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Gifted
“Because… you’ll become a legend, Legionnaire. You just don’t see it yet. But I do. And the gods do too.”
Over forty years ago, a foreign ruler conquered a fractured kingdom and forged it into one Empire. Then, he purged the gods from history.
Elaine Lyanthian was only twelve when she joined the Imperial Army to escape poverty and starvation. Twelve years later, she’s one of the few women who have survived its brutal ranks. But despite enduring everything the army threw at her, greatness is not in her plans. After a messy affair with her general, she’s stopped believing her luck will ever change.
But there are forces, both ancient and new, that would bend her fate to their will.
When the Emperor himself Gifts her into the prestigious Legion of Barrymore, her world tilts on its axis. The Legion is led by the cold and feared Alexander Courtenay, and so Elaine finds herself not just a soldier among millions, but one of the elite Thirty Barrymore Legionnaires.
Determined and stubborn, Elaine rises to meet her new path. But Barrymore isn’t the end of her road—it’s only the beginning.
There, she will forge the family she never had, experience a forbidden and all-consuming love, and discover the strength to transform from the hollow, hopeless girl she once was.
As Elaine learns the true cost of loyalty, love, sacrifice, and friendship, a strange power begins to stir in her veins. And as the Empire trembles on the edge of rebellion, she’ll come to realize her role in its salvation may be far greater—and far more dangerous—than she ever dared to imagine.
A rebellion rises.
A Legionnaire is challenged.
A family is forged.
Over forty years ago, a foreign ruler conquered a fractured kingdom and forged it into one Empire. Then, he purged the gods from history.
Elaine Lyanthian was only twelve when she joined the Imperial Army to escape poverty and starvation. Twelve years later, she’s one of the few women who have survived its brutal ranks. But despite enduring everything the army threw at her, greatness is not in her plans. After a messy affair with her general, she’s stopped believing her luck will ever change.
But there are forces, both ancient and new, that would bend her fate to their will.
When the Emperor himself Gifts her into the prestigious Legion of Barrymore, her world tilts on its axis. The Legion is led by the cold and feared Alexander Courtenay, and so Elaine finds herself not just a soldier among millions, but one of the elite Thirty Barrymore Legionnaires.
Determined and stubborn, Elaine rises to meet her new path. But Barrymore isn’t the end of her road—it’s only the beginning.
There, she will forge the family she never had, experience a forbidden and all-consuming love, and discover the strength to transform from the hollow, hopeless girl she once was.
As Elaine learns the true cost of loyalty, love, sacrifice, and friendship, a strange power begins to stir in her veins. And as the Empire trembles on the edge of rebellion, she’ll come to realize her role in its salvation may be far greater—and far more dangerous—than she ever dared to imagine.
A rebellion rises.
A Legionnaire is challenged.
A family is forged.
688 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2025
About the author
Mavi Parolin
1 book37 followersMavi Parolin is a Brazilian author born and raised in São Paulo. From an early age, she found herself lost in stories, sometimes within the pages of books, other times in the worlds she imagined.
At seventeen, she moved abroad to study at Babson College, where she earned a business degree. After returning home, she struggled to find her true calling. Through it all, romantasy novels were her constant companions, fueling the spark that had been with her since childhood.
It wasn’t until 2020, during lockdown, that Mavi finally gave herself permission to craft her own story. In just 43 days, the first draft of Gifted was born, and she hasn’t stopped writing since.
Over the following years, she wrote three more installments of the Gifted Series, along with the first novel of a second series, which is still in the works. Now, after five years and many drafts, her debut novel Gifted is finally out in the world.
Mavi lives in São Paulo with her husband, daughter, and two cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, crocheting, reading, and unwinding with everything from sci-fi and heartfelt romances to gloriously trashy reality TV.
At seventeen, she moved abroad to study at Babson College, where she earned a business degree. After returning home, she struggled to find her true calling. Through it all, romantasy novels were her constant companions, fueling the spark that had been with her since childhood.
It wasn’t until 2020, during lockdown, that Mavi finally gave herself permission to craft her own story. In just 43 days, the first draft of Gifted was born, and she hasn’t stopped writing since.
Over the following years, she wrote three more installments of the Gifted Series, along with the first novel of a second series, which is still in the works. Now, after five years and many drafts, her debut novel Gifted is finally out in the world.
Mavi lives in São Paulo with her husband, daughter, and two cats. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, crocheting, reading, and unwinding with everything from sci-fi and heartfelt romances to gloriously trashy reality TV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
January 10, 2026
Battles, wars, and internal conflict, with a dash of found family...
TW- This book includes themes of alcohol abuse and sexual assault. Please proceed with caution.
We meet Elaine Lyanthian, an orphan from well, Lyanthian, who fights nail and tooth, being one of the few women in the army. Her life has been hard, cruel, and it only grows worse when she realizes she has been "Gifted" (ayyy name drop) to the ruthles Governer Courtenay, like an object. Now her tomb seems sealed shut. But is it...
I really enjoyed this book. It was quite a refreshing read, set apart from a ton of other copy-and-paste fantasy books I've read. Her personality and a cynical view of the world is a welcome change. The story divulges and even includes a few difficult themes like r@pe and @ssault, adding in to the realistic-ness, as even women still face such issues in the world today. Her trauma from the incidents has been wonderfully handled, making me feel deeply for Elaine and understand her (sometimes) puzzling choices.
