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Daughters of the Sea #3
Chosen
The essence of who we are lies not in what we have, but in what we are willing to give up. Because in the end, Time and Tide wait for no one.
After sacrificing all that she had, the evil princess of the Underworld is still successful in her bid to tear Finn from Stasia’s life. In the midst of her search to reclaim him, Stasia is summoned to the island nation of Cyprus to take part in an age-old ritual; unveiling the missing pieces of her ancestry and re-igniting an ancient war. As she struggles to both save Finn’s soul and free Carmen’s mind, Stasia’s bravery and determination will be pushed to its breaking point. A dark storm is forming on the horizon, and the forces who are vying to destroy her may be much closer than she thinks. Destiny weaves a sticky web of evil, betrayal, and revenge that can only be undone by the purity of love and the soul’s unyielding will to survive. In the last installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, the past will collide with the present as Stasia’s future hangs in the balance. The prophecy that paved the way for her new life may indeed be the very thing that strips her of the ones she loves the most.
After sacrificing all that she had, the evil princess of the Underworld is still successful in her bid to tear Finn from Stasia’s life. In the midst of her search to reclaim him, Stasia is summoned to the island nation of Cyprus to take part in an age-old ritual; unveiling the missing pieces of her ancestry and re-igniting an ancient war. As she struggles to both save Finn’s soul and free Carmen’s mind, Stasia’s bravery and determination will be pushed to its breaking point. A dark storm is forming on the horizon, and the forces who are vying to destroy her may be much closer than she thinks. Destiny weaves a sticky web of evil, betrayal, and revenge that can only be undone by the purity of love and the soul’s unyielding will to survive. In the last installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, the past will collide with the present as Stasia’s future hangs in the balance. The prophecy that paved the way for her new life may indeed be the very thing that strips her of the ones she loves the most.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2013
34 people are currently reading
723 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Day
13 books357 followersI am a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. I love all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. I've been told I see the world through rose-colored glasses, but I prefer to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses - swirling and morphing reality into something I can digest (who hasn't pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?).
I am the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA series, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN, CHOSEN, HEARKEN, PROVEN (2014).I love all books, but really enjoy writing young adult, paranormal romances. I've loved to write for as long as I can remember. My first published work was my poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, I know) that won me 5 gold stars and a spot in my elementary school's poetry book. That's when my addiction to the written word officially began. I was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh - its okay.
When I'm not writing I'm making jewelry, painting, drinking sweet tea, watching the discovery channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with my amazing husband.
I am the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA series, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN, CHOSEN, HEARKEN, PROVEN (2014).I love all books, but really enjoy writing young adult, paranormal romances. I've loved to write for as long as I can remember. My first published work was my poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, I know) that won me 5 gold stars and a spot in my elementary school's poetry book. That's when my addiction to the written word officially began. I was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh - its okay.
When I'm not writing I'm making jewelry, painting, drinking sweet tea, watching the discovery channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with my amazing husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
February 19, 2013
Amazing finish to a most superb trilogy. Kristen Day has found herself a fan for life!
I laughed, I cried, I bit my nails, I ignored my chores...and I don't regret a single minute!!
Finn and Stasia Forever. Literally. :)
I laughed, I cried, I bit my nails, I ignored my chores...and I don't regret a single minute!!
Finn and Stasia Forever. Literally. :)
June 26, 2017
I love this series! Chosen was a great, beautiful conclusion! I just love when I take a chance on a book and it quickly becomes a favorite I am so glad I found.
My favorite part of this story is the romance. I love Finn and Stasia. The romance is not overdone and is just wonderful. Finn is one of my forever book boyfriends. Here is one of my favorite lines from him:
"Essence becomes useless without love. Love turns the strongest of men into warriors. When a man has someone to fight for, he's capable of moving mountains."
See why I see swoon for him? Oh, the love. I love reading different proposals in books, and this one has one of the best one's I have read. So romantic and beautiful, it will have you swooning before you are sucked into the heart racing conclusion.
This book is not all romance. Actually it seems to be just a small part. This is the story of Stasia discovering all her powers and essences and training to become a great Tri-Goddess. She knows she will have to defeat Nadia and Keto before she can get there. All of her friends are there to help her, and a few new faces. And all of the questions from the first two books are all answered. I love how Stasia can kick butt, but is also scared and afraid to be in front of people. She becomes a great leader worthy of her Goddess status.
I highly recommend this series to everyone! Great series that dips into mythology, and takes you on a journey full of action!
My favorite part of this story is the romance. I love Finn and Stasia. The romance is not overdone and is just wonderful. Finn is one of my forever book boyfriends. Here is one of my favorite lines from him:
"Essence becomes useless without love. Love turns the strongest of men into warriors. When a man has someone to fight for, he's capable of moving mountains."
See why I see swoon for him? Oh, the love. I love reading different proposals in books, and this one has one of the best one's I have read. So romantic and beautiful, it will have you swooning before you are sucked into the heart racing conclusion.
This book is not all romance. Actually it seems to be just a small part. This is the story of Stasia discovering all her powers and essences and training to become a great Tri-Goddess. She knows she will have to defeat Nadia and Keto before she can get there. All of her friends are there to help her, and a few new faces. And all of the questions from the first two books are all answered. I love how Stasia can kick butt, but is also scared and afraid to be in front of people. She becomes a great leader worthy of her Goddess status.
I highly recommend this series to everyone! Great series that dips into mythology, and takes you on a journey full of action!
February 3, 2013
AHH!! What a great ending to a wonderful trilogy!! I was soo excited to read this after the major cliffhanger in the second book, and I was not disappointed!! I'm no great review writer, but let me just say that once again, Kristen Day has literally made me feel like I was watching this story unfold! I love how the characters (Stasia, Finn, and the "gang") have grown into the new roles they must take on in their life. And the excitement, wow!! I was honestly cheering Stasia on all through this book. The ending was perfect in my opinion, and I love the epilogue at the end..it wraps up everything I would have wondered about when all is said and done.
Thank you Kristen Day for this wonderful trilogy! It has been a pleasure to live in your world and stay for a while. I'm looking forward to what you have in store for us in the future :)
Thank you Kristen Day for this wonderful trilogy! It has been a pleasure to live in your world and stay for a while. I'm looking forward to what you have in store for us in the future :)
February 8, 2013
One of the perks of having a blog? Is that I have this chance of receiving ARC! And I so love it!!! So, I want to thank Ms. Kristen Day and Michelle Miller of Lovers of Paranormal for this copy. This really made my day! :)
It's been four months now since I read the second book, and though the second book got me sleepless on the first few days after I've read it, my memory can't keep up that long. So it took me awhile to figure out what's going on on the first part of this book. And what triggers in making me remember everything? Just one name -- NADIA. Though I hate to admit it, the moment I read her name, it all came back to me. How I hate her and how I hate her!!! That name put everything back to perspective. How she took Finn away from Stasia after making Stasia's life literally a hell! oh my! I remember how much I wanted to kill her myself.
With all the emotions that brought upon by such a name, I won't blame the third book if at first, it made me feel bored. It started so calm and without urgency which is opposite of what I feel. There are parts that I feel like everything came out so easy and its lacking of action and blood. All I wanted is to get down to business. Fight and Kill Nadia...haha...
