The Dark Calling: The Arcana Chronicles, Book 6

This is a difficult review to write, and it will contain spoilers, so if you haven't read the other books in this series (which I still do recommend) proceed no further.I have never actually thrown a book at a wall before. Until I read this book.Still, I love this series. I love it so much. It makes me feel things, and that's why this book broke my heart. Plot wise? Nothing really happens. I mean, a few things happen, but it's mostly just 300 pages of the author trying to justify this love triangle, and trying to make it tragic. Well, I'm sorry, but I'm sick of it. It's not tragic or believable. I'm not buying the "I'm torn between two and I love them both equally" thing. That is never believable to me in books. I just wish she'd pick one. And I truly detest the fact that the author had to rely on a pregnancy as a plot device in order to make Aric's leg of the triangle believable. To me, it's quite obvious that the author wants Evie to end up with Jack, and the only way she could keep the drama up was with the pregnancy. It was cheap.The only thing keeping me reading this series is the fact that Aric is such a compelling and sympathetic character. He's suffered so much that all you want is for him to just be HAPPY, and after writing such a GREAT CHARACTER, he's just being thrown away in favor of a dumb drunk brute. Is my bias showing? Well, I apologize. It's hard to not pick sides after having this stupid love triangle being rubbed in my nose for six books.And to be honest, I'm so incredibly disappointed that I don't even care anymore who she ends up with. This book broke my dang heart. It's not my story to write, so I won't give it one star just because I don't like where the plot is going. I'll give it three stars because I still love the series... but I guess I just hoped for too much.

For the first time, I'm rating an Arcana book less than 5. All the other books had 5 stars from me. I am completely torn on this installment. While I had been so excited to see what happens next, the book was getting quite difficult to read through although it only took me a day. I have been so in love with this series since book 1. I even got my best friend hooked on it and we read different genres!SPOILERS and fangirl rant ahead..First, Evie has gone from a useless burden to a clever, brave, selfless heroine to this selfish b****. I was incredibly disappointed in her from the beginning of Dark Calling and by the time I finished the book, I hated her. The love triangle at this point isn't even one. She has made it very clear in this book that she ultimately chooses Jack and always will. Aric will always be a second choice, her back up plan. While I am torn between Jack and Aric sides, both possessing great qualities and bad, her treatment of Aric has tipped my scale in his favor. She can claim she loves equally but all of her actions scream Jack. Just alone in this book, her telling Jack she married Aric because she thought Jack was dead (not even saying that she truly loves Aric), not revealing her pregnancy as to not hurt JACK'S feelings, gushing how "noble" Jack is for wanting to raise Aric's son as his own, even pressuring Jack back in to her messy love. All the while she gives up on Aric after a few phone calls. I understand she was heartbroken by what he had done but he was under the Hanged Man's influence. Could she really just abandon all hope on him so quickly as she had? Whereas with Jack or other characters she has gone out of her way and forcing others to help her rescue them countless times. But when its Aric's turn, she gives up and immediately wanting Jack. Aric helped her break free from her cannibal mind control and now she acts like "oh well he must not love me if he cant break free from this mind control influence this relatively unknown arcana possesses".When Aric finally breaks free and does everything he can to reach her in time, saving them AGAIN, Evie and Jack rub their new "relationship" in his face. Evie is still his wife, I don't care. They exchanged rings, she promised him. That's his child and for both Jack and Evie to want to run off together and make Aric feel even more guilty for what he had done while mind controlled was such a low blow. Evie snuggling up to Jack every possible chance, whether Aric was present or not. Her going off on Aric has he tries to ask for forgiveness and about his child, she hands him back her wedding ring!! And she doesn't give two fecks about it. If she really loved him as much as she claims, knowing the significance of that ring and how he felt about her, she sure didn't care. What really had made me hollering was Aric finally able to feel his own baby kick in her stomach, the child he had been so happy about since the beginning and all she could think of is that it should have been JACK to feel the baby first. That a spiteful, careless thing. Jack is a sweet man but give Aric a little leg room will you? That's HIS child. The child he wanted and Evie didn't care for till Jack did. He is killing himself with guilt and she enjoys tormenting him further. The rest of the book Evie had only been concerned for Jack and HIS feelings. She never got angry at Jack for bragging to Aric about them sleeping together and planning to take his son from him but god, oh no, we can't let Jack know we slept together in the cabin MONTHS ago BUT HEY, lets brag about how we had a sex marathon. Even at the end of the book, she wants to go with Jack. "Take me with you!" She doesn't want to stay with Aric, castle or not. She doesnt have a choice because Jack leaves her there. Can you imagine how further insulting that is to Aric? He was willing to give up his castle, his armor and swords, his horse, his unborn child just so she could be happy but she honestly doesnt care. Its all about Jack. Jack asks her if her heart still is split in half and she says yes. Whatever! Are you kidding me? It took JACK of all people to call Evie out on her bull. She wants forgiveness for everything she did in past games, forgave everyone else's trespasses, even was understanding and forgave Jack for killing her mother. But Aric, he gets the short stick every time. Can we really blame him for the things he did before they were married? She backstabbed him repeatedly in her other lives. Apparently she can't forgive him for ANYTHING even being mind controlled. What about asking him for forgiveness for being an unfaithful wife and preferring his rival raise his child. The only child he has.I am very upset with Evie. And even Jack. Of course I will buy the next book but I really hope Kresley gets Evies together. But after everything in this book, I feel if Evie continues to say she loves Aric equally, she is just lying. No doubt Aric will probably end up making some big sacrifice in the next book, IMO. Jack and Evie will raise Aric's son. I cant see Evie ever letting Jack do that. And if she does end up with Aric, its only because Jack is really dead this time. Not out of love. Its out of convenience, guilt and the benefits of his work.