That doesn't mean this book doesn't have issues though,
Display 1- Now the words/phrases "yap", "smart ass", "love or something" are common in real life, that doesn't mean they fit in in the fantasy world. Please don't use them, like way to pull one out of the world. I really don't wanna see "yap" in my fantasy book. Oh yea and also "alpha male speech". No.
Display 2- "Purely male smile". "Animalistic sound." Need i say more for this?
Display 3- Referring to her chest as her "assets" or "goods" or "goodies". Not just the people around her, but she herself 😭no.
Display 4- "I pressed my thighs together instinctively" count- x5 (the exact sentence mind you)
Display 5 -
Pre Read
Losing myself in a fantasy world with a (hopefully) strong fl in 3...2...1...
Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange of my honest review.
TW- This book includes themes of alcohol abuse and sexual assault. Please proceed with caution.
We meet Elaine Lyanthian, an orphan from well, Lyanthian, who fights nail and tooth, being one of the few women in the army. Her life has been hard, cruel, and it only grows worse when she realizes she has been "Gifted" (ayyy name drop) to the ruthles Governer Courtenay, like an object. Now her tomb seems sealed shut. But is it...
I really enjoyed this book. It was quite a refreshing read, set apart from a ton of other copy-and-paste fantasy books I've read. Her personality and a cynical view of the world is a welcome change. The story divulges and even includes a few difficult themes like r@pe and @ssault, adding in to the realistic-ness, as even women still face such issues in the world today. Her trauma from the incidents has been wonderfully handled, making me feel deeply for Elaine and understand her (sometimes) puzzling choices.
That doesn't mean this book doesn't have issues though,
Display 1- Now the words/phrases "yap", "smart ass", "love or something" are common in real life, that doesn't mean they fit in in the fantasy world. Please don't use them, like way to pull one out of the world. I really don't wanna see "yap" in my fantasy book. Oh yea and also "alpha male speech". No.
Display 2- "Purely male smile". "Animalistic sound." Need i say more for this?
Display 3- Referring to her chest as her "assets" or "goods" or "goodies". Not just the people around her, but she herself 😭no.
Display 4- "I pressed my thighs together instinctively" count- x5 (the exact sentence mind you)
Display 5 -
Pre Read
Losing myself in a fantasy world with a (hopefully) strong fl in 3...2...1...
Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange of my honest review.
August 15, 2025
Gifted has all the things I love in fantasy novels and more !! Unique world building and hierarchy systems, very compelling characters and side characters, a slow burn that’s 🔥 but also didn’t overshadow the plot that was written so beautifully you can tell the author did a lot of research ! The dynamic in the soldiers camp had me feeling like I was there at some times and was one of my favorite parts ….
Elaine is a flawed yet tenacious FMC so her growth arc was very believable and kept me rooting for her because she was very compelling to me (as an avid fantasy reader). Especially as a woman I found myself resonating with her thoughts a lot
The MMC 🥵… that’s all I’ll say. My heart hurt for them so much, they both had it so hard
I don’t think I’ll be able to get over the last 20% !! So many emotions!!!! I can’t say more without giving any spoilers but I need book 2 immediately!!!
Thank you for the author and publisher for the arc.
Elaine is a flawed yet tenacious FMC so her growth arc was very believable and kept me rooting for her because she was very compelling to me (as an avid fantasy reader). Especially as a woman I found myself resonating with her thoughts a lot
The MMC 🥵… that’s all I’ll say. My heart hurt for them so much, they both had it so hard
I don’t think I’ll be able to get over the last 20% !! So many emotions!!!! I can’t say more without giving any spoilers but I need book 2 immediately!!!
Thank you for the author and publisher for the arc.
August 20, 2025
An addictive reading experience!
Hard to believe that this is the author's debut work. I liked the army life, training, descriptions of different weapons and politics. I loved the slow-burning romance, friendship, and the found family.
The description of being a woman in the army and facing trauma was impressive. I felt that the world was more historical than a fantasy world, but it didn't hinder my reading experience and I believe that the fantasy elements will increase as soon as the gods get to really roar to earth.
Thanks to author Mavi Parolin and NetGalley for the early review copy!
Hard to believe that this is the author's debut work. I liked the army life, training, descriptions of different weapons and politics. I loved the slow-burning romance, friendship, and the found family.
The description of being a woman in the army and facing trauma was impressive. I felt that the world was more historical than a fantasy world, but it didn't hinder my reading experience and I believe that the fantasy elements will increase as soon as the gods get to really roar to earth.
Thanks to author Mavi Parolin and NetGalley for the early review copy!
August 24, 2025
Fair warning: This book will break your heart and stitch it back together a thousand times, so be prepared. I'm still gutted and in tears, and I'm not even mad about it. (Okay, maybe a little)
This book was astounding. Phenomenal. BREATHTAKING. I need to go recommend this to every single person I know.
When I started this book, I expected a light-hearted romantic fantasy that would be rough around the edges as it was a debut novel (and I think self-published, too). That is not what I got with this book, and I am so happy about it. In fact, this book is everything I would never pick up had I known going into it. And even when it broke my heart and I just wanted to throw my tablet across the room in ANGUISH, I could not stop reading. I vehemently avoid books that make me this emotionally invested, but I will put myself through the pain again for book two.
