Chosen

Curse of the Draekon #1

by Samantha Britt

CURSES. FORCED SERVITUDE. REBELLION.

Draekon conquered the human continent more than one thousand years ago. The powerful creatures are superior to their human subjects in every way, and they don't attempt to hide it. 

Lissa Allaway is a healer in Caldiri, the poorest region in the continent. When she is recruited to the capital to serve the dominant beings, she is forced to reconsider what she thinks she knows about the beasts. 

Are they truly the monsters from Lissa's childhood stories? 

Or was she misled about the draekon? 

Lissa is determined to get answers. But with the threat of a rebellion hanging overhead, she must tread carefully or risk incurring the wrath of the handsome, but deadly, prince. 

Discover the world of The Draekon Kingdom in Chosen: Curse of the Draekon Book One.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Romance, Young Adult, Paranormal, Elves, Romantasy

366 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2018

About the author

Lover of all things romantasy, USAT bestselling author Samantha Britt enjoys binge reading and writing new adult fantasy and paranormal romances. Her favorite protagonists are women in the middle of discovering just what they have to offer the world, often drawn to complicated, dreamy guys in the process.

When not swooning over devastatingly handsome Fae, Samantha spends her days raising two rambunctious toddlers, snuggling her fur babies, and enjoying a date night every Friday with the man who gave her the happily ever after she always dreamed of.

Subscribe to Samantha’s newsletter at SamanthaBrittBooks . com to claim a free book and dive into a new fantasy world today!

Reviews

[Candace Tidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am such a sucker for dragons. Although this book could have been about robots and I probably would have ended being a fan. Maybe? Maybe not. My point is that I fell in love with the authors writing style. Britt created a beautiful and enchanting world that pulls you in. There is a slow build up as you read and it creates the perfect atmosphere throughout the book. Do I recommend this? Definitely!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/14/2019)! 🎁

[Michele M · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely loved it

[meghann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever finish a book and immediately want to read it again? That's where I'm at with this one. I could not put it down and read it all in one night. It went by way too quickly, and I found myself getting increasingly stressed out as I neared the end because I did not want to finish it. The amazing news is that books two and three will both be released this year as well. Though September seems so far off right now when I NEED to know what happens next. That ending. I cannot wait to see what happens to Lissa after that revelation and how it will affect all of her relationships. I am here for the drama.

***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC of this book.***

[SER · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book a few months back but hadn't gotten around to actually picking it up. Other books had my attention, but I wish I had jumped into this one sooner because I really enjoyed it.

Cons:

-I get it okay? Our MC, her sister, and their BFF are pretty. Why does the author feel the need to continuously remind us of this, especially when they're in a palace full of non-humans who are apparently superior in good looks compared to humans? Please don't tell me this is a continued trend in the following books.

-Why is nearly every man fawning over our MC? We have the childhood friend, Jem. We have the half draekon, Hyde. We have side characters who leer at her. We have the both of the princes. Just...why? Was this really necessary?

-"Many draekon and humans would have run by me, not knowing who I was, in order to save themselves. But you didn't. You stayed. You helped." Okay. Buckle up. I'm gonna rip a new on here. First, let me tell you this guy is the prince. He was throwing orders and fighting alongside other men against their attackers. Sure, I could see humans not recognizing him, since it sounds like they don't get to see the royal family. Fair. But other draekon? What about the other men who were fighting alongside him earlier? They didn't keep an eye on their prince? They didn't worry about him when he vanished? I don't believe that for a second. And, of course, cue our heroic MC being the only one around to actually help someone in need while everyone else is too busy running away. Ugh. Gag me. I'm so tired of MC's being the ONLY ones who have a lick of humanity to help someone else when it's convenient for the plot or to make them look amazing.

-A master draekon healer doesn't know what chest compressions are or how to do them? Are you freaking kidding me? That's like saying a doctor doesn't know how to do the heimlich maneuver. Give me a break! Cue another moment our MC "saves" the day.

-Prince Brion's mood swings. Like, I'm all for prince Brion as a character, I can see him growing on me in the future. I'm not so much his abrupt, flip-flopping mood swings (rude grump one second, kind the next, then back to rude grump).

-Is...is there going to be a love triangle with our MC and the two brother princes? Oh god, please, no. Nonononono. Please. Send help. I held out hope this book wouldn't fall in that trap, but it may have very well have. It's vague and maybe it won't happen since there seems to be a instant "connection" (whyyyy?) between our MC and prince Brion, but I still see the possibility and I don't like it. We don't need a love triangle.

Pros:

-I really like how our MC is on the other side of the rebellion for once. I've read countless books where the MC is part of or joins a rebellion and while I do enjoy said books, it gets repetitive and predictable. You know the typical story: the big baddies are evil and treat their people horribly, so the rebellion steps in to fight against them. Usually, it involves restoring a throne to the rightful heir, most of the time, that heir is the MC. However, here we learn that the ones who are supposedly "evil" aren't really so evil after all (though we haven't met the King yet). And it actually makes those in the rebellion look like the antagonists for once. Thus, this was like a breath of fresh air to me. Things might change in the following books, but I still really liked this.

-I love how our MC loves Jem, but she's not in love with him. She see's him as family, a close friend, a companion, but nothing in regards to romance (though I'm pretty sure Jem feels differently). And I love it. We need more relationships like this in books. Give me more female/male platonic relationships.

