Ten years after defeating the Dark One, Sloane Andrews and four other adults struggle with the psychological aftermath of being the teenage heroes who saved Chicago. The public continues to monitor their every move, expecting them to maintain their heroic personas despite their trauma and lack of direction. When one member of the group dies, the survivors discover that their initial victory was incomplete. They are pulled into a parallel dimensions where magic operates through mathematical principles and the threat they thought they killed remains active.
Fantasy readers interested in the realistic consequences of saving the world will value how this book addresses post-traumatic stress and public scrutiny. It appeals to those who enjoy deconstructions of the chosen hero trope and want to see how magical systems function in a modern urban setting. Readers finish the book with a perspective on how historical narratives are constructed and how individuals manage the burden of unwanted fame after their primary life goal is achieved.
Insights from Chosen Ones
“The problem with being a hero is that you have to die to stay one.”
Sloane spent her teens fighting a monster. Now she just feels like a hollow shell of that person.
“She was the savior of the world. She was also a disaster.”
Living through a tragedy makes you a public figure against your will. People expect you to be grateful for surviving.
“They were famous for the worst thing that ever happened to them.”
Adult life feels like a letdown after you have already peaked. Sloane hates that everyone still calls her a hero.
“The only people who understood her were the ones who had bled with her.”
Trauma bonds are stronger than any other kind of friendship. The five of them are stuck together forever.
- Published
- 2020
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- ISBN
- 9780358168478
- Language
- EN