I mean, wow, for a debut novel, I have never seen such intriguing writing or deep world building before. This book was written like someone who has been writing for years and has put a ton of time and effort into mastering their craft. It had me hooked from page one, and I didn't want to put it down until the end (outside of a very specific scene that still has me crying). While the plot is slow paced, there is always something happening that has stakes to keep you engaged. It was so smooth and elegant, and the climax of the book was absolutely worth the wait. I would say that you can kind of get a feel for the way things are going to go without the plot being predictable, which is just the perfect sweet spot for such a long book.
The characters are so well fleshed out, and they make you absolutely fall in love with them. Each character has their own unique personality, and nothing feels one toned or similar between them. Not a single character in this book will leave you feeling like you don't care about them (in one way or another). They go through so much growth and change, and you feel it alongside them. There are quite a few characters, but there was so much balance between them. It never felt like one was forgotten or we didn't get enough of one.
The fantastical element is very minimal up until the end of the book, but that doesn't mean that there is no action. If you're looking for a very high fantasy, magic heavy, fantastical feel, don't expect it with this book. That being said, it seems like the second book will be getting more into that, so if you have the patience to hold on, please do.
The romance was full of angst and drama, so this is not a light-hearted romantic if you are looking for that. I was completely unprepared for this book to utterly ruin me in the way that it did. Personally, I am shocked that while the romance was great, I cared a bit more about everything else in this book, which is not normal for me. Generally, I find the plots to romance-centric fantasy books to be a bit dull compared to the actual romance, but this book was so well balanced.
This book is heavy on themes that are likely to be more relatable to women, as well as topics of sexual assault in general. It makes up a good portion of the main character struggles so if that is not something that you are okay reading in graphic detail or you prefer not to read about women's struggles, this book is not for you. Not every book is for every person, but this book was definitely for me. I felt heard and understood by everything that the main character went through from the little incidences to the larger ones.
I will close this utterly long review by saying that this book has earned its way onto my favorites list. So far, I have only seen the release date for Kindle unlimited, but I am begging the author to print it. I want a special edition of this book. I don't care if you give me a paperback print copy, and I have to rebind and decorate a special edition myself. It needs to be a shelf trophy!
Edit: If you've heard the song Royalty by Egzod, that is the vibe this book gives, and I will now think of this book every time I hear that song.
Also, to the author Mavi, congratulations on your debut, and please keep writing. I will be looking for more of your books in the future!
Thank you so much to Mavi and NetGalley for giving me an advanced readers copy and exchange for an honest review!
This book was astounding. Phenomenal. BREATHTAKING. I need to go recommend this to every single person I know.
When I started this book, I expected a light-hearted romantic fantasy that would be rough around the edges as it was a debut novel (and I think self-published, too). That is not what I got with this book, and I am so happy about it. In fact, this book is everything I would never pick up had I known going into it. And even when it broke my heart and I just wanted to throw my tablet across the room in ANGUISH, I could not stop reading. I vehemently avoid books that make me this emotionally invested, but I will put myself through the pain again for book two.
I mean, wow, for a debut novel, I have never seen such intriguing writing or deep world building before. This book was written like someone who has been writing for years and has put a ton of time and effort into mastering their craft. It had me hooked from page one, and I didn't want to put it down until the end (outside of a very specific scene that still has me crying). While the plot is slow paced, there is always something happening that has stakes to keep you engaged. It was so smooth and elegant, and the climax of the book was absolutely worth the wait. I would say that you can kind of get a feel for the way things are going to go without the plot being predictable, which is just the perfect sweet spot for such a long book.
The characters are so well fleshed out, and they make you absolutely fall in love with them. Each character has their own unique personality, and nothing feels one toned or similar between them. Not a single character in this book will leave you feeling like you don't care about them (in one way or another). They go through so much growth and change, and you feel it alongside them. There are quite a few characters, but there was so much balance between them. It never felt like one was forgotten or we didn't get enough of one.
The fantastical element is very minimal up until the end of the book, but that doesn't mean that there is no action. If you're looking for a very high fantasy, magic heavy, fantastical feel, don't expect it with this book. That being said, it seems like the second book will be getting more into that, so if you have the patience to hold on, please do.
The romance was full of angst and drama, so this is not a light-hearted romantic if you are looking for that. I was completely unprepared for this book to utterly ruin me in the way that it did. Personally, I am shocked that while the romance was great, I cared a bit more about everything else in this book, which is not normal for me. Generally, I find the plots to romance-centric fantasy books to be a bit dull compared to the actual romance, but this book was so well balanced.
This book is heavy on themes that are likely to be more relatable to women, as well as topics of sexual assault in general. It makes up a good portion of the main character struggles so if that is not something that you are okay reading in graphic detail or you prefer not to read about women's struggles, this book is not for you. Not every book is for every person, but this book was definitely for me. I felt heard and understood by everything that the main character went through from the little incidences to the larger ones.
I will close this utterly long review by saying that this book has earned its way onto my favorites list. So far, I have only seen the release date for Kindle unlimited, but I am begging the author to print it. I want a special edition of this book. I don't care if you give me a paperback print copy, and I have to rebind and decorate a special edition myself. It needs to be a shelf trophy!
Edit: If you've heard the song Royalty by Egzod, that is the vibe this book gives, and I will now think of this book every time I hear that song.
Also, to the author Mavi, congratulations on your debut, and please keep writing. I will be looking for more of your books in the future!
Thank you so much to Mavi and NetGalley for giving me an advanced readers copy and exchange for an honest review!
