The Chosen: Contender, Book 1

Y’all! I NEED TO GUSH ABOUT THIS BOOK. It was my favorite read of this year so far.I was lucky enough to read it before release and I have been clamoring for the next book since (I don’t want to wait a year!)Cade is sent on an epic journey through an unfamiliar landscape with friends and foes alike where they have to discover the mystery as to where they went and how to get back home. We get epic historical details about artifacts and people lost in time, DINOSAURS(!!!), kick ass girls, an ancient evil and so much more!I loved Cade so much and related to his character way more than I ever thought possible. He thinks first, then punches which helps get him out of many sticky situations! His life before being whisked away into this gamescape was riddled with hardships. It was super awesome to see him overcome some of those hardships throughout the book.The #OwnVoice representation that Taran Matharu has within THE CHOSEN was also so great to see. We need more books like this please!I adored the side characters as well. Each of them were so well developed which led to some heartbreak in the end....no spoilers...don’t worry ;)I left this book with cool knowledge of history, medical techniques (if you know, you know) and also, how can I forgot the epic weapons I learned about?! Taran Matharu weaves interesting realistic facts into fiction seamlessly, leaving you shocked and eager for more.This story is just beginning and I’m already itching to see what comes next! Definitely my favorite read of the year so far!!!! 5/5 stars!!!

lot of fun, can't put it down. 71 yp male and I love these books and series.

I started reading Tranan's books with his previous trilogy. So although this book is very different I still love it as it also brings out new good ideas.

Twisted adventure!Thanks to NetGalley, Feiwel and Friends and Goodreads (giveaway winner) for the opportunity to read and review The Chosen by Taran Matharu!Cade has ended up in a reform center for juvenile delinquents because of his roommate’s theft. Cade attends the center trying to figure out how to stay under the radar. Six months into his yearlong stay, he finds himself on a cliff ledge facing a creature that wants him for a snack. The chapters alternate between Cade in the center and then somewhere else fighting for his life for a few chapters. Then the story continues with Cade trying to survive and understand his new surroundings full of creatures, people from the past and other creatures and technology that have no explanations. The codex is a tech device that Cade has never seen before and it answers several questions and explains that Cade is a contender in the qualifying round which is being counted down on the Codex’s display. The ending lays out the truth of Cade’s circumstances and all its complications. An unusual tale of a twisted adventure, 4 stars!

Big fan of the summoner series. The whole way through this book I was thinking dumb story that makes no sense. Just cannot are why these characters would be chosen as contenders, why the competition would be run this way or how 6 random school children would make an interesting contest versus this enemy. I definitely don’t believe they would have been as successful as they were.

i enjoyed the world building, the charecters, the development, and the action. What i dont like was the fact that the story meandered; whenever he traveling or exploring. i feel like that time could have been better spent seeing charecters interact and develop *specifically when the girls run into the boys) my only oher complaint is plot heavy so to amke a long story short, of ALLLL the people who ended up where these kids are, why are there kids there now. why not military or mercenaries? the sequal needs to explain why these kids were there instead of ANYONE else

I picked up this book because I love Taran Matharu's Summoner series. This book did not disappoint. At this point, I plan on reading any book Matharu writes.Cade gets sent to a disciplinary school for a crime he did not commit. All he wants to do is finish school and get into a good college. Then one night he gets mysteriously transported to another world along with a few other classmates and they find themselves players in a deadly game, on a planet filled with items and creatures from Earth's history. Deadly foes are around every corner. Can the contenders survive long enough to return home?I love the sci fi elements. It has a Hunger Games/ gladiatorial vibe to the story with "gods" running the show. I can't wait until the next book is available!On another note, I love the cover!

I really enjoyed this book. The character development was great. I was a bit sad and buy so much death especially of the main characters. However I look forward to seeing what will

I personally like the really good descriptive adjectives and language, but sometimes it's a little too much. The reader gets confused and does not know where they are in the story. I actually was fine until the kids escaped but then I was completely lost and ended up reading at the point where Cade was fighting a dinosaur. When I read through the gaps with the too much used adjectives, it all seemed like mush and a bunch of descriptive words. It is okay for you to buy this book for a ten year old to a 18 year old( if the ten tear old know not to use minor swear words) but they will think this is a boring book so I reccomend not to buy this book. This is a review from a ten - year - old.

I just can’t wait for book 3 to come out on kindle.I love Taran Matharu. You carry on writing such brilliant books.

So I’ve read other works by this author and on the whole they where pretty good,This though not so much, maybe it will pick up but I’m not so sure, might give it a go if it’s on special at some point

This an unusual and interesting plot for a very terrifying possibility. The characters are well thought out and the story has immense scope available to explore.

Great story very different from my usual reads,but this got me hooked..now how long have I got to wait for the next instalment, this really left you on a cliff hanger..