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The Choosing
Jerath is facing the biggest problem of his life. When boys in his shapeshifter village Eladir get their fangs, they must endure a coming-of-age rite called the Choosing, so they can take on their animal form. The rite is performed on the full moon, but the trouble is the Choosing involves having sex with a girl, and Jerath s only interested in boys. Even if he manages to somehow get through the rite, he doesn t know if he ll ever find a mate in his village, where opposite-sex couples are the norm.
Even worse, he may miss the rite altogether after raiders attack his home and take several young men prisoner. Jerath will need the help of warriors if he s to free the captive shapeshifters, so with his best friend, Serim, he flees south to find aid. Along the way, they meet Meren, a handsome warrior whose attraction to Jerath is instant and very much returned. But with the next full moon approaching and available time for the prisoners to undergo the Choosing running out, Jerath s love life is far from his only worry.
Even worse, he may miss the rite altogether after raiders attack his home and take several young men prisoner. Jerath will need the help of warriors if he s to free the captive shapeshifters, so with his best friend, Serim, he flees south to find aid. Along the way, they meet Meren, a handsome warrior whose attraction to Jerath is instant and very much returned. But with the next full moon approaching and available time for the prisoners to undergo the Choosing running out, Jerath s love life is far from his only worry.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2013
3 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Annabelle Jacobs
52 books405 followersAnnabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with her three rowdy children, and two cats.
An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They're usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.
An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They're usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 14, 2015
You know, I have to wonder if anyone would have had a problem had the MC been a heterosexual female who was "forced by circumstance" to have sex with another female, or a member of a sex she had absolutely no interest in, against her own nature and desire. And while drugged, no less, to help...git er done...if you will. I hate to believe that such misandry (or at the very least a profound ignorance or unconcern) is prevalent in this genre but the evidence is continually overwhelming; and so easily disregarded by so many. Could it be that somewhere deep down we still honestly believe that heterosexuality is the one and true orientation? The default? That anything else is merely a dalliance? It's all quite fun and titillating until we have to think about it for real. About what it would mean to be under this fun-house mirror of a microscope.
And what continually amazes me is how, even in fantasy and sci-fi, there is a glaring lack of creativity in worlds we're CREATING OURSELVES! That we're forever bound by these ridiculous heteronormative constraints. How hard is it, really, to change your own rules?
I really should start reading more reviews & blurbs instead of just reading books all willy nilly because of interesting covers...
And what continually amazes me is how, even in fantasy and sci-fi, there is a glaring lack of creativity in worlds we're CREATING OURSELVES! That we're forever bound by these ridiculous heteronormative constraints. How hard is it, really, to change your own rules?
I really should start reading more reviews & blurbs instead of just reading books all willy nilly because of interesting covers...
October 23, 2013
This review can be found at The Blog of Sid Love.
4.5 stars
I’m going to shamelessly say that covers are the first thing that draw me in so when I saw this one, I was intrigued. Then I found out that it was not only fantasy but had shifters and I just knew that I had to read it… and I’m very glad I did.
Jerath is eagerly awaiting going through The Choosing, where he can finally find out the nature of his animal. Unfortunately, he can’t do that until his fangs come in, which don’t seem to be in any hurry to grow. One day Jerath and his friend Serim are catching fish as part of their chores only to realize on the way back to their village that raiders have taken over the village and captured some of their people to sell as slaves. Scared for their lives and their captured loved ones, they try to seek help with a southern village, Chastil. The journey to Chastil is long and tiring but comes with a few unexpected surprises. Jerath thought he’d never find a mate but when he meets Meren, one of the warriors from Chastil, that just might change his whole future. The real question, however, is whether Meren and his people can help Jerath free his fellow shifters and whether they’ll both survive it to be able to see where their connection leaves them?
I must say, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this story as much as I did. I found Jerath amusing. He’s fierce and possessive but sweet and innocent. It was endearing to see him flustered one moment but then aggressive the next. Meren was the opposite in that he was bold and confident but then easily melted whenever Jerath decided to take the reins. I adored these two and the connection that they make. It’s sweet but intense, loving and hot. I wished there had been more of them because while I feel like I know them, I don’t feel like I know them as well as I could.
The characters are definitely a great addition to this book, however, I think the main appeal was the world the author created. It’s complex but easy to understand. I loved that shifters were freely known about and even that there were whole communities dedicated to them. I liked that the women were born knowing their shifter animal while the men had to wait until they completed The Choosing to know theirs. It added mystery and conflict to the story and made it interesting seeing how the rituals were done. I also liked the fact that it wasn’t just ‘expected’ that they were going to eventually shift but there was always that fear for Jerath that it might not happen.
I had a few niggles with this story. Mostly, I felt like sometimes Serim (Jerath’s female friend) outshined not only Jerath and Meren but the relationship they were building. At times, I felt like the bond between Serim and Jerath was stronger than the one between Meren and Jerath. (This is actually even more prominent when you look at the cover and see the black panther (Serim’s shifter form), which leaves me wondering why is there a black panther on the cover? I would think there would be a jaguar instead.) Personally, that lessened my enjoyment at times because I wanted to see more of the bond between Jerath and Meren not be reminded of the connection between Serim and Jerath. Beyond that, there are a few inconsistencies but I would have loved to see more of Meren’s culture since it seems so different, yet similar, to Jerath’s culture.
