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The Demonata #9
Dark Calling
Events take an unexpected turn in this ninth awesome foray into the worlds of the Demonata…
The Disciples are being manipulated by beings older than time. Only Kernel Fleck knows that something is wrong. But he is in the grip of a creature who cares nothing for the fate of humanity. Voices are calling to him from the darkness and he's powerless to resist.
Kernel has already been to hell and back. Now he's about to go further…
The Disciples are being manipulated by beings older than time. Only Kernel Fleck knows that something is wrong. But he is in the grip of a creature who cares nothing for the fate of humanity. Voices are calling to him from the darkness and he's powerless to resist.
Kernel has already been to hell and back. Now he's about to go further…
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
128 people are currently reading
3730 people want to read
About the author
Darren Shan
246 books8,293 followersLibrarian's note: Also writes books for adults under the name Darren Dash. And in the past he has released books for adults under the names D.B. Shan and Darren O'Shaughnessy.
Darren Shan (born July 2, 1972 in London, England) is the pen name of the Irish author Darren O'Shaughnessy, as well as the name of the protagonist of his book series The Saga of Darren Shan, also known as The Cirque Du Freak Series in the United States. He is the author of the series The Demonata, The Saga of Larten Crepsley, and Zom-B. He has also released the stand-alone novel, The Thin Executioner, and the stand-alone short novels, Koyasan, and Hagurosan. Plus, for adults, he released The City Trilogy (originally under the name of D.B. Shan), and Lady of the Shades..
Darren Shan (born July 2, 1972 in London, England) is the pen name of the Irish author Darren O'Shaughnessy, as well as the name of the protagonist of his book series The Saga of Darren Shan, also known as The Cirque Du Freak Series in the United States. He is the author of the series The Demonata, The Saga of Larten Crepsley, and Zom-B. He has also released the stand-alone novel, The Thin Executioner, and the stand-alone short novels, Koyasan, and Hagurosan. Plus, for adults, he released The City Trilogy (originally under the name of D.B. Shan), and Lady of the Shades..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
May 21, 2017
I did a weird thing and reviewed these out of order, and then waited too long to review it. Oh well.
Anyway, Dark Calling isn't the best of the Demonata books, even though it is still creative with its storyline and where its aiming to go. Kernel is on his own a lot in this one, outside the human world and the creepy Demonata lands. I'm still deciding if I liked that weird development and probably will be undecided until I die. It ties into the big bang end of the series and wraps up a lot of plot lines, but it almost feels too large in scope for my taste.
Dark Calling just kind of lags. We have this fantastical element introduced of other worlds and leading space aliens and The Old Ones or whatever, which should be sort of interesting in itself, but it got a little boring. I feel awful for Kernel with his eyes too - this story doesn't shy away from brutalizing its characters.
It's expected that through the horrors and trials that Grubbs would become hard and jaded, but he's a little more one-dimensional now and I can't bond as much with him. Kernel is still a favorite but I feel frustrated when he's on page - kind of wish he could one-up Grubbs for a second. Bec is sort of just there as part of the powerful Kah-Gash, until a twisted end surprise with her that I actually enjoyed and appreciated.
Lord Loss is still creepy to a degree, but the story and villain have been wearing down for some time. It didn't feel like the same sense of suspenseful tension or emotional oomph as the others. Dark Calling is more of a filler book that exists to lead into the ending.
Anyway, Dark Calling isn't the best of the Demonata books, even though it is still creative with its storyline and where its aiming to go. Kernel is on his own a lot in this one, outside the human world and the creepy Demonata lands. I'm still deciding if I liked that weird development and probably will be undecided until I die. It ties into the big bang end of the series and wraps up a lot of plot lines, but it almost feels too large in scope for my taste.
Dark Calling just kind of lags. We have this fantastical element introduced of other worlds and leading space aliens and The Old Ones or whatever, which should be sort of interesting in itself, but it got a little boring. I feel awful for Kernel with his eyes too - this story doesn't shy away from brutalizing its characters.
It's expected that through the horrors and trials that Grubbs would become hard and jaded, but he's a little more one-dimensional now and I can't bond as much with him. Kernel is still a favorite but I feel frustrated when he's on page - kind of wish he could one-up Grubbs for a second. Bec is sort of just there as part of the powerful Kah-Gash, until a twisted end surprise with her that I actually enjoyed and appreciated.
Lord Loss is still creepy to a degree, but the story and villain have been wearing down for some time. It didn't feel like the same sense of suspenseful tension or emotional oomph as the others. Dark Calling is more of a filler book that exists to lead into the ending.
April 21, 2021
Can I read the entire Demonata Saga in 48 hours?! Check out my reviews of all 10 books in the series by Darren Shan on my YouTube channel, How to Train Your Gavin: https://youtu.be/ZsSuarXyPcA
September 21, 2025
واقعا حال و هوای این کتابو دوست دارم و جدی از کرنل خوشم میاد. نمیخوام برم جلد بعدی که تمومش کنم. :( دلم تنگ میشه.
