The Gift

The Council Trilogy #2

by Evette Davis

Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Hunter and Charlaine Harris, The Gift picks up where The Others left off, pulling readers into yet another death-defying paranormal adventure as Olivia battles more secrets and lies inside the Council.

After a brutal act of terrorism shakes the Council to its core, they send supernaturally gifted Olivia Shepherd on assignment in Eastern Europe. What Olivia really wants is time to recover and process the stunning revelations she recently uncovered—secrets her parents have hidden from her all her life. But with a thousand-year-old vampire on her trail, rest is not in the cards for the reluctant witch, who is still discovering the extent of her powers.

When her nemesis makes the fight horribly personal, Olivia becomes blinded by her need for revenge. Pulled back into the Council’s treacherous politics, she finds herself separated from her lover, William, and thrust into an uncomfortable partnership with his beguiling brother, Josef. Meanwhile, danger lurks around every wintry corner in Eastern Europe.

As everything in Olivia’s life spins out of control, will she surrender to destiny—or forge her own path?

“A thrilling global mystery ... In the fantastical thriller The Gift, a woman in a rich paranormal world works to understand her mother’s death.”—Foreword Reviews

“…an immersive adventure filled with romance and supernatural intrigue from cover to cover. Davis's vibrant world is brimming with diverse and compelling characters… a captivating read that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment, and I’d certainly recommend it to fantasy fans seeking a new accomplished author.”—Readers Favorite, 5 STARS

Genres: Fantasy

288 pages, Paperback

Published March 18, 2025

About the author

Evette Davis is a science fiction and fantasy writer. She is most recently the author of 48 States, which Kirkus named one of the Best Indie Books of 2022. The book was also a quarter-finalist for the BookLife Prize 2023 and longlisted in the 2023 Indie Book Awards.

Davis is also the author of The Others and The Gift, the first two installments of The Council Trilogy, which Spark Press will publish beginning in September 2024.

Davis is a member of the Board of Directors for Litquake, San Francisco’s annual literary festival. In 2023 and 2017, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library honored Davis as a Library Laureate. Her work has also been published in the San Francisco Chronicle.

When she's not writing novels, Davis advises some of the country’s largest corporations, non-profits, and institutions as a consultant and co-owner of BergDavis Public Affairs, an award-winning San Francisco-based consulting firm. Before establishing her firm, Davis worked in Washington as a press secretary for a member of Congress. She previously was a reporter for daily newspapers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Davis splits her time between San Francisco and Sun Valley, Idaho. Visit www.evettedavis.com for more information or to sign up for her newsletter.

Reviews

[Bookish Thoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW I AM CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH THE COUNCIL TRILOGY!!
EVETTE JUST KEEPS ME WANTING MORE AND MORE AND SHE CONTINUES TO ADD EXTRA SUPERNATURAL BEINGS THROUGHOUT.

THE UNEXPECTED EVENTS THAT UNFOLD IN BOOK 2 FROM START TO END. OLIVIAS MAGIC IS GROWING AND WITH HER NEW FOUND MAGIC SHES LEARNING TO USE HER POWERS WITH THE HELP OF JOSEF. THE EXCITING LOVE TRIANGE BETWEEN BROTHERS MAKES YOU WONDER WHO WILL OLIVIA CHOOSE? THE UNEXPECTED COUPLING OF FRIENDS IS SO CUTE
THE HEART BREAK AT THE START AND ALL THE EVENTS PLAYED OUT IN EUROPE ITS A ROLLER COASTER THAT HAS TO BE READ!!
I AM REALLY REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHERE THIS ENDS AND I HOPE THE ENDING IS AS SATISFYING AS THE LAST TWO BOOKS

[Christine Choptovy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book that mixes the supernatural with today’s political divisiveness, intrigue, betrayal and fast paced action. It was great to ride along with Olivia, William, Lily, Elsa, Josef and Gabriel again. Olivia is just starting to learn about her powers and how to master them. She was surprised to learn that she shouldn’t even exist because it’s supposed to be impossible for a witch (her Dad) and a human to be able to give birth to a baby. We get to travel around Europe, while Olivia faces various challenges from the vile vampire Nikola. I’m not going to reveal any more of the storyline. This book is the second in the Council Trilogy. It can be read on its own but I recommend reading the first book, so you can fully appreciate each character’s backstory.