Readers should be warned, however, that there is m/f sex in this story. While necessary to the development of the story arc and of Jerath, I know some readers would appreciate being told of this. I’m not all that fond of girly bits in my stories and while I didn’t exactly like this part, I did think it needed to happen so I was fine with it overall.
All in all, even with my issues, I absolutely adored this one. It’s refreshing in a way, unique in others in how different it is from other shifter stories. Add to that, the world is quite fascinating and engaging and the bond that Jerath and Meren ultimately develop was nice to see. I’m hoping Ms. Jacobs decides to write more stories in this world because I’d love to explore it further, especially if that means seeing more of Meren’s culture and rituals.
Definitely recommended for those looking for a different kind of shifter story with an interesting journey and a good HEA.
4.5 stars
I’m going to shamelessly say that covers are the first thing that draw me in so when I saw this one, I was intrigued. Then I found out that it was not only fantasy but had shifters and I just knew that I had to read it… and I’m very glad I did.
Jerath is eagerly awaiting going through The Choosing, where he can finally find out the nature of his animal. Unfortunately, he can’t do that until his fangs come in, which don’t seem to be in any hurry to grow. One day Jerath and his friend Serim are catching fish as part of their chores only to realize on the way back to their village that raiders have taken over the village and captured some of their people to sell as slaves. Scared for their lives and their captured loved ones, they try to seek help with a southern village, Chastil. The journey to Chastil is long and tiring but comes with a few unexpected surprises. Jerath thought he’d never find a mate but when he meets Meren, one of the warriors from Chastil, that just might change his whole future. The real question, however, is whether Meren and his people can help Jerath free his fellow shifters and whether they’ll both survive it to be able to see where their connection leaves them?
I must say, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this story as much as I did. I found Jerath amusing. He’s fierce and possessive but sweet and innocent. It was endearing to see him flustered one moment but then aggressive the next. Meren was the opposite in that he was bold and confident but then easily melted whenever Jerath decided to take the reins. I adored these two and the connection that they make. It’s sweet but intense, loving and hot. I wished there had been more of them because while I feel like I know them, I don’t feel like I know them as well as I could.
The characters are definitely a great addition to this book, however, I think the main appeal was the world the author created. It’s complex but easy to understand. I loved that shifters were freely known about and even that there were whole communities dedicated to them. I liked that the women were born knowing their shifter animal while the men had to wait until they completed The Choosing to know theirs. It added mystery and conflict to the story and made it interesting seeing how the rituals were done. I also liked the fact that it wasn’t just ‘expected’ that they were going to eventually shift but there was always that fear for Jerath that it might not happen.
I had a few niggles with this story. Mostly, I felt like sometimes Serim (Jerath’s female friend) outshined not only Jerath and Meren but the relationship they were building. At times, I felt like the bond between Serim and Jerath was stronger than the one between Meren and Jerath. (This is actually even more prominent when you look at the cover and see the black panther (Serim’s shifter form), which leaves me wondering why is there a black panther on the cover? I would think there would be a jaguar instead.) Personally, that lessened my enjoyment at times because I wanted to see more of the bond between Jerath and Meren not be reminded of the connection between Serim and Jerath. Beyond that, there are a few inconsistencies but I would have loved to see more of Meren’s culture since it seems so different, yet similar, to Jerath’s culture.
Readers should be warned, however, that there is m/f sex in this story. While necessary to the development of the story arc and of Jerath, I know some readers would appreciate being told of this. I’m not all that fond of girly bits in my stories and while I didn’t exactly like this part, I did think it needed to happen so I was fine with it overall.
All in all, even with my issues, I absolutely adored this one. It’s refreshing in a way, unique in others in how different it is from other shifter stories. Add to that, the world is quite fascinating and engaging and the bond that Jerath and Meren ultimately develop was nice to see. I’m hoping Ms. Jacobs decides to write more stories in this world because I’d love to explore it further, especially if that means seeing more of Meren’s culture and rituals.
Definitely recommended for those looking for a different kind of shifter story with an interesting journey and a good HEA.
October 17, 2013
I like sinking my teeth into a good paranormal every now and then. I enjoy coming of age and YA as well, and this was a lovely blend of the two.
As much as I had high hopes for a killer tale, it fell a bit short. Don’t get me wrong; it was up to scratch…it just didn’t knock me off my feet.
Jacob’s created a magical unique realm consisting of feline shifters intermingling in a world with humans. As much as the focus was on the shifting, it was also lacking in shifting. I suppose it’s unfair to compare feline shifting when I’ve read and adored other cat shifters PNR, but I couldn’t help in doing so.
When they wanted to shift, they merely thought about it and shifted. That was it.
I wanted more. I wanted to feel, hear and know when they shifted. I wanted to become the cat too. I wanted to relish in the magic. I didn’t get it.
The process of ‘the Choosing’ was intriguing. Females are born with the ability to shift; males must go through a rite of passage to develop the ability. When Jerath approach’s the ‘age’ he is overwhelmed with paranoia. He must consummate with a female and well, he’s gay. His village does not accept same sex mating and he may be forced to live his life in hiding or even worse, alone.
When a snatch and capture raid on his village results in the kidnapping of his loved ones, he is forced to grow up straightaway. He sets out for help with his best friend Serim, searching for alliances in a faraway village. Once they stumble across the bordering hunters he finds himself helplessly drawn to the chief’s son, Meren. Can they trust this band of strangers? And how can he stop the boil of emotions threatening to release when he has no desire to so? There are so many reasons why they can’t be together, but sometimes logic takes second place to love.
