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The Djinn Wars #1
Chosen
When a fatal fever nearly wipes out the entire world's population, the survivors of what became known as "the Dying" believe the worst is in the past. Little do they know…
In the aftermath of the Dying, survivor Jessica Monroe searches for sanctuary in a world unlike any she's ever known before. As fear and isolation envelop her, Jessica encounters the sensitive and helpful Jace, who she believes is another survivor. But Jace has a past and secrets of his own that's he not ready to disclose. Soon Jessica realizes that the destruction of humanity might actually be the first step in a larger, more complicated plan -- a plan that may very well involve her. Struggling to discover her role in a terrifying new world where everything has changed, she must decide who she can trust. But is the price for that trust just too high?
In the aftermath of the Dying, survivor Jessica Monroe searches for sanctuary in a world unlike any she's ever known before. As fear and isolation envelop her, Jessica encounters the sensitive and helpful Jace, who she believes is another survivor. But Jace has a past and secrets of his own that's he not ready to disclose. Soon Jessica realizes that the destruction of humanity might actually be the first step in a larger, more complicated plan -- a plan that may very well involve her. Struggling to discover her role in a terrifying new world where everything has changed, she must decide who she can trust. But is the price for that trust just too high?
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2015
339 people are currently reading
1958 people want to read
About the author
Christine Pope
217 books1,096 followersA native of Southern California, Christine Pope has been writing stories ever since she commandeered her family’s Smith-Corona typewriter back in the sixth grade. Many reams of dead trees later, she’s happy to announce that her debut novel, Fringe Benefits,was published by Pink Petal Books on April 8, 2010. Her short fiction has appeared in Astonishing Adventures, Luna Station Quarterly, and the new journal of dark fiction, Dark Valentine. Her paranormal novella, Playing With Fire, was released on August 5, 2010.
While Fringe Benefits is a straight contemporary romance, she writes in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical romance. She blames this on being easily distracted by bright, shiny objects, which could also account for the size of her shoe collection.
After spending many years in the magazine publishing industry, she now works as a freelance editor in addition to writing fiction. She lives with her husband and an explosively fluffy Pomeranian mix. Her house is pink, but don’t hold that against her.
While Fringe Benefits is a straight contemporary romance, she writes in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical romance. She blames this on being easily distracted by bright, shiny objects, which could also account for the size of her shoe collection.
After spending many years in the magazine publishing industry, she now works as a freelance editor in addition to writing fiction. She lives with her husband and an explosively fluffy Pomeranian mix. Her house is pink, but don’t hold that against her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
January 31, 2016
First off, it's the end of the world.
Girl takes care of sick and dying mother... But is highly concerned about getting stains on her clothes!?! Pretty sure staining is the least of your worries.
Then she decided to leave, packs a trunk of clothes, and a second trunk for her shoes..... But only takes two bottles of water.
Umm, what?!?
So sick of insta love novels that read as if they were written by a teen.
Girl find guy. Girl and guy fall in love within days of meeting and screw like rabbits.
Girl almost doesn't take birth control pills, cause hey, we're meant to be right!
Plus, he's hot. Can't let that DNA go to waste! (This was her actual thought process in the book).
The only reason she takes the pill, is because she doesn't want to give birth without an epidural. Not because it's the apocalypse, not because it's too soon or unreasonable, not because they haven't talked about having a kid, and surely not because they've only known each other for days....
just.... Just no.
Ugh.
Then, THEN, she finds out the truth one night.... He is a djinn. He is one of the people responsible for the plague, plans to kill more, and that she is just part of his plan.
She doesn't get upset over the fact that many died. She doesn't care that her families blood is on his hands. Who cares about friends, family, her life! That she is a pawn. Nah!!!! Let's freak out solely over the fact that he lied about his name and told her he loved her. Yup! That's all that matters here!
He gives her some line later, about how once in motion, he couldn't stop the plague. Yea, sure buddy. Of course she falls for it, and ignores everything else.
She doesn't even hate him. She loves him sooooo much she decides to 'think on it'.
Of course, just hours later she forgives him. Go figure. Shit. The only reason he admitted anything is because she caught him talking to another djinn!
Finally, the book ends with him being taken away by people who want to put the djinn on trial for crimes against humanity.
She fights to have him free, claims he is innocent. So, because you're a stupid cow that forgave him, he is magically innocent?
No. No. Just no.
It really sucks, that just anyone can publish a book now a days. I wish I could punch the author for this.
Girl takes care of sick and dying mother... But is highly concerned about getting stains on her clothes!?! Pretty sure staining is the least of your worries.
