The Callers by Kiah Thomas

"Everything I have ever known is a lie,' said Quin, finally admitting out loud the truth that had been building inside him since he'd arrived."

"His heart beat faster as they neared the field from earlier, and he quickened his pace. On one level he understood that his being Vine-touched was an impossibility, but on the other hand he seemed to have grown a plant simply by touching it."

I am going to begin here by restating the labels I have listed for this book - Science Fiction; Dystopian World; Control; Politics; Betrayal; Corruption; Thieves; Other Worlds; Consumerism; Exploitation.  Are you beginning to get a sense of this story. Some reviewers and book sellers list this book as a fantasy but I think Science Fiction is a better choice of genre. 

In the world of Quintus Octavius, a place called Elipsom, very special people have the gift of calling. If they want something they can "call" it into existence.  There are rules about this but everything they have comes from calling. In this society there are people who do not agree with this way of life. These people live as outcasts in the Spurges. Quin has read a little about this place because one day his friend Milo just disappeared from school. Quin now knows people who "move to the Spurges and willingly live a life without Called Provisions" have all their data removed from the Council's system. They give up access to the food supply and central medical services.

So we have a stratified society but there is another layer to discover. On the other side of this planet is a place called Evantra. This is the place where things actually "come" from and the people who live there are almost like slaves under control of Callers from Elipsom. 

Quin finds himself in Evantra and he discovers the truth but why is he so special? What can one young boy do to right this dreadful wrong? 

I read this book in one sitting - it is the perfect page turner. I absolutely guarantee you will be sitting on the edge of your seat and when the action takes a huge twist in Chapter 16 you will be gasping for breath hoping everything will be okay for Quin and Allie. (I confess I actually had to take a quick look at the last page just to reassure myself ... well I won't spoil the ending).

As a bonus Kiah Thomas (this is her debut novel) gives all her characters creative names which perfectly match the Science Fiction focus of this story. In Elipson we have Davina - Quin's sister; Adriana Octavius - Quins mother and Chief Councillor. Milo Valerious and his mother Cecelia live away from Elipson in the Spurges. And in Evantra we meet Allie; Marcus; and Demetrius. I am also very keen to see a rhinodrite but you will need to read The Callers to discover what they are.

The action will keep readers avidly turning pages ... Kirkus

This book will be published in May, 2022.  Thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance reader copy. The ending hints at a possible sequel but I actually don't need this - it is just fun to imagine the new and much better future that awaits Quin and Allie. I have included the UK and US covers at the top of this post. Which one do you prefer?

This book reminded me a little of the Edsel Grizzler series by James Roy.  

People who enjoyed The Giver by Lois Lowry will want to read The Callers and you could also look for this older book by Monica Hughes:

And this book could also be linked with:

And if topics like control, stratified societies and dystopian worlds interest you try to find:

Where the River runs Gold