I liked Jerath. I liked Meren. I liked the secondary characters too. It was evenly paced with magic, action and romance. Ohh and the lovin’ in the furs was pretty hot too!
My biggest niggle…. it was more of a tell and not show. I heard it, it was nice....but I really wanted to feel it.
**note~ I think the cover is fantastic, but it doesn't seem to fit so well....why isn't it a jaguar? just wondering....
*3 frisky-feline-fair stars*
As much as I had high hopes for a killer tale, it fell a bit short. Don’t get me wrong; it was up to scratch…it just didn’t knock me off my feet.
Jacob’s created a magical unique realm consisting of feline shifters intermingling in a world with humans. As much as the focus was on the shifting, it was also lacking in shifting. I suppose it’s unfair to compare feline shifting when I’ve read and adored other cat shifters PNR, but I couldn’t help in doing so.
When they wanted to shift, they merely thought about it and shifted. That was it.
I wanted more. I wanted to feel, hear and know when they shifted. I wanted to become the cat too. I wanted to relish in the magic. I didn’t get it.
The process of ‘the Choosing’ was intriguing. Females are born with the ability to shift; males must go through a rite of passage to develop the ability. When Jerath approach’s the ‘age’ he is overwhelmed with paranoia. He must consummate with a female and well, he’s gay. His village does not accept same sex mating and he may be forced to live his life in hiding or even worse, alone.
When a snatch and capture raid on his village results in the kidnapping of his loved ones, he is forced to grow up straightaway. He sets out for help with his best friend Serim, searching for alliances in a faraway village. Once they stumble across the bordering hunters he finds himself helplessly drawn to the chief’s son, Meren. Can they trust this band of strangers? And how can he stop the boil of emotions threatening to release when he has no desire to so? There are so many reasons why they can’t be together, but sometimes logic takes second place to love.
I liked Jerath. I liked Meren. I liked the secondary characters too. It was evenly paced with magic, action and romance. Ohh and the lovin’ in the furs was pretty hot too!
My biggest niggle…. it was more of a tell and not show. I heard it, it was nice....but I really wanted to feel it.
**note~ I think the cover is fantastic, but it doesn't seem to fit so well....why isn't it a jaguar? just wondering....
*3 frisky-feline-fair stars*
October 25, 2013
Enjoyable story with a really likable cast of characters. I thought it read quite a bit like a young adult book (in a good way) only with sex (but not an overwhelming amount).
October 22, 2013
Great story!! I loved all of the characters, especially Meren and Jerath(such sweethearts)!!
November 4, 2013
Original Blog Post: http://headouttheoven.blogspot.com/20...
The Choosing was a very nice surprise for me. This was filed in my Holiday Reads folder and frankly kept this for last for I honestly thought this was just another paranormal shape-shifter story. Well, it is a paranormal, shape-shifter story but somehow this came out strong and very visual.
This is basically the story of Jerath and his coming of age as a shape-shifter. Through some unfortunate events, his rite through Choosing was interrupted because of the kidnappings of some of his friends and he and his best-friend Serim find themselves in the middle of nowhere, running for the one village they had heard would help theirs out. Along the way, Jerath's fangs descend and Serim goes through the rite with him. (At this point, I have to warn those MM purists out there that there is the one MF scene necessary written in. The necessity is for Jerath to get through the rite and be able to shift. Without Serim, he could have lost all.)
Soon they meet up with the hunters led by Meren, the chief's son who come from the very village they were searching for. What takes Jerath by surprise is the bond the rises between them. Coming from a village that sees same sex bonding as wasteful, it took some time for him for adjust to Meren who sees this as a normal pairing.
The bonding between these two young men was formulaic, but that is as far as this book's formulaicness goes. There is none of the rushed screaming out the primal MINE! for one. Instead, we get a gradual acceptance of the other, a gradual learning of each other, and a gradual loving. This is what made this whole book a bit different from the rest.
What really got my attention was the way this was written: it is in present tense. It was quite different but somehow it lent a bit of mystery to the story. (I know, I may not make sense here, but bear with me.) This style of writing just made it more 'present' for me. This 'presentness' made what was next to come in the story a bit more mysterious, less predictable.
The mystery is implied. There are some questions that came up and yet left unresolved like who were those men who kidnapped the young, unshifted males or what was that chain mentioned by the kidnappers that made shifting impossible? There is more of a story here than what is written. This makes me think there is a sequel to this or this may just be the beginning of an already unfolding arc.
All in all, this was a really light read and yet it left me satisfied no end. The romantic aspect was sweet and the bit of action told was quite visual. The whole story was just told in a manner not quite what we may be used to but still gave me that 'oomph' I was looking for. Yes, this surprised me, but it did so in a really good way. So yeah, goofy smile on!
The Choosing was a very nice surprise for me. This was filed in my Holiday Reads folder and frankly kept this for last for I honestly thought this was just another paranormal shape-shifter story. Well, it is a paranormal, shape-shifter story but somehow this came out strong and very visual.