But midpart, it seems like Ms. Day heard my plea and started what I really need at that moment. True to her words, the third book has shown what Stasia's power really is. Her potential and how strong she really is. Though there are still moments of vulnerability, specially when she's in her reverie with Nadia, her power is undeniable. And Finn? Finn took a back seat in this story, maybe because for Stasia to get the spotlight finally. But even if Finn has less scenes that shows his power, it's obviously implied how strong he has become. But it doesn't mean there will be less of Stasia and Finn together in this book. That I assure you! *wink wink
To sum it up, I'm so satisfied with this book. No, let me correct myself-- I'm so happy with this book. Almost all the questions I had were explained to me, a very consistent story, the past-present-future was so harmoniously told, and a very good ending! It made the reader satisfied, but would make the reader ask for more! One thing is for sure, I'm going Stasia and Finn!
It's been four months now since I read the second book, and though the second book got me sleepless on the first few days after I've read it, my memory can't keep up that long. So it took me awhile to figure out what's going on on the first part of this book. And what triggers in making me remember everything? Just one name -- NADIA. Though I hate to admit it, the moment I read her name, it all came back to me. How I hate her and how I hate her!!! That name put everything back to perspective. How she took Finn away from Stasia after making Stasia's life literally a hell! oh my! I remember how much I wanted to kill her myself.
With all the emotions that brought upon by such a name, I won't blame the third book if at first, it made me feel bored. It started so calm and without urgency which is opposite of what I feel. There are parts that I feel like everything came out so easy and its lacking of action and blood. All I wanted is to get down to business. Fight and Kill Nadia...haha...
But midpart, it seems like Ms. Day heard my plea and started what I really need at that moment. True to her words, the third book has shown what Stasia's power really is. Her potential and how strong she really is. Though there are still moments of vulnerability, specially when she's in her reverie with Nadia, her power is undeniable. And Finn? Finn took a back seat in this story, maybe because for Stasia to get the spotlight finally. But even if Finn has less scenes that shows his power, it's obviously implied how strong he has become. But it doesn't mean there will be less of Stasia and Finn together in this book. That I assure you! *wink wink
To sum it up, I'm so satisfied with this book. No, let me correct myself-- I'm so happy with this book. Almost all the questions I had were explained to me, a very consistent story, the past-present-future was so harmoniously told, and a very good ending! It made the reader satisfied, but would make the reader ask for more! One thing is for sure, I'm going Stasia and Finn!
December 21, 2013
~*I received a copy of this book from the Lovers of Paranormal Goodreads group in exchange for an honest review.*~
Chosen continues the story of Anastasia, a young Tyde destined to become a sea goddess and rule the Tydes. Anastasia's 18th birthday is just around the corner, and on top of worrying about the intense battle with Keto on the horizon, she must gain the acceptance of her future Nereid sisters. Whisked away to Cyprus off the coast of Greece, she is shortly therafter kidnapped by Nadia in her reverie and held on the Isle of Slaves. Once saved, the new maven at the House of Lorelei takes her in to prepare her in the very short time she has left before her awakening ceremony on her birthday, but Keto, Selene, and Nadia have other plans.
I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys paranormal-fantasy and wants to be captivated by a fairy tale-esque romance. This book is absolutely for older teens and up as there is hinting at intercourse between the main characters.
Overall, I just have to say WOW. I wasn't even expecting this after Awaken. The game has totally changed and I was just blown away over and over again. I couldn't put it down either. The same loveable characters and world continue to grow and I have to say, without a doubt, this is my favorite series. I've never been so mesmerized by a young adult series. This is true fairy tale material. Mrs. Day is remarkably talented and I have high hopes for her future. I absolutely can't wait to dig my claws into Hearken!
Chosen continues the story of Anastasia, a young Tyde destined to become a sea goddess and rule the Tydes. Anastasia's 18th birthday is just around the corner, and on top of worrying about the intense battle with Keto on the horizon, she must gain the acceptance of her future Nereid sisters. Whisked away to Cyprus off the coast of Greece, she is shortly therafter kidnapped by Nadia in her reverie and held on the Isle of Slaves. Once saved, the new maven at the House of Lorelei takes her in to prepare her in the very short time she has left before her awakening ceremony on her birthday, but Keto, Selene, and Nadia have other plans.
I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys paranormal-fantasy and wants to be captivated by a fairy tale-esque romance. This book is absolutely for older teens and up as there is hinting at intercourse between the main characters.
Overall, I just have to say WOW. I wasn't even expecting this after Awaken. The game has totally changed and I was just blown away over and over again. I couldn't put it down either. The same loveable characters and world continue to grow and I have to say, without a doubt, this is my favorite series. I've never been so mesmerized by a young adult series. This is true fairy tale material. Mrs. Day is remarkably talented and I have high hopes for her future. I absolutely can't wait to dig my claws into Hearken!
February 9, 2013
Brilliant... Absolutely brilliant!
Kristen Day is amazing - this series has truly become one of my FAVOURITES! I'm telling EVERYONE I know about it.
Chosen is the third and final instalment in Kristen Day's Daughters of the Sea series. The book picks up right where we left Stasia, Finn and their friends in Forsaken
The growth of Stasia throughout the series is so interesting and captivating and in Chosen, Kristen Day does not disappoint! The romance between her and Finn is spellbinding! The evil Nadia and her partners in menacing deeds just thicken the plot that much more and keeps you wondering what else this deranged chick's going to do!
For me, this was the perfect ending to the series... All our questions about Stasia and her parents are answered - we get closure (see how I'm roping myself in with Stasia! That's what happens when you read these books! You get sucked it!), we see Stasia reach her destiny... Argh! It was sooooo goood! I did NOT want to put it down!
Kristen Day takes all the loose ends and brings them to a mind-blowing, fuzzy feeling, euphoria inducing conclusion!
I hugged my e-Reader and felt sad that the book ended... But it was a brilliant experience!
Kristen Day is amazing - this series has truly become one of my FAVOURITES! I'm telling EVERYONE I know about it.
Chosen is the third and final instalment in Kristen Day's Daughters of the Sea series. The book picks up right where we left Stasia, Finn and their friends in Forsaken
The growth of Stasia throughout the series is so interesting and captivating and in Chosen, Kristen Day does not disappoint! The romance between her and Finn is spellbinding! The evil Nadia and her partners in menacing deeds just thicken the plot that much more and keeps you wondering what else this deranged chick's going to do!
For me, this was the perfect ending to the series... All our questions about Stasia and her parents are answered - we get closure (see how I'm roping myself in with Stasia! That's what happens when you read these books! You get sucked it!), we see Stasia reach her destiny... Argh! It was sooooo goood! I did NOT want to put it down!
Kristen Day takes all the loose ends and brings them to a mind-blowing, fuzzy feeling, euphoria inducing conclusion!
I hugged my e-Reader and felt sad that the book ended... But it was a brilliant experience!
February 28, 2013
First the disclaimer... I read this book as part of a goodreads.com request to read program for Lovers of Paranormal. I was provided the book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Now to the good stuff! First Free or not this book was Fantastic. I don't understand why ithis series hasn't flooded the mainstream bookstore bookshelves. As anyone who has read my previous reviews knows I'm not all sunshine and lollipops but this book makes me want to be. I love the characters and the amazing foreshadowing that Day provides is easily misinterpreted in a good way so that what comes about is totally understandable but not what you saw coming at al for the most part.. I can only imagine that the series will be even better the second time when I read it now knowing how it ends I will pick up on all those great little details. And that is acknowledging that it's a when I read it not an if I reread it.