I received a copy of the novel from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[Lecia Kade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much!!!!
The Adventure? The Chaos? LOVE

I loved how we traveled to new lands in this book and got to see a different magical landscape. I thought the inclusion of Tarot in this book was amazing and how the meanings of the card and also how [something I can't say because it would be a spoiler].

You know what I don't love, though? William, yes I am still a certified William hater.

I am so excited for the third book!!!!

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book for my honest review, thanks to the Author and her team!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gift by Evette Davis.
The council trilogy book 2.
I really enjoyed this book. I got into it straight away. I read this book in two sittings. I loved reading about Olivia, William, Josef, Lily, Elsa and Gabriel again. I loved the writing style and the story. I do love this series. I love the supernatural part. I love how Olivia’s powers are growing. I liked the scene with the wolves. I'm looking forward to the next book. I'm loving this series. I do recommend this book.

[Robin Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

This was a remarkable book. Honestly I was not sure I would like it since it is not my usual genre but I loved it. The writing is so good and the story great I found myself drawn into the characters and the story. I liked this book so well I recommended it to other family members, who also enjoyed it, and we are now purchasing the entire series (yes it is part of a series) and looking forward to reading the next installment.

[Karen Caruso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in 24 hours. Just enough magic and sexiness! If you love magic and fantasy this book is for you! Can’t wait for the next book!

[Dawn (noladawnreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW!!! I absolutely loved Evette’s first book in the Council Trilogy, THE OTHERS, and was eagerly awaiting the second installment and it did. not. disappoint. This book continues the saga of a group of witches, vampires, fairies, and time walkers (oh my!)- as they try to keep control and keep humanity intact. Vampires have always been my weakness (thank you Queen Anne Rice) and brothers William and Josef keep it going. The temptation and tension is strong with the trio of Olivia and the brothers. (Team Josef!) Incoming Council leader, Nikola is playing dirty (we get werewolf security!) and the group is working to diffuse his power.
Those last 60 pages!!! Drumming my fingers and waiting for the final chapter of this trilogy!!
They can probably be read as standalones but I personally would recommend starting from the beginning to get all the background.

Thank you Evette Davis and BooksForward PR for my copy.

[Patricia Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book that has a sharper edge to it than The Discovery of Witches had. 2 vampires and a strangely powerful witch. Physically and emotionally linked. With a politically charged environment and a ruthless bad guy. I was enthralled from the first page. I will be salivating for the third book.

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in The Council Trilogy follows the aftermath of the bombing in San Francisco that turned Olivia's life upside down. After learning there's a whole Other world beyond humans including fairies, vampires, witches, and time walkers, she's also learned she has special powers of her own but not yet how much she has and what she can wield. After running away from surprises in Paris, she finds herself in grief when someone close to her is murdered. Olivia has to make decisions on how to avenge their death, as well as prevent the potential overthrow of several governments with a continual build up between Olivia and her now enemy, Nikola, a thousand-year-old vampire who has dark and evil plans of how he would like to manipulate the world. Her powers increase daily as she trains with her vampire lover's brother, and she finds herself in a position of having to make a choice on who she truly loves. Distractions are at every turn, whether from magic or by men. Follow her story in learning more about herself, her Gifts, and how to handle them, as well as how to handle herself.

Opinion:
Book 2 was a great succession to the first book in the series. I'd read the first book before this one and was excited that I'd get to read The Gift so quickly after finishing The Others (Book 1). I think the author has made it where you could easily read The Gift on its own, but reading The Others would really enhance the storyline and understanding the other characters like William and Josef.

