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Choices Meant for Gods
Not even the gods noticed when Amanda Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian hide from a mad sorcerer in a household full of false hope and whispered secrets. The same god who watches over the family school sheltering Chariss will soon reveal her role in an impending war.
When a wizard’s ward sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies they uncover? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?
Choices Meant for Gods is Book One in the Choices Trilogy!
When a wizard’s ward sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies they uncover? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?
Choices Meant for Gods is Book One in the Choices Trilogy!
- GenresFantasy
622 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2007
5 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Sandy Lender
35 books295 followersAfter her reincarnation from a Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle to a simple human female, Sandy Lender figured she had to do something that let her stay near the ocean or Gulf waters. Being in a sunny environment keeps the vampires on a tight leash, too. So Sandy lives in SW Florida where she edits a magazine for the day job, edits books for the evening job, and helps with sea turtle conservation on the weekends. She lets the companion parrots and the muse fight for her attention in between it all.
Her first novel from ArcheBooks Publishing, Choices Meant for Gods, was released March 2007. The novels, novellas, short stories, magazine pieces, and poetry have been ongoing ever since! Sandy has garnered a handful of technical writing awards, a handful of creative writing awards, some fancy nominations, and excellent stress-reducing meds over the years...
Her first novel from ArcheBooks Publishing, Choices Meant for Gods, was released March 2007. The novels, novellas, short stories, magazine pieces, and poetry have been ongoing ever since! Sandy has garnered a handful of technical writing awards, a handful of creative writing awards, some fancy nominations, and excellent stress-reducing meds over the years...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 30, 2009
I bought this book from the author at Context 22.
I'm torn on the rating to give this book. Once more, I wish Goodreads had the ability to give half stars. It's not quite a 4 star for me, but a bit better than three stars. I'd probably give it 3.5 if I had the ability.
I think I'm going to err on the side of a better rating, and give it a four.
I enjoyed the book, but it also frustrated me in parts.
I do have to say that for a first novel, it's well done. Not a ball out of the park (in my opinion) but a solid performance.
I'll start out with the best aspects. The ones that kept me reading:
-Lender has created a very complex world very well. There's no doubt in her skill at worldbuilding. Excellent.
-Generally, her characters are three dimensional. The good guys have flaws, even her heroine. I would like to see a bit more "good" traits in the bad characters, but they're not badly done, either.
-There's an intriguing story in the book. The story *did* keep me reading. I ended up reading several other books while reading this one, and yet I still wanted to come back and finish the book to see what happened.
-The characters relate well to one another. I loved the relationship between Chariss and Hrazon, and the familial bond of Kora with her family. The budding romance between Chariss and Nigel. All very well done. And given the size of the cast, she also does well keeping the voices of the characters distinct.
-A cliffhanger that makes me want to find out what happened. (Oh, yeah, the book isn't at all standalone.)
So, what's my issue, you might wonder. And you might think it nit-picky. Part of it is that fantasy is the genre I read in the most. It's also the genre I've been studying in grad school, and the one I've been writing in, so I have more nits to pick than in another genre.
I've tried to keep this part of the review fairly spoiler-free, but I do get into specifics, so you might not want to read if you're very sensitive to being spoiled by knowing *anything* about the content of the book.
The biggest was Point of View. I fought with the POV to remain interested in the story. The story won, of course, but the POV made me put down the book too often and read something else.
The book is written in third person, omniscient POV, but that wasn't the issue, really. There's nothing inherently wrong with that POV. It does take an adjustment as a reader if you're used to limited third, since you're hopping heads a lot within paragraphs and chapters.
The issue I had was that the narrator was the author. I don't always want to know what the author knows. They can see into the future. And the author knows stuff before the characters do. As a reader, I like to find out things when the characters do. Now, sometimes I know more than the characters, since I know all the information each individual knows, but they don't always know what the others do. That is, I see all the pieces of the puzzle, even if the characters don't, since they can't see the puzzle pieces the other characters are carrying.