-Our MC actually misses her family and friends, despite the comfortable lifestyle she's been given. I recently read a book (Evermore Academy) and one of my biggest complaints was how even though the MC was forced to leave her home and family, she never actually missed or worried about them. In fact, the only time she brought them up was to remind the reader she came from a "poor" lifestyle. Here? Nope. At first I was worried this book would do something similar, but this author gives us a reason as to why our MC hasn't tried to think about them and it's believable. It works. It's genuine. And I appreciate it.

-Dragons, elves, goblins -- Oh my!

-Whether they're good guys or bad guys, I'm always a sucker for rebellions in stories.

-I enjoyed the author's writing style. There are a few mistakes throughout the book (like backwoods instead of backwards, a period where a question mark should have been, a missing period, and an extra space in between two sentences. These were the only ones I found mind you), but it's nothing unbearable.

-I was going to say there's no insta love...but I'm pretty sure our MC looking at Brion and feeling an instant "connection" shot that straight out of the sky. So I'll say this: There is no insta love for the first 60% of the book. And even after that occurrence, our MC doesn't spend every waking minute fawning over him like a typical YA female MC. She still spends time with her friends and worries over important issues. She struggles with the things she learns about her brother and is torn about her place in her new life with what she was told from what she's come to learn. So if you ask me: Is there insta love? I will answer yes, but it's very mild and low-key. I can tolerate it without rolling my eyes a billion times thankfully.

I'll definitely be picking up book two, especially with the cliffhanger this one left us on.

[G.K. DeRosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this new book from the talented author, Samantha Britt! It was so much more than I expected with hot draekon princes, evil elves, and a spirited heroine. The author cleverly weaves a story filled with vivid imagery, an intricate plot line and relatable characters. This is a great start to a new series and the ending left me wanting so much more. I can't wait to read the next one!

[Geo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little slow at the beginning but it picks up.

This book was recommended to me an author acquaintance of mine. The blurb hooked me and I was excited to read it. The book itself has a Hunger Games meets The Selection by Kiera Cass to it with maybe a hint of Beauty and the Beast, but that could be just me. Though the first third of the book was wonderfully detailed, it was a bit slow. It picks up more in the second third and by the last third, you can't put it down. Basically the main character, Lissa, resides in the most sheltered part of the country called Caldiri. Her and her siblings are easily known by their blonde hair and she's most known for her healing capabilities. When her and her sister, Lorie, get chosen as part of the Census to go to the capital, Draeke, it seems like all is lost. Once they get there, they realize most of what they know about the Draekon is wrong. As Lissa moves up in the Draekon society, not by her choice, she begins to learn more about the world they live in. Such as the Draekon's enemies, the Elves, who bear the same blonde hair as her. By the end of the book, you'll be wondering who the real enemies are. If this is a little Beauty-and-the-Beast-ish, then I'm totally rooting for Lissa and Brion. I can't wait until the next one.

[OldBird · Rating 4 out of 5]

An oddly enjoyable YA fantasy that's a mash-up of The Hunger Games and The Selection infused with some YA-safe Sarah J. Maas vibes. It's a bit of a trope-soup, but if you're in the mood it's a fun, clean ride through dystopian shifter-land.

Lissa and her siblings are trying to scrape by in their desolate region of the mighty Draekon Kingdom. With her work as a healer (the most renowned in her lands, and only 18 years old!), she thinks herself safe from the yearly Census that reaps young humans to go serve in the draekon capital city as labourers or... companions. Her biggest fear is for her newly of age sister whose beauty surpasses even her own. But despite best efforts, Lissa finds herself bundled off to the city, her brother Lin left behind and vowing to come for her. But it turns out these bestial shifters don't match all the horror stories she's been told. In fact, a lot of things she's been told about life beyond the Royal Forest don't add up at all...

Now I'm going to get straight to the thing that bothered me most just to get it out of the way: This Needs Copy Editing. There are misused words, odd grammar and punctuation, missing words and the odd typo where letters swapped makes a real but wrong-in-context word. It's by no means anywhere near as bad as some indie published offerings as the problems are few and far between, but considering how well-polished the writing style is, it was quite upsetting to be jarred out of the story by bugs like that.

But here's what worked for me: pretty much everything else. Sure, it's a trope-soup of YA dystopian/shifter/fantasy. Sure, Lissa and all her friends/enemies are beautiful, talented and amazing snowflakes. Sure, there are a lot of sentences starting with "sure". But you know what? It was fun. Lissa's narration is naive, but believably so. She's ignorant because of her circusmtances, not because she's too stupid to live. I believed her fear and love for her beautiful family and friends, I cared what happened at the Census, I raised an eyebrow at every "male" (yes, the Maas-ism) reacted with obvious favour to the oblivious girl. Bless her silly blonde head; I cared as she navigated a serious of very fortunate events that led her into the heart of draek-dom. I want to call her a Mary Sue, but while she is, she's the closest thing to a believable one I've read in YA. She keeps things light when so many YA novels work hard to feel bleak. She's also not an arrogant so-and-so, which helps immensly. She's just... a teenager.