The plot twist of who Olivia's father was in Book 1 really set up for a series of surprises in The Gift. Olivia's character really starts to develop in Book 2 after she learns of her heritage and what else she can do with her powers. I appreciated getting to watch her grow and become more and more her own person and not just tied down to the decisions that the men in her life were making for her. Olivia's relationship with Josef was an interesting development, and it definitely created a fun "who will she choose" arc to the series. To attempt to choose between two vampire "brothers" added extra connection to Olivia's character. I found myself wanting her to chose Josef over William as I didn't care how he handled their mating at the end of this book. Her grief was entirely relatable, and I could find myself making the same decisions as she did throughout the book.

The only negative I really had about the book was overall it was extremely fast-paced. It seemed like everything that happened was just constant day-to-day trauma, when it was written with a timeline of five to six months. It just seemed a little rushed in that timeline and that could be resolved simply by updating the reader on what month it was at the start of a new chapter.

I look forward to reading the third and last book to see how everything in Olivia's life is resolved, or isn't, when it is released.

[Overly Enthusiastic Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER FREE REVIEW AHEAD!

Book 2 in the Council Trilogy does NOT disappoint.
This next installment really upped the ante as the stage was set with characters already, so Davis could really get into action and more character development vs in the first book it was a bit more world building and setting the stage. I didn’t want it put this one down! Evette Davis is not only a talented writer, but a great storyteller. She’s created a series and a world with this trilogy that are easy to get lost in. You will be invested I the outcome of every character and each obstacle they face along the way. Another feature of Evette’s work I really enjoy is you can tell she has personal experience in the world of politics. Her books are well thought out and researched. No aspect of the politics or foreign language included on this series feels phoned in or unrealistic and I think that fact helps ground this fantasy series and make it feel very possibly real!
I love the characters in this world. I pictured Elsa being played in a movie or series by Elizabeth Reaser- I’m not sure if that even makes sense but for some reason I couldn’t get her out of my mind! (Random but for some reason felt important to mention? I’m not sure why because she’s not the very main character but I think I really like Elsa and just want to see more of her story!

Triggers
Bl @ @ d
Terr @ rism
Dr u gging
Ab d Uc tion
Alcohol
Attempted M U rd 3 r
Occu L T
V ! Olen c3
W @ r
PT S D

Tropes
Enemies to lovers
Found family
Love Triangle
Reluctant Hero
Prophecy
Good vs Evil

Representation
Strong Female Lead
Bisexuals
Lesbians
Polyamorous relationships


Perfect for fans of
Charlaine Harris
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Heroes
True Blood
Supernatural

Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️ out of 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

One thing I really love about this series- the sex included really enhances the story without fluffing it up or taking away from it. It’s not thrown in there to make the book bigger, it really weaves in seamlessly with the story. This book features Polyamory. Definitely definitely This series gives True Blood vibes MAJORLY. I know in the book community you hear comparisons but this one isn’t loose-It really does.

5 very deserved stars- Can’t wait to read the last in the series- The Campaign! **If you decide to give this one a go- it can be read as standalone but I highly recommend reading the others first! It gives such a full bodied picture of a lot the characters and world!**


If you want a fast paced read full of sexual tension, spice, intrigue, action, love, magic, jaw dropping and totally enveloping settings pickup this series now! By the end of this book you’ll be BEGGING for the conclusion.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia Shepherd is now fully enmeshed within The Council, the governing body of supernatural beings of which she just recently discovered that she is part of.  Olivia has been working on honing her gifts that her mother passed down as a witch along with her vampire boyfriend, William, timewalker mentor, Elsa and fairy friend, Lily. Now, Olivia is being put to the test to combine her human skill set in politics along with her abilities to bring down a thousand year old vampire who will stop at nothing to rule the Council.  Nikola's dangerous tactics have caused deaths close to Olivia and her friends and have been seen as acts of terrorism within the Council.  Now, Olivia is on a mission to Eastern Europe with William's brother, Josef to try and find evidence of Nikola's misdeeds. Meanwhile, William is on a separate mission to infiltrate Nikola's gangs that are actively hunting Olivia. 

