The Volunteer

A teenaged boy wakes up in a nightmare world called Mogridor with no memory of his past or how he got there. As he tries to survive in this hostile realm filled with monsters, he joins a group of fellow human prisoners who must fight to stay alive. The prisoners live in a walled settlement under constant threat from creatures that emerge from the surrounding forest. Their only protection comes from trained warriors known as Volunteers, who defend the community but demand a high price for their services. The novel follows the protagonist's journey as he trains to become a Volunteer while uncovering the dark secrets of Mogridor and his own forgotten identity. Through his experiences, the story explores themes of sacrifice, memory, and the moral compromises people make when fighting for survival.

Reviews focus on this YA sci-fi sequel falling short of its predecessor The Call. Readers say the plot moves slowly until about halfway through, when the pace picks up. Liked: - Character development for Nessa and expanded worldbuilding - Dark tone and unique Irish folklore elements - Action sequences in second half - Emotionally resonant ending Disliked: - Confusing shifts in perspective - Too much time spent on politics/rebellion plotlines - Less horror/tension compared to first book - Supporting characters feel underdeveloped From review sites: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) Reader comments: "Lost the urgency and dread that made The Call so gripping" - Goodreads user "Takes time to find its footing but delivers in the end" - Amazon review "Wanted more interaction with the Sídhe and less focus on human drama" - Book blogger

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🔹 Author Peadar Ó Guilín grew up speaking Irish as his first language and brings elements of Celtic mythology into his storytelling. 🔹 "The Volunteer" explores themes of sacrifice and choice in a dystopian world where teenagers must offer themselves as prey for alien hunters. 🔹 The book serves as a companion novel to Ó Guilín's acclaimed "The Call" series, set in the same universe but following different characters. 🔹 The story draws inspiration from Irish folklore about the Sidhe (fairy folk), reimagining them as vengeful creatures in a modern context. 🔹 The novel's protagonist must navigate both physical and psychological challenges, as the "volunteering" system forces young people to make impossible moral choices.