The Gifted

by Deborah Andreasen

Pyper just wants a normal life. But ever since the day she died, she's been able to control objects with her mind. What she can't control is a mother who fears Pyper's ability and the possibility of it being discovered. Pyper only finds solace in her friend and brother, Baler. When Pyper moves to yet another new school, she meets Kael, who takes an immediate interest in her. He knows her secret, and he needs her help saving the Fae people. The problem is, Pyper doesn't believe in Faeries. But when her brother is abducted, Pyper doesn't have much choice. Can she really save a race she doesn't believe exists? Can she rescue her brother? And can she accept her second chance at life?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fiction, Magic, Fairies

240 pages, Nook

First published March 28, 2011

About the author

I'm a wife and mother who moonlights as a writer. When I'm not mothering or writing, you'll find my nose in a book or pressed against my Kindle.

I had many motivations for writing, but the biggest push to start was my need to create something.

As a reader, there is nothing like escaping into a world and becoming part of someone else's story.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Review: The world of Faeries is split in two with both sides vying for the kingdom. They are searching for someone to help end the division. Enter Pyper with her amazing Gift and there is no end to the rollercoaster of adventure that ensues! Riveting! I was completely entranced from the very first page! Throw together some fantasy, adventure, romance, grouchy teenagers, and exciting twists and turns along the way, and you get ‘The Gifted’: a great example of the perfect YA! I loved the development of Pyper from an awkward, angry, revengeful teenager to…well, I don’t want to spoil it! The romance is sweet, the bad guys are bad, the revelations and secrets are surprising, and everyone is not quite what they seem to be. Deborah Andreasen is a talented author that will keep you turning those pages! Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars!


Content Review:

PROFANITY: One very mild instance

VIOLENCE: A few mild instances, one moderate instance

SEXUAL CONTENT: A few very mild instances

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 14+

Not only is this an engaging read, it’s super clean! There was only one mild word used, and it wasn’t used as an expletive—it was used to describe the horrible place they were in. Two characters are attracted to each other and kiss a few times. There are no innuendoes or descriptions. It’s very clean and very sweet. There is some action violence. A character is attacked by an evil person. A few characters are beaten and tortured. There is a big battle between two characters. All of these are well handled: described enough to make you know what’s happening and ‘feel’ it, but not to the point of overdoing it. This is perfect for a young teenager, but teenagers at heart will love it, too! ‘The Gifted’ is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 14+!


This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Deborah Andreason for a review

To see this review and many others, visit Squeaky Clean Reads!

[Mindy/fangedmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM SO EXCITED! I just found out I WON THIS BOOK VIA GOODREADS FIRST READ PROGRAM! I am speechless. This book sounds AMAZING!!!! Moving objects with your mind & fairies...OH MY! THANK YOU Goodreads! I cannot wait to read this one!!!!

I have to say that this book puts Tinkerbell to SHAME! Seriously! I loved Tinkerbell as a young girl. This book has a whole new spin on Faeries....or better said Fae.

Pyper has a hard time keeping friends. She thinks because of her special gift (sometimes a curse), she is not likable and lets people get the best of her. Her brother Baler is her one and true friend. He is always there for her when she needs him. After yet moving again, Pyper finds herself in the same situation. Mean girls picking on her & her using her special gift for a little sweet revenge.

Then she sees HIM! KAEL (my new book boyfriend thank you very much)! Pyper can't keep her eyes off him but she is scared to get to close. He is determined to talk to her. Once she finally lets him get close enough to talk, he unloads this outrageous story about Faeries, he prefers Fae that she is not sure she can wrap her head around. She has suddenly gone from the weird girl at school to a girl with a gift that is desperately needed to help save the Fae world. How does she fit into all this? READ THE BOOK because i don't believe in spoilers! :0)

I honestly loved this book. I could not put it down. The world that Deborah has created is fascinating! I am told this will be a trilogy!!! YAY!!!!

