The Chosen

Name: The Chosen
Price: 9.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781521751701

✍️ Matthew B Campbell

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$9.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A cursed boy faces a medical antidote in this supernatural fiction.

The narrative follows Matthew, a skinny but athletic fourteen-year-old with short blond hair. He carries a birthmark in the form of a barcode at the back of his head. This physical trait links to a curse causing pain for everyone around him. A doctor provides an antidote in the shape of a tracking chip. The story examines the tension between familial love and inherent evil. It questions the boundaries of the protagonist's reality within his home environment.

Key Themes

inherited curse medical intervention familial isolation

Literary Context

Published in 2018 by Independently Published, this work sits within contemporary horror fiction. It blends supernatural elements with modern medical technology. The setting is a generic small town during autumn, reflecting common tropes in American genre literature focusing on isolated domestic spaces.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Dean Koontz · H.P. Lovecraft

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Independently Published 📅 2018 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781521751701

📝 Description: The Chosen

Matthew B Campbell presents a narrative centered on Matthew, a fourteen-year-old boy born with a specific curse. This affliction is described as an evilness that causes pain for both good and bad individuals. The story begins on a typical autumn morning in a small town where the protagonist sits in deep thought, his right cheek resting on his right palm. He ponders whether the world is enclosed within the house he shares with his parents, who have loved and cared for him for fourteen years. The plot introduces a medical intervention involving an antidote to the curse. This remedy takes the form of a tracking chip implanted in the subject. A notable physical detail is a barcode neatly placed at the back of Matthew's head, which he possessed from birth. The text explores themes of isolation and inherited burden through this sci-fi horror lens. This book suits readers interested in supernatural fiction with technological elements. It appeals to those who enjoy stories about young protagonists dealing with inherent curses. Readers seeking traditional gothic atmospheres or historical settings may find the modern medical aspects less aligned with their preferences. The narrative remains focused on the internal and external conflicts arising from this unique biological and magical condition.

💎 Our verdict on The Chosen

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Campbell effectively merges sci-fi concepts with supernatural dread, creating a distinct subgenre experience centered on a cursed adolescent. The premise of a barcode birthmark and an implanted tracking chip as an antidote offers a striking visual and thematic hook. The narrative excels in examining the tension between familial devotion and inherent evil, grounding its fantastical elements in intimate domestic conflicts. While it may disappoint readers seeking historical gothic settings, it strongly suits those who prefer modern, psychologically driven horror. The focus on internal and external struggles provides a coherent, if niche, emotional core that engages fans of young adult supernatural fiction.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers intrigued by the intersection of biological horror and technological intrusion will find this narrative compelling. It offers a unique exploration of inherent evil through the lens of a young protagonist burdened by a visible, barcode-like birthmark. The story appeals to those who enjoy psychological tension arising from familial love clashing with supernatural affliction. By framing a curse as a medical condition requiring an implanted antidote, the book provides a fresh perspective on classic horror tropes. It is ideal for audiences seeking a focused examination of isolation and inherited burden without relying on historical settings or traditional gothic atmospheres.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Campbell effectively merges sci-fi concepts with supernatural dread, creating a distinct subgenre experience centered on a cursed adolescent. The premise of a barcode birthmark and an implanted tracking chip as an antidote offers a striking visual and thematic hook. The narrative excels in examining the tension between familial devotion and inherent evil, grounding its fantastical elements in intimate domestic conflicts. While it may disappoint readers seeking historical gothic settings, it strongly suits those who prefer modern, psychologically driven horror. The focus on internal and external struggles provides a coherent, if niche, emotional core that engages fans of young adult supernatural fiction.