Perhaps my favourite part of the whole series is the epilogue and that is rare. Usually that's just used to tied off a few loose ends. Not so here. It only illustrates how clever the author really is.
If you love the genre take the leap of faith on this series. You won't regret it.
Now to the good stuff! First Free or not this book was Fantastic. I don't understand why ithis series hasn't flooded the mainstream bookstore bookshelves. As anyone who has read my previous reviews knows I'm not all sunshine and lollipops but this book makes me want to be. I love the characters and the amazing foreshadowing that Day provides is easily misinterpreted in a good way so that what comes about is totally understandable but not what you saw coming at al for the most part.. I can only imagine that the series will be even better the second time when I read it now knowing how it ends I will pick up on all those great little details. And that is acknowledging that it's a when I read it not an if I reread it.
Perhaps my favourite part of the whole series is the epilogue and that is rare. Usually that's just used to tied off a few loose ends. Not so here. It only illustrates how clever the author really is.
If you love the genre take the leap of faith on this series. You won't regret it.
February 11, 2013
Where to begin?! This book was absolutely amazing. It gave an excellent ending to a very captivating series. Stasia has been through some much throughout the installment, and this novel just puts icing on the cake. Chosen will draw you in and hold your attention until it is completely read. I could not have asked for a better ending to this story. It gives you everything you ever wanted to read and more. If only the supernatural was real, I might be a tri-goddess myself with a handsome Finn by my side for all eternity. Also, I must point out that my wedding ring looks somewhat like the ring described as Stasia's engagement ring, except I have blue sapphires surrounding my aquamarine. :)
April 27, 2013
Reviewer: Bex
Rating 5 out of 5 Fairies
Chosen, by Kristen Day, reaches a pretty epic conclusion (although I have heard there'll be a fourth book! Yay!). The author takes her fabulous main character, Stasia, on a significant journey filled with adventure and action. Along her epic journey, we see her character and power develop and grow. Stasia is a formidable character. A female lead who is aspirational.
Tied with the fast paced action, the author successfully creates beautiful tender moments between an array of characters. Day has a real flair for emotive, tender descriptions. Her words washed over the page so beautifully; it was impossible not to become emotionally invested in the characters' lives.
I was engaged throughout and was drawn to not only the characters, but the imaginative world that they found themselves in. This is a testament to the author's versatility as a writer. Day truly is a gifted and talented author.
Disclosure: This book was received for free in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.
Rating 5 out of 5 Fairies
Chosen, by Kristen Day, reaches a pretty epic conclusion (although I have heard there'll be a fourth book! Yay!). The author takes her fabulous main character, Stasia, on a significant journey filled with adventure and action. Along her epic journey, we see her character and power develop and grow. Stasia is a formidable character. A female lead who is aspirational.
Tied with the fast paced action, the author successfully creates beautiful tender moments between an array of characters. Day has a real flair for emotive, tender descriptions. Her words washed over the page so beautifully; it was impossible not to become emotionally invested in the characters' lives.
I was engaged throughout and was drawn to not only the characters, but the imaginative world that they found themselves in. This is a testament to the author's versatility as a writer. Day truly is a gifted and talented author.
Disclosure: This book was received for free in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.
January 17, 2014
i was given this book in exchange for an honest review by the author and Lovers of Paranormal.
Another 5 star book!! If I have to be critical this book is probably not quite as good as the first two but I think that is due to there being less discovery of Stasia and Finn's world. We know so much more now.
On the subject of Finn.....I WANT A FINN!! Beautifully written (and described) who wouldn't want one of their own. Have the tissues handy too when Finn really reveals his romantic side. There are so many lines in this book that I read over again just to soak them in fully as they are so beautiful.
The relationship between Stasia and Finn is a beautiful part of this book and, although sometimes sentimental, never gets sickening and over-powering. All of the relationships in this book are great.
Stasia finding her way is handled well and the interaction of all her friends is a joy to read. The plot, once again, keeps you gripped and unable to put the book down and I have to get book 4 read so I can catch up on some sleep.
Another 5 star book!! If I have to be critical this book is probably not quite as good as the first two but I think that is due to there being less discovery of Stasia and Finn's world. We know so much more now.
On the subject of Finn.....I WANT A FINN!! Beautifully written (and described) who wouldn't want one of their own. Have the tissues handy too when Finn really reveals his romantic side. There are so many lines in this book that I read over again just to soak them in fully as they are so beautiful.
The relationship between Stasia and Finn is a beautiful part of this book and, although sometimes sentimental, never gets sickening and over-powering. All of the relationships in this book are great.
Stasia finding her way is handled well and the interaction of all her friends is a joy to read. The plot, once again, keeps you gripped and unable to put the book down and I have to get book 4 read so I can catch up on some sleep.
February 9, 2013
What can I say about Chosen?
Hmmmm, it's a wonderful end to a fresh series written by Kristen Day called Daughter of the Sea.
Book one - was full of amazing revelations, sexiness and secrets
Book two - turned darker and brought us to hell and back
Book three- a fantastic conclusion to some of the story lines we have been following BUT wait....there's more??
- Yes there is bc guess what! Kristen just announced she is going to make this a series and write books 4 & 5!!
With that in mind I will keep from saying to much about Chosen for now.
If you like a bit of Greek mythology, underwater creatures, mystery, love & back stabbing wenches in your reads then this is one for you ;)
Hmmmm, it's a wonderful end to a fresh series written by Kristen Day called Daughter of the Sea.
Book one - was full of amazing revelations, sexiness and secrets
Book two - turned darker and brought us to hell and back
Book three- a fantastic conclusion to some of the story lines we have been following BUT wait....there's more??
- Yes there is bc guess what! Kristen just announced she is going to make this a series and write books 4 & 5!!
With that in mind I will keep from saying to much about Chosen for now.
If you like a bit of Greek mythology, underwater creatures, mystery, love & back stabbing wenches in your reads then this is one for you ;)
March 13, 2013
I have no idea what to say about this final installment, except these three words: OH. MY. WORD. After all of the twists and turns throughout the series, and the cliffhanger endings of the first two books, the ending could not have been more perfect. Everything that Stasia had to deal with throughout her journey was resolved in the best way imaginable. Sadly, she did still have to deal with a tragic loss, on top of the losses she had already experienced. In the end, he became stronger than even she could have predicted. If you want a series that will keep your emotions reeling from suspense, start with this series!
