I received a complimentary copy of The Choosing {A Seer Novel}* by Rachelle Dekker in exchange for this honest review by participating in the Tyndale Blog Network program. I was not compensated for this review, all opinions are my own.
Synopsis {From the Publisher's Website}
"Not to be Chosen would yield a cruel fate of my own making."
Like all citizens since the Ruining, Carrington Hale knows the importance of this day. But she never expected the moment she'd 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. She knows it's her duty to follow the true way of the Authority.
But 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, yet she can't shake the feeling that it may be an illusion. With a killer targeting Lints and corruption threatening the highest levels of the Authority, Carrington must uncover the truth before it destroys her.
My Thoughts
The Choosing* is one of those books that you just don't want to put down; you just don't want it to end. A book in the dystopian genre, it is one that takes place in an imagined time where the Authority holds power over all society, aiming to maintain complete control of both public and private lives of all citizens. I admit I do not typically read books in this genre, but I am definitely hooked now!
As Rachelle Dekker's debut novel, she really hit it right with this one. It has the perfect balance of romance and mystery, of darkness and true hope. The concept of worth and where it truly comes from is perfectly weaved throughout the book. Though the message is not an 'in your face' one, it is one of hope and finding your truth worth in Christ. It also definitely points to how we should always be on the watch for those whose goal is to lead you astray.
In reading this book, I really became attached to the characters - Carrington, Larkin, and Remko especially. I felt like I was right there with them in the highs and lows, cheering for them, and hurting with them. I wished I saw more of Aaron throughout the book, but I'm thinking he might have a larger storyline with this being a three-book series. Every time he showed up in a scene, you really had the feeling of hope. I felt when Arianna was introduced, you finally saw a shift in Carrington and she began to finally start to see the truth behind the Authority. Each character had a distinct purpose, and Rachelle did not mess around with any fluff! I really appreciate this because it made the book so much more enjoyable to read, in my opinion.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, from mature young adult and up. I can't wait to see what Rachelle brings with the other two books in this series. I look forward to seeing where she takes each character!
About the Author
The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through storytelling. She graduated with a degree in communications and spent several years in marketing and corporate recruiting before making the transition to write full-time. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat, Blair. Visit her online at rachelledekker.com.
Be sure to follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Q&A with Rachelle Dekker
1. How did you come up with the story for The Choosing?
This is a hard question because it has many answers. I wanted to write a theme-based novel about identity. I wanted to write a dystopian novel. I wanted to write in a world that was familiar, but in a setting where I could change the way the world worked. It actually is several ideas I’d been toying with pulled into one story. Once I landed on Carrington’s core revelation and story arc, I simply fell in love with her as a character and drew the rest of the story around her. That’s usually how it works for me. I come up with a character, good or bad, and create the story from there.
2. Throughout the book, Carrington struggles with understanding her identity and worth and what is true. Why did you decide to write about the theme of identity?
Someone once asked me, If you could leave one message for your younger sisters, what would it be? The answer was always the same: I would pray they knew what they were worth. Identity is everything. There isn’t a theme that doesn’t start with identity, or circle back to identity. Knowing who you truly are is the greatest journey we face. Am I enough; am I worth it? I believe everyone faces these questions, and I sought out to explore them through this story.
3. One of the story’s most significant lines is, “Life is a journey of remembering and forgetting.” What do you mean by this?
It means exactly what you probably think. We have these flashes of clarity where we see so clearly who we are—and our connection to the Father—but then, in a single moment, something pulls our attention away and we forget who we are. This is the journey of life, remembering and forgetting. But I believe the more we remember, the more we set our gaze on the Father, the less often we forget.
4. What do you hope readers will take away from the story?
I hope readers are filled with joy and power as they either realize for the first time who their Father is and what they are really worth, or as they simply remember this truth.
5. What would you say to the person who is struggling, trying to find their identity in temporary, unsatisfying places?
I would say we have all been there, and that those places will only serve as a prison in the end. They may seem like happiness now, but eventually they will become suffering. But that’s just part of the journey of identity. Some people need to learn the hard way—I did for sure! I searched for significance in darkness and somehow the Father still led me to the light. So when I see people going through what I did, I empathize, but also know that in a single moment they can discover their true identity.
6. The Choosing is the first of a three-book series. What can we expect in the next two books?
More struggles with identity, but in different ways. Familiar characters dealing with fear and worry and forgiveness. We’ll walk with our characters as they continue to understand the true way of Aaron’s Father. More excitement, more romance (of course), and more self- discovery.
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