When I heard about Chosen Ones my first thought was what a cool concept. Never before had I read about the life of the 'heroes' post life defining moment, especially not ten years later. I had no idea how exactly this new idea would work, how we could see this new perspective and timeline without previously knowing the characters. Despite this Roth beautifully introduced them in a way that felt like i had experienced first hand the events ten years ago, whilst not leaving the reader too much in the past.
On top of this Roth created a morally grey main character that I couldn't help but connect to. I loved the fact that she wasn't just a selfless hero who would do whatever she could to save the world. Instead she frequently questioned her role and abilities and why she should save the world once again.
Chosen Ones also didn't just brush aside the trauma that the characters experienced, making them feel three dimensional and realistic.
It has been a long while since I read anything by Veronica Roth, but I could not be more glad that I returned to her writing with this book. Vastly different from the days of Divergent, Chosen Ones really puts into perspective life past the main events we usually read and because of this I would definitely recommend it to others.

Whoa. This book. I was completely into this book from the second chapter. I didn't expect much, after Divergent I didn't think there would be another heart-pounding book quite like that. Boy, was I wrong. The characters were so relatable, I felt like they could have been in the room with me. The storyline kept me on the edge of my seat. What I loved most, is that the ending isn't quite what I had expected. And I loved that!

I don't love fantasy/scifi books generally, but this looked really interesting. Unfortunately, I found it pretty slow and boring. Maybe I'm biased as I'm not a fan of the genre generally but it wasn't very cohesive and the humor felt very corny.

If you are a fan of Roth’s from Divergent you might be a bit surprised at this style. It’s a superhero, villain, multiverse with magic sort of story. It’s told in three parts by Sloane, named after the Ferris Bueller character. The first is where we meet the five chosen ones and learn about their background and how they defeated the Dark One. Part Two, some of them are pulled into another dimension where magic is prevalent but the internet and cell phones are not used. There is a reason they are in Genetrix and it’s very important. Part Three is the grand finale and shows us who really is the Dark One and the natural Chosen One. It’s a different story from Divergent with teens and a dystopian world. It’s mature and challenging all at once. I was pleasantly captivated and intrigued by the characters and how everything would end. It shows there is a second book coming but it ends in a place that leaves a HEA. I received an early copy from Netgalley.

I don’t think I would have always understood these characters or the darker aspects of this story. But I really do right now. This was such a good fit for how I’m feeling right now and it captivated me right away. I felt connected to the characters and the twists were always one step ahead of me. I’m always in awe of the worlds Roth creates and this is no exception. This is her most complex story and, in my opinion, the best of her books.

This book was mind blowing to say the least. I don’t think I would have ever been able to come up with such a original and complex plot if I had tried and I am very impressed with how all the twists and plot points were all woven so seamlessly together into such an epic story. This author is a freaking genius with her imaginative and passionate writing!

The take on the main character was very authentic when compared to the norm. Sloane was almost the opposite of what you’d expect the lead of this kind of plot would be, because instead of this charming, brave or outgoing girl one would expect, she was reserved, cold and very tired of the world (if that’s what you can call it). Her negativity almost became too much at some points, being a bit of a Debbie Downer when it felt unnecessary. Considering what she had been through though, her tragic loss of a dear friend, the world not leaving her alone like she wanted and her relationship with Matt going south her negativity fit the feel of the story well for the most part. It also built up beautifully to when the world and the past as she knew it completely changed under her feet.

Although I wasn’t a fan of the too lengthy descriptions of Genetrix I was still awed by the detail and impact said world had. Sloane developed beautifully in it from that tired person to a determined and brave one. Adding then the magic aspect and then the best of all, Mox and I was sold. Which leads me to the next point; the romance. Even that had a very unique take in the sense that the book started with a deteriorating one, which in the beginning I wasn’t that happy about. I love romance so Matt and Sloane’s relationship crippling was a sour point for me. However, the further I got into the story the better it became with the added drama, arguments and then meeting Mox and a new relationship taking of from there. I loved Mox and Sloane together, their personalities working better together than her and Matt ever did and the story did a great job of showing that. All in all, it started with me bugged and ended with me over the moon.