August 31, 2015
4 Stars
Dark Calling, the 9th book of Darren Shans amazing The Demonata series is the second last in the series and unfortunately not one of the best. That does no mean that this is not a good one, as it is. I enjoyed every minute of it. Dark Calling had the near impossible task of trying to better the previous book Wolf Island (one of the best books in the series).
This book did some bold things. First, with the end near, it actually introduces and spends quite a bit of time with a set of new characters. I am not sure that this really worked when looked at through the scope of the whole series. Couple this with the fact that some of our dearly loved friends might not make it to the end of this book and you can see why Dark Calling might not receive full marks.
For fans or those that have not read this awesome series here is a quote that showcases Shan’s writing:
The Kah-Gash:
““There are three parts of the Kah-Gash,” Raz says. “The trigger, memory, and eyes. The trigger is the commanding force. The memory stores all that happens. The eyes see the hidden strings which bind the universes in place.”
“WE find ourselves on the deck of a massive ship, close to a swimming pool. Deck chairs are strewn about the place. Bodies everywhere, ripped to pieces, stomachs carved open, heads and limbs torn loose. Puddles of blood merge and spread slowly, seeping into the cracks between the planks. The water of the swimming pool is a deep, dead red. Beranabus ignores the corpses. He’s seen worse in his time. I have too…”
I absolutely love this series and cannot give it enough praise. I really hope that more people will find these books and become a fan of this great author. I am going to finish my journey in The Demonata now. Highly recommended!
Dark Calling, the 9th book of Darren Shans amazing The Demonata series is the second last in the series and unfortunately not one of the best. That does no mean that this is not a good one, as it is. I enjoyed every minute of it. Dark Calling had the near impossible task of trying to better the previous book Wolf Island (one of the best books in the series).
This book did some bold things. First, with the end near, it actually introduces and spends quite a bit of time with a set of new characters. I am not sure that this really worked when looked at through the scope of the whole series. Couple this with the fact that some of our dearly loved friends might not make it to the end of this book and you can see why Dark Calling might not receive full marks.
For fans or those that have not read this awesome series here is a quote that showcases Shan’s writing:
The Kah-Gash:
““There are three parts of the Kah-Gash,” Raz says. “The trigger, memory, and eyes. The trigger is the commanding force. The memory stores all that happens. The eyes see the hidden strings which bind the universes in place.”
“WE find ourselves on the deck of a massive ship, close to a swimming pool. Deck chairs are strewn about the place. Bodies everywhere, ripped to pieces, stomachs carved open, heads and limbs torn loose. Puddles of blood merge and spread slowly, seeping into the cracks between the planks. The water of the swimming pool is a deep, dead red. Beranabus ignores the corpses. He’s seen worse in his time. I have too…”
I absolutely love this series and cannot give it enough praise. I really hope that more people will find these books and become a fan of this great author. I am going to finish my journey in The Demonata now. Highly recommended!
February 27, 2010
Dark Calling is by far probably the weakest book in the series.
It just couldn't grab my interest. Demonata has always had its appeal to me. The one thing I loved is how weak the characters are in comparison to the foes that they face. Nearly most of the fights that they have, none of them come out unscathed. They'll be missing an arm, lose a friend, and moan about how strong their enemy is and how hopeless the fight is.
Its a brilliant story tactic and it adds to the horror element of the story. How can the heroes defeat such powerful foes with such small power?
I enjoyed Wolf's Island. It was probably one of my favorite books in the series so far. The pacing and the action was intense, with characters unexpectedly dying left and right.
But Dark Calling is BORING.
I was disappointed by how Darren Shan explained the mystery of The Old Ones and introduced the space aliens. It totally ruined the premise of the books.
I wanted it to be simple. Demons and Humans. Struggling. I didn't want universes and suddenly this horror series turned into a dark and melancholic star wars.
The ending was abrupt and did not satisfy me, as a faithful demonata series lover. I wanted the usual horror story ending, but this ending simply didn't even keep me on a hook.
The gore was unnecessary and by this end of the series is now pale and overused. Lord Loss is no longer a frightening foe as he was in the beginning of the series, but a voiceless annoyance now that our Characters are in possession of the ultimate weapon, the Kah-Gash.
You don't even feel threatened by the new foe, Death. There is no evil in his character established in the book other than him being death.
There are no twists or surprising character development in the book, with Kernel being flavorless, Bec being a monotone speaker, and Grubbs, who has always been the humorous and most human commentator on the events of the book, turned into a jackass werewolf killer. He's lost his charm.
Dark Calling did not satisfy me in the way that the usual series did. It provided some epic grand scale of a war, but the detail was so broad, the plot so unclear, and the characters so unengaging...
Its a big drop of Wolf's Island.
It just couldn't grab my interest. Demonata has always had its appeal to me. The one thing I loved is how weak the characters are in comparison to the foes that they face. Nearly most of the fights that they have, none of them come out unscathed. They'll be missing an arm, lose a friend, and moan about how strong their enemy is and how hopeless the fight is.
Its a brilliant story tactic and it adds to the horror element of the story. How can the heroes defeat such powerful foes with such small power?
I enjoyed Wolf's Island. It was probably one of my favorite books in the series so far. The pacing and the action was intense, with characters unexpectedly dying left and right.
