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Callis Rose

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Callis Rose is a girl blessed with a gift from above or cursed with a ruthless power she barely understands, it’s really just a matter of degrees. As her family life is turned asunder she is thrown into an indifferent Social Services program where she defends herself the only way she knows how. Callis is moved from home to home until she finally settles at the Lowries. As she starts her first day of high school she meets both her favorite and least favorite person, both happen to reside at the same household.
Mindy Denton makes it her single mission in life to destroy Callis, even as her brother Kevin falls deeper into love with the mysterious and beautiful girl who is hiding something from them all. Follow along in Mark Tufo’s newest adventure

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2013

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928 people want to read

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Mark Tufo

111 books2,140 followers

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5 stars
402 (41%)
4 stars
322 (33%)
3 stars
158 (16%)
2 stars
55 (5%)
1 star
23 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
Profile Image for MadameD.
585 reviews56 followers
April 27, 2024
A little disappointed…

Story 3/5
Narration 4/5

I was really disappointed with Mark Tufo's Callis Rose.
I've loved all of Mark Tufo's books so far, but I found the plot and characters development lacking in this story.
Unfortunately, I don't recommend it.
Profile Image for T.W. Brown.
Author 96 books303 followers
January 31, 2013
Mark Tufo is well know for his best selling Zombie Fallout series. I was fortunate enough to read Callis Rose before release. I have to say that there is a roller coaster of emotions that flow through these pages. If you are expecting the tongue-in-cheek humor of Talbot or the engrossingly cute Riley, you need to set that aside and allow Mark to show you yet another aspect of his talent.

There are some elements here that will be reminiscent of Stephen King's "Carrie" but it goes beyond that. One of the real beauties of this story is that, by the end, you really do not know who to "cheer" for. I avoid spoilers in my reviews because I believe that the reader should have the pleasure of that discovery. What I will say is that Tufo manages to make you feel sympathy for the "villains" and almost root against the main protagonist. That is a credit to his talent and the reason he sits where he does in the Top Horror writers on Amazon.

There were some moments where I wanted to think that he dropped the ball, but every twist and turn proves to have a reason. Set aside all that you thought you knew about Mark Tufo and read this book.
Profile Image for Sonja.
308 reviews
June 28, 2019
I love Mark Tufo and I wanted to like this book. It did have his trade mark humor but the story is subpar. I am giving it a two star just for the humor and Sean Runnette (narrator)
Profile Image for Lady of the Lake.
314 reviews51 followers
July 2, 2014
I really liked this book. But much of that had to do with that I listened to the audiobook form of it. The narrator, Sean Runnette did a very good job with the tone of the story and did much to help make the characters play out the way I think the author had wanted. I don't want to add any spoilers to my review I had wanted it to turn out a little differently. I did have compassion for the main character. What was going on started out of her control. I would like there to be a sequel to this as there is something I would like to see be a continuation. But can't say anymore without spoiling things. I highly recommend the audiobook over the print/ebook version. The narrator Sean Runnette was before this book on the bottom rung of favorite narrators for me. I never liked his voice and the certain speech impediment he has that always drove me crazy when I would listen to him I always avoided books with him as narrator. But after the first half hour into Callis Rose I got used to his voice and was happy how he read and his portrayal of the characters. It really made all the difference for this book. So if you're interested in paranormal things, astral projection may be part of an explanation... Get the audiobook.
Profile Image for Jeanne.
71 reviews4 followers
February 3, 2013
I had no idea what this book was going to be about, and as I read the first few chapters, it reminded me of the writing style of The Spirit Clearing. At first I thought this was going to be a short story, but the writer is just filling in the background in a short story mode. Once the story arrives at the present time, the story attaches to you and you are drawn in. I haven't found a Mark Tufo book I didn't love. This was a very interesting book, with choices and decisions that the main character must make. The ending was quite surprising to me, in fact many of the outcomes in the story surprised me. I felt it was a very good read. Thanks for a great book Mark!
Profile Image for Bob McCadden.
46 reviews9 followers
May 15, 2020
I loved the story, that’s where the 4 stars come from. Marks books have always served me well and when I do audio Sean runnette rocks them out. For some reason with this book I found myself constantly saying “of course they are” about all of the bad people or villains. Every single one was like over the top. Nobody seemed marginal evil. No spoilers so I’ll end there. Awesome book but villains would have still been as aweful if they were dialed back slightly.
Profile Image for Cathleen.
284 reviews
February 8, 2014
This book was very predictable. I think other stories in this genre have been much more entertaining.
Profile Image for Amanda Turenchalk.
125 reviews20 followers
August 26, 2025
"I can’t just teach you how to do what I do. It has taken me years to perfect my craft. What you’re asking is akin to buying a guitar, walking into a music shop and asking that you be able to play Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven after your first lesson.” 

