Review: True Calling by Siobhan Davis

Book Blurb:

TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS. ONE SHARED DREAM

Planet Novo, nestled in space twelve hundred miles above the surface of the Earth, is the new home of 17-year-old Cadet Ariana Skyee. Confused by the government-sanctioned memory erase and distressed at her impending forced marriage and motherhood, Ariana's plans for the future are thrown into complete disarray.

As the traumatic events within her family life enfold, Ariana grows increasingly alarmed at the authorities apparent pre-occupation with her and feels progressively more isolated and alone.

Her growing feelings for fellow Cadet Cal Remus intensify as the recently announced pageant, 'The Calling', gets underway. Struggling to comprehend the continuous, inexplicable dreams of the mysterious Zane, discovering the past helps shape her future, with devastating personal consequences.

My Review:

3 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Another-World, Dystopian, Space, Supernatural, Survival--

The earth has been dying and the government has decided to create a new world off of earth called Novo. Only the select were chosen to get the opportunity to leave earth, but in exchange they had to give up all but a few possessions as well as all their memories from life on earth. 17 year old Ariana and her family were some of the lucky few selected and life has been pleasant for Ari the last two years on Novo. When the government initiates something named "The Calling" where 17 year olds are forced into a dating competition to find their ideal mates for reproduction of the next generation, Ari realizes that something may be amiss in her happy world.

I was intrigued and disappointed in this book at the same time, which I know sounds conflicted. But that is just it, I was conflicted while reading the book. Some parts I loved and others made me irritated and or confused. The plot felt like the books The Selection by Cass and The Hunger Games by Collins had a love child and this is that result. The book focuses on how the teens are forced to have a public dating event to meet their ideal future husbands while in the background of the story the government does shady things and a rebel group on earth is trying to fight for freedom.

The story is a love triangle (sort of), so beware. Ari ends up falling in love with Cal while she dreams of a boy named Zane. I don't want to give anything away so I will be frustratingly vague. I am team Cal all the way. Yes I understand all the angst that surrounds Zane and the waiting and the woe, but he has a intimate replacement "friend" and that is so not cool for someone who is suppose to be pining away for his one true love. I think he is kind of a mopey mess that needs to get his act and his feelings together and not lead on any unsuspecting bystanders. And yes, I am aware that Cal may have irrational anger issues going on, but he was not always that way. Ari admits that her emotions are all over the place due to the hormones she is injected with, so doesn't it make sense that Cal could be messed with as well? And lets not even go into the mind erasing chip in his head which could be responsible for his un-Cal like reactions. He has been nothing but loyal, supportive and understanding the entire time they have been together (not to mention amazing with her siblings) and I root them as a couple. Regardless of the multiple warnings and erratic behavior, I completely trust Cal. Hopefully I am not proven wrong.

What I did not like or understand ate away at me while I was reading, like an itch I could not reach and I could not stop dwelling on. Ari does not like Cal, but then after a week decides he is the only boy she will have. She is told to not push boundaries by her father for safety sake and then she throws caution to the wind. Intimacy is a no-no, but whatever, she can do what she wants even though they are always being watched. And the biggest issue I had was that Ari did not want to have kids for a long time (that was one of her biggest complaints about the Calling) and here she is being shot up with hormones to make her fertile and she sneaks away to have unprotected sex. Do the hormones change your views too? She fought to not have kids but a career instead yet willy nilly throws it away for a clandestine encounter. Ari did some crazy irrational things that made me want to shake her.

Overall I thought this was an interesting new series and I am intrigued enough to want to know more. The ending was a big freaking cliff hanger so it is important that I get my hands on book 2 to find out what will happen next and to learn more about physic skills. I am not a fan of short stories, but I would love to read the short story that goes between books 1 and 2 because it is narrated from Cal's point of view, and we all know how I feel about him. I received this title from the author in exchange for my honest review.