Go read this book now! I won my copy on Goodreads but you can go buy one!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are giving away a copy at http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com ends May 8, 2011

The first thing that grabbed me about The Gifted is how swiftly the writing pulls you in and holds you. Each page is tight and creatively crafted. Pyper, a red haired green eyed fireball, has been forced to move states over and over because of the impact of her strange abilities. As the book opens we find her in a new shcool and once again, two girls have singled her out as a freak. She has a little bit of trouble controlling her temper, and those on the receiving end meet with paranormal circumstances. Watching all of this unfold is Kael, popular gorgeous classmate who doesn't seem at all phased by Pyper's blatant efforts to completely ignore his advances. He tries and eventually succeeds in winning a tiny bit of Pyper's trust. Neither he nor the two mean girls are at all what they seem.

Pyper has always had her brother Baler to confide in and lean on, but as time wears on he seems to be slipping further and further away to his new group of friends. Little do either of them know just how influential and life changing their choice in peers will become. Brother and sister have yet to meet the battle they were meant to fight. Andreasen takes faerie lore and puts in a fantastical paranormal twist which will appeal to Young Adults. The Gifted is a clean read I would gladly let my children read and once you pick it up you'll stay with the characters until the end. I loved the brother and sister loyalty portrayed as well as the kind love Kael shows.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through the giveaways here on goodreads.. and I am glad I did! I enjoyed this book a lot. It is something we've heard of (faeries) but a played at a different angle than we're used to seeing. I think it jumped into the story pretty quickly, and with all the details was sometimes hard to follow, but the general concept was easy enough to understand, and the characters were easily likeable - though the main character Pyper made me mad sometimes how flat out rude she was to Kael, who was only ever nice to her and even asked her to stay with him against the rules. But then again I think its good to have a different character to follow that maybe you dont see as often. I was a little disapointed with the turn of events towards the end (Kael not getting his sight back which Im sure Pyper could have fixed no problem if she is able to regrow bones and the like) and the fact that she took over the throne so quickly without even talking to Kael about it, the very role he'd been waiting THOUSANDS OF YEARS to do.
Anyway, even though I didnt like Pyper's attitude most of the time, and it still left me with a few unanswered questions, the story still kept me engaged the entire way through(I read it in a day) and I enjoyed reading it. Im kinda hoping there is another one that could give more development to kael/skye and pyper's relationship.

[Deann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to read a few chapters of this book and am very excited for the end of March when I can purchase the book and actually read it cover to cover. The description itself draws you in. I read these few chapters a year ago and have been waiting ever since to see this book become published so I can fully read it! Hooray!


REVIEW EDITED -
The book is out and in my hands! I've actually finished reading and it was amazing! I've already picked it up and have re-read a few part just because I keep thinking about the characters. Andreasen is very descriptive which gives the reader a sense of being there - knowing the characters. It truly pulls you in and makes you a part of the book.

I have grown to love Pyper...the deep and sincere feelings she has for her brother, her friends and the Fae people that she had never met, yet she is still willing to sacrifice her own life if necessary to save them??? What a story! This is a must-have for all homes and libraries.

So Andrease, is there a sequel out there? Do you have other books in the works? I hope so. I will follow your blog and such just so I am up-to-date on your writing.

Thanks for creating such a captivating book! Definitely a 5-star book!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I got it out of my mailbox at 4:30 this afternoon and read it until 12:30 because I couldn't put it down. Ok, I had to put it down to change a few diapers, but that's about it.

A wonderful story of a girl trying to find her place in the world. Deborah weaves an amazing tale of fantasy, adventure and of finding acceptance and love. I fell in love with all the characters as the story progressed. It's one I'm glad I have for my bookshelf because it's one I could read again and again and again.

Thanks, Deborah, for such a worthwhile book!

[Pyper at Reading Lark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book where the main character has my name? I HAVE to read this!