The same could be said of the plot. It for sure had a very original take which I appreciated, but I could be a bit slow in the beginning and to be honest I felt like I was missing something. The way it was written felt like there was a previous book I was missing since it started after the chosen ones already had saved the world. I guess the the articles or rapports at the end of every chapter was there to help me understand it better, but I wasn’t that big of a fan of those snippets since I in general don’t like to read articles like that. After having finished the book though, I can say that this choice of writing style actually was cleared up later on and brought another aspect of originality to it. So although I personally had some problems with it I can still appreciate the fresh breath of air it brought.

I am not sure what the next book in this series will be about considering most was solved and concluded in this one. I am however very curious to find out. After all, there were still some questions left unanswered, like why Ines wasn’t included, what really happened to Albert and after what Sloane did, how will it affect the new world and herself.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An interesting story with a twists and turns to the storyline.

I felt like more information of some of the supporting characters would have been but I felt that the main character was well defined and had clear motivation.

Definitely left the story open to a follow up book.

The book was really slow to capture my interest. I haven’t read the Divergent series so this was my first Roth book and man did it disappoint! For most part I felt disconnected with the story

A delayed review. I liked this book. A lot. It speaks to a more mature audience than Roth's Divergent series and focuses on navigating the world as an adult. I loved the idea of exploring what happens to these heroes after they save the world. Also, kudos for writing a female lead who isn’t likable, and does things that fall outside of the stereotypical hero mold.

Publisher’s Blurb:

Fifteen years ago, five ordinary teenagers were singled out by a prophecy to take down an impossibly powerful entity wreaking havoc across North America. He was known as the Dark One, and his weapon of choice—catastrophic events known as Drains—leveled cities and claimed thousands of lives. Chosen Ones, as the teens were known, gave everything they had to defeat him.

After the Dark One fell, the world went back to normal . . . for everyone but them. After all, what do you do when you’re the most famous people on Earth, your only education was in magical destruction, and your purpose in life is now fulfilled?

Of the five, Sloane has had the hardest time adjusting. Everyone else blames the PTSD—and her huge attitude problem—but really, she’s hiding secrets from them . . . secrets that keep her tied to the past and alienate her from the only four people in the world who understand her.

On the tenth anniversary of the Dark One’s defeat, something unthinkable happens: one of the Chosen Ones dies. When the others gather for the funeral, they discover the Dark One’s ultimate goal was much bigger than they, the government, or even prophecy could have foretold—bigger than the world itself.

And this time, fighting back might take more than Sloane has to give.

After following Roth through her Divergent series, I requested Chosen Ones because it’s her first foray into adult books. Here’s a list of impressions…

One thing is the amount of swearing (get over it)… I glanced at some reviews and y’know, GoodReads…
I’ve read/ watched a number of books/ flicks that deal with Superheroes outside of the battlefield. To humanize the heroes. To create a place for them to deal with their emotions. The PTSD. The regrets. The pain you can’t see. The twist to this one is that it jumps so far forward (10 yrs) and these supers are relatively young, not a mid-life crisis like Mr. Incredible.
I found the beginning of the book to be a slow burn… Roth sets up the premise and lets the reader see the characters reveal themselves and their comedown from glory. Questions: What happens after you win the big game? Will you be ready for the next one or will you lose that edge?
The length was a hinderance for me. At just under 450 pages, there were a couple side plots that could have been taken out to make the plot more streamlined and help focus on the key themes.
I can tell you without reservations that I enjoyed this villain. The last quarter of the book is quite the roller coaster of action, emotions, and reveals.
Pick this one up for a different look at the Chosen One trope… While it can be uneven, the core plot, characters, and themes are worth a read.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, John Joseph Adams/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

I'm not sure what it is with this book, but I experienced some contradicting feelings towards it while reading haha.
It's catching enough, interesting enough but at the same time I felt like it was still lacking a bit.

What stood out to me was the premise of it all, the settings and the concept of the story. But at the same time I felt like the plot and its development didn't really come to fruitition well enough.

I did really like that it was more NA/adult written instead of Ya and feel like that really suited the story. The characters were fun to get aquainted with and I loved how well developed their characters were written and how their characters developed over time.

