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. The book delivers both thrilling action and meaningful messages, leaving a lasting impression long after the final page.
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. It is dark with violence so probably advise 13+ readers.
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. The element of suspense throughout is riveting and its momentum compelled me to read continuously.
In my opinion, the book’s most striking feature was the inclusion of the enchanted and historical Irish fair-folk, the Sídhe, being banished from the world and seeking hateful vengeance as it was the extra layer that made this book so interesting and compelling. The events carried out throughout this story made my heart race but were also violent and gruesome, creating the exact balance. Through the carefully constructed plot, the individual chapters included the stories and perspectives of several different characters, allowing for a very enhanced impact of the events and a more authentic insight into the tale. It is an empowering storyline of endurance, determination and perseverance as Nessa proves the worth of the act of courage and bravery.
Overall, this novel is a 331-page catalyst for a tremendous change in a society, fictional but still inspiring as it highlights the power of pursuing your goals and dreams in spite of anything else. I would love to recommend this book to YA readers invested in fabulous fantasy thrillers!
https://prishayadav.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-call-peadar-oguilin.html
A thriller that just can’t be put down. Excellent ideas and themes that complement the characters. Fans of teenage dystopian books will enjoy this story.
This book was wonderfully written and has themes of survival, violence and friendship. I enjoyed this book as the protagonist was determined to survive, despite everyone pitying her and secretly thinking she would die. Nessa – the protagonist- also shows lots of strength and courage when she is training and is inspiring in the way she tries to take every advantage she has. I especially liked reading about what happened to others when they got the call as it is interesting to see their thoughts on how to survive, and in addition, it offers an explanation to how they died or became severely disfigured. I would recommend this book to fans of Maze Runner and The Hunger Games series as these books all have similar ideas and themes, which feature teenagers trying to survive in a dystopian world. However, some parts of the story were slightly unclear, such as the details about Nessa’s brother and how the Sidhe can call teenagers into their world. This book was also a little gruesome and violent so I would not recommend it for anyone under the age of 12 as some of the content in the book may seem scary to those that age.