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Gifted #1
Gifted
The universe had been a peaceful place for the past few hundred years...until a gifted man began a conquest throughout the universe. It is only fate that a counterattack is manufactured...a counterattack consisting of other gifted people. The Gifted gene had been non-existent since the year 1000 AD, but now it is being rebirthed on planet Earth. The universe never saw it coming, that there was a surviving Gifted, and that there was still a planet that preserved the gene. Is the universe ready for what is coming? Are the Gifted ready to fulfill their destiny? Is there more at play here than just a destructive man? Plunge into Gifted, and discover the secrets of the universe, and solve the mystery of the gene's return.
604 pages, ebook
First published December 31, 2013
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Mendrala
10 books6 followersJoshua Mendrala is an up-and-coming author from Colorado. Falling in love with storytelling at a young age, he self-published his first novel at age 13 and has been writing ever since. Mendrala's writing is influenced by his love for the outdoors, a fantastical view of life, and a deep-rooted faith. Inspired by authors such as J.R.R. Tolkein, Franz Kafka, and Frank Herbert, Mendrala's passion continues to grow with every novel read, and every word written.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 25, 2014
I'm here to give a review to the book, Gifted by Joshua Mendrala.
First of all, congrats on writing a book. It's something lots of people can't do successfully. Kudos to you for that.
Since this is a review (which I'm hoping to make constructive for you to help for sequels/other books you'll write, etc.), I'm going to give it genuine criticism.
The Good:
You have tons of potential as an author to really crank out some great stories. Work on that. Read more and find authors you like and mimic their style.
The Bad:
The book has lots of grammatical errors which make it hard to read. Things have apostrophes that shouldn't, and vice versa for things that do need it.
Characters feel flat and 2D. Develop their stories more! Make us feel for them.
Characters, when they are somewhat interesting, are still flat. (At the beginning, mister trench coat guy) Make your characters archetypes, not stereotypes (My family died so I am going to seek vengeance with lots of guns, etc etc).
Spend more time editing and going back over your book. Plotholes happen everywhere in this book.
Overall:
This book, while it seems like it could be good, falls flat. Characters become stereotypical and the reader doesn't connect with them. Spelling errors make the book hard to read. The plot seems overdone.
Although, if you are to ever revisit this book, I definitely recommend trying to formulate your own plot and make it unique. The book reads as a generic space adventure with stuff happening everywhere.
P.S. - I ask that you take this review as actual constructive criticism and aim higher than even before when you write your next book. Good luck and write on!
First of all, congrats on writing a book. It's something lots of people can't do successfully. Kudos to you for that.
Since this is a review (which I'm hoping to make constructive for you to help for sequels/other books you'll write, etc.), I'm going to give it genuine criticism.
The Good:
You have tons of potential as an author to really crank out some great stories. Work on that. Read more and find authors you like and mimic their style.
The Bad:
The book has lots of grammatical errors which make it hard to read. Things have apostrophes that shouldn't, and vice versa for things that do need it.
Characters feel flat and 2D. Develop their stories more! Make us feel for them.
Characters, when they are somewhat interesting, are still flat. (At the beginning, mister trench coat guy) Make your characters archetypes, not stereotypes (My family died so I am going to seek vengeance with lots of guns, etc etc).
Spend more time editing and going back over your book. Plotholes happen everywhere in this book.
Overall:
This book, while it seems like it could be good, falls flat. Characters become stereotypical and the reader doesn't connect with them. Spelling errors make the book hard to read. The plot seems overdone.
Although, if you are to ever revisit this book, I definitely recommend trying to formulate your own plot and make it unique. The book reads as a generic space adventure with stuff happening everywhere.
P.S. - I ask that you take this review as actual constructive criticism and aim higher than even before when you write your next book. Good luck and write on!
August 5, 2015
When I first saw the reviews for this I was a bit skeptical, but I bought the eBook anyway and it blew me away! I'm normally a hard copy kind of guy and I wish I had purchased that version. Granted, there are a few grammatical errors throughout the book, but for someone without professional editing (as I saw on the Facebook page) this is pretty good. This novel actually puts an element of mystery into sci-fi and connects all the pieces in the end. Not to mention the epic fights and battles. So glad to have discovered this indie author. I also saw on the Facebook that a 3rd edition might be published. So that would be nice to fix the remaining grammar errors. Can't wait for the next book!
August 10, 2015
I bought this book because I had won the Goodreads First Reads giveaway of the third book in this series, and wanted to read the books in order. This was another good book by this young author. I truly enjoy the world he has created. I was easily able to lose myself in the crises and trials of the characters, young and old.
The alternate Earth and universe that the story takes place in is believable and fun. I love the characters and feel for their struggles, loves, and losses. I can't wait to see what happens next in Gifted: Academy.
The alternate Earth and universe that the story takes place in is believable and fun. I love the characters and feel for their struggles, loves, and losses. I can't wait to see what happens next in Gifted: Academy.
November 4, 2017
Personally, I think that this second edition of Gifted is by far, the best version of the book so far.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews