I enjoyed this one but not quite as much as the first book. I adore the characterisation and the facts about the penguins and I found the storyline fairly interesting I just found it lacking in excitement in parts but it was still a good read.

After loving Away with the Penguins earlier this year Call of the Penguins was a must read for me and it was lovely to be immersed back in Penguin world again. I actually adore penguins so I find reading about them fascinating especially when there is such a good fictional story to back it all up.

This second book was different to the first in that it was set in various locations which for me gave it the edge over the first book. I especially loved the descriptions of the Falkland Islands. 9 year old Daisy is a superb addition to the central characters, she combines with Veronica perfectly and my favourite parts of the book involved her and Petra the Penguin and without giving any spoilers away I defy anyone not to cry at a pivotal moment involving the two of them.

The sub plots of the mystery of Patrick's family and also Terry and Patrick's relationship really added to the main story of Veronica and the penguins and I couldn't put it down once I had started. The ending just wrapped everything up perfectly but I'd still love there to be another book featuring all these gorgeous characters and of course the penguins.

Fabulous! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me.

I'm definitely still in two minds about this book...Just as I was the first one. I at least had some idea of how the story would take form. I found myself enjoying more and more the 'Patrick' aspects of this book, whilst Veronica's chapters seemed to more be fillers to the overall plot. I am hoping now that there is a third book as we have uncovered more about 'Enzo' but other than the little glimmer about Giovanni at the beginning we still know nothing about him. Given I now want a third book I suppose that means the book has done it's job. 4 Stars because there were chapters I just wanted to finish and I was not quite hooked in the early part of the book.
Thanks Netgalley for my ARC.

This was a fantastic sequel to Away with the Penguins. The character of Veronica, who in the first book was miserable and a little snobby, grew into a loveable granny and strong, independent woman. I love how this book educated the reader about penguins whilst still having an enjoyable plot. I cried and I laughed. I will most definitely be reading anything else Hazel Prior writes and I hope to hear more about Veronica and Patrick.

How can anyone fail to love a book featuring penguins? And not only penguins, but a slightly curmudgeonly 87 year old called Veronica.

This is the second book featuring Veronica McCreedy who is comfortably off and lives in Ayrshire, Scotland, with her willing assistant Eileen. Veronica has returned from her previous adventures in the Antarctic, but still secretly longs for adventure. She continues to sponsor the research work on Locket Island where Pip, her favourite penguin continues to live alongside grandson Patrick and Terry, his girlfriend and expedition leader.

Penguins bring Veronica great joy as does Daisy, a nine-year-old family friend, wise beyond her years and it was this relationship, more than any of the others in the book, that I found most poignant. There were moments of humour and also pathos, and I even shed a tear towards the end of the book. Overall, a gentle read with a central environmental message

I absolutely loved the first book Away with the Penguins and this second book does not disappoint either. How lovely to renew our friendships with Veronica, Terry and grandson Patrick, as well as young Daisy.

Mrs McCreedy is asked by Sir Robert Saddlebrow to accompany him on a new expedition to New Zealand, Australia and the Falklands, again about her beloved penguins,. This time this takes with her young Daisy who is recovering from cancer and her mum Beth. The trip would be great for them and Daisy has followed all of the blogs from Antarctica and about Pip.

Throughout the trip relationships are tested, Patrick has returned home from Antarctica and is searching for his absent father, Veronica's son. This takes him to Canada.

You will be captured again by the beauty of the locations, the characteristics of the penguins and the adult relationships. A delight of a book - may there be more, but then Veronica is now 89!!

a wonderful, informative view of naturalists work with penguins alongside romance in the falkland Isles.

In Call Of The Penguins we return to Ayrshire to the cantankerous yet loveable Veronica and her bumbling grandson Patrick. As with Away With The Penguins the absolute charm of this book is the fantastic characters and their relationships. I finished Away With The Penguins wanting to know more about Terry so was delighted to see her character really developed within the story.

This book sends us on a journey with all of our favourites from the first book while sneaking in some equally engaging new characters which fit perfectly into this heart warming and life-assuring comfort read. And as an extra treat we're introduced to Petra the rockhopper and Tony the macaroni who will win your heart within seconds.

Another must read book from Hazel Prior which will simultaneously make you blubber like a baby while feeling warm and fuzzy inside!

Another adventure featuring Veronica McCreedy and her penguin friends. This story was a roller coaster of emotions. Everyone is back including Veronica's grandson Patrick and his girlfriend Terry. While Veronica goes on a new voyage to help film a documentary about another group of penguins with a Richard Attenborough type figure, Patrick travels to Canada hoping to learn more about his birth parents. Meanwhile Terry is left in Antarctica with the penguins going through her own emotional journey. Recommended for fans of The man called Ove and anyone who enjoys stories with great mental health rep, environmental consciousness and family secrets. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.

