Chosen: The New Order By Nick McPherson

With yet another occurrence of the peculiar dizzy spells they all share but which no doctor can explain, Bryce and his companions Johnny and Zack are all in the hospital once more. The three people immediately realise that this hospital visit is unlike any other because each of them has an odd experience with the same enigmatic and perilous stranger.

They are transported to a new realm called Endland as a war for the lads’ life breaks out. The youngsters are significantly more significant to this new planet than they initially realise in this strange environment with their newly discovered extraordinary skills.

A book’s first impressions matter, and that includes any extra information the author has inserted into the text. When I turned the page and discovered a map, I let out an audible squeal of delight! The additional page decorations finished the book’s overall design, producing a highly polished final product. This raised my expectations, and I’m happy to report that the writing did not fall short!

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With witty language reminiscent of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series and an excellent sense of atmospheric world building reminiscent of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the writing style has a comfortable yet refreshing feel.

McPherson has a talent for crafting powerful action scenes that carry the reader along in savouring anticipation. He has developed a vast yet very complex world. It is simple to get lost in the flood of information that is constantly being thrown at the reader in a world like this one, one with such a diverse assortment of elements as individuals, factions, and cities.

To avoid it, the author of this book successfully walks the reader through each section in simple and succinct language. Never once did I experience overwhelm or confusion. Through the perspective of Bryce, Johnny, and Zack, the two worlds are bridged over and explored, creating a contrast between the present and a high fantasy environment.

Numerous characters are introduced to us, including those you may anticipate from a fantasy book, such as wizards, orcs, elves, and others. Every new character provides a deep past and is given time to fully develop their roles, which enhances the overall story. The main antagonist is intriguing, and it will be interesting to see where the author takes them given the limited information we have about them so yet.

I was instantly drawn into the plot that has been built up for the following instalment, and I will be looking forward to seeing Endland once more in the follow-up. I am unsure who the target audience is; at times the young adult genre felt fitting, yet other occasions called for more of an adult audience. However, I feel that any reader, particularly those with a fondness for fantasy, can enjoy this book from teen through to adult.

About The Book

Bryce Blooms has found himself in the children’s hospital again, checked-in for yet another short, albeit routine, stint for an unknown and nagging ailment. But when an odd stranger begins wandering the hospital hallways, Bryce and his friends discover they at the center of an inter dimensional hunt and are more than just human: they are Chosen.

As the Grim and the hunters of Endland battle at the hospital for the right to claim the Chosen children as their own, the boys are transported to the Realm of Endland, where they quickly discover there are far more than two sides seeking their abilities. Squabbling wizards, arrogant kings, amusing exiles, and mythical monsters all are vying for control of the young Chosen as well.

With the help of an enigmatic hermit, Bryce and his friends look to establish a New Order, one set on bringing balance to the Realm and combating the dark and mysterious forces of the Grim. Should they fail, not only will Endland be ensnared in the shadow of the Grim King, but so too will the rest of the inter-dimensional space beyond, including Earth and those they left behind.