The Calling by Kelley Armstrong – Book 2 Darkness Rising Series – Review & Giveaway

Posted 7 July, 2012 by Danny in Blog, Danny, Danny's Book Review, Giveaways / 23 Comments

The Calling

Book II in the Darkness Rising series
Genre: YA Paranornmal
Published April 10th 2012 by HarperCollins
Audiobook received from publisher
format: Hardcover , eBook, audiobook
Synopsis from goodreads
Rating
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 Gatheringclamoring for more. 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. 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. Plentiful action and romance in this second installment in the Darkness Rising series will keep readers enthralled to the very last page.
Last year, when I read the first book in the series I was instantly drawn to this word Kelley Armstrong created. Funny enough, I haven’t read her Darkest Powers series. I actually started a few times, yet never got into it… But, with the Gathering it was instant love!

Action! Jump right in and be back in the story!

When a book directly throws you into actions, those are the best opening scenes where you barely have time to catch a breath. The ending of The Gathering was horrible and left you hanging quite desperately in the air – and this is exactly where The Calling beings… This was actually one element, I truly enjoyed already in the fist book, the action packed plot, and it goes right on with The Calling. There is a lot of happening and the kids and we have barely time to take a breath. Moreover, already in the first minutes of the books something very bad happens in this is where sensible readers like me shed the first tears…

You love kick-ass heroines? Meet Maya!

Maya is exactly how you would describe a kick – ass heroine! Strong smart and willing to take over the role of a leader even though she wouldn’t have picked this role for herself, but left with no other choice, she takes on the responsibility without whining! I’m actually very much in love with this girl and she ons of my favorite characters!

A bunch of unusual kids…

In fact, the whole crew of kids is incredible awesome! It’s always amazing how much love for detail goes into the development for secondary characters, and Kelley Armstrong did a fantastic job to lay our each personality with love for detail! I guess, my favorite character besides Maya is definitely Daniel – he’s awesome!!! Prince Charming, Prince Loyal and Prince Awesome!

Love Romance, Triangle?

Actually, the romance left me slightly confused at this point in the series. I remember how deeply I fell in love with Rafe last book, but, since he was absent for a large part of the book, I fell in love with Daniel and now I’m confused! But, there is romance and I like it…

Sequel depression?

Sequels and especially the second books in the series are often the hardest books to read ( maybe even to write) but, this book delivered everything you want from a sequel. We get action, we get a lot of revelations and mysteries are uncovered that were set in book one, but it leaves you with enough questions to desperately wish the next book would come out right now!

Bewitched Rating

Bottom Line

The Calling is a phenomenal follow up, with lots of action, mysteries, drama and a kick ass heroine you just have to love!

Additional Info

I reviewed Book I, The Gathering last year and loved it. Also, this is a Spin off of The Darkest Power series. I personally haven’t read this series, so I can totally recommend the Darkness Rising series also for new Readers just like me.

Although I don’t usually have a vision who could play the characters in the book, here I actually have a perfect vision, Meet Maya (Shay Mitchel) and Rafe (Tyler Posey)

Dream Cast The Calling Cast Dream Cast The Calling Maya

The audiobook had the perfect pace! One thing, that drives me nuts with some audio’s is the pace, when it’s too low, the minutes are dragging along to slow and it’s easy to loose interest. Jennifer Ikeda however is a great narrator with a great range of voices that are all distinct and not even the male voices sound weird! With just about 7 hrs this is a very quick audio and I was done with it vry fast!
Get your own Audio from audible

And now, I have some books to grab for you!

I have a Paperback copy of The Gathering and Hardcover of The Calling for one lucky winner!

(US only! Please fill out the Rafflecopter below.)

Good Luck, much love and Happy Saturday!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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23 Responses to “The Calling by Kelley Armstrong – Book 2 Darkness Rising Series – Review & Giveaway”

  1. LOVE Kelley Armstrong–she’s one of my favorite authors! This is a really interesting series and definitely has some great characters. I agree about the love story. Not sure how I felt about the switch up and wondering if the next one will go all triangle-y or not…
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    Danny 7/11/2012

    Gah! Mee too! I loved Rafe in book one and I always saw Daniel as her Best Friend. I love those books where the best friends is truly and only best friend and not morphs into a love interest. I hope we are going back to Rafe soon!
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  2. Excellent review my dear! I love Kelley Armstrong and this one has been seating on my shelf since it came out! aah!! Im SO gonna read it this month =9
    Im sad that Rafe is not there for a good part of the book, yet Daniel seems pretty appetizing =9

    great review my sweet ^.^
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    Danny 7/11/2012

    *sigh* I loved Daniel too, like so much! He was great but, I just loved the tension between Rafe and Maya as lovers and not as friends…
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  3. Ooh you’re a fan of this series too!? I LOVE Kelley she’s one of my top fav authors I’ve enjoyed all of her books – this one included. I love Maya and the excitement in it and for a sequel this one was great!!

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    Danny 7/11/2012

    I truly have to get to her Darkest Power series! I tried so many times but never got past the first pages I do not know why! Because I love this series here so much!
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  4. Funny. I haven’t read the DP series either because I couldn’t get into it. Glad to know that the Gathering is much better, though I’m not sure what to think about the romantic entanglements. Still, I love it when the secondary characters are just as well developed as the main.

    Thanks so much for the giveaway. I’m crossing my fingers.
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    Danny 7/11/2012

    Hehe! Mee too, I tried at least 3 times but never really got into the book1 But. with this one it was instant love so you shouldn’t shy away from it because you didn’t read DP..
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  5. Great review, Danny! I’m really pleased to hear this is a good follow up. I love Kelley Armstrong’s books and The Gathering is one of my favourites. I still need to read this one but can’t wait now! 🙂
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    Danny 7/11/2012

    This one starts right off where the last one ends and it’ starts with such a bang it was hard to stop reading! lovedit!
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