Fans of championship figure skating will find much to savor in Lisa Luciano’s fictionalized view of the sport in the run-up to the 1992 Olympics. The novel opens a window into the private lives and personal issues of top skaters surrounded by coaches, agents, judges, friends, lovers, and family members whose influence can propel or prevent their ascent to the medal podium.

With her insider perspective, Luciano weaves a complex and interesting plot around the major characters, inspired by what was actually happening in the sport at that time. The book opens with outsider Brody Yates accepting his editor’s assignment to go undercover as a trainer and investigate threats against a leading male skater. Expecting to find sequins and silliness, the reporter is stunned to discover skaters in their teens and twenties grappling with alcohol, drugs, eating disorders, sexual entanglements, and discrimination. As Yates digs deeper, he gets a glimpse of the surprising political and financial machinations swirling around the highest levels of skating.

The action unfolds in a rush of double axels and double-dealing. A varied cast of ambitious international skaters going for the gold have to navigate tricky personal and professional relationships on their way to medal contention. Some are new to the top ranks and striving to make their mark; others are veterans of many seasons, increasingly wary of the personal and professional trade-offs their chosen sport entails. 

Each character deals with internal demons and drives while maintaining the kind of public persona needed to be a successful competitor on the international skating circuit. In particular, Luciano’s knowledgeable descriptions of on-ice performances heighten the drama at crucial points when would-be champions are also facing immense challenges off the ice.  

The story of Russian champion Dimitri was especially compelling. Although a “hero of Mother Russia” for embodying the country’s exacting skating prowess, he is also a loving father longing to live in freedom. Dimitri faces a series of difficult decisions that can send his career, his family, and his rivals into uncharted territory as the plot comes to a high-stakes climax.

Don’t miss the fascinating bonus sections that bookend the novel. That’s where Luciano provides a brief history of championship figure skating and gives her take on the real-world background leading up to the people and events she fictionalizes in her book. To avoid inadvertent spoilers, I recommend reading both the preface and the appendix after finishing the novel itself. Can you guess which real-world skaters inspired the fictional skaters? All part of the fun in The Chosen Ones.

Follow Here To  Read An Interview With Lisa Luciano