Then she decided to leave, packs a trunk of clothes, and a second trunk for her shoes..... But only takes two bottles of water.
Umm, what?!?
So sick of insta love novels that read as if they were written by a teen.
Girl find guy. Girl and guy fall in love within days of meeting and screw like rabbits.
Girl almost doesn't take birth control pills, cause hey, we're meant to be right!
Plus, he's hot. Can't let that DNA go to waste! (This was her actual thought process in the book).
The only reason she takes the pill, is because she doesn't want to give birth without an epidural. Not because it's the apocalypse, not because it's too soon or unreasonable, not because they haven't talked about having a kid, and surely not because they've only known each other for days....
just.... Just no.
Ugh.
Then, THEN, she finds out the truth one night.... He is a djinn. He is one of the people responsible for the plague, plans to kill more, and that she is just part of his plan.
She doesn't get upset over the fact that many died. She doesn't care that her families blood is on his hands. Who cares about friends, family, her life! That she is a pawn. Nah!!!! Let's freak out solely over the fact that he lied about his name and told her he loved her. Yup! That's all that matters here!
He gives her some line later, about how once in motion, he couldn't stop the plague. Yea, sure buddy. Of course she falls for it, and ignores everything else.
She doesn't even hate him. She loves him sooooo much she decides to 'think on it'.
Of course, just hours later she forgives him. Go figure. Shit. The only reason he admitted anything is because she caught him talking to another djinn!
Finally, the book ends with him being taken away by people who want to put the djinn on trial for crimes against humanity.
She fights to have him free, claims he is innocent. So, because you're a stupid cow that forgave him, he is magically innocent?
No. No. Just no.
It really sucks, that just anyone can publish a book now a days. I wish I could punch the author for this.
August 20, 2016
It's the end of the world.... and of me reading this about 30% into it (Chapter 6 of 18). This is probably a good story, it sounded interesting enough in the blurb. This needs some serious editing. Perhaps with 300 instead of 400 pages this would have been a snappy read.
I liked the tone of this first person narrative, but it was apparent rigth away that this is really, really longwinded. Overlong sentences, repetitions of things already stated, pointing out of the obvious, exhaustive explanations of absolutely everything. Everything.
Example of the average length of a sentence, from Chapter 1:
"And as I got out of my car and locked it, I saw that at least half the students walking around on campus wore surgical masks, the white disposable kind the news reports showed people in China wearing on days when the smog was particularly bad."
Then there is the plot itself. Her mother is dyeing and she is worried about getting stains on her blouse. Or a car careenes slowly across the street and rolls to a stop on the neighbours' lawn and she doesn't go to investigate. And so on.
Also, if your whole family died in front of you, wouldn't you have a major emotional reaction? Nope, did not happen.
I am sorry, this is not well written. Fluent sentences, correct grammar, puntuation and spelling do not automatically make good writing. I can't read this. Sorry.
I liked the tone of this first person narrative, but it was apparent rigth away that this is really, really longwinded. Overlong sentences, repetitions of things already stated, pointing out of the obvious, exhaustive explanations of absolutely everything. Everything.
Example of the average length of a sentence, from Chapter 1:
"And as I got out of my car and locked it, I saw that at least half the students walking around on campus wore surgical masks, the white disposable kind the news reports showed people in China wearing on days when the smog was particularly bad."
Then there is the plot itself. Her mother is dyeing and she is worried about getting stains on her blouse. Or a car careenes slowly across the street and rolls to a stop on the neighbours' lawn and she doesn't go to investigate. And so on.
Also, if your whole family died in front of you, wouldn't you have a major emotional reaction? Nope, did not happen.
I am sorry, this is not well written. Fluent sentences, correct grammar, puntuation and spelling do not automatically make good writing. I can't read this. Sorry.
July 13, 2021
I don't know what everyone else was thinking. This was a wonderful book.
September 9, 2023
Entertaining fantasy listening 🎶🔰
I listened 🎶 to this as part of the Bad Magic box 📦 set. It is the first book in a twelve book series. As with a lot of series this book is free.
Jess Monroe lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with her family when the sickness breaks out. Her mother, father, and brother are dead with most of not all of the population of Albuquerque and the world 🌎. Why is she a survivor? She meets Jace who appears to be a survivor? What is going on? I would recommend this novel, series, and author to 👍 readers of fantasy horror novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡🏡
I have listened 🎶 and read a number of novels by Christine Pope and not been disappointed. Happy reading 📚 and have fun 🌙😀.
