Called by Darkness

Goddesses of the Morrigan #1

by Ashton Abbott

The Morrigan has fallen.

Badb, goddess of war and death, has been captured.
Her sisters have been taken, and there is nothing she can do to seek revenge.

Yet.

The order that has imprisoned them claims to protect the balance of the human world, yet they have made it their mission to dismantle all who maintain that stability through dark means.

All through her torture Badb has held on to her sanity, knowing that one day her captors will be on the receiving end of the horror that has become her existence.

But first, she must bide her time and build her strength, for escaping the clutches of the Raedan Order is no easy feat. But once she does… there will be no mercy.

Until then, she is trapped in the flesh-eating waters of the River of Lost Souls, forced to travel through her memories and relive the path that led her to this ruin.

Will the torturous waters break her? Or will they be the key to her freedom?

Genres: Fantasy

Paperback

Published June 17, 2020

About the author

Ashton Abbott is an anxiety ridden hot mess most of the time. I can say that because I’m talking about myself. This is kind of therapeutic.
I write paranormal romance, dark fantasy, post-apocalyptic paranormal romance, and horror in the near future. I like to think I write on the grittier side of things. Is grittier a word? I guess this is my book so I can do whatever I want. Grittier is officially a word according to this book. Geez I’m bad at this. Ok, about me.
I am a Mom to two beautiful hellions. I have a smokin’ hot husband. I love them even though they can have an attitude sometimes. Honestly, it’s karma because so do I. How long does this thing have to be?
I enjoy reading and gaming when I have a moment to actually take a breath and chill. Epson salt baths! I play the shit out of some Minecraft.
I actually genuinely love hearing from my readers so don’t be shy! I post a ton of memes on my Facebook page and am not above getting into best meme contest so feel free to challenge me. BYYYEEEE!

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love a glimpse into the back story of villains. How did they get to be the “bad guy” in the hero’s story? It’s so amazing when an author can provide such a robust character POV that the villain no longer seems quite so bad. Abbott succeeds here in giving us Badb’s journey to become part of the Morrigan. My heart ached a little for her, even as I was astonished at her actions as a Goddess of War.

[Pretty_Book_Whore Narissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a dark ride! Ashton brings to life Babd the Goddess of War and Death. She tells her stories that lead her on the path to becoming The Morrigan. Babd is dark and brutal. Tormented by her emotions that loving a mortal gives her. Ashton did such an amazing job on this telling Babd I cant wait to see what she does with the other two Goddesses that become The Morrigan.
A 5 STAR read for those who enjoy reading about mythical Gods and Goddesses.
I recieved an ARC in exchange for a honest review

[The Lusty Literarians · Rating 4 out of 5]

Called by Darkness provides us with a fascinating look at the history of Babd, Goddess of War and Death. She is that and so much more. This isn't a story which you read, set down when finished, and forget about. No, Called by Darkness burrows into your psyche and settles in for the long haul. I'll be thinking about Babd and her story for a while. Probably until Goddesses of the Morrigan book 2 gets released. She isn't an immediately likable character, but I understand her now and appreciate her usefulness. She is necessary to maintain balance and order in the world. You might not like her specifically, but she provides a necessary service. She is akin to an emotionally complex detritivore, gross at times and doing a job that I would hate to have, but I appreciate her for doing it and see that she is necessary. I hate to call her a "necessary evil" because I don't think she is evil. She just is what she is. Without the dark you can't appreciate the light and without rain we wouldn't have rainbows. That is Babd. She just is.

I'm not sure I can describe how I feel about this book, mostly because I'm slightly conflicted in my feelings. While I really liked Babd in all of her delicious darkness, this book isn't a true standalone. Granted it is book 1 of a new series, so that shouldn't be a total shock to me. It also doesn't end in what I would call a cliffhanger, but I do have questions still. I liked this book though, so I'll just have to wait until book 2 and see what happens I suppose.

[Maya Unadkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book; I highly recommend it especially if you enjoy reading about mythology, such as Gods and Goddesses.

I really enjoyed the way it was written and cannot wait to read book 2!

[tburbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story line was great, the character work was terrific and the book had a smooth flow to it. This was a good read and kept me hooked from beginning to end. I look forward to more from this author.

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

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great read. I found the storyline interesting with a great flow. The characters are well developed and written. This is a book that I didn’t want to put down. I would recommend reading.

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

[Erin Whalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW 4.5/5
Called by Darkness is the dark, rich, and complex backstory of Badb the goddess of war. Badb, who makes up a third of the Morrigan, has been captured and forced to dive deep into her most bittersweet and painful memories. My heart ached for her while simultaneously feeling betrayed by her nature. I got some true Maleficent vibes which left me fully entranced.
I’m so excited and honored to be given a copy of this book to review. Ashton Abbott never ceases to amaze me with her dark, witty, and disarmingly charming style.

[Dawn Milligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a first read for me by Ashton! And I really enjoyed getting to know her style and it's well written I look forward to book 2 the characters are amazing!

[Danielle Melo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This is a little darker and bloodier than I am used to. That being said, It was a phenomenal read and I feel like the blurb should be what captivates you to pick this book up. It's a captivating read and once you stop, you don't want to miss what happens next.

[sairs_readsandreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

How I read: Purchased the ebook on kindle
How long it took to read: 2hrs 34

Hmmm this book is very interesting. I’m not 100% sure how I feel about it.. because it’s such a unique take.

I really enjoyed the world building, this book is based on Irish mythology and I thought it was a really unique read, and overall it was good!

It’s not my usual read. I guess I went in thinking it was going to be more dark fantasy romance, but this was much more complex than that.
It starts off a bit like a prologue that then just carries on as the main story. I kept expecting the main plot to start at some point. The main relationship is not a sexual one, and although there are some chapters from other’s pov, you are mainly just following Badb and her choices.

Without giving away the plot, it follows Badb and her journey and memories, her decisions and the repercussions of those. I think it was well written, the author enabled me to envisage the events described well, it was gruesome at points with some horrifying elements.
It was quite ethereal in a way, floating through the story to each point and place, not really getting the whole picture, like Babd was doing possibly. I wasn’t sure what was happening to begin with though!
I think maybe it could have been developed more possibly? I liked the world but it felt quite small by the end, like a prologue to a bigger story, perhaps I needed to know more about the mythology to understand the context more. I didn’t understand the importance of some of the characters, because I don’t know the rest of the mythology perhaps.

Really interesting premise and a memorable read. I kept thinking, the way I would describe it is if you wrote a book from the pov of the death type character in the invisible life of Addie La rue, following them when they are called on by humans and what they did, how they interacted with others and humans. It definitely reminded me of that in a way.

[Cath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book one of the Goddesses of the Morrigan Trilogy and the main character is Badb, goddess of war and death. She is also the protector of the cauldron all souls travel through to either be reborn or meet their resting place, plus the creator of confusion. She is one of three sisters who make up the Morrigan, once all together. Badb would normally walk a battle field to collect the souls of the fallen and devour their bodies in her wolf form. She will appear to those who are about to fall, as a warning that normally shocks most and cannot be ignored. Those who are worthy and are seeking help, get to see her crone form, but she will rip them apart if she thinks they are not worthy enough. When she takes a somewhat different path at one point, she is on the crossroads of either going to glory or her doom. Another god will be involved and eventually with Badb going against fate itself, she will find herself imprisoned and placed into a continuous place of torture for eternity by the Raedan Order.

She has to relive the path that took her to this point, the errors she made with Emer and the son of a powerful god. She is stuck in the acidic flesh eating waters of the River of Souls, constantly left to be almost dead before being removed, only to be dunked once more. She finds her soul pulled to Avalon, but has to return before her actual body dies. Eventually she will get herself out of this torture and she is reunited with one of her sisters, Macha. A grim story of death and war, with a goddess who tries to change her ways and ignore the path fate sends her upon, all to do as she wishes and then going crazy to get her revenge against those she holds responsible. Definitely not light reading and a very graphic tale of the legends of such gods and goddesses. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[MysticMadness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

From the moment I saw the cover and read the title, I knew this book was calling to me. Called by Darkness is steeped in Irish mythology, focusing on The Morrígan, a figure who has always intrigued me. This novel, centered on Badb, the war and death Goddess, truly captured my attention and pulled me into its world.

