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bookladysreviews's review
3.0
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
I was extremely excited to start reading the Chosen Knights because the synopsis really spoke to me with how interesting it made the book sound. It greatly reminded me of The Mortal Instruments and that is one of the main reasons I decided to give it a chance. Which isn't a bad thing so, don't take it as one. Me and the story got off on a rocky start, which wasn't the most promising in terms of me actually enjoying it as much as I hoped I would. I found it very hard to connect with the main character and for some reason, Lucia's voice kind of got lost in the background and was kind of overshadowed by everyone else's. It's obvious that's she a loyal and brave heroine but, I felt like I didn't get to know her throughout the book as much as one would expect. I usually find it very easy to connect with characters and for me, it makes the experience of reading the book itself even better and more satisfying!
As the story progressed though and the plot developed, I found myself really enjoying the direction it took. It just took more than a couple of chapters for me to start getting into it and I loved the second part of the book. The first part wasn't my favorite but, once I got over that, everything became so fascinating and interesting to read that I couldn't stop. The facts just kept coming at me and they were as intriguing as they should've been from the beginning. By the end, everything made sense and I was at the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.
I loved the secondary characters of the book and I felt that they complimented it quite nicely. I feel like Lucia's dynamics as a character just weren't strong enough at the beginning to show through everyone else's. Needless to say that I loved Eli because this particular kind of romance - as cliche as it might be - is one of my guilty pleasures. A favorite of mine to read about, if you will. And his character was just so mysterious, dark and tempting that if I were in Lucia's place, I would've fallen for him too. No questions asked or anything, just like that. Abel was kind of likable as well but, he has nothing on Eli, let's just admit it. The romance wasn't really as obvious at the beginning but, as the story progressed, it became even stronger, which was not a problem for me but, some people might find it inconvenient. Zach and Uncle Davin were definitely some of my favorites and I really enjoyed their back and forth with Lucia. They sincerely cared for each other and it really showed through, not only their words but also, their actions.
The writing was good but I feel like it could have been a lot better and contributed to my personal enjoyment as a reader. I found it lacking in some parts and sometimes, it felt a bit rushed. Other than that, the scenes were pretty descriptive and their vividness left me hungry for more. Eli and Lucia's romantic banter was probably my favorite thing in the whole book so, just getting that out there. The characters developed nicely throughout the book and the ending left me disoriented and completely shocked! So, if we don't take into account the disappointing first part of Chosen Knights, it was a great and extremely entertaining novel that introduced me to a very fascinating and complex word! This is definitely a book fans of adventure and the action and heartbreak that inevitable go hand in hand with it!
I was extremely excited to start reading the Chosen Knights because the synopsis really spoke to me with how interesting it made the book sound. It greatly reminded me of The Mortal Instruments and that is one of the main reasons I decided to give it a chance. Which isn't a bad thing so, don't take it as one. Me and the story got off on a rocky start, which wasn't the most promising in terms of me actually enjoying it as much as I hoped I would. I found it very hard to connect with the main character and for some reason, Lucia's voice kind of got lost in the background and was kind of overshadowed by everyone else's. It's obvious that's she a loyal and brave heroine but, I felt like I didn't get to know her throughout the book as much as one would expect. I usually find it very easy to connect with characters and for me, it makes the experience of reading the book itself even better and more satisfying!
As the story progressed though and the plot developed, I found myself really enjoying the direction it took. It just took more than a couple of chapters for me to start getting into it and I loved the second part of the book. The first part wasn't my favorite but, once I got over that, everything became so fascinating and interesting to read that I couldn't stop. The facts just kept coming at me and they were as intriguing as they should've been from the beginning. By the end, everything made sense and I was at the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.
