Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth – a Review

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Description:
A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One, whose reign of terror brought widespread destruction and death. The seemingly un-extraordinary teens—Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther—had been brought together by a clandestine government agency because one of them was fated to be the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. With the goal achieved, humankind celebrated the victors and began to mourn their lost loved ones.

Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward and a whole, younger generation doesn’t seem to recall the days of endless fear. But Sloane remembers. It’s impossible for her to forget when the paparazzi haunt her every step just as the Dark One still haunts her dreams. Unlike everyone else, she hasn’t moved on; she’s adrift—no direction, no goals, no purpose. On the eve of the Ten Year Celebration of Peace, a new trauma hits the Chosen: the death of one of their own. And when they gather for the funeral at the enshrined site of their triumph, they discover to their horror that the Dark One’s reign never really ended.

Review:

Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth is the first book in her The Chosen Ones series.  Having just finished reading the book, I was happy about how it all ended; thinking it read very well as a standalone; however now I see it is a series, which I will be reading, but I am curious how Roth will continue.

We meet our 5 heroes, who 10 years earlier, were the Chosen Ones who as teenagers, defeated an evil enemy called the ‘Dark One’,  terrorizing the world with death and destruction.  They were idolized by the world, and now they gather for the 10^th anniversary celebration of when they saved the world.  Matt was always considered the leader, with Sloane, Albie, Esther and Ines as part of the team. Part 1 of the book revolves around how all 5 are coping, with each reacting differently.  Matt and Esther enjoy the accolades and are happy in the social media world.  Albie has PSTD and has a hard time, and Ines tries to keep her life private. The story centers mostly on Sloane, as she still suffers from panic attacks from when she had been captured by the Dark One, but though she comes across as angry and sarcastic, she is a tough, smart and independent badass. 

Before the celebration, they government calls them in to review a possible new weapon, which will cause one of the 5 to kill himself.  At the funeral ceremony, everything changes, as Matt, Esther and Sloane are pulled into another parallel universe, which is the start of Part 2.  The three of them learn that they have been chosen to help this universe fight off another evil villain, and unless they find a way to kill him, they will never return home to their own universe.  In this world, which is a little similar to their own, but filled with magic.  The leaders of this new universe are desperate for help, and work on training them on using magical siphons to enhance their powers, to enable them to be ready when they need to fight the new Dark One.

Part 2 ups the ante, with more excitement, new characters, parallel dimension and a different enemy, who has built an army of walking dead.  Whereas, Matt and Esther relish learning how to use the magic, Sloane tends to be on her own, learning everything about this world; she has never been happy, and comes across as secretive and impulsive. But when push comes to shove, she will be the one who will do anything to protect her friends, and she makes a horrifying discovery that totally changes the game.  I really did like Mox, someone she meets at a museum and a bar, as well as his friend, Ziva.  

In Part 3, Sloane will step up to discover the truth, and use her own unused powers to stop and fight the Dark One, as we raced to the wild climax in the last 1/3 of the book.  Roth does pull a few surprise twists. Extremely exciting, intense, action filled, with us holding our breaths, as we discover who the real culprit is.   I cannot tell too much more, as it would be spoilers and ruin it for you. 

Chosen Ones was very well written by Veronica Roth, which had a satisfying ending. The world building in this multidimensional world was very good; as well as exciting and actually a fun read. Now that I know there is going to be another book, I look forward to see what Roth has in store for us. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher