"The Called" (2014) by Justin Price REVIEW

I wasn't sure what to expect from this debut novel, but I am pleasantly surprised!

It is a hundred years into the future and the leaders of the world are finally bringing peace. There will be no more wars, ever. But how is this possible? Did they ever find what caused war to begin with? Sort of. Samyaza al Assad, the main World Council member, approached the idea and convinced the other members of the Council that it was religion that caused these wars, including World War III. With religion now banned worldwide, with the mere mention of God able to get you arrested, will anyone be able to find the truth behind Samyaza's plan?

Justin Price's debut The Called explores the dystopian world through four plot lines, transitioning back and forth quickly to maintain a fast pace and a gripping read. However, there are times where this happens so much that the book starts to feel unfocused or confusing, but then gains stability starting around the mid-point. Each plot line helps develop the overall plot and world building, giving us insights on certain areas where the banishment of religion can lead. If I had to choose one main complaint, it would be the characters, who all seem rather bland, with poor dialogue that had me thinking 'People really don't talk like that' from time to time.

Though a bit out of focus with under-par dialogue, The Called still redeems itself with its concept and execution thereof, with action and twists to keep readers intrigued. All-in-all, I will definitely be reading the sequel!

3/5 Stars

You can buy your copy from Amazon right here!

Author's Note: This review does not take into consideration of the grammatical and spelling errors. Although, Mr. Price (if you are reading this), I highly recommend having someone go over your book and make edits to at least fix the major issues.

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