I loved the secondary characters of the book and I felt that they complimented it quite nicely. I feel like Lucia's dynamics as a character just weren't strong enough at the beginning to show through everyone else's. Needless to say that I loved Eli because this particular kind of romance - as cliche as it might be - is one of my guilty pleasures. A favorite of mine to read about, if you will. And his character was just so mysterious, dark and tempting that if I were in Lucia's place, I would've fallen for him too. No questions asked or anything, just like that. Abel was kind of likable as well but, he has nothing on Eli, let's just admit it. The romance wasn't really as obvious at the beginning but, as the story progressed, it became even stronger, which was not a problem for me but, some people might find it inconvenient. Zach and Uncle Davin were definitely some of my favorites and I really enjoyed their back and forth with Lucia. They sincerely cared for each other and it really showed through, not only their words but also, their actions.
The writing was good but I feel like it could have been a lot better and contributed to my personal enjoyment as a reader. I found it lacking in some parts and sometimes, it felt a bit rushed. Other than that, the scenes were pretty descriptive and their vividness left me hungry for more. Eli and Lucia's romantic banter was probably my favorite thing in the whole book so, just getting that out there. The characters developed nicely throughout the book and the ending left me disoriented and completely shocked! So, if we don't take into account the disappointing first part of Chosen Knights, it was a great and extremely entertaining novel that introduced me to a very fascinating and complex word! This is definitely a book fans of adventure and the action and heartbreak that inevitable go hand in hand with it!
katsmiao's review
5.0
This book is simply amazing, and I'm not just saying that because I got a free copy for review. The author has created a magical world with wonderful characters. The book has it all: mythology, magic, incredible depth of characters and emotions, beautifully written, lots of adventure and action. I love the plot, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. This is the kind of series and type of book that grips you with the first page and it's impossible to put down or forget. The characters and storyline stayed with me for days after reading.
This is the first time that I finished a book and wanted to start reading it again immediately
This is the first time that I finished a book and wanted to start reading it again immediately
anabbesteves's review
4.0
The Bewitched Reader | Review: The Chosen Knights (The Angel Knights #1) by Mary Ting
*The publisher provided this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.*
Lucia and her brother are half-angels who have just finished their training. When teens start missing in Crossroads, Hawaii, they are sent there with their "uncle" in order to discover what is really going on. Seems simple right? Well, it's not.
When they get to their destination they quickly realize something strange is going on. There seems to be a presence of many supernatural beings in the high school they are going to (as a cover). This all seems to be related to a book passed down by the Knights Templars and a greedy devious demon, Cyrus, who wishes to unlock whichever power or knowledge they contain.
Unusual alliances are made in order to try and stop Cyrus from achieving his end goal. Many long forgotten truths are rediscovered and many previously unknown feelings and sensations flourish as this adventure goes on.
My hopes for this book were mediocre and I have to admit that they were surpassed (with style). In a way it is a very diverse book that is able to mix magical folklore and biblical aspects, making them work together as if they were meant to. I didn't expect to see stories of the Knights Templars intermingled with stories of an Ice Queen who had powers (don't worry it's not a spoiler).
One aspect that I have to note is that the characters actually evolve! They are not mentally stagnated subjects who are just waiting for things to happen to them. Even though they are good in general I can see various things that could have been better.
Overall this is a good book and I have high hopes for the following instalments, since this story is a tiny bit addicting. I advise this book to anyone who is willing to read something different but not that uncommon (I know; my description abilities should award me a Pulitzer).
The Bewitched Reader | Review: The Chosen Knights (The Angel Knights #1) by Mary Ting
*The publisher provided this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.*
Lucia and her brother are half-angels who have just finished their training. When teens start missing in Crossroads, Hawaii, they are sent there with their "uncle" in order to discover what is really going on. Seems simple right? Well, it's not.
When they get to their destination they quickly realize something strange is going on. There seems to be a presence of many supernatural beings in the high school they are going to (as a cover). This all seems to be related to a book passed down by the Knights Templars and a greedy devious demon, Cyrus, who wishes to unlock whichever power or knowledge they contain.
Unusual alliances are made in order to try and stop Cyrus from achieving his end goal. Many long forgotten truths are rediscovered and many previously unknown feelings and sensations flourish as this adventure goes on.
