Jessica PingNovember Book of the Month Review
*Disclosure: There are affiliate links in the following article, meaning that, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links, I will receive a small commission.
Chosen Ones
General Synopsis of Chosen Ones
Ten years ago, five young adults saved the world. Now, a decade later, the 30-year-olds are asked to come together again to celebrate the anniversary at a new monument’s dedication ceremony. The story is told from the perspective of Sloane, one of the five chosen ones. After tragedy strikes, she and the other chosen ones once again find themselves in the position of being forced into playing the hero.
Why Chosen Ones?
Before choosing this book, I asked my followers over on Instagram what they wanted to see in this space for the month of November. Did they want another self-help book like You Are A Badass and Girl, Stop Apologizing, or a fiction novel, like Midnight Sun and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes? The votes were fairly split, but ultimately, fiction won.
My friends and I were obsessed with the Divergent series in high school. More generally, my friends and I were obsessed with pretty much every single dystopian/fantastical novel that gained any widespread traction. Think, Twilight, The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, The Maze Runner, etc.
I am all for trying new things when necessary, but I’m also a human who appreciates the stability of familiarity. So, when I was doing research into some of 2020’s top new fiction releases and Veronica Roth’s name popped up next to Chosen Ones, I knew my search was over. This book has nothing to do with her other novels. For the moment, it is a completely stand-alone piece, though I wouldn’t be surprised if a sequel was on the horizon.
YA to Adult Fiction – Was it Successful?
Chosen Ones is Roth’s first jump into adult fiction, and, quite honestly, it’s mine too. Don’t get me wrong, I have read some adult books in my lifetime, especially in college, but this was my first adult fiction purchase that did not come from recommendations or a desire to see a movie in the theater. I’ve been so nervous that adult books would be stiff and too realistic for my taste. I already tend to be a realist in my everyday life, I look to books to help me escape from that.
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In my eyes, Chosen Ones was the perfect mix of the real, soul-crushing truths of adulthood and wild, gripping the book too tightly, storytelling. It was exactly what I have been looking for. Could someone in their mid to late teens read this and enjoy it? Probably, but I think that adults will better understand and empathize with the main character, Sloane, as she struggles with her past, present, and future choices.
What I Liked
The diversity of the characters was the first thing I really noticed when I began reading this book. Right off the bat, you are introduced to an interracial couple, a lesbian, and an Asian American. Compared to Divergent, this is already leaps and bounds ahead of the game. There were even a few brief moments where Sloane acknowledged privilege and discrimination, which is fairly uncommon in action-packed books like this.
Another uncommon trait of Sci-Fi/Fantasy books is the discussion of mental health. Frequently, things are moving so quickly, the idea of a character sitting back and dealing with their mental problems seems irrelevant. That said, this book did a phenomenal job of showing just how important mental health is when making life and death decisions. Sloane’s mind is deeply examined, and we see her constantly struggling to overcome her childhood traumas. It’s excruciating to read at times, and the reader can really feel the guilt she carries with her.
Finally, the last thing that really stood out to me were the beautiful descriptions of Chicago. The Divergent series was also set in Chicago, and as an Illinois resident who travels up to the city regularly, I can definitely say that I was often able to visualize the scenes. It was a nice touch and brought on many nostalgic feelings of a pre-Covid world.
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What I Didn’t Like
First of all, things were a little too perfect for my liking. I know this was only Book #1, so if it does transition into a series, I completely get why Roth would want to save some of the tragedy for another day. That said, the climactic ending kind of let me down. Yes, the characters face hardship and there are plenty of twists and turns, but, in general, things tend to go their way all the time. It’s fairly unrealistic for the circumstances they find themselves in.
Secondly, I found that turning magic into a form of science was extremely frustrating. The idea of using an external object to produce power is not new – the use of wands in Harry Potter, for example – but the objects here were treated almost like cellphones or computers. They were pieces of technology that had nothing inherently special about them. They were just conductors of magical energy, a simple tool.
So, Can You Successfully Blend Sci-Fi and Fantasy?
Yes and no. As I mentioned in the section directly above, I found it really difficult to see the actions being performed by the characters as ones of magical origin. It almost felt like an equivalent to talking to Siri or Alexa and having them perform tasks for you instead of just providing verbal advice.
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That said, ignoring this novel’s specific method of conjure, I believe that Sci-Fi and Fantasy can 100% be united to create something amazing. Even though I struggled with the small details, I found the general storyline to be compelling and believable to a certain degree, which is definitely an important part of books like these. With science fiction, you don’t want to exit the realm of possibility, and though fantastical elements were introduced in Chosen Ones, it wasn’t enough to make you feel as if what was happening could never happen here on Earth. It was just the right amount to promote intrigue and fascination while also maintaining a level of comfort for those who prefer reality.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I loved the book and I think you will too if you…
- Are looking for a more mature version of escapism
- Enjoy fast-paced novels
- Like Sci-Fi
- Were really into Fantasy or Sci-Fi books in your youth
- Want to get excited about reading again
It’s well-written, kind of dark, yet still entertaining, and, overall, something I would definitely read again.
Buy Chosen Ones!
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