Let me begin by noting that I was a huge fan of the first two installments of the Divergent series, which as you can imagine, added to my excitement upon receiving to Veronica Roth's "first novel for adults".
To begin with, the best I can come up with as to why this is considered an "adult novel" is because of the pervasive crude language. Other than that, I really felt as though the characters were very juvenile, so much so that I had to continually remind myself throughout the novel that they were adults! It honestly read like a Young Adult Dystopian novel, which I generally enjoy when well-written.
I'll also admit that the novel didn't pick up speed until the second half, at which point it became increasingly more disjointed, confusing readers as to the time period and reality they were in. The articles/letters placed in between each chapter only add to the juxtaposed timeline.
On a positive note, Roth's imagination certainly shone through in the second half of the novel. The ride became more exciting and jarring, and hints of the author's ingenuity were apparent. It was Roth's creativity that made the novel a somewhat fun, albeit confusing, adventure.
However, if I'm honest, I do believe that this story would've been more well-received had it been written in the first person. While the story focused on Sloane (nice Ferris Bueller reference, btw), I didn't feel fully invested in her plight because I wasn't completely absorbed in her story, despite the writing having some omniscient characteristics.
So, while Chosen Ones didn't fall as flat as the 3rd novel in the Divergent series, it also wasn't my favorite of her novels. I will admit though, that an intriguing Dystopian will generally lure me in regardless.
Many thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for gifting me with this novel in exchange for an honest review.Read 5/22/20
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