Rachelle Dekker’s “The Calling” picks up about a year and a half after “The Choosing,” with Remko and Carrington (now married with a baby) still leading the Seers, searching for those being called by Aaron and the Father to leave the Authority’s twisted teachings and oppression.
However, facing constant opposition and danger, Remko struggles to find hope and doubts the success of the Seers. He also begins to doubt his faith in Aaron and the Father.
And to make matters worse, new Authority President Damien Gold has been working with “The Scientist” on a new method to control the loyalties and memories of the people. Will Remko and the Seers be able to overcome Damien’s evil intent and show people the light. Will Remko himself rediscover his belief and faith? Or will Damien’s plot destroy the Seers and all they believe in?
The overwhelming theme of “The Calling” is fear — facing fear, allowing fear to dictate our ever move, letting fear steal our freedom. It also tackles topics like trusting in the Father’s protection, healing coming from brokenness, the fact that being lost is part of the journey, knowing sometimes pain will be heavier than joy but still seeking out joy, the role of grief and sorrow, and living in the knowledge that You Are Enough.
Dekker has created a beautiful allegorical tale, with a slight dystopian tendency, that contains one of the most beautifully written images of the Father’s love for us — how He envelopes us with his light and love, wiping clean our fears, doubts and sins, and enveloping us with His love. So even though “The Calling” is an action-packed novel leaving you on the edge of your seat at times, it will also leave you feeling loved and refreshed and valued.
And by the way, this really is not a standalone novel. I highly recommend reading “The Choosing” first. I am looking forward to see how Dekker will resolve the battle between the Authority and the Seers in this fall’s final installment.
Five stars out of five.
Tyndale House Publishers provided this complimentary copy for my honest, unbiased review.
“The Calling” (Seer series, #2) by Rachelle Dekker
1. Remko struggles with his anger often throughout the book. Is this expression of anger connected to his fears? If so, how?
Anger is just a natural reaction to the circumstances Remko faces. Sometimes being afraid
can stir up anger because it makes us feel weak or out of control. This is definitely true for Remko in “The Calling.”
2. Do you think men and women express and handle fear differently? If so, how?
I believe people handle fear differently, and that gender doesn’t always play a role. I believe more often than not we are all the same, and that we should be encouraged that we never really face anything alone.
3. In the book you talk a lot about surrendering to fear. What does this look like and how does this help us to not be afraid?
I think sometimes the natural reaction to fear is to hide from it, or try and push it away. It’s the idea that if we can’t see it then it must not be there, but we all know that unless dealt with the unseen things often come back to bite us. The only way to face fear is to walk through it; surrendering to Father God and letting Him reminder us of our true identity. Only then do we really see that the light within us is always greater than the fear we face.
4. The theme of identity from “The Choosing” continues in “The Calling.” Carrington reminds herself, “When you know who you truly are, you realize there is no war left to fight at all.” How does this statement apply to our Christian faith?
For me this is simply a reminder that God is still God. Regardless of my circumstance or how I view the world, the Father is constant and hasn’t changed. He has already won the fight, already conquered death, already set me free. It’s only when I forget who He calls me and who He is that I feel the need to fight against life instead of surrendering to Him and letting Him be God.
5. Do you relate to any of the characters in The Calling in terms of how you’ve faced and handled fear in your life? How so?
Of course, every character I write ends up having some reflections of things I’ve faced personally. You can only write what you know, as they say. I, very much like Remko, have the tendency to be in “my head” too much when faced with fear, and I struggle to let go of the need for control and simply surrender. That’s one of the main reasons I decided to write this story.
6. What do you hope readers will take away from the story?
I hope they take a moment to see themselves as children of the Father. I hope they see that true freedom and fearlessness rest in surrendering, and that when they stand with the Father than nothing can stand against them. There is incredible peace in that truth, and I hope, like I am beginning the experience, that readers feel that same peace.
7. What can readers expect in the final book of the series?
Characters they know and some new ones I hope they’ll love! More questions of identity, and fear, but the characters will also be looking at forgiveness and letting go. I’m really happy with the way the final book played out, and I’m hoping readers will be as well.
About the Author: The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through storytelling. “The Choosing” is her critically acclaimed debut novel. She graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full-time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat, Blair. Visit her online at rachelledekker.com.