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She's born to die. He lives to hunt.
Wren was born bearing a Mark on her forehead. She’s always known she would be Given to serve the gods in her twentieth year, and she’s eager to work for them since they keep the kingdom safe. That is until she sneaks into a Giving Ceremony and watches as her best friend is slaughtered in the name of the gods.
Horrified, Wren escapes her village under the cover of darkness. Her plan is simple: flee the kingdom and stay alive. Surviving is going well until she stumbles upon an injured, unconscious man in the woods. Unwilling to leave him to die, she heals him. Only, when he wakes, she realizes he’s a Hunter. And his prey?
Her.
Now, he’s in her debt. Inexplicably drawn to her and caught in a moral quandary, he gives her a gift: one day’s head start.
Marked Ones must be returned to the gods. It’s the law. And when the Hunter catches her, she’ll do whatever it takes to get away…
Given is the first book in The Giving Chronicles, a new slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers, epic romantasy series from the author of Tethered and A Game of Love and Betrayal.
Wren was born bearing a Mark on her forehead. She’s always known she would be Given to serve the gods in her twentieth year, and she’s eager to work for them since they keep the kingdom safe. That is until she sneaks into a Giving Ceremony and watches as her best friend is slaughtered in the name of the gods.
Horrified, Wren escapes her village under the cover of darkness. Her plan is simple: flee the kingdom and stay alive. Surviving is going well until she stumbles upon an injured, unconscious man in the woods. Unwilling to leave him to die, she heals him. Only, when he wakes, she realizes he’s a Hunter. And his prey?
Her.
Now, he’s in her debt. Inexplicably drawn to her and caught in a moral quandary, he gives her a gift: one day’s head start.
Marked Ones must be returned to the gods. It’s the law. And when the Hunter catches her, she’ll do whatever it takes to get away…
Given is the first book in The Giving Chronicles, a new slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers, epic romantasy series from the author of Tethered and A Game of Love and Betrayal.
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2025
About the author
Elayna R. Gallea
42 books2,679 followersElayna Gallea lives in beautiful New Brunswick, Canada with her husband and two kids. They have dogs and cats and enjoy touring their beautiful province whenever they can.
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May 4, 2025DNF.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for a copy of Given, I am very appreciative.
This book was not for me unfortunately. While the cover is STUNNING, the premise is highly intriguing, and the character art was gorgeous, this book was not something I could continue.
The writing specifically was something I wasn’t too fond of, I wasn’t invested in the characters, and it was a bit repetitive.
Just not for me and unfortunately I will not be continuing this story.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for a copy of Given, I am very appreciative.
This book was not for me unfortunately. While the cover is STUNNING, the premise is highly intriguing, and the character art was gorgeous, this book was not something I could continue.
The writing specifically was something I wasn’t too fond of, I wasn’t invested in the characters, and it was a bit repetitive.
Just not for me and unfortunately I will not be continuing this story.
February 25, 2025
I went into this novel expecting the romance to be the central plot. I expected an adult high fantasy with jaw-dropping stakes and a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse. Instead, I got a slower paced YA novel that felt like the first few hundred pages of a book rather than a complete instalment on its own. Don't get me wrong, I love YA; it's just not what I expected here. Overall, I enjoyed Given but have three main critiques.
First, the pacing of the story felt off. The author randomly skipped what should have been crucial scenes in favor of moving the story forward, only to leave readers confused as to what had happened off-page. Much of the conflict was alluded to rather than fully written out, and the exposition meant to ground readers in the world and the relationships was glossed over. I had no reason to care about any character or their dynamics because the shift from the ordinary world happened before the ordinary world was established.
Second, the character and romance development was rushed. I didn't believe that the hero and heroine were drawn to each other because they didn't really interact. Yes, one character would feel a magical pull towards the other, but their desire was told rather than shown, so I missed the sparks. The story also relies on shattering of cultural norms, which happened too easily for everyone involved. It should have been harder to convince people that the world they've known all their life is a lie, and I wanted more conflict on that front than I got.
Third, the novel was predicable. Every twist I expected to happen happened in the order I would have guessed it to occur in. I love tropes, but I also think tropes work when you subvert expectation or do something new with them. Unforutantly, that didn't happen here.
That being said, Given was still a fun narrative that kept me turning pages. Despite an insanely busy week, I still managed to finish the novel in a few days because the writing was engaging and easy to read. If you're looking for a familiar escape with new faces, then this book is certainly worth your time.
An e-ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
First, the pacing of the story felt off. The author randomly skipped what should have been crucial scenes in favor of moving the story forward, only to leave readers confused as to what had happened off-page. Much of the conflict was alluded to rather than fully written out, and the exposition meant to ground readers in the world and the relationships was glossed over. I had no reason to care about any character or their dynamics because the shift from the ordinary world happened before the ordinary world was established.
Second, the character and romance development was rushed. I didn't believe that the hero and heroine were drawn to each other because they didn't really interact. Yes, one character would feel a magical pull towards the other, but their desire was told rather than shown, so I missed the sparks. The story also relies on shattering of cultural norms, which happened too easily for everyone involved. It should have been harder to convince people that the world they've known all their life is a lie, and I wanted more conflict on that front than I got.
Third, the novel was predicable. Every twist I expected to happen happened in the order I would have guessed it to occur in. I love tropes, but I also think tropes work when you subvert expectation or do something new with them. Unforutantly, that didn't happen here.
That being said, Given was still a fun narrative that kept me turning pages. Despite an insanely busy week, I still managed to finish the novel in a few days because the writing was engaging and easy to read. If you're looking for a familiar escape with new faces, then this book is certainly worth your time.
