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The Chosen Ones
Somebody has to do something. One of the world's top male skaters is in danger. He will be dead before the end of the Olympics.
"If you can't stop it, at least find out why it happened. For once, tell the real story."
Brody Yates has fallen on hard times. Fired from his job as a sports reporter for a major newspaper, he decides to go undercover as a trainer in order to infiltrate the backstage world of figure skating. He has one chance to save someone's life and to turn his around by breaking the story of a lifetime.
The Chosen Ones, though fictionalized, reveals the secrets behind the sequins against the backdrop of the high pressure sport of world class figure skating. In this non-stop thriller, only one person can win. Not everyone will survive.
"If you can't stop it, at least find out why it happened. For once, tell the real story."
Brody Yates has fallen on hard times. Fired from his job as a sports reporter for a major newspaper, he decides to go undercover as a trainer in order to infiltrate the backstage world of figure skating. He has one chance to save someone's life and to turn his around by breaking the story of a lifetime.
The Chosen Ones, though fictionalized, reveals the secrets behind the sequins against the backdrop of the high pressure sport of world class figure skating. In this non-stop thriller, only one person can win. Not everyone will survive.
305 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 3, 2015
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Luciano
7 booksLisa Luciano’s work as a director/producer in television production received national recognition for excellence in educational programming. She is the author of a non-fiction book about using technology in the classroom, has had a documentary script produced and has now written her first young adult novel.
Her non-fiction pieces have also won numerous awards. A childhood dream of being a sports reporter was fulfilled when she covered figure skating for the New York Times and International Skating Magazine.
She taught English Language Arts and Technology to students in grades 6-12 for 40 years and imost recently worked as a Library Media Specialist.
Born and raised in New York, she now resides in Connecticut.
Her passion (besides writing) outside of the classroom is martial arts. She is a 4th Dan black belt Tae Kwon Do Master/Instructor as well as a black belt in Hapkido.
Her non-fiction pieces have also won numerous awards. A childhood dream of being a sports reporter was fulfilled when she covered figure skating for the New York Times and International Skating Magazine.
She taught English Language Arts and Technology to students in grades 6-12 for 40 years and imost recently worked as a Library Media Specialist.
Born and raised in New York, she now resides in Connecticut.
Her passion (besides writing) outside of the classroom is martial arts. She is a 4th Dan black belt Tae Kwon Do Master/Instructor as well as a black belt in Hapkido.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 11, 2020
This story starts with an anonymous message regarding the death of an Olympic ice skater and from there the reader is taken into the world of professional ice skating – for better or worse. The story takes place in the 1990s before the scoring system changed for ice skating – back when it was based on a more subjective rating with a high score of 6. There is an extensive section in the back that explains the genesis of the story and reasons for it; ice skating scandals, cheating, judging issues and more and for those that perhaps aren’t as interested in ice skating and haven’t followed it, it provides a valuable resource to help understand the story.
The Chosen Ones focuses on the men’s competition starting with the US Nationals leading up to the Olympics. It pits the returning champion against a former silver medalist, turned pro who has returned to compete. It explores the relationships between the skaters, the skaters and their coaches and their sometimes uneasy relationship with the fans. The reader gets to know the skaters through the eyes of the reporter trying to find out if there is indeed a plot to murder one of them. He is determined to stop the murder if he can but he is not sure who is in danger.
I really enjoyed the story from the mystery of who was the murder target to who was trying to kill him. The inner workings of the ice skating world were a little bit disappointing as one likes to think things are done fairly. I already knew about the judging scandals but not how really bad things were. It’s really sad for these kids to have worked so hard to have certain things have been almost preordained. But I guess it’s like they say – truth is stranger than fiction and that is what makes for a good story. If you like ice skating you will truly enjoy this book. If you really didn’t know much about it, read this book and you’ll know more than you might want to.
The Chosen Ones focuses on the men’s competition starting with the US Nationals leading up to the Olympics. It pits the returning champion against a former silver medalist, turned pro who has returned to compete. It explores the relationships between the skaters, the skaters and their coaches and their sometimes uneasy relationship with the fans. The reader gets to know the skaters through the eyes of the reporter trying to find out if there is indeed a plot to murder one of them. He is determined to stop the murder if he can but he is not sure who is in danger.
I really enjoyed the story from the mystery of who was the murder target to who was trying to kill him. The inner workings of the ice skating world were a little bit disappointing as one likes to think things are done fairly. I already knew about the judging scandals but not how really bad things were. It’s really sad for these kids to have worked so hard to have certain things have been almost preordained. But I guess it’s like they say – truth is stranger than fiction and that is what makes for a good story. If you like ice skating you will truly enjoy this book. If you really didn’t know much about it, read this book and you’ll know more than you might want to.
September 25, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Chosen Ones by Lisa Luciano is a tale of massive corruption, bribes, payoffs, and the treatment that skaters endure to entertain the people and compete in the sport they love.
Will Brody get the story? Will Robby find the gold and happily ever after?
The Chosen Ones tells the story of many figure skaters, coaches, and all the other people involved in the money made from the sport. It is a bit overwhelming at first, but once I got used to the author's style of writing, it flew by fast.
The characters are intriguing, and the paths that they believe themselves to be on are honorable. These men and women put in a lot of time, effort, and pieces of themselves to carry this sport each year. I find that the things done to these talented individuals are despicable, yet I ultimately believe that it could have happened in real life, as the author states in her preface.
[image error]Things that I liked:
Robby is a powerful skater and enjoyed his growth throughout the story.
Glenn is also great. He surprises me with his genuine kindness and strength to stand up and tell the truth.
Paige is so strong. She knows what she wants and won't take less than her worth. At least where love is concerned.
Brody seems lost at first and his growth through the story is wonderfully done. He finds what is missing at his center by bringing to light the darkness around the skating community.
There are some losses, of course, sad as it is, things happen, I am sure that his parents won't forget him.
Brody has good investigation skills and sees things the way they are. However, proving that isn't always easy.
Four Stars
I liked the author's truthfulness at the beginning and the facts that she backs everything up with at the end. The story has a lot of heart and suspense. It lets us get inside the mind of a professional athlete and see why they get up each morning and do what they do. My rating for The Chosen Ones is four stars. If you are looking for a good sports story with an inside scoop on the figure skating world, this is a book for you.
Will Brody get the story? Will Robby find the gold and happily ever after?
The Chosen Ones tells the story of many figure skaters, coaches, and all the other people involved in the money made from the sport. It is a bit overwhelming at first, but once I got used to the author's style of writing, it flew by fast.
The characters are intriguing, and the paths that they believe themselves to be on are honorable. These men and women put in a lot of time, effort, and pieces of themselves to carry this sport each year. I find that the things done to these talented individuals are despicable, yet I ultimately believe that it could have happened in real life, as the author states in her preface.
[image error]Things that I liked:
Robby is a powerful skater and enjoyed his growth throughout the story.
Glenn is also great. He surprises me with his genuine kindness and strength to stand up and tell the truth.
Paige is so strong. She knows what she wants and won't take less than her worth. At least where love is concerned.
Brody seems lost at first and his growth through the story is wonderfully done. He finds what is missing at his center by bringing to light the darkness around the skating community.
There are some losses, of course, sad as it is, things happen, I am sure that his parents won't forget him.
Brody has good investigation skills and sees things the way they are. However, proving that isn't always easy.
Four Stars
I liked the author's truthfulness at the beginning and the facts that she backs everything up with at the end. The story has a lot of heart and suspense. It lets us get inside the mind of a professional athlete and see why they get up each morning and do what they do. My rating for The Chosen Ones is four stars. If you are looking for a good sports story with an inside scoop on the figure skating world, this is a book for you.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Chosen Ones by Lisa Luciano.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
July 16, 2020
Have you ever watched the Figure Skating competitions of the Olympics? Years ago, I remember watching the likes of Scott Hamilton, Dorothy Hamill, Brian Boitano, Katarina Witt, Elvis Stojko, Viktor Petrenko, Oksana Baiul, and Kristi Yamaguchi. And who can forget all the drama between Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding? These skaters and the Kerrigan -- Harding drama had me riveted to the screen.