February 23, 2013
**This review can also be found at http://www.readinginthewindowseat.blo...**
Just want to make a quick comment on how much I love the new covers for this and the first two books in this trilogy! They look AMAZING! Ok, now that that's off my chest, to the review. I've been in literal love with these characters since the very first book, Forsaken. Stasia is an amazing MC who has a lot of heart and personality, which makes it very easy to fall into her world and not only believe it truly exists, but care for it as well. From early on I felt the exact same pull towards her three best friends, Willow, Carmen, and Phoebe, not to mention her paramour Finn. Stasia is probably one of my favorite female lead characters of all time in fact, and this trilogy as a whole has made it to my top list. That being said, I did find myself liking this book a little less then the first two. There isn't really any one thing I can put my finger on as to explain the why however. All of the amazing characters where there, the great writing, and the action and twisting story line. I think it might have something to do with how everything sort of had to come rushing out in this book in order to be able to wrap the story up. At times I felt like information was being forced on me, and it disrupted the flow of things. Another major issue I had (and this is really just a personal thought then anything else) was that we never really had any closure with her "family" from the first book. We have this horrible step sister and this pushy step mom who clearly doesn't understand her, but they sort of just fell off the map. We have no idea what's happened to them, if Stasia is ever going to see them again (though of course I'd assume so) and how/if she's going to do something about her "sister". Yes, she just faced off a sea goddess but still. I'd like to have a little closure in regards to the first challenge of hers we were presented with, and that was her human family. I thought that it would have been a great way to the end the book if in the epilogue we saw them all together. Another thing is with Selene we also didn't really see anything definitive happen. Did she just give up then? Stasia and Keto fought but Selene basically just stands around. Not very impressive. HOWEVER I loved some of the twists in this book, and like I mentioned before, the writing style. What always drew me in before were those softer scenes between Stasia and some of the other characters which really allowed us to see the connections between them. A few of the scenes with her and Finn in this book were amazing. They were beautiful, detailed, and intensely well written. I literally felt like I was there with them. I also loved how other then the two instances mentioned above, all the other characters got great closure. I was so glad to see all of them end up happy and with someone that they loved. Stasia's progression throughout this trilogy was great, and I could really see all the ways her personality was growing and morphing. I loved that. This is definitely a trilogy I'll read again and again, and Kristen Day has without a shadow of a doubt found another fan for life to add to the growing list. I don't even need to read the blurb's from here on of anything else she decided to gift us with. If I see it's written by her I'll read it.
Just want to make a quick comment on how much I love the new covers for this and the first two books in this trilogy! They look AMAZING! Ok, now that that's off my chest, to the review. I've been in literal love with these characters since the very first book, Forsaken. Stasia is an amazing MC who has a lot of heart and personality, which makes it very easy to fall into her world and not only believe it truly exists, but care for it as well. From early on I felt the exact same pull towards her three best friends, Willow, Carmen, and Phoebe, not to mention her paramour Finn. Stasia is probably one of my favorite female lead characters of all time in fact, and this trilogy as a whole has made it to my top list. That being said, I did find myself liking this book a little less then the first two. There isn't really any one thing I can put my finger on as to explain the why however. All of the amazing characters where there, the great writing, and the action and twisting story line. I think it might have something to do with how everything sort of had to come rushing out in this book in order to be able to wrap the story up. At times I felt like information was being forced on me, and it disrupted the flow of things. Another major issue I had (and this is really just a personal thought then anything else) was that we never really had any closure with her "family" from the first book. We have this horrible step sister and this pushy step mom who clearly doesn't understand her, but they sort of just fell off the map. We have no idea what's happened to them, if Stasia is ever going to see them again (though of course I'd assume so) and how/if she's going to do something about her "sister". Yes, she just faced off a sea goddess but still. I'd like to have a little closure in regards to the first challenge of hers we were presented with, and that was her human family. I thought that it would have been a great way to the end the book if in the epilogue we saw them all together. Another thing is with Selene we also didn't really see anything definitive happen. Did she just give up then? Stasia and Keto fought but Selene basically just stands around. Not very impressive. HOWEVER I loved some of the twists in this book, and like I mentioned before, the writing style. What always drew me in before were those softer scenes between Stasia and some of the other characters which really allowed us to see the connections between them. A few of the scenes with her and Finn in this book were amazing. They were beautiful, detailed, and intensely well written. I literally felt like I was there with them. I also loved how other then the two instances mentioned above, all the other characters got great closure. I was so glad to see all of them end up happy and with someone that they loved. Stasia's progression throughout this trilogy was great, and I could really see all the ways her personality was growing and morphing. I loved that. This is definitely a trilogy I'll read again and again, and Kristen Day has without a shadow of a doubt found another fan for life to add to the growing list. I don't even need to read the blurb's from here on of anything else she decided to gift us with. If I see it's written by her I'll read it.
March 9, 2013
Full review and excerpt can be found at Between the BInd.
I adored the first two books in Kristen Day's Daughters of the Sea trilogy (Forsaken and Awaken) and was waiting ever so impatiently for Chosen to be released. Finally, the end of Stasia's journey and the confrontation we've waited for is here! Although Chosen wasn't my favorite in the series, it was still a great finale to a wonderful trilogy.
Chosen begins right where Awaken left off, easily guiding readers back into the anxiety-ridden world of Stasia and her allies. The book moves swiftly from problem to problem nicely wrapping up questions with believable and honest answers while Stasia's progression into goddesshood sneaks closer and closer.
One of my favorite parts of this series was the romance between Stasia and Finn and Chosen brings it to a whole new level. Their relationship is wonderfully believable with the perfect amount of fantastical romance that can make any girl swoon. Although I love the romance, the friendships between Stasia and her roommates is equally important to this series. I did feel like I was missing out on some of the key personality quirks and conversations in Chosen, but I overlooked this as there was so much detail throughout.
I only had one problem with this novel. Comparatively to the others, Stasia's self-assuredness and maturity seemed to have regressed. I felt like her decisions and thought-process were rather young from the developmental changes in the last two novels. That being said, I was still drawn into the story and easily swept away in the pages.
Moreover, I loved learning more about the different factions of decedents. Kristen flawlessly draws readers into her fantastical world, showing us unique powers with fantastic characterization. The flow of this novel, while quickly paced, remained fluid. Also, the reader is never overwhelmed with information, although there is so much happening in a short amount of time. This is extremely important to me in a novel, especially the last in a series. While there is typically a lot to discuss, pacing is everything, and Chosen has it in spades.
Daughters of the Sea is an amazing trilogy that I would (and have!) most definitely recommend to fans of the paranormal and YA genres. A coming-of-age paranormal love story with goddess-sized problems written intelligently and humorously with characters who are easy to relate to and hard to forget? Sounds like a must-read to me!
I adored the first two books in Kristen Day's Daughters of the Sea trilogy (Forsaken and Awaken) and was waiting ever so impatiently for Chosen to be released. Finally, the end of Stasia's journey and the confrontation we've waited for is here! Although Chosen wasn't my favorite in the series, it was still a great finale to a wonderful trilogy.
Chosen begins right where Awaken left off, easily guiding readers back into the anxiety-ridden world of Stasia and her allies. The book moves swiftly from problem to problem nicely wrapping up questions with believable and honest answers while Stasia's progression into goddesshood sneaks closer and closer.
One of my favorite parts of this series was the romance between Stasia and Finn and Chosen brings it to a whole new level. Their relationship is wonderfully believable with the perfect amount of fantastical romance that can make any girl swoon. Although I love the romance, the friendships between Stasia and her roommates is equally important to this series. I did feel like I was missing out on some of the key personality quirks and conversations in Chosen, but I overlooked this as there was so much detail throughout.
I only had one problem with this novel. Comparatively to the others, Stasia's self-assuredness and maturity seemed to have regressed. I felt like her decisions and thought-process were rather young from the developmental changes in the last two novels. That being said, I was still drawn into the story and easily swept away in the pages.