August 20, 2025
Wow. Just... WOW. I almost have no words to express how much i devoured this book. This and the raven scholar have to be my favourite reads so far this year. It has everything, fantastic world building, outstanding character development, found friends and family, the most resilient FMC i have come across, hope, loss, adventure, magic, heartbreak, and romance.
Also, the best banter ever, it had me laughing out loud multiple times throughout!
This story follows Elaine, an orphan forced into the army in order to survive since she was 12 years old, until she is gifted by the Emperor to the Commander of Barrymore, after she is hailed a hero for fighting off 4 other combatants for saving a girls life. There she will hone her skills alongside the other 29 legionnaires. They are faced with rebel attacks and plots to replace the Commander of Barrymore and face endless uncertainty when the Emperor sends some of his own legionnaires to 'guard' the Barrymore estate. All the while, Elaine is experiencing things she and her peers can't even begin to explain, why she heals so fast, why she always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and why her strength suddenly Blooms in times of dire need.
This book will have me caught up in it for a while, I just know it. Damn, wow. I look forward to the rest of this series and any other work this author does in the future.
*** Thank you to netgalley and to the author for approving the ARC for me to read. Mavi Parolin It was such an amazing story. Congratulations on your debut release, I wish you all the best.
The above review was my own opinion and has not been influenced in any way... Damn, Just freakin wow!
Also, the best banter ever, it had me laughing out loud multiple times throughout!
This story follows Elaine, an orphan forced into the army in order to survive since she was 12 years old, until she is gifted by the Emperor to the Commander of Barrymore, after she is hailed a hero for fighting off 4 other combatants for saving a girls life. There she will hone her skills alongside the other 29 legionnaires. They are faced with rebel attacks and plots to replace the Commander of Barrymore and face endless uncertainty when the Emperor sends some of his own legionnaires to 'guard' the Barrymore estate. All the while, Elaine is experiencing things she and her peers can't even begin to explain, why she heals so fast, why she always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and why her strength suddenly Blooms in times of dire need.
This book will have me caught up in it for a while, I just know it. Damn, wow. I look forward to the rest of this series and any other work this author does in the future.
*** Thank you to netgalley and to the author for approving the ARC for me to read. Mavi Parolin It was such an amazing story. Congratulations on your debut release, I wish you all the best.
The above review was my own opinion and has not been influenced in any way... Damn, Just freakin wow!
October 6, 2025
First off, I want to say thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.
I’m struggling to write this review because it was just so…..emotional, mysterious, forbidden romance, and that slow burn we all crave a little! It was nerve wrecking for me to start reading this book, as it is over 800 pages. But once I started, I truly couldn't stop. I had to keep reading! So hard to believe this is a debut novel. It was wonderfully, amazingly FANTASTIC! The story and the characters were so amazing that I found myself drawn to it until the last page. It has a unique magic system and fantasy but that isn’t just all it’s focused on. I can’t wait to see what else Mavi writes!
Lastly, make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading so you know what you’re getting into. Something’s aren’t for everyone.
I’m struggling to write this review because it was just so…..emotional, mysterious, forbidden romance, and that slow burn we all crave a little! It was nerve wrecking for me to start reading this book, as it is over 800 pages. But once I started, I truly couldn't stop. I had to keep reading! So hard to believe this is a debut novel. It was wonderfully, amazingly FANTASTIC! The story and the characters were so amazing that I found myself drawn to it until the last page. It has a unique magic system and fantasy but that isn’t just all it’s focused on. I can’t wait to see what else Mavi writes!
Lastly, make sure to check the trigger warnings before reading so you know what you’re getting into. Something’s aren’t for everyone.
August 24, 2025
5/5 stars. World building, plot, slow burn. Let me just say I cried like real tears. I was so wrapped up and emotionally attached to the characters. Also let me say I was SHOCKED! The characters were expertly written. You literally felt like you were battling and fighting along with them. The explanations of weapons and everything they do was so well done. It wasn’t over done but gave you just enough where you could emotionally attach yourself through it like you were going through training right along side them. There is trauma in spades on all sides. Please check the trigger warnings. Very low spice but mentions. This book was like nothing I have ever read before. Gods but not the focus. Magic also not the focus but tastes of it. I cannot wait for the next book to see where our FMC journey takes her. -Kerin Ray
August 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)
Thank you to NetGalley and author Mavi Parolin for the opportunity to read Gifted.
This is my honest review of the ARC I received and I truly appreciate it!
⚔️ Tropes & Themes:
- Enemies to lovers (kind of?)
- Slow burn romance
- Found family
- Military fantasy with detailed combat and political intrigue
- Closed-door romance (no explicit scenes)
- Fantasy with minimal magic (until the final 5% of the book)
- Unexpected betrayals and surprising friendships
✅ Reader Checklist:
Hate Boris and the other vile men? ✔️
Hate Hu for being a terrible general and his treatment of the FMC? ✔️
Cheer for the FMC in her battles? ✔️
Admire her strength and resilience? ✔️
FMC as a god’s chosen (sort of)? ✔️
Detailed weaponry and combat scenes? ✔️
Saving innocent women from cruel men? ✔️
Loathing Governor Courtenay? ✔️ (Why are the men in this book so awful? Sad. But hey, it’s military fantasy — maybe I shouldn’t have expected gentlemen... but still, one or two wouldn’t hurt, right?)
