Thursday, February 18, 2021

NBTM Virtual Book Tour + Review + #Giveaway: The Calling by Branwen Oshea @BranwenOShea @GoddessFish


The Calling

by Branwen OShea

GENRE: YA Sci-fi

BLURB:


Humanity’s wake-up call. Answer it or face extinction.


When Bleu’s little sister shows symptoms of the deadly Sickness, a strange vision directs him to leave humanity’s subterranean haven and seek the cure on Earth’s glacial surface. Joining the expedition team, Bleu expects extreme temperatures, not a surface ruled by ingenious predators.


Rana and her fellow star beings have co-existed with Earth’s top carnivores since the humans disappeared. But when her peers transform into Crowned Ones, the final stage of star being development, she fears remaining Uncrowned like her parents. To prove her worth, she undertakes a dangerous mission—contacting the hostile and nearly extinct humans.


But Rana’s plan backfires, and Bleu’s team retaliates. As war with the more advanced star being civilization looms, both Rana and Bleu separately seek a way to save their people.


Excerpt:

All right, get out, men.” Savas had never experienced such peace on the last mission. This was truly pleasant. They climbed out of the rover, and he tripped on his own feet as if drunk.

Laughing at himself, he reminded the others, “Guns out. Stamf, take the lead. I’ll bring up the rear.”

He paused, swaying a bit, while the other two men passed him and then proceeded slowly down the left branch. Sparkling light from farther down the tunnel lit their way. With a quick glance back toward the entrance, he took up the rear.

Then a voice as ethereal as the wind sang, “Caaaaaahm heeeeeeeere…caaaaaaaaaahm heeeeeeeere…”

What the hell?

Savas shook his head, blinked, and tapped his ear communicator. Stamf and Abdul, farther ahead, had frozen and appeared confused, swaying in place.

Something was terribly wrong. Was this cave filled with noxious fumes? Had they all gotten cold sickness? The databases talked of arctic workers becoming weak and confused by the extreme temperatures.

Think! Think. Savas wanted to lie down and nap. What’s wrong with me? Images from his childhood tumbled through his head. Not now. Not again. I control my own mind.

Caaaaaaaaahm heeeeeeeeere,” the voice lulled, endlessly peaceful.

They all mindlessly continued forward, as if in a dream. A small part of Savas’ brain screamed in warning. I. Control. My. Own. Mind. He grunted with the effort. Fighting the urge to relax, Savas forced his hands to raise his weapon.


My Review:

The Calling is told from many different points of view one of them being Bleu who lives underground with his mom and sister. Humans have lived underground for a long time as it is way too cold up top. When Bleu’s little sister becomes sick with the mad disease he will do whatever he can to find a cure to save his sister. He believes the cure is up top on the surface. Bleu has been working on a way for everyone to live on the surface.

What is unknown to Bleu and the undergrounders is that life already exists on the surface known as the star beings. Rana a star being lives on the surface with her family. The final stage in the star being's life is when they Crown. Rana has not Crowned yet but her little sister has. Being Crowned in Rana’s world is a big thing. Rana is told to go on a journey alone so hopefully, she will Crown. Rana is supposed to go alone but her best friend doesn’t think she should go alone no matter what anyone says. So he follows her out into the wilderness so to speak.

Bleu finally makes it to the surface by joining the expedition team. On the surface, Bleu and the expedition team are attacked by deadly creatures. Rana herself has a few run-ins with some dangerous creatures of her own and is injured but must continue on with her mission.

The Calling has some great world-building and some really great characters. Once I picked up The Calling I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as the action rolled out. The evolved creatures were so awesome. The descriptions of the creatures were so vivid I could see them in my head. I could see all the characters in my head and would love to see them on the big screen. What an amazing graphical movie The Calling would make. Rana reminded me of Echo, from the clan the Azgeda also known as Azgedakru, or Ice Nation also known as Grounders, from the TV show The 100.

I would recommend The Calling to all sci-fi or dystopian fans! One-click your copy of The Calling today!


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

As a young girl, Branwen wanted to become an ambassador for aliens. Since the aliens never hired her, she now writes about them.

Branwen OShea has a Bachelors in Biology from Colgate University, a Bachelors in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work. She lives in Connecticut with her family and a menagerie of pets, and enjoys hiking, meditating, and star-gazing. Her previously published works include contributing to a nonfiction yoga book, wellness magazines, and her published science fiction novella, Silence of the Song Trees.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Facebook


Order Link:

Amazon



Giveaway:

$20 Amazon/BN GC




Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.


6 comments:

BranwenOShea said...

Thank you for hosting The Calling's book tour! If anyone has questions about The Calling, I'm happy to answer them.

Rita Wray said...

Great review, thank you for sharing.

Victoria Alexander said...

Great review - thanks for sharing!

pippirose said...

The book sounds very interesting. Thanks!

Elena said...

Sounds like a great read! I like the cover.

Sherry said...

Sounds like a great read.