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A review by tazisbooked
Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth
5.0
Realistically probably a 4/4.5 star rating but bumped to five because I really, REALLY enjoyed it. Full review to come at not half past midnight.
UPDATED REVIEW:
First, thank you to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the ARC!
I do apologize for this review getting out so late. After the quarantine happened, my reading habits turned on its head and I didn't pick this up for ages because I wasn't in a very sci fi/fantasy mood. I didn't want to DNF so I waited it out until I was ready and boy, am I glad that I did.
Obviously being a millennial, you have lived thru the dystopian YA craze and know Divergent as a result - which was how I knew Veronica Roth. So when I heard she was coming out with a new adult book, I was instantly curious.
So a couple things first:
1) I stayed up past midnight (I'm a working young professional!! That is past bedtime for me) to finish this
2) I will be going to my local bookstore to purchase a hardcover copy this week
Veronica Roth wrote a tale that was like catnip to me. Chosen One trope? Check. Alternate Earth? Check. Multiverse? Check. Unstable magic? Check. An evil, maniacal crackpot? Check. Sarcastic armies of undead? CHECK. (Ziva is the best character, you cannot change my mind)
I know not everyone loves the Chosen One trope (yes, arguably it's overdone, but I always say tropes are tropes for a reason), but our heroine, Sloane, is such an unwilling participant in the events that play out that it was super refreshing. She is flawed. She knows she is flawed. She's got depth to her character and that's fantastic, but I did feel like the effort poured into her meant that some other characters were neglected in their development (Esther didn't feel like she was a necessary part to the plot development).
The book is slow at first - of course it is. When you're building an alternate earth and an ALTERNATE to that alternate, there's a level of world-building and magic systems that need to be established before turning to the conflict. I think Veronica Roth did a great job with introducing characters and the world in the first part of the book.
It was around the 65% mark that I was unable to tear myself away from the book. From a slow build, the story shifts to a breakneck pace and, at midnight, I definitely felt a little disoriented but like in the best way possible.
I know this book is meant to be the first in a series but I was wholly satisfied with the conclusion. It was wrapped up nicely but, in my opinion, the best stories leave room for the imagination to fill in the gaps and map out the future. I'll look forward to the next installment eagerly but don't think it's entirely necessary.
If you love traditional sci fi/fantasy tropes, I definitely recommend this. If you don't, I still recommend it - I think the MC's attitude towards her own role as a Chosen One is refreshing enough to enjoy this trope in a new way.
#NetGalley #ChosenOnes
UPDATED REVIEW:
First, thank you to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the ARC!
I do apologize for this review getting out so late. After the quarantine happened, my reading habits turned on its head and I didn't pick this up for ages because I wasn't in a very sci fi/fantasy mood. I didn't want to DNF so I waited it out until I was ready and boy, am I glad that I did.
Obviously being a millennial, you have lived thru the dystopian YA craze and know Divergent as a result - which was how I knew Veronica Roth. So when I heard she was coming out with a new adult book, I was instantly curious.
So a couple things first:
1) I stayed up past midnight (I'm a working young professional!! That is past bedtime for me) to finish this
2) I will be going to my local bookstore to purchase a hardcover copy this week
Veronica Roth wrote a tale that was like catnip to me. Chosen One trope? Check. Alternate Earth? Check. Multiverse? Check. Unstable magic? Check. An evil, maniacal crackpot? Check. Sarcastic armies of undead? CHECK. (Ziva is the best character, you cannot change my mind)
I know not everyone loves the Chosen One trope (yes, arguably it's overdone, but I always say tropes are tropes for a reason), but our heroine, Sloane, is such an unwilling participant in the events that play out that it was super refreshing. She is flawed. She knows she is flawed. She's got depth to her character and that's fantastic, but I did feel like the effort poured into her meant that some other characters were neglected in their development (Esther didn't feel like she was a necessary part to the plot development).
The book is slow at first - of course it is. When you're building an alternate earth and an ALTERNATE to that alternate, there's a level of world-building and magic systems that need to be established before turning to the conflict. I think Veronica Roth did a great job with introducing characters and the world in the first part of the book.
It was around the 65% mark that I was unable to tear myself away from the book. From a slow build, the story shifts to a breakneck pace and, at midnight, I definitely felt a little disoriented but like in the best way possible.
I know this book is meant to be the first in a series but I was wholly satisfied with the conclusion. It was wrapped up nicely but, in my opinion, the best stories leave room for the imagination to fill in the gaps and map out the future. I'll look forward to the next installment eagerly but don't think it's entirely necessary.
If you love traditional sci fi/fantasy tropes, I definitely recommend this. If you don't, I still recommend it - I think the MC's attitude towards her own role as a Chosen One is refreshing enough to enjoy this trope in a new way.
#NetGalley #ChosenOnes