But Dark Calling is BORING.
I was disappointed by how Darren Shan explained the mystery of The Old Ones and introduced the space aliens. It totally ruined the premise of the books.
I wanted it to be simple. Demons and Humans. Struggling. I didn't want universes and suddenly this horror series turned into a dark and melancholic star wars.
The ending was abrupt and did not satisfy me, as a faithful demonata series lover. I wanted the usual horror story ending, but this ending simply didn't even keep me on a hook.
The gore was unnecessary and by this end of the series is now pale and overused. Lord Loss is no longer a frightening foe as he was in the beginning of the series, but a voiceless annoyance now that our Characters are in possession of the ultimate weapon, the Kah-Gash.
You don't even feel threatened by the new foe, Death. There is no evil in his character established in the book other than him being death.
There are no twists or surprising character development in the book, with Kernel being flavorless, Bec being a monotone speaker, and Grubbs, who has always been the humorous and most human commentator on the events of the book, turned into a jackass werewolf killer. He's lost his charm.
Dark Calling did not satisfy me in the way that the usual series did. It provided some epic grand scale of a war, but the detail was so broad, the plot so unclear, and the characters so unengaging...
Its a big drop of Wolf's Island.
September 27, 2023
من کلا با جلد هایی که از دیدگاه کرنل گفته میشه نتونستم توی این مجموعه ارتباط برقرار کنم این جلد خیلی وارد فلسفه شدم و برام حوصله سر بر شده بود بعد از این همه تغییر و ماجراهایی که برای گروبز اتفاق افتاد کار های خفن تری ازش توی این جلد انتظار داشتمدر کل حس میکنم اونطوری که میتونست داستان رو بسط بده، این کار رو نمیکنه
January 9, 2024
65% اول کتاب، خیلی کند پیش میرفت و برام جذابیتی نداشت ولی از صفحه 130 دوباره داستان جون گرفت و هیجان به صحنه برگشت😼
این جلد پر از دوراهی و تصمیمهای مهم بود که هر کدوم مسیر رو عوض میکرد. نبردها جدیتر از جلدهای پیش بود و تردید، تهدیدی برای کرکترهای اصلی بود.
چه خوب شد که بعد این همه مدت اومدم سراغش😎
واقعا لذتبخش بود💙
این جلد پر از دوراهی و تصمیمهای مهم بود که هر کدوم مسیر رو عوض میکرد. نبردها جدیتر از جلدهای پیش بود و تردید، تهدیدی برای کرکترهای اصلی بود.
چه خوب شد که بعد این همه مدت اومدم سراغش😎
واقعا لذتبخش بود💙
October 22, 2017
I've decided to read a few horror books in honour of Halloween. First on my list was the 9th book in the Demonata seris by Darren Shan. I read the majority of the series when I was still in school and mostly liked them.
This novel is from Kernal's perspective. We last heard from him in Demon Theif, which is my favourite novel in the series by far, so I had high hopes going in. This is the penultimate book in the series and suffers a little for that. It seems to exist solely to set up the finalie.
The novel has two main flaws. Firstly, nothing seems to happen for large stretches of the book, and indeed it starts by recapping events we've already seen in other novels.
This novel is from Kernal's perspective. We last heard from him in Demon Theif, which is my favourite novel in the series by far, so I had high hopes going in. This is the penultimate book in the series and suffers a little for that. It seems to exist solely to set up the finalie.
The novel has two main flaws. Firstly, nothing seems to happen for large stretches of the book, and indeed it starts by recapping events we've already seen in other novels.
May 25, 2017
Another good addition to the saga, with now just one book remaining things are really heating up.
This book focuses on Kernel this time and, again, a little over half of it takes place during round-abouts the same time period as the last two books - Death's Shadow and Wolf Island - as the three narrators (Grubbs, Kernel and Bec) were separated for a time.
So for the first half or so we see what Kernel was up to while Bec was on the ship and Grubbs was hanging with wolves - and it was some trippy shit, seriously - and for the rest of it, the timeline finally begins to progress again, rather intensely actually.
While Grubbs will always be my fave, I do have a soft spot for Kernel and enjoy reading his story. We also get a lot of answers and explanations for things in this book.
1 to go...
This book focuses on Kernel this time and, again, a little over half of it takes place during round-abouts the same time period as the last two books - Death's Shadow and Wolf Island - as the three narrators (Grubbs, Kernel and Bec) were separated for a time.
So for the first half or so we see what Kernel was up to while Bec was on the ship and Grubbs was hanging with wolves - and it was some trippy shit, seriously - and for the rest of it, the timeline finally begins to progress again, rather intensely actually.
While Grubbs will always be my fave, I do have a soft spot for Kernel and enjoy reading his story. We also get a lot of answers and explanations for things in this book.
1 to go...
November 12, 2025
This was my first trip to meet the Demonata and its denizens of overpowering Death (upper case D signifies the irony of death as a living entity) and its demon spawn of Hell. Unsurprisingly I was expecting a mayhem of bloodlust, dismemberment and gouging, zombies and unparalleled violence, and there was indeed more than a smear of gore in the proceedings. Kernel's eyes coming up for particular attack, forcible removal and re-growth.