**********

I really enjoyed the story. The premise was good and I enjoyed the characters. And not only did the main character have my name, my son Talon was in the book as well! LOL

My biggest complaint was the book was way too short. I felt like I'd just read a short story, not a novel. The characters could have been more well developed and the story have gone into much greater depth had the book been longer. She could have easily doubled the length of the book and I probably would have given it 4 or 5 stars.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Gifted" is a wonderfully written, heart pounding thrill ride that grabs you by the hands and keeps you asking for more. I had the privilege of sampling a few chapters and that mere taste of this book has had me scrambling for a few more pages. The writing is incredibly imaginative and it is not a chore at all to slip yourself in the main characters shoes and experience her adventure with her. Definatly worth the read and two thumbs up for this bright new author!

[Ems Loves to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my eye right off. I'm the first to admit that I do, indeed, judge a book by its cover...at least initially. This one was one of those gorgeous covers that I knew I just had to have. Of course, once I get into the book, it goes way beyond what's on the cover, but a gorgeous cover never hurts.

Let me tell you, this book does not disappoint. I was intrigued from the very moment I read the tagline: "Nothing has been the same since the day she died..." Yep, caught me right there! The action drew me in right from the beginning, and kept me all the way through. I didn't think there were any 'soft' spots, where things died and I had to get into it all over again. I love it when a book does that.

I liked Pyper. I liked that she showed her frustration and didn't just bow to expectations set by her peers at school or later, after she finds out some of what's going on. No, she still lives life on her terms, kicks a bit of a$$ and takes names. I love a good, strong female character. I love that she wasn't all lovey-dovey all the time and a damsel in distress. Don't get me wrong: I don't hate a good damsel in distress story. I just like it when the main female character can hold her own.

There were a couple of things that totally caught me off guard and I never saw coming. The one big thing (okay, 2 big things), I figured out, but I think it was meant to be a bit obvious. Pyper just had to come around in her own time. The other things though (Baler?! Summer?!), I totally didn't see coming.

Here's what I think: a publisher would be nuts to not pick this up. It was great. A fast and fun read, and well-written. A great editor will help give it that final polish (mind you, there is NOT a lot of work to be done to this book) and it'll be fantastic. The only thing I ask is that they keep the fantastic cover when a big house picks it up!

(Plus, the author is a completely delightful person and SO nice! I've enjoyed my interactions with her!)

I think fans of YA paranormal will totally dig this. So don't wait; go grab your copy NOW! You can pick it up at Amazon. It's available in paperback and Kindle formats.

Because I really liked it, I'm giving The Gifted a 'Pick me' rating.

[allie burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The writing style was well structured, and flowed very well. What I loved about this story is how the author went right into it. No hesitant introduction or drawn out lead-ins existed in this book. I met Kael right away, and Pyper's abilities were a strong point of the story within the very first pages.

I loved Pyper. I should mention that I may be biased, because I, like Pyper, have red hair and green eyes, and have been known to be "passionate" (I will reference this as a nice alternative to hot-tempered). I loved her confidence in her personality and her attitude that reflected "this is who I am", despite her being labeled as a "freak" in her rough, painful world in being, well, Gifted. :)

Though she is very passionate, which makes for a very intellectual narrator--which I also loved, she has her moments of hilarity. When I read the following quote from the book, I literally had to set the book down and indulge in loud laughter for several minutes:

Come here. I call to them. They don't move. I feel like an idiot trying to talk to shoes. Come on, I try again. Please don't embarrass me in front of him. I steal a glance at Kael. He's smirking at me, and I know I look pathetic. Like someone trying to call her untrained and unruly dog.

I should also mention that I've read books with the subject of "The Fae" or "Faeries", and I have to be honest, I didn't like them. I have had a difficult time connecting with the Faerie world. That Deborah Andreasen has developed a twist that has built off of the world of The Fae and transformed into something original, and unique, that I very much enjoyed reading about, is really impressive.

I know I've said it before, but I can't resist saying it again. The cover for this book is gorgeous. It's bright, it's mysterious, and it's beautiful. Inside the book, the chapter titles and page number embellishments add this magical quality to the novel that I can't compare to any other design that has caught my eye.

