Called by the Blessed

World Breacher #1

by Jali Henry

Would you risk an eternity in hell and losing your immortal soul to protect those you love?

Impoverished orphan Naledi struggles to raise her younger sisters in rural Lesotho, Africa. Her life already sucks but when she manifests the rare ability to open portals through time and space, her life gets a whole lot more complicated. Will learning to harness her powers piss off God and land her in hell?

Now a couple of archangels want Naledi to use her powers to spy on hell and stop a demon Armageddon. Spies who are caught on earth get tortured, so imagine how badly spies who are caught in actual hell get tortured.

If she fails, her sisters will die, demons will take over the world and she’ll get trapped in hell for eternity, so no pressure then…

If you love feisty heroines, gut-wrenching emotion and explosive endings, you’ll love this book.

---Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy---
---African mythology and Christian mythology mashup---
---No Cliffhanger---
---Clean YA (No graphic SVNL)---

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Mythology, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Religion, Paranormal

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 12, 2020

About the author

Fascination with the paranormal + Love of writing = Paranormal Fantasy Writer!

I always loved writing but I believed that it led to a life of poverty and that it was impossible to break into traditional publishing.

Indie publishing changed all that and now I'm writing books I would read myself and having a whale of a time!

If you want to connect with me, please sign up for my monthly newsletter by visiting my website https://www.jalihenry.com

Or say 'hi' on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pg/Jali-Henr...

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Reviews

[Mashaekh Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started requesting for ARCs in a whim. My first ARC request that received an approval was given by the author Jali Henry. Part of the reasons why I wanted to pick this book up is the promising premise, obviously, and, the genre - fantasy. Now, truth be told, this is the first ever fantasy that I've decided to pick up. I'm not a fantasy-guy, to be honest. It's just that the genre doesn't captivate me as strongly as other realistic fictions do. This time, something different happened. As a matter of fact, many different incidences occurred during the lock-down. The thing is, I wanted to give the genre- fantasy a go, and oh my God, I LOVED IT!

But here's the thing, I still don't think it would be appropriate to say "I'm into fantasy now", since I, despite enjoying almost the whole book, don't think I would try any fantasy anytime soon.

Naledi, an orphan, is consciously aware of her poverty and completely oblivious about her super-power. She's the type of person you would want to hug and cry with. Yes, she's that sweet. Amid the plenty of problems around her, she's dedicated to raise her younger sister in Lesotho, South Africa. Speaking of the superpower, that's something a few archangels want to utilize for their certain purpose.

Doesn't sound intriguing? Well, suggest you read the synopsis on Goodreads.

In case if even the synopsis doesn't grab your attention, let me tell you this: READ THE BOOK! Trailer doesn't say everything about the movie. This book is a movie. Better say: a daily soap. Each chapter is like an episode of a show and you'd want to keep reading. Sometimes, you'd feel like binging, and other times you would just want to take it slow. But, you WILL like it. Here's why -

1. The way the author incorporated very subtle punchlines is dope! The first revelation regarding the setting of place made in the last chapter was truly great. The way she introduced the place completely out of the blue with catchy humor would make you want to continue turning pages.

2. This book is big. Quite big, in fact. But, the chapters flow very well. Each chapter is a complete episode. Despite providing an ending of each chapter the author managed me to keep curious about what happened next.

3. Sprinkled all over the books are a handful of theological references. Besides, there are cultural references of South Africa. Those may come off as biased or something similar, but in my case, it added extra layers to the whole book which made it more like a realistic fantasy. Of course, the whole thing is imaginary. But, the way the crafting of the never-been-there-before-but-heard-a-lot place (can't disclose. That'd be a spoiler) is truly commendable, and definitely one of the factors that led to it being a page turner.

4. It's capable of making you feel the emotions. Although few of the places weren't as well described as the other places that I genuinely admired, the good pages are way more than enough to make you feel. And fortunately, both happiness and sadness are two of the emotions you'll feel while reading the book.

With all that being said, this is a brilliantly written book. Immensely enjoyable. But sadly, it's still not my genre. Therefore, I'm not looking forward to the sequel of it. To all the fantasy lovers - CONSIDER THIS BOOK A RECOMMENDATION FROM MY SIDE.