Now, let me ask you another question: how many times did you think the judges didn't give the skater, you thought gave the top performance, high enough scores? I know I often disagreed with scores. However, I never suspected that there was a story behind the scores.
That's what The Chosen Ones by Lisa Luciano is about. Lisa was a sports reporter who covered Figure Skating for "The New York Times" and "International Figure Skating Magazine". She includes four of the Figure Skating Articles she wrote for the New York Times near the end of this book.
No, this story isn't about any of the ice skaters you may have followed on their Olympic journey. The characters and their stories in The Chosen Ones are fictional, but some of the scandalous, sometimes desperate, behaviors and corruption among judges' scores are based on facts discovered by Lisa while she covered Figure Skating in her journalism days.
The story has a lot of characters, which, in the beginning, was a bit difficult to follow, especially as Ms. Luciano does a lot of head-hopping without page breaks, frequently jumping from one character's head to another's from one paragraph to the next. Therefore, it was sometimes difficult to determine whose head I was in sometimes as I was reading, and I had to back track to figure it out. However, in order to really give the reader accuracy and the actual feel of figure skating competition, I honestly don't know how Ms. Luciano could have written a story as accurate and compelling as The Chosen Ones, with fewer characters.
Also, as I continued reading, I became accustomed to her head-hopping writing style and became very involved in the lives of the characters.
The story was full of drama and conflict. I loved some characters and disliked others, but every one of them kept me turning the pages to see where this was all going and who was going to be a winner, who would be a loser, and who would lose his life before the end of the Olympics.
The only warning I have to issue, because those of you who follow my book reviews know that I do not read books with sexually explicit scenes, is that this book has a few of such scenes, which I was not aware of when I agreed to review this book.
However, if you can skip or overlook such scenes, and have a love or fascination with Figure Skating, you will not be disappointed with this book.
Because of the trouble I had following the characters in the beginning chapters of the book and because I was disappointed to find the unexpected sexual scenes in this story, I give this story four stars.
Reviewer's Note: I was given a free copy of this book for my honest review.
Now, let me ask you another question: how many times did you think the judges didn't give the skater, you thought gave the top performance, high enough scores? I know I often disagreed with scores. However, I never suspected that there was a story behind the scores.
That's what The Chosen Ones by Lisa Luciano is about. Lisa was a sports reporter who covered Figure Skating for "The New York Times" and "International Figure Skating Magazine". She includes four of the Figure Skating Articles she wrote for the New York Times near the end of this book.
No, this story isn't about any of the ice skaters you may have followed on their Olympic journey. The characters and their stories in The Chosen Ones are fictional, but some of the scandalous, sometimes desperate, behaviors and corruption among judges' scores are based on facts discovered by Lisa while she covered Figure Skating in her journalism days.
The story has a lot of characters, which, in the beginning, was a bit difficult to follow, especially as Ms. Luciano does a lot of head-hopping without page breaks, frequently jumping from one character's head to another's from one paragraph to the next. Therefore, it was sometimes difficult to determine whose head I was in sometimes as I was reading, and I had to back track to figure it out. However, in order to really give the reader accuracy and the actual feel of figure skating competition, I honestly don't know how Ms. Luciano could have written a story as accurate and compelling as The Chosen Ones, with fewer characters.
Also, as I continued reading, I became accustomed to her head-hopping writing style and became very involved in the lives of the characters.
The story was full of drama and conflict. I loved some characters and disliked others, but every one of them kept me turning the pages to see where this was all going and who was going to be a winner, who would be a loser, and who would lose his life before the end of the Olympics.
The only warning I have to issue, because those of you who follow my book reviews know that I do not read books with sexually explicit scenes, is that this book has a few of such scenes, which I was not aware of when I agreed to review this book.
However, if you can skip or overlook such scenes, and have a love or fascination with Figure Skating, you will not be disappointed with this book.