Overall I'd say this was a fun first book in an intruiging new series and even though it wasn't as Strong as I hoped it'd be beforehand, the premise of it all was really good and I'm definitely curious and excited enough to continue the series when the next book arrives.

Veronica Roth's first novel written for adults - 'The Chosen Ones' explores the common fantasy trope of 'the chosen one' and what happens after they defeat 'the dark lord' and save mankind. It's a very interesting idea and it's well written, although there isn't much separating it from a YA series in my opinion - only one or two references to sex that could've easily not been there. Other than that the plot could easily be YA, the characters were a little one-dimensional, and also given the nature of the story they haven't really developed much since their teenage years. The beginning of the story is very engaging but the middle section was a bit boring so I skimmed over it because I was interested to see where it was going.

To summarise I'd say that it would be a great YA, but is as an adult fantasy is under-developed.

~ Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title ~

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: The beginning of a tale dealing with fate, discovering the power in oneself, and the realization that the fight is not over.


CHOSEN ONES gives us the building blocks for what has the potential to be a very dynamic series filled with diversely engaging characters. Roth shines as she introduces her readers to five teenagers who were chosen to defeat The Dark One. As a reader, I loved Sloane and the dynamics of the entire group. This is what made me keep reading as the author meticulously unraveled the story while expanding on the history of what it means to be chosen.


In truth, this book was good, though I hoped it would be better. All the components were there, but I could often tell the author was setting things up for books to come. There was careful attention to building the environment and characters within these pages. Something, I have no doubt, will make the next book in the series all the better.


At the end of the day, Roth pulled me in slowly to the world of the chosen ones, and I do want to find out what happens next.

Chosen Ones was an intriguing exploration of what happens after the hero defeats the evil. Is it a happily ever after? Does the hero know how to be normal? What is next? I found the premise of this book to be fascinating, and I will say that it did not disappoint. There were definitely some twists. I enjoyed that this book did not end up where I thought it was going to go starting out. I loved Sloane's character. Some of the other characters were a little flat, but I was mostly invested in Sloane, so it didn't really bother me. I can't wait to see what happens next! There is definitely a lot of room to explore this more!

Sadly, this book is hard to get into. It's rather slow and the plot's forgettable and, quite frankly, boring.

For me this was a 3.5 stars read.. I love The Divergent trilogy and liked Carve The Mark.but I feel this one is my least favourite book of the author. I did not care much about the characters and the plot felt messy sometimes. I was expecting something a bit different to be honest.

I found myself wanting to really like this book but I never quite got there. The characters overall were flatter than I had hoped they would be; I'm counting on the rest of the series to change this, though, and will certainly read at least the next volume before making a final decision. A promising beginning!

I initially was excited to receive this eARC, but it took me multiple attempts to finish the book. I eventually had to borrow it from the library because my eARC expired. It was an enjoyable premise but I didn’t grow attached enough to the characters to become as engaged in the book as I initially expected. Maybe my expectations were too high or it wasn’t the right book for that time.

I am honestly disappointed in this one. I loved the Divergent series back when I was in high school. Maybe my lack of interest is based on the fact that it is not meant for my age group. Nevertheless, I found the book quite boring on the first quarter. Then it got good and then slow, and then good all over again. It was perhaps a bit long for the plot that was created. I felt like I was watching an animated film where the bad guy turns out to be good and was just misunderstood, blah.
I did enjoy the world building and the connection between characters. This is why I am giving it 3 stars.

Chosen ones were found when the world became threatened and together they saved humanity. Ten years later they found out the fight wasn't over.

The story of the chosen ones starts ten years after the dark one demise. The story goes back and forth from the war with the dark one and the present. This is where things get a little odd. The way past events were brought up before you see the flash back made the story harder to follow and enjoy without being pulled from the story.

The first half has a lot of these flashbacks and past events rehashed. However, the second half picks up a bit better and the story becomes a lot more interesting. It almost feels like two stories in one the way the events split. The first half feels more fantasy and the second half more sci-fi. Its definitely a different novel than expected.

I wouldn't say I love it but I don't hate it. I'm kind of neutral about this one.

I received a copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.