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Product Description
Product Description
This is another thrilling prequel to "Dragon Age: Origins", the hit role-playing video game from Bioware! After 200 years of exile King Maric has allowed the legendary Grey Wardens to return to Fereden. Their arrival brings news that one of their own has escaped into Deep Roads and aligned himself with their ancient enemy, the monstrous darkspawn. Maric agrees to help the Grey Wardens, leading them into the passages he traveled through many years before, chasing after a deadly secret that threatens to destroy not only the Grey Wardens but also the kingdom above. This is an essential read for fans of the award-winning game.
About the Author
David Gaider has worked for video game developer Bioware since 1999. He is the lead writer on the Dragon Age: Origins role-playing game and has previously worked on such titles as Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Neverwinter Nights.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With the November release date of Dragon Age: Origins (PC) coming ever closer, the Bioware/EA hype machine has spun into overdrive and has spawned a second prequel novel in the form of Dragon Age: The Calling. Having been pleasantly surprised by the quality of The Stolen Throne (Dragon Age), I decided to try this novel with little hesitation.
After the events at the end of the previous outing, King Maric has become rather emo and longs for an escape from the humdrum of governing his kingdom. Lo and behold, a rag-tag band of mysterious Grey Wardens turns up in his throne room and presents him with the perfect opportunity for escape - a return to the death and decay filled Deep Roads he managed to navigate in the first novel. One of their own has fallen into the hands of The Darkspawn, and they must get him back before he can reveal to them the obligatory Terrible Secret. Thus begins another compelling journey into (or beneath as the case may be) the land of Ferelden.
Whereas the first novel was set against an epic backdrop of kingdoms at war, this time around we are treated to an intensely plotted dungeon crawl in the corrupt tunnels and ancient ruins of the Deep Roads. The rather nondescript Darkspawn of the first novel are explored indepth and brought to life much more successfully this time around, and now seem like a palpable, coordinated threat rather than stock monsters. Much of their history and motivation is fleshed out and forms the core of the novel, especially where the main antagonist of the novel, The Architect, is concerned. The "star" characters are well written and mostly likeable, with their inner conflicts and shifting motivations creating an interesting counterpoint to the more small-scale and fast paced battle scenes. The motivation and methodology of the Grey Wardens themselves is another interesting theme that runs through this novel, and the effect it has on the characters lives is a compelling part of the plot throughout.
However, it's not all positive with some of the characters coming across as rather generic and suffering from a lack of development (Utha, Nicolas & Julien in particular). In the latter stages of the novel some very questionable snap decisions are made by people that seem to go against everything we are told about them previously (Utha again and Genevieve). There is also very little closure at the end of the novel. The pre-requisite showdown in itself is well written and entertaining enough, but none of the threats and themes in the novel are actually concluded. The last quarter of the book seems to scream "play the game to find out what happens next!", which might be a cunning marketing ploy but doesn't make a particularly satisfying ending.
In conclusion, Dragon Age: The Calling gives us another competently written and genuinely engrossing portrait of life in the land of Ferelden, with only a few flaws not serious enough to mar the overall enjoyment of the novel. Lets hope they continue with this book series long after the release of the actual game.
After the events at the end of the previous outing, King Maric has become rather emo and longs for an escape from the humdrum of governing his kingdom. Lo and behold, a rag-tag band of mysterious Grey Wardens turns up in his throne room and presents him with the perfect opportunity for escape - a return to the death and decay filled Deep Roads he managed to navigate in the first novel. One of their own has fallen into the hands of The Darkspawn, and they must get him back before he can reveal to them the obligatory Terrible Secret. Thus begins another compelling journey into (or beneath as the case may be) the land of Ferelden.
Whereas the first novel was set against an epic backdrop of kingdoms at war, this time around we are treated to an intensely plotted dungeon crawl in the corrupt tunnels and ancient ruins of the Deep Roads. The rather nondescript Darkspawn of the first novel are explored indepth and brought to life much more successfully this time around, and now seem like a palpable, coordinated threat rather than stock monsters. Much of their history and motivation is fleshed out and forms the core of the novel, especially where the main antagonist of the novel, The Architect, is concerned. The "star" characters are well written and mostly likeable, with their inner conflicts and shifting motivations creating an interesting counterpoint to the more small-scale and fast paced battle scenes. The motivation and methodology of the Grey Wardens themselves is another interesting theme that runs through this novel, and the effect it has on the characters lives is a compelling part of the plot throughout.
However, it's not all positive with some of the characters coming across as rather generic and suffering from a lack of development (Utha, Nicolas & Julien in particular). In the latter stages of the novel some very questionable snap decisions are made by people that seem to go against everything we are told about them previously (Utha again and Genevieve). There is also very little closure at the end of the novel. The pre-requisite showdown in itself is well written and entertaining enough, but none of the threats and themes in the novel are actually concluded. The last quarter of the book seems to scream "play the game to find out what happens next!", which might be a cunning marketing ploy but doesn't make a particularly satisfying ending.
In conclusion, Dragon Age: The Calling gives us another competently written and genuinely engrossing portrait of life in the land of Ferelden, with only a few flaws not serious enough to mar the overall enjoyment of the novel. Lets hope they continue with this book series long after the release of the actual game.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I actually really enjoyed this book, maybe even more so than The Stolen Throne. There are the odd parts where it isn't wonderfully written and sentence structures can sometimes really lack, but at the end of the day I found that that just didn't really matter. I found I could easily get swept along in the story and it was a very fun read. I think this is a must for all fans of Dragon Age.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Just like "The Stolen Throne", the previous book to this one, the Calling is set in the land of Dragon Age: Origins and focuses on a quest to try and rescue a captured Grey Warden. Full of action, conflict, and some very personal character conflicts and developments, the Calling is a great piece of drama in a fantasy setting.
If you've not read "The Stolen Throne", you will be able to read this one still, but I would recommend you read that book first, but you'll be filled in on all the revelent story points in the Calling. A recommendation for everyone who wants to read up on some of the backstory to Dragon Age Origins, or for fans of fantasy or action-drama in general.
If you've not read "The Stolen Throne", you will be able to read this one still, but I would recommend you read that book first, but you'll be filled in on all the revelent story points in the Calling. A recommendation for everyone who wants to read up on some of the backstory to Dragon Age Origins, or for fans of fantasy or action-drama in general.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent Reading
This is a very easy to read fantasy book.
It can be equally appreciated by people who have played the game and people who have not.
It can be equally appreciated by people who have played the game and people who have not.
Published 4 months ago by Yannis Kon
dragon age brilliance!
one of the best books iv ever read, brang it on holiday and loved it, read it in 4 days and im a type of guy who doesnt like reading books normally but i would say you have to be a... Read more
Published 8 months ago by ryan75
Great book Im still reading.
I read The Stolen Throne and it was great, I've started reading The Calling and it's even more satisfying. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Gary A. Swaby
Great continuation novel
The second title in the Dragon Age series and pretty much does what the first one did whilst presenting a great title, great story arc and characters that you really want to travel... Read more
Published on 25 April 2010 by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
Thw calling... a neccessary novel?
the Calling is a fantastic novel that prequels the dragon age game, delving into the past of Duncan, one of the Grey Wardens from the game itself. Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2010 by D. Robinson
Good Lore going into the game
Definitely a good read, especially if you have read the previous title, Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2009 by M. Santos
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