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The Callers: Book 1

Name: The Callers: Book 1
Price: 9.27 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781797228617

✍️ Thomas, Kiah

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$9.27

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

This paperback publication follows Quin, a boy without the ability to Call items into Elipsom. His discovery that Calling steals physical property from a secret population turns his world upside down. Joined by Allie, Quin must decide if he will remain loyal to his elite family or stop the exploitation. The narrative tackles heavy social issues, including resource consumption and the consequences of wanting more than necessary. It is designed for young readers who enjoy action-adventure and survival narratives featuring complex moral choices.

Thomas, Kiah

📚 all books by this author (5) →

Praise for this book

“Set in an evocatively realized fantasy world with...a futuristic feel...[The Callers] is a moving and complex story about the discomfort and reward of doing what is right. Thomas's debut middle-grade novel is a clever critique of the consumerism that we might take for granted. [Thomas] tackles serious topics with wit, charm, and a few flying rhinodrites along the way.”

— The Horn Book Magazine

🏛 Chronicle Books 📅 2025 📖 244 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781797228617

Fun Fact

Kiah Thomas's 'The Callers' is a standout debut that cleverly subverts the classic 'summoning magic' trope, offering a fresh, ethically complex adventure for young readers. Its fast pace and thought-provoking premise will captivate those who enjoy mysteries and moral quandaries alongside their fantasy. While fans expecting a purely benevolent magic system might be surprised, the book excels at crafting a world where power comes with a tangible, unsettling cost. It’s a compelling addition to middle-grade speculative fiction, challenging readers to consider the unseen implications of their desires.

📝 Description: The Callers: Book 1

In the middle-grade fantasy world of Elipsom, the practice of Calling allows people to summon physical objects into existence. Quin lacks this revered capability, which prompts his mother to have his sister cheat on his Calling exam. When frustration leads Quin to make an item disappear rather than appear, he unravels a dark reality. The summoned items are not created out of nothing, but are taken from another world and its population. Quin teams up with Allie to confront this practice, forcing him to choose between family loyalty and protecting others. The novel addresses consumerism, the exploitation of natural resources, colonialism, and the human impulse to take more than needed. Author Kiah Thomas began her writing career by inventing new endings to stories she read as a child, later returning to children's fiction after having her own family. Her debut middle-grade novel blends a futuristic atmosphere with towering metropolises and lush landscapes. While the publisher blurb compares the book to works by Kenneth Oppel and Madeleine L'Engle, no chapter titles, historic periods, or ancient traditions are detailed in the edition facts. The book suits readers seeking fast-paced action and thought-provoking social themes about doing what is right. It does not suit those looking for an instructional magic manual or a real-world occult history.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

While visually engaging and conceptually fresh, this title may not suit readers seeking high-octane combat or traditional heroic journeys without moral ambiguity. Those who prefer clear-cut distinctions between good and evil might find the ethical gray areas frustrating rather than thought-provoking. The narrative relies heavily on internal conflict and societal critique, which can feel slow to audiences craving constant action. Furthermore, readers uninterested in exploring themes of exploitation or the hidden costs of privilege may find the premise less compelling. It is best approached as a philosophical inquiry wrapped in fantasy packaging, rather than a straightforward power fantasy.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave fantasy with a sharp moral compass will find this narrative deeply rewarding. If you enjoy stories where magic systems have tangible, often dark consequences, Quin’s journey offers a refreshing perspective on power and privilege. The concept that creation is actually theft provides a unique intellectual hook, appealing to those who like their world-building grounded in ethical complexity rather than just spectacle. It is ideal for fans of deconstructed tropes who appreciate protagonists who question the status quo. The emotional weight of Quin’s family dynamics and societal pressure adds depth, making it more than just an adventure; it is a commentary on complicity and the cost of convenience. This book invites you to rethink what 'magic' truly means when it harms others.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you are drawn to intricate magic systems with a moral compass, enjoy stories of young heroes discovering their unique path, and appreciate a fast-paced adventure that challenges societal norms, then step into Elipsom. Prepare to have your perceptions of magic turned upside down.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

While visually engaging and conceptually fresh, this title may not suit readers seeking high-octane combat or traditional heroic journeys without moral ambiguity. Those who prefer clear-cut distinctions between good and evil might find the ethical gray areas frustrating rather than thought-provoking. The narrative relies heavily on internal conflict and societal critique, which can feel slow to audiences craving constant action. Furthermore, readers uninterested in exploring themes of exploitation or the hidden costs of privilege may find the premise less compelling. It is best approached as a philosophical inquiry wrapped in fantasy packaging, rather than a straightforward power fantasy.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely. While it tackles complex ethical dilemmas, the narrative is crafted to be engaging and accessible for middle-grade audiences, blending adventure with thought-provoking themes in an age-appropriate manner.

The magic system, known as 'Calling,' initially appears as summoning objects. However, the story reveals a much deeper, more complex, and ethically challenging truth behind this ability, redefining what it truly means to 'create' in Elipsom.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

The Ethics of Power

This narrative delves deep into the moral quandaries of a power system. It scrutinizes what happens when a society's survival and prestige are built upon an unexamined, ethically dubious foundation, forcing the protagonist to question the very nature of his world's revered abilities and the hidden cost of their 'magic'.

Identity & Belonging

Quin's struggle to find his place within a family and society that values a specific, inherited skill forms a central pillar of the story. His initial perceived failure leads to a unique, isolating discovery, ultimately challenging his understanding of himself and where he truly belongs, both within his lineage and the wider world.

Unveiling Hidden Truths

The book masterfully explores the shock and responsibility that come with uncovering a dark secret. It examines how a profound discovery can dismantle long-held beliefs, forcing characters to confront uncomfortable realities about their history, their community, and the true origins of their prosperity and way of life.

📜 Historical context

Following in the footsteps of authors like Madeleine L'Engle, who masterfully blended science fiction with profound ethical questions, or Kenneth Oppel's adventurous narratives, 'The Callers' offers a contemporary take on middle-grade fantasy. It resonates with a tradition of speculative fiction that uses extraordinary circumstances to explore deeply human themes of responsibility, discovery, and moral awakening.

📚 Glossary

Callers
Calling
Elipsom

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might you feel if a skill you were expected to possess, and that defined your family, completely eluded you?
Imagine discovering that a fundamental aspect of your society, something you believed good, was built on a hidden injustice. What would your first actions be?
If you gained a power that had unforeseen negative consequences for others, how would you weigh your responsibility to those affected against the benefits to yourself or your community?