The story begins with Badb imprisoned, her fate uncertain, and the whereabouts of her sisters, Macha and Anu, unknown. What I loved most about this book is how it delves into deep, complex themes like pain, empathy, humanity, grief, guilt, and love. The author's attention to detail creates a beautifully dark and haunting atmosphere, making it impossible not to get lost in every word.

One quote that stood out to me was: "Her body stilled. A light flashed through **** mind as she faced the darkest parts of herself. She was done letting another’s actions define her. She was done running, done lashing out… done hiding." This line encapsulates the profound transformation of Badb, making her a character you can’t help but root for.

This is the first book in a series, and it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving me eager to dive into the next installment, which focuses on her sister, Macha. I know this is a novel I’ll be returning to, as its depth and richness offer so much to reflect on with each re-reading.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

- 4/5 stars, would recommend, would reread and just loved it all -
"The very earth holds its breath as the battle crow descends… and a goddess steps from its wings."
I hold my breath reading the page, anticipation at what this story is going to tell me. The Goddess Badb is from Irish Mythology - a battle goddess who is associated with war and death.
This is her story. (I hadn't realised there was other books which had links to this story when I initially downloaded it).

The Mythology of this story is beautiful - Ashton provides a summary at the start of book explaining who some of the main characters are which helps if you are new to the storylines.
The story goes back and forward through time explaining how Badb has come to her situation which is great as sometimes linear mythologies can be a bit dull.

I think the only think I missed was a bit more romance/smut between the main character and her husband but that is just because I like a bit of smut haha and initially thought there would be more of it in the book.
"But there was no one else that understood their needs. To fight and to fuck. To bleed and moan. This was their curse. The reason they were so good together." - this has so much potential - it had me wiggling my toes lol.


Favourite quotes:
The magic holding her dissipates, leaving her bound body to plunge into the unforgiving waters of the River of Lost Souls.
Badb disappeared into the night. Leaving the family to the horror of glimpsing death.
Emotions were a breeding ground for rash decisions. She was above it.
The girl giggled. Fucking giggled.

[Jagged · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll go with 3

I was undecided on 2 or 3, but I'll give it 3.

I liked the lore. I liked the consequences that Badb endured for her actions and how she was impacted by her attempt to achieve humanity when it is beyond her reach.
I liked the overall story.

However, this story is one that would have benefited from length. As it is, this is such a choppy, disjointed read. So much time elapses between scenes that it is disruptive trying to understand large charges in her personality without witnessing what caused the change.

This is the second series I've read by this author, and she misses the mark with her tellings because so much of the story is TOLD rather than unfolding naturally through the plot and character interactions.
She tends to write short stories with books that are really suited to full-length books. Because of that, there is little world building, no true character development, and plot lines that are not established well or don't fully materialize the way I think she envisions.

Because of that, I'll probably wait a while before reading another of her books until she's grown into her potential a bit more.
Because this was a great idea. But I think I'll be disappointed by all it's lacking if I continue further. She is an author to watch, though. So much potential here.

[RedFlower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book an intriguing and fascinating read.
It was wonderful to navigate in the Goddess Babd's mind and what motivated her the most. How her nature and nurture were manifested in her.
It's an easy read and it's full of other amazing characters in it such as Neit her husband and Emer.
I loved the fact that someone was able to warm up and stir up Babd's emotions and heart. In addition, Babd's vulnerability was exciting to read and this added a special edge to the storyline.
Get ready because you're in for an action-packed plot filled with twists and turns.

Finally, I recommend this captivating plot which is beautifully written.

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

[stephanie cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Called by Darkness
The Morrigan has fallen. In book one we read about Badb, the goddess of war and death.