There's a lot of Hunger Games vibes early on - the poor girl from a poor district picked to go on to Big Things... right after meeting an OTT stylist (love ya, Remi). Don't expect Hunger Games style action though; we progress into working in the draekon palace and life below stairs where things go slower and are more character/world development focussed. I liked how we got to know side characters like Bridgit as well as Lissa's family. The draekon royals and their servants stay somewhat more distanced, but their personalities come through in the interactions they do share. Then we have the drama coming from international politics and whispers of intrigues...

It is quite a slow progression of the story, feeling more like a set up to the wham-bam events in the last 25% or so, but I never felt it dragged. The writing style is quite young and accessible, coupling your usual fantasy with some more modern features (hot shower anyone?) in a way that was odd but didn't grate on me in the way it usually does. There's not a lot of actual dragon-time here despite being based on a race of powerful shifter-types, and also isn't really much in the way of romance, just the odd obvious hint that these things could happen though Lissa could end up with quite the anime-style harem if she's not careful... I was just glad of how Lissa and friends didn't bow down to raging YA hormones!

All in all, I found it strangely fun to read those tropes thrown together and chomped through this first instalment way too fast. There's plenty enough world building and characters to satisfy the need for a light and entertaining YA.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lissa Allaway, a Caldiri healer, paused for a moment to enjoy the quiet of the early morning and the beginning warmth of the sun’s rays. But looking up, she spotted the dark massive form of a Draekon scout flying toward her and froze in fear, trying to not be noticed. Fortunately it flew over and she hurried the rest of the way to her destination. Inside her best friend’s cottage, she called to him and moved toward his sister’s room. Jane was her patient and she could see she was in extreme pain from a dislocated shoulder. She reset it and offered her sister’s help so Jane could completely rest.

On the walk to Jem’s with Lorie, her sister, Lissa again spotted a Royal scout flying in the distance – very unusual. Walking on, Lissa bumped into Lord Stanley’s son, Hyde, the half-Draekon who always seemed to be watching her. He caught her before she fell. She used the opportunity to ask if his father, Lord Stanley, the Draekon ruler of their village, might allow her sister to become her paid apprentice healer. But he told her Lorie could not be paid because it would appear like favoritism to her family. But he made her promise to come to him with any future need she had. She was uncomfortable making such a promise.

Then the annual Census arrived, where villagers were selected to be servants to the Draekon. Those people never returned to Caldiri. No one wanted to enter the cruel Draekon kingdom. Lissa and her brother, Lin, were afraid Lorie might be selected. Hyde had told her that having a paid job would not protect her; then he wrote a letter for them to keep her hidden during Census week and to burn the letter. She was afraid of the consequences, but did as he instructed.

Attendance at the banquet at Lord Stanley’s lavish home, where selection was made, kept them busily moving away as Census agents neared them. Then Agent Leith approached Lissa who exited to the dark garden; he followed her. She was terrified of his attention and his questions. But there was something different about him. He eventually turned away and went back inside.

The Day of Choosing had arrived when those chosen would be taken away to serve the Draekon and become their property. When the list of names was read, Lissa was the first woman called. Jem and Lin were horrified, but refusal was not permitted. Many were grieving. Two men had to hold Lin down in his pain. And then the Agent read the next name – Lin and Lissa’s young sister, Lorie! Even though she had been hidden and kept from the selection banquet, they had found out! Now what would happen to them? Would they be punished by death that this deceit would normally require? Or was something worse waiting for them in the capital city of Draek?

This book has the powerful effect of enfolding the reader within a believable world. The details allow the reader to vividly imagine not only the impoverished physical surroundings, but the emotions exhibited by each character. This will naturally pull the reader in to experience the events, both good and bad, as if actually there! Lissa is a strong character, caring, family-oriented, very likable and very open-minded. When old stories about the Draekon don’t make sense, she is willing to form her own opinion. This first book promises a great series that I look forward to reading! It is well written and keeps up constant suspense as the story unfolds. This is a wonderful book – don’t miss reading it and experiencing this amazing journey.

[Alex (Bri's Book Nook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lissa is a healer in Caldiri, and she raises her little sister Lori with her older brother Lin. Every year, the Draekon come to the human regions and ask for humans to come and serve in the capital. The people in Caldiri don't even know what happens to the humans there, they only know that their children, neighbors, or friends are taken only to never be heard or seen from again. Lissa's older brother scarred his face for life to try and avoid the draft, but Lissa still has a few years to get through, and Lori has become of age to be Chosen. When both Lori and Lissa are taken, even when only one sibling is supposed to be Chosen per year, Lin vows to do anything to retrieve them. 
When Lissa arrives in the Capital, she is scared to death when thinking about all the torture her and her sister are bound to endure for the rest of their lives. Things in the Capital are far different than what she was told, and she begins to wonder whether the things she was told in her childhood were true or not. 

I read Enlightened by Samantha Britt, but I think that I will end up liking this series even more than the Immortal Chronicles. She always creates such unique universes. In this universe, The Draekons came from another continent to conquer the humans' continent. They need the humans in order to reproduce, and they use the humans to help them in every aspect of their lives. The humans allow the Draekons to have control because the Draekons have longer lifespans, better healing ability, and are generally stronger than the weak humans. The only reason why the Draekons really need humans is that without them they can't reproduce. This world is described beautifully throughout the book and has a long history. This book doesn't even touch on the entire world, only the parts that Lissa was able to see. I feel that it will get even more intricate in the next installment of the series. 