“Who?” 

“I should kick you out just for that.”


Callie discovers at a young age that she has a unique and dangerous power. When she is sent  into foster care, she meets some horrible people who want to do her harm. Using her unique gift, she finds she can protect herself and others. 

Things get out if control when it comes to love and enemies. 

The book had some spelling and punctuation errors. It was fast-paced and frustrating when it came to some of the adults and Mindy. The ending came as a shock.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Crystal Rivera.
471 reviews1 follower
September 11, 2024
Hmmmm....not what I was expecting. Felt like it would make a great B movie. The plot was weak even though the concept was cool. I read it. Maybe it would have been a better audio book??
Profile Image for Lola.
4 reviews
February 11, 2013
Mark Tufo rarely disappoints me, but with Callis Rose he took a chance and missed big time. While there is a lot of potential behind the story everything about it seemed force, there is no natural flow to the words, everything seems to be exaggerated for no reason. Callis does not come across as sympathetic at any point, I really could not find it in me to invest any emotions into her or any of the other characters in the book. With the exception of Callis' dad everyone in this book is just horrid. And while there is some of the Tufo humor that I know and love it is not enough to save this book for me. I love Mark's Zombie Fallout and Indian Hill series and I thought this one would suck me in also, but I could not help but feel like it was rushed and there was something missing the entire time that I was reading. This modern day Carrie failed to sweep me off my feet with words.
Profile Image for Glenda.
11 reviews
July 2, 2015
Callis Rose is a young girl that has telekinesis, as Stephen King's Carrie White did, and lands herself in foster care after a tragedy strikes her family. Callis Rose bounces from one bad foster care home to another. Mark Tufo describes some really brutal crimes on children in this book, including pedophilia. I gave Callis Rose 3 stars because simply put I didn't like the characters in Callis Rose or root for them to pull through. But I did meet up with a favorite character from ZF again! I do have to say that the story was packed with action to the last word. Again readers are left with a classic Tufo cliffhanger ending.
Profile Image for Anne Seebach.
178 reviews12 followers
April 23, 2014
Reminiscent of 'Carrie', though not at all the same story. I'd have to say I did like it overall, but it didn't flow as well for me as some of the author's other works. I'm not quite sure why, but I found the storytelling often a bit plodding - perhaps because it didn't have as much of the leavening, sarcastic humour Tufo usually injects into his stories. About halfway through I found myself becoming a little irritated with Callis and wanting her (and the story) to just 'move on already'. There were a lot of interesting characters we spent a little bit of time with, but they weren't really fulfilled - it felt rather 'Callis heavy'. Two and a half stars from me.
Profile Image for Kim.
192 reviews24 followers
July 24, 2025
1.5 stars, but I'll round up because it's Mr. Tufo.