I listened 🎶 to this as part of the Bad Magic box 📦 set. It is the first book in a twelve book series. As with a lot of series this book is free.
Jess Monroe lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with her family when the sickness breaks out. Her mother, father, and brother are dead with most of not all of the population of Albuquerque and the world 🌎. Why is she a survivor? She meets Jace who appears to be a survivor? What is going on? I would recommend this novel, series, and author to 👍 readers of fantasy horror novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡🏡
I have listened 🎶 and read a number of novels by Christine Pope and not been disappointed. Happy reading 📚 and have fun 🌙😀.
August 19, 2015
I didn't love it, hell half the time I really didn't like it. I found it well written and the story well developed, but I had a personal issue with this story. I read to escape and explore the world outside my purview and this book just reminded me of all the drudgery of farm life I just spent the summer surviving. I was having a great time with mysterious illness and post apocalyptic justice and then enter the goats... I'm not sure how much time the author has spent one on one with those monsters, but none of the nannies I've milked have happily stood still. Oh no, they ate my hair, clothes or any thing within the vicinity of their mouth. They kicked my hand/bucket and tried to walk off about a million and a half times-which if you watch them nurse their young, is a standard practice. Ours were never happy to keep their feet on the ground and I think their philosophy was if it fit in their mouth, then it must be edible. Our herd always found a way to Houdini out of any enclosure. The only place I feel goats were accurately represented was in scene where the Buck's horns met flesh. Despite what my tirade may lead you to think, I love goats. They are hilarious and entertaining from the moment they take their first breath. They are just far more frustrating then depicted within this book.
Goats aside I also had issue with how descriptive this book was. I found myself drifting away from the text quite often and would have double back to make sure I didn't miss anything important... which wasn't often. I think the story would have benefited without describing every detail down to the third piece of glitter on the middle toe of the left foot that caught the light of the fire while she was drifting off to thoughts of all she had lost.
In all fairness it was successful in enticing me to read the next book. It finally got interesting again in the last few chapters and then dropped a cliffhanger. My curiosity was piqued and I just had to know... That was a shame on me.
Goats aside I also had issue with how descriptive this book was. I found myself drifting away from the text quite often and would have double back to make sure I didn't miss anything important... which wasn't often. I think the story would have benefited without describing every detail down to the third piece of glitter on the middle toe of the left foot that caught the light of the fire while she was drifting off to thoughts of all she had lost.
In all fairness it was successful in enticing me to read the next book. It finally got interesting again in the last few chapters and then dropped a cliffhanger. My curiosity was piqued and I just had to know... That was a shame on me.
September 17, 2019
This was honestly better than I thought it was going to be. After I purchased it I was worried it was going to be sex heavy, and while there are a few short sex scenes they don't overtake the book. It's not filled with lusty glances or innuendoes. Which, honestly, was such a relief.
But, it was a little boring. Well, maybe boring isn't the right word. Drawn out might be a bit better. The world is nearly wiped out by a plague that turns the people who catch it to ash. Jessica is immune. Soon after the disease enters her home and makes her family sick, she starts to hear a voice in her head that isn't hers.
This voice starts to take care of her, protecting her from other survivors who might see her harmed. Even brings her to a new place that has everything she needs to survive. The first half of this book was better than the second half. When a guy finds her place the voice tells her she can trust him and soon after the voice disappears.
About that time is when the story takes on a monotonous tone. They start to create a farm with goats and chickens. They don't run into any other survivors when they go out for supplies so there's no confrontations. It's all about the two of them forming a relationship. And since the house is stocked with supplies it doesn't feel like their surviving but rather just going about life.
The series title kind of gives away the big reveal, but the cause of the disease were Djinn who want their world back from humans. And the ones who survive the disease are being hunted down. The ending gave promise to more action in the future books which I will continue with. They're easy reads with a straightforward plot that's interesting.
But, it was a little boring. Well, maybe boring isn't the right word. Drawn out might be a bit better. The world is nearly wiped out by a plague that turns the people who catch it to ash. Jessica is immune. Soon after the disease enters her home and makes her family sick, she starts to hear a voice in her head that isn't hers.
This voice starts to take care of her, protecting her from other survivors who might see her harmed. Even brings her to a new place that has everything she needs to survive. The first half of this book was better than the second half. When a guy finds her place the voice tells her she can trust him and soon after the voice disappears.
About that time is when the story takes on a monotonous tone. They start to create a farm with goats and chickens. They don't run into any other survivors when they go out for supplies so there's no confrontations. It's all about the two of them forming a relationship. And since the house is stocked with supplies it doesn't feel like their surviving but rather just going about life.