An e-ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
April 26, 2025
Insta lust but I do not mind at all! I opened the book and read over 100 pages before I looked up again.
FMC is marked, destined to be given to the gods on her 20th birthday. Her best friend was born the day before and also has a mark. So the FMC sneaks into the private ceremony to watch her friend start her glorious life in servitude to the gods. BUT shes literally sacrificed instead and our FMCs world is turned upside down. So she runs..
yall... i literally couldnt put this thing down!
FMC is marked, destined to be given to the gods on her 20th birthday. Her best friend was born the day before and also has a mark. So the FMC sneaks into the private ceremony to watch her friend start her glorious life in servitude to the gods. BUT shes literally sacrificed instead and our FMCs world is turned upside down. So she runs..
yall... i literally couldnt put this thing down!
November 25, 2025
I marked this as having spoilers but there’s really nothing to spoil.
This girl runs away after realizing she’s going to be ceremoniously sacrificed. A hunter is assigned to her to bring her home. His pussy ass gets knocked the fuck out and hidden in a bush though you never find out by who or how. She hears him moaning and saves him. He is briefly grateful until he realizes she’s the one he’s hunting. Then he’s instantly like…. Thanks for saving my life and feeding me some beef jerky but a jobs a job. Then she’s like…. Nah. And he’s like….. Ok. You can have a one day headstart. Then I fell asleep while Audible kept running. I woke up and he had caught up to her at a tavern or some shit and she spiked his drink. He’s like…. Come on bitch I caught you fair and square, no takesy-backseys. But when he’s dragging her out he collapses from the spiked drink and instead of running away she’s like…. Fuck. I should fix him even though he wants me dead. So she gives him a mushroom and hauls ass.
Then for some reason she tells these three other people who are marked to die that they need to come with her even though she has no plan on what to do. One dude is like…. K. Then she gets randomly shitty with him like…. Why should I trust you??? But hoe, he doesn’t know you from Adam’s house cat and he just blindly trusted you that his entire life was a lie and agreed to follow you. The audacity must have been on sale when she saw fit to question his trustability. Shut up, trustability is a word now.
Then for some reason dude she saved fucks off somewhere else and is gone. The hunter finds her again and she’s instantly been attacked by three perverts. So the hunter kills them and instead of checking if she’s mentally well he pins her to a wall just like the dudes he just killed and is like…. I want to claim you and instead of kneeing him in the balls she’s like…. Maybe, but it depends are you still hunting me? And he’s like… yurp but don’t be a bitch about it. So she’s like…. They kill people like me and he spirals out about helping hunt her kind once he finds out. After his crash out he gives her money and tells her to run away.
And run away she does…. Right back to where she started. You read that right. All that and the bitch just went right back because she suddenly remembered she has siblings that might be forced to take her place. Didn’t occur to her before.
She shows up to some ball to save her siblings but the king is all hey there’s that bitch. And she’s all, don’t touch my sisters. Then she somehow has magic and she magics them all despite being a victim literally the entire rest of the book. The king is all… dang she has magic now too and he fucks off in a poof of smoke like some two bit magician leaving her standing there with the hunter and she’s like oh my loins. My loins are on fire for this man who tried to get me killed the entire book and didn’t just help me when the king was being a dildo.
The end.
They don’t have sex in the end either. It literally just ends with her making eye contact with him *scandalous* and being like… he’s mine.
Wish I was lying.
This girl runs away after realizing she’s going to be ceremoniously sacrificed. A hunter is assigned to her to bring her home. His pussy ass gets knocked the fuck out and hidden in a bush though you never find out by who or how. She hears him moaning and saves him. He is briefly grateful until he realizes she’s the one he’s hunting. Then he’s instantly like…. Thanks for saving my life and feeding me some beef jerky but a jobs a job. Then she’s like…. Nah. And he’s like….. Ok. You can have a one day headstart. Then I fell asleep while Audible kept running. I woke up and he had caught up to her at a tavern or some shit and she spiked his drink. He’s like…. Come on bitch I caught you fair and square, no takesy-backseys. But when he’s dragging her out he collapses from the spiked drink and instead of running away she’s like…. Fuck. I should fix him even though he wants me dead. So she gives him a mushroom and hauls ass.
Then for some reason she tells these three other people who are marked to die that they need to come with her even though she has no plan on what to do. One dude is like…. K. Then she gets randomly shitty with him like…. Why should I trust you??? But hoe, he doesn’t know you from Adam’s house cat and he just blindly trusted you that his entire life was a lie and agreed to follow you. The audacity must have been on sale when she saw fit to question his trustability. Shut up, trustability is a word now.
Then for some reason dude she saved fucks off somewhere else and is gone. The hunter finds her again and she’s instantly been attacked by three perverts. So the hunter kills them and instead of checking if she’s mentally well he pins her to a wall just like the dudes he just killed and is like…. I want to claim you and instead of kneeing him in the balls she’s like…. Maybe, but it depends are you still hunting me? And he’s like… yurp but don’t be a bitch about it. So she’s like…. They kill people like me and he spirals out about helping hunt her kind once he finds out. After his crash out he gives her money and tells her to run away.
And run away she does…. Right back to where she started. You read that right. All that and the bitch just went right back because she suddenly remembered she has siblings that might be forced to take her place. Didn’t occur to her before.
She shows up to some ball to save her siblings but the king is all hey there’s that bitch. And she’s all, don’t touch my sisters. Then she somehow has magic and she magics them all despite being a victim literally the entire rest of the book. The king is all… dang she has magic now too and he fucks off in a poof of smoke like some two bit magician leaving her standing there with the hunter and she’s like oh my loins. My loins are on fire for this man who tried to get me killed the entire book and didn’t just help me when the king was being a dildo.
The end.