📚 Overall Impressions:
This book gave me Poppy War vibes but not in plot, in its tone. The military setting, the brutality, the emotional weight... it’s a mentally tough read. I’m not usually drawn to military fantasy, but Gifted pulled me in with its raw emotion and moments of lightness especially the FMC’s interactions with her friends. There’s a soul in this story, a passion from the author that’s felt on every page.
💭 My Live Reactions SPOILERS AHEAD!!!:
📝 My final thoughts:
As a debut, Gifted is a solid start. It could’ve been a 4-star read, but the ending lost me with its confusing magic system and relationship drama. I hope future books dive deeper into the fantasy elements and give us more adventure, less interpersonal squabbling.
If you’re into military fantasy with a strong female lead, emotional depth, and a slow burn romance , I think this one’s worth checking out.
Just don’t expect a lot of magic until the very end, and be ready for some heavy themes! <3
But I can see myself recommending that book for sure!
Waiting for sequels to come, since well, it's not the end and I need to know the fates of the characters!
Thank you to NetGalley and author Mavi Parolin for the opportunity to read Gifted.
This is my honest review of the ARC I received and I truly appreciate it!
⚔️ Tropes & Themes:
- Enemies to lovers (kind of?)
- Slow burn romance
- Found family
- Military fantasy with detailed combat and political intrigue
- Closed-door romance (no explicit scenes)
- Fantasy with minimal magic (until the final 5% of the book)
- Unexpected betrayals and surprising friendships
✅ Reader Checklist:
Hate Boris and the other vile men? ✔️
Hate Hu for being a terrible general and his treatment of the FMC? ✔️
Cheer for the FMC in her battles? ✔️
Admire her strength and resilience? ✔️
FMC as a god’s chosen (sort of)? ✔️
Detailed weaponry and combat scenes? ✔️
Saving innocent women from cruel men? ✔️
Loathing Governor Courtenay? ✔️ (Why are the men in this book so awful? Sad. But hey, it’s military fantasy — maybe I shouldn’t have expected gentlemen... but still, one or two wouldn’t hurt, right?)
📚 Overall Impressions:
This book gave me Poppy War vibes but not in plot, in its tone. The military setting, the brutality, the emotional weight... it’s a mentally tough read. I’m not usually drawn to military fantasy, but Gifted pulled me in with its raw emotion and moments of lightness especially the FMC’s interactions with her friends. There’s a soul in this story, a passion from the author that’s felt on every page.
💭 My Live Reactions SPOILERS AHEAD!!!:
📝 My final thoughts:
As a debut, Gifted is a solid start. It could’ve been a 4-star read, but the ending lost me with its confusing magic system and relationship drama. I hope future books dive deeper into the fantasy elements and give us more adventure, less interpersonal squabbling.
If you’re into military fantasy with a strong female lead, emotional depth, and a slow burn romance , I think this one’s worth checking out.
Just don’t expect a lot of magic until the very end, and be ready for some heavy themes! <3
But I can see myself recommending that book for sure!
Waiting for sequels to come, since well, it's not the end and I need to know the fates of the characters!
September 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC for this book.
My heart has been torn from my chest, stomped on, put back…. And I said thank you, I can’t wait for the next book.
The characters are fantastically flawed and real, with friendships being the star of the show. Plus a kick butt FMC who goes through a very moving personal journey. The life experiences she’d had made her feel older, which is appreciated as a reader in their 30’s.
I can already tell this will be a book I re-read, my mind keeps drifting back into the story.
My heart has been torn from my chest, stomped on, put back…. And I said thank you, I can’t wait for the next book.
The characters are fantastically flawed and real, with friendships being the star of the show. Plus a kick butt FMC who goes through a very moving personal journey. The life experiences she’d had made her feel older, which is appreciated as a reader in their 30’s.
I can already tell this will be a book I re-read, my mind keeps drifting back into the story.
August 21, 2025
4.5⭐️ I’m left devastated, and I know Gifted is going to be one of those books I think about for a long time. It follows Elaine Lyanthian, a hardened legionnaire shaped by a brutal army upbringing, who suddenly finds herself pulled into the elite Legion of Barrymore by an impossible twist of fate. There, she starts to find the family she never thought she deserved, along with a fierce, forbidden love and something even more powerful within herself.
This book had so much emotional depth, and it completely hooked me. It explores darker, deeper topics that many women face, and Elaine’s resilience in navigating them is truly inspiring. She carries her past and struggles with strength and vulnerability, making her journey feel real and emotionally charged. The found family felt authentic and genuine (I loved the side characters), and the slow-burn romance simmered perfectly without overtaking the story. And the MMC… let’s just say I am fully invested, he 100% grew on me and I need this slow burn not to fizzle out.
My only wish was for a little more clarity around the god lore. It would’ve made the ending land stronger, since the final moments wrapped up so suddenly they left me both confused and absolutely wrecked as everything was torn apart (IYKYK). You can feel the passion the author poured into this story, and even though the book doesn’t release until next week, I’m already counting down the days for the sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book had so much emotional depth, and it completely hooked me. It explores darker, deeper topics that many women face, and Elaine’s resilience in navigating them is truly inspiring. She carries her past and struggles with strength and vulnerability, making her journey feel real and emotionally charged. The found family felt authentic and genuine (I loved the side characters), and the slow-burn romance simmered perfectly without overtaking the story. And the MMC… let’s just say I am fully invested, he 100% grew on me and I need this slow burn not to fizzle out.
