Haunting, Harrowing, and Fantastic

If you're within the sound of my voice -- or, more appropriately, the sight of my written words -- please take this as a given: I want to sit you down, shove this book into your hands (or the audiobook into your ears), and insist that you enjoy it. Now.

It may be easy to overlook what a stunning achievement this novel represents, but that's because Peadar Ó Guilín makes it seem so effortless as he draws the reader on from one page-turning moment to the next. It is a stunning achievement nonetheless, with its meditation on how a people's history returns to them for rectification; its all-too-relevant consideration of mass culture during its descent ("I don't care if I don't make it... I mean it. The country is done for, and we all know that's the truth. Aiofe is right. Even the survivors have nothing to look forward to except decline..."); its seamless world-building, folding real and mythic Irish history, language, and poetry into its storytelling ("Never has a generation of Irish children been so aware of its own folklore"); its related and stunning sense of place; and its utterly compelling depiction of a three-dimensional, dynamic, and partially (and permanently) disabled heroine.

I don't sell young adult dystopias short, but I also feel confident in saying that The Call transcends the labels others would place on it. Both adult and YA readers of science fiction, fantasy will find much to appreciate here.

The premise is this: Ireland is a nation cut off from the rest of the world, plagued by terrible retribution. Thousands of years after the Sidhe, the people of the mounds, the followers of the Goddess Danu, were displaced by the Irish and banished to a colorless netherworld, they have returned with a vengeance to destroy those who removed them. Every Irish child will face the three minutes of the Call during his or her adolescence. Few return alive, and most of those are twisted beyond recognition. Nessa, whose polio-twisted legs all but promise she will not outrun the Sidhe when her time comes, stubbornly prepares to meet the Call and win her survival.

What I appreciate most -- and that's saying a lot, considering how much I love about this novel -- is the nuanced, insightful way The Call handles the question of, and challenges readers about, conquest and conflict. What are the causes and costs of war? How we determine who is responsible? What does it mean to be guilty/innocent or winning/losing?

Take for instance this passage:

"'Listen,' he says, 'we don't need the Sidhe to teach us evil. We were the ones who put them in the Grey Land, remember? And not just for a day or however long it is the Call lasts. We Irish... we trapped an entire race of people in hell for all eternity just so we could take their homes for ourselves. You can read it in The Book of Conquests. I mean, look at it from their point of view.... There they were, a few thousand years ago, living in a place they loved so much that they called it the Many-Colored Land. Then this other group arrives, pretty much the same as them, speaking the same language even, except this new lot -- our ancestors -- were the first in the world to have iron weapons. They thought it gave them the right to take everything! Everything!'"

And this one:

"'How long must I wait?' she asks the mirror in Sidhe.
"As a survivor, she doesn't need to speak the language anymore. But many like her are more comfortable in it than English, and since they have no choice but to marry each other, the primary schools of the country are filling with tiny tots whose innocent mouths spout the long-dead language of their distant ancestors, which also happen to be the living, never-changing tongue of the enemy. Some day, she thinks, we will be them, a greater victory for the Sidhe than if they kill us all."

Like all great speculative fiction, The Call provides us metaphors by which we can question our condition and examine current issues in our world today. It also provides a window into history, art, and our common humanity. And it does so while providing a chilling and fascinating ride.

Amy Shiels' beautiful narration helps ground the text in its Irish context and bring the characters to life.

32 people found this helpful

Brilliant Beyond Anything I've Read This Year

What made the experience of listening to The Call the most enjoyable?

Amy Shiels... she may be British, Irish, Scottish, or even American. I haven't researched this at all; however, Ms. Shiels has talent beyond anything I've EVER heard. It wasn't just the accents, where she could go from American to British to Irish... I felt the pain, the fear, the longing, and everything that Peadar O'Guilin beautifully wrote. I was entranced from very early on and I listened to that last 2 1/2 hours in one sitting into the early hours of the morning. This is something I haven't done since I was a child and was first reading the Harry Potter series.

What did you like best about this story?

This story has been described by some as 'The Hunger Games with Faeries.' This description makes me so furious that I can hardly stand to even think about it for very long. The best part about this was how, although this is a young adult novel, it is written as though it were meant for the literary fiction genre. Mr. O'Guilin is a master with words based on this book alone and I can't even begin to describe my hatred of the comparison to 'The Hunger Games.' Suzanne Collins (author of The Hunger Games trilogy) wrote an amazing story and the movies took it to a new level; however, Ms. Collins' writing in the trilogy is so basic and simplistic that to compare it to 'The Call' is such a disservice that I won't stand for it. Yes, there are faeries, but they are nothing like you're imagining. Read the book and find out, because you will discover a hidden gem so brilliant that I, a 30 year old man, spent precious time that I needed to sleep, listening to this book.

What does Amy Shiels bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I will say that I would've felt the same way about the book if I had just read it, but Ms. Shiels is just a major talent. If she doesn't receive some sort of award for audiobooks or get more jobs even, I will be furious. She is an incredible talent and the PERFECT narrator for 'The Call.'

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I do not listen to books in one sitting. Even if a book was three hours long, I couldn't take the time to do it all in one; however, like I said above, I spent over two hours listening to the end of this book, because I could not handle the idea of not knowing what happens to Nessa and her survival college. It was one of the most intense endings I've ever heard in a young adult novel...Let me change that. It was one of the most intense endings I've ever read in ANY novel.

Any additional comments?

I've become aware that 'The Call' will be part of a duology, even though I could see this book being a standalone. I am VERY curious to see what Mr. O'Guilin does with the story and what will happen in the next book. I'm so curious that I might not sleep tonight!