Because of the trouble I had following the characters in the beginning chapters of the book and because I was disappointed to find the unexpected sexual scenes in this story, I give this story four stars.
Reviewer's Note: I was given a free copy of this book for my honest review.
September 23, 2020
I always loved watching the Olympics, especially figure skating and gymnastics, but ever since I watched an investigative documentary on the USA Gymnastics (the national governing body of the United States), revealing the toxic culture, the corruption, and manipulation, of its athletics, I have been turned off watching those events.
This book which covers U.S. figure skating may be fiction, but Luciano’s experience as a sports reporter and her articles and foreword included in the book, have given me the same foreboding as the gymnastics program. Is nothing sacred anymore?
The story starts out with an anonymous threat to kill an Olympic ice skater and a down and out investigative reporter, Brody Yates, is sent undercover to the National Figure Skating Championship and then the Olympics to get the scoop and flush out the killer. What Brody finds out is the heinous exploitation of the athletes by the system and the eroding family and personal relationships caused by years and years of extremely hard work and training to win while the athletes lose their sense of self-worth and happiness in the bargain. The athletes learn pretty quickly that if they don’t work hard enough, there is always somebody else to take their place.
The mystery is well done because you have to find out who the target is first and then who intends to take them out. There are many characters throughout the story told in their POVs including athletes, their coaches, their trainers, and Brody the undercover reporter. Sometimes it is hard to follow, but the author does a great job keeping my interest in a sport I knew little about behind the scenes. The tragic part is that the story exposes the lives of the characters which are heartbreaking and lonely,
Overall, this is a unique and captivating mystery set in the figure skating world filled with angst, love, competition, and corruption. If you would like to learn about the scandalous part of figure skating with an intriguing mystery added in, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Luciano for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
This book which covers U.S. figure skating may be fiction, but Luciano’s experience as a sports reporter and her articles and foreword included in the book, have given me the same foreboding as the gymnastics program. Is nothing sacred anymore?
The story starts out with an anonymous threat to kill an Olympic ice skater and a down and out investigative reporter, Brody Yates, is sent undercover to the National Figure Skating Championship and then the Olympics to get the scoop and flush out the killer. What Brody finds out is the heinous exploitation of the athletes by the system and the eroding family and personal relationships caused by years and years of extremely hard work and training to win while the athletes lose their sense of self-worth and happiness in the bargain. The athletes learn pretty quickly that if they don’t work hard enough, there is always somebody else to take their place.
The mystery is well done because you have to find out who the target is first and then who intends to take them out. There are many characters throughout the story told in their POVs including athletes, their coaches, their trainers, and Brody the undercover reporter. Sometimes it is hard to follow, but the author does a great job keeping my interest in a sport I knew little about behind the scenes. The tragic part is that the story exposes the lives of the characters which are heartbreaking and lonely,
Overall, this is a unique and captivating mystery set in the figure skating world filled with angst, love, competition, and corruption. If you would like to learn about the scandalous part of figure skating with an intriguing mystery added in, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Luciano for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
September 9, 2020
To be honest, I was very excited to read this book because of the romantic mystery aspect. As a sixteen year fan of street skateboarding, I very much support books that accurately represent the sport they are based on.
Luciano’s book is well-written, figure skating is accurately represented, and full of overtly detailed writing from start to finish.
My favorite scene in the book was relatable and I finally found myself within the novel.
It’s a scene where a dedicated fan finally gets to meet her favorite professional figure skater after months of writing him letters. I never felt more represented and into the book than I did reading that scene.
Now, the book wasn’t for me, per say but anyone who is a true fan of figure skating would most likely find this book that reads like a fictional creative nonfiction novel to be full of great imagery, believable characters, and true to form plot driven by real-like truths based on the author’s work as a New York Times reporter covering figure skating.
Because I believe this book deserves to be read and relished by a fan of figure skating, I’m holding a giveaway.
For more and to enter the giveaway ending 9/17/20, check out thesmartcookiephiles.com
Luciano’s book is well-written, figure skating is accurately represented, and full of overtly detailed writing from start to finish.
