Review of ‘Unchosen’

Katharyn Blair crafts a fiercely feminist fantasy with a horrifying curse, swoon-worthy sea captains, and the power of one girl to choose her own fate in this contemporary standalone adventure that's perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and Seafire, and for anyone who has ever felt unchosen.

For Charlotte Holloway, the world ended twice.

The first was when her childhood crush, Dean, fell in love--with her older sister.

The second was when the Crimson, a curse spread through eye contact, turned the majority of humanity into flesh-eating monsters.

Neither end of the world changed Charlotte. She's still in the shadows of her siblings. Her popular older sister, Harlow, now commands forces of survivors. And her talented younger sister, Vanessa, is the Chosen One--who, legend has it, can end the curse.

When their settlement is raided by those seeking the Chosen One, Charlotte makes a reckless decision to save Vanessa: she takes her place as prisoner.

The word spreads across the seven seas--the Chosen One has been found.

But when Dean's life is threatened and a resistance looms on the horizon, the lie keeping Charlotte alive begins to unravel. She'll have to break free, forge new bonds, and choose her own destiny if she has any hope of saving her sisters, her love, and maybe even the world.

Because sometimes the end is just a new beginning.

Review

Unchosen follows Charlotte through the apocalypse on the sea as she seeks to find her family, the boy she loves, and find an ending to the Crimson curse.

Captivating Storytelling

Blair did an incredible job of recreating the apocalypse for Unchosen. It is a horror story, but this is not just another zombie apocalypse. The story has a fantastical connection to a real historical figure of Anne de Graaf (aka Anne Dieu-le-Veut), an 18th-century female buccaneer. This added element of creating some fantasy out of history to tie together the horror and science fiction make the story engaging.

However, more so is the fluidity of Unchosen. The way Blair structures the story keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. The story begins with Charlotte reliving the moment the world ended for her, both times. It is a captivating way to lure the reader into the story, setting up the stage for the rise of the Crimson, the curse spread through eye contact. That already is a unique way to spin this horror trope giving it a uniqueness that readers will appreciate.

Unchosen follows Char onto the ocean, where there are pirates in a modern-day age. The adventure, the various villains, and the horror element all balance each other to give the story a compelling edge.

Characterization

Blair worked hard to make the characters compelling. Charlotte is the middle sister and has always felt outshined by both her sisters. Now, while the sisterly dynamic is fantastic, it is not without tension. Harlow, her older sister, was in a popular band before the apocalypse and her sister was a rising star gymnast. Charlotte has always been Charlotte, the great supporter of her sisters fascinated in history and puzzles much like their father. However, with Harlow becoming a commander and her younger sister the Chosen One, Char feels inferior to both.

The insecurities that Char feels resonate with the reader. They give her humanity and allow her to have such significant character development. Seeing Char grow and find strength in her identity, in the things that make her unique, lend her strength.

Final Thoughts

Unchosen is, put, a fantastic novel. This novel is unique and focuses on building up a strong dynamic between sisters, even through the tough times, while giving the “zombie” horror trope a unique spin that keeps the story from being predictable and boring.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.