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The Chosen One
Discover the Thought-Provoking Fantasy That Began a Philosopher’s Journey
From Daniel Paksi, a philosopher and academic, comes The Chosen One, the first English translation of his debut novel originally published in 1998. The Chosen One is a captivating young adult fantasy that combines the rich storytelling of classic epic quests with deep philosophical undertones that challenge the boundaries of destiny and free will.
Whether you're a fan of timeless fantasy adventures or a seeker of deeper meanings hidden within stories, The Chosen One offers a unique blend of action, heart, and intellect. Dive into the novel that marked the beginning of an extraordinary career and explore a tale that resonates across generations.
Thirteen Banner Lords rule the material plane; thirteen became kings by the grace of God. And at the end of the Year of the Repartition, God grants freedom to His stewards of this world. Cruel years will follow each other, as before.
But in every Year of the Repartition, a child is born. A child who carries the blessing of the One God of infinite power in his soul. A child, the only one in the world who can stand up to the cruel power of the Banner Lords. But no one knows whether this child will be a boy or a girl, a blonde or a brunette. It is only certain that they are the only one from whom our God does not protect his vicars. The only one who can break this cruel yoke…
Although this has never happened before.
From Daniel Paksi, a philosopher and academic, comes The Chosen One, the first English translation of his debut novel originally published in 1998. The Chosen One is a captivating young adult fantasy that combines the rich storytelling of classic epic quests with deep philosophical undertones that challenge the boundaries of destiny and free will.
Whether you're a fan of timeless fantasy adventures or a seeker of deeper meanings hidden within stories, The Chosen One offers a unique blend of action, heart, and intellect. Dive into the novel that marked the beginning of an extraordinary career and explore a tale that resonates across generations.
Thirteen Banner Lords rule the material plane; thirteen became kings by the grace of God. And at the end of the Year of the Repartition, God grants freedom to His stewards of this world. Cruel years will follow each other, as before.
But in every Year of the Repartition, a child is born. A child who carries the blessing of the One God of infinite power in his soul. A child, the only one in the world who can stand up to the cruel power of the Banner Lords. But no one knows whether this child will be a boy or a girl, a blonde or a brunette. It is only certain that they are the only one from whom our God does not protect his vicars. The only one who can break this cruel yoke…
Although this has never happened before.
560 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2025
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 19, 2025
# When Destiny Becomes a Burden: A Stunning Fantasy Debut
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Huge thanks to Daniel Paksi and Rock and Roll Publishing for the advance reader copy - this review reflects my honest thoughts and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read this!
Listen, I am STILL processing this book. "The Chosen One" took everything I thought I knew about chosen one narratives and completely flipped it on its head. This is the kind of fantasy that makes you question everything while simultaneously keeping you glued to the pages.
The premise is absolutely fascinating: every generation, God supposedly sends a chosen child to challenge the Banner Lords who rule with devastating cruelty. But here's the twist that had me completely hooked - it's never actually succeeded before. Ever. The weight of that failure, that endless cycle of hope and disappointment, permeates every single page.
Koran is such a compelling protagonist because he's not your typical hero. He's powerful, yes, but he's also lost, confused, and carrying the weight of expectations he never asked for. His magical abilities feel more like a burden than a gift, and Paksi does such a beautiful job showing how that affects his relationships and his sense of self.
The friendship between Koran and Daren absolutely made my heart sing. These two characters complement each other so perfectly - Koran's melancholy balanced by Daren's lightness, their different backgrounds creating this rich dynamic that feels completely authentic. Their bond becomes this anchor point in a world that's constantly trying to tear everything apart.
I have to mention the magic system because WOW. It's intricate and fascinating without being overwhelming, and the magical battles are absolutely epic. Paksi has this incredible ability to make you feel the weight and consequence of every spell cast.
The world-building is top-tier. The political intrigue, the religious undertones, the way power corrupts - it all feels incredibly real and lived-in. This isn't just a fantasy world; it's a meditation on power, faith, and what it means to be chosen for something you might not want.
Be prepared for an emotional journey. This book doesn't shy away from tragedy, and some of the losses hit really hard. But that's what makes the moments of hope and connection so powerful. It's dark fantasy that remembers why the light matters.
If you're looking for fantasy that challenges genre conventions while delivering incredible character development and world-building, this is absolutely it. Cannot wait to see what Paksi does next!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Huge thanks to Daniel Paksi and Rock and Roll Publishing for the advance reader copy - this review reflects my honest thoughts and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to read this!
Listen, I am STILL processing this book. "The Chosen One" took everything I thought I knew about chosen one narratives and completely flipped it on its head. This is the kind of fantasy that makes you question everything while simultaneously keeping you glued to the pages.
The premise is absolutely fascinating: every generation, God supposedly sends a chosen child to challenge the Banner Lords who rule with devastating cruelty. But here's the twist that had me completely hooked - it's never actually succeeded before. Ever. The weight of that failure, that endless cycle of hope and disappointment, permeates every single page.
Koran is such a compelling protagonist because he's not your typical hero. He's powerful, yes, but he's also lost, confused, and carrying the weight of expectations he never asked for. His magical abilities feel more like a burden than a gift, and Paksi does such a beautiful job showing how that affects his relationships and his sense of self.
The friendship between Koran and Daren absolutely made my heart sing. These two characters complement each other so perfectly - Koran's melancholy balanced by Daren's lightness, their different backgrounds creating this rich dynamic that feels completely authentic. Their bond becomes this anchor point in a world that's constantly trying to tear everything apart.