They don’t have sex in the end either. It literally just ends with her making eye contact with him *scandalous* and being like… he’s mine.
Wish I was lying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2025
ARC reviewer
I really wanted to love this.
There is so much repetition that draws out every moment of this book. It could have been shorter. Gods above, the physical descriptions of the main characters are drilled into your brains. We get it. He's super hot with hair so dark blue it looks black. She's got indigo curls and curves for days. There are full pages of this book that can be skipped because of the FMCs round and round internal dialogue.
The story is almost there. I felt like I had to skip all Wren's babbling to get to it.
I guess this is just not for me.
I really wanted to love this.
There is so much repetition that draws out every moment of this book. It could have been shorter. Gods above, the physical descriptions of the main characters are drilled into your brains. We get it. He's super hot with hair so dark blue it looks black. She's got indigo curls and curves for days. There are full pages of this book that can be skipped because of the FMCs round and round internal dialogue.
The story is almost there. I felt like I had to skip all Wren's babbling to get to it.
I guess this is just not for me.
December 29, 2025
I loved the idea of this book but I found the writing to be very repetitive and all over the place.
May 3, 2025
SPOILERS
I wish -5 was an option. I can't believe I waited for this book to be released. The ENTIRE book is just Wren running. And running. And running. At least when Forrest Gump ran, it was entertaining.
If Wren had of just talked to Gabriel about why didn't didn't want to be given, 80% of the book wouldn't of happened. She still would have had to attend the ball to save her sisters, but maybe then the other given wouldn't have had to die. She and Gabriel could have come up with a better plan.
The reason for the given being sacrificed was glaringly obvious. I wouldn't recommend this book until you love running.
I wish -5 was an option. I can't believe I waited for this book to be released. The ENTIRE book is just Wren running. And running. And running. At least when Forrest Gump ran, it was entertaining.
If Wren had of just talked to Gabriel about why didn't didn't want to be given, 80% of the book wouldn't of happened. She still would have had to attend the ball to save her sisters, but maybe then the other given wouldn't have had to die. She and Gabriel could have come up with a better plan.
The reason for the given being sacrificed was glaringly obvious. I wouldn't recommend this book until you love running.
July 8, 2026
Such a fun slow burn enemies to lovers read !! The tension in this read is just keeping me on the edge of my seat. Did not realize I signed up for this amazing hunter and hunted storyline with all this pining that’s just next level slow burn. I just need to know what’s going on as I’m so invested in this really cool magic system. It’s a really slow reveal of the drama and the lore of what’s going on in the world and I love it !! Had to jump right into book two !!!
May 18, 2026
Given by Elayna R. Gallea is such an addictive slow burn Romantasy. I loved the plot, unique magic, and the way the story pulls you in with that “she was born to die, he loves to hunt” tension. The entire setup is intense, dangerous, and full of that hunter-and-prey dynamic that keeps you turning the pages. The FMC is fierce, strong, and so easy to root for. I also really loved her curvy physical description and, even more, the way she embraces her body and owns who she is. That kind of confidence made her feel refreshing and memorable. The MMC is dark, broody, and completely intriguing, with a beautiful black panther familiar that adds even more mystery and edge to his character. The pull between him and the FMC is full of slow-burn intensity, tension, and that deliciously dangerous feeling of not knowing whether he wants to protect her, hunt her, or both. The plot has plenty of twists and turns. Some you can see coming, but others completely surprise you. There’s no spice, but the chemistry is still absolutely there in the longing, the push and pull of forbidden love, and all the moments where you’re waiting for the emotional payoff. Perfect for readers who love fierce FMCs, dark and broody MMCs, magical familiars, hunter/prey tension, no-spice romantasy, deadly fate, and slow burns that still bring all the intensity.
February 22, 2025
I have anticipated this book for weeks and now got the unique chance to get my hands on an ARC. It took me a bit more than a day (and we have to consider the time sleeping and doing grown up stuff 😉) to finish it.
I really enjoyed it, though the plot moves a bit slow. All in all it feels like a long prologue, which makes sense since it's the first book in a new series. It seems to be setting the scene for more to come.
It started picking up pace at about 80 %. And in the last 10 % a lot happened.
That doesn't mean that the prior 80 % weren't good though.
The plot development and character dynamic reminded me a lot of "Of Earth and Flame" by Gallea.
What I liked
- casual diversity
- animals (and familiar) which I hope we see a lot more of in the future
- our gruff MMC
- the promise of a love story to come
What annoyed me
- our FMC just keeps adding how beautiful she finds her Hunter to be. Every. Other. Sentence. Like she's lamenting on how annoying it is that he follows her and how much she hates him, but then goes on about how beautiful he is. And I get it. That's how the enemies to lovers trope works. But it was kind of repetitive at times. Her mind seems to be LOUD and it's hard to focus. Reminds me of my own ADHD brain, so maybe it's still relatable 😅. But I had to roll my eyes at it quite a few times.
I give this book 4.5 ⭐
It didn't blow me away, but I'm definitely intrigued.
I really enjoyed it, though the plot moves a bit slow. All in all it feels like a long prologue, which makes sense since it's the first book in a new series. It seems to be setting the scene for more to come.
It started picking up pace at about 80 %. And in the last 10 % a lot happened.
That doesn't mean that the prior 80 % weren't good though.
The plot development and character dynamic reminded me a lot of "Of Earth and Flame" by Gallea.
What I liked
- casual diversity
- animals (and familiar) which I hope we see a lot more of in the future
- our gruff MMC
- the promise of a love story to come
What annoyed me
- our FMC just keeps adding how beautiful she finds her Hunter to be. Every. Other. Sentence. Like she's lamenting on how annoying it is that he follows her and how much she hates him, but then goes on about how beautiful he is. And I get it. That's how the enemies to lovers trope works. But it was kind of repetitive at times. Her mind seems to be LOUD and it's hard to focus. Reminds me of my own ADHD brain, so maybe it's still relatable 😅. But I had to roll my eyes at it quite a few times.