This is basically the story of Jerath and his coming of age as a shape-shifter. Through some unfortunate events, his rite through Choosing was interrupted because of the kidnappings of some of his friends and he and his best-friend Serim find themselves in the middle of nowhere, running for the one village they had heard would help theirs out. Along the way, Jerath's fangs descend and Serim goes through the rite with him. (At this point, I have to warn those MM purists out there that there is the one MF scene necessary written in. The necessity is for Jerath to get through the rite and be able to shift. Without Serim, he could have lost all.)
Soon they meet up with the hunters led by Meren, the chief's son who come from the very village they were searching for. What takes Jerath by surprise is the bond the rises between them. Coming from a village that sees same sex bonding as wasteful, it took some time for him for adjust to Meren who sees this as a normal pairing.
The bonding between these two young men was formulaic, but that is as far as this book's formulaicness goes. There is none of the rushed screaming out the primal MINE! for one. Instead, we get a gradual acceptance of the other, a gradual learning of each other, and a gradual loving. This is what made this whole book a bit different from the rest.
What really got my attention was the way this was written: it is in present tense. It was quite different but somehow it lent a bit of mystery to the story. (I know, I may not make sense here, but bear with me.) This style of writing just made it more 'present' for me. This 'presentness' made what was next to come in the story a bit more mysterious, less predictable.
The mystery is implied. There are some questions that came up and yet left unresolved like who were those men who kidnapped the young, unshifted males or what was that chain mentioned by the kidnappers that made shifting impossible? There is more of a story here than what is written. This makes me think there is a sequel to this or this may just be the beginning of an already unfolding arc.
All in all, this was a really light read and yet it left me satisfied no end. The romantic aspect was sweet and the bit of action told was quite visual. The whole story was just told in a manner not quite what we may be used to but still gave me that 'oomph' I was looking for. Yes, this surprised me, but it did so in a really good way. So yeah, goofy smile on!
January 29, 2014
This is a great book. Excellent world building and engaging writing. I was in this world of shifters and hunters and their goddess. I found the mythos intriguing and would enjoy exploring this world in more detail, maybe there will be more stories in this universe.
Jerath is sweet, brave, shy and loyal. A bit of a late bloomer in his village he feels like he will never make the transition and then suddenly he is terrified that he will not be able to complete his transformation without the proper rituals as they are on the run to find help for their families and friends.
Merin is a good and honest man, he does not hesitate to offer the two strange shifters aid and quickly adapts the plans of the hunting party he is leading to allow them to seek help with his tribe. He is immediately smitten with Jareth and has no problem making his attraction known. While he struggled with the consequences of falling for someone who lives so far away, he never tries to hide or deny his growing feelings for Jareth.
Jereth rises to the occasion when his village comes under attack and I was impressed with the way that he and Serim stayed calm and found the help they needed to save their people. It would have been terrifying for two young people who had never strayed so far from their home and were used to loving in a small, strict and old fashioned community.
A fun and charming adventure story full of shifters, hunters, and a few battles. I very much enjoyed my time in this world.
Reviewed by Nina
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
Jerath is sweet, brave, shy and loyal. A bit of a late bloomer in his village he feels like he will never make the transition and then suddenly he is terrified that he will not be able to complete his transformation without the proper rituals as they are on the run to find help for their families and friends.
Merin is a good and honest man, he does not hesitate to offer the two strange shifters aid and quickly adapts the plans of the hunting party he is leading to allow them to seek help with his tribe. He is immediately smitten with Jareth and has no problem making his attraction known. While he struggled with the consequences of falling for someone who lives so far away, he never tries to hide or deny his growing feelings for Jareth.
Jereth rises to the occasion when his village comes under attack and I was impressed with the way that he and Serim stayed calm and found the help they needed to save their people. It would have been terrifying for two young people who had never strayed so far from their home and were used to loving in a small, strict and old fashioned community.
A fun and charming adventure story full of shifters, hunters, and a few battles. I very much enjoyed my time in this world.
Reviewed by Nina
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
October 5, 2013
Disclaimer: I am a friend of the author, and also her pre-reader (hence the early review) so am clearly not impartial :)
But I loved it. It’s exciting, sweet, and sexy.
The alternate magical world of shifters and hunters that Annabelle Jacobs has created feels very vivid and the characters are wonderful. It’s well-paced, easy to read and flows well. Although the romance is important to the story it’s by no means the only thing going on here. There is a strong plot independent from the romance and plenty of drama.
The main character, Jerath, is an easy character to fall for. I loved him right from the start of the story and was sad for him when it looked like he'd be unable to find a mate among his own people. So I was thrilled when Meren came into his life.
The secondary characters in this novel are very strong too. I particularly loved the portrayal of Serim. It’s good to read a really strong, positive female character and Serim is really kick-ass and a wonderful friend to Jerath.
I usually tend to read more contemporary than fantasy/supernatural but I loved this world of shifters and hunters. I’m a total sucker for coming of age stories so this really hit the spot for me in that regard. Even on my third read-through of The Choosing I was engaged throughout and rooting for the characters to get their happy ending.
But I loved it. It’s exciting, sweet, and sexy.
The alternate magical world of shifters and hunters that Annabelle Jacobs has created feels very vivid and the characters are wonderful. It’s well-paced, easy to read and flows well. Although the romance is important to the story it’s by no means the only thing going on here. There is a strong plot independent from the romance and plenty of drama.
The main character, Jerath, is an easy character to fall for. I loved him right from the start of the story and was sad for him when it looked like he'd be unable to find a mate among his own people. So I was thrilled when Meren came into his life.
