Posted by Guest Reviewer MelaniePublished Date: May 16th, 2011
Finished Date: November 15th, 2011
Source: For Review from Author
Format: Kindle
Pages: 337
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The Blurb from Goodreads: Life for Hayden Carlson had never been overly exciting and that was the way she liked it, so when she meets Jasper on a trail in the woods, it never occurs to her that life as she knows it is about to change.Suddenly, Hayden crosses over to a world she never would have dreamed existed and a future she never would have believed possible. Along the way, she discovers an affinity for magic; her ability to dream of the future and the craft of healing. She meets many beings that become her friends and family, as well as others who will try to capture her for her powers.Hayden must find a way to escape being captured, save the man she loves, and decide where she stands in the balance of good and evil.
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The Review: Hayden lives a normal everyday life, she’s studying to become a vet and the rest of her time is devoted to her other passion. . . . horses. She has owned her own horse for over 10 years and spends a lot of her time with him and training other horses in. One day whilst she is out on her horse ‘Dodge’ she comes across a new trail in the forest and sees a man at the opposite end who she is strangely drawn to. She doesn’t pursue at that time and when she returns later with a friend the trail is gone but once she goes back alone it appears again so she decides to take it and see where it leads. Not only does it lead her to the mysterious man but it leads her to a whole other world, a simpler, more beautiful place filled with wonder and magic . . . little does she know that this is just the beginning of a huge adventure for Hayden in which there is a prophecy that has marked her as ‘the chosen one’ and brings enemies from far and wide in an attempt to capture and use Hayden in any way possible but what they didn’t bank on is Hayden’s blossoming powers, her being fated to Jasper ‘the Queen’s Captain’ and the friends she makes along the way.
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I didn’t know what to expect really when I said I would review this book (trilogy, actually) but I was really surprised because it was nothing like what I assumed it was going to be. I really enjoyed it actually, for some reason I thought it was YA but it isn’t. What it is, is a nice, easy to read fantasy with all sorts of creatures and magic users set in a not so far away place. We get really likable characters that you want to route for and want to know more about, lots of species, secrets, a prophecy which will interest most readers (who doesn’t love a good old prophecy), enemies galore coming from all over, loyalties are tested and new alliances are formed . . . everything a good fantasy should have and I really enjoyed it ! I LOVE the whole ‘fated’ thing, I’m a sucker for soul mates and these are proper soul mates, not the kind that would go off with someone else at the drop of a hat. NO, these are the ones who are in pain at being separated, only have eyes for each other, can’t keep their hands off each other, dream about their other halves for years before meeting them and lose all interest in the opposite sex once they start dreaming. They would do anything, live their lives and would die for their soul mates . . . . awww who doesn’t want that and it’s all sealed with their first kiss . . .perfect ! A really good start to the series and I’m really curious to see where this all goes now because this is really just introducing the players and putting the plot into play, I want more on the prophecy, more on the enemies, more on who Hayden is meant to be, even more on all her friends . . . I just want more!
PS. It really needs a new cover as the one it has doesn’t really do the book justice, this is definitely a ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover’ instance.
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Published Date: May 16th, 2011
Finished Date: November 15th, 2011
Source: For Review from Author
Format: Kindle
Pages: Unknown
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The Blurb from Goodreads: Hayden has made up her mind. If she doesn't choose between the Namaels and the Majs then innocent beings won't die because of her. Of course, things can never be that simple and when she is taken prisoner by the humans a whole new problem arises. It doesn't take long before everything she thought she knew no longer makes sense. Could it be possible that the prophecy was wrong?
The Review: 4.5 out of 5 - We start up right where we left the first book, Hayden, Jasper and Dodge are on a quest to the northern territories so that Dodge can find his stone and become a ‘winged one’ and to keep Hayden from the clutches of the Namael’s Queen Melana and the Maj’s vengeful second in command, Rainen. Their journey however is filled with danger and betrayal but they find help from an unexpected source only to have Hayden fall into the hands of a new enemy, another that would use her as a weapon but in the most despicable way. Bonds are broken and re-forged as Hayden makes a discovery about who and what is really the threat to Quelondain and vows to unite the shifters against their true enemy. But her enemies won’t be easily swayed and for all there is loss, there is also gain as alliances are formed and people continue to flock to Hayden, willing to believe in ‘the chosen one. Hayden & Jasper are put in some very life threatening dangerous positions and have no choice but to take themselves out of the constant danger and return to Hayden’s world to ready themselves for what is coming . . . . . . but will they want to return ? and will they truly be safe anywhere ?
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Another really good book, full of adventure and love, hope, joy, sorrow . . . . I don’t think there is an emotion I didn’t go through during this book. I love how the characters are growing and feel for them quite a bit. Hayden has blossomed from a person happy in her solitude to a determined woman who puts everyone else before herself, even enemies, even though her status puts her in constant danger, She rises to every challenge even if her path isn’t clear. As always Jasper is by her side, supporting her through everything no matter what, always believing in her. He has changed from a solitary person also, one used to taking or giving orders unconditionally until he became fated to Hayden and she became his world. Still loving the fated thing and love the way its brought to the reader, not just with the two main characters but with them all, you can really get a sense for the depth of emotions they are going through and it’s the type of love any romantic dreams of. I’m always wondering when we meet new people who they are going to be fated to, is it going to be anyone we know and even liked the little complication that arose concerning Alex. It was also good to see what happened when being fated isn’t a good thing and the downside of it.
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The plot moved along quite nicely and kept me really interested, we were introduced to more players and you get a feel for where it is going to go without it being too obvious, there was a nice little side plot there that wasn’t centred around Hayden that was good too. I really like the world that’s created and although we get answers, I also have questions that I hope get addressed in the next book. I want to know more about the Gysps and where they come from? What they meant by what they said? Will Hayden travel to the other continent? Will we see more of Faren? Will she have to kill Rainen? Will she become the ruler of everything? I have lots more too so I’m really excited about the final instalment . . . . . I have a feeling it’s going to be epic.
A huge thank you to Mireille Chester for giving me the opportunity to review this book. The review for Destiny, book three in the Chosen One Series will be posted on December 6th for the blog tour.
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