I don't like being handed a photo of the puzzle before the characters even know they have pieces.
Lender often told us stuff that the characters didn't know, or didn't know yet. Since the POV was omniscient, it wasn't always obvious what the characters actually knew. Most specifically, I had a hard time keeping straight who knew the truth about Nigel's parentage. I kept wondering what the big deal was until I realized that Chariss didn't know. At one point, I thought she had been told because Lender told *us* while the Master was thinking about it. However, at the same time, he was telling only *some* of the information to Chariss. It didn't include the really important bit.
There was also one annoying moment of "how to pronounce stuff" in the middle of the text that threw me out of the story. Nice to know, but it probably ought to be either at the end or at the beginning of the book. It just didn't fit in with the rest of the flow of the text.
There were times when I felt Lender was telling too much that didn't matter (What's the deal with the magical leather that absorbed power when the Master banished Julette? Why did we need to know that then? Am I going to even remember it by the time it becomes relevant?), and other times when she was playing coy with the readers. Like with the identity of the dragon that visits Chariss. There are Big Honking Clue-by-Fours swung at the reader, but Lender didn't tell us by the end of the book. Yeah, I'm 99% sure I know who it is, since the clues were big. And honking.
-One character I got really tired of was Godric. He was an exception to the rule of the three dimensional characters. Even Julette, who is supposed to be Evil Incarnate, is more sympathetic. He's boreish, greedy, and an abuser. All he ever seems to do is yell and stomp about. He was supposed to have been different in the past, but he get no sense of that. He was supposed to have been a student of Hrazon, and his friend at one point. I'd love to have seen some of that peak through. It would have given him a more tragic cast.
I also have no idea why Master Rothahn who is supposed to be pretty darn powerful as the head God in the world, doesn't just bump him off when he learns that he's been abusive to his wife, who happens to be Master Rothahn's daughter . It's like everyone turned a blind eye to him, and I just didn't get it. I know the Gods in Lender's world aren't All-Powerful (they remind me more of Greek or Roman Gods--powerful immortals that still possess human flaws) but still!
So there are my nits. But like I said, still a solid book. And I *did* enjoy it. I'll probably pick up the second at some point.
I'm torn on the rating to give this book. Once more, I wish Goodreads had the ability to give half stars. It's not quite a 4 star for me, but a bit better than three stars. I'd probably give it 3.5 if I had the ability.
I think I'm going to err on the side of a better rating, and give it a four.
I enjoyed the book, but it also frustrated me in parts.
I do have to say that for a first novel, it's well done. Not a ball out of the park (in my opinion) but a solid performance.
I'll start out with the best aspects. The ones that kept me reading:
-Lender has created a very complex world very well. There's no doubt in her skill at worldbuilding. Excellent.
-Generally, her characters are three dimensional. The good guys have flaws, even her heroine. I would like to see a bit more "good" traits in the bad characters, but they're not badly done, either.
-There's an intriguing story in the book. The story *did* keep me reading. I ended up reading several other books while reading this one, and yet I still wanted to come back and finish the book to see what happened.
-The characters relate well to one another. I loved the relationship between Chariss and Hrazon, and the familial bond of Kora with her family. The budding romance between Chariss and Nigel. All very well done. And given the size of the cast, she also does well keeping the voices of the characters distinct.
-A cliffhanger that makes me want to find out what happened. (Oh, yeah, the book isn't at all standalone.)
So, what's my issue, you might wonder. And you might think it nit-picky. Part of it is that fantasy is the genre I read in the most. It's also the genre I've been studying in grad school, and the one I've been writing in, so I have more nits to pick than in another genre.
I've tried to keep this part of the review fairly spoiler-free, but I do get into specifics, so you might not want to read if you're very sensitive to being spoiled by knowing *anything* about the content of the book.