My favorite scene in the book was relatable and I finally found myself within the novel.
It’s a scene where a dedicated fan finally gets to meet her favorite professional figure skater after months of writing him letters. I never felt more represented and into the book than I did reading that scene.
Now, the book wasn’t for me, per say but anyone who is a true fan of figure skating would most likely find this book that reads like a fictional creative nonfiction novel to be full of great imagery, believable characters, and true to form plot driven by real-like truths based on the author’s work as a New York Times reporter covering figure skating.
Because I believe this book deserves to be read and relished by a fan of figure skating, I’m holding a giveaway.
For more and to enter the giveaway ending 9/17/20, check out thesmartcookiephiles.com
July 26, 2020
A mystery based in the world of figure skating - As a longtime fan of the sport, there's no way I could let this one slip by without giving it a gander. I remember the Nancy Kerrigan / Tonya Harding story. I remember watching it all play out in the media, and given the many pressures to bring home the gold, you have to wonder just how much further an athlete or someone athlete adjacent will go to win. This murder mystery may be fiction, but it sure was fun to guess and ponder which parts of the skaters and their lives were based on fact.
The story is written in third person, omniscient, so there's a lot of head hopping with little to no warning. If you aren't familiar with that point of view, it can be disconcerting at first, and some people never warm up to it. I'll admit it does take some getting used to, but there are so many moving parts in this book that I can't imagine only getting one or two perspectives. I did have to look back a few times to get which head I was in, particularly with some of the more abrupt jumps, but once I got into it, it was easy enough to keep up.
At its core, The Chosen Ones is a mystery, but it has the feel of a raw, unfiltered look at the lives of the athletes. What drives them, how far they push themselves and how far they can be pushed, and how far they're willing to go to get to that top spot. It has almost a tell-all vibe to it except that it's in story form, and what a compelling story it is. I'd say this one would appeal to both mystery fans as well as sports fans, particularly figure skating fans. And if you're like me and enjoy both the sport and a good mystery, this one should definitely be on your to be read list.
The story is written in third person, omniscient, so there's a lot of head hopping with little to no warning. If you aren't familiar with that point of view, it can be disconcerting at first, and some people never warm up to it. I'll admit it does take some getting used to, but there are so many moving parts in this book that I can't imagine only getting one or two perspectives. I did have to look back a few times to get which head I was in, particularly with some of the more abrupt jumps, but once I got into it, it was easy enough to keep up.
At its core, The Chosen Ones is a mystery, but it has the feel of a raw, unfiltered look at the lives of the athletes. What drives them, how far they push themselves and how far they can be pushed, and how far they're willing to go to get to that top spot. It has almost a tell-all vibe to it except that it's in story form, and what a compelling story it is. I'd say this one would appeal to both mystery fans as well as sports fans, particularly figure skating fans. And if you're like me and enjoy both the sport and a good mystery, this one should definitely be on your to be read list.
June 29, 2020
Before she was a fiction writer, Lisa Luciano covered the sport of ice skating for a major newspaper and a trade magazine. This expertise shines through in her novel The Chosen Ones. Luciano utilizes what she calls Faction to bring out the corruption that has plagued the sport, even into the Olympic arena. The depth of the corruption is revealed through the story of several fictional aspiring Olympic skaters. The depth of the research is impressive.
I enjoyed the premise of this book and the back stage look into the lives of figure skaters. The book read more like a true life account rather than a book of fiction. Because of this my interest was held, but I had a hard time forming a relationship with any of the characters. I would not recommend this book for a young reader as there is a lot of foul language, drugs, drinking and violence. There are also sexual relationships in the book, but they are not graphic. I would recommend this book for the mature reader who has an interest in the sport of figure skating.
I enjoyed the premise of this book and the back stage look into the lives of figure skaters. The book read more like a true life account rather than a book of fiction. Because of this my interest was held, but I had a hard time forming a relationship with any of the characters. I would not recommend this book for a young reader as there is a lot of foul language, drugs, drinking and violence. There are also sexual relationships in the book, but they are not graphic. I would recommend this book for the mature reader who has an interest in the sport of figure skating.
