Chosen Ones
Veronica Roth’s first adult fantasy, Chosen Ones, follows five twenty-something heroes famous for saving the world when they were teenagers as they face even greater demons – and reconsider what it means to be a hero – by destiny or by choice.
A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One. Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther had been brought together by a government agency because one of them was fated to be the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward. But unlike everyone else, Sloane 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.
The concept of a “Chosen One” in this story really intrigued me. I’ve read countless stories centered around a chosen one, but never one that focuses on what happens after the person completes their mission and saves the world. Roth’s story showed the struggles these Chosen Ones faced, especially Sloane. Roth did a great job depicting Sloane’s PTSD and how it impacted her daily life. Although Sloane wasn’t necessarily a “likeable” character, I still rooted for her throughout the entire book. I wanted her to find a way to move forward, without forgetting her past, as it’s so intertwined with who she is.
I like how Roth compared Sloane’s relationship with Matt to the one with Mox. As the golden child of the Chosen One group, Matt was constantly in the limelight, and he didn’t hate it like Sloane did. He used his saviour platform to try to help the less fortunate, which wasn’t a bad thing, but you could see Sloane didn’t view her status as a hero the same way Matt did. And although it’s clear they loved each other, their shared history was the main reason they stayed together so long. It became obvious during his proposal to Sloane that Matt didn’t really know her anymore.
But with Mox, she was able to be completely herself with him. He was dealing with his own difficult past, and they were able to help each other get through the tough moments. I think the understanding between them went deeper than it did between Matt and Sloane. Mox and Sloane knew they may never completely heal from what was done to them, but they loved each other regardless.
Chosen Ones is an intense, inspiring story about what it means to be a hero – whether you want to be one or not.
Chosen Ones Rating: ★★★★★
A decade ago near Chicago, five teenagers defeated the otherworldly enemy known as the Dark One. Sloane, Matt, Ines, Albie, and Esther had been brought together by a government agency because one of them was fated to be the “Chosen One,” prophesized to save the world. Ten years later, though the champions remain celebrities, the world has moved forward. But unlike everyone else, Sloane 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.
The concept of a “Chosen One” in this story really intrigued me. I’ve read countless stories centered around a chosen one, but never one that focuses on what happens after the person completes their mission and saves the world. Roth’s story showed the struggles these Chosen Ones faced, especially Sloane. Roth did a great job depicting Sloane’s PTSD and how it impacted her daily life. Although Sloane wasn’t necessarily a “likeable” character, I still rooted for her throughout the entire book. I wanted her to find a way to move forward, without forgetting her past, as it’s so intertwined with who she is.
I like how Roth compared Sloane’s relationship with Matt to the one with Mox. As the golden child of the Chosen One group, Matt was constantly in the limelight, and he didn’t hate it like Sloane did. He used his saviour platform to try to help the less fortunate, which wasn’t a bad thing, but you could see Sloane didn’t view her status as a hero the same way Matt did. And although it’s clear they loved each other, their shared history was the main reason they stayed together so long. It became obvious during his proposal to Sloane that Matt didn’t really know her anymore.
But with Mox, she was able to be completely herself with him. He was dealing with his own difficult past, and they were able to help each other get through the tough moments. I think the understanding between them went deeper than it did between Matt and Sloane. Mox and Sloane knew they may never completely heal from what was done to them, but they loved each other regardless.
Chosen Ones is an intense, inspiring story about what it means to be a hero – whether you want to be one or not.
Chosen Ones Rating: ★★★★★