The plot actually didn't move that quickly, which I enjoyed. It was hard to keep track of how much time had spent, but it did feel like I was realistically walking with Lissa through her days. I also liked how this allowed her to be human, rather than being some super healer who is able to heal thousands of people without any rest. It allowed me to truly connect with her. 

At first, I thought that Lori was a spoiled brat. She was not grateful for anything that her siblings did for her, and she was already 16 years old. I was happy to see her do a little bit of growing up once they got to the Capital. It was a beautiful thing to see a true sister bond in literature, something that is often underestimated. 

I have to say, I am not sure where this series is planning to go with romance. It seems like literally everyone is in love with Lissa. She has like three royals, one boy at home, and I think someone else but at this point, I can't remember. It's really just too much, and I hope in the next book one or two guys will be eliminated. I don't even know how she will deal with this love....Pentagon?

I didn't notice any editing errors in this novel. 
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new adult fantasy series to get into this summer!

I received an advance copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. 

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

New epic fantasy that is absolutely spellbinding!

Setting:
A starving people, harvested every year of best of their 16-22 year old young people, struggles to cope with their nearly destitute land. They live in fear of the Draekons and half-Draekons ruling over them and who keep them in their impoverished state. Yet, worse than their current plight, are the stories of what happens to those “harvested” and taken away, never heard from again.

Into this pitiful setting, 3 youngsters are left by their parents who then disappear. Even the oldest, a boy, has no idea WHY they are left, WHERE their parents have gone or if they will ever return. As the youngest girl, Alorie reaches 16, the age at which she to is to be registered for “the choosing’’, Amelissa and their brother Lin try to find some way to protect her. Despite elaborate deceptions, Alorie is discovered. As a punishment, BOTH girls are chosen-something unheard of, for 2 of the same family taken at the same time. As Lin is carried off to prison for objecting so violently to his sisters’ both being chosen, he yells his promise to come get them.

Once they arrive in the capital, they do not believe the kindness and generosity displayed to them. They are bathed, given clothing better than they had ever seen, and fed an unbelievably delightful diet-better than they had ever before eaten. It seems ‘too good to be true’-and all the captives are wary-awaiting something terrible to happen to them. If all IS as it seems, why had their overlord, Lord Stanley, not told the people the truth and reduced the fear and anxiety the choosing causes for all?
Thus, the READER as well as Amelissa, Alorie and the other new recruits try to parce out what is true or false, and what the future holds for them as the simple distinction between good and bad is far more muddled than it had seemed initially. Amelissa displays courage as well as knowledge of the healing arts during an attack on the capital, leading to recognition of these 2 qualities by one of the 2 princes. His twin, however, scares her and seems to somehow object to the prominence Amelissa is suddenly given.
As this book ended, I was thoroughly engrossed in the story, sorry I will have to wait for the next book to be printed. By far, this is one of the better epic fantasies I have read in a while. Good characterization and world building, with a surprising twist about the true nature of the prince Draekons and their society that I totally had not anticipated. Their father, yet to be met, may well fully deserve the evil reputation that has been attributed to the Draekons. I eagerly await the next book.
Of note: this is a clean story, no cursing or sexual encounters that would offend. Even younger readers will enjoy this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author, Samantha Britt, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Samantha, for another opportunity to read one of your books. I’m always excited to see where your imagination will take me.

4/5 Stars

Chosen is the first book in a new fantasy series called “Curse of the Draekon”. We are introduced to our protagonist, Amelissa Allaway (Lissa), and begin with the life she has made for herself & her siblings in the poor region of Caldiri. Their continent was conquered 1000yrs ago by the shape-shifting Draekon race & Chosen centers around the impact they have on Lissa’s life.

Readers are immediately reminded of the Hunger Games as we learn more about the human subjugation by the powerful Draekon race: Each year a Census is held & several young adults are chosen & forced to move to the capital city of Draek, where they are made to serve the Draekon. Lissa’s valuable profession as a healer is not enough to protect her from being chosen & she finds her world completely upside down in a matter of hours. She quickly realizes how sheltered her life in Caldiri was as she is exposed to new forms of social, economical, racial & political standards.

The heritage of the Allaway siblings is unknown; their parents abandoned them when they were young. They each have fair skin & blonde hair, which is a rare trait on a continent full of dark locks. Lissa’s appearance draws a lot of attention, especially in Draek. She garners notice from the royal family, who provide the story with mystery & the possibility of romance. Lissa even catches the eye of the resident elf, also blonde, which opens up the question of her background all over again.

I enjoyed Chosen. It was an easy young adult read with intriguing story lines to captivate & pull me along. I always find fantasy stories full of different creatures entertaining - from Draekon to goblins to elves, this story does not disappoint. The setting & character development of the story were also great - I found myself immersed in the story & it’s world. Several unanswered questions & subtle foreshadowing help entice the story & help enrich the continuation of the series: Where is Lissa really from? Why did her parents abandon them? Why does Prince Brion want to protect her? How does Prince Finn feel? What will happen when King Roderick returns? How will the war with the elves progress? Will the curse ever be lifted? How will the Rebellion respond to Prince Brion’s bargain? What will Lin do? Lissa was a likable & relatable character. Her strong will & intelligence are admirable. My favorite story line of her’s quickly became the teasing possibility of romance, especially without knowing who or which direction she will go.

