"The Hunger Games meets Irish faerie folklore - this is dystopian fantasy at its most gripping, and grimly imaginative."
February 2026 Book of the Month
Super-suspenseful and ferociously intense, Peadar O'Guilin’s The Call takes Irish Sídhe folklore into terrifying territory through a fresh and feverish YA fantasy thriller that tells an electrifying story of revenge and endurance.
As a result of society “working to keep its children innocent”, Nessa initially refuses to believe her parents when they finally disclose the “horrible truth” of what happens when kids hit their teenage years: “sometime during her adolescence, the Sídhe will come for her, as they come these days for everyone.
They will hunt her down, and if she fails to outrun them, Nessa will die”. Such has the situation been in Ireland for 25 years. That’s how long the magical Sídhe have been taking and torturing teenagers as an act of revenge on the humans who banished them to the grim Grey Land beneath the earth.
Given her “twisted legs”, Nessa’s parents are especially fearful for her future, but she’s nothing if not determined: “I’m going to live. And nobody’s going to stop me”.
In order to give adolescents some chance of staying alive, they attend special colleges to be trained in survival skills and schooled in Sídhe language and history. In the words of one teacher, “we trapped an entire race of people in hell for all eternity just so we could take their homes for ourselves”. Dark in the extreme, and enormously gripping, faeries have never been so outrageously horrifying, and fights for survival have rarely been so brutally conjured.
The magical Sidhe have been expelled from their home and forced into the Grey Land - a place under the earth; a place of darkness and death. But now they've returned to take back what they lost.
| Suitable For: | |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
A powerful tale of survival, identity and courage woven with Irish culture and an inspiring heroine.
The Call is an exciting, imaginative, and thought-provoking novel. Its strong heroine, original premise, and fast-paced plot make it an excellent choice for readers who enjoy fantasy, horror, and dystopian fiction. I loved the main character.... Read Full Review
With brutal odds of one in ten, can Nessa survive 24 hours hunted by the vengeful malevolent Sídhe who have been displaced by the human race? Grotesque. Gripping. Go read it!
I really enjoyed this book. It has an original captivating plot which means that once you start reading, it is difficult to put down! Along with the protagonist, Nessa, you find yourself tensely awaiting her call - the time that determines if she lives or dies. Based on Irish folklore, in this story each teenager will face the call from the vengeful Sídhe and have to take part in their brutal hunt. Only one in ten survive, less still survive without mutilations. Will Nessa? Will the Sídhe plot to return to live amongst the humans work? This is a story about struggle and perseverance which will keep you on the edge of your seat.... Read Full Review
A fusion of folklore, adventure and resilience, this empowering and immersive novel captivates both detailed mythology and suspense. It is a must read for YA fans of intense imaginative fantasy.
The Call is a novel rich in detail and insight with a narrative that succeeds in exploring thrilling adventure, fantasy folklore and themes of resilience simultaneously. This novel is both elegant and purposeful as it follows the central character, Nessa’s exhilarating chase and exhaustive training towards her eventual and destined “Call” into the supernatural world to determine her fortune in the matter of exactly three minutes and four seconds, despite all the obstacles and obvious difficulties in her way.... Read Full Review
The magical Sidhe have been expelled from their home and forced into the Grey Land - a place under the earth; a place of darkness and death. But now they've returned to take back what they lost.All teenagers will be called, and when your time comes, you have to be ready to run or fight to the death.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Call and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
The Call features in the following genres: Featured Books for 13+ readers, Featured Books for Young Adults, Books of the Month, Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Adventure Stories, Thrillers, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Speculative, dystopian and utopian fiction
Paperback, Hardback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Call was written by Peadar Ó Guilín and published by David Fickling Books
The Call has 330 pages
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
