Calling

The adventures of King Maric continue in this riveting tale of the Grey Wardens being permitted to return to Fereldan after 200 years of exile. While the prequel, ‘The Stolen Throne,’ is a more “historical” reading of the DA universe, ‘The Calling’ is a dark story that has the reader struggle with morally debatable issues. The main antagonist, the Architect, has a rather pragmatic plan to resolve the issue of the darkspawn taint, which directly conflicts with the Grey Warden vow. In the end, I found myself agreeing with Maric, Fiona, and the others’ decision, but still I was left with the question, “Is my emotional reasoning truly what’s best for Thedas?” It’s a question every reader will be left to ponder, I think. I highly recommend this book for any Dragon Age fan who wants to know more about who Duncan was before we meet him in DA: Origins (who's featured on the front cover) as well as Fiona’s backstory, whom we meet in DA: Inquisition. You also learn more about the inevitable ‘Calling’ every Grey Warden must face, which is a sad, tragic, yet fascinating insight.

An engrossing novel set in the Dragon Age universe that both adds to and enhances the story of the video game. Dragon Age: The Calling picks up several years after the events of Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne and answers several questions that were left at the conclusion of the previous novel. The characters that are present in the original novel are given more depth and further fleshed out as "living" people with flaws and triumphs. I will say that this is a story written entirely for fans of the universe. If you did not enjoy Dragon Age: Origins the game or Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne (novel) this book is unlikely to please you. While the story does a good job of introducing each new character it has little in the way of inviting new readers, so, if you want to read this book either read the first one or play the game (preferably both!!!...book first though). All in all this is an exciting book about a dark fantasy world known as Thedas and is set primarily in a barbarian country known as Ferelden, which fans of D & D type storylines should enjoy.

David Gaider did a tremendous job on this story, surpassing The Stolen Throne in all respects. The storyline will engross you and make you want to keep reading, and you find yourself truly wondering about what you really know about this world, the darkspawn, and the Grey Wardens. It should be required reading before playing Dragon Age, and also stands on its own as a worthy novel for those who enjoy adventure. Highly recommended.

The Calling is a very well written Prequel to Dragon Age: Origins. The characters are all well written and engaging. While the story is a fairly basic dungeon crawl, the events are designed well. The fight scene with the dragon, for one, is awesomely illustrated and grabs one's heart strings. I would reccomend this novel to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

While the story seems simple enough for a fantasy novel, David Gaider's excellent writing style pulls the book through. Character interactions and an extensive lore are appearing as major strengths in his writing. I would heartily recommend reading this to anyone, not just fans of Dragon Age: Origins.

Full disclaimer: As someone obsessed with the DAO universe, my review is biased because I already have an attachment to this world and its characters. I devoured the first book and loved it, but this book just had me fluttering about like an excited if demented pigeon. On the surface, the story seems simple. A King guides a motley crew of Grey Wardens through the treacherous Deep Roads to help them find a missing Grey Warden. But what it is, is so much more. It is about loss and regret, it is about trust and friendships. It is about how far a person will go to do the right thing, and how far a person will go to correct his or her mistakes. It leaves you with a feeling of uncomfortable uncertainty about the nature of evil and of good. And if you are a dog lover, it has a scene that will leave you misty eyed if not a complete emotional wreck. In the end, it leaves you with a satisfying sense of closure, but you will see the Thedas universe with new eyes. No longer will you see the darkspawn as pure evil. No longer will you see those who defend humans against them as pure good, and suddenly, everything in the Dragon Age universe just acquired a patina of nuance that was until now not quite obvious. And even if you are not into the Dragon Age universe, it is still an entertaining, action packed fantasy romp. Mr. Gaider's style is very confident and assertive in this book, his story is very expansive and lore filled, and yet he never loses his strengths- great interactions, a very intimate sense of story telling and characters that you will feel for strongly whether you want to hug them, or slap them silly. I really enjoyed this book.