Great YA novel. Great fantasy novel. Great novel, period. I highly recommend it.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to getting this book in the mail. Unfortunatly for me my youngest nabbed the book before I had a chance. I had to wait patiently for her to finish it before I could read it. Then she hid the book from me thinking I may have forgotten about it as she coveted it as her own. FINALLY,after a lot of coaxing, I pried the book from her fingers.I went into the book with a little bias,to my great surprise that bias disappeared all together after the third page and I found myself engrossed in the characters, the turmoil and their lives. I could not put it down and read through out the night. When I finally had to put the book down I found myself thinking of the characters. I, even, thought about them through a meeting at work thinking, "I've got to get back home, I need to know what happens!" It takes a wonderful and "Gifted" Story Weaver to get me to shout "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" at a certain point in the book and to feel the emotions of the characters so strongly that I felt myself crying, laughing and embarrassed along with them. Hopefully this up and coming writer has many more stories to weave... I am hooked.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like books about the Fay and knew I would enjoy this book. I liked the whole idea and the story was interesting. I was completely surprised when some of the books secrets came out and liked the main characters toughness. And how she stays true to this threw out the book. She has had a hard life and discovering things about herself does not change who she is. The books love story was very sweet but lacked something for me. There was just something about this book that felt off. I couldn't put my finger on it, maybe it was the way the book flowed and things happened slowly at first and then too quickly at the end. The relationship between the two main characters was a little forced, it just didn't flow well, I didn't believe it I guess. The book was very clean, not any sexual references or swear words. The violence was pretty heavy, there was some torture and people beating each other up, but over all it was good content. 12 and up.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive my copy for free through the Goodreads first-reads program. Once I started reading it, I got sucked in right away. I could only put it down if I was literally falling asleep while reading. The main character is someone I could relate to and cared about. While I predicted a few things, others were not predictable, which made it an enjoyable read.

If Deborah Andreasen ever writes another book, I would definitely read it.

[Season Cotterell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. My sister lent it to me. She knows the author and so I was a little worried that maybe I wouldn't like it. But I had so much fun reading this book. I enjoyed the characters and I thought it was exciting. I would definitely recommend this one, I had a good time reading it.

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book about the world of Fae but with the twist of a human girl gifted with the power to control the elements. With this power she's destined to battle to save the world of the Fae. There's romance, moody teenagers, anger, and some pretty good "special effects" as Pyper learns to use her Gift.

[Katherina · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw a review that said that this book was aiming for the "Twilight" audience, I was a little wary. When I actually read it, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I can defiantly see why people who like Twilight would like this, but people who don't like Twilight would still like this.

[Janalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My imagination was able to get some really wild exercise while I was reading this book. I loved being able to get inside the mind of Pyper-The Gifted. She is unlike anyone. And the cover of the book- stunning! It helped paint the mental pictures for me. I would like a sequel to this book.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars.

I enjoyed the book and learning Pyper's story. There were a few areas that felt like the could have been developed better, especially the ending. It all came together a little cleanly for me. That said, I read the book in a about a day because I enjoyed it so much.

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic read! The Gifted is an action packed fantasy novel that will keep you turning pages from cover to cover!

[Kadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deborah's writing brings alive a whole new world that captures your interest. Her detail is wonderful and I enjoyed the spunk of Pyper, the main character. You'll love it!

[Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten)]

Mar 28th

This sounds like something i'd love

[Kirsti Call · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this was a very fun read, the story was somewhat formulaic and very predictable.

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fae people in the Otherworld. Not great, but a nice story for teens.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it as a good clean modern fantasy read. It is geared more toward teens but was a fun read.

[Maryalice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book A little younger than i had intended to read, but it kept my interest and I stayed up late to finish it, the true sign of a good book.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this take on the Fae world. It definitely kept me engaged until the end.