Call of the Forbidden Way

by Robert Owings

When Carson Reynolds gets hired to produce a documentary film at a gathering of Native American medicine men, he never suspects it will be a portal into a world that will radically change his life. Despite his resistance to the Call, he is ineluctably drawn into a realm of shamans, priestesses, deities, and plant-medicine work, where he becomes engaged in a searing struggle with extra-dimensional forces that threaten the future of humanity as we know it.

Genres: Novels

366 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2007

About the author

Robert Owings is an award-winning novelist celebrated for his ability to blend mystery, Southern fiction, metaphysical inquiry, and visionary storytelling into powerful, immersive narratives. His work explores the paradoxes of a world undergoing rapid transformation, capturing the tension between what is remembered and what is lost. With a voice that is both reflective and daring, Owings weaves together nostalgia, cultural change, spiritual depth, and emotional suspense, crafting stories that linger long after the final page.

His latest novel, Troubled by Elephants, stands at the crossroads of Southern mystery and literary thriller. Set against the evocative landscapes of his native South, the novel immerses readers in an atmosphere rich with memory, conflict, and longing. Through a complex love story and a plot thick with tension, Owings raises the timeless question: “Can one truly go home again?” The book delves deeply into themes of identity, belonging, and the shifting meaning of “home,” delivering a poignant portrait of a region touched by history and haunted by change.

Owings is also the author of the acclaimed metaphysical thriller Call of the Forbidden Way, the first book in a completed shamanic-journey trilogy that received three national book awards. This visionary series takes readers on a profound spiritual odyssey, exploring the intersection of modern life, ancient wisdom, and the personal search for meaning. Revered for its originality and depth, the trilogy is currently being adapted into a screenplay, bringing its rich visual and symbolic world to new audiences.

Throughout his career, Owings has been praised for his ability to merge the mystical with the psychological, grounding metaphysical concepts in compelling, character-driven storytelling. His fiction resonates with readers who appreciate layered narratives, vivid settings, and themes that challenge and inspire. Whether writing about the mysteries of the human heart or the unseen dimensions of spiritual experience, Owings approaches each story with curiosity, compassion, and a keen eye for the subtle forces that shape our lives.

Born and raised in the American South, Owings draws heavily on the region’s culture, history, and folklore, infusing his work with authenticity and emotional weight. His background gives his stories a distinctive voice, rooted in memory, shaped by conflict, and illuminated by a deep sense of place. He now lives in Sonoma County, California, where he continues to write fiction that bridges the worlds of mystery, myth, spirituality, and human psychology, inviting readers into journeys that are both intimate and transformative.

Reviews

[Cat Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I chose this book, I figured I was either going to love it or be baffled by it. I find shamanism and old religion and spiritual practices to be fascinating, but sometimes they are not the easiest things to wrap your mind around. In the hands of someone who doesn't cater to a novice, it'd be easy to get lost in the theories.

Fortunately this book didn't have too much of that. There were a lot of complex theories, but they were written in an accessible way. Surely there were parts that made the reader think and maybe expand their brain a little, but that's not a bad thing. I felt like I was having a lot of "Ah ha!" moments which I understood what the author was trying to explain.

I got off to a slow start with this one, though. Usually I read a book every other day if the book is less than 400 or so pages. For some reason this one took me 3 days. I'm not sure if it was my brain just not being in the mood to read, or the book being a slow starter. I think probably both. But once I got going at about the halfway point, I couldn't stop.

I do have a beef with the ending, however. It wasn't much of an ending. It just sort of... ended. It was left wide open for a sequel, but if there are plans for that, I can't find any information about it. If not, that's displeasing. It wasn't left completely open, but more than I would have liked. Too many loose threads for my taste.

Overall, though, it was a good read. Knocking off 1 star for the slow start and the not-really-ending ending.

4 stars

* A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley, John Hunt Publishing LTD and Cosmic Egg Books for an honest review. Thank you for making this available!