Moreover, I loved learning more about the different factions of decedents. Kristen flawlessly draws readers into her fantastical world, showing us unique powers with fantastic characterization. The flow of this novel, while quickly paced, remained fluid. Also, the reader is never overwhelmed with information, although there is so much happening in a short amount of time. This is extremely important to me in a novel, especially the last in a series. While there is typically a lot to discuss, pacing is everything, and Chosen has it in spades.
Daughters of the Sea is an amazing trilogy that I would (and have!) most definitely recommend to fans of the paranormal and YA genres. A coming-of-age paranormal love story with goddess-sized problems written intelligently and humorously with characters who are easy to relate to and hard to forget? Sounds like a must-read to me!
February 2, 2013
This book was difficult for me to love as it takes place where the second one leaves off, and it wasn't the writing or the storyline that made it hard for me to love it was something else, which I can't really say as it would be a spoiler and I know some people are stifflers about those. BUT I can say that we FINALLY get some chapters in Finn's point of view YAY!!! I was excited too!! What I love most about Finn is the fact he will defend his woman even when she's not around, "she possesses every quality required of a leader in our world and more. Qualities you have never and will never possess - purity, strength, grace, and most importantly humility." And the story wouldn't really be complete if there wasn't smartass comments from Finn because well that's what makes us love Finn are those smartass comments. "I can do cart wheels and sin a song if you'd like...a little more pomp and circumstance." I was really glad I read this trilogy as I enjoyed the books so much, but my favorite book from the trilogy would be the first! I can't wait to see what Kristen has next up her sleeve.
February 13, 2013
What a bittersweet farewell to a wonderful series!!! As always, Kristen Day gives us an action packed, swoon worthy, and captivating novel. I'll miss every character in this series even the most evil ones. I swear, there were many times when I wanted to physically strangle Nadia. But that's how you know how good a book is...when you really really react to the characters. The love story was breathtaking (Guys should take notes from Finn). The vivid imagery of each setting was so amazing that I felt like I was there in the story. This book evoked a gamut of emotions from me (laughter, sadness, anger...and so many more). I'm so sad that this series has reached its end but also ecstatic that Anastasia finally gets her well deserved ending. Thank you again Kristen for this amazing series.
Review found in my blog.
Review found in my blog.
February 17, 2013
Chosen is the perfect book to end the trilogy with!!! Not only were there unexpected twists in the story, as well as lots of action, suspense, and romance. The story has such wonderfully crafted characters and such an original plot that made these books a true joy to read! I loved the mythology element that Kristen introduced in these books. I was immediately drawn into the story and didn't want to put it down once I started reading. I highly recommend reading the Daughters of the Sea
Trilogy!!!
DISCLAIMER: This book was gifted to me by the author (through the Goodreads) website in
exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own, and no money or other compensation was provided for this review.
Trilogy!!!
DISCLAIMER: This book was gifted to me by the author (through the Goodreads) website in
exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own, and no money or other compensation was provided for this review.
February 11, 2013
Chosen was a fantastic ending to a GREAT trilogy. This series is one of my favorites.
Chosen picks up where we left off in Awaken. Stasia has a lot more on her plate than before. Carmen had her mind highjacked, Finn's soul is gone, she has to complete her destiny and she has 3 powerful people out to get her. Chosen had everything: romance, action, and suspense. The past collided with the present and we got to see what might happen in the future. Everything was wrapped together so nicely that I wasn't left with any questions. You will not be disappointed!
I cannot wait to read more of Kristen Day's work.
Chosen picks up where we left off in Awaken. Stasia has a lot more on her plate than before. Carmen had her mind highjacked, Finn's soul is gone, she has to complete her destiny and she has 3 powerful people out to get her. Chosen had everything: romance, action, and suspense. The past collided with the present and we got to see what might happen in the future. Everything was wrapped together so nicely that I wasn't left with any questions. You will not be disappointed!
I cannot wait to read more of Kristen Day's work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2013
I am so full of emotions right now. I have fallen in love with The Daughter of the Sea Series! Chosen is probably my favorite of the series.
I thoroughly enjoy watching Stasha and Finn's relationship blossom even as they continually have to endure pain and suffering from the evil Nadia. I want to scratch her eyes out and choke her with sea weed. Pure evil is all she is about, but she isn't the only one. I am still reeling from the emotional ups, downs and surprises Kristen has so expertly placed in Chosen. Wow!
I did not want this series to end! I am anxious to see where Hearken Book 4 will lead me.
I thoroughly enjoy watching Stasha and Finn's relationship blossom even as they continually have to endure pain and suffering from the evil Nadia. I want to scratch her eyes out and choke her with sea weed. Pure evil is all she is about, but she isn't the only one. I am still reeling from the emotional ups, downs and surprises Kristen has so expertly placed in Chosen. Wow!
I did not want this series to end! I am anxious to see where Hearken Book 4 will lead me.
March 9, 2013
This is the third book in the series of 'Daughters of the Sea-Trilogy' by Kristen Day.I loved this book as much as the previous ones.The story is intriguing as always and the moment I start reading, cant stop until I complete the whole book. Kudos to Kristen for writing such an amazing story.
Love the whole plot. The characters Finn and Stasia are amazing as usual.
The love between Finn and Stasia as grown stronger and both as the 'CHOSEN' ones need to face their destinies and the journey of their life together.
Love the whole plot. The characters Finn and Stasia are amazing as usual.
The love between Finn and Stasia as grown stronger and both as the 'CHOSEN' ones need to face their destinies and the journey of their life together.
August 3, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review Lovers of Paranormal.
This book was a lot better the the 2nd one. It went and touched on things that made the characters more human and less magical. Staisa has to meet up with her fellow goddesses and learn how to control her powers to claim her right as leader. While in the shadows Keto and Nadia are plotting to take her down a notch. This book had many thrilling parts which I love. I am looking forward to the future books of this series.
This book was a lot better the the 2nd one. It went and touched on things that made the characters more human and less magical. Staisa has to meet up with her fellow goddesses and learn how to control her powers to claim her right as leader. While in the shadows Keto and Nadia are plotting to take her down a notch. This book had many thrilling parts which I love. I am looking forward to the future books of this series.
February 28, 2013
The third installment to the Daughter of the Sea series, and it was magnificent. In this installment we get to finish our journey with Stasia to become a tri goddess. I love that we get to see more into her and Finns relationship, even the binding of their souls. Sigh, Finn's point of view melted my heart. We even get to meet Stasia's father. Kristen Day did a fabulous job with this story and I have already recommended it to all my friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2014
I think I have to say this is my favorite book in the series so far. It had me crying with tears of sadness and joy. It was action packed and very colorful! Finn makes me wish I was Stasia. He is so sweet and romantic! I cannot wait to read Hearken. This is my all time favorite series, by my all time favorite author. I just love the way she writes, and surprises us at every turn of a new page.
February 19, 2013
I absolutely LOVED this whole series and this book was my favorite!!!!!! The perfect ending!!! I would recommend this series to everyone! I loved ever minute and hate to see it end.
March 13, 2013
A perfect end to a perfect series <3
April 24, 2013
Chosen
Daughters of the Sea Series
Book #3
By Kristen Day
5 stars
Reviewed by: Angels
Format:Kindle
Published:Kristen Day
Source:author copy Genre:Paranormal Romance
About Book
The essence of who we are lies not in what we have, but in what we are willing to give up. Because in the end, Time and Tide wait for no one.
