Amadlozi's Child: The Calling. A book review.
- Claudia
- 20 hours ago
- 1 min read
Exciting. Intriguing. Mysterious. Amadlozi's Child is a perfect book for those who enjoy shorter, fast-paced novels and magical realism.
Amadlozi's Child: The Calling is a short novel, which follows Kat, a young woman of South African descent, living in Los Angeles. She has struggled with mental health her entire life and is desperate for a normal life, one in which she doesn't need to rely on others and can focus on her art. However, a scary event at work means she's may loose more than she bargained for, her future as a paid artist being one of them. When she's looking for answers, she starts to wonder whether her mental health issues are what they seem – what if what she's seeing is real?
This book review was first published on Reedsy Discovery.
What I loved
I don't think there was a boring moment in The Calling. The characters felt real; dialogue was realistic: angry, sad, witty; scenes flowed well; and it kept me wondering what would come next and how things would evolve.
Carl stood frozen, a witness to the fracture of something he couldn't repair. The medication fragments lay scattered on the carpet between mother and daughter like physical evidence of their broken relationship.
There was a lot going on with Kat, both internal and external, and there was enough tension to keep me flipping pages. Great use of imagery had me picturing scenes like I was there, and the action scenes were gripping.
Kat burst onto the main floor, heart hammering against her ribs with such force she feared it may crack bone. Adrenaline flooded her system, heightening everything—too much, too fast, too real.
The spiritual beliefs of the AmaMuthala people (Kat's ancestors) mixed with modern-day beliefs made for an interesting read. I was fascinated by the different spirits/entities, their background, and how Kat would fit into this seemingly forgotten but very much present world.
What I didn't love
I feel like the blurb of The Calling promised more than it delivered, resulting in mixed emotions when I finished this first instalment* of Amadlozi's Child. Trying to explain this without giving away too much is tricky, but where The Calling ends, and the next instalment begins, is what I expected to be the main focus of the plot, not the end.
* Please note I'm presuming, based on the novel, that this is a series and not a standalone book.
Conclusion
Nonetheless, Amadlozi's Child: The Calling is an exciting book to read, and I recommend it to people who enjoy shorter reads**, drama, action, and a different take on mainstream supernatural.
And know that when you reach the last page, you will be wishing for the next instalment. I can't wait to see what's next for Kat.
** I think it took me about three and a half [3.5] hours from start to finish.
You can find Amadlozi's Child: The Calling here.
I provide beta reading, copyediting, proofreading, and formatting services to help authors of all levels perfect their work. Whether you’re seeking early feedback or professional editing, I'm here to assist you at every stage of your writing journey.
Do you want to get notified of new blog posts? Sign up to receive the monthly Ready2Publish newsletter.
Comments