The biggest was Point of View. I fought with the POV to remain interested in the story. The story won, of course, but the POV made me put down the book too often and read something else.
The book is written in third person, omniscient POV, but that wasn't the issue, really. There's nothing inherently wrong with that POV. It does take an adjustment as a reader if you're used to limited third, since you're hopping heads a lot within paragraphs and chapters.
The issue I had was that the narrator was the author. I don't always want to know what the author knows. They can see into the future. And the author knows stuff before the characters do. As a reader, I like to find out things when the characters do. Now, sometimes I know more than the characters, since I know all the information each individual knows, but they don't always know what the others do. That is, I see all the pieces of the puzzle, even if the characters don't, since they can't see the puzzle pieces the other characters are carrying.
I don't like being handed a photo of the puzzle before the characters even know they have pieces.
Lender often told us stuff that the characters didn't know, or didn't know yet. Since the POV was omniscient, it wasn't always obvious what the characters actually knew. Most specifically, I had a hard time keeping straight who knew the truth about Nigel's parentage. I kept wondering what the big deal was until I realized that Chariss didn't know. At one point, I thought she had been told because Lender told *us* while the Master was thinking about it. However, at the same time, he was telling only *some* of the information to Chariss. It didn't include the really important bit.
There was also one annoying moment of "how to pronounce stuff" in the middle of the text that threw me out of the story. Nice to know, but it probably ought to be either at the end or at the beginning of the book. It just didn't fit in with the rest of the flow of the text.
There were times when I felt Lender was telling too much that didn't matter (What's the deal with the magical leather that absorbed power when the Master banished Julette? Why did we need to know that then? Am I going to even remember it by the time it becomes relevant?), and other times when she was playing coy with the readers. Like with the identity of the dragon that visits Chariss. There are Big Honking Clue-by-Fours swung at the reader, but Lender didn't tell us by the end of the book. Yeah, I'm 99% sure I know who it is, since the clues were big. And honking.
-One character I got really tired of was Godric. He was an exception to the rule of the three dimensional characters. Even Julette, who is supposed to be Evil Incarnate, is more sympathetic. He's boreish, greedy, and an abuser. All he ever seems to do is yell and stomp about. He was supposed to have been different in the past, but he get no sense of that. He was supposed to have been a student of Hrazon, and his friend at one point. I'd love to have seen some of that peak through. It would have given him a more tragic cast.
I also have no idea why Master Rothahn who is supposed to be pretty darn powerful as the head God in the world, doesn't just bump him off when he learns that he's been abusive to his wife, who happens to be Master Rothahn's daughter . It's like everyone turned a blind eye to him, and I just didn't get it. I know the Gods in Lender's world aren't All-Powerful (they remind me more of Greek or Roman Gods--powerful immortals that still possess human flaws) but still!
So there are my nits. But like I said, still a solid book. And I *did* enjoy it. I'll probably pick up the second at some point.
March 17, 2015
The first war started when the Ultimate One, the highest God of Onweald decided to step down from his Throne in favor of his son, Master Rothahn. Julette, the greedy for power wife of the Ultimate One and also Rothan´s mother felt ignored and raged because she thought the Throne should be rightfully hers and vengeful she started the war. Full of despair because of all this destruction the Ultimate One left the world. The lesser gods created warriors called Protectors to slay the beasts Julette had summoned and finally victory was theirs. When the war was over the Ultimate One returned to clear the mess and Master Rothahn took the Throne. All could have been well again – if Julette wasn´t still scheming to become the only God of Onweald. For this purpose she promised the sorcerer Jamieson Drake to become the ruler of all of Onweald and he sold his soul to her. Drake overrun all the lands with war to achieve his goal.
Chariss, a young woman with a great ability of magic was on the run her whole life from Drake with her guardian wizard Hrazon. She doesn´t know why Drake pursues her but when he attacks the city she has found refuge they have to leave again. Hrazon decides to go to an old friend, Godric Taiman and Chariss teleports them to his estate in Arcana. Taiman ist married to Master Rothahns daughter Kora who has given up her immortality for love. When Chariss meets Nigel, the eldest son she´s for the first time in her life attracted a young man. But fate is cruel and she´s still in mortal danger...