The Gift is a suspenseful supernatural fantasy filled with political intrigue.  The Gift picks up right after book one, The Others, and I would highly recommend reading first.  Olivia is thrown right into action and danger as she meets with Nikola and a tarot card reader who gives them both strong warnings. As in the first book, Olivia stays true to herself, finding her limits and doing what is best for both the human and supernatural communities.  Olivia was tested in her relationship with WIlliam as they were unexpectedly separated for the mission and while her feelings for Josef came to the surface, Olivia decided that she needed to live for herself and make her own decisions in both her love life and work life. Through Olivia's adventures in Europe, different Others were seen and many different dangers were faced. Reading this book in the current political climate was interesting as I found many parallels to the current situation that the US is facing.  Exciting to the very end, I'm glad that Olivia not only grew in her powers and as a person, but made decisions for herself and forged her own path.  I can't wait to see what the third book has in store. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

[Reagan Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where do I start with this book? I had reservations about starting it after the first one, but I was intrigued enough to try it. I almost DNF'ed it a few times, but again, it's just interesting enough that you feel like you can push through. I find the ending unsatisfactory after the commitment. All the build-up to the end and everything is wrapped up in two small chapters. Like book one, it seems the fantasy is an afterthought. The author uses fantasy as a catch-all for the gaps and unbelivility of a normal political mystery book. An example that really bothered me: Why can't William help, oh, a rule that vampires can't kill one another. BUT THERE IS NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY/HOW. Is it a rule established to keep peace, or is it a thing that they simply cannot do based on the magic of the fantasy world? If it's just a rule, what are the ramifications of it? None of these questions are answered, and you are just expected to take it. Fantasy requires world-building and explanation so the reader feels they can begin to understand the world they are reading in. The book is mainly told in first-person narrative, and we should know the same as Olivia, meaning that Olivia should have the same questions we have. However, she just accepts and never questions.

There also seems to be no real stakes. You don't truly feel invested in anything. Not the main character (lowkey after this book, I hate her), not in any of the relations, and definitely the main fight with the big bad. Olivia is supposed to be this awesome political strategist who knows all the right plays and is patient for the right time and reacts with measured, appropriate responses. Yet throughout the book, she has no plan, thinks of none of the ramifications, and despite not having control of her powers, goes off alone SO OFTEN, though she keeps messing everything up. She rarely trains or receives coaching, yet when it comes time, she has ONE SINGULAR training and is now totally perfect and capable.


Overall, frustrating and honestly not worth the time.

[Sara Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evette Davis delivers a captivating follow-up in The Gift, raising the stakes and deepening both the magic and emotional landscape of The Council Trilogy. Where Book 1 introduced the supernatural politics and the complex life of Olivia Shepherd, this second installment hits its stride by digging into Olivia’s past and forcing her into choices that will change everything she thought she knew — about her powers, her family, and the people she trusts.

What makes The Gift stand out is its rich character development. Olivia is no longer just reacting to the world around her; she’s learning how to navigate it with growing power and agency, even as secrets from her past threaten to destabilize her. The emotional distance between her and William adds compelling tension, and the unlikely alliance with Josef — his brooding, morally ambiguous brother — brings a fresh dynamic to the story.

The book also expands the setting beyond San Francisco, giving us a taste of Eastern Europe’s mystical and political undercurrents. Davis balances action, intrigue, and introspection beautifully, and the pacing is tight without sacrificing depth. The supernatural world of the Others continues to unfold in fascinating layers, with hints of larger conspiracies still to come.

