Kiah Thomas’s The Callers is an engaging and thought-provoking fantasy that challenges readers to consider themes of power, responsibility, and ethical consumption. The world-building is immersive, with a unique magic system that becomes more unsettling as the story unfolds. Quin is a compelling protagonist, and his journey from self-doubt to understanding is both emotional and rewarding.

The novel balances adventure with deeper themes, making it more than just a fantasy story—it’s a reflection on privilege, exploitation, and the consequences of taking without thinking. The pacing keeps the reader engaged, and the stakes feel real. While it’s accessible to middle-grade readers, the thought-provoking nature of the story makes it enjoyable for older audiences as well.

With its strong themes and well-developed characters, The Callers is a captivating read that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
4 stars

This was a very pleasant find on netgalley! It's not revolutionary or anything, but it hits all the points it's trying to hit and then some. There were developments with Quin that were really interesting, and the cast of characters were nice to read. The book doesn't fully tackle some more complicated aspects of its themes, but based on the preview given for book 2, I do believe it plans to.

I'm excited to see where the series goes from here. We learned a lot of stuff about the world in this book, but I really feel (or maybe hope) the rest of the series will dig into what it has now that the foundation is there. This is definitely a series I recommend for young readers. This is already a good story for adult me, but I'm very sure pre-teen me would have absolutely loved this.