After sacrificing all that she had, the evil princess of the Underworld is still successful in her bid to tear Finn from Stasia’s life. In the midst of her search to reclaim him, Stasia is summoned to the island nation of Cyprus to take part in an age-old ritual; unveiling the missing pieces of her ancestry and re-igniting an ancient war. As she struggles to both save Finn’s soul and free Carmen’s mind, Stasia’s bravery and determination will be pushed to its breaking point. A dark storm is forming on the horizon, and the forces who are vying to destroy her may be much closer than she thinks. Destiny weaves a sticky web of evil, betrayal, and revenge that can only be undone by the purity of love and the soul’s unyielding will to survive. In the last installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, the past will collide with the present as Stasia’s future hangs in the balance. The prophecy that paved the way for her new life may indeed be the very thing that strips her of the ones she loves the most.
My Thoughts
This best series I have read so far this year !I have to stay that I haven't been this excited about a series since reading Claudy Conn's Shadow series.Once I started reading I was already feeling a loss thinking that this is the conclusion to this on going series. I am so sad...
Another fabulous read! Another sleepless night well worth it !I have to say how impressed I am with this author and her writing .Her books never included a dull moment and each book just kept getting better and better and even more intriguing.
Another amazing read with a great cast of characters.We are introduced to Anastasia's mother if only in ghostly form. And we learn even a bigger secret about her father.
Anastasia and Finn at this point have gone there separate ways.They have to conquer there own destines by themselves .They both are experiencing heart break .Its kind of sad neither could be there to support the other for the final chosen quests.
Stasia powers are almost to her full capacity at this point she just is learning to adjust to them more like fine tuning them.Once she completes are test and becomes immortal she will be a force to be reckoned with !At this point I am really feeling Stasia pain so much pressure put on one so young.
Stasia parents left her with some really big shoes to fill. Not only does she need to succeed at her quest in the underworld she needs to gain access to it.She needs the approval of a bitch of a Goddess to gain entrance.Then she needs to survive the quest with some heirlooms her mother has passed on to her and a moonstone she found at a wreck when playing in the ocean with Finn.She will need to find a way to used these items in her quest.Once free she will need to battle against her mothers sister (clan sister) to prove she is the strongest of them to be the new and rightful leader of the Tyde's not only that again the approval of all there clan.
I was impressed with the sacrifices that Finn and Anastasia were willing to make for one another just to be together.It almost broke my heart.There whole courtship was a very intriguing one and one that never felt rushed.Every decision each made about the other had much thought behind it.It felt like that they were striving for a Happily ever after so took the romance slowly.
Poor Carmen she went with Stasia to the underworld and came home a prisoner in her own body something a someone got into her mind and was controlling her thoughts making her insane.They were killing her really.Ricker has been with her non stop lending his love and support and knowledge to free his love of this demon or what ever has possessed her.What a rock he was he impressed me greatly any other guy would have taken a hike.How there relationship has blossomed over time.So sweet..
So much has happen .So many secrets have come to light taking us down new avenues.The pain and loss are becoming bearable now.So much intrigue and new twists and turns coming to light we are on the seat of our pants and waiting for answers.We are hoping they will be able to heal Carmen and make her whole once again.
We see Finn and Stasia love become even more greater.Will they take that finally step to be together for all eternity ?But can you trust the others around you not to betray you ?Can Anastasia accomplish all her goals without losing her life?Have you gained all that you ever wanted a family, fantastic friend's a kind a loving boyfriend that was meant to be your soul mate just to lose it all ?
Wow ! So many mixed emotions did I experience in this last novel.I experience happiness, sadness, and plenty of tears that is for sure but, also love a laughter.We see compassion given and respect gained leaving you in awe because you never saw that one coming.
Another thrilling and truly amazing read for me!Another story by Kristen not to be missed.I am seeing a bright future for this young writer and can't wait to see what other amazing stories she will have for us in the future.
Oh wait I said I was sad to see this series come to an end that I would feel a great loss and will miss an amazing cast of character right ? Well Kristen has surprised me greatly she has another yet to this series .Hearken (Daughters of the Sea #4) coming soon yeah !!!!
Can't Wait !
Daughters of the Sea Series
Book #3
By Kristen Day
5 stars
Reviewed by: Angels
Format:Kindle
Published:Kristen Day
Source:author copy Genre:Paranormal Romance
About Book
The essence of who we are lies not in what we have, but in what we are willing to give up. Because in the end, Time and Tide wait for no one.
After sacrificing all that she had, the evil princess of the Underworld is still successful in her bid to tear Finn from Stasia’s life. In the midst of her search to reclaim him, Stasia is summoned to the island nation of Cyprus to take part in an age-old ritual; unveiling the missing pieces of her ancestry and re-igniting an ancient war. As she struggles to both save Finn’s soul and free Carmen’s mind, Stasia’s bravery and determination will be pushed to its breaking point. A dark storm is forming on the horizon, and the forces who are vying to destroy her may be much closer than she thinks. Destiny weaves a sticky web of evil, betrayal, and revenge that can only be undone by the purity of love and the soul’s unyielding will to survive. In the last installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, the past will collide with the present as Stasia’s future hangs in the balance. The prophecy that paved the way for her new life may indeed be the very thing that strips her of the ones she loves the most.
My Thoughts
This best series I have read so far this year !I have to stay that I haven't been this excited about a series since reading Claudy Conn's Shadow series.Once I started reading I was already feeling a loss thinking that this is the conclusion to this on going series. I am so sad...
Another fabulous read! Another sleepless night well worth it !I have to say how impressed I am with this author and her writing .Her books never included a dull moment and each book just kept getting better and better and even more intriguing.
Another amazing read with a great cast of characters.We are introduced to Anastasia's mother if only in ghostly form. And we learn even a bigger secret about her father.
Anastasia and Finn at this point have gone there separate ways.They have to conquer there own destines by themselves .They both are experiencing heart break .Its kind of sad neither could be there to support the other for the final chosen quests.
Stasia powers are almost to her full capacity at this point she just is learning to adjust to them more like fine tuning them.Once she completes are test and becomes immortal she will be a force to be reckoned with !At this point I am really feeling Stasia pain so much pressure put on one so young.
Stasia parents left her with some really big shoes to fill. Not only does she need to succeed at her quest in the underworld she needs to gain access to it.She needs the approval of a bitch of a Goddess to gain entrance.Then she needs to survive the quest with some heirlooms her mother has passed on to her and a moonstone she found at a wreck when playing in the ocean with Finn.She will need to find a way to used these items in her quest.Once free she will need to battle against her mothers sister (clan sister) to prove she is the strongest of them to be the new and rightful leader of the Tyde's not only that again the approval of all there clan.
I was impressed with the sacrifices that Finn and Anastasia were willing to make for one another just to be together.It almost broke my heart.There whole courtship was a very intriguing one and one that never felt rushed.Every decision each made about the other had much thought behind it.It felt like that they were striving for a Happily ever after so took the romance slowly.
Poor Carmen she went with Stasia to the underworld and came home a prisoner in her own body something a someone got into her mind and was controlling her thoughts making her insane.They were killing her really.Ricker has been with her non stop lending his love and support and knowledge to free his love of this demon or what ever has possessed her.What a rock he was he impressed me greatly any other guy would have taken a hike.How there relationship has blossomed over time.So sweet..