I'm a huge fan of Mark Tufo's Zombie Fallout series. That being said, I did not like this. I never connected to Callis Rose. The hatred between her and Mindy had gone too far and was too much. There were so many times she could have been the better person and walked away, but she didn't. Overall, I was very disappointed.
Profile Image for Sarajane.
5 reviews6 followers
February 1, 2013
I love Mark Tufo's books. Every single one of them have drawn me in. Callis rose was no different. Great read from beginning to end!
Profile Image for Sian.
8 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2013
Wow,i read this within two days (in between work) Was totally wrapped up in this book,and really wish it hadn't ended or there was atleast a second book.
39 reviews4 followers
November 26, 2013
Truly one of the most inspid, poorly written books I've ever met. The author appears to understand nothing about human relationships and human nature.
Profile Image for Cristina La Comntesse noir .
205 reviews15 followers
March 28, 2023
In Italia si possono ancora raccontare storie avvincenti, dalla trama coinvolgente e in grado di avere tutte le carte in regole per poter essere esportabili anche all’estero? La risposta, come crediamo siamo stati in grado di dimostrare ampiamente con il nostro lavoro di ricerca, analisi e critica, non può che approdare verso lidi positivi. Le realtà del nostro paese sono assai stimolanti e meritano la vostra attenzione. Riteniamo vitale riportare all’interno del nostro giardino l’attenzione dei lettori; investire in quegli autori debuttanti, dare lustro e merito agli autori più navigati in grado di poter mandare avanti prima ancora del mercato l’idea stessa dell’Arte pura, incorrotta, libera, la quale è ovviamente sorgente d’originalità.
Erroneamente si ritiene quest’ultima ad esclusivo appannaggio della trama. Ma l’originalità sta nella qualità della scrittura, nella morale esplicita o implicita, nel mondo primario e secondario dell’autore. È questo il caso di Callis Rose, di Mark Tufo e edito dalla Saga Edizioni. Parlare di quest’opera non è semplice, a discapito d’una trama probabilmente già sentita sì nelle grandi linee ma non nei dettagli. Perché sono i dettagli a fare la differenza, qui.
In molti avranno pensato a Carrie, di Stephen King. L’influenza è evidente, anche se non sta a significare che l’autore abbia per forza pescato a piene mani dall’opera di debutto del celeberrimo autore di Portland. Un filo sottile lega le due opere, ma fin dalle prime pagine ci appare chiaro come entrambe riescano a vivere di vita propria. Le differenze sono sostanziali. Innanzitutto, in Callis Rose la penna di Mark Tufo e l’occhio del lettore segue l’incalzante crescita della protagonista, vittima d’un potere terribile e del quale non ha alcun controllo. Il nostro Inconscio, il nostro Es, è un coacervo di pulsioni in maree, mascherati in simboli a noi incomprensibili, spaventosi e grotteschi. Similmente il suo potere, similmente l’incapacità di dare una forma e dunque un dominio. Ciò che possediamo, prima o poi, finisce per possederci. E ciò che s’agita nelle profondità sconosciute del nostro cuore, prima o poi, emerge abbattendo ogni barriera che abbiamo eretto per proteggerci. Questo, se vogliamo trarre una morale, può essere il messaggio insito nell’opera. Ogni persona merita amore, a discapito del suo passato, molte persone vogliono solo essere ascoltate e comprese. Il male che l’uomo vive riempie il suo stesso abisso.
La scrittura di Mark Tufo è incredibilmente matura, professionale, pulita. Tesse deliziose trame d’oscurità con una dolcezza disarmante. Leggerlo è stato per noi un vero onore, una lenta discesa in un horror di formazione in grado di parlare e di colpire più a fondo di quanto ci aspettassimo. E le nostre aspettative, vi garantiamo, erano assai alte. Callis Rose le ha ampiamente superate.
Consigliatissimo!
Profile Image for Sara.
191 reviews14 followers
November 1, 2022
"Quello che voleva Callis, Callis lo otteneva"

Callis Rose è una bambina amorevole e premurosa, ma anche un po’ egocentrica e viziata, determinata ad ottenere sempre ciò che vuole 👧 Suo padre fa gli straordinari per fare in modo che abbia sempre i vestiti più belli e i giocattoli più in voga 👗: è come se non potesse fare a meno di esaudire ogni desiderio della figlia.

