The Calling by Cate Tiernan

Title: The Calling
Author: Cate Tiernan
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-131483-4
Pages: 189
Series: Wicca/Sweep #7
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Morgan Rowlands has discovered magick and with it love, danger and betrayal. Now she has escaped from the grasp of dark witches who wanted only her powers and has found peace within herself. With her boyfriend Hunter, Morgan is ready to face anything...or so she thinks. When she begins to have disturbing dreams about the death of a young witch, Morgan and her coven travel to New York to help but end up changing their lives forever.

This is the seventh book in the Wicca series (after Book of Shadows, The Coven, Blood Witch, Dark Magick, Awakening and Spellbound) and begins a new era for Morgan. Cal and Selene are gone and Morgan is now in a relationship with Hunter. Morgan is also starting to grow into her powers and become more accepting of who she is. This also marks somewhat of a turning point for the series - from this point on the battles are bigger, the highs higher, the lows lower and the magick steps further from modern wicca into the realm of fantasy.

By moving the setting to New York, there is also the opportunity to focus back on a smaller group of characters. Previously the two covens of Cirrus and Kithic had united which meant a lot of characters with not much pagetime. In New York there is only Morgan, Hunter, Bree, Robbie, Sky and Raven which not only means a tighter focus and more depth but also a romantic angle that is far more prevalent than before. It is interesting to read about how different each of the three couples are, and how each has their own unique strengths and weaknesses.

One thing that has remained from the previous books is the careful crafting of tension. Morgan's time is spent looking for a witch in danger, but also on discovering more about her past. Her birth parents lived in New York for a while and Morgan's search to find out more puts one friendship in jeopardy. There are also several twists and turns I didn't see coming leading to a shocking conclusion.

All in all, this was an interesting read and I'm looking forward to Changeling.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 47/50