My only wish was for a little more clarity around the god lore. It would’ve made the ending land stronger, since the final moments wrapped up so suddenly they left me both confused and absolutely wrecked as everything was torn apart (IYKYK). You can feel the passion the author poured into this story, and even though the book doesn’t release until next week, I’m already counting down the days for the sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
December 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and author Mavi Parolin for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. I’m so glad I got to read it. 💖
⁂⋆⁺⋆ ⸼ ⁂⁂⋆⁺⋆ ⸼ ⁂⁂⋆⁺⋆ ⸼ ⁂
🌙 Review: Gifted (Gifted Series Book 1): A fantasy romance novel about discovering love, courage, and forging a family by Mavi Parolin
𓍊𓋼𓍊 5 ☆
🗡 Update (12/16/25)
❥๑━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━๑❥
Contemporary fantasy literature is vast, but few titles manage to anchor the grandeur of their world in such a raw and detailed introspection of their protagonist as Gifted, the debut novel by Mavi Parolin.
Here, we do not find the classic "chosen one" who is perfect, illuminated, and morally impeccable. Elaine is flawed, impulsive, burdened by trauma, and, above all, human. Her journey is much more about emotional and moral growth than about external powers or conquests—and that makes all the difference.
A Pace That Demands Patience (and Rewards It)
One of the most notable features of this book is, undoubtedly, the narrative pace. The author consciously chooses not to rush, not to skip steps, and not to accelerate the protagonist's development. Yes, the first 20% might give the feeling that the story is still "warming up the engine." But trust me: it is worth persisting.
When the plot finally kicks in, Gifted transforms into an engaging, dense, and emotionally charged read. The slow narrative time is, in fact, an essential part of Elaine's construction. Every decision, every mistake, and every consequence needs that space to gain meaning.
Elaine: To Err, To Lose, and To Survive
The book's greatest success is Elaine. Following her trajectory—especially her downfalls—is both painful and fascinating. It is a rollercoaster of emotions that can make you laugh and cry in the same chapter.
Elaine evolves not just in power, but in consciousness. Her strength is born from suffering, regret, and the need to rebuild herself after choices that pushed her to the limit. It is impossible not to become emotionally invested in this journey of self-discovery.
Romance in the Right Place
The romance with Alexander Courtenay exists; it is intense and meaningful—but it never swallows the narrative. And that is a relief. Alex is not the center of Elaine's life; he is part of her path, a support, an important fragment... but not the axis of the story.
The priority remains Elaine: her identity, her power, and her confrontation with something much greater than any relationship: gods, prophecies, and the very control over who she is becoming.
The Only Potential Snag
If there is one aspect that might slightly break the rhythm for some readers, it is the detailed descriptions of the military training and routines. They make sense within the narrative's scope—showing discipline, effort, and evolution—but at certain moments, they might feel too long, especially for those who prefer more interaction or direct plot advancement. It is nothing that compromises the overall reading experience, but it is a valid observation.
Final Verdict
Gifted is a fantasy novel strongly character-driven. It is not about reaching the end—it is about transforming in the process. The book delivers a complex protagonist, a well-built world, and an ending that does not close doors but throws them wide open.
It is a read for those who enjoy stories that hurt a little, demand patience, and reward with emotional depth. A very promising start to a series that clearly has much more to tell.
I eagerly await the continuations.
⁂⋆⁺⋆ ⸼ ⁂⁂⋆⁺⋆ ⸼ ⁂⁂⋆⁺⋆ ⸼ ⁂
🌙 Review: Gifted (Gifted Series Book 1): A fantasy romance novel about discovering love, courage, and forging a family by Mavi Parolin
𓍊𓋼𓍊 5 ☆
🗡 Update (12/16/25)
❥๑━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━๑❥
Contemporary fantasy literature is vast, but few titles manage to anchor the grandeur of their world in such a raw and detailed introspection of their protagonist as Gifted, the debut novel by Mavi Parolin.
Here, we do not find the classic "chosen one" who is perfect, illuminated, and morally impeccable. Elaine is flawed, impulsive, burdened by trauma, and, above all, human. Her journey is much more about emotional and moral growth than about external powers or conquests—and that makes all the difference.
A Pace That Demands Patience (and Rewards It)
One of the most notable features of this book is, undoubtedly, the narrative pace. The author consciously chooses not to rush, not to skip steps, and not to accelerate the protagonist's development. Yes, the first 20% might give the feeling that the story is still "warming up the engine." But trust me: it is worth persisting.
When the plot finally kicks in, Gifted transforms into an engaging, dense, and emotionally charged read. The slow narrative time is, in fact, an essential part of Elaine's construction. Every decision, every mistake, and every consequence needs that space to gain meaning.
Elaine: To Err, To Lose, and To Survive
The book's greatest success is Elaine. Following her trajectory—especially her downfalls—is both painful and fascinating. It is a rollercoaster of emotions that can make you laugh and cry in the same chapter.
Elaine evolves not just in power, but in consciousness. Her strength is born from suffering, regret, and the need to rebuild herself after choices that pushed her to the limit. It is impossible not to become emotionally invested in this journey of self-discovery.
Romance in the Right Place
The romance with Alexander Courtenay exists; it is intense and meaningful—but it never swallows the narrative. And that is a relief. Alex is not the center of Elaine's life; he is part of her path, a support, an important fragment... but not the axis of the story.