The secondary characters in this novel are very strong too. I particularly loved the portrayal of Serim. It’s good to read a really strong, positive female character and Serim is really kick-ass and a wonderful friend to Jerath.
I usually tend to read more contemporary than fantasy/supernatural but I loved this world of shifters and hunters. I’m a total sucker for coming of age stories so this really hit the spot for me in that regard. Even on my third read-through of The Choosing I was engaged throughout and rooting for the characters to get their happy ending.
October 25, 2013
4 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Jerath is impatiently waiting for his fangs to drop, but he is also filled with dread. When his fangs drop it is a sign of his coming of age and he will have to perform the Choosing rite on the full moon if he wants to have his animal form, but the rite calls for sex with a female and Jerath only likes boys. But, Jerath also has a bigger worry when his village is raided and the males are taken, Jerath and his best friend Serim have to seek aid from the southern lands before time runs out for some young villagers and they lose their chance at the rite. Jerath discovers his mate on their journey but Meren, a young warrior, can't leave his own village and is unsure if he wants a permanent partner.
This is a great coming of age story that has a wonderful fantasy storyline. Jerath is the young man we follow in this story as he comes of age, finds his mate and seeks aid to rescue his village. We see the difficulty he faces as he both longs for and dreads his fangs dropping, he watches his village being raided, he undertakes the journey for aid and then the rescue of his fellow villagers. On top of that we see his relationship with his mate as it goes through the ups and downs that both young men face.
I did enjoy this story and was only disappointed with one aspect of the story which I will come to later. The world that is described comes to life as we delve deeper into the book, we see a fascinating culture as the villagers work and live together and their customs as the full moon approaches. We see the deep and loving friendship between Jerath and Serim and then the unsure new relationship between Jerath and Meren and the difficult decisions they have to make. There is some excitement and danger as they rescue Jerath's fellow villages, but there is also fear as a misunderstanding comes to light. Meren and Jerath are a wonderful couple and suit each other perfectly once they both decide they know what they want, they are really sweet and cute and as they experiment with each other and further their relationship they are hot.
The problem that I had with this story is the rite that Jerath had to undergo, he HAS to have sex with a female to become a shifter and seeing as he is very much gay he had to take a special berry that would help him out.... so he was drugged. I really had a hard time making sense of that part of the storyline especially seeing as his mate was male. The Goddess decided that the males can shift if they go through the Choosing ritual with a female but will lose the shift if they don't.... so why would any of the males be gay?.... or their mates male?, it sticks in my craw that these men are forced to have sex with a female to get their animal half and they have no choice.... they lose a part of themselves if they don't. And yes the mf sex is very much in evidence and although it was handled beautifully it still pissed me off.
I recommend this to those who love a fantasy world with shifters, young adults coming into their own, discovering something you have always longed for, finding love in trying times, danger and rescues and a wonderful happy ending.
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews
Jerath is impatiently waiting for his fangs to drop, but he is also filled with dread. When his fangs drop it is a sign of his coming of age and he will have to perform the Choosing rite on the full moon if he wants to have his animal form, but the rite calls for sex with a female and Jerath only likes boys. But, Jerath also has a bigger worry when his village is raided and the males are taken, Jerath and his best friend Serim have to seek aid from the southern lands before time runs out for some young villagers and they lose their chance at the rite. Jerath discovers his mate on their journey but Meren, a young warrior, can't leave his own village and is unsure if he wants a permanent partner.
This is a great coming of age story that has a wonderful fantasy storyline. Jerath is the young man we follow in this story as he comes of age, finds his mate and seeks aid to rescue his village. We see the difficulty he faces as he both longs for and dreads his fangs dropping, he watches his village being raided, he undertakes the journey for aid and then the rescue of his fellow villagers. On top of that we see his relationship with his mate as it goes through the ups and downs that both young men face.
I did enjoy this story and was only disappointed with one aspect of the story which I will come to later. The world that is described comes to life as we delve deeper into the book, we see a fascinating culture as the villagers work and live together and their customs as the full moon approaches. We see the deep and loving friendship between Jerath and Serim and then the unsure new relationship between Jerath and Meren and the difficult decisions they have to make. There is some excitement and danger as they rescue Jerath's fellow villages, but there is also fear as a misunderstanding comes to light. Meren and Jerath are a wonderful couple and suit each other perfectly once they both decide they know what they want, they are really sweet and cute and as they experiment with each other and further their relationship they are hot.
The problem that I had with this story is the rite that Jerath had to undergo, he HAS to have sex with a female to become a shifter and seeing as he is very much gay he had to take a special berry that would help him out.... so he was drugged. I really had a hard time making sense of that part of the storyline especially seeing as his mate was male. The Goddess decided that the males can shift if they go through the Choosing ritual with a female but will lose the shift if they don't.... so why would any of the males be gay?.... or their mates male?, it sticks in my craw that these men are forced to have sex with a female to get their animal half and they have no choice.... they lose a part of themselves if they don't. And yes the mf sex is very much in evidence and although it was handled beautifully it still pissed me off.
I recommend this to those who love a fantasy world with shifters, young adults coming into their own, discovering something you have always longed for, finding love in trying times, danger and rescues and a wonderful happy ending.
March 27, 2018
3.5 stars I agree with many others that the title and cover of the book doesn’t really match the story. Serim is the Black Panther, though she is Jerath’s friend, she is not the love interest.
