The Synopsis:

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—would 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. The whispers contradict everything she’s been told; yet they resonate deep within.

Then Carrington is offered an unprecedented chance at the life she’s always dreamed of, but 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.

I received this book from the author/publisher for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.

Review:

Many readers will (and probably have) picked this book up simply because the author (Rachelle Dekker) is the daughter of best-selling author Ted Dekker, however, The Choosing can definitely stand on its own!

This Dystopian novel is nothing like any of the Ted Dekker books that I’ve read and it is a brand new idea into the Dystopian genre.

Rachelle has a gorgeous writing style and a very vivid imagination that captures the audience and brings them deeply into the story. Her characters aren’t the “perfect, fearless, unbreakable heroes” that we see in most Dystopian novels, in fact, many actually have defects that make them relatable to the readers. Instead of reading about heroes and thinking “this is fiction, we can never be like them”, Rachelle created heroes that encourage the mindset of “I have that defect too, I can overcome it just like them.”

The Choosing’s story world does have the typical Dystopian set-up; sickness that wiped out humanity except for the few, corrupt government, and the rebellion that ultimately saves lives. But it is the sub-plots and how this story world progresses that makes it well-worth reading. There are plenty of twists, surprises, and knuckle-gripping suspense.

The pressure to find identity is the leading moral in this book and it was portrayed beautifully through the main character, Carrington. She shows the struggles that often come with discovering self-worth and identity and the freeing power that it has once we finally embrace it. There is absolutely no profane language and only mild sexual references and comments, but absolutely no scenes (other than a few kisses).

The Choosing is an absolutely incredible book that many fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Safe Lands, and other similar Dystopian novels will thoroughly enjoy. I give it a full 5 out of 5 stars.

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Rayleigh is a Freshman in college with a major in Accounting and long-term goal of being a CPA. She is an avid reader of all genres, and just as much of her time is spent writing as it is reading. She is the Associate Editor and Web Manager for PURSUE Magazine, in addition to posting her monthly articles on their blog. Rayleigh interns for Hartline Literary Agency where she advises authors in the best way to market their books. She is also a Social Media Manager for various businesses.

Her writing pseudonym is Rae Leigh and she is in the process of seeking publication for her Dystopian novella, Program MIRA.