Hunted by man and monster, can they survive a new world?
Bryce Blooms has found himself in the children's hospital again, checked-in for yet another short, albeit routine, stint for an unknown and nagging ailment.
But when a time-freezing stranger begins wandering the hospital hallways, Bryce and his friends discover they are at the center of an interdimensional hunt and are more than just human: they are Chosen.
As the stranger and other hunters battle at the hospital for the right to claim the Chosen children as their own, the boys are transported to the Realm of Endland, a parallel dimension, where they quickly discover there are far more than two sides seeking their abilities.
Squabbling wizards, arrogant kings, amusing exiles, and mythical monsters all are vying for control of the young Chosen as well.
With the help of an enigmatic hermit, Bryce and his friends look to establish a New Order, one set on bringing balance to the Realm and combating the dark forces of a mysterious shadow faction, the Grim.
Should they fail, not only will Endland be ensnared in the shadow of the Grim King, but so too will the rest of the interdimensional space beyond, including Earth and the families they left behind.
An award-winning author (Chosen the New Order), Nick McPherson is primarily a husband and father, which are and will always be his greatest accomplishments. He is also a fantasy genre nerd, a video game enthusiast, an engineer, a hater of yard work, and a lover of frozen custard. He splits his time between a lovely home in Cleveland, Ohio and a less lovely work desk in a different part of Cleveland. He is prone to demonstrating wry humor and finds writing his author bio somewhat difficult. But it's done now, so he supposes it wasn't too difficult after all.
Here stands the last of the men responsible for the catastrophe at Jornun. And here stands the last of the men responsible for Endland’s current safety. 🦄🦄🦄 Bryce Blooms has found himself in the children's hospital again, checked-in for yet another short, albeit routine, stint for an unknown and nagging ailment. But when an odd stranger begins wandering the hospital hallways, Bryce and his friends discover they are at the center of an interdimensional hunt and are more than just human; they are Chosen. As the Grim and the hunters of Endland battle at the hospital for the right to claim the Chosen children as their own, the boys are transported to the Realm of Endland, where they quickly discover there are far more than just two sides seeking their abilities. Squabbling wizards, arrogant kings, amusing exiles, and mythical monsters all are vying for control of the young Chosen as well. With the help of an enigmatic hermit, Bryce and his friends look to establish a New Order, one set on bringing balance to the Realm and combating the dark and mysterious forces of the Grim. Should they fail, not only will Endland be ensnared in the shadow of the Grim King, but so too will the rest of the interdimensional space beyond, including Earth and those they left behind. 🦄🦄🦄 Chosen: The New Order is the first book in the fantasy series by Nick McPherson. This book is an adventure of a lifetime fied with masterful intrigue and a slew of characters. At first I presumed that this would be a fantasy book targeted towards a younger audience. However, it borders more towards the epic fantasy genre with its fantastical world building and a dense plot. Although it's a little bit hard to grasp everything initially, once you are immersed into the story it's hard to put down. It's engaging with a writing style that's not difficult to follow and twists and turns to leave you hooked. While Bryce is the main character of the book the author does not start away from giving all characters their time to shine. The way the story is told, a part of you feels like you re in Endland along with everyone on this adventure. The adrenaline rush feels almost real. I'm not someone who enjoys a lot of Epic Fantasies, but because this book was able to maintain a balance between character(s) and plot development, it was not hard to enjoy it. I would however also like to point out that, like in many of the books in this genres there are more slow moments or what I like to call skimmable content. But other than that it proved to be a good read and I'm looking forward to reading what happens next ont the New Order's journey. 🦄🦄🦄 Rated 8.5/10 Melina L.
Bryce and his friends, Johnny and Zack, are all in hospital yet again with another turn of the unusual dizzy spells they share that no doctor can diagnose. The trio quickly discover that this hospital visit is unlike any other as the strange coincidences don't stop there; each of them has an odd encounter with the same mysterious and dangerous stranger. As a battle breaks out over the fates of the boys lives, they are transported to a new realm, Endland. In this unfamiliar world with their newfound special abilities, the children are far more important to this new world than they first realise.
