly recommend you read The Gathering (my review), the first book in this series before attempting to read The Calling. Armstrong doesn’t waste any time with back-story and you will be completely lost without it. The tale begins inside the helicopter with Maya and her friends. Maya and the others are anxious to be reunited with their parents, when they realize the helicopter isn't traveling in the right direction and that the mayor is unconscious. When Daniel confronts the pilot, things quickly go from bad to worse, as the helicopter spins out of control and crashes. The tale that unfolds is action-packed as the kids attempt to escape and find their parents. While most of the plot advancement occurs in the last part of the book, we do see a lot of character growth and get a better understanding of the town and the kids. The ending sets us up for the final book in this trilogy and left me eager to read more.

Maya and Daniel quickly establish themselves as leaders of the group. The kids begin to understand that they are different and that their little town of two hundred is anything but boring. Armstrong gives us conspiracies, secret agencies and a possible psycho-path among the teens. I found myself completely enthralled by the plot. Rafe and Maya’s romance develops further and felt genuine. Daniel begins to believe that he has abilities, and admits to having used them. He is like the mother-hen of the group and whether it’s because of his ability or not...the rest look to him for all the answers. Despite the circumstances they found themselves in, I was impressed with the way these kids kept it together. The growth in Maya was wonderful. In the first novel her moral compass was strictly black and white, and I found her at times to be very judgmental and unforgiving. In this novel we get a closer look at the other characters and Maya begins to understand them better. This isn’t to say that she still didn’t annoy me, but by the end of the novel she is able to rationalize better and think things through. In The Gathering, Maya experienced dreams of running in the wild, and felt like she communicated with animals. In The Calling, she shifts and it was neat to see how she handled this. Maya is fearless and protects those around her. She is confronted by a person from her past, and isn’t sure how to handle it. I really liked Corey. He is a funny, quirky and flawed character who made things interesting. I am really anxious to see everyone’s ability develop and see how they work as a team in the final installment.

The plot Armstrong brings us in The Calling is extremely intense. The kids are involved in one life or death situation after another. Armstrong makes all of it believable and kept me engaged. She has created a situation with multiple threats, and left even me the reader unsure about whom the good guys are. She created characters with depth, and I have come to care for them all. The action packed ending has me excited for book three and wondering how things will work out.

[Suz @ Bookish Revelations]

The Calling is daring and adventurous, starting off with a bang. Maya and her friends are on the run from scientists who only want them for samples of their DNA. They are kidnapped in the beginning and manage to escape later finding out that none of them are human. It's almost a startling revelation, where friendships are tried and tested over and over, and possibly destroyed beyond repair. Hidden discoveries are brought to light, while other purposes begin to unravel completely and small intimate moments of romance begin to blossom between two unlikely characters. Armstrong pens an extremely captivating and enthralling novel, that's highly suspenseful and filled with amazing twists and turns that will keep readers guessing and wondering what's to come next.

Every character (including the supporting) has a reason for their presence that only adds more depth and flavorful personality to the story. Maya is filled with many admirable qualities, yet possesses realistic flaws of her own. She's fiercely strong, amazingly intelligent, and has full of the perfect blend of witty cynicism. She has quite the stubborn streak, but has an equally amazing heart when it comes to those she's loyal to and cares about. Maya is definitely strong and resilient in her survival skills and tactics, while Daniel is becoming more honest with her and the two are growing closer. There is some wonderful character development and progression as this novel continues on.

The specifics of Daniel and Maya's abilities are fleshed out a bit more, as well as more information is being shared and readers get to know Daniel and Sam a little better. It is chalk full of drama and heightened intensity, as it brings some serious trust issues to light. It seems as if they have a hard time trying to figure out who to trust, including each other a good portion of the time. The paranormal element of this novel is unique and fascinating, while the writing style is flawless and creative. Armstrong has a wonderful knack for taking traditional paranormal and penning it in such a way that she almost re-invents it, breathing new life and originality into whatever story she's telling.

The Calling is fast paced, action packed, and filled with amazing adventure and peril at every turn. It contains hidden secrets that are supported by intriguing storylines, and wonderfully developed characters that are simply fascinating to follow. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy the wonderful paranormal authors such as Kim Harrison, Rachel Vincent, and other paranormal books that are thrilling crossovers from adult fiction into the realms of young adult.