So much has happen .So many secrets have come to light taking us down new avenues.The pain and loss are becoming bearable now.So much intrigue and new twists and turns coming to light we are on the seat of our pants and waiting for answers.We are hoping they will be able to heal Carmen and make her whole once again.
We see Finn and Stasia love become even more greater.Will they take that finally step to be together for all eternity ?But can you trust the others around you not to betray you ?Can Anastasia accomplish all her goals without losing her life?Have you gained all that you ever wanted a family, fantastic friend's a kind a loving boyfriend that was meant to be your soul mate just to lose it all ?
Wow ! So many mixed emotions did I experience in this last novel.I experience happiness, sadness, and plenty of tears that is for sure but, also love a laughter.We see compassion given and respect gained leaving you in awe because you never saw that one coming.
Another thrilling and truly amazing read for me!Another story by Kristen not to be missed.I am seeing a bright future for this young writer and can't wait to see what other amazing stories she will have for us in the future.
Oh wait I said I was sad to see this series come to an end that I would feel a great loss and will miss an amazing cast of character right ? Well Kristen has surprised me greatly she has another yet to this series .Hearken (Daughters of the Sea #4) coming soon yeah !!!!
Can't Wait !
December 19, 2018
You best believe that this book is beyond amazing. My favorite one so far!!! Stasia is finally getting the hang of her abilities so to speak and learning how and when to use them. And the fact that she is a Tri-Goddess she is a triple threat! Keto and Nadia better watch out!!! She finally meets her dad and though brief it made my heart so happy. And the new maven Zara, I couldn't believe it. Amphritie. Everything about this book was spectacular! Finn being taken my Nadia, meeting her dad, becoming a goddess a month early. Trusting the ocean with her life. I could go on forever. I loved it and I want more.
June 5, 2013
It’s time for Stasia to grow up and embrace her destiny. To do this, she must harness and master her abilities, gain the approval of all of her new sisters, and fight her way to be leader. Throw in the love of her life into the mix and it’s definitely time to break out her Big Girl Pants.
Being the third in a trilogy, this book is not a standalone. It is assumed that you have read the first and second books. Some characters are brought in without any prior references and there were details which were not explained (such as the circumstances surrounding Finn’s disappearance). You are expected to know things. So, beware this is not exactly a standalone.
Having said this, I found myself wondering things I had wondered about in the first book but had dismissed at the time. Très cool! For this reason, I’d suggest reading the others, Forsaken and Awaken, too. The interweaving of the story is worth it. My reviews of those two can be found here and here respectively.
At a specific spot in the book, the plot twisted. (No, I won’t say when. I am not into spoilers.) It dawned on me at this point that what I thought was the premise of the book clearly was just the set up for the rest. This was definitely a pleasant surprise!
I am one of those that enjoys symbolism in books. This one got me thinking. Finn with his dark essence and dark storm cloud could be seen as evil. Yet, he is not. Stasia could be seen as inherently good and yet she is not. Is this one of those paranormals where evil is not really evil? Finn is not so bad because…because what? I wondered. With Edward Cullen, he was not inherently evil because he made sure he was not murdering people to survive. Here, it begged the question: What is a Prime? If you are a part of Hell, does that make you evil like Nadia or could you be like her mother and caught there because it is now your job? My guess and ultimate conclusion was that characters are portrayed as simply human when it comes to good and evil. They are both.
There were details I loved. I found myself looking up Black Eyed Susans and Sweet Williams. I also looked up (and I shudder even now) the Darwin Bark spider. As someone who has arachnophobia herself, that says something. Ick! What a great choice! I knew what these things were but I wanted to see them so I could imagine the story better. I also now know why the author cracked up at my Marty McFly reference in my review of the second book. How funny was that? There is one detail which I absolutely LOVED. It was the Greek lullaby. “Nani nani” means nite-nite in Albanian as well. The southern half of Albania speaks Greek and there have been some border disputes which I am fuzzy on. I suspect that Greeks borrowed this phrase from Albanians or Albanians borrowed it from Greek. But, don’t ask either because they would most likely claim it as their own!
There were times when details did not make sense. Stasia rode a turtle to shore? Aren’t turtles slow? The whole Tortoise vs. the Hare thing? This seems odd. A plecostomus sucks venom? Why not a leech? Wouldn’t that make more sense? Especially since they have been used medically for centuries? What the heck was Stasia learning before in the first two books and why was she not “trained” when she first arrived? We do have a new Maven here so maybe there is a reason there which I am forgetting. Characters “winded” around corners. I am not an expert but since when is the past tense of the verb wind winded and not wound? Maybe it is, maybe it is not. Either way, it was distracting from the story. All of these details are squarely in the Writer’s Prerogative category. There is nothing wrong with these choices. At all. They just made me stop and say, “Wait, what?!” If that was the intention, that box can be checked off.
The author made great use of flashbacks once again. With the past, present, and future jumbled up, I was learning more about this world right along with Stasia. Very effective at showing specific plot points and relationships, I loved this style of writing. The only exception to this was the point of view of Finn. From a romance aspect, this just didn’t work. It deflated that element of mystery and intrigue surrounding him. I understood why it was there plot-wise though. Maybe for fans that could not get enough of him, this works. For me, it did not.
And while we are on the subject of Finn, let me say this: This storyline could easily have gone below the belt but instead remained classy and tasteful. Much steamier than before, the book has to be bumped up to a more mature young adult audience now.
The ending was more than satisfying. Though there is room for a fourth, if desired. The possibility is there. Don’t get me wrong - all loose ends were tied up beautifully. The epilogue was fantastic. This is how you make use of an epilogue, ladies and gentleman. Overall, this book was a great end to a wonderful series.
For more reviews such as this one, please visit http://ravenreviewer.tumblr.com
Being the third in a trilogy, this book is not a standalone. It is assumed that you have read the first and second books. Some characters are brought in without any prior references and there were details which were not explained (such as the circumstances surrounding Finn’s disappearance). You are expected to know things. So, beware this is not exactly a standalone.
Having said this, I found myself wondering things I had wondered about in the first book but had dismissed at the time. Très cool! For this reason, I’d suggest reading the others, Forsaken and Awaken, too. The interweaving of the story is worth it. My reviews of those two can be found here and here respectively.
At a specific spot in the book, the plot twisted. (No, I won’t say when. I am not into spoilers.) It dawned on me at this point that what I thought was the premise of the book clearly was just the set up for the rest. This was definitely a pleasant surprise!
I am one of those that enjoys symbolism in books. This one got me thinking. Finn with his dark essence and dark storm cloud could be seen as evil. Yet, he is not. Stasia could be seen as inherently good and yet she is not. Is this one of those paranormals where evil is not really evil? Finn is not so bad because…because what? I wondered. With Edward Cullen, he was not inherently evil because he made sure he was not murdering people to survive. Here, it begged the question: What is a Prime? If you are a part of Hell, does that make you evil like Nadia or could you be like her mother and caught there because it is now your job? My guess and ultimate conclusion was that characters are portrayed as simply human when it comes to good and evil. They are both.