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[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Owings book, Call of the Forbidden Way, is a sly introduction to the world of shamanism, entertaining instead of dogmatic. It’s a fun read but filled with profound ideas that will pique the curiosity of the uninitiated, and resonate deeply with those already involved in shamanic work. Is it a metaphor, or an autobiography? You decide. I particularly enjoyed the passages concerning the wrathful deities, or Dharmapalas, which reminded me of Salman Rushdie’s latest novel, “Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights”.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether or not you love a great page turner, read Call of the Forbidden Way, the first novel of a forthcoming trilogy. Not only will you have a great read, but you may also learn a few things you never knew or even thought about when you step into the other worldly realms in this book. Author Robert Owing’s education, experience, and passion shine through in this intelligent and well thought out first novel. Call of the Forbidden Way is a story about Carson Reynolds, a documentary film-maker, who during the the filming of a closed Native American ceremony, found that his life was inextricably changed. With no awareness or knowledge of what was to come, Carson finds his path is inescapable. While you read, not only do the story and the brilliant cast of characters unfold, but you will also find out about ancient and current international religious, cultural, and shamanic practices, plus much more. I highly recommend this book, and can’t wait for the rest of the trilogy to be published!

[Jorge Méndez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, has become one of my favorites. It is beautifully written, and the novelty is so catching while the spiritually in it makes you view the world in other way, the forbidden way!!

[Yates Buckley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was unable to finish this book as it is insufferably staged. It plays out like an episode of cops or such TV real world drama and in such an obvious way with the characters over acting their specific assigned roles…

There may be some shamanic culture inside but it is like learning to cook from iron chef… not for me.

I suspect either the book takes an incredible turn after the half mark where I quit, or more likely the book got very good reviews because it perfectly targeted to wanna-dream shamans and is such a boring read unless you really want to read an over staged shaman drama.

[Mirto G Golino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow – mystical science fiction!
Robert sets the scene introducing a cast of compelling characters and ends with a fantastical confrontation of the manifestations of good and evil forces! –
I really want another installment to this saga NOW!

[S.D. Warr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to Native American culture and Shamanism with some very interesting concepts woven neatly into an engaging narrative. It’s a clever study of good versus evil and maintaining balance in the universe. The story follows the journey of Carson as he gets drawn ever deeper into an exciting and at times terrifying world working with ‘the medicine’. He meets Wounded Paw and later on Rhiannon who are both fine teachers guiding him along his path. This book is a great example of visionary fiction and was an even better read than anticipated. It’s really well written with believable characters and a gripping storyline. I understand this is the first part of a trilogy, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next. Highly recommended.

[Roy Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fiction novel. If you are looking for non fiction work on shamanism, this is't it.

The book starts with an awkward piece of what seems to be amateurish writing, and the amateurish streak continues with largely two dimensional characters.

However, it is still a very fun read, and the accounts on various shamanic and spiritual traditions seem to be well researched and informative.

The book doesn't conclude the story arch and seems to be left open for a sequel.

If you're interested in a fiction work that provides some light introduction to various shamanic traditions, you'll probably enjoy this. Get through the first few chapters and the writing and dialogs will improve.

[Connie Cox]

...in the genre of Lynn Andrews and Carlos Castaneda. Wise ones guide Grasshopper into expanded consciousness, recognizing unity between dark and light, accepting the call to personal power.

It is a screen play waiting for the next two books in the series to arrive. My only hope is that the "monsters/evil" are not made into hyperbole and the movie focuses on the psychospiritual development of the characters.

I love that Carson drinks bloody Marys! Outrageously sexy and confident male voice and probably writer as well! lolol!

[Najee Faust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I enjoyed the spiritual aspects of this book. Made me come to many realizations of how the world may work.

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carson had received alot of artistic awards for his work but it was time to stop doing so many documentaries and making some real money from his work. Yet he is starting another documentary . he is on Lakota Indian land and met with his old college friend Jimmy who he hadn’t seen in four years. Jimmy was working on the project with Carson. Carson had also brought his sound man Lucas with him. Jimmy was a very prominent journalist. Carson was to tape an Indian medicine circle. Carson felt very honored by the Lakota elders to be allowed to do this documentary on the reservation. There were about one hundred and forty men some from Canada, one from Mexico and all around the states. There were also young men who came as apprentices who were gifted in medicine work. During one of the nights of the ceremony Carson felt very strange and really had to concentrate on what he was suppose to be doing.\
I read about ½ of this story and it just got to out there for me. This book just went on and on about spirits and working with the different medicine people but not how Carson was when away from them just to much of one thing . So it wasn’t the book for me apparently. But I gave this a three as before it got to much the story interested me about the Indian medicine men and their ways.
I received an ARC of this story for an honest review.