Also, I would really hope the author would try to write realistic YA fiction someday, because I honestly cannot appreciate enough the commendable storytelling skill she possesses.

[nico · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
We may look different, but inside we’re all the same. We’re all just looking for love, looking for family

Okay first of all, this has been marketed as "For fans of the shadowhunters series and the Children of Blood and Bone series." I wasn't a fan of either BUT this one was chef's kisses

From the very beginning I just knew that this was going to be a 4-5 star read. I mean.. we start from a prologue in hell. What more is there to say?

The characters were well-written and I enjoyed all of them, even though I would have preferred if this was told from just one POV as I found Giada's part for the majority of the book unnecessary.

I also didn't enjoy the ending and would have preferred if the-person-who-I-will-not-name-because-no-spoilers-allowed remained dead. Orr, the epilogue could have been told from a-person-in-hell's POV just so we could see the aftermath over there.

HOWEVER, the writing makes it easy for you to immerse yourself into the story and,honestly, it's so worth it.

[Melanie Tays · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story. It follows two main characters. Naledi is an orphan who soon discovers she has powers that are gaining some very unwanted attention. Giada is a newly-dead teenage girl who finds herself in Hell. The suspense and intrigue in how their stories intertwine is fascinating. This book had a great story, intriguing worlds I wanted to know more about, and characters that I love (and some I love to hate). It drew my interest by the end of the first page and held it all the way through. I read the book much faster than I expected.

[Joy RS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move aside, Black Panther! At last, the quintessential African fantasy novel. I live in South Africa and was so excited to get into this story, and I wasn’t disappointed. Such a beautiful blend of the elements both of Africa and of mainstream fiction. I strongly feel it’s a great way for people in other countries to learn something of African culture and values within the commonality of a familiar genre. A breathtakingly unique world with a unique storyline, this book is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Called by the Blessed: Young Adult Dark Urban Fantasy (World Breacher Book 1) by Jali Henry is a wonderful story to read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series that I am so hooked on and can not wait to read more. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about YA and paranormal romance.

I read a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. Has you intrigued in the characters, especially Naleda. She has to take care of her siblings by herself. She has special talents that are definitely unusual. Loved everything about the story.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do want to mention that there are Trigger Warnings in this book. (Ie: suicide, murder, mention of sexual assault, slavery, child neglect and child abuse)

This book follows two main characters of Naledi and Giada. Giada is in hell for watching her little brother die while Naledi is a human on earth. Giada and Naledi both want to save people but in different ways. Naledi doesn’t want what happened in the past with Satans kids to happen again now. And Gilda wants another chance to prove why she deserves at the very least a second chance after she literally watched her family fall apart after the loss of her brother.
Giada decides that she wants to work with other people (like Aaron) to help stop the resurrection that has been rumored in Hell. And if there is a way to stop it she wants to make sure that she has people who want the same thing.
Naledi gets word that this is gonna possibly happen from two angels who want her to go to Hell and find out if she can find anything that will help them know that this is going to happen. So she decides to be this two faced liars (who is pretending to be her uncle) student after he kidnapped her sisters in order to help not only Heaven but Earth as well.
It seemed like really everyone didn’t want Naledi to get close to Motsumi for their own reasons. Weather it was they just didn’t trust him or he kidnapped you and stole your eye as payment for your mothers treatment because she was ill.
The more that Naledi visits Hell, the more she finds out about what they have planned. She also does work with a few of the damned souls, like Giada and Aaron, because of common things.

I loved this book. I did have to put it down because i needed to digest some of the things that i read. This book was a ROLLER COASTER!! It seemed as soon as you think that everything is going fine, the emotions come and get you. Not many books make me want to cry but this one got me a few times. If I wasn’t crying because of things that happened, I was screaming at the book like “WHY”.
I enjoyed every page of this book and I can’t wait to read book 2 so that way I can become more of an emotional mess for these characters and see where the author takes them. It was a great first book and I am ready to have my heart ripped out of my chest again (in a good way). This might be a book (and series) that I revisit. As someone who doesn’t typically read a lot of fantasy, I would recommend this book. I loved it and think it might be a great read for those who read TONS of fantasy novels.

[Kelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young adult myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this Young Adult book due to many of its features: its ability to capture heartfelt moments between characters, the incredibly descriptive imagery of Naledi's home in Africa as well as Heaven and Hell, and most importantly its ability to feel relatable. The story draws you in and reading in anticipation as it unfolds is incredibly exciting. Whilst reading I began to feel deeply connected with Naledi, Giada and more characters that - after having finished the book - I miss reading and learning about. The end of the book had me on the edge of my seat wondering what's next in store for the characters. I often wondered after putting the book down how their stories further develop! Would definitely recommend for a fun, exciting and heartfelt read.

[Skye Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is captivating. The characters are well-rounded. And, to be honest, I'm a sucker for a book with multiple points of view. I love the twist on the afterlife that this book takes, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. Like I said, I want to go back and read it again, because I feel like I read it so quickly the first time I might have missed some things metaphorically! It's rich in context, so I definitely recommend it.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definitely new to me. I rarely read books influenced by very current religion practices because I enjoy escapism within my books, but this book was a beautiful Segway into modern religion when interlaced with African mythologies. I loved the opportunity to read about a place different to my own continent! So many books are set either in the UK or the USA, but Called by the Blessed opened the doors to rural Africa and allowed me to experience something entirely new. It was also super interesting to entertain Jali Henry's interpretation of Hell, with interesting characters I was just dying to know more about.

It took me about 100 pages to get into this book, which for a 291 page novel is quite a lot to manage to get me hooked. However, despite the initial slow pacing I did find that I began to fall in love with the book and ultimately I finished most of it within two days. This was a quick, but thought provoking read, with an oasis on the suffering of what comes after death. It took the common idea that the eternal darkness after death could be finite and argues that futility and disappointment follows even the dead. In a way, this book made me grateful to be living!

In addition to some pacing issues, I was a little upset to see that a lot of the culture and surroundings of Naledi's idyllic rural hometown was left to my imagination. Henry missed a solid opportunity to educate others about the importance of Naledi's culture beyond religion, and I would have loved to see these locations and the characters themselves fleshed out some more. However, I do think there is a possibility for this in the next two books of her trilogy. There was also a bit of a rushed romance, and I personally am a sucker for slow burn, but there was an air of predictability to this that I didn't really mind it (plus it was sweet, bless their hearts)!

Overall, this book was imaginative. It threw me into the depths of Hell and spat me out again. I enjoyed the premise, and I am completely at a loss for what comes next due to the lack of a cliffhanger. It's safe to say I'll be reading the next book to learn more of Naledi and Giada, the two protagonists, and what Henry has in store within the next installment of the World Breacher series.

[Belle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some wonderful elements to it but unfortunately it just didn't come together with the execution and storytelling.

I liked the cultural aspect. I also liked the age-old concept of heaven vs hell, angels vs demons and thought the author had some more unique ideas of hell. The opening prologue had me very excited and eager to read more. Giada's chapters were definitely the highlight for me.

Unfortunately, although portions of the text were well written, it was choppy and there were issues with convenience and suspension of disbelief. The book also really struggled with pacing and flow, particularly Naledi's chapters.

There were great lulls where nothing would happen, then when something did, it felt very rushed and hard to accept. There was no build up or sense of anticipation.

Naledi's reactions and behaviour to what was occurring were also very jarring. Her immediate acceptance and knowledge of what must have been happening to her on laundry day was very hard to believe as a reader.

I do think this author shows real promise. And I think this book would be much better suited to younger YA readers.


Review copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ankithaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a young adult myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this Young Adult book due to many of its features: its ability to capture heartfelt moments between characters,
the incredibly descriptive imagery of Naledi's home in Africa as well as Heaven and Hell, and most importantly its ability to feel relatable.

The story draws you in and reading in anticipation as it unfolds is incredibly exciting. Whilst reading I began to feel deeply connected with Naledi, Giada and more characters that - after having finished the book - I miss reading and learning about.
The end of the book had me on the edge of my seat wondering what's next in store for the characters. I often wondered after putting the book down how their stories further develop! Would definitely recommend for a fun, exciting and heartfelt read.