As far as this novel goes, please DO NOT listen to those who've made simplistic, stupid remarks about how it's about faeries or it's about children taken to horrible places (basically, they are saying it's a copy of 'The Hunger Games'). I reserve my 5 star ratings for books that deserve it. I can tell you right now what they are: Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World,' Justin Cronin's 'The Passage' and 'The Twelve,' Caleb Roehrig's 'Last Seen Leaving' and now I've added 'The Call.' I'm a huge reader and this book deserves to be read by many. It is fantasy, but think about Harry Potter... Fantasy, but J.K. Rowling did such an amazing job with the writing that it became something adults could read. I probably have hyped this book up too much, but I don't really care. This is one of the best-written contemporary books I've ever read in my life.

8 people found this helpful

Perfect Twisted Fairy Tale

Not as horror filled as some reviews would have one believe but definitely a dark story. However, it has plenty of hope, love, and charm to stop it from being a total downer. It's intelligent and raw fantasy at its best. Defiantly check it out if you're into grown up fairy tales where not every ending is happy. Also, please listen to the narrator audio sample, I personally loved the thick accent and thought it added much to the story but it might not be for everyone.

15 people found this helpful

Desparate and Bleak

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I'm not certain anything could as it was the story itself that wasn't really for me. If I take my personal likes and dislikes out of the equation then I'd say the story was ok and written fairly well....the author definitely pulls the correct emotions from you.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Blood Rule: Dirty Blood Book 4 by Heather Hildenbrand.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Eh, ish ish. Not the worst narration I've ever heard. There were times it felt discordant and times where the monotone slow pace matched the bleak feeling of the book. The accent was pretty interesting'ish. The narrator did rush through certain characters speech but I actually felt it matched them...Just be prepared to really listen to the words to understand.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Call?

I would cut the repetitive descriptions. Honestly, I only need to hear why they call her The Turkey once.

Any additional comments?

This book wasn't for me even though there are many books that have the same desolate, empty, bleak feel to them as The Call that I absolutely loved. I believe it is the darker books based on Fae that I don't enjoy. So I'd say if you love all Fae books and are forgiving a bit in the narration then give it a go.

6 people found this helpful

The Call Keeps You on the Edge of Your Seat!

Where does The Call rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The Call is an interesting concept and I would not mind listening to it again. It has it's own twists and turns and builds its own world to be like none other that I have read about before.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It is hard to pick a favorite character because you get to know so many of them that you even fall in love with the side characters. Each person has their own story and background and I could not help but love a bunch of the characters in this book.

Which scene was your favorite?

I do not have a favorite scene that would not give away the whole book but I do love the concept of how the characters in the book get Called and what they do in the Sidhe's world.

Any additional comments?

This book does have funny, violent, and terrifying moments that I found myself wanting to stay up to listen to it. It did keep me awake thinking about some of the scarier images that came to my mind with this book. I will still recommend it but it is part of a suspenseful and horror genre. I usually sway away from horror but the suspense and intrigue of the characters made me finish it and I have been in somewhat of a reading slump lately so this book got me back into reading, finally!

All in all, it is a great book that I will be recommending to my friends.

4 people found this helpful

Good Concept Decent Execution

Loved the concept for the novel. With the amount of lore, characters and worldbuilding to do, it did not feel like enough time to do it justice. The main character was too bland and her only role seemed to be "strong female" which took away any interesting development to her.

Narration was below average. Character voices usually did not change when they should have during conversations. Sheetha voices were hit or miss whether they were done or not. The main character had no identifiable voice.

1 person found this helpful

Wonderful and Eerie!

I love it!
Very creative with memorable characters brought to life by a very talented narrator.

1 person found this helpful

LOVED this story

I can't get enough of this story. I just finished, but will start it again on my evening commute. It was definitely creepy, scary, and thrilling. No punches pulled. I loved all the fantasy and myths woven through. I want to see it in print so I can google some of the terms, but it was very understandable even with some Irish folklore references that I'm not familiar with.
Hoping for Book 2!

1 person found this helpful

Review

I would have enjoyed a little more enthusiasm from the narrator. The story was interesting and filled with imagination. I really liked the characters and I think I would have enjoyed the story a little more if the characters were more lively and worked closer with each other. I'm ready to hear the sequel. if it hasn't been written yet, what are you waiting for?

1 person found this helpful

A Brutal and Chilling Surprise

I had this one sitting in my app for a while until I picked it up on a whim. Whoa. This book is not meant for stumbling into. Or maybe it is, and that accounts for the addictive freefall feeling it gave me. I was irretrievably sucked in within the first few minutes, when a teenage boy on a bus vanishes, returning three minutes later, dead, with miniature antlers sprouting from the back of his head. You come to learn that while he left the human world only briefly, he actually was hunted for 24 hours by the bloodthirsty and beautiful Sidhe, an ancient race of creatures taking their revenge for being cast out of Ireland millennia ago. Every teenager will at some point be called, and they are all furiously training for a slim chance at survival. The whole premise may seem ludicrous (The Call has been described by critics as The Hunger Games with faeries), but Paedar O'Guilin draws deep on mythology, pulling at the haunting threads of childhood ghost stories. Even if Irish folklore isn't in your personal cultural backlog, O'Guilin, along with the immersive, many-layered, Gaelic voice of narrator Amy Shiels, unearths a primal dread in the listener. For me it led to some sleepless nights but the nightmares were worth it.

3 people found this helpful