June 28, 2020
I received an ARC from the publisher to review Lucy Luciano’s fiction debut, the author’s background in covering figure skating in the ‘90s for the New York Times and my own memories of watching ice skating shows in the ‘90s piquing my interest in the story, which focused on all manner of issues in the sport. What I remember is beautiful costumes, fantastic jumps and lifts, and fun non-competition romps by the whole group of pros. More recently, I’ve watched figure skating just in the Olympics. Luciano’s emphasis on judging sabotage rings true with the performances I’ve seen and the nonsensical scores that followed.
The novel’s characters are many, which is likely why the author has a hard time developing them. Even the looks the characters take inside themselves seem surprised rather than evolutions. That said, the drama and the plot give the novel a fast pace and offer an enjoyable ride for the reader.
The novel’s characters are many, which is likely why the author has a hard time developing them. Even the looks the characters take inside themselves seem surprised rather than evolutions. That said, the drama and the plot give the novel a fast pace and offer an enjoyable ride for the reader.
July 24, 2020
I received this ARC book from the Publisher honest Review.
What a great thrill and suspense it was to read. What a great psychological thrill! This novel had everything in it. The thrill, the suspense, the psychological, and the twist is crazy. This novel will keep you thinking and guessing. When you think you right, well let me just say that you might be wrong. This had me all over the place. My heart beating so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page, every chapter was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.
4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
What a great thrill and suspense it was to read. What a great psychological thrill! This novel had everything in it. The thrill, the suspense, the psychological, and the twist is crazy. This novel will keep you thinking and guessing. When you think you right, well let me just say that you might be wrong. This had me all over the place. My heart beating so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page, every chapter was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.
4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
September 3, 2017
I really enjoyed the book, it offers a realistic view into the world of competitive professional skating. It demonstrates the solitary aspects of the sport so sensitively. It is a perceptive critique of the Skating "industry" delivered in a mystery genre. Terrific work! I enjoyed it!
November 14, 2020
When a message left on an answering machine warns that one of the world’s top male figure skaters will be dead before the end of the Olympics, a disgraced reporter has one chance to save a life and resurrect his career. Brody Yates goes undercover as a trainer in order to infiltrate the backstage world of figure skating. What he discovers is a dangerous and competitive world filled with corruption and scandal.
Lisa Luciano is a former NY Times Olympic reporter and uses that knowledge to craft a novel with corruption, addiction, abuse, racism, homophobia, and suspects capable of murder in their quest for the gold medal. Taking place in the 1990s before such things were commonly discussed, Lisa’s foreword indicates that the corruption isn’t new, and the backstage dealings continue. “The guy who wins is the one who knows how to play the system.” The helpful articles, information, and additional resources at the back of the novel are fascinating and add to the depth of knowledge that Lisa brings to the novel. The perspective bounces around quite a bit so that we’re deep in the head of one character, and a few paragraphs later are in someone else’s.
Our introduction to the skating world in chapter two is all catty gossip, which really sets the tone for everything else. Some skaters have the ear of judges, particularly Glenn, the current star of men’s skating. He’s clearly chosen his career and advertising money as his priority over his relationships; it seems to be a very common occurrence in the field. Freeman is picked on because he’s black; because he’s a dual citizen with Kenya, his parents suggest skating there instead of in the US due to racism. Robbie is young and relatively naïve, so he’s easily glossed over by judges. Brody easily works his way into the locker room as a trainer, and he gets suspicious of everyone right away. The descriptions and relationships are described slowly, and the chapters take their time to unfold.