The series title kind of gives away the big reveal, but the cause of the disease were Djinn who want their world back from humans. And the ones who survive the disease are being hunted down. The ending gave promise to more action in the future books which I will continue with. They're easy reads with a straightforward plot that's interesting.
May 26, 2016
Finally finished it, terrible book, it's well written but doesn't have anything on it. You get more from reading a newspaper. Don't try it.
February 27, 2021
I will not be continuing with this series. I didn't mind the writing, but that was about all that I even somewhat enjoyed. The characters just felt so unrealistic.
January 19, 2018
The main character Jessica is a self centred 24 yr old. She worries that putting ice packs on her dying mother will ruin her outfit. She is told what to do when a person gets sick by an ambulance officer… and doesn’t do it.
The phrase ‘more or less’ appears more or less thirty times. The phrase ‘had a feeling’ is about the same. Add in ‘I guessed’ as well.
Her mother just died and she wants to give her father shit for pouring himself a glass of scotch. *blinks* given she was out on a bender in the first chapter, she’s got a huge dose of double standards.
The bodies conveniently turn to ash within an hour of death… wtf? So science has gone out the window, too. For a worldwide medical apocalypse it’ll be kind of neat and tidy; no gore or subsequent issue with disease.
Her father is now dying and she can’t even hold his hand, just chides the fact that he didn’t put the lid back on the pills.
And there’s a voice in her head calling her beloved and telling her she’s spessshul. *grits teeth*
By the start of chapter five I want her to get this plague and die.
She doesn’t do anything sensible like collect water, food or fuel while she’s driving around checking out her friend’s houses. The power and water have already failed, and no TV stations are broadcasting.
Oh, COME ON…
The voice keeps her safe by invisibly assaulting another survivor (she calls him a creep, says he’s got mental health issues, is pasty, overweight and with yellow teeth - see? She’s horrid) and it gives her super healing, too.
[super ridiculous…]
Chapter 8 the helpful voice turns into a GPS and sends her to a survivalist compound - and unlocks it for her. *face palms*
None of it makes any sense and at the same time, it’s so predictable.
Does C Pope make the boxed sets? This book (and Darkangel, another by her) are in three or four different boxed sets that I have, and I don’t have ALL the boxed sets, you know?
This is a tiny bit better than the last one of her books I read.
2 stars
The phrase ‘more or less’ appears more or less thirty times. The phrase ‘had a feeling’ is about the same. Add in ‘I guessed’ as well.
Her mother just died and she wants to give her father shit for pouring himself a glass of scotch. *blinks* given she was out on a bender in the first chapter, she’s got a huge dose of double standards.
The bodies conveniently turn to ash within an hour of death… wtf? So science has gone out the window, too. For a worldwide medical apocalypse it’ll be kind of neat and tidy; no gore or subsequent issue with disease.
Her father is now dying and she can’t even hold his hand, just chides the fact that he didn’t put the lid back on the pills.
And there’s a voice in her head calling her beloved and telling her she’s spessshul. *grits teeth*
By the start of chapter five I want her to get this plague and die.
She doesn’t do anything sensible like collect water, food or fuel while she’s driving around checking out her friend’s houses. The power and water have already failed, and no TV stations are broadcasting.
More dogs came to join them, but there was no fighting over the food. In fact, I even saw a big pit bull mix move to one side to let a fluffy little dog — a Maltese, I guessed — come in next to him and start eating. “What the — ” I said aloud, and Dutchie swiveled her head in my direction.
The animals will be taken care of, the voice told me.
Oh, COME ON…
The voice keeps her safe by invisibly assaulting another survivor (she calls him a creep, says he’s got mental health issues, is pasty, overweight and with yellow teeth - see? She’s horrid) and it gives her super healing, too.
[super ridiculous…]
Chapter 8 the helpful voice turns into a GPS and sends her to a survivalist compound - and unlocks it for her. *face palms*
None of it makes any sense and at the same time, it’s so predictable.
Does C Pope make the boxed sets? This book (and Darkangel, another by her) are in three or four different boxed sets that I have, and I don’t have ALL the boxed sets, you know?
This is a tiny bit better than the last one of her books I read.
2 stars
February 20, 2015
Have you ever seen a movie trailer and wanted to un-see it because you feel like it spoiled something of the plot that you’d have rather not known before sitting down to see the movie? With Chosen by Christine Pope, I feel that, as a reviewer, pretty much anything I say about the plot is going to give something away that you’d rather discover for yourself. So, if you are a fan of Christine Pope, enjoy paranormal romance, apocalypse survival stories, or just want something creepy to read, Chosen is a good choice. If you want to read a story with a relateable strong female lead, a mysterious male lead, and enjoy reading about preppers or modern homesteading, then you can stop right now and buy this book in your preferred format without any further spoilers.
But, if you’re still not convinced and want to know more, I’ll start off with the obvious. This is book one of The Djinn Wars. so there is a Djinn in this story, and we encounter him pretty early on in the story as a voice in heroine Jessica Monroe’s head. We learn a lot about him from his presence and absence at various times throughout the book, and yes, his people are at war. Is he one of the good guys or bad guys? Or are any of them good? The storytelling stands up by itself without worrying about these questions for most of the book, but at the end you realize why there will be more books (and thankfully, they’ll be coming in rapid succession this spring).
Even without the rest of the series, Chosen is worth reading for Jessica alone. In a sea of paranormal romance books where an average-but-strong woman attracts the attention of a powerful man, Jessica has qualities of being a little above average, while still feeling like someone you’d encounter on a university campus. Her worries and fears feel familiar, even in the midst of the apocalypse. To be fair, there are a few chapters about three-fourths through the book that feel a little repetitive, but they do serve to bring about necessary dramatic tension. It is a darker book than I am usually drawn to, but that kept me turning pages long into the night to unravel the mysteries in the story.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
But, if you’re still not convinced and want to know more, I’ll start off with the obvious. This is book one of The Djinn Wars. so there is a Djinn in this story, and we encounter him pretty early on in the story as a voice in heroine Jessica Monroe’s head. We learn a lot about him from his presence and absence at various times throughout the book, and yes, his people are at war. Is he one of the good guys or bad guys? Or are any of them good? The storytelling stands up by itself without worrying about these questions for most of the book, but at the end you realize why there will be more books (and thankfully, they’ll be coming in rapid succession this spring).
Even without the rest of the series, Chosen is worth reading for Jessica alone. In a sea of paranormal romance books where an average-but-strong woman attracts the attention of a powerful man, Jessica has qualities of being a little above average, while still feeling like someone you’d encounter on a university campus. Her worries and fears feel familiar, even in the midst of the apocalypse. To be fair, there are a few chapters about three-fourths through the book that feel a little repetitive, but they do serve to bring about necessary dramatic tension. It is a darker book than I am usually drawn to, but that kept me turning pages long into the night to unravel the mysteries in the story.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
October 8, 2015
This is the first book in the Demons & Djinn collection of novels. It was an impulse buy. There are 13 novels in the collection, but I’ve only read the one so far and it might be quite a while before I read another. The post-apocalyptic part is what initially grabbed my interest. There were times when it seemed like the story was going somewhere and then it would putter around, losing the tension that had been built.
In a lot of ways this story just wasn’t for me. I’m a little weary of teenage romances. As a grown woman I’d like to see more mature characters so that I can relate to them better. Of course, that’s not to say there isn’t a market for this type of story. I’m just not the market that was targeted.
Some of the survival skill things were well done. Other things made me laugh a little.This wasn’t an awful book by any means, but it certainly wasn’t my cup of tea as they say. Nevertheless, the author wrote her story well even if it was too slow for my liking. Portions of it were pretty interesting. The author’s initial descriptions of “the Dying” and Jessica’s experiences were what made the book worth reviewing in my opinion. For me, the story kind of slumped in the middle. There was really nothing about a djinn until way late in the book. By that point I had kind of lost interest and was just pushing through to the end.
Note, this review was originally posted on my blog and is worded as such, https://tjhapney.wordpress.com/
In a lot of ways this story just wasn’t for me. I’m a little weary of teenage romances. As a grown woman I’d like to see more mature characters so that I can relate to them better. Of course, that’s not to say there isn’t a market for this type of story. I’m just not the market that was targeted.
Some of the survival skill things were well done. Other things made me laugh a little.This wasn’t an awful book by any means, but it certainly wasn’t my cup of tea as they say. Nevertheless, the author wrote her story well even if it was too slow for my liking. Portions of it were pretty interesting. The author’s initial descriptions of “the Dying” and Jessica’s experiences were what made the book worth reviewing in my opinion. For me, the story kind of slumped in the middle. There was really nothing about a djinn until way late in the book. By that point I had kind of lost interest and was just pushing through to the end.
