breedawnwriter's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I have mixed feelings about this book.
The Good:
I loved it because it has some of my favorite themes. Surviving and never giving up are truly at the heart of this novel. Nessa’s persistence in the face of overwhelming—and fatal—odds inspired me. I love that she somehow always finds a way to keep going, to keep trying, to take one more step even when the very ground beneath her is quaking.
This also extends to Anto and Aoife. These two carry so much of the story on their shoulders, and they handle it with such care. There were many moments with Anto that drove me crazy (and no, I won’t be elaborating because spoilers), but I forgive him for being an idiot because of his heart. He loves with every part of him—just as I suppose we all did at fourteen. Aoife also shined in this book. She had a bit of a backseat roll in The Call, but here she takes the reigns and comes into her own. She knows why she is fighting, and that reason is so special to me: Not to win, but to simply make a difference to someone.
We all want to make a difference. We all want to make a splash and be remembered for doing the right thing. This theme envelops the latter-half of the novel and gently reminds us all about why we have to keep fighting the battle, even if we know we won’t win the war.
The Not-So-Good:
I expected more.
The Call was unputdownable. The Invasion was more…putdownable. I think it was simply too long without enough reason to be so long. The pacing was way too slow for 80% of the book, and then the ending wrapped up way too fast. (I also wish the author had done some sort of epilogue to tell us what happened to a couple of characters.)
Overall, it’s a decent read, if you really liked The Call and wanted more. But, if you were satisfied with the ending of The Call, I’d recommend treating it as a stand-alone.
Similarly to The Call, there is extreme body horror, gore, and torture. Please read trigger warnings/content warnings before reading if you are at all sensitive to these things!
Content warnings: Ableism, alcohol, blood, body horror, bullying, cannibalism (mentioned/considered), death, fire/fire injury, genocide, gore, grief, gun violence, injury/injury detail, murder, physical abuse, sexual content (two characters have sex, but it isn’t shown on-page. It only shows kissing and “ripping off clothes”), suicidal thoughts, torture (a character’s fingers are broken and the scene is graphic. If you are sensitive to bones breaking/being crushed, proceed with caution. There are other forms of torture, but this was the most disturbing one for me.), violence, vomit, and war.
The Good:
I loved it because it has some of my favorite themes. Surviving and never giving up are truly at the heart of this novel. Nessa’s persistence in the face of overwhelming—and fatal—odds inspired me. I love that she somehow always finds a way to keep going, to keep trying, to take one more step even when the very ground beneath her is quaking.
This also extends to Anto and Aoife. These two carry so much of the story on their shoulders, and they handle it with such care. There were many moments with Anto that drove me crazy (and no, I won’t be elaborating because spoilers), but I forgive him for being an idiot because of his heart. He loves with every part of him—just as I suppose we all did at fourteen. Aoife also shined in this book. She had a bit of a backseat roll in The Call, but here she takes the reigns and comes into her own. She knows why she is fighting, and that reason is so special to me: Not to win, but to simply make a difference to someone.
We all want to make a difference. We all want to make a splash and be remembered for doing the right thing. This theme envelops the latter-half of the novel and gently reminds us all about why we have to keep fighting the battle, even if we know we won’t win the war.
The Not-So-Good:
I expected more.
The Call was unputdownable. The Invasion was more…putdownable. I think it was simply too long without enough reason to be so long. The pacing was way too slow for 80% of the book, and then the ending wrapped up way too fast. (I also wish the author had done some sort of epilogue to tell us what happened to a couple of characters.)
Overall, it’s a decent read, if you really liked The Call and wanted more. But, if you were satisfied with the ending of The Call, I’d recommend treating it as a stand-alone.
Similarly to The Call, there is extreme body horror, gore, and torture. Please read trigger warnings/content warnings before reading if you are at all sensitive to these things!
Content warnings: Ableism, alcohol, blood, body horror, bullying, cannibalism (mentioned/considered), death, fire/fire injury, genocide, gore, grief, gun violence, injury/injury detail, murder, physical abuse, sexual content (two characters have sex, but it isn’t shown on-page. It only shows kissing and “ripping off clothes”), suicidal thoughts, torture (a character’s fingers are broken and the scene is graphic. If you are sensitive to bones breaking/being crushed, proceed with caution. There are other forms of torture, but this was the most disturbing one for me.), violence, vomit, and war.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Grief, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Body horror, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Ableism, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Cannibalism, and Vomit
Similarly to The Call, there is extreme body horror, gore, and torture. There are also detailed scenes of bones crunching/breaking. Two characters have sex, but it isn’t shown on-page (some kissing and “ripping off clothes”).outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The second book in the duology is slightly better than the first & many of the characters return from the first story. Nessa is sent to prison for being a traitor, the evidence being that the Sidhe gave her the power of fire control & made her fireproof. Everyone seems to believe the accusation & Nessa is banished back to the fairy realm, whilst Anto is caught up in the fighting when the Sidhe invade Ireland.
Again, this was a very dark book with lots of cruel death & grotesque imagery. I read it because I wanted to know how the story ended, if Nessa managed to survive & what happened with her & Anto. Anto, now there's a big disappointment who betrays Nessa in the worst way. I was going to make this a 4 star read until that scene happened. Way to completely trash his character. Overall, I'm wanted to read this duology but I'm in no rush to ever re-read it.
Again, this was a very dark book with lots of cruel death & grotesque imagery. I read it because I wanted to know how the story ended, if Nessa managed to survive & what happened with her & Anto. Anto, now there's a big disappointment who betrays Nessa in the worst way. I was going to make this a 4 star read until that scene happened. Way to completely trash his character. Overall, I'm wanted to read this duology but I'm in no rush to ever re-read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, and Child death
yodareads12's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you've never read a book about fairies, I wouldn't start with this one. Also, if you only like happy, sweet fairies (do those even exist?) then this also is not the series for you.
This is the second book in the Call duology. It tells the story of the Sidhe (fairies) and how they were banished to another world when the Irish took Ireland from them. 25 years ago they began "Calling" teenagers to the greyland where they are now banished. Many do not return alive, none return the same.
These books are really good, but really dark! They reveal more of the deceptive, evil side of fairies that is many times glanced over. There is a significant amount of cursing, but they are in life/death situations so it doesn't bother me as bad.
I would only recommend for those who like dark (grim?) fantasy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Gore
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