However, I was unprepared for the spell of relatively quiet, almost-theological introspection given by Kernel's spirit guide Art, who later becomes Raz and is described as being an Old Creature who assumes the physical shape of people from Kernel's memory. They visit the remains of Atlantis, not Plato's island but a ruined planet, and travel on towards the centre of all things, the Crux. It has hints of a pilgrimage. Throughout the journey Art explains the history of the universe and the division between his own, angelic, kind - a power for Good - and the Demonata, the devils and the power of Evil. Apart from the persistent referrals to magic, it sounds almost religious in its significance.
This goes on until Kernel and Art are attacked by the remains of a giant chessboard - it's a tricky theology to grasp - and a pack of demons, which results in Art's death, Kernel's jump to another world and the appearance of Raz. At that point the parables of creation continue until the story reaches its demonic finale when the good guys fight the Shadow and its master Death.
Will the Demonata triumph and trample the Earth and its people into a bloody pulp? Will Kernel and his friends win to fight another day? Will stability ever return to the universe? Will Kernel become an acolyte of a higher creation? Some of it might be revealed if you read it .
However, I was unprepared for the spell of relatively quiet, almost-theological introspection given by Kernel's spirit guide Art, who later becomes Raz and is described as being an Old Creature who assumes the physical shape of people from Kernel's memory. They visit the remains of Atlantis, not Plato's island but a ruined planet, and travel on towards the centre of all things, the Crux. It has hints of a pilgrimage. Throughout the journey Art explains the history of the universe and the division between his own, angelic, kind - a power for Good - and the Demonata, the devils and the power of Evil. Apart from the persistent referrals to magic, it sounds almost religious in its significance.
This goes on until Kernel and Art are attacked by the remains of a giant chessboard - it's a tricky theology to grasp - and a pack of demons, which results in Art's death, Kernel's jump to another world and the appearance of Raz. At that point the parables of creation continue until the story reaches its demonic finale when the good guys fight the Shadow and its master Death.
Will the Demonata triumph and trample the Earth and its people into a bloody pulp? Will Kernel and his friends win to fight another day? Will stability ever return to the universe? Will Kernel become an acolyte of a higher creation? Some of it might be revealed if you read it .
July 18, 2016
I'm being emotionally wrecked right now and in denial of everything.
WHAT DID I JUST READ??? The half past of the book is my top-most favorite scene in the series for universe explanation, shortly cut through all kinds of Matrix mythology and mind-blowing universe building that I'm so much in love with it. But then all is fucked up. I practically scream in Grubb's last act. I can't believe this is close to the end due to nothing has a signifying conclusion, OR I just missed out something while screaming and yelling at Grubb's idiocy. I don't know man, get me the fuck out of this mess. :'((((
WHAT DID I JUST READ??? The half past of the book is my top-most favorite scene in the series for universe explanation, shortly cut through all kinds of Matrix mythology and mind-blowing universe building that I'm so much in love with it. But then all is fucked up. I practically scream in Grubb's last act. I can't believe this is close to the end due to nothing has a signifying conclusion, OR I just missed out something while screaming and yelling at Grubb's idiocy. I don't know man, get me the fuck out of this mess. :'((((
October 17, 2014
This is yet another great book in the series, getting you ready for the ending.
Focusing upon Kernel’s point of view, the story continues to move forwards, bringing about much more information about the universe and the powers that exist. Filled with twists and deceit, this book keeps you as entertained as the rest in the series, ready to read the final book, curious as to how it all ends.
Focusing upon Kernel’s point of view, the story continues to move forwards, bringing about much more information about the universe and the powers that exist. Filled with twists and deceit, this book keeps you as entertained as the rest in the series, ready to read the final book, curious as to how it all ends.
August 19, 2021
علی رغم اینکه راوی داستان کرنل بود و انتظار داشتم که برای همین خیلی خوشم بیاد، متاسفانه نیمه ابتدایی کتاب برای من حوصله سربر بود. از طرفی در ماه های اخیر هر کتاب فانتزی خوندم، خیلی خوشم نیومده که شاید نشون دهنده تغییر علاقه ام به این ژانر باشه.
Read
March 15, 2019The theme of this book is always tell the truth. Kernal finds out some crazy things but keeps them to himself.
January 31, 2020
This one was weird and exciting and I'm ready to finish off this series asap!
November 9, 2014
2.5 stars
This book is officially my least favorite in the series. Unfortunately I couldn't skip this book, as I had to finish it before I could read the last book in the series.
It's boring to the max. The 17 of 23 chapters, to be exact. And it didn't help with Kernel as the storyteller in charge this time. It's like listening to a weather reporter. Half of the book.
And the more I read this book, the more I felt that the plot in this book was becoming more absurd... To suddenly jumped into sci-fi world from demon world itself after 8 books about demon was a risky job there. Moreover, not everyone love sci-fi genre... Even though I myself love sci-fi genre...but not after 8 books about demon and magic...I can accept it if the author put sci-fi genre in book 3 or 4, 5, 6 or 7...but not in book 9...the penultimate in this series.