I give this book 4.5 ⭐
It didn't blow me away, but I'm definitely intrigued.
April 7, 2025
I received this book as an ARC. This is the first book I’ve read of Elayna R. Gallea and it won’t be the last.
Wren Nightingale is a Given or a Gods blessed. She is the only one in her family that has a mark on her forehead that lights up and swirls and she is to be presented to the Gods during the Giving Season prior to her 21st birthday. Her best friend Amelia is also a Given. On the day of Amelia’s Given, Wren sneaks in and watches. She sees something so horrible that she runs away before she can experience her own giving ceremony.
While she is running away she comes upon a body in the forest that is severely hurt. She pulls this body into a cave and finds out it’s a handsome young man. She nurses this man whose name is Gabriel, back to health only for her to find out he’s a Hunter and he’s hunting her! He’s been sent orders from the King to take her back to the temple for her giving ceremony. Out of kindness for helping nurse him back to health, Gabriel gives her a one day head start to get away and then he’s coming after her. Both of them feel a connection toward each other.
This book is a bit too slow to my liking but by the end of the book I wanted more. I need to see how this picks back up. I believe it’s going to be a really great story.
Wren Nightingale is a Given or a Gods blessed. She is the only one in her family that has a mark on her forehead that lights up and swirls and she is to be presented to the Gods during the Giving Season prior to her 21st birthday. Her best friend Amelia is also a Given. On the day of Amelia’s Given, Wren sneaks in and watches. She sees something so horrible that she runs away before she can experience her own giving ceremony.
While she is running away she comes upon a body in the forest that is severely hurt. She pulls this body into a cave and finds out it’s a handsome young man. She nurses this man whose name is Gabriel, back to health only for her to find out he’s a Hunter and he’s hunting her! He’s been sent orders from the King to take her back to the temple for her giving ceremony. Out of kindness for helping nurse him back to health, Gabriel gives her a one day head start to get away and then he’s coming after her. Both of them feel a connection toward each other.
This book is a bit too slow to my liking but by the end of the book I wanted more. I need to see how this picks back up. I believe it’s going to be a really great story.
February 26, 2025
I loved this book. I can’t wait for the next book. ❤️❤️❤️.
May 29, 2025
DNF. Admire the cover & move on. 😬
January 3, 2026
I don’t get the hype for this book.
May 11, 2025
3.5/5 stars
A beautifully crafted, slow-burn tale of rebellion, survival, and reluctant connection—Given is a romantasy that strikes a good balance between yearning and tenderness. From the first chapter, Given sinks its hooks in. The premise is instantly unsettling—Wren is born with a Mark that seals her fate, raised to believe she’ll serve the gods, only to witness firsthand the brutal reality of what that “service” actually entails. It’s a powerful opener, and the book doesn’t let go of that emotional weight as Wren flees everything she’s ever known. It's an immediately gripping, hunter-vs-hunted romantasy that’s fun and fast-paced—but a little shallow if you’re craving depth.
Given is one of those books that sinks its teeth in from page one. The premise is sharp: a god-marked woman destined for sacrifice, a brooding hunter sent to retrieve her, and a world shaped by cruelty disguised as divine law. It’s got all the ingredients for a compelling enemies-to-lovers slow burn—and in many ways, it delivers.
Both Wren and Gabriel are caught in the machinery of a corrupt system. They’ve been used, shaped, and hurt by it, and there’s something emotionally satisfying in how their small acts of kindness toward each other slowly chip away at the lies they’ve been taught. Wren's journey is peppered with moments of help from other victims of the system, which gave the world a more lived-in feel.
That said, this didn’t hit as hard as it could have. The world is brutal—sacrifices, betrayals, life-or-death chases—but the tone stays pretty light. I found myself wishing it dug a little deeper into the emotional and moral weight of the premise. The dialogue pulled me out at times—it felt modern and out of place for the setting; it doesn't typically bother me, but there were moments that did here. The romantic connection also leans more on immediate attraction than something truly earned. The slow burn label is a bit of a misdirect—it’s more about physical distance and forced separation than any kind of emotional resistance or gradual trust-building.
Still, I had a great time reading this. It’s easy to devour, and there’s something undeniably satisfying about seeing two people claw their way toward hope in a world built to break them. Not flawless, but very fun.
Thanks so so much to the author and MTMC Tours for the complimentary copy and opportunity to read and review. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
A beautifully crafted, slow-burn tale of rebellion, survival, and reluctant connection—Given is a romantasy that strikes a good balance between yearning and tenderness. From the first chapter, Given sinks its hooks in. The premise is instantly unsettling—Wren is born with a Mark that seals her fate, raised to believe she’ll serve the gods, only to witness firsthand the brutal reality of what that “service” actually entails. It’s a powerful opener, and the book doesn’t let go of that emotional weight as Wren flees everything she’s ever known. It's an immediately gripping, hunter-vs-hunted romantasy that’s fun and fast-paced—but a little shallow if you’re craving depth.
Given is one of those books that sinks its teeth in from page one. The premise is sharp: a god-marked woman destined for sacrifice, a brooding hunter sent to retrieve her, and a world shaped by cruelty disguised as divine law. It’s got all the ingredients for a compelling enemies-to-lovers slow burn—and in many ways, it delivers.