CW: death of parents, pregnancy loss, mental health

"I'm proud of Granny V. She has become a TV presenter and penguin ambassador and been on another epic voyage. The has help me, Terry and Daisy through some horrendous issues and dealt with had ones herself. And now she's promised to keep the Locket Island project going until the end of the year."

Following her Adélie penguin adventures on Locket Island in The Antarctic (in Away With The Penguins), octogenarian and millionaire, Veronica McCreedy is back home on the Scottish coast. When Sir Robert Saddlebow invites her and nine year old cancer survivor, Daisy, to the Falkland Islands for his new nature documentary, which coincides with Daisy's 'I Wish' documentary, she jumps at the chance. There Veronica and Daisy meet Petra, a Rockhopper penguin, whom Daisy becomes very attached to.
Veronica's grandson, Patrick, and Locket Island researcher, Terry (Teresa) are still blissfully in love, but there are some bumps in the road ahead. Patrick is determined to find out about his mysterious father and Terry faces some big decisions.
Will Veronica adapt to a different turn in the spotlight, will Daisy get her wish and will it be happily ever after for Patrick and Terry?

This can be read as a standalone novel, but it is good to have read the first, because I was keen to follow the stories of the wonderful characters. Veronica is resiliant and determined; Daisy is a delight, full of energy; Patrick, who makes some poor decisions, and Terry are both a little lost, but kind and engaging. With an underlying environmental message about the harm we do to our planet, this is a charming and involving read with a focus on the landscape and wildlife of the Falkland Islands and Locket Island. There is plenty of drama with a number of surprises and plenty of emotion with some poignant moments. A lovely story to read and to gift.

Last year I read and thoroughly enjoyed the quirky novel, “Away With The Penguins” so was excited to receive this sequel as a review copy. For any reader who enjoyed the first book this is a great opportunity to catch up with the various characters and see how life has treated them.
87 year old Veronica McCready has returned from her trip to the remote Locket Island where she rescued baby penguin, Pip. She is now living back in Edinburgh, looked after by her housekeeper, Eileen.
Her long lost grandson, Patrick has remained on the island, having fallen in love with Terry, the lead scientist and Veronica has been helping to finance the project.
When renowned Tv naturalist and Veronica’s idol, Sir Robert Saddlebow invites her on a trip to Australia and the Falklands to make a Tv programme about Penguins, she jumps at the chance. Veronica’s protege, 9 year old Daisy is recovering from a serious illness and she is keen to accompany Veronica on the trip.
Not only is this book about wildlife and man’s thoughtless destruction of it, it is also about other important issues such as family and relationships. There is Patrick’s quest to find out more information about his dead father ( Veronica’s lost son) and the difficulties of forming relationships when you have not had a lot of love in your life are highlighted. Patrick has issues with Terry and Veronica has problems in her attempts to form friendships as she doesn’t know how to trust and confide in people.
This is a heartwarming novel which was both amusing and tender. Veronica’s sections were humorous although sometimes sad. She has a great way of expressing herself and her self deprecating comments are charming.
Patrick has had a hard life, abandoned as a child and brought up in care but he gradually manages to pull himself out of the bad situation he has been in but his lack of self confidence causes difficulties between him and Terry who has a secret of her own.
This was an entertaining and enjoyable sequel which drew me in from the very first page. I even managed to learn some very interesting facts about Penguins.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my review copy.

I adored the first book and so I couldn't wait to get back and see what Veronica had been up to. I love that we were updated on the penguin colony in Antarctica, as well as Veronica's recently found family; the addition of new penguins to learn about was also greatly welcomed. Once again this is truly a heart warming book from Hazel Prior, also touching on important subjects.

It's more of the same for Veronica McCreedy as she continues her journey of opening up to nature and her fellow humans. If you enjoyed Hazel Prior's last book 'Away with the Penguins', you'll most likely have a delightful time with this one too.

Veronica is enlisted to travel the world, presenting a documentary series which highlights the dangers to penguins around the world of a reckless attitude to the environment. Patrick goes in search of his roots as he heads to Canada to find out about the father who seemingly abandoned him. Terry struggles to manage the workload at the research station on Locket Island, but a new discovery throws her future into question.

Veronica sits just the right side of caricature as she makes the transition from merely cantankerous to smooth-edged. The book throws a light on some important environmental issues, with a particularly poignant scene tugging hard at the heart strings, especially for the penguin fan,

Some of the drama comes across as a little manufactured. There's much that could be resolved with one conversation, but when the tension give us time to spend in the company of this cast of characters, who can complain?

