The Caller

The Caller is the rewarding conclusion to Juliet Marillier's Shadowfell trilogy, in which Neryn and her allies finally confront King Keldec in a battle to reclaim Alban from his despotic rule.

Picking up where Raven Flight left off, Neryn is continuing her quest to complete her training with the Guardians before the planned Midsummer rebellion. As winter approaches Neryn joins the the Guardian of the Air, but the White Lady is fading and when her haven is destroyed, Neryn is forced to move on. Though Neryn still needs to seek the wisdom of the Master of Shadows, time is running out and when she learns of the horrifying new threat to the rebellion, Neryn has no choice but to enter Keldec's court.

One of the strengths of this series has show more been Marillier's characterisation of the principles, Neryn and Flint and their struggle to reconcile their own conscience and behaviour with their need to serve the greater good. Never is the conflict more clear than when Neryn is forced to witness the King and Queen's cruelty in Keldec's stronghold, and remain silent. Despite the personal cost, Neryn has be hold strong, trust in herself and her allies, in order to defeat the King and his dark forces.
Flint is near his breaking point in The Caller, struggling with the deeds he has had to commit as an Enforcer in order to provide the rebellion with what they need. Marillier explores his conflict with authenticity and compassion.

Though there is never any doubt that Neryn and her allies will prevail, the final confrontation is as stirring as to be expected with impassioned speeches by Flint, Tali and Neryn, and a violent conflict that leaves several of the characters the reader has come to know and love dead on the battlefield. It is a rousing conclusion though if I have any criticism... it is the way in which Kedrec and his cronies escape any immediate punishment for their crimes - surely the Queen could have been snatched bald or something!

Overall, the Shadowfell Trilogy is an enjoyable young adult series and The Caller provides a fine conclusion to Juliet Marillier's tale of fantasy and adventure. show less

The thing is, this series is very much starkly good and evil. There's enough idea of the in between, especially with Flint (!!!), but Neryn herself is a Mary Sue - not in a bad way necessarily, just that she is. And I like this book enough for what it is, but Neryn is literally just everything good and Varda is everything evil, etc. Neryn as living weapon, representative of the country itself, of the fey beings, puts her in this position of she literally can't be anything but good and the decisions she makes in this book involve the knowledge that everything she does is for the Cause(tm) (is it 'decisions she make'? make doesn't look like a word to me anymore i've been staring at it for so long). uh i was going to say something about show more Neryn as the hope of Alban but I forgot what nevermind

And not even a postscript as to what happened to everyone else??? I do not like it when books simply decide to leave off after the main couple get it together and this fell into that especially since the whole deal was to restore Alban, somehow. I know - Neryn's purpose, and the rebels', was the Cause: dethroning Keldec, but nothing's complete without the knowledge of what happens past that. Like alright I get it Neryn and Flint are finally blessedly together with everyone else's urging to go away (slay lol) but help Keldec and Varda are just in custody? What happens now? If not death on the battlefield - and I KNEW Flint would do that because that's how these stories go - what, then? The story of a rule of tyranny does not end with the downfall of its leader. I know the book touched on what would happen, perhaps: Lannan had asked for co-regent, and Neryn had wondered if the power would get to him, too, and I know Flint spoke of the child, and all that, but - power and opportunity in the wake of chaos. How will Alban live, now that the fey folk have been revealed and the canny is no longer considered smirched? How do you rebuild a kingdom founded on tyranny and cruelty without becoming that, yourself? Neryn and Flint may have had that window of relief, but they're both so at the heart of everything there's no way they can just skedaddle off again, not until this is all worked out, and I want to know! and the rebels factoring in beside the chieftains - there'll be a mess there. I also want to know how Tali and Rohan fit into the equation ngl LMAO they're in interestign positions the both of them. yeah basically I think the ending makes sense they deserve it so so much and the bit where Flint's losing it bc he's not a good man for what he's done and it's jsut like MY MAN YOU'RE THE REASON THE REBELLION EXISTS & SUCCEEDED!! but it's actually such a real moment and this is why Flint is my favorite character fr speak of a conflicted character. but i am still unhappy it just left off there.