I very much look forward to reading Possession this fall.

(Ps, love the cover!)

[♡︎.ᐟજ⁀➴ Erie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chosen (Curse of the Draekon #1)
by Samantha Britt

⭐️ 4 stars
Thank you to the author for the digital copy!

🐉 “Monsters or monarchs? Depends on who writes the history.” 🐉
File this under: YA fantasy that feels like slipping into a new realm and realizing all your bedtime stories were propaganda. I inhaled this in an evening and immediately wanted the sequel like, yesterday.

What I Loved
• 🌋 Atmosphere for days — Britt builds a moody, enchanted world where human myth and Draekon reality collide. I could smell the stone corridors and hear the palace hush.
• 🧪 Lissa the healer > chosen-one clichés — competent, curious, and not too-perfect, which made her easy to root for.
• 🐲 Perspective flip — being pressed into service for the “oppressors” and discovering the truth is murkier than the rebel flyers say? Delicious.
• 🧵 Found-friends energy — side characters like Remi and Bridgit add warmth, humor, and stakes.
• 🔍 Court intrigue lite — whispers of rebellion, royal secrets, and a prince who might be more blade than smile.

What Didn’t Hit As Hard For Me
• 💋 Romance tease — this skews YA-clean. Flirt and tension, yes, but my spice goblin remained unfed.
• 💅 Pretty privilege overload — we get it, everyone is gorgeous. Dialing that down would let other traits shine.
• 🎯 A few “everyone wants her” moments — not a dealbreaker, just… easy mode.
• 🧩 Some convenience in key scenes — I happily rolled with it, but the plot shields do peek out once or twice.

Tropes / Vibes
• 👑 Conquered kingdom politics
• 🩹 Healer heroine
• 🐉 Dragon shifters you are told to fear
• 🤝 Enemies by narrative, allies by necessity
• 🐍 Courtly danger and palace whispers
• 🥀 Duty vs conscience
• 🧭 Fish-out-of-water in the capital
• ❄️ Slow-burn threads, minimal on-page spice

Steam
• 🌶️🌶️/5 vibe but mostly closed-door. Think glances, tension, brush-of-fingers slow-burn.

Speed & Style
• ⏱️ Fast chapter flow with a gradual, satisfying build
• ✍️ Accessible prose with clean visuals and YA-friendly pace

Final Thoughts
If you like your dragon empires morally gray, your heroines handy with herbs and hard questions, and your palace corridors humming with quiet danger, this is a very bingeable opener. That final reveal set the chessboard beautifully. I am absolutely here for whatever firestorm Lissa just walked into. Bring on Book 2. 🐉🔥

[Katherine Bogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god give me book 2 NOW!!!

This book was seriously good! From the world building to the characters and descriptions, everything was laid out perfectly in my eyes!

Going into this book I wasn't sure what to expect. From the description and cover, it both sounded and looked freaking awesome, but as I'd never read anything by Britt before, I was a little apprehensive going in (mostly because I've read a few meh books I stopped reading part way through as of late). So when I got into Chosen, I was very pleasantly surprised!

The world is laid out in separate kingdoms with Draek at the centre. It is the capitol where the dragon overlords live and enslave humans to do their bidding - or so we believe. We get an amazing picture of the Lissa's world right from the get go, and that world only expands as Lissa and her sister Lorie are taken from their home to be enslaved by dragons. Only, Draekon kind are not quite what Lissa and Lorie were led to believe.

Surprises, twists and turns, this book had it all, including fabulously defined and developed characters, which too me is one, if not THE most important part of a novel. And did Chosen ever have it in spades!! Not only do we have our main character Lissa, but we have her siblings, her best friend Jem, Lord Stanley and his son Hyde, and then we move past Caldiri to Draek and meet a whole new cast. This is done in such a way that none of it is ever overwhelming, and you always know exactly who each person is.

As a huge fan of action, it honestly surprised me a little how much I enjoyed this book. There isn't a lot of action (of course there is SOME, but not as much as I usually read), but honestly I didn't even realize until the end of the book. Chosen is very character focused, and really makes you think as everything Lissa was made to believe is challenged so completely.

And when a rebellion gets involved... whoa nelly... I'm sold!

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go hibernate until September when book 2 is available. I don't know how I'll survive until then!

Chosen is a 5 star read, perfect for any YA fantasy fan, and of course even adult fantasy fans who enjoy a good adventure story.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure where to start, simply because I loved everything about Chosen. It was an amazing read and I could not put it down! From the very first page it felt like an incredible epic fantasy, and I totally fell in love with it. The characters, the plot and the worldbuilding were all fantastic and I cannot recommend this book enough.

I really enjoyed following Lissa on her journey, she was an interesting character and it was interesting to watch as her assumptions were challenged and how she faced a life in which she had very little control. I found the relationship between the Draekon and the humans so interesting. The reader learns about the city and society of Draek, and the Dreakon, along with Lissa and I think this made the world building even more multidimensional. I couldn't wait for Lissa to reach Draek and to see what she made of her life there.

Chosen is really well written, and there were times, like during the Census, where the emotions literally seeped off the page. The anxiety the covered the build up, the fear and anger as the names are called out. Lissa is a wonderful guide around the world in the novel and I loved learning along side her. 