The Gift is one of those rare second books that doesn’t just bridge the gap between beginning and end — it elevates the whole series. With sharper tension, stronger character arcs, and deeper magical lore, it sets the stage for what promises to be an explosive finale.

Perfect for readers who love: urban fantasy with brains and heart, political intrigue with a supernatural twist, and heroines who grow stronger through adversity.

[Nacia Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, let’s talk about this. Imagine living in a house with two ridiculously gorgeous vampires… who also happen to be brothers. I mean, YES PLEASE. Evette Davis truly understood the assignment with The Gift. Vampires? Witches? A supernatural ball dripping in dark, sexy, crimson vibes? Yeah, this book has everything I love in a fantasy read.

From the moment I stepped into Olivia’s world, I was hooked. The magic, the supernatural creatures she meets, the way she hones her gifts—chef’s kiss. And let’s be real, I’m so jealous because who wouldn’t want the ability to move objects with their mind?! Talk about a dream power.

Now, The Gift is book two in The Counsel Trilogy, and confession time—I didn’t read the first book. But guess what? It didn’t even matter. Davis did such a great job weaving in past events that I never felt lost. It was like getting just enough backstory to feel in the loop without drowning in a recap.

And can we circle back to that supernatural ball? You know the kind—the one where vampires are in their dark, dangerously sexy suits, and the air is thick with mystery and tension? Yup. That scene alone gave me life.

Overall, if you love fantasy books packed with magic, supernatural drama, and just the right amount of dark romance, then The Gift is so for you. Big thanks to Evette Davis for the ARC—I’ll just be over here daydreaming about my own telekinetic powers now.

[Kellylynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truly struggled with this one, at times I rather enjoyed it and was fully immersed and at others it was either awkward (the writing felt rather stilted) or just a little cringeworthy. Note, this is the second in a trilogy and I did not read the first but with the way it is written you really do not need to do so.

The overall story was very intriguing and I rather liked all of the drama and chaos. Olivia is someone that just found out she is half witch and is now dealing with all that involves (specifically learning about her new talents and how to use them). Then she is thrown for a loop when it her mother is murdered and the rather crazy vampire wants to take over the council. She is on the hunt to prove Nikloa is not so harmless, to rebuild who she is, and try to work on the relationships that had started in the first book (with her father Gabriel and her new lover/mate William).

And now for the squeamish part, I am all for sexy scenes and romances but I really struggled with this one. William and Josef are brothers and that is about all I have with that. I do have to say the scenes are not written over the top, they felt perfect for this story.

I won this in one of the giveaways.

[Fatguyreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gift by Evette Davis is book 2 in The Council Trilogy, and Is a fast paced paranormal adventure, full of intrigue, romance and mystery in an immersive, vivid, vibrant world.

We pick up where the first book in the series ( The Others ), left off.
Olivia is sent to Eastern Europe following an act of terrorism, and is reeling from discovering secrets her parents hid from her all her life. With a vampire after her, she's just beginning to ascertain her powers as a witch and peril abound, it'll take everything Olivia has in order to make it through.

So all in all, an enjoyable read, packed to the brim with action, mystery, thrills and fascinating, diverse characters.

For me, this can certainly be read as a standalone, but I'd definitely recommend reading The Others for some great background and introduction to the characters.

So all round, a brilliant second instalment to the trilogy, and I look forward to the third.

5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Shepherd, a reluctant witch still reeling from shocking family secrets, barely has time to catch her breath before the Council sends her on a high-stakes mission to Eastern Europe. And if political games and a thousand-year-old vampire weren’t enough, her personal life is unraveling too. William is far away, Josef is far too charming for comfort, and revenge threatens to consume her.

What makes this book so compelling is Olivia herself. She’s powerful yet vulnerable, caught between what the Council expects and what her heart demands. The frozen landscapes of Eastern Europe add an eerie, cinematic backdrop for the danger closing in, while the web of politics, betrayal, and simmering romance keeps the tension high.

