Review: The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

The Calling
(Darkness Rising #2)
by Kelley Armstrong

Publication Date: April 10th, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 326
ISBN: 9780061797057

Where to Buy:
B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository

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. (BN.com)

The Calling, book #2 in the Darkness Rising trilogy by Kelley Armstrong, is a thrilling mixture of action and suspense. This series, as well as the Darkest Powers series, are amazing books. If you haven’t checked them out yet, you totally should!

The book picks up right after the ending of the previous book. Without going into much details and spoiling the book, let’s just say that Maya and crew are on the run, trying to keep from being capture by the evil group that is tracking them. After the helicopter they were evacuating on crashes on the shores of a small island, it’s up to the teens to survive, and to escape the group that is chasing them, no matter what.

Maya is a great character. She can definitely kick butt when she needs to, and can take care of herself and others if needed. She definitely grows dramatically in this book, and it was enjoyable to see she was capable of. She cares deeply for her friends and family, especially Daniel. I love the friendship between them. I do feel that he cares for her a bit differently than she cares for him, and I am thinking we might get to explore this more in the next book. Rafe, the love interest in the story, is interesting in his own way as well, and I really love them together. I found all of Maya’s friends to be likeable, especially Corey. He was quite a funny guy.

The main theme in the book is basically the continuance from the previous book. The book definitely starts of strong, and keeps going up until the end. I had more than a few “OMG” moments while reading this book, Mrs. Armstrong definitely kept me on my toes. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, and will definitely keep you wondering what is going to happen in the final installment of the series.

Overall, I must reiterate; I adore Kelley Armstrong. She is such a talented writer, and never fails to draw me into her stories. The Calling is no exception, it’s a great read. I really can’t wait to get my hands on the next book as well, especially if we are going to get to see Chloe, Derek and all the crew from the previous series!

Darkness Rising Trilogy:

The Gathering | The Calling

Darkest Powers Trilogy:

The Summoning | The Awakening | The Reckoning