There are such a wide range of characters from Lissa's childhood best fiend to the twin Draekon princes and they were all so vivid and engaging. I have to say that I really loved the Draekon Princess, it was interesting to have chronic illness featured in a fantasy. I am interested to see how this develops in the later books.

I really enjoyed Lissa's introduction in to the society of Draek. We learn about the city and it's inhabitants over the course of the book, so much wonderful information about this intriguing world and yet it was all balanced so well. Samantha Britt has created the perfect balance between information and action in Chosen. The ending of the book was so exciting and I cannot wait to read the next book when it is released.

I read Chosen over the course of two days and I really didn't want to put it down. I found myself wanted to pick the book up and read at every chance I could. I was so sad when I reached the end of the book and I cannot wait to see where the story goes in the next book Possession. If you enjoy fantasy then I would definitely recommend Chosen. 

I received a ecopy of Chosen free of charge, however all opinions and words are my own. 

[Zael · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐
3 star
Free book from Amazon

The story is basically a McDonald's mcflurry: a cup full of fantasy with a sprinkle of romance, not at all swirled or mixed in. It's something to pick up when you're craving it, and somehow it just keeps tasting good until it's gone.

I thought it was initially going to be a romance, and the beginning of the book had set up for it decently enough. What I found interesting was the potential romance focus being brought in like 50% of the way in.

(actually she met him waaaay earlier, but you don't find that out until later)

See, I was CONVINCED the love interest was going to be this one person, who came in 50% of the way in, but it was about 64% of the way in when I realized I was wrong. The book's description doesn't name the character, only stating he's a "fearsome and strikingly handsome Drakeon Prince".

And Lissa has made it pretty clear that all Drakeon are initially terrifying, and also beautiful/handsome. I can't say I don't find that intriguing, bringing him (and the other person of the love-V?) in so late into the story.

That was when I realized the main purpose of this book wsd to get the ball rolling, and while I appreciate some good buildup, I was disappointed in the end that it was lacking solid romantic elements. On top of that, it was irritating how Lissa was just being carried around BY the plot. Yes, she did things here and there, but I almost felt like everything would have continued to move along if she wasn't there at all.

I also fear it's going tk turn into a bad love... Triangle? Square? Because, no matter where she goes, she's always being viewed as a beautiful woman who could become a companion to anyone and everyone. Her visual beauty is a large part of the story, as it's brought up quite often and rather annoyingly so. She's incredibly dense about how beautiful she is and how it leaves men foaming at the mouths.

Quite honestly, that's become her personality trait. She's incredibly boring as a female lead. Chocolate milk is most interesting than Lissa, and I fear for the next two books.

(spoiler-in smart reading book 2 as I write this), and it's not looking great)

[A_MOTUS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, full of secrets and complots.
At first, I was afraid I was going to read another Hunger Games story mixed with a pinch of Eragon. Thankfully even if there were many references it was still different. Indeed, the Census ceremony does not have the same purpose as the mortal games but still it was disturbing to see a family of three with an independent strong woman and her over-protected younger sister, the very good and muscular friend who support his own family and the results of the ceremony. That first part was not so new. Nor was the perfectly beautiful city and the rebellion. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who also had sense of déjà-vu when reading about Remi.
Well, I’ll stop there for the comparison.
The background of injustice and how ruling people are imposing choices to the rest of the population is an important aspect of how the characters are evolving along the book. Because in Chosen, Draekons are the rulers with a royal family that seems more complicated than stories. Despite what the heroine was told during all her life, the recruit life is not that bad, it is actually quite the opposite. But the comfort and the opulence were still not a choice given to her and her companions who are cut from their families and friends.
I loved the complotting atmosphere. Behind the curtains people are working to use Amelissa to their own interests and soon she becomes the center of interest of many powerful entities. Some might like her as a friend or just see her as an annoyance. But pages after pages we wonder how many knows something about the healer that even she does not know. And how long have they worked in the shadows to monitor her. At the end of this first book there are many more questions and secrets to uncover.
Amelissa will have to adapt to her new life when beauty and knowledge are double-edged weapons.

[Bianca Yumul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this ARC from the author at no cost and as soon as this one is available in the bookstore, I will make sure to have my own copy. As a first book, it isn't strange that there would be a lot of explanation and introductions. What I hate at other books is that these can get a little overboard that the story itself is not progressing. But this book is different. It made me enjoy reading every single page. I tend to always notice author's manner of writing. And the way the author has written it is in such a way that the readers will not only appreciate the creative use of vocabularies (it is hard to be redundant after all) but make you really feel that you're personally involved with the story.
*Spoiler alert - there are some bits and pieces*

The story reminds me greatly of Pride and Prejudice; not because of they have the same story line but on how people have a hug pride and prejudice to others. Thank God the heroine is not one of those idiotic heroines who cannot rely on their own strength. I just hate such characters. Amelissa is a wonderfully refreshing character: calm, collected, smart and does not swoon or fall right away to any handsome guy she encounters (which is really refreshing!) She is can also be calculating, always looking past the handsome face to see whatever the guy could e thinking.
And the author is really great in making the readers guess, most especially on who will become Lissa's love interest-which I believed is revealed at the latter part but it's only a speculation ;)
There are some inconsistencies here and there - like when Lissa got wounded by the goblin and all of a sudden it is forgotten - but all in all it is quite a good book. The ending is such a cliffhanger and I'd have to wait till September. I cannot wait for the second book to come!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Can I just say that the blurb for this book doesn't really do it justice? When I read the blurb, I can barely make it through the whole thing because I just get so bored. I generally find that's in indication of whether or not I'll get bored during the actual book, so initially I was apprehensive. But I am so glad I got over that! Maybe not from the first page, but somewhere along the line I was sucked in. I reached the end and was like 'wait that's it?' because it didn't feel like I was reading a book; I truly felt like I was in another world.