I really enjoyed book 1 and I really enjoyed this one too! It was lovely to be back with the Penguins and Veronica. The story was heartwarming and a perfect December read.

I did enjoy book 1 a little more than this one, but that’s personal preference. I enjoyed the focus on the Penguins and this felt like it taught lessons about environmental issues as well as being fiction that captured your attention.

A great read, 4 stars for me!

Set, initially in Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland, The Call of the Penguins has charm and warmth and that call for a new adventure for Veronica McCreedy. The book is warm but tackles worldly issues within its cosyness of the penguins. There's a new colony of penguins being introduced as well as updates on the penguins in the Antarctic. This brings a fresh and brings a new slant to human and animal stories.

The chapters are split between Veronica, Patrick and Terry. Readers get to know their trials and tribulations of life, such as family, health, relationship issues and more... It makes for an interesting read as they take you into the heart of the animal or at least penguin kingdom, as well as their own lives that have their ups and downs as do the penguins. In saying that, it does have a feel-good factor that will give you a cuddly warming feel, without being sappy as it deals with some of what can be found in hard-hitting headlines about the environment and conservation. Veronica McCreedy, although is trying to do something good in conserving penguins, isn't without attracting her own headlines of controversy to a point.

This is a rather enjoyable book with all the adventures you'll go on and the characters you'll meet along the way as you cosy up from the cold winter days.

A great book for anyone who has a visit to Antarctica to see the penguins on their bucket list like I do. I loved the characters and the descriptions of the journey and felt it was a lovely heartwarming story

Such a beautiful book, I loved Away with the penguins and was excited to see that there was a sequel. It did not disappoint, the characters are all really engaging and the descriptions of the landscapes in the book were so vivid that I felt as though I was there. No spoilers, just a warning that tissues may be required at points!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

My thanks to Random House U.K. Transworld Publishers Black Swan for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Call of the Penguins’ by Hazel Prior in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sequel to her 2020 bestseller, ‘Away with the Penguins’, and follows the further adventures of 87-year-old Veronica McCreedy. Now back home in Ayrshire, Veronica considers her days of travelling the world are behind her. Then she is invited by national treasure Sir Robert Saddlebow to take part in his new TV nature documentary about sea birds, including her beloved penguins. She happily embraces this new adventure.

Alongside Veronica’s story, there are also chapters narrated by her grandson, Patrick, and by penguin researcher Teresa (Terry).

‘Call of the Penguins’ felt more focused on the various interpersonal relationships than the original novel, though still contains encounters with various species of penguins and other sea birds. It also contains a powerful message about the environmental threat to sea-life by plastic pollution.

Overall, I found a heartwarming story that was also informative.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
I have not read the previous book in this series although some reviewers recommend this. When I started the book I thought the interactions between Daisy and Veronica were interesting although the thought of a nine-year-old accessing social media on a mobile phone that she owns without any adult monitoring is worrying. There was also a comment about offering to buy Daisy a wig which shows a misunderstanding about the support provided for cancer sufferers (wigs on prescription). By the time I had read almost 20% of the book I realised there was very little about the journey to the penguins as described in the 'blurb' and I disliked the character of Patrick who seemed very selfish. This point marked the end of my reading.

Puh. Not easy to write a review on this one.
I loved "Away with the Penguins", I truly loved it, and I was so esxited to see that this sequel is coming. And please don't get me wrong, I also liked "Call of the Penguins" but not as much as the first book. I had huge difficulties to get into this book. Not sure why. Partly it was the way the book was written, I think, it was somehow not easy to read. Partly it was because it focused on so many things, switching the narration between Veronica, Terry and Patrick, and add Daisy and the TV presenter, and all the problems surrounding them - and they were really important, those problems, and maybe it was simply too much. I actually started to really like the book some time when I've read 3/4 of it, and normally it is too late to save the book, however, this time... Well, I still ended giving it 4 stars, right. Maybe because it touches upon things so close to my heart, the environment, the speech Veronica gave about Petra was absolutely the best, it should be quoted everywhere.

It was truly lovely to catch up with Veronica and the gang, and to be back at the Locket Island, even if it hasn't feautred so strongly, but we've got our dosis of penguins, no worries there. I loved the characters' passion to all the things they've been doing, because no matter who it was, they all put their hearts into the things they thought are important.

"Call of the Penguins", my initial problems aside, was a charming, thought - provoking and inspiring story that will warm your heart about families, second chances and - yes! - penguins, with some strong messages about the state of our environment hidden in it. There are tears and laughter, surprises, some very tender moments and brilliant one - liners.