The Choosing is an interesting concept and, while it plays an important part, i don’t feel it should have been the focus. When I read mm I don’t want a mf scene, especially one where both parties aren’t really that into it.
I liked Jerath, I liked Meren. I was glad how their story progressed and the epilogue. I think it was imaginative and entertaining. I liked the supporting characters and felt they were multi dimensional. The story just didn’t wow me over all.
The Choosing is an interesting concept and, while it plays an important part, i don’t feel it should have been the focus. When I read mm I don’t want a mf scene, especially one where both parties aren’t really that into it.
I liked Jerath, I liked Meren. I was glad how their story progressed and the epilogue. I think it was imaginative and entertaining. I liked the supporting characters and felt they were multi dimensional. The story just didn’t wow me over all.
August 12, 2014
4.5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was completely immersed in the characters and world Ms. Jacobs built. The imagery of the Choosing ritual was beautiful.
October 25, 2013
It's good. 3.75
September 7, 2014
4.5
Really enjoyable read :)
Nice world set-up and good characters
Really enjoyable read :)
Nice world set-up and good characters
October 29, 2013
3 Stars
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
Jerath is aware he’s not at all like the other boys in his village. He’s not even remotely interested in girls romantically. That will make his life hard when he finally gets his fangs and is ready for the Choosing, when he will be initiated into his shifter status. Of course, he’s late getting his fangs, too. Jerath is assured by his mother and best friends that he will in fact be able to be initiated, and all seems to be going a touch more smoothly, when his village is raided and most of the young men are kidnapped. Jerath and his best friend Serim are able to escape and search for help. Many years ago hunters from the south helped his home village of Eladir in a similar situation. Of course, Jerath’s fangs come in while he and Serim are on the run. Despite his fears and the lack of the normal ceremony, Jerath and Serim are able to fully initiate him into his shifter status. Not long after that they find a band of hunters willing to help. Jerath and the leader of the band of hunters, Meren, are instantly attracted to each other. Jerath isn’t used to such a frank and honest declaration of sexual attraction and intent. It takes him a while to fully warm up to Meren. When he and Meren do finally get together for a night of fun, it rapidly escalates to a trip down the road to mating.
Meren and Jerath both pull back from any potential bond. Jerath is hurt but understands neither of them really want to leave their home village. Shifters rarely leave home and Meren is the son of the village leader and the heir apparent. The men try to ignore each other as they leave the temporary hunting camp and head for Meren’s home village. Their separation only lasts til Jerath is in danger. They agree to see where their relationship is going and arrive at Meren’s village. Things go to crap when Jerath and Serim see Meren talking with the men Jerath saw in Eladir after the other shifters had been kidnapped. He and Serim hide. Meren is first terrified Jerath is gone then upset Jerath didn’t trust him enough to learn the truth about the men in his village. Jerath has to do a lot of sweet talking to get back in Meren’s good graces. Especially as Meren’s father and the men from his village are going to help get back all the kidnapped shifters, some of whom need to go through the Choosing before it’s too late. They’re running out of time. Before the rescue Meren and Jerath decide to become fully mated. They’re better able to fight together if they can sense what the other is feeling. Unfortunately for Jerath, it gives him a front row seat to Meren’s feelings as he receives a potentially fatal injury.
Why was this book in present tense? If it’s meant to create a sense of urgency and immediacy it wasn’t at all necessary. The lion’s share of the story was not action. Jerath chatting with his friends did not need to feel tense. At all. Present tense felt unnecessary and contrived. I also felt much of the conflict between the two main characters could have been solved with thirty seconds of open communications. Yes, I get they were guys. And sometimes guys are just blunt and honest and say what they mean. Guys not talking to each other doesn’t always work and can skirt the edge of stereotypes.
Having said all that I didn’t have any problem reading the book apart from the occasional eye roll. The premise was interesting as was the world building even if they weren’t especially original. It was nice to see a couple that had some misfires, and I also always appreciate of a book with shifters that doesn’t have fated mates. I would recommend this book to anyone who is already a big fan of shifters, but not to someone looking to become a fan of shifters.
A "Live Your Life, Buy The Book" Review
Jerath is aware he’s not at all like the other boys in his village. He’s not even remotely interested in girls romantically. That will make his life hard when he finally gets his fangs and is ready for the Choosing, when he will be initiated into his shifter status. Of course, he’s late getting his fangs, too. Jerath is assured by his mother and best friends that he will in fact be able to be initiated, and all seems to be going a touch more smoothly, when his village is raided and most of the young men are kidnapped. Jerath and his best friend Serim are able to escape and search for help. Many years ago hunters from the south helped his home village of Eladir in a similar situation. Of course, Jerath’s fangs come in while he and Serim are on the run. Despite his fears and the lack of the normal ceremony, Jerath and Serim are able to fully initiate him into his shifter status. Not long after that they find a band of hunters willing to help. Jerath and the leader of the band of hunters, Meren, are instantly attracted to each other. Jerath isn’t used to such a frank and honest declaration of sexual attraction and intent. It takes him a while to fully warm up to Meren. When he and Meren do finally get together for a night of fun, it rapidly escalates to a trip down the road to mating.