Samantha Britt has constructed an incredibly flushed out world. It's easy to understand which makes it more enjoyable for the reader because we're don't have to expend so much effort on really focusing on the world, or constantly stopping to ask ourselves 'wait, what?'. It can be a bit wordy at times, and from the beginning that made it difficult to get into, but after a while that wordiness fades away. And plot wise, it is not focused on romance. There's the overall threat of the war and stuff, and the main love element is a sibling one, which I just LOVED. Personally, I think there need to be more books that have sibling relationships as a primary relationship, instead of romantic ones. The characters themselves I was kind of indifferent towards because they all sort of come and go and none of them stick around long enough for the reader to gain any sort of connection with them (except Lissa of course, because it's from her POV). But I am hoping that the next book will give me the chance to do that. And with that ending, you can bet that I'll be eagerly anticipating the next book!

[Joyffree · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐉 Dragons and 🧚 Fairies and 👹 Ogres "Oh my"
An absolutely fantastic journey!
This is one of those authors who seems to have the magic touch - you know, the one that spins fantasy and reality into a tale that is so believable you forget that you are reading a story?
I do not know how many times I caught myself sitting up and gripping the edge of the couch - anxious and hoping - or screaming at the characters for their obviously two-sided uncaring attitude (yeah so not telling you, nice try though) or drying the quiet tears that tracked down my cheek.
This is told from Lissa's point of view - at first, I had a bit of trouble with it just being her tale (pov) - It may have been that the twists and surprises were truly just that - since I was seeing through her eyes only - and let may say there are a lot of twists and "OMG" moments throughout this story
I do not want to give away any spoilers - I went into this semi-blind - so it was twice as fascinating to see the truth unfold and be truly surprised when we turned the corner on a plot twist or a character was not quite what or whom we thought
Speaking of, the characters are phenomenal - they are vivid and full of life
I am done ranting, in closing -If you love a strong paranormal tale with lots of action, plenty of hidden plots and twists - then this is definitely a must read
I am off to finish the journey with book two - I hope it is out already
* It is not often I give five stars on GR but this was such an intense and well-crafted story. Nothing is perfect mind you - but if you enjoy paranormal and mystery with a touch of intrigue then this is a must read

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing a free copy for review.

Ok lets see if I can form some coherent thoughts! Seriously this book is just so good! I couldn't put it down. The continent has been taken over by the Draekons, a race of beings who can transform into what I picture being dragons or at least similar to them. In Caldiri the humans are told of the Draekons evil and abusive behavior. Every year they have a Census where humans are selected to go to the capital of Draek where they are servants to the Draekons. In Caldiri we meet Lissa and her siblings, who like the rest of the area live in poverty and work like crazy to stay alive. Without spoiling anything, things get pretty crazy from there on out.

The characters are well developed and the plot is just great. I was hooked from page one. Lissa has probably the most growth that we see as we follow her through the book. While I occasionally found her self-doubt and wariness of everyone to be slightly irritating at times it made sense within the story, so I don't really see that as an issue. This book has a lot of court politics and twists. The Draekon are all unnaturally attractive and as such appreciate that in humans, so basically everyone is gorgeous in this book. The princes are interesting characters and I can't wait to learn more about them in future books. I highly recommend this book, and that end twist has me needing the next book like right now!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I loved this book because the blurb does NOT do it justice. While an easy read, the story itself is much more complex than implied - with multiple layered storylines woven throughout the novel, building on each other in both expected and unexpected ways.

With a narrator hailing from the most sheltered, uneducated region of the continent, the readers learn each new tidbit and hint as Lissa does - a brilliant choice by the author, as it allowed Samantha to cleverly drop hints without making it too easy to figure everything out early on. I’m not going to lie, it was mildly infuriating (in a good way), as it meant that many of those storylines and hints go unresolved before the next book releases - but it also guarantees I’ll be one of the first to grab a copy of the next book to see how it all pans out.

Samantha also does a wonderful job of making it clear to the reader that there is much more to every character than meets the eye, without giving too much away at once. As each character unfolded and became more central to a storyline, I found myself increasingly invested, regardless of whether the individual characters were allies, enemies, or anything in between. It’s a delightful line to toe as a reader, and I cannot wait to see how this story continues in Book 2!