Note, this review was originally posted on my blog and is worded as such, https://tjhapney.wordpress.com/
July 28, 2023
Admittedly, I didn't know where I was stepping in with this novel. Simply put, I had found the trilogy name interesting enough and went with it. I mean, what's not to like about Djinn and their stories. Well, I guess this one missed the whole thing in my opinion. It's not a bad novel in and of itself, but there's not much going on with this first volume in the trilogy unfortunately. I found myself glossing over sentences and paragraphs after a while just so that I could keep going and discover more. I got bored very quickly and could not find it in me to be invested in any of the characters (Hint: there are not many of them, what with the world apocalypse or whatever...). Anyway, I decided to give up on the trilogy altogether. I can't find enough interest to keep going with volume two. Moving on.
January 10, 2016
Blah, the book was written very well I just feel that it did not hold up to the kind of book it says its going to be. I don't know if I will continue this series. It seemed liked the book really didn't start until the last five pages. Which I knew was coming at about the half way mark. I just kept waiting for something to happen or make me care a little more for the main character.
September 24, 2015
i have really enjoyed reading this book it was a bit predictable here and there but it still had me gripped i finished it in one sitting. It was missing something for me though or it would of got a higher rating.
on to the next book
on to the next book
May 26, 2017
Really enjoyable, but awfully drawn out. Really enjoyed the characters and ideas that were spun into this story. However, this could have probably been half the length and still have been quite readable! Ironically, the ending was too rushed and could have been drawn out more - though I suppose that's the hook for the next book. Unfortunately, the 'hook' is also the reason why I do not think I will be continuing with this series. I was close to 4 stars until the very end.
I preferred the 'voice'.
I preferred the 'voice'.
dnf
October 1, 2024DNF. I’m not very far in but the writing is so poor I don’t feel any desire to go on. It’s juvenile and long winded. Had this been 300 pages or less I might try to power through but 400 pages is a deal breaker for me.
December 30, 2024
It was only now that I realised the last two books I read were written by this same author and I guess I'm just not a fan of their writing. Unfortunate.
I found the story to be awful and cliched and I also disliked everyone.
I found the story to be awful and cliched and I also disliked everyone.
July 17, 2019
This is a very interesting take on the apocalypse. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.
July 26, 2024
It takes a really long time to actually meet the djinn. Lots of sex.
March 12, 2017
where do I begin? I know it has probably been said before but this book dragged on a lot, and most of it was really pointless. However it wasn't until the end that it captured me enough that I would like to find out what happens next. The start and end was thrilling, with something actually happening and making me want to know what happens next, the middle however was so boring waiting for something to happen and thinking it will any page now with nothing but let down after let down. I am intrigued enough, however, to consider picking up the next book to find out what happens.
July 14, 2016
In the Kindle top free books section, there is so much muck to wade through that most of the time I download maybe 1 or 2 e-books out of the 100 listed. Chosen was one such book.
Christine Pope has a sophisticated but easy-to-read style, and ohmygosh the opening was killer. People are dying left and right from "the Heat," leaving only a pile of dust to show they had ever existed. You can really feel the panic, despair, and hopelessness as the main character Jessica miraculously manages to survive the event (including some run-ins with leftover crazies).
But then the whole middle section is mainly wasted space. Jessica goes to camp out in a mansion-compound where she meets another survivor, Jace. They fall in love and blah blah. It's just 200 pages of domesticity and day-to-day activities like reading cookbooks and raising goats. Riveting! Finally, the majority of the plot is crammed into the very end, and at last you learn why "the Dying" actually occurred (hint: it has something to do with the series title...).
3.5 Stars - Nice writing and really gripping badass intro. The rest of the book hit a flat note. I liked Chosen overall, just not enough to actually spend money to get the sequel :)
Christine Pope has a sophisticated but easy-to-read style, and ohmygosh the opening was killer. People are dying left and right from "the Heat," leaving only a pile of dust to show they had ever existed. You can really feel the panic, despair, and hopelessness as the main character Jessica miraculously manages to survive the event (including some run-ins with leftover crazies).
But then the whole middle section is mainly wasted space. Jessica goes to camp out in a mansion-compound where she meets another survivor, Jace. They fall in love and blah blah. It's just 200 pages of domesticity and day-to-day activities like reading cookbooks and raising goats. Riveting! Finally, the majority of the plot is crammed into the very end, and at last you learn why "the Dying" actually occurred (hint: it has something to do with the series title...).
3.5 Stars - Nice writing and really gripping badass intro. The rest of the book hit a flat note. I liked Chosen overall, just not enough to actually spend money to get the sequel :)
September 11, 2016
Well, that was.... moronic.
