User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.I’m predicting that its title shall be...
WATCHER! 💁🏻♀️
Just kidding. It’s
CHOSEN.
*grabby hands*
Rating: really liked it
So, listen. My experience with book one wasn't awesome because the first 60% or so was frustrating af but I thought the ending was intense and interesting and as a result was looking forward to this sequel.
Except CHOSEN was a miserable reading experience without charm, sense, or any kind of joy.
I won't drag this review out as I imagine, as per usual, I'm going to be an outlier but honestly? Other than name dropping and references, this resembled nothing of the Buffyverse I loved and deviated far from any potential from book one. Everything about this read, the plot, and the characters, was a chore.
I think it's over, I believe this is a duology, not a series, and I'm not sad about it.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Rating: really liked it
Chosen by Kiersten White is the second book in the young adult paranormal fantasy Slayer series. This series is a spin off and takes place in the same world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer after Buffy’s time when a new Slayer is chosen as she begins to come into her powers. This second book has picked up after the end of the first so it’s best to read this fantasy series in order starting with Slayer.
In this series Nina and Artemis are twin sisters that have grown up in the Watcher’s Academy and couldn’t be more different from one another. Artemis has always been the strong and dominant twin training to become the best of the best of the Watchers while Nina has always been the bit of an outsider finally finding her place at the academy as a healer.
However, when a hell hound attacks Nina and her friends Nina quickly dispatches of the demonic beast to the amazement of those around her. Nina finally admits that she has felt different for the past few months and it becomes obvious that Nina has been chosen to become the next Slayer gaining all of the abilities that come with the job.
This series really can be read by anyone whether they were a long time fan with that same feel of the old or whether a new generation of fans who were never caught up in the original. There is just enough explanation of the world to allow new readers to be comfortable with the new characters and their story but also to set the stage of the classic for those that remember that feel too. And while I still feel Kiersten White has done a wonderful job balancing this new series with the iconic feel of the Buffyverse and inserting in her new characters and situations to continue the story this second installment seemed a little predictable to me as I noticed just the moment the story took a twist towards the end and guessed where it would go. Regardless though the series is still a fun read overall I’d just give this second book 3.5 stars in the end.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Rating: really liked it
4 out of 5 Stars
I LOVED THIS!!!
Even though I liked the first one better I still hella enjoyed this.
also I lowkey want more, because one can not simply have enough stories about Buffyverse. :)
Rating: really liked it
^^^ Literally me when I got my hands on this book.
let's just state facts:
- Buffy is my all time favorite show
-Kiersten White is one of my favorite authors
When Kiersten announced she was doing a Buffy series following a new slayer, yeah I was over the moon. Then I found out there would be more than one - just dead. I knew this material was in great hands because Kiersten is a true Buffy fan and understands this world. And I did love the first one and I loved this one. It was soooo close to 5 stars, but some things really bothered me and so it gets four.
Chosen picks up where Slayer ends off. Nina, now knowing coming to terms with the fact that she's a Slayer, has turned her home into a safe haven for demons and slayers alike. But she's still hurting over the loss of Leo and the abandonment of her sister. Because she's not quite aware of all her powers and how they affect her, Nina makes a lot of not so good decisions. She's blinded by love of her family and friends and really wants to see the good in all people. Sadly, her trust comes back to bite her multiple times.
I almost enjoyed this one more than the first. Maybe because the world was set up and we were able to just dive into the story. And OMG can we talk about alllll the Buffy references and cameos we get here???? I don't want to spoil anything but my Buffy loving heart was sooo happy. I just kept freaking out every time I turned the page. (view spoiler)
[ OZ!!!!!! (hide spoiler)] But I also loved the characters we met in the first book who were still here as well: Doug (bless his little Coldplay loving demon heart), Rhys and Cillian (my little perfect couple). So happy to have them back.
But I have to talk about one character that I did not like: Artemis. Nina's sister is horrible. She basically ran away from Nina because she's jealous of Nina's power. She pretty much wants her sister weak so she can be the strong one and take care of her. I get that it was a giant change for Artemis, but it was also for Nina and as her sister, Artemis never took time to think about Nina and how everything was affecting her. She was extremely selfish and it showed in this book. I'm sorry, I just really don't like her.
I also for some reason had this in my head that it was a trilogy so when everything was suddenly wrapped up and there was an Epilogue, I was really shocked. But that was all me. There's definitely room for more in this world, and if Kiersten ever decides to dive back in I will be there waiting...like a creeper.
Rating: really liked it
Review
3 surprisingly disappointed stars
WARNING: PERSONAL UNPOPULAR OPINION This book took me totally by surprise!
I adored Slayer but here I was lost. The characters are all confused and doubting all the time. I can usually appreciate characters asking universal questions and wanting to be better. But here I wanted them to ...I don't know. Evolve? Get over it? I can't pinpoint exactly why this did not work for me here. It ended up by confusing me and just wanting that something would be more simple!