And then, the author just had to made the plot becoming weirder, what with Atlantis is an alien and then their offsprings are giant slugs in the far future *wow, that's one crazy big leap of evolution*, or a theory that this universe actually was like chessboard, and a modern noah the ark (complete with aliens in animal looks) to save the universe, or Death were angry and grown its consciousness because Bec cheated her own death and Death thought its job (harvesting souls) was too hard and overload... *rolling my eyes here*
It was so ludicrous and far-fetched, especially the Death and the Atlantis' part. The idea Death has its own consciouness was acceptable, but the reasons behind it? preposterous... It just made the plot like some stupid gag. I don't know if the Atlantis' part will play the important part in the last book or what, but from what I gathered in this book, I don't think the Atlantis will have bigger part than its purpose as a memorable marker for some path. And the author just mentioned it in one part, maybe to resolve another world's mysteries or what, but it seemed pointless to me (for now).
I was disappointed with this book, especially after the 8th book, my (currently) most favorite book in this series. However, knowing Darren Shan's style in his other work, I'm still hoping the last book will be an epic finale.
This book is officially my least favorite in the series. Unfortunately I couldn't skip this book, as I had to finish it before I could read the last book in the series.
It's boring to the max. The 17 of 23 chapters, to be exact. And it didn't help with Kernel as the storyteller in charge this time. It's like listening to a weather reporter. Half of the book.
And the more I read this book, the more I felt that the plot in this book was becoming more absurd... To suddenly jumped into sci-fi world from demon world itself after 8 books about demon was a risky job there. Moreover, not everyone love sci-fi genre... Even though I myself love sci-fi genre...but not after 8 books about demon and magic...I can accept it if the author put sci-fi genre in book 3 or 4, 5, 6 or 7...but not in book 9...the penultimate in this series.
And then, the author just had to made the plot becoming weirder, what with Atlantis is an alien and then their offsprings are giant slugs in the far future *wow, that's one crazy big leap of evolution*, or a theory that this universe actually was like chessboard, and a modern noah the ark (complete with aliens in animal looks) to save the universe, or Death were angry and grown its consciousness because Bec cheated her own death and Death thought its job (harvesting souls) was too hard and overload... *rolling my eyes here*
It was so ludicrous and far-fetched, especially the Death and the Atlantis' part. The idea Death has its own consciouness was acceptable, but the reasons behind it? preposterous... It just made the plot like some stupid gag. I don't know if the Atlantis' part will play the important part in the last book or what, but from what I gathered in this book, I don't think the Atlantis will have bigger part than its purpose as a memorable marker for some path. And the author just mentioned it in one part, maybe to resolve another world's mysteries or what, but it seemed pointless to me (for now).
I was disappointed with this book, especially after the 8th book, my (currently) most favorite book in this series. However, knowing Darren Shan's style in his other work, I'm still hoping the last book will be an epic finale.
November 25, 2013
Dark Calling is from the point of view of Kernel, a magician.I love the Demonata series, but Dark Calling was kind of a disappointment. The series is about magicians fighting demons that cross over to our world. But in Dark Calling, most of the book is about Kernel traveling through space and other dimensions and universes. Most of the book was a lot of talking, and there really was no action. It was really boring compared to the rest of the series. It described the mystery of the Old Ones and aliens from different planets, and how the universe was created. It went from fighting demons, to talking about different dimensions and aliens.
Dark Calling is the 9th book in the Demonata series. Not a lot of action happens in that book. It's more of an informative and clarification book. It's interesting because it enlightens and clarifies a lot of questions about the Kah-Gash and Death's Shadow. I only would suggest reading it because you can't read the last book without reading this one. The only action in the book is at the end where they travel to the land of the dead then they fight the Demon Master Lord Loss and his army of demons.
The whole plot of the story really took away from the horror of the book and turned it into a Sci-Fi book. I struggled to keep reading during the middle. Also, it's pretty depressing because the Old Ones tell Kernel that Earth has less than a year before the Demons destroy their world. Also, he says there is no way to be Death, who is commanding the demon horde. It just adds to the despair. Like the other Demonata book, main characters die. After I finished it, I was wondering how in the world they were supposed to win. The odds were totally stacked against them.
Dark Calling is the 9th book in the Demonata series. Not a lot of action happens in that book. It's more of an informative and clarification book. It's interesting because it enlightens and clarifies a lot of questions about the Kah-Gash and Death's Shadow. I only would suggest reading it because you can't read the last book without reading this one. The only action in the book is at the end where they travel to the land of the dead then they fight the Demon Master Lord Loss and his army of demons.
The whole plot of the story really took away from the horror of the book and turned it into a Sci-Fi book. I struggled to keep reading during the middle. Also, it's pretty depressing because the Old Ones tell Kernel that Earth has less than a year before the Demons destroy their world. Also, he says there is no way to be Death, who is commanding the demon horde. It just adds to the despair. Like the other Demonata book, main characters die. After I finished it, I was wondering how in the world they were supposed to win. The odds were totally stacked against them.