My hopes for this book were mediocre and I have to admit that they were surpassed (with style). In a way it is a very diverse book that is able to mix magical folklore and biblical aspects, making them work together as if they were meant to. I didn't expect to see stories of the Knights Templars intermingled with stories of an Ice Queen who had powers (don't worry it's not a spoiler).
One aspect that I have to note is that the characters actually evolve! They are not mentally stagnated subjects who are just waiting for things to happen to them. Even though they are good in general I can see various things that could have been better.
Overall this is a good book and I have high hopes for the following instalments, since this story is a tiny bit addicting. I advise this book to anyone who is willing to read something different but not that uncommon (I know; my description abilities should award me a Pulitzer).
The Bewitched Reader | Review: The Chosen Knights (The Angel Knights #1) by Mary Ting
momwithareadingproblem's review
5.0
I received an eARC of this book from Barclay Publicity in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The Chosen Knights by Mary Ting is an urban fantasy lover’s dream! There are demons, vampires, angels, and fallen angels all set to the back drop of high school in Hawaii. What more could you ask for?! If you are new to Mary Ting, I highly recommend reading either [b:The Angel Knights|28266590|The Angel Knights (The Angel Knights, #0)|Mary Ting|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1457057555s/28266590.jpg|48311307], the prequel which will give you a little background to the world created by the author, or go back to the beginning Crossroads, the series that this one is based off. Personally I haven’t read [b:Crossroads|28950475|Crossroads (Crossroads Saga, #1)|Mary Ting|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1454815053s/28950475.jpg|16210495] and am not lost so this series can be read as a standalone. However I have every intention of reading them!
Lucia and Zachary are the nephilim children of Michael and Claudia, raised to be demon-hunters, Venators. They deny the human-side of themselves, pushing their emotions to the side. Zac does this better than Lucia. Lucia struggles and it’s this struggle that drew me to her story. Lucia and Zac are 17, have never been around humans, and are now being thrust into the world of high school. It’s interesting to read how they adjust and even humorous when Lucia tries to reason out the use of unfamiliar slang which results in miscommunication.
Lucia is easily likable. She’s loyal, a fierce fighter, and follows her heart, which gets her into a lot of trouble. Zac is what every brother should be. He’s her best friend, her confidante, and always has her back. “Uncle” Davin, Michael’s best friend and their guardian while in Hawaii, cracks me up. He’s like a big kid, but fiercely protective of Zac and Lucia. I love him!
Then there’s the humans they meet, or at least Lucia believes them human. Eli is half-demon and also the love interest. I’ll be honest, I really had a hard time liking him. He’s rude, pushes Lucia away at one instance and in the next is keeping a close eye on her. I’m not sure how I stand on my feelings for him.
The plot revolves around the mysterious Cyrus, who he is and what he wants. I found myself completely absorbed in the paranormal world created by Mary Ting. Between the mythology created by the author and the action, I was hooked! I loved the scenes between Eli and Lucia. You never really know where either stands. Are they enemies, are they friends, or are they more? And that ending….ugh!!! I hate cliffhangers. I need [b:The Blessed Knights|29523227|The Blessed Knights (The Angel Knights, #2)|Mary Ting|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|49819099]The Blessed Knights like yesterday.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It’s a great start to the series. If you enjoy urban fantasy, paranormal romance, or enjoyed the [b:Crossroads|28950475|Crossroads (Crossroads Saga, #1)|Mary Ting|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1454815053s/28950475.jpg|16210495] series, I highly recommend grabbing a copy of this book asap.
The Chosen Knights by Mary Ting is an urban fantasy lover’s dream! There are demons, vampires, angels, and fallen angels all set to the back drop of high school in Hawaii. What more could you ask for?! If you are new to Mary Ting, I highly recommend reading either [b:The Angel Knights|28266590|The Angel Knights (The Angel Knights, #0)|Mary Ting|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1457057555s/28266590.jpg|48311307], the prequel which will give you a little background to the world created by the author, or go back to the beginning Crossroads, the series that this one is based off. Personally I haven’t read [b:Crossroads|28950475|Crossroads (Crossroads Saga, #1)|Mary Ting|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1454815053s/28950475.jpg|16210495] and am not lost so this series can be read as a standalone. However I have every intention of reading them!
