Customer Reviews

The Chosen Soul

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

First off let me say, I am not sorry I purchased this book. It had such promise. The premise of the story was interesting and original, but that is where it ended. There was absolutely no character development what-so-ever. The main character Raven and her brother Loki are never really described beyond their looks and the occasional, they were twins so they always knew what the other was thinking. Has we never heard of show don't tell? I don't want to be told how devoted Loki was to his God, I want the author to show it to me. There also were characters that were introduced for no reason, they were simply there to fill a spot as a flat character. Take Summer for example, she started off as a possible love interest for Loki and then where did she go? She just vanished! If you are going to get your reader invested in a character the least you could do is tell us what happens with them!
Second, why is Raven always stuck in a spot where she is going to get raped? Seriously. I understand that she is supposedly the most beautiful woman on earth, but not every man is going to want to rape her. I was actually to the point where every single man introduced to us, besides her brother was lusting after her. I can not help but wonder if this is what the author thinks should happen to pretty girls. Cause it's not.
Third, and this is a spoiler alert, what is up with the ending? I literally wanted to throw my kindle when I read it. And all I can say is why? why? why? Why would your character all of a sudden just say, oh yeah the elf prince, he's kind of cool, I guess I'll settle for him. There is absolutely no reason behind this move at all. From the way the author developed Raven (what little she did) there is no motive for her to do this. There has to be a reason that your characters do the things they do. And frankly there wasn't. Did anyone else feel she got to the end and went, oh I've met my page limit let's just end it with Raven utterly giving up? Cause I did.
If you can help it just skip this book altogether.

This story is truly born of a rich imagination. The characters are beautifully detailed and otherworldly, and the plot is haunting and magical. Yet I had no problem placing myself alongside the main heroine as her world of fantasy, and many times horror, unfolds before her. Raven is unlike any character you have ever read; yet her inherent innocence makes her someone you can identify with, and thus engage deeply in her story.

This novel has something for every reader- Intrigue, suspense, fantasy, murder, mystery, romance, lust, and a magical setting that is rich in detail and beauty.

I really tried to like this book. I liked the premise and the first half. Then the story just kept getting more and more mixed up with no particularly enjoyable characters. Who cares is the heroine is incredibly beautiful with all sorts of powers at her fingertips if she cannot stop fainting and whimpering and getting lost and confused every 5 minutes? By the final chapters I just wanted to slap her and tell her to get a f-ing grip on herself.

This book is amazing! For the people that did not like it, you confound me. It is beautifully written and impossible to put down. Raven (the main character) is a gorgeous soul, who strives to save her not only her life but also her brothers in a battle of good versus evil. However, evil is not always evil and sometimes the bad person is not what they seem. This tale twists and turns and it is such a brilliant world of magic and possibilities. Heather Killough Walden has once again weaved an incredible story like no other. Raven must learn to deal with devotion, loss, lust, and pure unadulterated desire in this book and trust me it is a steal at the price. I have read this book three times and each time I find myself spellbound, shutting the rest of the world out while I live and breathe the life of Raven. Raven is torn between what she has known to be right her entire life, and what now seems right with her new knowledge of the world. She meets a dangerously beautiful man named Drake, who sets his life on the line for her. However, before she gets to be with him, he is viciously ripped away from her. I am waiting tooth and nail for the sequel. I loved this book!

Heather Killough-Walden is a very creative and daring writer. She makes great dialogue, unexpected twists, memorable and lovable characters (even the antagonists), and all her plots are very well written. I've been following her for years, along with other fans who discovered her in some of the first websites she contributed to. Like many of them, and those who have found her through recommendations, she has quickly became the top "favorite" and to me the main reason why I kept on going back to those websites, waiting for the next installments to her stories which are always in the fantasy or sci-fi realm, although sometimes they were also very sensual.

The Chosen One is one of her fantasy novels, and it's full of dark magic, mystery and suspense. You will fall in love with the characters, and it will keep you wishing that there is more to the story and that you will get to know the other minor characters more. (Maybe in the next books then. Right, Heather?) It's exciting, provocative, thrilling, and over-all it's a hell of a ride. Enjoy it, and along with the rest of us, keep on bugging the author to produce more stories like this especially those about the characters that we already fell in love with.

Keep them coming Heather!

I personally loved this book. I like how Amazon gives you recommendations for books that might be up your alley. I found this book, daring, luring, seductive, and sweet. Its perfect how Heather made the fantasy intertwine with romance, defiantly threw a curve ball towards the end. I enjoyed it VERY much.

1996.

The Chosen Soul by Heather Killough-Walden was read by me in one sitting.