December 9, 2014
Where most of the Demonata books are fast-paced and gruesome, Dark Calling is kind of an odd ducky. Most of it is set outside of our normal human/Demonata worlds, and for half of the book Kernel is on his own, on some kind of mysterious special journey. Dark Calling felt very much like an in-between book, filled with info-dump. The lore is interesting, but there wasn't enough action in the first part to keep me truly engaged. In the last half we return to regular programming, but by then there isn't enough page time to make a lasting impression.
May 18, 2013
Brief review for now...
Grubbs, what is wrong with you? You're not the same?! :(
Bec, girl!? What did that Beranabus tell you to do?! :(
Kernel, are you sure you know what you're thinking?! :(
Dervish, Meera, :'(((
Lord Loss.. -_-
Death... -_-
On a lighter note.. KIRILLI!? What the fudge are you? I wish Shark and Timas were here :/
On to next now... HELL'S HEROES. O_O
Grubbs, what is wrong with you? You're not the same?! :(
Bec, girl!? What did that Beranabus tell you to do?! :(
Kernel, are you sure you know what you're thinking?! :(
Dervish, Meera, :'(((
Lord Loss.. -_-
Death... -_-
On a lighter note.. KIRILLI!? What the fudge are you? I wish Shark and Timas were here :/
On to next now... HELL'S HEROES. O_O
May 13, 2014
No páni. Na to, že jsem Pecku moc nemusela, jsem si tenhle díl maximálně užila. Celé Peckovo putování, ta Atlantida a ostatní. Bomba. Vážně jsem zvědavá, jak tahle šílenost vlastně skončí...
4.5/5*
4.5/5*
April 30, 2020
The start of this book is the same scenes from the last two books just from Kernel’s perspective. I was immediately hesitant - as I said with the last book, I feel like this book and the past two books could have been one longer book with chapters from each character (switching perspective throughout the story) but oh well.
It opens with the scene where Kernel looses his eyes. Pretty gruesome.
The eyes that Kernel created for himself allow him to see different lights that change colour and shape which he can’t control. He realises these lights are whispering one word to him: come.
When on the ship, Kernel was left to keep the window open. The mysterious lights he’d started seeing with the voice started pulsing and swirling into a vortex and the voices get louder. They fly toward the window Kernel had open and combine with it, exploding and sending a ball of light flying around. Why Kernel questions out loud what it is, it replies “I have no name. You must come with me” the voice won’t explain anything but tries to urge him on. Then the dead come back to life and all focus on Kernel. There was a plan and the ship was a trap. The demons needed a lodestone to be able to cross so tempted the group there which led to Beranabus’ death. They want the kah-gash. In particular Kernels part.
The light takes Kernel somewhere and becomes a human form in the shape of Art to speak to Kernel and tells him the place is Atlantis. It is a part of the human universe but extremely different. They travelled by rockets not windows.
The light is an old creature of the world and is going to take Kernel to the Crux - a space between the demonta and human universe.
The light believes that the shadow and demons are working towards the same thing: the restoration of the kah-gash. If achieved the demonta will become immortal once again, the old creatures will drift on and deaths task of harvesting souls will be easier. The kah-gash never used to have power over death but it seems to have changed since creating Bec consciousness. The pieces used to cut paths through universes randomly but when Bec died, the other parts made their way to the human universe. The old creatures couldn’t control becs piece then, but they directed the other pieces into forms of their choosing and sent them far away but they escaped and become a part of Grubbs and Kernel. It seems that the kah-gash wants to reunite and may wish to fight death in order to preserve the universes or could be looking for a return to simpler ways and may be using death to achieve this. They can go back and try to control the kah-gash between the three of them or...
The creature shows Kernel a earth like place with a variety of creatures within the buildings almost like a zoo. All the creatures had chose to be there regardless of the demonta threat but pledged to the cause of the old creatures. Around the creatures are various lodestones - the place is an ark like the bible story - but dealing with worse than a flood. There are humans within the ark and they want Kernel to be the new Noah - protect and guide the creatures from death and the demonta - essentially Kernel to save the universe.
The ark is essentially a perfect contained world - endless magic, food and magicians. When the time comes, they want Kernel to open a window and take the world through it. And they want kernel to live forever.
Bec believes that Beranabus’ soul may still be alive - within death. this divides the groups as they believe it’s a personal choice - kernel used the lights to check it and they flickered. And it seems Bill-E’s soul is also trapped.
I think I’m getting a bit burnt out with this storyline (or maybe due to life things) and I honestly don’t remember much of the end other than they don’t think Bec can be trusted and Grubbs took Kernel’s eyes so that he’d help get Dervish help? I think?
It opens with the scene where Kernel looses his eyes. Pretty gruesome.
The eyes that Kernel created for himself allow him to see different lights that change colour and shape which he can’t control. He realises these lights are whispering one word to him: come.
When on the ship, Kernel was left to keep the window open. The mysterious lights he’d started seeing with the voice started pulsing and swirling into a vortex and the voices get louder. They fly toward the window Kernel had open and combine with it, exploding and sending a ball of light flying around. Why Kernel questions out loud what it is, it replies “I have no name. You must come with me” the voice won’t explain anything but tries to urge him on. Then the dead come back to life and all focus on Kernel. There was a plan and the ship was a trap. The demons needed a lodestone to be able to cross so tempted the group there which led to Beranabus’ death. They want the kah-gash. In particular Kernels part.
The light takes Kernel somewhere and becomes a human form in the shape of Art to speak to Kernel and tells him the place is Atlantis. It is a part of the human universe but extremely different. They travelled by rockets not windows.
The light is an old creature of the world and is going to take Kernel to the Crux - a space between the demonta and human universe.
The light believes that the shadow and demons are working towards the same thing: the restoration of the kah-gash. If achieved the demonta will become immortal once again, the old creatures will drift on and deaths task of harvesting souls will be easier. The kah-gash never used to have power over death but it seems to have changed since creating Bec consciousness. The pieces used to cut paths through universes randomly but when Bec died, the other parts made their way to the human universe. The old creatures couldn’t control becs piece then, but they directed the other pieces into forms of their choosing and sent them far away but they escaped and become a part of Grubbs and Kernel. It seems that the kah-gash wants to reunite and may wish to fight death in order to preserve the universes or could be looking for a return to simpler ways and may be using death to achieve this. They can go back and try to control the kah-gash between the three of them or...
The creature shows Kernel a earth like place with a variety of creatures within the buildings almost like a zoo. All the creatures had chose to be there regardless of the demonta threat but pledged to the cause of the old creatures. Around the creatures are various lodestones - the place is an ark like the bible story - but dealing with worse than a flood. There are humans within the ark and they want Kernel to be the new Noah - protect and guide the creatures from death and the demonta - essentially Kernel to save the universe.
The ark is essentially a perfect contained world - endless magic, food and magicians. When the time comes, they want Kernel to open a window and take the world through it. And they want kernel to live forever.
Bec believes that Beranabus’ soul may still be alive - within death. this divides the groups as they believe it’s a personal choice - kernel used the lights to check it and they flickered. And it seems Bill-E’s soul is also trapped.
I think I’m getting a bit burnt out with this storyline (or maybe due to life things) and I honestly don’t remember much of the end other than they don’t think Bec can be trusted and Grubbs took Kernel’s eyes so that he’d help get Dervish help? I think?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 15, 2017The book Dark Calling by Darren Shan is an interesting story set in a fictional future where demons are overrunning the universe. I chose this book out of pure chance when I went to the library. This book starts off with the main character fighting to protect his home and friends from demons. This book puts magicians and demons against each other. The main conflict in the story is trying to survive against the demons. Another overarching problem is whether or not to give in. In the story, the demons are severely outnumbering the humans in strength and population, and eventually all life in the universe will be overrun. One of the main problems that the main character faces is whether or not to just give in. This book is part of a larger series so it ends with a transition into the next book. My favorite part is when she has to choose between spending the rest of his life running, or to fight and possibly die. This is my favorite part because it highlights the importance or morals. When I picked up this book, I had no idea what was in store for me. After reading this book, I was impressed with the overall story line. I would recommend this book to anyone who just wants a good story to pass time.
July 1, 2017
The biggest thing I remember from the earlier books in this series is my hate for Demon Thief, the second book, because it was narrated by Kernel. Now, I don't hate Kernel as a character, but his narration areas are dry, whiny, and boring. This book built the plot with elements completely out of left field (aliens? really?) and the first half took place during the events of the previous book. This confused me and put me off the beginning of the book.
I ended up liking the way this book went after Kernel returned to Earth, but I found it odd that here was a three day period where all of a sudden Kernel's eyes weren't melting out of his sockets on Earth? What happened there? The ending was a wonderfully brutal scene that sent me back to the days of the early Demonata books with highly detailed gore that the rest of this book seemed to be lacking.
I ended up liking the way this book went after Kernel returned to Earth, but I found it odd that here was a three day period where all of a sudden Kernel's eyes weren't melting out of his sockets on Earth? What happened there? The ending was a wonderfully brutal scene that sent me back to the days of the early Demonata books with highly detailed gore that the rest of this book seemed to be lacking.
October 23, 2025
این جلد یکی مونده به آخر دیگه رسما تو استرس و هیجانه آدم. اینجا کم کم فهمیدم که دارن شان فقط یه نویسنده معمولی که داستانای تینیجری مینویسه نیست. خیلی مفهوم و ارتباط عمیقی پشت تک تک جلدا بوده که الان داره مشخص میشه و بنظرم به شدت آندرریتده مجموعه دموناتا و خود دارن شان.
May 1, 2020
4.5/5
May 14, 2020
No point me having a favourite character anymore because they just end up dying :( alot more magic used in this one. Don't know whether I'm going to cry or jump with joy with the next one
October 31, 2022
Dark Calling is the penultimate book in The Demonata series and… well, it’s pretty different from the previous installments. I’m looking forward to seeing how this series ends!
May 26, 2023
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?????????????????????????????$@()*)$(*@)(&%*(#&%*(%
March 28, 2025
A lot of necessary exposition in this one, although done in a very cool and cosmic way. It's a bit convoluted, but shocking at how well it fits a lot of the puzzle pieces together in a pretty satisfying way. This leaves the series in a place where it could easily be a let down or have a really satisfying conclusion, I'm excited to find out which. I'm not wild about where we left 2 of the main characters at the end of this book, but the finale could really bring it in.