First impressions of a book count, and that includes all the extra details the author has incorporated into the pages. An audible squeal of excitement escaped when I flipped over the page and saw the inclusion of a map! The additional page décor completed the overall design of the book resulting in a highly polished product. This set my expectations high and I am pleased to say that the writing did not disappoint!
The writing style has a familiar yet refreshing feel, with humorous dialogue reminiscent of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, and a great sense of atmospheric world building akin to J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. McPherson knows how to write strong action sequences that propels the story forward with delectable anticipation. The world he has created is expansive yet incredibly detailed. In a world such as this one, with a large array of components: people, factions and cities, it is easy to become lost in a sea of never ending information being bombarded at the reader. But in this book, the author guides the reader through every part clearly and concisely to avoid that happening, to great success! I never once felt overwhelmed or confused.
There is a juxtaposition of the modern-day with a high fantasy setting as the two worlds are crossed over and explored through the eyes of Bryce, Johnny and Zack. We are introduced to a whole host of characters, including those you would expect from a fantasy novel: wizards, orcs, elves, and the like. Every new addition brings their own interesting backstory and is given the time to explore their parts, which enriches the overall tale. The overarching villain is intriguing, with only snippets of their character being revealed, it will be interesting to see where the author will take them next.
I became very quickly invested in the story that has been set up ready for the next instalment, and I shall be eagerly awaiting my return to Endland in the sequel. I am unsure who the target audience is; at times the young adult genre felt fitting, yet other occasions called for more of an adult audience. However, I feel that any reader, particularly those with a fondness for fantasy, can enjoy this book from teen through to adult.
“Chosen: The New Order” by J.L. Butcher is a captivating and creative piece of literature that will have its audience engrossed from the outset until the very end. It serves as an introduction to "Chosen," which depicts a realm where mystical beings carry out their dealings clandestinely, using their extraordinary powers in opposition to one another's interest.
The tale centers on a youthful female by the name of Emma, who is ignorant regarding her genuine selfhood as an extraordinary creature until she finds herself unexpectedly thrown into an unknown realm. It comes to light that Emma belongs to a faction referred to as "Chosen Ones," potent beings with exceptional capacities whose destiny involves going against malevolent power recognized as the "Darkness." In conjunction with fresh comrades-in-arms, Emma embarks on salvaging humanity from imminent danger posed by Darkness and revealing her previous history's clandestine particulars.
The written work of Butcher is immensely captivating and entices readers to become fully immersed in the tale with ease. The storyline exhibits a fine balance in its momentum that's replete with surprises, intricacies, and perplexities thereby keeping audiences at the brink of excitement throughout. Moreover, characters are meticulously constructed such that they manifest relatable traits eliciting an emotional investment from individuals who engage themselves through their journey.
An aspect that truly stands out in this piece is its world creation. Butcher has skillfully established an elaborate and opulent cosmos teeming with a multifarious range of paranormal entities as well as intricate mythology. This universe seems genuine, like it's been inhabited by real beings which consequently brings depth and intricacy to the narrative structure.
"Chosen: The New Order" is an incredibly promising beginning to what appears poised to be a truly remarkable series. It's essential reading for those who adore urban fantasy and crave captivating, meticulously crafted narratives that leave them breathless. With this work, J.L Butcher has fashioned a setting which feels both familiar yet unprecedented in its intricacy--and readers will undoubtedly salivate over the next entry into the saga with ravenous anticipation. Throughout their journey through this richly portrayed world of characters and surroundings alike within "Chosen," readers are treated to constant revelations about all aspects of it at every turn!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Such a fun read. Starts off slower, building up characters and getting you to love the three boys. Quickly becomes a page turner with mini-quest like chapters. The imagery and fantasy elements are mind boggling. I am so so excited to keep reading the story of Bryce Blooms and the New Order.