Meren and Jerath both pull back from any potential bond. Jerath is hurt but understands neither of them really want to leave their home village. Shifters rarely leave home and Meren is the son of the village leader and the heir apparent. The men try to ignore each other as they leave the temporary hunting camp and head for Meren’s home village. Their separation only lasts til Jerath is in danger. They agree to see where their relationship is going and arrive at Meren’s village. Things go to crap when Jerath and Serim see Meren talking with the men Jerath saw in Eladir after the other shifters had been kidnapped. He and Serim hide. Meren is first terrified Jerath is gone then upset Jerath didn’t trust him enough to learn the truth about the men in his village. Jerath has to do a lot of sweet talking to get back in Meren’s good graces. Especially as Meren’s father and the men from his village are going to help get back all the kidnapped shifters, some of whom need to go through the Choosing before it’s too late. They’re running out of time. Before the rescue Meren and Jerath decide to become fully mated. They’re better able to fight together if they can sense what the other is feeling. Unfortunately for Jerath, it gives him a front row seat to Meren’s feelings as he receives a potentially fatal injury.
Why was this book in present tense? If it’s meant to create a sense of urgency and immediacy it wasn’t at all necessary. The lion’s share of the story was not action. Jerath chatting with his friends did not need to feel tense. At all. Present tense felt unnecessary and contrived. I also felt much of the conflict between the two main characters could have been solved with thirty seconds of open communications. Yes, I get they were guys. And sometimes guys are just blunt and honest and say what they mean. Guys not talking to each other doesn’t always work and can skirt the edge of stereotypes.
Having said all that I didn’t have any problem reading the book apart from the occasional eye roll. The premise was interesting as was the world building even if they weren’t especially original. It was nice to see a couple that had some misfires, and I also always appreciate of a book with shifters that doesn’t have fated mates. I would recommend this book to anyone who is already a big fan of shifters, but not to someone looking to become a fan of shifters.
July 23, 2014
3.5 stars
I really liked the author's writing style - has an overall good voice and pacing - and I'm looking forward to more books by her.
I almost gave this one 4 stars, but there were some things that annoyed me. Do keep in mind that I am a rather harsh critic at times :P
1- there were 3 characters with similar sounding names - Malek, Mahli and Meren - and that is always confusing for me. I'm glad that they weren't all together in that many scenes.
2- straight sex warning :) Half the book seemed more of a straight romance, which I could have actually approved of. The girl was nice, they had a strong relationship built on friendship and trust, they were somewhat forced by circumstances to be together but she made it ok, even managing to get past what would otherwise be awkward and/or uncomfortable. The sex between them was kind of cute and hot. I liked how they interacted, which brings me to:
3- the male love interest was introduced at a point where I almost lost all hope for a MM relationship. And then it was kind of a 'you are my mate' at first sight. Well... almost... I have to admit it took one or two days to actually say those words. But it was very insta-attraction and 5 minutes later it's love. I was hoping for something much more earth-shattering to make the previous (straight) relationship seem like nothing in comparison.
4- in the end I felt like I didn't fully understand the politics between the villages, the slave traders (?) and what type of world they were in. We are told that there are shifters only in that forest (because of some pact with a Goddess), but then we learn that some guys far away keep shifters as slaves and even went as far as creating (magical?) collars that can control the shift against their will. And in no way were people disappearing regularly from the forest (they were only about 700+ people and they would have noticed).
5- what was up with that guy Kyr? I was really curious how he ends up, but that remains a mystery.
Maybe there will be a sequel with Kyr in which there is more world building? That would be nice.
I really liked the author's writing style - has an overall good voice and pacing - and I'm looking forward to more books by her.
I almost gave this one 4 stars, but there were some things that annoyed me. Do keep in mind that I am a rather harsh critic at times :P
1- there were 3 characters with similar sounding names - Malek, Mahli and Meren - and that is always confusing for me. I'm glad that they weren't all together in that many scenes.
2- straight sex warning :) Half the book seemed more of a straight romance, which I could have actually approved of. The girl was nice, they had a strong relationship built on friendship and trust, they were somewhat forced by circumstances to be together but she made it ok, even managing to get past what would otherwise be awkward and/or uncomfortable. The sex between them was kind of cute and hot. I liked how they interacted, which brings me to:
3- the male love interest was introduced at a point where I almost lost all hope for a MM relationship. And then it was kind of a 'you are my mate' at first sight. Well... almost... I have to admit it took one or two days to actually say those words. But it was very insta-attraction and 5 minutes later it's love. I was hoping for something much more earth-shattering to make the previous (straight) relationship seem like nothing in comparison.
4- in the end I felt like I didn't fully understand the politics between the villages, the slave traders (?) and what type of world they were in. We are told that there are shifters only in that forest (because of some pact with a Goddess), but then we learn that some guys far away keep shifters as slaves and even went as far as creating (magical?) collars that can control the shift against their will. And in no way were people disappearing regularly from the forest (they were only about 700+ people and they would have noticed).
5- what was up with that guy Kyr? I was really curious how he ends up, but that remains a mystery.
Maybe there will be a sequel with Kyr in which there is more world building? That would be nice.
April 12, 2016
★★★★ = I may not read it again but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Gay shifter romance with magic, mates, bonding and amazing sex? Yes please!
The Choosing was great addition to my shift romance collection. I enjoyed the fantasy that Annabelle Jacobs created for this. It had genres that we've all read before but with a twist of magic around tattoos and full moons that spiced it up. The fantasy added the angst; the edge and was a pleasure to read. This is also the first book I've ever read where... And it was hot (both times).