I have to mention the magic system because WOW. It's intricate and fascinating without being overwhelming, and the magical battles are absolutely epic. Paksi has this incredible ability to make you feel the weight and consequence of every spell cast.
The world-building is top-tier. The political intrigue, the religious undertones, the way power corrupts - it all feels incredibly real and lived-in. This isn't just a fantasy world; it's a meditation on power, faith, and what it means to be chosen for something you might not want.
Be prepared for an emotional journey. This book doesn't shy away from tragedy, and some of the losses hit really hard. But that's what makes the moments of hope and connection so powerful. It's dark fantasy that remembers why the light matters.
If you're looking for fantasy that challenges genre conventions while delivering incredible character development and world-building, this is absolutely it. Cannot wait to see what Paksi does next!
April 10, 2025
Rock and Roll Publishing provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Chosen One is a gritty, tragic fantasy that follows Koran, a young village boy in a war-torn land who discovers he harbors special gifts. He learns magic quickly and gains immense power, but he struggles to find his path and calling in a violent, uncertain world. Tragedy and death confront him at every turn, and before long, he begins to view his talent as a curse rather than a blessing.
Many fantasy stories begin with a prophecy, and a special person steps in to fill the role, but in this tale, the reader and Koran himself discover pretty quickly that he is the Chosen One. However, he is uncertain what his path is meant to be, and the machinations of those in power only serve to further confuse his choices. At one point, "...[Koran] didn't really know what he wanted to do with his life. He felt like he was just drifting forward with events, and sometimes when the flow reversed, he would go backwards. And that was probably not the best use of his abilities." This is a sentiment many people, especially young people, will find relatable.
The story really shines when it comes to Koran's relationships. Although surrounded by chaos and destruction, Koran is still able to form several bonds, most notably with Daren, a young nobleman. I really appreciated their friendship because the two young men have markedly different personalities. While Koran is battle-hardened and melancholic, Daren is lighthearted and boyish, yet over time, they build a strong friendship and come to rely upon and value each other. Koran also has a formidable rivalry with fellow classmate Woran, which only intensifies as the story progresses. Although many of the people Koran loves meet dreadful ends, he fights to keep hope alive. He falters, but even when he is alone, he finds strength in the memories of his loved ones.
The magic system in The Chosen One is very intricate, with complex and fascinating rules. The magical conflicts Koran wages are action-packed, and the author does a great job keeping tension high in the fight scenes! The reader also meets several fascinating wizards, although, as with many of the characters, they tend not to survive the perilous setting very long.
I must also mention that this book was originally written in a different language, and unfortunately, odd wording due to translation may take the reader out of the story in places. Occasionally a character will be identified by one gender, only to change genders in the next paragraph. Conversations between the characters are sometimes a little confusing because their emotions do not always seem to match the words they speak, which may be a product of imprecise translation. Overall, however, the story is still easy to understand, and I enjoyed it very much.
The Chosen One is a gritty, tragic fantasy that follows Koran, a young village boy in a war-torn land who discovers he harbors special gifts. He learns magic quickly and gains immense power, but he struggles to find his path and calling in a violent, uncertain world. Tragedy and death confront him at every turn, and before long, he begins to view his talent as a curse rather than a blessing.
Many fantasy stories begin with a prophecy, and a special person steps in to fill the role, but in this tale, the reader and Koran himself discover pretty quickly that he is the Chosen One. However, he is uncertain what his path is meant to be, and the machinations of those in power only serve to further confuse his choices. At one point, "...[Koran] didn't really know what he wanted to do with his life. He felt like he was just drifting forward with events, and sometimes when the flow reversed, he would go backwards. And that was probably not the best use of his abilities." This is a sentiment many people, especially young people, will find relatable.
The story really shines when it comes to Koran's relationships. Although surrounded by chaos and destruction, Koran is still able to form several bonds, most notably with Daren, a young nobleman. I really appreciated their friendship because the two young men have markedly different personalities. While Koran is battle-hardened and melancholic, Daren is lighthearted and boyish, yet over time, they build a strong friendship and come to rely upon and value each other. Koran also has a formidable rivalry with fellow classmate Woran, which only intensifies as the story progresses. Although many of the people Koran loves meet dreadful ends, he fights to keep hope alive. He falters, but even when he is alone, he finds strength in the memories of his loved ones.
The magic system in The Chosen One is very intricate, with complex and fascinating rules. The magical conflicts Koran wages are action-packed, and the author does a great job keeping tension high in the fight scenes! The reader also meets several fascinating wizards, although, as with many of the characters, they tend not to survive the perilous setting very long.
I must also mention that this book was originally written in a different language, and unfortunately, odd wording due to translation may take the reader out of the story in places. Occasionally a character will be identified by one gender, only to change genders in the next paragraph. Conversations between the characters are sometimes a little confusing because their emotions do not always seem to match the words they speak, which may be a product of imprecise translation. Overall, however, the story is still easy to understand, and I enjoyed it very much.
June 23, 2025
Recieved free copy for an honest review.
This is a thought-provoking book that you need to read from beginning to end. Sorrowfully, I don't read that way. The main characters are unique and you don't know where they will head from one scene to the next. But for my reading ways lately, I need books that are easier to follow.
Please read the description, I think there are lots of readers out there who would love this book.
This is a thought-provoking book that you need to read from beginning to end. Sorrowfully, I don't read that way. The main characters are unique and you don't know where they will head from one scene to the next. But for my reading ways lately, I need books that are easier to follow.
Please read the description, I think there are lots of readers out there who would love this book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews