The Call

by R. Raeta

When it starts it's only a whisper.Jo is a young child when she starts hearing voices. As she grows older, the little murmurs become Listen. Look. Rise.


A dystopian Joan of Arc retelling originally published in the Lost Boys Press "Heroes" Anothology.

100% of proceeds from this short story will be donated to ACLU Foundation.

18 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2025

About the author

R. Raeta lives in Northern California with her husband and young son. When she isn’t agonizing over word choices, she enjoys telling the dog how handsome he is and sitting in on the nightly therapy sessions the cat so generously provides for her. She is a Trigiminal Neuralgia survivor and believes in living your best life day by day.

Her traditionally published works are written under the name Rachelle Raeta.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[•Mrs Pizza• · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Sometimes things hit a little too close to home.


As far as short stories go this was a good one. I’ve enjoyed everything I have picked up from this author.

[Laura Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read this many times over. brilliant and disturbingly close to reality in the US in 2025.

[Rafaela Santo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frighteningly realistic portrait of the century we live in.

I think that more than a beautifully crafted retelling of Joan of Arc in modern times, The Call adapts the perspective and voices surrounding Joan to today's society with a hint of the US presidential actions of 2025 (and this story was written in 2022) and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

I read this story from the perspective that the voices are not really voices, but rather what every historian and history lover knows: observation and study are the tools to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.

I see Joan's voices here as knowledge of the world we live in. Of the ability to listen, look, wait, and act.

The Call is what the title suggests: a call to action.
A huge critique and 18 pages made so that we also listen and observe what is happening around us.

And all this with the lyrical writing of R. Raeta, which in itself is a catalyst for our own complex feelings.

Wonderful story. I am always very happy to find something worthy of the woman that Joan of Arc was and the symbol of revolution that she is.

[yaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was supposed to be a dystopian retelling of Joan of arc or something like that and I thought it was interesting how much the dystopian part kind of sounded familiar to what is today and the past few years.
I’d say this is kind of a lazy attempt at the joan of arc retelling thing it’s supposed to have going on. Basically a girl hears voices which cause her to be at the right place at the right time and then a dictator politician comes into office and they ban everything to “lead with god” and then she has some followers and dies thinking she’s a symbol. Like I know it’s a short story, but honestly the idea was really cool so I would’ve loved to see some more effort and honor to the amazing and inspiring things Joan of arc has done rather than a school history project you did the bare minimum for.

[abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man did this hit entirely way too close to home. I hope everyone reads this to get a little insight, a little hope, a little reality, and a little bit of fight in them. Only Raeta can make me cry in an 18 page short story with one simple word, “Rise.” I LOVED THIS READ!! Take 10 minutes out of your day and read it🥹🖤

[Lorraine Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short story (18 pages) which makes us think about and reflect on what is happening around us and in the world. Maybe a good discussion for a book club, but definitely worth the 15 minutes of reading time - available on KU.

[Heather Fort · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love anything r.raeta writes. It’s beautiful and heart wrenching, 100% what people need to hear in these crazy times that are reality.

[Amber 💫 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

It’s 18 pages. Read it.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

18 pages of one impactful word after another. This short story feels so close to reality that it gave me chills. Please read this if you can

[Trish D.W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how you make a perfect short story. R. Raeta can do no wrong in my eyes, as she continues to be my favorite new author of 2025.

[Madalino Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. So powerful and punctual.

[BrookieCookie]

I read for escapism. This was not escapism. Shoulda read the blurb. Damn.

[Chey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art imitates life and this feels close to the reality the USA might come to live in.

[Linda H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disturbingly close to reality

[Ellie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it sends a powerful message of how the world is turning to ruin and we live in a society built by men for men

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[kristen mcdade · Rating 3 out of 5]

beautiful writing. the Fictional hypocrisy was a little much.
thw writing itself...5☆
the story...2☆

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esto se sintió tan cercano a la realidad actual que duele.