I enjoyed the ride along with the general make-up of the story. The village where Jerath lived. His friends. His daily tasks and life style. It was interesting to read. I also liked the characters that Annabelle created and found myself liking more than one.
The romance was fast and I liked it based on the whole lust-at-first-sight. I like romances where the animal takes over the human brain. Must. Mate. Now! Biting, sucking, clawing, drinking blood....yeah, it's a weakness of mine ;)
The drama was also great and not just the......but the drama around Jareth and his coming-of-age ceremony.
My only negative is that I wish this was a mini series; I could have easier read three or four more of these books. And maybe that it did lag in the end, only a little bit, but had a very nice conclusion to everything; HEA.
If you're looking for a fantasy shifter romance with a twist, I recommend this. I also suggest this if you enjoy good friendships between males and females without the romantic aspects.
Gay shifter romance with magic, mates, bonding and amazing sex? Yes please!
The Choosing was great addition to my shift romance collection. I enjoyed the fantasy that Annabelle Jacobs created for this. It had genres that we've all read before but with a twist of magic around tattoos and full moons that spiced it up. The fantasy added the angst; the edge and was a pleasure to read. This is also the first book I've ever read where... And it was hot (both times).
I enjoyed the ride along with the general make-up of the story. The village where Jerath lived. His friends. His daily tasks and life style. It was interesting to read. I also liked the characters that Annabelle created and found myself liking more than one.
The romance was fast and I liked it based on the whole lust-at-first-sight. I like romances where the animal takes over the human brain. Must. Mate. Now! Biting, sucking, clawing, drinking blood....yeah, it's a weakness of mine ;)
The drama was also great and not just the......but the drama around Jareth and his coming-of-age ceremony.
My only negative is that I wish this was a mini series; I could have easier read three or four more of these books. And maybe that it did lag in the end, only a little bit, but had a very nice conclusion to everything; HEA.
If you're looking for a fantasy shifter romance with a twist, I recommend this. I also suggest this if you enjoy good friendships between males and females without the romantic aspects.
December 4, 2013
This review was originally written for Joyfully Jay Reviews at joyfullyjay.com
You can see Melanie's review in it's entirety by clicking here.
The Choosing by Annabelle Jacobs gave me a myriad of emotions and thoughts about this book. The author has painted a story that has a broad canvas with a far reaching plot that covers religion, coming of age, and differing cultures. Perhaps too large a canvas. Jacobs has given us a geographical universe bound together by a Goddess and the limitations of population upon a singular habitat. There are several villages surrounded by the Arachia Mountains whose four peaks protect the valley and the villages from being attacked “from the rear.” The villages are surrounded by woods as well, which are being cut down to make room for more families as each village contains three to four hundred people. The villages are governed by the laws of the Goddess of the Woods.
You can see Melanie's review in it's entirety by clicking here.
The Choosing by Annabelle Jacobs gave me a myriad of emotions and thoughts about this book. The author has painted a story that has a broad canvas with a far reaching plot that covers religion, coming of age, and differing cultures. Perhaps too large a canvas. Jacobs has given us a geographical universe bound together by a Goddess and the limitations of population upon a singular habitat. There are several villages surrounded by the Arachia Mountains whose four peaks protect the valley and the villages from being attacked “from the rear.” The villages are surrounded by woods as well, which are being cut down to make room for more families as each village contains three to four hundred people. The villages are governed by the laws of the Goddess of the Woods.
September 5, 2015
Oi. This book is very badly written... it's stilted and amateurish and the way the characters interact doesn't come off as natural. The first 30% of the book, the protagonist is fretting over his Choosing (which is the entire title/synopsis of the book??) because he's gay and he'd have to bang a lady to pull it off. Only the Choosing is not permanent? It's a one-night deal? And he has two very close female friends, both of whom say they are willing to do the Choosing ritual with him with the aid of viagra berries (this is a legit thing) so...?? that solves the entire issue presented in the blurb for the book. And around the 35% mark, he does have platonic sex with his female friend and the Choosing happens and ta-da! Okay so why even have the first 30% of this book????? Immediately after is a bit of "oh my! a hot male! who is of course gay! and into me!" and just oi. not here for it. Especially not going to put up with the bad writing to maybe get a romance after putting up with 1/3 of the book being a waste of time. No thank you.
April 19, 2015
Present tense. Ugh.
The world was very interesting and the idea seemed fine, but honestly I couldn't care much for any of the characters, or half the plot, or the writing style. Specially the writing style. Well, I actually kind of liked the MC but not so much his partner... but really, mostly, I think it was the writing style and not the plot itself that made me completely lose interest in all else.
The world was very interesting and the idea seemed fine, but honestly I couldn't care much for any of the characters, or half the plot, or the writing style. Specially the writing style. Well, I actually kind of liked the MC but not so much his partner... but really, mostly, I think it was the writing style and not the plot itself that made me completely lose interest in all else.
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October 27, 2013fyi, there is a mf scene. also written present tense
January 24, 2014
Story plot was pulling at the same time I can't say the same for "Annabelle Jacobs" writing stile. It was unattractive and repulsive.
August 7, 2015
Not a bad story at all. I might have expected something different.
October 31, 2013
Impulse purchases should be punishable by credit card confiscation.
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