[KM · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whole village of people disappears into thin air on a mountaintop in Chile, while in a mysterious power vortex on a Lakota reservation, a circle of shamans gathers for a haunting, throbbing ritual, filmed by a documentary producer, Carson Reynolds.
In Robert Owings’ novel, Call of the Forbidden Way, reluctantly, with two steps forward and one back, and definitely with a sense of foreboding, Reynolds is gradually sucked into a life-changing (and life-threatening) odyssey involving spirit guides, dangerous “visitors” from beyond our planet, dreams of a great bear mentor, a modern priestess, a Tibetan deity and more, much more.
Transcending the fantasy fiction and mind-body-spirit genres, Call of the Forbidden Way inhabits a genre of its own, with suspense, mystery, ancient Native American culture, alien forces and past lives––resulting in a whopping good read. As a strictly non-fiction writer and reader myself, I am not usually drawn to magical realism or spiritual quests. Nonetheless, I can use the word “un-put-downable” to describe Owings’ memoir-like novel. It’s fun to read, and enlightening about the “medicine way” of Native American shamanism and psychoactive plants. I understand this is the first in a trilogy from the author – I’m in!

[Matthew Farruggio]

Now during this time of the Burning Man migration I've just finished a timely book: "Call of the Forbidden Way" by Robert Owings, quite the entertaining journey of an unsuspecting and unprepared documentarian into the worlds and thinking of current shamanic culture. It's wonderful evocative ride through a gateway to other realms and consciousness. Woven in a dance with everyday life, love and duty, are some intensely colorful characters, cultures, wisdoms, sanity, superstition and the ineffable, A definite brain bath for the right hemisphere. If you'd like a taste of Ayahuasca, visions of the medicine path, pre-Buddhist Tibet, and a crazy little touch of Thomas the Tank Engine, do read! Though, if I were Sir Topham Hatt, I'd head for the hills!

[John A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call of the Forbidden Way is a great read. Author Robert Owings�� writing is part Carlos Castaneda with a heavy dose of Terence McKenna and Dan Brown with some incredible depictions of close encounters of the shamanic kind and a thriller-mystery wave that made me not want to put the book down. In particular, I love the way the book weaves together the wayward journeys of a reluctant current day initiate and the revelations of a very compelling alternative spiritual history and perspective of the world. Owings blurs the boundaries between traditional genres such as science fiction, fantasy, mystery, adventure, and spiritual memoir. There is something in this book for everyone who likes to travel off the beaten path. You’ll be left wanting more.

[Jill Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just turned the last page of Call of the Forbidden Way, I can only imagine what else might lie ahead for this unique cast of characters Robert Owings has given life to. Bringing together divergent worlds existing between our perceived reality and the veils of dimensional consciousness, we are treated to a great diversity of cultures, spiritual quests and the everyday challenge we face as we try to define the world around us. In answer to this big question, Owings offers connective tissue for what’s really going on here?

[C.L. Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is some really solid writing here. There is definitely a great mix of humor, and a decided amount of research went into the creation of this book. It is fascinating to learn about so many cultures. While it didn't make me fall in love with it, I still enjoyed it enough to give it 4 stars. It is a bit long. I think some of it could be cut down for a better flow as some parts, especially in the middle lull a bit. I would recommend to anyone interested in Western or Native American religious or spiritual cultures.

[Jenna Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is interested in delving deeper into my own consciousness, this book paints a vibrant picture of what can be possible. A fascinating and imaginative adventure to follow! I was immediately intrigued by the mystery surrounding the subject matter and continued to flip the pages as the personality and relatability of each character developed. Filled with ancient knowledge and wisdom- I began incorporating themes from the book into my own dreams. Impossible to describe without experiencing it yourself!

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting thriller where mystic meets modern. I won it in a contest and it was a good read!