The first, biggest problem here is that the author doesn't seem to know what genre this is. It's post-apocalyptic, but it's also paranormal, but it's also romance. Certainly there are times when more than one of those categories can be combined... but this isn't one of those times. At least not for me. If I'd known how post-apocalyptic it was, I wouldn't have bothered with it, even for free. But adding a paranormal romance to it just made it ridiculous.
The next biggest problem is that it is over-written. Every single little movement, for example, has to be described, in great detail - whether it has any purpose or not. What is probably meant for world building is just an overabundance of details that don't further the plot or our understanding of this world, until literally the last 2% of the story. A good editor would have cut out at least 100 pages; a good writer wouldn't have put them there in the first place.
There are other problems, but essentially, they all come back to these two. I certainly wouldn't bother with the rest of the series, and I'll probably just remove the thing from my kindle. I'd rather read a cereal box than reread this thing.
The first, biggest problem here is that the author doesn't seem to know what genre this is. It's post-apocalyptic, but it's also paranormal, but it's also romance. Certainly there are times when more than one of those categories can be combined... but this isn't one of those times. At least not for me. If I'd known how post-apocalyptic it was, I wouldn't have bothered with it, even for free. But adding a paranormal romance to it just made it ridiculous.
The next biggest problem is that it is over-written. Every single little movement, for example, has to be described, in great detail - whether it has any purpose or not. What is probably meant for world building is just an overabundance of details that don't further the plot or our understanding of this world, until literally the last 2% of the story. A good editor would have cut out at least 100 pages; a good writer wouldn't have put them there in the first place.
There are other problems, but essentially, they all come back to these two. I certainly wouldn't bother with the rest of the series, and I'll probably just remove the thing from my kindle. I'd rather read a cereal box than reread this thing.
July 21, 2017
This was ok for light reading. I'd give it a 2.5 if I could do half stars.
The pacing was weird. The apocalyptic event happens so soon in the book that you don't really have time to form attachments to any of the victims. Next comes a mysterious hint of the supernatural, but before it can do much more than pique your curiosity it totally disappears and the book warps into a quiet little house on the prairie-ish tale of eeking out a living in said post-apocalyptic world. Which is fine, but it leaves you wondering whatever happened to the supernatural piece.
Then, BAM! The supernatural is back with a vengeance, there is a major crisis, and oops.... Now the book is done with said crisis left totally unresolved.
If you are planning on reading this. Have the two others handy, because pretty much nothing wraps up in the 1st book.
The pacing was weird. The apocalyptic event happens so soon in the book that you don't really have time to form attachments to any of the victims. Next comes a mysterious hint of the supernatural, but before it can do much more than pique your curiosity it totally disappears and the book warps into a quiet little house on the prairie-ish tale of eeking out a living in said post-apocalyptic world. Which is fine, but it leaves you wondering whatever happened to the supernatural piece.
Then, BAM! The supernatural is back with a vengeance, there is a major crisis, and oops.... Now the book is done with said crisis left totally unresolved.
If you are planning on reading this. Have the two others handy, because pretty much nothing wraps up in the 1st book.
March 4, 2016
Part of the Gods and Mortals bundle
I liked the idea behind this book...an epidemic wipes out over 99% of the population. Jessica is one of the immune left to figure out how to live. Jessica has some kind of guardian angel guiding her though and she eventually finds a companion in Jace. But she eventually finds out that jace isn't who he says he is and "The Dying" as they call it may not be so random.
This started of well, it was interesting and different...but then it slowed and it seemed like we didn't get any answers at all until the end and by then things became really rushed. I don't know that I am interested enough to continue this series...at least not right away.
I liked the idea behind this book...an epidemic wipes out over 99% of the population. Jessica is one of the immune left to figure out how to live. Jessica has some kind of guardian angel guiding her though and she eventually finds a companion in Jace. But she eventually finds out that jace isn't who he says he is and "The Dying" as they call it may not be so random.
This started of well, it was interesting and different...but then it slowed and it seemed like we didn't get any answers at all until the end and by then things became really rushed. I don't know that I am interested enough to continue this series...at least not right away.
November 27, 2023
I don't know why this book was rated more than one star. The main character is a Mary Sue, she is chosen by a powerful entity to be his bride and we don't know why. Of course, she falls in love instantly. Of course, all the secondary characters love her or find her special, and again, no idea why.
Also, the book is not too long but half of the book we are reading about the girl's routine. Like "I picked up an apple to take with me, then I feed the goats, then I..." And it's never important for the story.
Also, the book is not too long but half of the book we are reading about the girl's routine. Like "I picked up an apple to take with me, then I feed the goats, then I..." And it's never important for the story.