Davis balances magic, suspense, and emotional depth beautifully, leaving readers questioning whether Olivia will choose destiny or carve out her own. If you love witches, vampires, and heroines who refuse to back down, The Gift will sweep you up and not let go.

[The Book and Bubble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The Gift by Evette Davis

At the end of The Others, we discovered that Olivia’s powers emerge under stress—she can turn invisible and sense people’s emotions.

Now in The Gift, she’s hiding out in another country with William and Josef (vampire brothers ♥️) after the bombings. But peace doesn’t last long. A tarot reading warns her she can’t outrun fate! Soon after the reading, tragedy strikes. This loss will leave Olivia wanting revenge.

The one wreaking havoc? Nikola—a centuries-old vampire and powerful council member. Olivia is determined to take him down. She wishes she didn’t have to wait, because she wants him gone immediately.

This book involves love triangles (those vampire brothers), messy politics (Nikola), and glamorous vampire balls in Paris. And yes—no one thought vampires could have children… but it happened!!

I can’t wait to see how this trilogy ends!! I love these characters. 💜

4.5⭐️/5

[Tiffany Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an arc, thank you for giving me the chance to read it.
This is book 2 of The Council Trilogy, and continues where The Others left off. Olivia is still coming into her powers along with trying to figure out how to stop Nikola. Throughout Olivia is continuing to grow as a person and as an other. It’s an incredible strange time for Olivia. She’s trying to get revenge, wrestle with everything that she is + having a witch father and a human mother, that’s not suppose to happen, then there’s Josef who she has complicated feelings for.
A bunch goes on throughout this book, but you never get lost and it flows sooo well. It’s so easy to keep up with what’s happening now. Ohh and the fact Nadia keeps popping up to keep a watch over Olivia, I really liked that little fact too.
Overall this is a really good book, flows so well, all the romantic bits weave into the story beautifully.
I’m excited to see what’s next for Olivia and the gang.

[Leanne Tempest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Council trilogy and I absolutely loved the first book so was excited to read this and it definitely did not disappoint.

I would definitely recommend reading The Others before this as it contains a lot of character development and world building that will help with this book.

We rejoin our intrepid group of supernatural beings and watch Olivia’s continued growth as she learns more about her gifts and how to manage them while at the same time trying to stop a thousand year old vampire’s evil plans.

We also get some romance in this second instalment as Olivia is confronted with a choice of which brother she loves, Josef or William (I’m firmly on Team Josef).

Overall this is a fast paced read full of intrigue, sexual tension, action, love and magic that builds on the first book in the series. I can’t wait to read the final book as I’m completely invested in these characters.

Thank you to Love Books Tours and the author for the free review copy.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

📆 single timeline.
👀 dual POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced

'The Gift' is book 2 in The Council Trilogy,and picks up straight from book one. I was immediately transported back to Olivia's world, and had no problems remembering who was who, or what hat happened previously. The blend between the real world, and that of the 'others' is blended seamlessly which made it all too possible to believe it could be real.

I loved the Eastern European setting, with the hints to it's dark past and how some of our older characters had been affected. Olivia is an intensely real character, her battles within herself as she discovers who she really is are incredibly genuine, but also intensified by the discovery from book 1 that she is part witch. I loved her internal battle on the subject of love, and (as a long term single by choice woman) love that she didn't just run off into the sunset and live happily ever after

I'm really looking forward to book 3 and finding out how Olivia’s story ends.

[Jamie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway. I did read book 1 before beginning, which I would recommend. In book 2 of the trilogy we continue our trek following Olivia as she seeks justice for herself and those around her against the evils of Nikola.

The growth of the writing from book 1 to 2 was quite obvious.

I enjoyed the plot and understood the conflict, but felt at times that the characters acted unnaturally or against their previous statement. Often I found myself confused about the point of view of the narrator.