Both Wren and Gabriel are caught in the machinery of a corrupt system. They’ve been used, shaped, and hurt by it, and there’s something emotionally satisfying in how their small acts of kindness toward each other slowly chip away at the lies they’ve been taught. Wren's journey is peppered with moments of help from other victims of the system, which gave the world a more lived-in feel.
That said, this didn’t hit as hard as it could have. The world is brutal—sacrifices, betrayals, life-or-death chases—but the tone stays pretty light. I found myself wishing it dug a little deeper into the emotional and moral weight of the premise. The dialogue pulled me out at times—it felt modern and out of place for the setting; it doesn't typically bother me, but there were moments that did here. The romantic connection also leans more on immediate attraction than something truly earned. The slow burn label is a bit of a misdirect—it’s more about physical distance and forced separation than any kind of emotional resistance or gradual trust-building.
Still, I had a great time reading this. It’s easy to devour, and there’s something undeniably satisfying about seeing two people claw their way toward hope in a world built to break them. Not flawless, but very fun.
Thanks so so much to the author and MTMC Tours for the complimentary copy and opportunity to read and review. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
May 11, 2025
DNF’d @ 26%.
Made it to Chapter 10 before accepting that it’s just not going to get better.
Let me start by pointing out that this book is NOT an ‘epic high fantasy’ or an ‘epic romantasy’ as it claims to be. It’s not even High Fantasy or High Fantasy adjacent. I would say it’s more Young Adult Romantasy at MOST.
10 Chapters in and the World Building (which is one of the core components to Epic & High Fantasy) is almost nonexistent. We get 3 different backstories, in 3 separate occasions, about the FMC rescuing stray animals which are all completely irrelevant to anything. But we get perhaps a page of scrapped together information regarding the land, peoples, politics, environment or anything that paints the picture of the world for the Reader.
The story is told in First Person Perspective but the writing style is BAD.
First off; stories written in FPP should be written as a self narrative. There should be NO fourth wall breaks. Monologue such as ‘and, you guessed it’ and ‘let’s be honest’ should not exist in this narrative format. Yet multiple times was this done.
Many times is there story narrative that should be internal thought and internal thought that should be story narrative.
On top of grammatical errors, there were inconsistencies as early as Chapter 4 and Continuity issues as early as Chapter 5.
Pacing and progression was also a glaring issue from the beginning.
There are paragraphs upon paragraphs of the same repetitive issues. The author really liked to repeat and rehash points over and over again in every chapter.
And if the FMC wasn’t droning on and on about the same damn things, she was blabbering just absolute drivel.
FMCs POV chapters were SO DAMN LONG and it was just nothing. No story movement, no character establishing, no world building, just nothing.
I’m not kidding, Chapter 2 was PAGES AND PAGES of word vomit over the same thing and story progression wise, all she did was eat dinner.
By Chapter 3 I was skipping quite alot because it was all just Blabber, Repeats and Rehashes.
Mind you, while FMCs chapters are usually unnecessarily long, the first MMC chapter we get is 3 pages and it gives readers ✨NOTHING✨. This is supposedly an Epic Fantasy and yet there isn’t even ANY Character establishment for a MAIN CHARACTER.
This felt so imbalanced considering the previous chapters filled with useless blabber.
Chapter 7 we get an irrelevant backstory about healing salve and 6 times throughout this chapter we are given lengthy paragraphs about how attractive the FMC finds the MMC.
This is then followed by another chapter of useless blabbering, another bout of repetitive nonsense and 4 more episodes of FMC raving about MMCs attractiveness. It’s not one sided though, MMC also raves in similar fashion to an ‘insta lust’ trope and then at this point I was just over it.
By the end of chapter 10, I felt absolutely no connection to the world, characters or story itself. I have very little interest in this book and will not be picking it up again or recommending it to anyone.
Main PMO points:
- Repetitive, Repetitive, REPETITIVE
- Blabber BLABBER BLABBER
- So much ‘Blessed’ ‘Marked’ ‘Given’ sh*t, f*ck, drove me insane!
- Wren Nightingale? Really? THATS the name you gave the FMC?
- No shocker that her nickname is Birdie… creative 🙄
Made it to Chapter 10 before accepting that it’s just not going to get better.
Let me start by pointing out that this book is NOT an ‘epic high fantasy’ or an ‘epic romantasy’ as it claims to be. It’s not even High Fantasy or High Fantasy adjacent. I would say it’s more Young Adult Romantasy at MOST.
10 Chapters in and the World Building (which is one of the core components to Epic & High Fantasy) is almost nonexistent. We get 3 different backstories, in 3 separate occasions, about the FMC rescuing stray animals which are all completely irrelevant to anything. But we get perhaps a page of scrapped together information regarding the land, peoples, politics, environment or anything that paints the picture of the world for the Reader.
The story is told in First Person Perspective but the writing style is BAD.
First off; stories written in FPP should be written as a self narrative. There should be NO fourth wall breaks. Monologue such as ‘and, you guessed it’ and ‘let’s be honest’ should not exist in this narrative format. Yet multiple times was this done.
Many times is there story narrative that should be internal thought and internal thought that should be story narrative.
On top of grammatical errors, there were inconsistencies as early as Chapter 4 and Continuity issues as early as Chapter 5.
Pacing and progression was also a glaring issue from the beginning.
There are paragraphs upon paragraphs of the same repetitive issues. The author really liked to repeat and rehash points over and over again in every chapter.
And if the FMC wasn’t droning on and on about the same damn things, she was blabbering just absolute drivel.
FMCs POV chapters were SO DAMN LONG and it was just nothing. No story movement, no character establishing, no world building, just nothing.
I’m not kidding, Chapter 2 was PAGES AND PAGES of word vomit over the same thing and story progression wise, all she did was eat dinner.