Lucia and Zachary are the nephilim children of Michael and Claudia, raised to be demon-hunters, Venators. They deny the human-side of themselves, pushing their emotions to the side. Zac does this better than Lucia. Lucia struggles and it’s this struggle that drew me to her story. Lucia and Zac are 17, have never been around humans, and are now being thrust into the world of high school. It’s interesting to read how they adjust and even humorous when Lucia tries to reason out the use of unfamiliar slang which results in miscommunication.
Lucia is easily likable. She’s loyal, a fierce fighter, and follows her heart, which gets her into a lot of trouble. Zac is what every brother should be. He’s her best friend, her confidante, and always has her back. “Uncle” Davin, Michael’s best friend and their guardian while in Hawaii, cracks me up. He’s like a big kid, but fiercely protective of Zac and Lucia. I love him!
Then there’s the humans they meet, or at least Lucia believes them human. Eli is half-demon and also the love interest. I’ll be honest, I really had a hard time liking him. He’s rude, pushes Lucia away at one instance and in the next is keeping a close eye on her. I’m not sure how I stand on my feelings for him.
The plot revolves around the mysterious Cyrus, who he is and what he wants. I found myself completely absorbed in the paranormal world created by Mary Ting. Between the mythology created by the author and the action, I was hooked! I loved the scenes between Eli and Lucia. You never really know where either stands. Are they enemies, are they friends, or are they more? And that ending….ugh!!! I hate cliffhangers. I need [b:The Blessed Knights|29523227|The Blessed Knights (The Angel Knights, #2)|Mary Ting|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|49819099]The Blessed Knights like yesterday.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It’s a great start to the series. If you enjoy urban fantasy, paranormal romance, or enjoyed the [b:Crossroads|28950475|Crossroads (Crossroads Saga, #1)|Mary Ting|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1454815053s/28950475.jpg|16210495] series, I highly recommend grabbing a copy of this book asap.
ania_star's review
4.0
Received from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for honest review
The chosen Knights is wonderful mix of Templar knights & supernatural. Lucia and her twin brother Zach are angels on mission. With their uncle and mentor they come to Earth in order to find out what is behind happening in Hawaii High School. Every Friday 13 girls go missing and with next one approaching, it is that more urgent to find whoever is doing it.
In search of clues, Lucia and Zach find that High School is full of supernatural beings. Most are different kinds of demons (not all demons are bad). Together they find that there is something a lot bigger is going on. It will take team of seven to find clues and save everyone.
I really like the way such a different set of characters work together.
I like flow of the story, the second part especially. It took a bit of time to get into the story, after we meat most of the characters, it gets really gripping. My favourite characters were Eli and Jack, as for Lucia, I wish she was more... assertive at times. :)
The chosen Knights is wonderful mix of Templar knights & supernatural. Lucia and her twin brother Zach are angels on mission. With their uncle and mentor they come to Earth in order to find out what is behind happening in Hawaii High School. Every Friday 13 girls go missing and with next one approaching, it is that more urgent to find whoever is doing it.
In search of clues, Lucia and Zach find that High School is full of supernatural beings. Most are different kinds of demons (not all demons are bad). Together they find that there is something a lot bigger is going on. It will take team of seven to find clues and save everyone.
I really like the way such a different set of characters work together.
I like flow of the story, the second part especially. It took a bit of time to get into the story, after we meat most of the characters, it gets really gripping. My favourite characters were Eli and Jack, as for Lucia, I wish she was more... assertive at times. :)
prags's review
4.0
For full review - The Chosen Knights on The Inked In Book Blog
*Received a copy as a part of a blog tour. The thoughts are entirely my own and in no way biased.*
The Chosen Knights is a journey into the spectacular with two teens, Lucia and Zach, and their Uncle Davin. The story is an absolute page turner with something or the other happening all the time that will keep you hooked to the story and keep you guessing as to what will happen next. The book is very evenly paced and you’re never bored throughout the story, wishing for it to just to move forward. Yes, some of the twists were predictable, but there were many that I did not see coming at all and those ones were nice surprises.