This story has so many layers and we learn with Chariss more about her heritage and why Drake chases her and hates her so much. Why comes Master Rothahn personally to Taiman´s house? Is Chariss really the prophesied protector of Rothahn? To find out the truth Rothahn and Chariss set off together into the land of the Ungol.
This book is a wonderful fantasy novel and I really loved it! The characters aren´t really always likeable, Chariss has a certain double standard sometimes and is quick to kill what was a bit disturbing I have to admit. The end justifies the means doesn´t just apply to the villains in this book but also to the hero/heroine. Maybe that´s one of the reasons I found the story so intriguing. The blossoming relationship between Nigel and Chariss it very tender (no sex scenes in this book) but honestly, when the story progressed I wasn´t so impressed by Nigel anymore. I don´t know when it happened but suddenly I started to think I´d like Rothahn and Chariss better as a couple (Nigel hates me now, I´m sure). I know I bet on the wrong horse here but I can´t help it...
One complaint: I would have liked a bigger map of Onweald in this book, the names of cities and regions were almost unreadable – at least for me and I already wear contact lenses.
I can´t hardly wait to read the sequel "Choices meant for Kings" the second book in this series but first I will have to devour "What Choices We Made: Short Stories from the History of Onweald" a companion book to this trilogy.
If you like to read high fantasy give this book a try! You won´t regret it!
Chariss, a young woman with a great ability of magic was on the run her whole life from Drake with her guardian wizard Hrazon. She doesn´t know why Drake pursues her but when he attacks the city she has found refuge they have to leave again. Hrazon decides to go to an old friend, Godric Taiman and Chariss teleports them to his estate in Arcana. Taiman ist married to Master Rothahns daughter Kora who has given up her immortality for love. When Chariss meets Nigel, the eldest son she´s for the first time in her life attracted a young man. But fate is cruel and she´s still in mortal danger...
This story has so many layers and we learn with Chariss more about her heritage and why Drake chases her and hates her so much. Why comes Master Rothahn personally to Taiman´s house? Is Chariss really the prophesied protector of Rothahn? To find out the truth Rothahn and Chariss set off together into the land of the Ungol.
This book is a wonderful fantasy novel and I really loved it! The characters aren´t really always likeable, Chariss has a certain double standard sometimes and is quick to kill what was a bit disturbing I have to admit. The end justifies the means doesn´t just apply to the villains in this book but also to the hero/heroine. Maybe that´s one of the reasons I found the story so intriguing. The blossoming relationship between Nigel and Chariss it very tender (no sex scenes in this book) but honestly, when the story progressed I wasn´t so impressed by Nigel anymore. I don´t know when it happened but suddenly I started to think I´d like Rothahn and Chariss better as a couple (Nigel hates me now, I´m sure). I know I bet on the wrong horse here but I can´t help it...
One complaint: I would have liked a bigger map of Onweald in this book, the names of cities and regions were almost unreadable – at least for me and I already wear contact lenses.
I can´t hardly wait to read the sequel "Choices meant for Kings" the second book in this series but first I will have to devour "What Choices We Made: Short Stories from the History of Onweald" a companion book to this trilogy.
If you like to read high fantasy give this book a try! You won´t regret it!
January 22, 2020
Sandy Lender does an excellent job drawing you into the story immediately and setting the stage for this exciting book full of twists and turns. She develops her characters and plot well. If you like fantasy, then you will love this book. But dang it, does it have a cliff hanger at the end! So be prepared to purchase the second book immediately following finishing this one. I don't know how you could not want to know after the build-up in book one.
