Rise of the Chosen by Anna Kopp

This is a fantasy adventure suitable for YA and up.

The dead just don't want to stay dead anymore. After the Waking, the lifeblood that surges through a newly dead body either creates a Woken (zombie-like with a want to kill) or a Chosen (like a genetically enhanced human with no emotions). The Watch (which consists of humans and Chosen) is there to regulate these changes and make sure the Woken are dispatched quickly. Other factions like the Human Alliance don't believe the dead and living should be mixing. Samantha has always wanted to be in the Watch, just like her dad, and in a devastating turn of events is thrust into a war she never knew existed. Now she must chose the lesser of two evils in a fight that can only end badly. Will she survive as a human let alone anything else?

I loved the idea for this book as it was definitely a different take on the zombie idea. The book starts off with a scenario that cleverly you only understand a little later. There are lots of sub plots touched on, especially Samantha's role in the fight for freedom, that can lead to so many new ideas later in the series. The love interest was a good twist but I was getting agitated that so many of my favourite characters kept getting bumped off. The plot also echoes reality with the shady dealing behind the facade of peace. I enjoyed the strong main female character but (unless it will be explained later), she seemed to fall into and be able to cope with so much far too quickly. A great cliffhanger though and an interesting lead into the next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers for a chance to review the book.