The plot is very well thought out and complex. I love how there are all these things that you need to pay attention to while reading and those will have results further down the line. The writing is fluid and easy to understand. At the same time, the lush imagery makes it so much better.
The characters though, are the soul of this story. The development arc for each of the characters, even in the minor ones, is splendid. They grow so much through the course of the story. They make mistakes and they learn, they fall and then they get back up. I was absolutely in awe of how some of them grew. That being said, there were a lot of characters. At first, I was a little put off by that, but as the story progressed, we understood the significance of each of them. Also, the author has done a great job in distinguishing them all with such different personalities and traits. I like that.
The main lead, Lucia, did get on my nerves at times, but I had to remind myself that she was just 17 and if I would have been in her place, I would have been worse off. Definitely. But, overall, she is a great character and I found myself rooting for her something fierce. I, however, had a whole lot of qualms with the love interest. He does the typical fuckboi things that I absolutely, freaking loathed! Gosh, that irritated me so much. He is a decent character overall, but I just couldn’t get over how he treated Lucia at times.
Over all, this a very well written book and I really, really enjoyed the premise and the writing! The cliffhanger at the end definitely left me wanting a lot more! I need the next book in the series to come out ASAP so that I can read it because that climax was definitely something!
*Received a copy as a part of a blog tour. The thoughts are entirely my own and in no way biased.*
The Chosen Knights is a journey into the spectacular with two teens, Lucia and Zach, and their Uncle Davin. The story is an absolute page turner with something or the other happening all the time that will keep you hooked to the story and keep you guessing as to what will happen next. The book is very evenly paced and you’re never bored throughout the story, wishing for it to just to move forward. Yes, some of the twists were predictable, but there were many that I did not see coming at all and those ones were nice surprises.
The plot is very well thought out and complex. I love how there are all these things that you need to pay attention to while reading and those will have results further down the line. The writing is fluid and easy to understand. At the same time, the lush imagery makes it so much better.
The characters though, are the soul of this story. The development arc for each of the characters, even in the minor ones, is splendid. They grow so much through the course of the story. They make mistakes and they learn, they fall and then they get back up. I was absolutely in awe of how some of them grew. That being said, there were a lot of characters. At first, I was a little put off by that, but as the story progressed, we understood the significance of each of them. Also, the author has done a great job in distinguishing them all with such different personalities and traits. I like that.
The main lead, Lucia, did get on my nerves at times, but I had to remind myself that she was just 17 and if I would have been in her place, I would have been worse off. Definitely. But, overall, she is a great character and I found myself rooting for her something fierce. I, however, had a whole lot of qualms with the love interest. He does the typical fuckboi things that I absolutely, freaking loathed! Gosh, that irritated me so much. He is a decent character overall, but I just couldn’t get over how he treated Lucia at times.
Over all, this a very well written book and I really, really enjoyed the premise and the writing! The cliffhanger at the end definitely left me wanting a lot more! I need the next book in the series to come out ASAP so that I can read it because that climax was definitely something!
mariel's review
4.0
Super quick and entertaining read~!
I adored the characters and how Mary Ting combined the world of the supernatural and high school together. It was an adventure. There were moments when I felt annoyed at the main character, Lucia, but it would easily clear up when she explained how she felt. Overall, it was fun. :)
I adored the characters and how Mary Ting combined the world of the supernatural and high school together. It was an adventure. There were moments when I felt annoyed at the main character, Lucia, but it would easily clear up when she explained how she felt. Overall, it was fun. :)
meghull's review
4.0
4.5 I can't wait to read the next book. Although this book was short it was a nice setup to the series. I like these kinds of books and I think I will enjoy the series.
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