**this is my honest review of an ARC copy**

[Leilani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed with this story, love where it is going and excited to find out where it is headed and how it will conclude. The whole concept of a foreign rule taking over and their forced recruitments for labor or companions and a rebel cause willing to fight back against stronger opponents is intriguing.
Amelissa ‘Lissa’ is from the region Caldiri, one of the poorest on the continent and most secluded and uninformed of the foreign invaders the Draek, working as the towns Healer and trying to avoid attention so as to not be picked during recruitment week to live in the capital and be separated from her only family members. A charming, caring, strong female lead dedicated to helping others in need. After the unthinkable happens Lissa works hard to keep herself with those who share the same fate as her once their lives are turned upside down. Upon adjusting to her new life Lissa begins to understand that the things she thought she knew of the Draek are false and not as they seem but still something doesn’t feel right and Lissa is determined to unfold the truth that has been evading her for so long before her loved ones suffer the ultimate consequence of defying the Draek’s rule.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND!!!
I'm just gonna put it out there. I really enjoyed this page turning bombshell. It delivers a strong storyline that will rock your world. It hooks you from the start and reels you in for the duration. Ms. Britt shows us exactly who she is with the exceptional talent she's displayed here. She pulls you into her imagination and weaves a world around you until everything else ceases to exist. With this steady paced, suspense filled, nerve racking tale she has created for our enjoyment as she carries us along for one exciting ride. The characters are realistic, intriguing and believable. As individual personalities created for interesting roles as they transform before your eyes. Vividly detailed scenes and an engaging plot add dementions that make for an impressing backdrop. Twists and turns abound with unexpected surprises that keep your full attention on the pages as the story unfolds. Ms. Britt did an incredible job bringing this read together flawlessly. Remarkable job Ms. Britt, thanks for sharing this awesome read with us.

[Safari Spell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really neat twist on dragon shifters and other mythical creatures. I like the vision of this fantasy world. Also? This is a clean romantasy. 🧼

I really like Lissa and felt like she was a good FMC! I did find that the constant use of “female” and “male” almost exhausting. It started to feel like speed bumps when I was reading. A bit of rewriting could’ve fixed that, I think. Also, as a rare blonde with blue eyes, Lissa is apparently gorgeous and there’s no shortage of people reminding you of that the whole novel.

I do think there might be a few too many love interests for my taste. I honestly felt like I was getting whiplash because it was impossible to know who she was supposed to connect with. Lord Hyde, Jem, Agent Leith, Prince Finn, Prince Brion…I mean, who can’t this girl snag?! 😂 Were there any other attractive women in the capitol??

There are some loose ends that are bothering me, but I’m assuming they’ll make sense in the next book.

All in all, I really liked this though! I’m going to read the series!

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humans have been conquered by dragons. Now they are ruled by them and they must serve. The dragons flaunt their power and there is nothing that the humans can do about it. Lissa is a healer and all her life she has been told about the cruelty of the dragons. Now she is called to serve them directly. This story will follow her as she begins to learn a different story about these creatures.
Chosen is an engaging story but one that has familiar storylines that I have read in other books. This doesn't detract from my overall enjoyment totally but it is a bit of a downer. I wanted more. The characters are engaging, but there are moments of where I just wanted more. Lissa has some moments of where I wanted to shake her. She's a smart woman, but I just want her to make her own decisions about the things that she has been told.
I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. I'm hoping that the next book in this series will engage me more and have more depth.

[Campbell Macy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I’d actually give this book a 4.5/5, but there’s obviously no option for that.

This is one of the most cliché dystopian books I’ve possibly ever read. And I mean that in both a good and bad way.

The writing style in and of itself is actually quite nice, and it gets better throughout the book. It was a tad monotonous at the beginning with all the “I did...” and “I said...” but it definitely evolved, so once you push past that it’s good.

I obviously read this in one day while trapped in my house, and if dinner wasn’t a thing I definitely would’ve read it all in one sitting.

It was an addicting book, and honestly I’m a sucker for clichés.

I recommend it for people who aren’t looking for a book that requires super deep thinking or extreme attention, but still want something of quality.

[Joyce Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well ... I never ... paid attention, that this novel is but ONE book of three. Argh ... and the story is so good it just envelops the reader. So needless to say the story keeps the reader humming with fantasy, action, adventure, mystery, betrayal, secrets, sadness and some mild romance. There are many subplots. A very intricately woven tale. The main female character is a very stoic and strong-willed person who places family above all else. The main male character was not easily identified for this reader until closer to the end of the book. I can hardly wait for book two ... can you tell from my review?

Excellent! Well done Ms. Britt!

I received an advance review copy of this novel and I am leaving an honest review.

[Hadar · Rating 3 out of 5]

--- spoiler alert (of references) ---
* this book
* red queen series
* the hunger games series


the similarities between the books made the book unoriginal, the plot expected and so on.

now, Let's do a check list...
Part one - the hunger games:
- districts
- they are in the worst one
- yearly gathering so the rulers could take people
- her sisters first time in the gathering
- she tries to do everything so the sister will not be there
- she fail
- after coming to the big city they have a spa day with some guy with weird color hair

Part two - red queen:
- she is there and doesn't want to
- he picked her specifically
- she is from a unique blood line
- there is a rebellion
- led by her brother
- she isn't hating life at the castle


And it goes on

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced read with a wide range of characters. Amelissa is a healer and I wish there was more of her working as one. Other than that I loved the interaction of her with the Draekon. She seems completely lost due to the fact they were told lies in her village. She used her intelligence to figure out something wasn't right and didn't let it make her hateful towards the Draekon. Can't decide who I want to see her with as a companion for sure yet. It does end on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to see what happens next. I received an ebook at no charge for which I voluntarily provided an honest review.