By Chapter 3 I was skipping quite alot because it was all just Blabber, Repeats and Rehashes.
Mind you, while FMCs chapters are usually unnecessarily long, the first MMC chapter we get is 3 pages and it gives readers ✨NOTHING✨. This is supposedly an Epic Fantasy and yet there isn’t even ANY Character establishment for a MAIN CHARACTER.
This felt so imbalanced considering the previous chapters filled with useless blabber.
Chapter 7 we get an irrelevant backstory about healing salve and 6 times throughout this chapter we are given lengthy paragraphs about how attractive the FMC finds the MMC.
This is then followed by another chapter of useless blabbering, another bout of repetitive nonsense and 4 more episodes of FMC raving about MMCs attractiveness. It’s not one sided though, MMC also raves in similar fashion to an ‘insta lust’ trope and then at this point I was just over it.
By the end of chapter 10, I felt absolutely no connection to the world, characters or story itself. I have very little interest in this book and will not be picking it up again or recommending it to anyone.
Main PMO points:
- Repetitive, Repetitive, REPETITIVE
- Blabber BLABBER BLABBER
- So much ‘Blessed’ ‘Marked’ ‘Given’ sh*t, f*ck, drove me insane!
- Wren Nightingale? Really? THATS the name you gave the FMC?
- No shocker that her nickname is Birdie… creative 🙄
December 5, 2025
2.5 rounded ⬆️
Loved the idea and the backpack fantasy aspect and a very cool magic system. But the writing… I really didn’t like the writing at all and the FMC was one of the dumbest I’ve read in a long time. The book itself actually felt like it was often dumbed down for the reader. Plus, lots and lots of repetition, characters choosing not to explain themselves properly to other characters (and thereby saving time and heartache, etc), the FMC making awful decision after awful decision (or just no decision at all), etc. Lots of things that just made NO sense and then wrapped in a giant, incredibly cheesy, and cliched bow. I will give book 2 a chance, as I *really* want to love this series… I just don’t know if I can with the writing and the FMC 🙈
Loved the idea and the backpack fantasy aspect and a very cool magic system. But the writing… I really didn’t like the writing at all and the FMC was one of the dumbest I’ve read in a long time. The book itself actually felt like it was often dumbed down for the reader. Plus, lots and lots of repetition, characters choosing not to explain themselves properly to other characters (and thereby saving time and heartache, etc), the FMC making awful decision after awful decision (or just no decision at all), etc. Lots of things that just made NO sense and then wrapped in a giant, incredibly cheesy, and cliched bow. I will give book 2 a chance, as I *really* want to love this series… I just don’t know if I can with the writing and the FMC 🙈
February 26, 2025
Thank you so much, Elayna R. Gallea for the arc.
I loved this book from the very first chapter. The writing was easygoing and slow paced. The world building was great.. the plot line reminded me of the crimson moth series.. a loved the heart of gold FMC.. and 'moral dilemma ' MMC.. I wish we had more of their interactions.. there was a bit of insta lust.. but I suspect that they are fated mates.. so it checks out... However.. the ending was anticlimactic.. there was so much build up anticipation.. and not enough action. I was hoping for at least two more chapters.. I guess I will just have to wait for the next book of the series. I'm eagerly looking forward to it..
I loved this book from the very first chapter. The writing was easygoing and slow paced. The world building was great.. the plot line reminded me of the crimson moth series.. a loved the heart of gold FMC.. and 'moral dilemma ' MMC.. I wish we had more of their interactions.. there was a bit of insta lust.. but I suspect that they are fated mates.. so it checks out... However.. the ending was anticlimactic.. there was so much build up anticipation.. and not enough action. I was hoping for at least two more chapters.. I guess I will just have to wait for the next book of the series. I'm eagerly looking forward to it..
July 5, 2025
interesting plot
Poorly executed. I dont understand how the stickers are made, and that they also call them stickers, in this land of no indoor plumbing or most any technological advancements. Stickers are the only advancement.
Poorly executed. I dont understand how the stickers are made, and that they also call them stickers, in this land of no indoor plumbing or most any technological advancements. Stickers are the only advancement.
August 2, 2025
17% of the way through and the power of DNF because I can’t get through with this writing style. The dialogue is very repetitive and doesn’t have the proper grip to keep me going. I’m always here for the vibe and never DNF but I just can’t continue. Unfortunately this wasn’t for me.
May 3, 2025
4.25 🌟
"The moment his warm hand envelops mine, my stomach flutters. Sparks seem to jump between us, and every part of me wants this moment to continue forever. My breath catches in my throat, and my eyes fly up to his." (Ch 8)
Wren, a Marked One, destined to serve the Gods, was overly excited and too curious about the Giving Ceremony to wait for hers. To assuage her curiousity, she climbs precariously on the temple rafters and witnesses a horrifying and shocking secret... One that changes all and makes her question everything she has ever known.
Not willing to succumb to the same fate as her best friend, she runs away, her only plan is to get as far away as possible from Grenbloom, the place she has known all of her life.
Alarmed that a Given is missing, the king sends an ambitious hunter after Wren. Gabriel's plan is to become the youngest Master Hunter in the kingdom, and Wren would be just the conquest to help him achieve his goal.
Yet, when Wren saves his life... he gives her a day. Just one day. Then the hunt begins anew.
When there's a curse word in the title of the first chapter, it's got to be good, right? It wasn't a high or epic fantasy, in my estimation, but it was good and engrossing. This is a slow-burn (in an irresistible pull and attraction stand-point) fantasy, gripping thriller, cat and mouse, with hidden identities, magic, greed, and a little twist. No spice, but gives a hint of maybe some to come. It's the first part of a chronicle, so the story will continue.
eARC Review
"The moment his warm hand envelops mine, my stomach flutters. Sparks seem to jump between us, and every part of me wants this moment to continue forever. My breath catches in my throat, and my eyes fly up to his." (Ch 8)
Wren, a Marked One, destined to serve the Gods, was overly excited and too curious about the Giving Ceremony to wait for hers. To assuage her curiousity, she climbs precariously on the temple rafters and witnesses a horrifying and shocking secret... One that changes all and makes her question everything she has ever known.