Badb has been captured and her sisters have been taken. Frustration and hatred seep in knowing she cannot help her sisters. Badb is trapped in the flesh-eating waters of the River of Lost Souls, reliving her past choices that have led to this point.

This is a strong first book in the series, setting the setting and expectations for the remaining books. I love the way Abbott writes the characters- giving us a full experience of Badb's feelings. All the love, hatred, revenge, and plotting that Badbs feels and does while she bides her time.

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

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one of the Goddesses of the Morrigan trilogy. It’s a dark fantasy story full of details that make the story come alive. From the start of the book, you are drawn in and can’t put it down. Each page gives you more hints to the secrets in the story. This book has a strong, well-developed and an interesting story line with twists and unexpected turns that keep you reading and turning the pages. It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. Amazing world building that is detailed and imaginative and so well done that you're drawn into a fantastic world unlike any other. Strong, interesting, and fascinating characters that are well developed and diverse. The storyline is fast-paced and very well written.

[Samantha Millican · Rating 5 out of 5]

The exquisite world and characters Ashton weaves is so intricate, it will be forever ingrained in my soul. Badb, Goddess of War and Death, is a part of the three that form the Morrigan. She is as brutal as she is tormented. In an endless loop, trying to keep her sanity, she waits for the right moment to ascend. It is such a great story in the way it can pull you in so deep, only to finish and not know where you are for a spell. Eagerly gearing up for book two. I only wish I could go back in time and read this series prior to the Raedan Warrior novels. Highly recommend!!.

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

[Happyscribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not normally a Myths and legends reader but this book has changed my mind. Who knew there were so many lusty shenanigans going on in the mortal and other world! The level of emotional torment heaps upon these characters is especially brave of the author as come on - give them a break (and the reader too as we're right there on that heart ride with 'em!).
Can't wait to see where these characters go from here - I mean - wow.

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

[Kristin Bowker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Badb, the goddess of Death and War, is captured and tortured, and during that torture, she thinks back on everything that led her to that moment.

Cú Chulainn is a really interesting character, being half god. I wish more had been talked about his ríastrad (transformation) instead of just during his battle.

Overall, I did like this book. It is a shorter book, but it pulls you in and feels like a longer book. I will be reading the other books in the series!I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal and wonderful read , it captivated and enthralling me from the very beginning, torn between loving and disliking a character simultaneously shows incredible writing, I won’t say what happened as spoilers, but I loved this, I loved the emotion Barb’s story pulled from me, definitely recommend reading this, the synopsis should pull you in alone.

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

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book of a trilogy loosely based on Celtic mythology. All books can be read as standalones. The storyline is quite unique and interesting in it‘s romantic and mystical darkness, the characters are well created and the story follows a fast path so you get a real page turner here if you’re fond of mythological dark romance.

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

[Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

No way!

There is absolute NO WAY this book is as long as it claims to be. It ended only a few days/hours after I started reading it. This author has a way is making time stand still through his writing. Really great work. I'm officially addicted. I look forward to learning more about this works and these characters.

[Ken Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashton Abbott is smoking with the inaugural book of the Goddesses of the Morrison series. Abbott has demonstrated an excellent approach to character development and world building as well as an awesome imagination.

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

[Hanna Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great and dark fantasy book! It has been the book to get me out of my reading slump, fantastic! Look forward to where the series goes.

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

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is wonderfully written and has an interesting plot. The worldbuilding is well written and the book is a page turner. I really liked the characters and am looking forward to the next book.

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

[Spooky Bookish Bit*h · Rating 4 out of 5]

Called By Darkness is a dark fantasy that follows Badb, the goddess of war and death and her path to become the Morrigan. This story is unique and complex and deliciously detailed. Ashton has fantastic world building skills. Very good read, but beware of that cliffhanger though!

[Doris Scales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really captivating book. It does draw on your heart strings and keep you in ghost to the book the whole time you’re reading it and wondering what’s gonna happen next.

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

[Seda Galstian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting book

Story is beautiful, musical and interesting. It has a dreamlike quality and you want to know what is next all the time. Great book,

[Nicole Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the great writing of this incredibly dark story! I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next one.