The Calling by James Frey

The Calling (Endgame, #1)

by James Frey

THE END OF THE WORLD IS COMING. PLAY NOW. OR WE ALL LOSE.

After centuries waiting in secret, twelve unbroken bloodlines, armed with hidden knowledge and lethal training, are called to take humanity’s fate into their hands…

The first book in a game-changing new series by bestselling author, James Frey.

Bryan High School, Omaha, Nebraska: Sarah stands at her graduation ceremony – perfect SATs, a star athlete, her life ahead of her. Then a meteor wipes out half her school. But Sarah is not hurt and not surprised. Because she is the Player of the 233rd line – the Cahokian. And she knows what this means.

Endgame is here.

Juliaca, Puno, Peru: Jago walks the streets after the meteor hits. There’s looting and violence but he’s not scared. He is the Player of the 21st line – the Olmec. And he’s ready.

Endgame is here.

China, Australia, Turkey… Twelve meteors fall. Cities and people burn. The news is full of the end of the world.

But Sarah, Jago and ten others are already plotting and planning for the fight. They are the Players and Endgame is here.

All but one of them will fail. But that one will
save the world. We hope…

Written into this book is a puzzle. Solve the puzzle, and you will find the key to open a case of gold. Read the Books. Find the Clues. Solve the Puzzle. Who will Win?

Google Niantic is building a mobile location-based augmented reality videogame inextricably tied to the books and mythology, a major prize will be tied to a puzzle in each book, and Twentieth Century Fox has bought the movie rights.

Reviewed by stressedrach on

4 of 5 stars

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I received an Advanced Copy of The Calling and therefore can only base my review on the story and not the puzzle.

When I first started reading this there were similarities to other books I have read that I won’t mention. 12 original lines, 12 players and 1 winner, there are no rules, and only one of these Players will survive which means the other 11 will die.

These players are all within a certain age, they are trained since birth.

12 meteors crash down on Earth, right where the said Players are which is their Calling, they all travel to the same destination where they will start the Endgame.

In this book all of the players are searching for the first key and they will be lead to it with a clue, each player has a different clue which is embedded in their head via kepler 22 an alien or god, whatever it was, it wasn’t human. They each have to decipher their clue to lead them to the key.

I am not going to tell you anymore as it is a great adventure and I did really enjoy the story even without the puzzle. The suspense was fantastic and obviously there was killings and maiming that were quite gory but all worked well within the story.

I felt I got to know most of the characters really well, their traits, their nature and what made them tick. I am hoping to get to know more about the others in the next book.

I do have a feeling that the player who activated the first key may not actually win though.

I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 18 November, 2014: Finished reading
  • 18 November, 2014: Reviewed