Not willing to succumb to the same fate as her best friend, she runs away, her only plan is to get as far away as possible from Grenbloom, the place she has known all of her life.
Alarmed that a Given is missing, the king sends an ambitious hunter after Wren. Gabriel's plan is to become the youngest Master Hunter in the kingdom, and Wren would be just the conquest to help him achieve his goal.
Yet, when Wren saves his life... he gives her a day. Just one day. Then the hunt begins anew.
When there's a curse word in the title of the first chapter, it's got to be good, right? It wasn't a high or epic fantasy, in my estimation, but it was good and engrossing. This is a slow-burn (in an irresistible pull and attraction stand-point) fantasy, gripping thriller, cat and mouse, with hidden identities, magic, greed, and a little twist. No spice, but gives a hint of maybe some to come. It's the first part of a chronicle, so the story will continue.
eARC Review
February 25, 2025
Not only was this the first book I’ve read written by Elayna, but it was also my first ARC read. Needless to say, I was incredibly excited to start this journey with Wren and Gabriel.
The plot was wonderful; this book kicked off right at the beginning and had me hooked immediately. I really enjoyed the writing style and loved the adventure. My only critique is that she seems to be in her head a lot, which is understandable due to the difficulties she faced. However, having limited dialogue, especially in the beginning, made it harder for me to follow along.
The plot twist with the king being Gabriel’s dad didn’t really surprise me, but it did intensify the story. I felt his anxiety when being around his dad, and it was portrayed really well.
The ending was also not much of a shock as it seems to be similar to other fantasy books but that doesn’t necessarily mean it lost my interest at any point.
I enjoyed the budding romance between Gabriel and Wren. I was excited to see the new friendship develop with Kadyn through the last bit of the story instead of another love interest. Love triangles can sometimes ruin stories for me personally. The world building was great, and while the plot didn’t necessarily blow me away, it kept me very interested, and I still really loved the story and can’t wait for the next.
I will most definitely be reading more of Elayna’s books while I wait for the next one.😊
The plot was wonderful; this book kicked off right at the beginning and had me hooked immediately. I really enjoyed the writing style and loved the adventure. My only critique is that she seems to be in her head a lot, which is understandable due to the difficulties she faced. However, having limited dialogue, especially in the beginning, made it harder for me to follow along.
The plot twist with the king being Gabriel’s dad didn’t really surprise me, but it did intensify the story. I felt his anxiety when being around his dad, and it was portrayed really well.
The ending was also not much of a shock as it seems to be similar to other fantasy books but that doesn’t necessarily mean it lost my interest at any point.
I enjoyed the budding romance between Gabriel and Wren. I was excited to see the new friendship develop with Kadyn through the last bit of the story instead of another love interest. Love triangles can sometimes ruin stories for me personally. The world building was great, and while the plot didn’t necessarily blow me away, it kept me very interested, and I still really loved the story and can’t wait for the next.
I will most definitely be reading more of Elayna’s books while I wait for the next one.😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2025
3 1/2 ⭐️’s but rounded up to 4 ⭐️’s since it’s not an option.
The book cover and this dedication “To those that hate running but always thought being chased would be hot. This one’s for you.” had me adding Given immediately to my TBR. Then I saw the opportunity to be an ARC reader, I applied and here we are.
I do not read synopsis of books because I feel like they spoil the book so I went in blind, except for the dedication.
As soon as I started reading, I was hooked. It did feel like some other books I have read, but I released that thought from my head and continued to see where this one was going to go. I really enjoyed the deep dive into the life of a Given. To be a Given sounds heartbreaking and lonely. I immediately fell into lust with Gabe. (Do you think he’ll mind if I call him Gabe?) A ruggedly handsome man who’s just trying to do the right thing and be the best man he can be. Who doesn’t want that?
A little over halfway it kind of lagged and I felt the same things were being said over and over. I get that she’s traumatized and she probably is thinking these things over and over again, but I don’t need all that. Then towards the end it picked back up and I didn’t want to put it back down.
Overall, it was an intriguing story I enjoyed reading.
The book cover and this dedication “To those that hate running but always thought being chased would be hot. This one’s for you.” had me adding Given immediately to my TBR. Then I saw the opportunity to be an ARC reader, I applied and here we are.
I do not read synopsis of books because I feel like they spoil the book so I went in blind, except for the dedication.
As soon as I started reading, I was hooked. It did feel like some other books I have read, but I released that thought from my head and continued to see where this one was going to go. I really enjoyed the deep dive into the life of a Given. To be a Given sounds heartbreaking and lonely. I immediately fell into lust with Gabe. (Do you think he’ll mind if I call him Gabe?) A ruggedly handsome man who’s just trying to do the right thing and be the best man he can be. Who doesn’t want that?
A little over halfway it kind of lagged and I felt the same things were being said over and over. I get that she’s traumatized and she probably is thinking these things over and over again, but I don’t need all that. Then towards the end it picked back up and I didn’t want to put it back down.
Overall, it was an intriguing story I enjoyed reading.
February 22, 2025
First of all: thank you so much for gifting me the ARC to this book!
This was an absolute PLEASURE to read! The fmc and mmc were so nicely developed, the pacing was great and the worldbuildung was well done as well.
Honestly no notes from me for this book, I read it all in a day and absolutely devoured it lol.