The priority remains Elaine: her identity, her power, and her confrontation with something much greater than any relationship: gods, prophecies, and the very control over who she is becoming.
The Only Potential Snag
If there is one aspect that might slightly break the rhythm for some readers, it is the detailed descriptions of the military training and routines. They make sense within the narrative's scope—showing discipline, effort, and evolution—but at certain moments, they might feel too long, especially for those who prefer more interaction or direct plot advancement. It is nothing that compromises the overall reading experience, but it is a valid observation.
Final Verdict
Gifted is a fantasy novel strongly character-driven. It is not about reaching the end—it is about transforming in the process. The book delivers a complex protagonist, a well-built world, and an ending that does not close doors but throws them wide open.
It is a read for those who enjoy stories that hurt a little, demand patience, and reward with emotional depth. A very promising start to a series that clearly has much more to tell.
I eagerly await the continuations.
October 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC! 3.5⭐️
The good
- The story was written in a compelling way. Once I muscled through the slow start, I didn’t want to put it down.
- I liked several of the side characters.
- There’s a giant black horse named Ferdinand, who naturally looks like a bull in my mind. And I’m sure the name Kimathi isn’t supposed to rhyme with Timothy, but it did when I read it.
- While I’ll have some complaints about other things below, I did think the trauma aspect was portrayed believably.
- I’ve seen some comments about a cliffhanger ending, which I normally have a strong dislike for, but I don’t think that’s what this was. The story isn’t over, but it ended at a natural break.
The bad
While this was a great story with high potential, there were several things that kept it from being a 5⭐️ read.
- First, it was far too long for the story that was told. 100s of pages too long. The dialog based info dumps and uneven pacing didn’t help.
- There were also very long training monologues that seemed completely unnecessary.
- The content warnings were not listed well. If it says ‘references or depictions of’ I think it should specify which type each warning is. For example, the sexual violence is graphic (adds nothing to the story) and there isn’t just ‘alcohol consumption’, there are multiple alcoholic characters. On the other hand, the profanity didn’t nearly reach the levels of the previous two. If warnings are included, do better.
- World building could have been richer. A lot of scenes were hard to picture and the magic system did not get much page time.
- The final act seemed like it belonged to a different book altogether.
I probably won’t read further in this series. I didn’t learn enough in book 1 to draw me into book 2 and while I liked several of the characters, I don’t need to know what happens next to any of them. If the book length matched the story it might have landed differently, but I enjoyed the read nonetheless.
The good
- The story was written in a compelling way. Once I muscled through the slow start, I didn’t want to put it down.
- I liked several of the side characters.
- There’s a giant black horse named Ferdinand, who naturally looks like a bull in my mind. And I’m sure the name Kimathi isn’t supposed to rhyme with Timothy, but it did when I read it.
- While I’ll have some complaints about other things below, I did think the trauma aspect was portrayed believably.
- I’ve seen some comments about a cliffhanger ending, which I normally have a strong dislike for, but I don’t think that’s what this was. The story isn’t over, but it ended at a natural break.
The bad
While this was a great story with high potential, there were several things that kept it from being a 5⭐️ read.
- First, it was far too long for the story that was told. 100s of pages too long. The dialog based info dumps and uneven pacing didn’t help.
- There were also very long training monologues that seemed completely unnecessary.
- The content warnings were not listed well. If it says ‘references or depictions of’ I think it should specify which type each warning is. For example, the sexual violence is graphic (adds nothing to the story) and there isn’t just ‘alcohol consumption’, there are multiple alcoholic characters. On the other hand, the profanity didn’t nearly reach the levels of the previous two. If warnings are included, do better.
- World building could have been richer. A lot of scenes were hard to picture and the magic system did not get much page time.
- The final act seemed like it belonged to a different book altogether.
I probably won’t read further in this series. I didn’t learn enough in book 1 to draw me into book 2 and while I liked several of the characters, I don’t need to know what happens next to any of them. If the book length matched the story it might have landed differently, but I enjoyed the read nonetheless.
August 24, 2025
⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars – Complex, addictive, slow-burn, found family, he falls first, and one very pine and rain-scented MMC. Elaine’s journey is absolutely impossible to put down.
Elaine has survived the army as one of the very few women, a toxic affair with her general and the bottom of more than one bottle. When she’s “gifted” by the Emperor to the thirty-strong legion of Governor Alexander Courtenay—a post that looks like a death sentence—her life takes a turn she didn’t ask for.
What follows is over 800 pages of slow-burn world-building: fights, military life, new comrades who (shockingly) aren’t vile, hours of grueling training, and a fragile but indomitable governor’s sister who teaches Elaine what unconditional love feels like. Add in an MMC who smells of pines and rain (yes, here we go again) and you have the beginnings of a found-family dynamic laced with rising tension.
But Elaine’s story is also about emotional damage. An assault triggers memories of old trauma, struggles with guilt and self-blame, and she experiences mysterious abilities—unnatural fast healing, night vision, battle-mode instincts—that hint at a prophecy of the old gods. Courtenay doesn’t help by keeping secrets, and when tragedy strikes, Elaine spirals into grief, distancing herself from everyone who cares for her.
By the end, I was left with far too many unanswered questions:
• Who are the entities warring in her mind and who is she exactly?
• What’s really going on with her magic?
• What game is the emperor playing, and why target Courtenay?
• Most important: will Elaine and Alexander reunite or will I suffer more emotional damage?