Pagina dopo pagina, diventa sempre più evidente che Callis non è una bambina come tutte le altre: lei può costringere chiunque a fare ciò che vuole e quando il suo potere è guidato dalla rabbia e dalla paura le conseguenze sono sempre terribili e spesso fuori dal suo controllo 🤯 Proprio a causa dei suoi poteri, a undici anni perderà i genitori e, affidata ai servizi sociali, sarà catapultata in un mondo in cui è sempre più difficile distinguere chi sia il vero mostro.⠀

La protagonista mi è piaciuta da subito: Callis è una bambina fondamentalmente buona, ma dentro di sé ha anche un pizzico di oscurità che crescerà sempre di più.⠀
All’inizio nemmeno lei si rende conto del suo potere e lo comprenderà sempre meglio a pari passo con il lettore. Callis Rose affascina fin dalle prime righe per il mistero che la avvolge e il suo camminare pericolosamente sulla linea sottile che divide il bene e il male.

Costringere le persone ad agire contro la propria volontà è sbagliato, ma è giusto permettere agli altri di farci soffrire?
Callis lotta per sé, per chi ama e per la propria sopravvivenza. Non vuole sfruttare i suoi poteri per controllare gli altri, vuole essere amata, ma quanto sarà breve il passo per diventare il mostro che pensano che sia quando tutto ciò a cui tiene le sarà strappato?⠀

Se all’inizio manca un po’ di suspense, nell’ultima parte "Callis Rose" è un irresistibile crescendo di tensione e orrore. Quella che all’inizio sembra essere la storia fantasy di una bambina con dei poteri difficili da controllare diventerà sempre più oscura fino al terribile finale 😱⠀⠀

Recensione completa sul blog: https://www.1001nottidinchiostro.it/c...
Profile Image for Sabrina.
Author 15 books117 followers
September 16, 2022
Oggi sono qui per parlarvi di un'altra bellissima opera arrivata nelle nostre librerie.
Come sapete sono una grande amante del genere, quindi potevo mai farmelo scappare? Assolutamente no.
La nostra protagonista è Rose, una bambina che all'apparenza sembra come tante.
Un giorno però, la mamma si accorge che nei momenti in cui ha qualche dibattito con qualcuno, la persona in questione va in trance. Inizialmente non ci dà molto peso almeno sino a quando, quando Rose ha undici anni, accade qualcosa di terribile e la bambina viene quindi affidata ai servizi sociali.
Ciò che c'è dietro non è nulla di comune o normale e forse, Rose ha solo bisogno di qualcuno che la ami nonostante tutto.
 
Non mi aspettavo che questo fosse un romanzo horror, lo ammetto ahah però nonostante ciò, l'ho letto con vero piacere e non mi aspettavo che seppur alti e bassi mi piacesse tanto.
Rose mi ha ricordato tantissimo Raven, personaggio della DC comics, sia per i suoi poteri che per il suo modo di approcciarsi alla vita e alle persone.
Un romanzo che sicuramente consiglio a tutti gli amanti del genere e che ad un certo punto si fa divorare, incuriosendosi e mettendo in dubbio anche la parte da cui stare.
Profile Image for Keri (TheAudioAuditor).
998 reviews
May 4, 2019
Audio book review.

This book is grim and gruesome and haunting for a high school drama. Callis was born with a dark gift, the ability to make people obey. She unknowingly or unwillingly (even she's not entirely sure) caused the deaths of both her parents, and was placed into the foster care system. After several harsh and despicable homes, she ends up in a safe place, only to have the woman she cares about declared unfit to keep children, and she must move again. Her final home is with a sort of dysfunctional isolated couple who only tend to focus on their TV. After this point, the focus shifts from the horror of foster care to the horrors of being judged in high school because you're a foster kid. Callis turns the eye of a cute guy, but his sister, Mindy, is not having it. Mindy sets out to first break up Callis and her brother, but eventually devolves to murder plans when she doesn't get her way.

