Book Review | Contender: The Chosen
Title: Contender The Chosen Author: Taran Matharu Published: 9th January 2021 Publisher: Hachette Children's Books Genre: YA, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Series: Contender #1 Rating: 4/5 stars
In a world far from our own, where enemies come in many forms, the ultimate battle for survival is about to begin … An epic new trilogy from the bestselling author of the Summoner series.
CADE CARTER IS LOST
Convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, Cade is facing a year in reform school when he finds himself suddenly transported to another realm.
BUT THIS NEW WORLD IS NO ESCAPE
Populated by bloodthirsty prehistoric creatures and fierce warriors, Cade’s surroundings are full of danger. Along with his fellow students, Cade is forced to become a contender in a deadly game of the highest stakes, controlled by invisible overlords.
Who are these brutal rulers, and why did they choose Cade? Before he can find answers, Cade must get ready to fight …
BECAUSE IN THIS GAME, FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION -Waterstones
Thank you Hachette Children’s Books for sending me a copy of The Chosen to read and review.
I have heard of Matharu’s work, and I am familiar with his Summoner series although I haven’t read them. When I was contacted about these books, and as soon as I saw that the books were video game inspired and featured dinosaurs, I was pretty much sold!
This book introduces us to Cade, a schoolboy at a Private school, who finds himself transported out of his school and into another world. He is joined by a group of fellow teens and they find themselves having to join forces to battle for their lives. They meet dinosaurs, other deadly creatures, and Ancient Roman warriors!
I really enjoyed Cade’s narration. We get a nice background to him through flashback chapters, which really gave the reader insight into the other boys, and the relationships between them. The contrast between these flashbacks at the beginning of the novel, and the narrative action really worked. We are flung headfirst back into the action, it is non-stop. As we read, we also meet other teens who make up the team we are rooting for. The found family trope is strong in this novel, and it makes my heart sing!
The novel is definitely plot driven. The action begins on page one and it really doesn’t stop until the final page of the novel. Featuring boat races, dinosaur chases and ancient Mayan temples, this book is an amazing race, and is a history lovers dream! The historical accuracy I cannot comment on, as I really don’t know much, but it read wonderfully to me! There are name drops of famous historical figures and artefacts which kept me entertained, and will definitely appeal to readers.
Overall I really enjoyed The Chosen. It is an action packed novel featuring dinosaurs which is a definite plus in my book. Perfect for fans of Charlie Higson and The Hunger Games, I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series!
Buy The Chosen from Waterstones here