I seriously can't WAIT for the next part, I'm literally so invested in Wren and Gabriel's story!
Also: the romance is a subplot in this book, but I'm sure it will have a more present role in the future.
More on Wren: she's an absolute pleasure to read about, not the typical main character but not in a pick me way, but very refreshing! Tall and curvy (which is rare) she was very relatable and I was not once annoyed by her. (Because she can actually think).
Gabriel is difficult to explain. A very secretive man but just lovely. He's not the typical book boyfriend (to me at least) even though he's tall, dark, and handsome. But his character just called to me.
Again: I really loved this book and now I'm craving moooore!!
This was an absolute PLEASURE to read! The fmc and mmc were so nicely developed, the pacing was great and the worldbuildung was well done as well.
Honestly no notes from me for this book, I read it all in a day and absolutely devoured it lol.
I seriously can't WAIT for the next part, I'm literally so invested in Wren and Gabriel's story!
Also: the romance is a subplot in this book, but I'm sure it will have a more present role in the future.
More on Wren: she's an absolute pleasure to read about, not the typical main character but not in a pick me way, but very refreshing! Tall and curvy (which is rare) she was very relatable and I was not once annoyed by her. (Because she can actually think).
Gabriel is difficult to explain. A very secretive man but just lovely. He's not the typical book boyfriend (to me at least) even though he's tall, dark, and handsome. But his character just called to me.
Again: I really loved this book and now I'm craving moooore!!
October 8, 2025
This book has so much potentional, but the execution left me wanting a completely different approach. The synopsis immediately grabbed my attention and I was super excited to get into it, but the writing leaves much to be desired. There are so many repetitive instances, especially in regards to the visuals of the two main characters. This is dual POV, and both of them play ring-around-the-rosie with their thoughts, always going back to the same ones. It was like the author had a word count they were trying to reach, but they didn't have anything of substance to say so they kept repeating the same 4 things.
My interest was waning by 15%. However, I persevered. I finished it (somehow). The ending was spoonfed, and so anticlimactic because there were giant bright neon signs pointing to *the big reveal* all throughout the book. And of course, right after the "reveal" BANG, cliffhanger (again wasn't surprised).
Wouldn't recommend.
My interest was waning by 15%. However, I persevered. I finished it (somehow). The ending was spoonfed, and so anticlimactic because there were giant bright neon signs pointing to *the big reveal* all throughout the book. And of course, right after the "reveal" BANG, cliffhanger (again wasn't surprised).
Wouldn't recommend.
April 22, 2025
Thank you so much to the author, Elayna R. Gallea, for providing me an eArc in exchange for an honest review!
The story line was very good! I love the whole premise of the book! The first 2 chapters had me hooked and after that it started to lull, I feel like it didn’t pick back up again until about 80% of the way through.
There was ALOT of repetition and I feel that kind of distracted me from really being immersed into the story.
I wish there was more of a connection between the FMC and the MMC. They were supposed to be so drawn to each other and It was just a little hard to believe, I would have liked to see more banter and overall more interaction between them. Perhaps there will be more of that in book two.
I’m still very intrigued by the story and excited to see where the author will take us in the second book! :)
Thank you again to the Author for my very first Arc!
The story line was very good! I love the whole premise of the book! The first 2 chapters had me hooked and after that it started to lull, I feel like it didn’t pick back up again until about 80% of the way through.
There was ALOT of repetition and I feel that kind of distracted me from really being immersed into the story.
I wish there was more of a connection between the FMC and the MMC. They were supposed to be so drawn to each other and It was just a little hard to believe, I would have liked to see more banter and overall more interaction between them. Perhaps there will be more of that in book two.
I’m still very intrigued by the story and excited to see where the author will take us in the second book! :)
Thank you again to the Author for my very first Arc!
February 23, 2025
This is a wonderful story.
Attention grabbing plot from the first page to the last. The characters are great. I hope everyone loves this as much as I do. I look forward to more books with this story.
Attention grabbing plot from the first page to the last. The characters are great. I hope everyone loves this as much as I do. I look forward to more books with this story.
June 3, 2025
4 stars
For being a super random selection off KU that I hadn't heard anything about, this was surprisingly good. I found it interesting from the beginning and enjoyed the writing and the characters. I will say I felt the pacing was a little off in the middle and I was so annoyed by
The king felt a little cartoonish to me, I'm hoping he's more fleshed out in the sequel as a villain. Wren was a likable FMC, she definitely reads young and naive but she thinks on her feet and does her best to stay alive.
For being a super random selection off KU that I hadn't heard anything about, this was surprisingly good. I found it interesting from the beginning and enjoyed the writing and the characters. I will say I felt the pacing was a little off in the middle and I was so annoyed by
The king felt a little cartoonish to me, I'm hoping he's more fleshed out in the sequel as a villain. Wren was a likable FMC, she definitely reads young and naive but she thinks on her feet and does her best to stay alive.
February 26, 2025
I really liked this book! It was a little slow and started to pick up the pace towards the end which is the case for many first books in a series. My only complaint is that it’s repetitive in the descriptions that are used. That takes me out of the story a bit which is why it took me longer than usual to finish. Overall a great story and I’ll definitely read the next one!
July 9, 2026
4.25 stars
I loved the narration on this! Enjoyed hunter x hunted and watching things start to shift, especially for Gabriel. Thought their tension was well done and talk about a slow burn!! I am glad I waited to start this until the next one came out so I can just dive right in.
I loved the narration on this! Enjoyed hunter x hunted and watching things start to shift, especially for Gabriel. Thought their tension was well done and talk about a slow burn!! I am glad I waited to start this until the next one came out so I can just dive right in.
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