So my advice is buy the entire trilogy so you don't have to wait like me for the second book. =)
So my advice is buy the entire trilogy so you don't have to wait like me for the second book. =)
August 15, 2023
When their god needed a protector, she chose yes.
About the Book: Not even the gods noticed when Amanda Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian hide from a mad sorcerer in a household full of false hope and whispered secrets. The same god who watches over the family school sheltering Chariss will soon reveal her role in an impending war.
When a wizard’s ward sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies they uncover? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?
Our Review: Many words come to mind when trying to describe Sandy Lender’s ability to create a world filled with suspense, danger and redemption: unique, multi-layered characters, led and protected by a driven young woman with more guts and courage than any ten people, who inhabit a magical world filled with fear and danger, jealousy and revenge. We are in awe.
On a scale of 1-5, Choices Meant for Gods merits a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
About the Book: Not even the gods noticed when Amanda Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian hide from a mad sorcerer in a household full of false hope and whispered secrets. The same god who watches over the family school sheltering Chariss will soon reveal her role in an impending war.
When a wizard’s ward sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies they uncover? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?
Our Review: Many words come to mind when trying to describe Sandy Lender’s ability to create a world filled with suspense, danger and redemption: unique, multi-layered characters, led and protected by a driven young woman with more guts and courage than any ten people, who inhabit a magical world filled with fear and danger, jealousy and revenge. We are in awe.
On a scale of 1-5, Choices Meant for Gods merits a 7.
Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews
January 7, 2024
Sandy Lender has created a remarkable world peopled with fantastic characters. Amanda “Chariss” is filled with trepidation over her plight as she flees from a powerful sorceress. When she and her wizard protector land at a school for specially gifted students, she feels safe for a time after being healed and brought back from near death.
The master over the school is a terrible person and even his God isn’t pleased with him. The only redeeming quality he has is his son Nigel.
Chariss and Nigel are placed into a situation that causes them to find romance with one another. But Nigel has a secret and fears for Chariss to uncover it.
Chariss is kept busy by the God over this realm who trains her in battle (although she can def. Hold her own!) - the God has plans for Chariss but she has been tasked with being his protector!
This is a wonderfully created world with characters that anyone will enjoy reading about.
The master over the school is a terrible person and even his God isn’t pleased with him. The only redeeming quality he has is his son Nigel.
Chariss and Nigel are placed into a situation that causes them to find romance with one another. But Nigel has a secret and fears for Chariss to uncover it.
Chariss is kept busy by the God over this realm who trains her in battle (although she can def. Hold her own!) - the God has plans for Chariss but she has been tasked with being his protector!
This is a wonderfully created world with characters that anyone will enjoy reading about.
September 8, 2009
This is an interesting fantasy novel. First off, it's not a "novel," but the first part of a series. As such it's hard to tell if much happens plot-wise. It's the characters that make this work interesting. The heroine, Amanda Chariss, is wonderfully mouthy and strong, yet at the same time has lots to learn. There's a god that acts like a family uncle, a colorful household, and a "pet" dragon. It's these characters that kept me reading.
If I have a complaint (and a caution), it's this: point-of-view often shifts without warning, and sometimes does so within paragraphs. There were a few times when this was jarring. Fortunately, the characters are interesting enough, and the information revealed is compelling enough, that these shifts don't slow down the reading at all.
Tho' I do have a weakness for redheads, I'm looking forward to getting the second book and reading more about Amanda's adventures. I'd recommend this book for anyone who likes the fantasy genre, and especially those who want characters as complex as the plot.
If I have a complaint (and a caution), it's this: point-of-view often shifts without warning, and sometimes does so within paragraphs. There were a few times when this was jarring. Fortunately, the characters are interesting enough, and the information revealed is compelling enough, that these shifts don't slow down the reading at all.
Tho' I do have a weakness for redheads, I'm looking forward to getting the second book and reading more about Amanda's adventures. I'd recommend this book for anyone who likes the fantasy genre, and especially those who want characters as complex as the plot.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews