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During a horrific thunder storm on the night that Bronte (a leaf-eating dinosaur) is hatched, her mother, the future Grand Matriarch, is struck by lightning and killed. Unable to deal with the loss, Bronte’s father abandons his newborn daughter and leaves to live the life of a hermit. Bronte is left to the care of her grandmother, Balticea, and her substitute mother, Aunt Florella.
Born with a white birthmark that sets her apart from the rest of the Thunderfoot herd, Bronte is labeled a freak by family and foe alike. Balticea fears that the deformity will keep Bronte from becoming an effective leader once she’s declared the Grand Matriarch. It might also keep her from finding a mate, which is essential for the continuation of the bloodline.
From out of the sky, a peculiar aeronaut named Gideon befriends Bronte, claiming that she’s one of the chosen ones he’s sent to collect for the Originator of all planets. But Bronte has an indomitable enemy. The leader of the Killjaw dinosaurs, Rexus, wants every last one of the Thunderfeet stamped out, and he won’t stop until Bronte meets her end. But the Killjaws aren’t the only threat to Bronte’s existence, and Gideon is running out time to save her.
Though I don’t particularly care for storylines in which talking animals are the main characters (since I find it too hard to suspend my disbelief), I have to hand it to Mr. Garner for creating a cast of dinosaurs that are so humanlike that you’ll actually get caught up their turmoil and grow anxious to see how everything will turn out for them in the end.
At times, though, especially in the beginning, The Chosen One reads like a documentary or a history lesson on dinosaurs, making the plot feel somewhat dry—though not necessarily to the point of boredom. Since the author chose to use easy descriptors for lengthy (and sometimes unpronounceable) dinosaur names, the dry material is necessary so readers will understand that a Killjaw is a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The Chosen One mainly follows the plight of Bronte as she struggles to come to terms with her future. She’s a strong and courageous character, and she faces peril with unwavering spunk and wisdom. She’s pretty cool for a giant leaf-eating dinosaur, and readers will care about her and her story.
Filled with brutal battles, harrowing chases, betrayal, back-stabbing, and a hint of the supernatural interspersed with a touch of humor, The Chosen One entertains like a thriller on speed. Once you begin, it’ll be hard to stop reading for those pesky intrusions like eating and sleeping. It’s a very enjoyable read, indeed.