[Sentinelle23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

💜👹💀😰 An exotic amazing youth Fantasy novel 🌫🌬

In the Underworld :
Giada, 15, died.

She has been in Hell for exactly sixty five days, she knows that well...
But why she ended up in Hell, that she doesn’t remember at all...

On Earth, Lesotho :
The young orphan Naledi, 14, is racking her brains to find out how she will continue to feed her two little sisters.

She knows she can count on Lerato, her adopted sister...

---------------

This exotic youth Fantasy novel totally and pleasantly surprised me, both with its captivating background story, and wih its original and attractive characters.

It felt like I was reading two novels in one : the story of Giada and the story of Naledi, two very endearing characters.

The novel is fascinating to read, full of action : a very beautiful discovery that I recommend with all my heart 🧡.

I’ll read more in volume two...
🌫🌬

[Kathy Brenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was right up my alley. Good fights against evil - demons and angels - what more could you ask for. Naledi is an orphan and after her grandmother dies, she is responsible for her two younger sisters, although she is helped by her best friend, who also lives with them. However, they are on the verge of starvation when a man turns up claiming to be a cousin of her grandmother. Although they had never heard mention of him, he supplied them with food, so it would seem that he was genuine. It was eventually revealed that Naledi could open portals to other places (and other times) and that this guy would teach her. Naledi could not fathom his reasons for this training, but she would find out eventually. Then she would have to work out which side she was on. The risks were enormous regardless of what she decided to do.

[Chris Bournea · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Call by the Blessed” provides a fascinating journey into the Underworld, as told from the perspective of the protagonist, who has a gift for traveling between realms. The engaging story also offers an intriguing glimpse into African culture, which is rich with mythology and fables.
Think “Dante’s Inferno” meets “The Hunger Games,” with a strong female heroine like the latter.
The novel combines dramatic moments of action and terror with lighter moments of humor and even romance.
The book is well-written, with vivid descriptions of Hell, snappy dialogue and clever turns of phrase
This is a page-turning fantasy adventure.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so exited about this book at first, but as soon as I picked it up into my hands I found it quite hard to get into it.

The main girl - she was such a badass and strong minded, as I found her somewhat annoying. The world and the ranks, the story was in, felt a bit too complicated for so I wished for more clearer story telling.

Later on as I got into the book, I started to like her, tho some moments I wanted to punch her and as I get closer to the end of the book I really didn’t want it to end.

Overall good read !

[S.S. Saywack]

Wonderful Read

I would recommend it. A thoroughly enjoyable book. It is not my usual read, but it was well written, and I was thoroughly pulled into the lead character’s world, and see how she grows as the novel progressed. Wonderful that it’s set in Africa. A great first book in this series, I shall look at the others.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love feisty heroines, gut-wrenching emotion, sweet romance and explosive endings, you’ll love this book.-
This is a very unique story .
Wonderful characters inspired by a wicked imagination.
The world is told in great detail it is not hard for you to become a part of it.
An exciting adventure with many twists and turns.
You will find this book hard to put down.

[Heather Goldsberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just ok in my opinion. I am not huge on Fantasy, but I was asked to read the book and give my review. The author writing is very visually stimulating and I think that is what kept me going. There were parts I really enjoyed and others that were just lacking for me. This book is part of a series, so I will read the others because I hate not completing a series!

[D.M. Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author weaved an entertaining story rich in elements of classic tales entwined with modern devices. Authentic storytelling and beautiful world building captured me from start to finish. A throughly recommended read!

[Annarella · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good urban fantasy, the world building is interesting but the story didn't keep my attention.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was slow starting but once I settled in it was a great read. I loved the characters they were well developed and relatable. I also enjoyed enjoyed the differences between Naledi and Giada's POVs. I was fascinated by what drives them. I look forward to seeing more from this author.

[Hanna Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many dark fantasy novels but this one was unique! I enjoyed the story with the strong characters and cool fantasy elements.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christina Luberts · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry read the Prologue and first two chapters. I gave up it did not keep me interested. Lacked so much to keep you wanting to read more. I received a free copy for my honest review.