The whole first half of the book there's a sort of uplifting tone. Callis is in a really shitty situation, but she's getting the hang of her gift, and we can't help but root for her to rise above it all. She seems to get that with her new relationship, and you can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. When things start to go sour and injustices are piled in Callis's lap, her decision to retaliate in a cruel way changes the whole tone, and suddenly your loyalties as a reader are up in the air. Who to root for now?? I liked this book, but it's definitely bloody and shocking. Not sure what message I'm supposed to take away after the final page.
Profile Image for Amber.
15 reviews
July 25, 2021
I assume this book was inspired by Stephen King’s Carrie. The title character has a naturally occurring supernatural power that she doesn’t understand. She has lived a life of misfortune and one should really feel for her. I did. The issue is that she shifts from victim to aggressor with unnerving speed. She doesn’t try to solve issues without resorting to her horrific power. There are many placed in her path that fully deserve her wrath, but she doesn’t hesitate to destroy when she could have avoided certain situations. She had no concern for the innocent caught in her revenge plots. I think in a novel like this, you want a bit of humanity and innocence to root for. Ultimately, you breathe a sigh of relief when it ends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Harry Thompson.
225 reviews5 followers
December 7, 2023
I quite enjoyed the book. Nothing original, just good ole entertainment. Callis was a girl with powers to control others.. She is making her way through social services and finally lands a decent foster home. Only problem, they are poor. When Callis goes to school, she is picked on for her social class... So she meets a guy and they start dating but the harassment only grows because the new boyfriend's sister is the biggest trouble maker. So as you can thread together nothing new here you kinda know how it ends and what is going to happen in between.

Anyone who has read the Zombie Fallout books, this is a pre book kinda. It has BT in it as a police officer. Was hoping to have Mike pop up somewhere but I didn't catch it if it happened?
Profile Image for Rebecca Conn.
146 reviews3 followers
March 12, 2019
A great read

This is another great read. I cant believe the different worlds and adventures that you get to explore with Mr. Tufo`s books. This story is a lot different than the dystopian and apocalypse books that made me a fan of his work.
Callis in this book is a great character. Her way of judgement was a bit extreme in some cases, but simple and teach lessons in other cases.
The characters that he writes about are relatable in some ways (though they can get extreme with their action--like Mindy in this story). They are also people that we have met in some part of our lives.

I enjoyed this book. I cant wait for the next Tufo book.
Profile Image for April.
177 reviews8 followers
July 9, 2019
Love the character of Callis. Despite a tragic life brought on by powers she knows nothing about or how to control, she still manages to find real love. Able to protect herself, by destroying herself. She deals with a plethora of protagonist. From abusers, rapist, pedofiles, and the ultimate evil - mean girls! Callis and Denton have a love most hope for... but like Romeo and Juliette, they are headed for tragedy.
Loved that this also included some of my all-time favorite characters from Tufo's Zombie Fallout series, BT and Michael Talbot! (swoon!)
I loved this book, it will be placed amoung my favorites and will be well-read for many years to come.
Profile Image for Denise Whitaker.
6 reviews
November 15, 2022
As an avid reader, I have come to appreciate well-written stories. Callis Rose by Mark Tufo is a very interesting story that kept me glued to the page. Having said that, I feel like there was so much more that could have been done with this story. It felt like there were words left unsaid; like a part of the story was left on the cutting room floor. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I felt saddened by what could have been.
Profile Image for Connie M.
92 reviews
August 6, 2024
I section this book into 3 parts: Parents, foster parents, high school. Part one was great. Part two was ridiculous and I almost stopped listening. Part three lured me back in. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because of part two. The foster parents were way over the top and there's no way in God's green earth that children's social services would allow any child to live with any of them.
3 reviews
October 9, 2024
It wasn’t a bad book. I enjoyed it. But I think I got bored of Mark tufos books. Because it is always the same concept. Killing, crushing, dying, blood, I think this guy is really obsessed with these things. That doesn’t mean that he is a bad author. He’s actually a perfect writer however, I just got bored of his imaginations.
Profile Image for PJ Lea.
1,064 reviews
November 29, 2017
Evil.

High school girls can be evil, wicked creatures and this book is an abject lesson of the possible consequences. I empathised with Callis for most (but not all) of her actions.
Mr Tufo did a good job of getting into the minds of teenage girls.
15 reviews
June 4, 2020
Great read!

Callis Rose is a truly unique character. One moment you can just feel the depth of her sorrow and the next the anger that emanates because of it. Couldn’t put this book down!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews

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