As much as I was initially confused by the multitudes of names and perspectives in the beginning, I got drawn into the story. The clear implications of a conspiracy are more explicitly discussed after a third of the book has already passed, and then when the Olympics begins halfway through the book. This is the part of the book that I really enjoyed. There's a lot of drama, death in ways that Brody didn't expect (death of careers as well as actual death), some queerbaiting, and a lot more obvious double-dealing and behind the scenes scams to have agents' favorite skaters win the gold. Brody had faded out for a while, but he's there at the end to collect the threads and try to weave together a story for the paper. Even then, it's only the beginning of a future collecting data for him, because the ones in charge aren't gone by the end of the novel. That isn't the big spoiler for the story, not to worry. It's who wins the medals and how, and that was the fascinating part for me. a
Lisa Luciano is a former NY Times Olympic reporter and uses that knowledge to craft a novel with corruption, addiction, abuse, racism, homophobia, and suspects capable of murder in their quest for the gold medal. Taking place in the 1990s before such things were commonly discussed, Lisa’s foreword indicates that the corruption isn’t new, and the backstage dealings continue. “The guy who wins is the one who knows how to play the system.” The helpful articles, information, and additional resources at the back of the novel are fascinating and add to the depth of knowledge that Lisa brings to the novel. The perspective bounces around quite a bit so that we’re deep in the head of one character, and a few paragraphs later are in someone else’s.
Our introduction to the skating world in chapter two is all catty gossip, which really sets the tone for everything else. Some skaters have the ear of judges, particularly Glenn, the current star of men’s skating. He’s clearly chosen his career and advertising money as his priority over his relationships; it seems to be a very common occurrence in the field. Freeman is picked on because he’s black; because he’s a dual citizen with Kenya, his parents suggest skating there instead of in the US due to racism. Robbie is young and relatively naïve, so he’s easily glossed over by judges. Brody easily works his way into the locker room as a trainer, and he gets suspicious of everyone right away. The descriptions and relationships are described slowly, and the chapters take their time to unfold.
As much as I was initially confused by the multitudes of names and perspectives in the beginning, I got drawn into the story. The clear implications of a conspiracy are more explicitly discussed after a third of the book has already passed, and then when the Olympics begins halfway through the book. This is the part of the book that I really enjoyed. There's a lot of drama, death in ways that Brody didn't expect (death of careers as well as actual death), some queerbaiting, and a lot more obvious double-dealing and behind the scenes scams to have agents' favorite skaters win the gold. Brody had faded out for a while, but he's there at the end to collect the threads and try to weave together a story for the paper. Even then, it's only the beginning of a future collecting data for him, because the ones in charge aren't gone by the end of the novel. That isn't the big spoiler for the story, not to worry. It's who wins the medals and how, and that was the fascinating part for me. a
August 2, 2020
The Chosen Ones is about all the scandalous world of Olympic figure skating. An anonymous message makes a male reporter investigating and tells the not so pretty side of ice skating.
The story is full of dramas and emotional parts to highlight what is like to be in this tough competition.
The story is interesting with all the different characters, is easy to see the several problems so many skaters can have with their different personalities. However, I think it changes the characters' perspective too quickly, the POV’s are confusing in some parts.
Despite being interesting and get to know more about ice skating, I wasn’t captivated. The beginning to me was a little unexciting to read and when it becomes more fascinating still wasn’t enough. Because there were so many characters, I felt no connections to them, a superficial relationship between the characters and the reader.
The story is well written and appealing to mystery fans as well as sports fans, particularly figure skating fans. I would recommend this book to those who like ice skating and those who don’t know so much and are curious about it.
I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
https://wp.me/p9IaSz-8K
The story is full of dramas and emotional parts to highlight what is like to be in this tough competition.
The story is interesting with all the different characters, is easy to see the several problems so many skaters can have with their different personalities. However, I think it changes the characters' perspective too quickly, the POV’s are confusing in some parts.
Despite being interesting and get to know more about ice skating, I wasn’t captivated. The beginning to me was a little unexciting to read and when it becomes more fascinating still wasn’t enough. Because there were so many characters, I felt no connections to them, a superficial relationship between the characters and the reader.
The story is well written and appealing to mystery fans as well as sports fans, particularly figure skating fans. I would recommend this book to those who like ice skating and those who don’t know so much and are curious about it.
I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
https://wp.me/p9IaSz-8K
August 21, 2020
DNF at 29%. I thought this would be a murder mystery book but it got boring almost halfway so I gave up.
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