The Revenant with witches. ―James Demonaco, screenwriter and director of The Purge series.
On a dark night in the summer of 1859, three men enter the home of Dr. Matthew Callahan and shoot him dead in front of his pregnant wife. Unbeknownst to them, Li Lian, his wife, hails from a long line of women gifted in ways that scare most folks―the witches of the MacPherson clan―and her need for vengeance is as vast and unforgiving as the Great Plains themselves.
Written to the child she carries, Devil’s Call traces Li Lian’s quest, from the Nebraska Territory, to Louisiana, to the frozen Badlands, to bring to justice the monster responsible for shooting her husband in the back. This long-rifled witch will stop at nothing―and risk everything―in her showdown with evil. But the true malevolence of her prey will be revealed over the course of her cross-country quest. And while structurally the book most recalls True Grit, the nature of its heroine, her lineage, and their nemesis elevates Devil’s Call to a place all its own.
This is a narrative in which a mother who has always been persecuted for being different teaches her daughter about right and wrong while letting her know what it’s like to inhabit Otherness. Ultimately, Devil’s Call is an outstanding debut because it brings revenge, motherhood, cruelty, and humor together in a unique way.
J. Danielle Dorn was born in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, while their father was serving in the Air Force. After moving around a few times during their formative years, they graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Rochester, and moved around some more during their twenties. Publishers Weekly referred to their debut novel, “Devil’s Call,” as “a fast-paced, beautifully written revenge tale.” They currently live in Rochester, NY, where they continue to write short stories.
