3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Some unknown killer/power is violently butchering people, and every human being on the planet is afraid. People are huddling in their homes, fearing death. Even the combined action from all the governments in the world has not stopped this carnage. No one has ever seen the killer; no one knows the reason or criteria behind this bloodbath; no one has any idea how to stop the slaughter. But everyone knows that the world is rushing towards an apocalypse. In a faraway place, hidden from everyone’s view, an ancient race called Chosen has been living quietly. Samantha, AKA Sam, her husband, her son, and her stepdaughter have decided to go camping in the deep mountains.
What connects the above peculiar scenarios? Are these scenarios even connected at all? Who is behind the mass murders? Will humanity survive? Who are/is causing this apocalypse? Who is this Chosen? How do Sam and her family fit into this? To know the answers to all these questions, you definitely have to read Sam the Chosen by Wally Jones.
This book is a fantasy fiction entwined with a sci-fi concept, Lycanthropy. This sci-fi and fantasy combo is unputdownable. The apocalyptic touch added a heightened sense of tension. As you can already see, Sam is our protagonist. She is a middle-aged mom working as an elementary school teacher. Seeing a protagonist who is not a teenager, especially in this theme, was refreshing. She is a flawed protagonist with a good character arc. Also, all the primary characters are slowly developed. There is enough foreshadowing to keep a reader hooked. The author has put a lot of forethought into his story, and it reflects throughout the book.
As you might have already guessed, I have become an immense fan of this book. That’s why it was disheartening to see that this book was not professionally edited. I found more than ten spelling errors within the first few chapters! I was stumped by this because every element (storyline, pace, characters, sensory description...) was top-notch. That is why, and only for this reason, I am giving this book 3 out of 4 stars. Maybe I got an unedited version of the book! I will gladly change my rating to four stars if the spelling errors are corrected.
This book surprised me many times with its twists. There was a slow buildup to these twists, and they never came abruptly. The author has provided closure by finishing the story he has started. However, the ending also implied that this story is unfinished. So, I am excited about the next book in this series. I was emotionally invested in the book. Maybe that’s why I was utterly crushed by my beloved character’s character arc.
I know this book contains errors, but I will still gladly recommend this book to every sci-fi/fantasy-loving bookworm. If you are looking for good fiction with well-developed characters and a well-structured plot, then pick this book. Before I forget, the author’s wife’s name is also Sam; he also mentions that his wife is his muse in the dedication. Cute right! Happy reading.
******
Sam the Chosen
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