On the one hand having people doubting and looking for some truth can be great as the characters can evolve but on the other hand, when you "overdo" the self-doubt and questioning it just makes the characters turn round and round, alongside the reader. Nina is still my favorite character and I loved that she tried to stay connected to her old healer self despite her slayer “aggressive” instincts. She wants to do what's right. She wants to invent a new world, a new cooperation between demons and slayers. She wants kind of a universal peace. And that was refreshing as she went against millenia of training and beliefs!
That must have been the highlight of that book. Fighting against the genetic makeup to rise above and be the person you want to be. Do the right thing even if it means reining your instinct. But you can only go so far with that trope. I hated Artemis and I loathed Honora. That's a huge disadvantage for that book as I am first and foremost a character driven reader! I know why Artemis made these choices but well, I thought they were poor choices and that the aim did not justify the means. She should have known better!
And yet, I am forgetting that she was young and that being young often means making mistakes. I know! Doesn't mean that I loved it. What worked against that book was that one character that I really loved and admired in the first book was a shadow of himself. I can’t say more as I don’t want to spoil your fun.
Let’s just say that even if I did understand why, even if there were valid reasons, it did not help in the enjoyment of the book.Add to it that Nina’s mom is trying ….mildly to be a mom, finally and I was so frustrated!
I think the big redeeming quality of that story was the humor and banter. That was something that I loved in Slayer and was delighted to find here. Oh and Doug! He was a great character here.
It really pains me to give a mild rating to this book as I am a big fan of Kiersten White and know that she knows how to read and that I will still read her future books with great enthusiasm. But…maybe I was not in the mood? Or just…it was not for me. Anyway many readers give it high rating so don’t let my negative review discourage you from reading it especially if you have read and loved Slayer!
Have you read this book?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
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Rating: really liked it
"There is no singular for cookies."
Oh my... it was certainly good to meet all these characters again. I don't want to spoil who, just know that there are a couple of characters from
Buffy The Vampire Slayer making an appearance, either being mentioned or interacting with Nina and her friends. Which are an adorable group.
The writing was amazing, it feels just like an episode of
Buffy. But I don't know why - it just didn't thrill me like the first one did. Especially the ending... Still brilliant, just not 100% for me, I guess.
Plus, I loved the Star Wars and Harry Potter references!
Rating: really liked it
This started off pretty slow and wasn't as exciting as the first book.
She did move the plot along and I got to spend more time with some of my favourite characters (Hello there Doug!).
I would probably say this is more of a 3.5 star, but rounded it up since 3 stars seems harsh.
Still good, just not as good as the first book.
Thanks goes out to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my ARC.
Rating: really liked it
I love this world so much.
Rating: really liked it
I was so excited to get a copy of Chosen to read s I loved Slayer so much. I was slightly disappointed though because for me Chosen was a little flat and slow. In saying that I still enjoyed being back in the Buffy Universe but this one just didn’t flow as well as Slayer.
I loved that there were more references to the characters that we all love.... Buffy and Faith appear in Nina’s dreams and there are references to Spike and Giles ❤️ Nina is still learning to be the Slayer. She isn’t struggling with her Slayer instincts that are taking over. The desire to hurt and fight. It is not the way she is used to feeling. She wants to do the right thing and protect those that she loves but she is not sure what to do. She is still also grieving after the almost apocalypse in the first book. But the life of the Slayer never slows down and she has to learn to adjust.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Rating: really liked it
This is the sequel to the book
Slayer and that book should be read before this one. This book is part of the Buffyverse and takes place right after the events of the first book. In this one, Nina is grieving from her loss in the first book. Meanwhile, the Watchers have decided to make their home a place where demons can live and be safe.
To me, this was a repeat experience of the first book. A lot of my problems resurfaced with this offering and the ending wasn't a strong as the first book's ending that ended up saving it. With these two books the first two acts are not compelling enough for me. The only compelling aspects are the connections to Buffy whether they are appearances by actual characters or subtle nods. I love these easter eggs but I need more story than just nods to the television show. My biggest gripe is the main character. In this one the author portrays her despondency over and over. I get it. She is reeling from her loss. Even the minor characters don't do much for me as I am more interested in the appearances of the Buffy characters. I will admit that the final act is exciting and well written. But the lead up to get there just wasn't enough for me.
I am glad I get to spend more time in the Buffyverse and I appreciate these books for allowing me to do that. In my opinion they are just not up to the high standards for the show. I like these books but they do not totaly capture me.
Rating: really liked it
This book includes a “Roehrig demon,” officially making my name part of Buffyverse canon. I CAN DIE HAPPY BEST BOOK EVER
Rating: really liked it
Before starting on
Chosen, I reread
Slayer, and I once again enjoyed the hell (pun intended) out of it. Unfortunately, even going in with that energy,
Chosen was a bit of a disappointment.
The writing is still engaging, and the cast still has so much potential to become really special to me. There's a definite Buffy vibe still, though now it's one of those episodes that I probably didn't like that much. It's heavy on the angst and low on actual development. I was always more into either the highly silly episodes or the incredibly dark and dangerous ones, with much less interest in the ones between those extremes.