February 7, 2017
I'm not honestly convinced this is a whole story. For all it's length, it feels like half a novel. The MC finally gets a goal and the book just ends.
January 18, 2018
Couldn't make it through even half of the book before giving up.
April 28, 2019
No substance, nothing happens until the very end and then it's so damn predictable. No chemistry between the characters, which makes love scenes just cringe worthy.
May 19, 2019
The world is interesting. But I really don't like cliffhanger endings.
December 22, 2018
Apocalypse brought on by biological warfare. Okay. Paranormal. Okay. I've never read a story about djinn, sounds cool so I'll give it a shot. Romance? Barely. This insta-love stuff isn't romance.
But let's just start at the beginning. Just 2 days into this apocalypse and every man Jessica meets is already super desperate and rapey. Seemed to soon for that kind of behavior. I would be wondering what the h e double l just happened. And safety in numbers, right? I would be seeking out other survivors because having to hunt for my own food? I don't even know where tacos live. ;) But Jessica is over there having a conversation with a voice in her head because that is completely normal.
Then there is the compound. It's a millionaire preppers dream, not an underground bunker with 10 years worth of freeze dried chili like one might expect. How convenient. Then a handsome man with a bottle of wine shows up on the doorstep? To good to be true, right? The next 80% of the book is a pastoral dreamscape. Jessica milks goats, makes hardware store runs, ponders having a baby with her new boyfriend... literally the day to day of their new life on the compound. We get it already. And the baby thing... Seriously? At a time like this? This is a teenage girl's dream, not the post apocalyptic nightmare it would actually be.
The pace doesn't pick up until the last few pages of the book. The to good to be true boyfriend is outed as a djinn. The djinn who caused the pandemic to cleanse the planet of humans. He may be a human sympathizer, but he is still djinn. This left me with a few questions. So far, we have only seen male djinn. Does that mean that the 1000 chosen are all female? And what is the motivation behind their salvation? Breeding purposes? Do djinn even procreate? Please tell me it's not that crass. I need some motivation here. And before someone says it's love, let me just tell you why I disagree. So the djinn instigate a pandemic, it kills everyone it's gonna kill, the survivors are the immune. So then the djinn sympathizers could choose 1 among the survivors to save. 24 hours later Jessica is beloved? He doesn't even know her, much less love her. And once they were happily ensconced in the compound, it just seemed like they were hooking up. The relationship felt fairly shallow with no real emotional connection. I get he didn't want to push her because of the trauma of the apocalypse and all, but he was just too accommodating. Like he existed around her, but never actually plugged in. I found myself not really caring what happened to any of the characters in the story and if you don't care about the characters, what is the point?
But let's just start at the beginning. Just 2 days into this apocalypse and every man Jessica meets is already super desperate and rapey. Seemed to soon for that kind of behavior. I would be wondering what the h e double l just happened. And safety in numbers, right? I would be seeking out other survivors because having to hunt for my own food? I don't even know where tacos live. ;) But Jessica is over there having a conversation with a voice in her head because that is completely normal.
Then there is the compound. It's a millionaire preppers dream, not an underground bunker with 10 years worth of freeze dried chili like one might expect. How convenient. Then a handsome man with a bottle of wine shows up on the doorstep? To good to be true, right? The next 80% of the book is a pastoral dreamscape. Jessica milks goats, makes hardware store runs, ponders having a baby with her new boyfriend... literally the day to day of their new life on the compound. We get it already. And the baby thing... Seriously? At a time like this? This is a teenage girl's dream, not the post apocalyptic nightmare it would actually be.
The pace doesn't pick up until the last few pages of the book. The to good to be true boyfriend is outed as a djinn. The djinn who caused the pandemic to cleanse the planet of humans. He may be a human sympathizer, but he is still djinn. This left me with a few questions. So far, we have only seen male djinn. Does that mean that the 1000 chosen are all female? And what is the motivation behind their salvation? Breeding purposes? Do djinn even procreate? Please tell me it's not that crass. I need some motivation here. And before someone says it's love, let me just tell you why I disagree. So the djinn instigate a pandemic, it kills everyone it's gonna kill, the survivors are the immune. So then the djinn sympathizers could choose 1 among the survivors to save. 24 hours later Jessica is beloved? He doesn't even know her, much less love her. And once they were happily ensconced in the compound, it just seemed like they were hooking up. The relationship felt fairly shallow with no real emotional connection. I get he didn't want to push her because of the trauma of the apocalypse and all, but he was just too accommodating. Like he existed around her, but never actually plugged in. I found myself not really caring what happened to any of the characters in the story and if you don't care about the characters, what is the point?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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