Overall, I enjoyed “The Gift,” and could often relate to Olivia as woman intent on being strong and independent, but quickly realizing that support and help were necessary along the way.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the car bombing that shocked everyone, Olivia and the rest of the Council take time to recover and plan their next move. The Council sends Olivia to Serbia where she is tasked with overseeing their upcoming elections and find some proof of an ancient vampire’s criminal tasks. This task becomes very personal for Olivia as she continues to discover the limits of her new powers.
The plot of this book was packed, and it seemed like Olivia was facing new dangers at every turn. It was all a little too much for me. It felt as I was reading that the book needed to take out some of the plot points to make the narrative feel more cohesive. I liked the suspense and thought it was well written overall. I really enjoyed book 1, so I was disappointed I didn’t love this one as much.

[Steph Latella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Olivia’s character development and her will to stay focused on herself. We finally she her acceptance of who she is and her own powers, but on her terms.

For me personally, I’m glad we got more of the Josef & Olivia dynamic here. Me personally, I’m not a William fan. He just seems way too obsessive in a way. It just feels like he knows her and Josef are better suited, but an, “I got to her first” scenario.

There are a few of action packed scenes and we get to learn a lot more about the Serbian side of council dealings.

While I know it’s a trilogy, I didn’t expect the end of Nikola so soon. I think I would’ve wanted to see more of the Nikola reign and how it played out. It seems too quick and easy, but there’s of course time for a new enemy in book 3.

[Amber Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gift picks up where The Others ended and I was so excited to read this one! Because the ending of The Others had me needing to know what was going to happen!

This one definitely is fast paced with supernatural political dynamics along with romance!

I truly enjoyed reading more about Olivia’s journey. I was so excited to see how her powers were involving! And how she was going to handle one big secret that was revealed in the first book. (Can’t say what it was because that would spoil it)

Not only do we get family tension but I sensed some romantic tension as well since Olivia’s and Josef dynamic started to develop more in this one!

I definitely think you could read this one as a standalone but you would benefit more if you read this The Others first.

[Teena Fehling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Gift is a fantastic sequel to The Others. It is chock full of twists, surprises, and emotion. Hot take: I don’t really care for William as a love interest and I despise Josef. Idgaf that they are vampires or that they have seen great horrors in their time, I think they are immature and selfish. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the continued family building that really starts at the end of The Others. Olivia deserves this found family and everything she is building for herself. I’m excited for her to find even more self confidence and purpose in book three!

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read the first book so, as always, I was excited for this second book in the series. We find poor Olivia in a race to find evidence about what Nikola is up to, and to take him down. She has to go a lot before the end of this book, and while I understand why she feels the way she feels, I think she’s taking it a little too far…LOL! If you are confused, you need to read this newest installment to understand what I’m talking about. I quite enjoyed this well-written, suspense-filled tome. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to get to continue this series. The Gift by Evette Davis is a thrilling continuation of The Others, diving deeper into the paranormal world and delivering an action-packed ride. Olivia's journey through the Council's secrets and lies is as gripping as ever, and Davis skillfully weaves suspense with emotion, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are complex, and the plot twists are unpredictable, making this a must-read for fans of supernatural adventures. If you loved the first book, The Gift will not disappoint!

[myfictionaladventure · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
2.5 🌶️

I really liked the characters and spicey scenes, especially the love triangle between the main 3 characters. I also liked Olivia’s female friends. But the plot apart from that didn’t feel super clear or cohesive. I felt like the plot jumped around alot and didnt make a whole lot of sense at times. But, I did really love the characters so I may continue the series. I felt like the plot just needed another edit to make more sense and run more smoothly.

[R J Mckay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masterfully crafted, The Gift is an epic fantasy book. Part of series, this book continues where The Others ended. It is a combination of romance, suspense and action deftly woven with threads of history and politics.
I was pulled into this story and couldn’t put the book down. Mesmerizing!!