BOOK REVIEW – THE CHOSEN ONE by Carol Lynch Williams

The Chosen One is, without a doubt, one of the best books I’ve ever read. It'll break your heart and make you feel grateful for your life all at the same time. It's a book you'll read in one sitting, not daring to look away for fear of what might happen to Kyra and her family.

Kyra's struggle is one of the most difficult things I've read about. She doesn’t want to live such a life, but has no choices, no voice, and no way to break free. A normal life is out of the question, but rather than standing still and watching everything happen around her, she decides to do something about it. Kyra's bravery and courage is so inspiring, and is definitely my favourite part of the book. She stands up for what's right and what she believes in, and is willing to risk her life for her rightful freedom. She is amazing.

Beautifully written, and full of poetic descriptions, The Chosen One explores many themes and issues. Love, hope and sacrifice all play a huge part in Kyra's story and, as you turn each page, you instantly meet one after another. At times, the events were so tense that I wished to skip ahead a few pages, so I could believe that things would be okay. That's all Kyra's doing, and it's been a long time since I felt so attached to a main character.

Writing so realistically about a subject like this is above and beyond what I expected from a novel. I didn't expect such an honest insight into what life is like in societies like this, and it really has left me thinking, even a few months after first reading it. It shocked me, made me appreciate everything I have in my life, and left me with a strong desire to read everything Carol Lynch Williams has ever written. Seriously, she's that good.

There's no way this review can do it justice, but I'll just say that The Chosen One is a fantastic, daring story, and is an absolute must-read. I highly recommend it.