I should have been completing another book review, but after reading Hell Bent, I wanted a book which had a fast pace, romantic tension, and action. And that's why I read this book, because I know HKW will deliver on all 3 of those requirements. I wanted a fast read - and that's what this is.

I've read some of the other reviews for this book, and I think it's a shame that certain characters introduced in this book have been attacked by other reviewers, because this book is a part of a series. Those characters will have time to develop in the rest of the series, so as a reader I'm saying don't slash this book because you feel each character didn't have enough time to develop.

I loved this read! My only complaint would be that the sexual tension built in this book was left *out there* to be brought to fruition in the next book (or the one after - who knows?) However as a supernatural romance, this book rocks. I loved the devils in this, and unlike some other comments, the twins had plenty of character development in this book. They went from innocence to grown up in no time at all. When forces battle for a soul - who are the victors?

The premise of this book is a story we know well, good battles evil - for a soul. But I like HKW's approach to this ancient concept - because she suggests in this tome that no one wins that soul. You have the freedom of choice - and no one *wins* your soul, if you plan on hanging onto it yourself. Through fear, manipulation and violence - nothing can *take* your soul from you, unless you're willing to give it away. So bravo!

The men in this are hot enough to melt your eyes right out of their sockets. The women are just right. Heather Killough-Walden knows how to press buttons by appealing to the reptilian brain in each of us. And I devoured this book like a hungry soul at the sight of manna.

If you enjoy supernatural romance - HKW hits the spot and definitely leaves you wanting the next book in this series. I think this author is talented, and I'm happy to give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

It's gripping, - it's otherworldy - but you'd have to read it all to appreciate how much thought went into this. HKW has also done her supernatural homework in this one - I appreciate the depth she's put into this - assigning the correct names to devils, and the darkest baddest devil of them all. Not once does she call them demons, I take my hat off to you HKW. If you know what I know - then you got this so right, I honestly can find no fault.

*Standing applause*

Poppet (Author)

This is one of those books I really enjoyed reading at the time, but afterwards lots of flaws about it struck me. I honestly can't rate it less than four stars because I did enjoy the world and the plot, and the flaws didn't bother me whilst I was reading. At the same time, the flaws are definitely there, so now I've finished the book, I feel conflicted over my enjoyment versus how technically good the book was.

So, what I liked: the world and the plot, as mentioned. It's nothing especially fresh or original, but it is well done. Raven Grey is a beautiful women with an unearthly legacy that she's yet to discover. Her powers and heritage make her both a target and a weapon, and place her in a pivotal role in deciding the fate of the world. There are elves, bounty hunters, necromancers, lots of stuff I like. I enjoyed the glimpse into Caina, one of the demonic realms, and kinda wished there'd been more action down there.

What I didn't like: the characters are fairly thin. Raven is beautiful. Loki is devoted. The bounty hunter is mysterious. The elvish prince is vain. They're not quite sterotypes, but there's not much depth or growth. Some characters, like Zeta, the elvish princess and Summer, Loki's possible love interest, are introduced and flagged as potentially important, then vanish without trace.

Raven is constantly being threatened with rape. Every man she meets, with the exception of her brother, lusts after her. By the third attempted rape I was just rolling my eyes, which is not the reaction I should have to attempted rape. What made it all the more frustrating is that Raven is supposed to be so powerful, but any time her magic could have been useful in saving her life, she conveniently can't use it. She even muses herself that she has to rely on others to save her.

But like I said, those things didn't really bother me until I finished. I think there were parts of the book that could have been fleshed out (Drake's quest for the Corrigan Dagger, for example, would have been very cool to read), and I thought the ending was a little too abrupt. A sequel is slated for next year; hopefully that will tie up the loose ends left here and expand the world a little. But overall, Killough-Walden is a strong writer and her prose was lovely. The story kept me reading and entertained and I'll keep an eye out for the sequel.

I read this book not expecting much but it came out to be one of my favorite books ever!!!! I really enjoyed the fact that there are things in this book that do go bump in the night. Crisp and clean it is an awesome work of literature!!! Greatly recommend it for all those who appreciate this genre!!! Evenmore picky readers will be enraptured with the chosen soul!!!!

I really enjoyed reading this book, I finished it in a little over 24 hours, but I felt I had to sleep and do some of lifes little necessities while reading it. I was really shocked at the negative reviews on this book.

I rooted for Raven/Winter and her twin Loki the entire book. There was always something happening, something to keep you turning to the next page. There is everything in it, encluding magical battles, elves, devils and love. I can't wait for the sequel.

I give this book 5 stars.