The main problem with
Chosen is that Athena, the main character, really doesn't have much of a character arc. She's pretty much unchanged when the book finishes. Oh, there's an attempt, but it's not exactly a surprise that she has to learn to work with the darkness of being a Slayer or that she loves her sister above all else. Yawn.
The plot arc of the book is actually Artemis', but it's not particularly effective for two main reasons.
1) Artemis' POV is included in brief snippets a few times throughout the novel, but they're in third person. The third person makes her feel less important and more distant. The brevity makes her feel less important. Every time I got to one of her chapters, I wanted to put the book down.
2) Artemis' angsty whining about how she's not chosen isn't relatable. Like, hi, the reader ALSO is not chosen. And we're probably not badasses like Artemis is. Plus, she has zero awareness of the fact that now she feels like Nina did for the rest of their lives. "Wah, I'm only a normal badass!" My heart bleeds for her.
Perhaps if Artemis had had a full POV, in first person, her character arc could have worked. There's a way to tell that story and make the reader really feel her pain, but omg this was not the way. I didn't like Artemis much in the first book, and I like her less now. I feel like she's been kept distant so that the plot could be a mystery, but it really didn't feel like an exciting mystery to me anyway? Like, it was fine but nothing revolutionary.
On top of Artemis' angst fueling the plot, Athena's still upset over Leo, especially once (view spoiler)
[she finds him alive and determined to die rather than eat evil demons (hide spoiler)]. Leo's "let me sacrifice myself for the good of the one I love" energy is so tired. I'm just really not into that. Cillian's plot line is the one that resonated the best for me, but, again, he's kept very much to the side. The three slayers who join them at Sanctuary serve no plot purpose whatsoever, and also aren't developed as characters, so...why are they there?
As much as this volume was a second book syndrome kinda disappointment, I will read the next book if there is one. The end made it seem like there would be another, but I'm not sure.
Rating: really liked it
This book was exactly what I needed after my last read. It was funny, full of action and surprises, a little bit of romance, and Buffy, and slayers, and demons! I completely devoured and loved it!
Warning, though: you need to have read book 1 to understand this one, because Nina refers often to events happening in the previous book. But if you haven't watched all the Buffy episodes, you'll be fine!
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: really liked it
Why must good things come to an end?!
Slayer and Chosen brought back the spirit of a good Buffy story, better quite honestly that some of the stories in the original series (nobody needed ADAM in the fourth season). It has a great group of friends who are there for each other and also have their own thing going on, the forbidden romance that is signature Buffy, the inner conflict of the Slayer, and the battle of the prejudice from groups of people that are just misinformed or don’t want to face facts (the eternal battle). Not to mention we get some face time with original Buffy characters we have missed! I mean sure, no Spike, but I am able to get over that.
Nina and Faith have a lot in common—they are both struggling with an inner darkness nobody else is able to relate to, while doing it on their own because they have no watcher. In Nina’s case she also has an absentee mother, a sister who ran away with her girlfriend, and a dead boyfriend. She definitely has a lot to deal with, then add on top of that old enemies resurfacing, betrayals from close friends, and a need to KICK SOME DEMON ASS that surfaces when she least needs it/expects it, and you get a hell of a ride! I love how Nina has evolved from the watcher medic who couldn’t understand Buffy’s choices and blamed her for everything to a sympathetic individual who now understands not everything is black and white, and Buffy is just doing the best she bloody can. Also, Chosen really goes to show how much Slayers need their watchers, at least in the beginning. Because without someone to talk to and train and hone her skills, Nina is going a little crazy. Which, isn’t that part of the reason why Faith went dark? Her watcher was killed, and she was on her own for the longest time; looking for acceptance and comfort from the wrong things/people. I love the parallels with Faith’s story so sue me.
Side note: Can I just say how much me and Artemis do not vibe? I find her character interesting, and I like how in true Buffy fashion she is looking for the magical supernatural to fix her problems, while simultaneously allowing her to come to terms with her issues in a grand/supernatural way. This is very Buffy. You know who I vibed with though? Artemis’ girlfriend! I really felt for her. She was just trying to be a good girlfriend, and I feel like Artemis’ was really using her. Artemis was channeling dark and misguided Willow in this one.
Also, can I just say, I am really appreciative that this duology (still hurt to think of it as a duology) takes into account the timeline in the comics. Buffy does not end after season 7 peeps, it continued on, for years, via comic books. Buffy is 12 seasons all in all, some good, some REALLY GOOD, and some bad. In the comics Harmony is a big deal, which is kind of neat how she is mentioned in the story here. Some other awesome Buffy peeps make an appearance as well (view spoiler)
[ I am conflicted on the OZ appearance. I feel like OZ is a character better portrayed via the screen because he is so quiet/confident in himself, and honestly Seth Green did a marvelous job, so Oz on paper seems more bland without the body language to back him up (hide spoiler)]All in all, I really wish this wasn’t the last one! I wish we had more stories, kind of like in Morganville Vampires where the stories just kept coming and the world kept evolving. I would have SO loved that, but if this is all we get for now so be it. It was a very fun, enjoyable, hell of a ride!