This book. I was hooked with this instalment from the word go. There were no lulls in the story, it was constantly moving, constantly gripping, shocking and all consuming. kresley cole never fails to suck you in and make you live her stories. The way she portrays everything Evie feels is so strong that when I started this book I didn't mind who got to be with Evie (although I did tend to lean more for Aric towards the end of the last book) but now? I have no clue. i don't know who's team to be on. I'm on both teams really. Part of me wants them to share but obviously that's not gonna happen.But I have no idea how this is all going to end and that's why I love Kresley Coles writing. You can never predict how things are going to go. I always think I know how things are going to end but she always surprises me and that's why I love this series and her IAD series, the Gamemakers series, and her earlier MacCarrick brothers trilogy and Sutherland brothers series. I always recommend kresley cole to friends and family so definitely give her series a go. All of them.

Wow oh wow. I could not put this book down! Been pregnant myself i related to a lot of the hope and fear and the anguish that goes along side this. I was on a rollercoaster of emotions including sadness at jacks leaving! My heart goes out to Evie as been in love with two men would defiantly be tearing her in two. You can see and feel it with each word, each paragraph and each chapter. Kresley Cole you are my hero this book takes me on the adventure with the charators. I love how it makes you feel and love all the characters. I am nervous for the next book what will happen now that the minors are going together to punish the empress. What will happen to Jack? What about the pregnancy? How will this game end?I am now eagerly awaiting the next book in this devastatingly brilliant series.

I can’t belive I’m all caught up on this series and now have to wait until March for the last book. A lot happens in the book which can finally make you see the end game, so I’m excited for what’s to come.Throughout this whole series I’ve been so unsure of who I would like Evie to end up with. First Jack, then Aric and then I just couldn’t decide for the last four books but I have finally dediced I am Team ARIC! Although i’m not sure that will happen but still a girl can hope, right?!

The sexual tension is high and emotions are high and everyone is at risk. I love the aspect of this world and all the different cards involved. The love triangle keeps getting trickier and trickier. The only issue was that with all the cards and previous cards being mentioned I did get confused at moments in the book but I enjoyed it overall.

This series just gets better and better. Can't wait for the next book! A fantastic post apocalyptic setting, really fascinating characters and intriguing concept. Each character has their strengths and flaws and their own clear voice. This latest installment was full of very dark moments, but also it has uplifting scenes with humour and hope. The story of Evie's battles against the evil Arcana, to survive in a dying world and her own conflicted love for two very different men had me gripped. It's one of the few love triangles where I want both to win! Expect your heart to be wrenched along with her. I would recommend these books someone anyone who likes lots of the concepts of various other supernatural themed teen fiction but often finds them shallow, inconsistent and cheesy. This is more than just another young adult saga light on the plot but heavy on the emotional drama. It is beautifully written, with a well developed story line and the intense love story is a bonus.