December 17, 2024
Dark Calling is the one that divides readers’ opinions the most, isn’t it?
I’m gonna be blunt. I don’t like the first ~140 pages of this book. Too much sci-fi fantasy seasoned with hypothetical traits and religious undertones. Just... too much. Reminds me of ‘the Lake of Souls’ to be honest, although that story fits in with the rest of the series. It has an important revelation to make for the characters and the series. This one has not. Technically is doesn’t offer anything new to the story since the reader already knows the world is gonna end. It’s just damage control at this point.
That being said I don’t like nearly half of the story. The other half on the other hand... Does it make up for the bORing start? Yes and no. The rest of the book is what I’m as the reader more used to. It has action, demons, gore and Death. It also has more of a “dynamic purpose”: the characters are actually doing something to save the world instead of just talking about it. Even “talking” is relatively bad term for it since Kernel literally just sits and asks questions while the sphere of light “lightens” him. It’s hardly interactional discussion. The ending shows us important details such as 1) how Grubbs has (at last) accepted his role as a hero and 2) how the pieces of the weapon function and 3) how fragile the relationship is between the three main characters. They’re not friends or some sort of a small found-family. They’re at best team mates and at worst enemies. (Grubbs literally pOKEd Kernel’s eyes out so he wouldn’t run away.)
The ending does also a lot of groundwork for the finale. I know from experience that Shan has a bad habit of killing the mentor character off so the protagonist must survive and shine on their own. You cannot after all become what you’re supposed to be with a safety net around. (I GET it. I learned. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t STILL hurt as hell.) I’ve always thought that killing off important characters at the end of the series is good, especially when it’s about life and death as it is. Makes it more realistic y’know. It’s okay to me. The story is ending anyway. But once an author kills them off in the middle of the series or right before the end? That sh*t hurts even worse because you have to face the new reality without them being part of the story. And to make it worse, the remaining characters mourn them, face the loss of their friend, look back fondly on their moments together, wear their beloved coat to the last battle... You get it. (I’m traumatized. Can you tell...) My point is that it is to be expected in a series like this and it just needs to be accepted. It’s time to move forward. Am I gonna regret saying that? Probably.
In the next — and the last — novel the heroes must make their final stand. It starts well in this one but I hope the ultimate finale makes up for this book, specifically for the beginning. I also whisper my wish to the universe (heh): Make it glorious. Kill someone if you must. I can take it. ✧
(Note to my future self: You thought that in this context the chapter title Swan song was very beautiful and fitting.)
2.5 stars
I’m gonna be blunt. I don’t like the first ~140 pages of this book. Too much sci-fi fantasy seasoned with hypothetical traits and religious undertones. Just... too much. Reminds me of ‘the Lake of Souls’ to be honest, although that story fits in with the rest of the series. It has an important revelation to make for the characters and the series. This one has not. Technically is doesn’t offer anything new to the story since the reader already knows the world is gonna end. It’s just damage control at this point.
That being said I don’t like nearly half of the story. The other half on the other hand... Does it make up for the bORing start? Yes and no. The rest of the book is what I’m as the reader more used to. It has action, demons, gore and Death. It also has more of a “dynamic purpose”: the characters are actually doing something to save the world instead of just talking about it. Even “talking” is relatively bad term for it since Kernel literally just sits and asks questions while the sphere of light “lightens” him. It’s hardly interactional discussion. The ending shows us important details such as 1) how Grubbs has (at last) accepted his role as a hero and 2) how the pieces of the weapon function and 3) how fragile the relationship is between the three main characters. They’re not friends or some sort of a small found-family. They’re at best team mates and at worst enemies. (Grubbs literally pOKEd Kernel’s eyes out so he wouldn’t run away.)
The ending does also a lot of groundwork for the finale. I know from experience that Shan has a bad habit of killing the mentor character off so the protagonist must survive and shine on their own. You cannot after all become what you’re supposed to be with a safety net around. (I GET it. I learned. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t STILL hurt as hell.) I’ve always thought that killing off important characters at the end of the series is good, especially when it’s about life and death as it is. Makes it more realistic y’know. It’s okay to me. The story is ending anyway. But once an author kills them off in the middle of the series or right before the end? That sh*t hurts even worse because you have to face the new reality without them being part of the story. And to make it worse, the remaining characters mourn them, face the loss of their friend, look back fondly on their moments together, wear their beloved coat to the last battle... You get it. (I’m traumatized. Can you tell...) My point is that it is to be expected in a series like this and it just needs to be accepted. It’s time to move forward. Am I gonna regret saying that? Probably.
In the next — and the last — novel the heroes must make their final stand. It starts well in this one but I hope the ultimate finale makes up for this book, specifically for the beginning. I also whisper my wish to the universe (heh): Make it glorious. Kill someone if you must. I can take it. ✧
(Note to my future self: You thought that in this context the chapter title Swan song was very beautiful and fitting.)
2.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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