There were details I loved. I found myself looking up Black Eyed Susans and Sweet Williams. I also looked up (and I shudder even now) the Darwin Bark spider. As someone who has arachnophobia herself, that says something. Ick! What a great choice! I knew what these things were but I wanted to see them so I could imagine the story better. I also now know why the author cracked up at my Marty McFly reference in my review of the second book. How funny was that? There is one detail which I absolutely LOVED. It was the Greek lullaby. “Nani nani” means nite-nite in Albanian as well. The southern half of Albania speaks Greek and there have been some border disputes which I am fuzzy on. I suspect that Greeks borrowed this phrase from Albanians or Albanians borrowed it from Greek. But, don’t ask either because they would most likely claim it as their own!
There were times when details did not make sense. Stasia rode a turtle to shore? Aren’t turtles slow? The whole Tortoise vs. the Hare thing? This seems odd. A plecostomus sucks venom? Why not a leech? Wouldn’t that make more sense? Especially since they have been used medically for centuries? What the heck was Stasia learning before in the first two books and why was she not “trained” when she first arrived? We do have a new Maven here so maybe there is a reason there which I am forgetting. Characters “winded” around corners. I am not an expert but since when is the past tense of the verb wind winded and not wound? Maybe it is, maybe it is not. Either way, it was distracting from the story. All of these details are squarely in the Writer’s Prerogative category. There is nothing wrong with these choices. At all. They just made me stop and say, “Wait, what?!” If that was the intention, that box can be checked off.
The author made great use of flashbacks once again. With the past, present, and future jumbled up, I was learning more about this world right along with Stasia. Very effective at showing specific plot points and relationships, I loved this style of writing. The only exception to this was the point of view of Finn. From a romance aspect, this just didn’t work. It deflated that element of mystery and intrigue surrounding him. I understood why it was there plot-wise though. Maybe for fans that could not get enough of him, this works. For me, it did not.
And while we are on the subject of Finn, let me say this: This storyline could easily have gone below the belt but instead remained classy and tasteful. Much steamier than before, the book has to be bumped up to a more mature young adult audience now.
The ending was more than satisfying. Though there is room for a fourth, if desired. The possibility is there. Don’t get me wrong - all loose ends were tied up beautifully. The epilogue was fantastic. This is how you make use of an epilogue, ladies and gentleman. Overall, this book was a great end to a wonderful series.
For more reviews such as this one, please visit http://ravenreviewer.tumblr.com
September 16, 2015
Wow. I am in complete and utter awe. I've had book 1 and book 2 of this series sitting in my Kindle library for what seems like ages now, but with all of my busy work and reviews that I've been doing as of late I never got around to reading them. It took an invitation to review any book of the series for me to finally open the books take the time and read them. As you can guess since I already owned book 1 & 2, I picked book 3 'Chosen'. If you been thinking about reading these books and putting it off, let me tell you now that you need to make the time and read them.
While I know there are a few more books in the series, and I plan on reading them, this book was the epitome of a perfect ending. There's room for growth and more to happen but it ends on such a beautiful happy note. The love story between Anastasia and Finn was so sweet and beautiful. Her growth as a character is marvelous and the relationships she builds with her friends and each character is just as magical.
I don't think I could have picked a better series to fall in love with. There are so many shifter and magic books on the shelves these days that it's rare when you come across a gem like this. You have a strong heroine who isn't fully aware of how amazing she is. I believe that the best part about Anastasia is her humbleness. Well she doesn't fully grasp how amazing person she is, the pages are at littered with self-doubt. Each character she meets brings out the best in her, even those characters that you want to throttle yourself. It's easy to root for her and hope she succeeds in all her endeavors.
This is truly a magical world that you can get lost in. The settings, the characters, the descriptions are so on point it's easy to visualize every single scene. Everything is so vivid and clear. And while I'm particularly fond of the characterizations and the back story of each character, I love how the story does not dwell on the past hardships. They are simply used to help drive the story forward. They don't hinder the growth of characters or the completion of a story, they just act kind of like a garnish to an already beautiful tale.
I also really liked how the author characterize these young adults. She doesn't shy away from what teenagers actually go through, but she doesn't do well on those awkward years. She gives you a romance and every way possible encompassing all the little nuances but not making you uncomfortable knowing that these are just 17 or 18 years old kids, magic or no magic. There's also real-world problems that these characters deal with but they are handled so amazingly. I can honestly say I am a really big fan is Kristen Day. Not to mention she has a way of writing their dialogue that is true to their age but also hands to a wisdom beyond her years. I particularly like reading how Carmen interacts with people. And while this story has a lot of that's how I get your heart and make you a little teary eyed you also get full blown laughter. At least I did as I read this book.
5 Quills
If you haven't read this series, if you've been planning on reading this series, if you weren't sure if you wanted to read this series, if you're like me and you've been busy but own one of the books in this series then stop procrastinating, stop making excuses and just read it I honestly think it's worth your time. But don't be surprised if you suffer from sleepless nights trying to read through the complete series in one shot.
While I know there are a few more books in the series, and I plan on reading them, this book was the epitome of a perfect ending. There's room for growth and more to happen but it ends on such a beautiful happy note. The love story between Anastasia and Finn was so sweet and beautiful. Her growth as a character is marvelous and the relationships she builds with her friends and each character is just as magical.
I don't think I could have picked a better series to fall in love with. There are so many shifter and magic books on the shelves these days that it's rare when you come across a gem like this. You have a strong heroine who isn't fully aware of how amazing she is. I believe that the best part about Anastasia is her humbleness. Well she doesn't fully grasp how amazing person she is, the pages are at littered with self-doubt. Each character she meets brings out the best in her, even those characters that you want to throttle yourself. It's easy to root for her and hope she succeeds in all her endeavors.
This is truly a magical world that you can get lost in. The settings, the characters, the descriptions are so on point it's easy to visualize every single scene. Everything is so vivid and clear. And while I'm particularly fond of the characterizations and the back story of each character, I love how the story does not dwell on the past hardships. They are simply used to help drive the story forward. They don't hinder the growth of characters or the completion of a story, they just act kind of like a garnish to an already beautiful tale.
I also really liked how the author characterize these young adults. She doesn't shy away from what teenagers actually go through, but she doesn't do well on those awkward years. She gives you a romance and every way possible encompassing all the little nuances but not making you uncomfortable knowing that these are just 17 or 18 years old kids, magic or no magic. There's also real-world problems that these characters deal with but they are handled so amazingly. I can honestly say I am a really big fan is Kristen Day. Not to mention she has a way of writing their dialogue that is true to their age but also hands to a wisdom beyond her years. I particularly like reading how Carmen interacts with people. And while this story has a lot of that's how I get your heart and make you a little teary eyed you also get full blown laughter. At least I did as I read this book.
5 Quills
If you haven't read this series, if you've been planning on reading this series, if you weren't sure if you wanted to read this series, if you're like me and you've been busy but own one of the books in this series then stop procrastinating, stop making excuses and just read it I honestly think it's worth your time. But don't be surprised if you suffer from sleepless nights trying to read through the complete series in one shot.
February 28, 2017
A wild and fun ride to bring the main threads f the series to far to tight conclusions. I finally got a bit weary of the main character's persistent and plot-convenient self doubt. Most of the tropes of ya mythology romance and adventure are lampshaded in this series in funny and effective ways, but this was not. Many pages would have been saved if she just told people what happened when it happened. That's obviously fair in this type of book, but I started to notice it here and it finally got the better of me. Otherwise, a perfect conclusion. I know there are two more but I'm going to wait and see if I miss the characters enough to rejoin them for a new story.
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