The Choosing (Seer Novel #1) by Rachelle Dekker

Title: The Choosing (Seer Novel #1)

Author: Rachelle Dekker

Pages: 464

Year: 2015

Genre: Dystopian

Publisher: Tyndale House

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

About the book:

     They told her being chosen was all that mattered. That it would secure her future, her worth. That not being chosen would yield a cruel fate.

     Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she’s spent a lifetime preparing for - her Choosing Ceremony - to end in disaster. Ripped from her family, she’ll spend her days serving as a Lint, the lowest level of society, because she knows it’s her duty to follow the way of the Authority.

     As Carrington begins this nightmare, rumors of rebellion rattle her beliefs. Though the whispers contradict everything she’s been told, they resonate deep within.

     Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of. It’s an opportunity to be chosen at last, but she can’t shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. Does the Authority truly know what’s best for society? And how can it let a killer run free while Lints are dying? Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.

My review:

     When I checked with other reviewers to find out what the genre would be for this book and was told “dystopian” my first thought was, “What is Dystopian”? So I went to the dictionary. It didn’t actually have the word “dystopian” in it. The definition I found was for dystopia: an imaginary place where people are unhappy and usually afraid because they are not treated fairly. This definition definitely fits the world within the pages of this book.

     A very thought provoking dystopian novel!

     I connected immediately with both Carrington Hale and Remko Brant, the two main characters. I was heart-broken many times throughout the book because of what these two sweet individuals were going through. The hopelessness of their situations was palpable.

     My interest was caught by the reality of how Carrington was affected by the things that she had been told her whole life. There are many things that we say without thinking about how they will affect the person hearing them. This story really brought my attention to how a person’s whole demeanor and outlook on life can be formed by negative comments.

     An underlying story is the mystery of the Lints who are being murdered. There are glimpses into the twisted mind of the killer at a number of points in the book. I was very interested in finding out who the killer was. I was definitely rooting for his capture and the safety of the Lints to be restored. They have so much hardship already.

     This is a wonderful book and I’m highly recommending it. It is getting a 5 star rating from me.

     You can find out more about Rachelle and her books on her website at: http://rachelledekker.com/home/