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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
In One Chance by James Chamberlain, Charlie Baker is a Chicago gambler running from a loan shark after a fixed fight goes wrong. When a stopped moment opens a doorway, Charlie steps into Wisteria and becomes Chance Arizona, a younger version of himself in a world where giants are preparing for war. Chance joins Periwinkle Everbloom, a boy hunted for a magical necklace linked to his captured twin, Indigo. With Marigold Lonestar, a girl who sees through her hawk, Chance searches for seven lost champions who may be able to protect Wisteria when Queen Veronica’s shield falls. Poison from giant food turns the quest into the race for a healer, while Chance’s old debts follow him toward a choice that could decide more than his own fate.
James Chamberlain’s One Chance is a clever title, leaning into Charlie Baker’s last shot as Chance Arizona. Charlie/Chance is flawed, but the author still makes him likeable. His second life is one of active loyalty, even protecting a wee stinkerdoodle baby and fetching Iris, the healer. Marigold is terrific and the most fascinating of the many wonderful characters, with witch ruler and antagonist Queen Veronica coming in a close second. Where the author shines is in the landscape and world-building, from Giant’s Gap providing scale as a fortress under artificial night, where death vines guard a ballroom locked in Sage’s dancing spell, to the sharp class rules of Wisteria’s society. Well written and immersive, this is an excellent story for fantasy lovers looking for redemption, with portal quests shaped by magic and morally surprising allies. Very highly recommended.
