The Calling (Blog Tour)

The Calling

Rachelle Dekker

Tyndale

Remko Brant had never been so sure of anything as escaping the Authority City with Carrington Hale. But bravado comes easy when you have nothing to lose. Now a husband, father, and the tactical leader of the Seers, Remko has never had so much at risk. As he and his team execute increasingly dangerous rescue missions inside the city, they face growing peril from a new enemy. Recently appointed Authority President Damien Gold claims to be guiding a city shaken by rebellion into a peaceful, harmonious future. But appearances can be deceiving. In order to achieve his dangerous ambitions, Gold knows he must do more than catch the rebels--he must destroy the hope their message represents . . . from the inside out.With dissension in his own camp--and the City Watch soldiers closing in--Remko feels control slipping through his fingers. To protect those he loves, he must conquer his fears and defeat Gold . . . before one of them becomes his undoing.

About the Author . . . The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through storytelling. The Choosing is her critically acclaimed debut novel. She graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full-time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat, Blair. Visit her online at rachelledekker.com.

Author Q&A, courtesy of Tyndale Publishers

The Calling is the second book in The Seer Series. Does it pick up right after The Choosing leaves off? No, a year and a half has passed when we rejoin the characters in The Calling 

This book is written from Remko’s perspective. Did you face any challenges writing from a male point-of-view? There was definitely a looming pressure as I started to write the book. As a woman writer, I wanted to make sure Remko felt masculine and authentic, so I was constantly aware of how he sounded, and how he reacted. Once I got into a flow with his character though, it started to feel more familiar I didn’t have to think about it as much. 

In the book you talk a lot about surrendering to fear. What does this look like and how does this help us to not be afraid? I think sometimes the natural reaction to fear is to hide from it, or try and push it away. It’s the idea that if we can’t see it then it must not be there, but we all know that unless dealt with the unseen things often come back to bite us. The only way to face fear is to walk through it; surrendering to Father God and letting Him reminder us of our true identity. Only then do we really see that the light within us is always greater than the fear we face. 

What do you hope readers will take away from the story? I hope they take a moment to see themselves as children of the Father. I hope they see that true freedom and fearlessness rest in surrendering, and that when they stand with the Father than nothing can stand against them. There is incredible peace in that truth, and I hope, like I am beginning the experience, that readers feel that same peace.

What can readers expect in the final book of the series? Characters they know and some new ones I hope they’ll love! More questions of identity, and fear, but the characters will also be looking at forgiveness and letting go. I’m really happy with the way the final book played out, and I’m hoping readers will be as well. 

Hayden's Review: 

     Dystopian fiction is either a hit or a miss for me, but I was impressed with the world and society of Dekker's The Choosing, so I knew that I would be reading the next book in the series.

     Some of the theological points I did find to be a little sketchy, but mostly because I felt that while not necessarily incorrect, they could be taken the wrong way- they were just vague enough to make me squint my eyes for a moment. I also may be one of the few people who doesn't really care for the character of Aaron. I believe he's supposed to be a sort of Jesus figure, but he just seems a little too mystical or something for me; I can't quite put my finger on it, but he's not a favorite.

     Again, I feel like the world of The Calling is very well done. The government structure and society is plausible, and the characters realistic. However, as interesting as this book is, it is also so frustrating. 
There were times I wanted to shake people for their decisions and there were many times I wanted to do something a bit more violent to some of the manipulative and scheming government figures. Because of that, I can't say I really enjoyed the book much, although I'm sure due to its engaging premise, many people will.

Rating: 7

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review