shoutout to Rohan for REAL. to all the rebels of Shadowfell and otherwise. Tali my beloved yet again despite her really not being there. To the Guardians, beings of power, and especially the White Lady in this book. the Good Folk in this book was the highlight for suureee there was so much going on with the dynamics of Keldec's Caller and Flint trying to help them but maintain his position at this same time - then giving it up when the incident happened and doing a 180 I was going a little insane at that point especially bc of Neryn's POV of sheer terror and knowing everything's for the Cause.
obviously it isn't hard to figure out how all of this would go because this story is very straightforward but the fey folk and the Guardians in the mix was pretty cool, esp the Master of Shadows. yeehee show less

This book is a wonderful end to a great series!

The Shadowfell series has captured my interest and imagination from the first book. I have looked forward to each and every installment of the trilogy. The Caller lived up to my expectations.

Neryn's quest to train from the guardians takes on new urgency as the mid-summer celebration/rebellion comes closer. She knows her training is not complete and wants to make sure that she is responsible and compassionate as she calls the fey beings to the aid of the rebellion.

I loved the word building and descriptions. Juliet Marillier has written an epic fantasy trilogy. The story is one that will remain with me for a long time and will be one of my favorites.

The sequel to Shadowfell and Raven Flight. I found it underwhelming. By this point in the trilogy, there's really only one direction the story can go in - the rebels have to finally confront their tyrannical king, obviously - and I had a pretty good idea how that was all going to end. Also, I wasn't invested in Neryn's relationship with her travelling companions, not the way I was in the previous books; Neryn was not invested the way she had been previously.

The story picked up once Neryn left for Summerfort and delivered a reasonably tense final showdown. If I was 15 - if I still had the same standards and expectations I had of books at that age - I might have been very satisfied with it all.

But I'm not. I can't help feeling that this show more trilogy did not live up to the promise of Shadowfell. show less

A solid ending to Neryn's story, in a series I really enjoyed. For some reason, it was hard to get swept up in it initially, although I still love the world, the combination of magic anf brutality, of mystery and hope.

Although I liked the first two books in this trilogy well enough, I feel like that this last book was more fulfilling somehow, and that I was better able to appreciate each of the books as a whole. A satisfying conclusion to an intriguing, captivating story.

Alban is a land is turmoil, a land crying out to be healed and there are those who stand ready to hear that call. Humans and Good Folk alike have been preparing for the war that is too come, for the battle that will determine Alban's fate and their own. Word has spread and the people, and Good Folk, are ready for a change. But when the time comes not everyone will fight for a free Alban, as there are some people still willing to fight for the tyrant King, and there are still others, Good Folk among them, who will be forced.

Owen Swift-Sword is one of the King's most trusted men. As an Enforcer Troop Leader and most skilled Enthraller he holds a very influential position at court, privy to all the most intimate dealing in the kingdom. show more Flint is a man loyal to the rebel cause of Alban and plays a most important role to the resistance based at Shadowfell. But these two lives will collide at the final battle, for no one man can be torn in two for so long without breaking and although he is willing to die for the rebellion, he would gladly give his life to see Neryn safe.

Neryn faces a great challenge; she must use her gift during the battle to save Alban, calling the Good Folk to the rebels' side to fight for freedom. But the greater challenge still is staying alive long enough to see this done. However word of another Caller, one that is powerful enough to draw the Good Folk from her presence is worrying enough, but worse still is the news that this rival Caller is in the service of the King, willingly. With time running short and her training not yet complete, Neryn will be put to test, but even if it were still possible to save the land she loves, she may still lose the man she loves.

The Caller unites the elusive and magical Good Folk with the rebels of Shadowfell, all willing to fight and die for Alban's freedom in a final battle that will once and for all decide their fates. Many friends and allies have died along the way and many more will fall before the end, but with so much preparation, heartache and faith placed in the plan, the culminating bloody battle will be one of both hope and heartbreak. A beautifully bitter-sweet ending to an engaging and sincere series. A memorable story filled with rich and enduring characters that will live on in our hearts and minds. show less