The verdict: Yes, it’s long. Yes, it’s slow. But it kept me up way into the early morning hours, which in my book is the ultimate badge of honor. Immersive, detailed, painful, romantic —I need the sequel, now.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
Elaine has survived the army as one of the very few women, a toxic affair with her general and the bottom of more than one bottle. When she’s “gifted” by the Emperor to the thirty-strong legion of Governor Alexander Courtenay—a post that looks like a death sentence—her life takes a turn she didn’t ask for.
What follows is over 800 pages of slow-burn world-building: fights, military life, new comrades who (shockingly) aren’t vile, hours of grueling training, and a fragile but indomitable governor’s sister who teaches Elaine what unconditional love feels like. Add in an MMC who smells of pines and rain (yes, here we go again) and you have the beginnings of a found-family dynamic laced with rising tension.
But Elaine’s story is also about emotional damage. An assault triggers memories of old trauma, struggles with guilt and self-blame, and she experiences mysterious abilities—unnatural fast healing, night vision, battle-mode instincts—that hint at a prophecy of the old gods. Courtenay doesn’t help by keeping secrets, and when tragedy strikes, Elaine spirals into grief, distancing herself from everyone who cares for her.
By the end, I was left with far too many unanswered questions:
• Who are the entities warring in her mind and who is she exactly?
• What’s really going on with her magic?
• What game is the emperor playing, and why target Courtenay?
• Most important: will Elaine and Alexander reunite or will I suffer more emotional damage?
The verdict: Yes, it’s long. Yes, it’s slow. But it kept me up way into the early morning hours, which in my book is the ultimate badge of honor. Immersive, detailed, painful, romantic —I need the sequel, now.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest opinion.
December 31, 2025
71 books for 2025! Advance Reader Copy. I was extremely impressed by this book as it is a debut novel for the author. I was intimidated by the length, and the story started out somewhat slow. I was skeptical why so much time was spent in the beginning exploring the people surrounding Elaine in the army since the main story line was about her being sent away to Barrymore. These foundational relationships do become important to understanding the main character later on. Once the story got into the action, it moved quickly and I was invested in what was going to happen and the character development the main character goes through. This book was an emotional rollercoaster, and the writing allows the reader to feel it along with the characters.
This is a fantasy novel because there are miraculous events that hint towards the main character being favored by or connected to the gods. These powers are not prevalent throughout the entire storyline, and the book would have been enjoyable without these elements - due to interest in the physical training and evolving relationships between the characters. It feels like the author might not have been sure how much she wanted fantasty and magic to be involved in the story. The ending events felt kind of abrupt, making it clear the sequels that follow will dive deeper into the Gods of this world, and the fantasy element will become more prevalent that it was in this first book.
This is a fantasy novel because there are miraculous events that hint towards the main character being favored by or connected to the gods. These powers are not prevalent throughout the entire storyline, and the book would have been enjoyable without these elements - due to interest in the physical training and evolving relationships between the characters. It feels like the author might not have been sure how much she wanted fantasty and magic to be involved in the story. The ending events felt kind of abrupt, making it clear the sequels that follow will dive deeper into the Gods of this world, and the fantasy element will become more prevalent that it was in this first book.
Did Not Finish
January 3, 2026Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read Gifted by Mavi Parolin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately, this ended up being a DNF for me. The writing style didn’t quite grip my attention, and the long chapters made it harder to stay engaged 📖. I also struggled with the main character—while I understand she’s meant to be a deeply tortured soul who will eventually grow into something epic, her inner turmoil mostly gave me anxiety rather than curiosity. I never reached the point where I felt invested in her journey.
That said, I can still appreciate the intention behind the story and the effort that clearly went into building the character and her emotional arc. It just wasn’t the right fit for me at this time.
Would I recommend it?
Possibly—to readers who enjoy very introspective, emotionally heavy beginnings and are willing to push through a slower start for long-term character growth. While it wasn’t for me, I’m still grateful for the chance to read the eARC.
#Gifted #NetGalley
Unfortunately, this ended up being a DNF for me. The writing style didn’t quite grip my attention, and the long chapters made it harder to stay engaged 📖. I also struggled with the main character—while I understand she’s meant to be a deeply tortured soul who will eventually grow into something epic, her inner turmoil mostly gave me anxiety rather than curiosity. I never reached the point where I felt invested in her journey.
That said, I can still appreciate the intention behind the story and the effort that clearly went into building the character and her emotional arc. It just wasn’t the right fit for me at this time.
Would I recommend it?
Possibly—to readers who enjoy very introspective, emotionally heavy beginnings and are willing to push through a slower start for long-term character growth. While it wasn’t for me, I’m still grateful for the chance to read the eARC.
#Gifted #NetGalley
March 22, 2026
This e-ARC was provided by the author via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This was so good, I need book 2 IMMEDIATELY.
I was a bit wary of Elaine in the beginning because she was so closed off, but I quickly learned that it was just a way for her to protect herself after what she went through in the army. She formed so many beautiful friendships throughout the book that I couldn’t help but appreciate her character arc. She’s devoted to those she loves; she’d anything for them and to protect them.
Found family is a big part of this book, one that was so well done. It’s meaningful and flawed because the characters learn to know and trust each other. There are highs and lows, but it’s nothing they can’t survive.
Elaine also learned to be more confident and ambitious. She grew into a beautiful and strong woman, nothing like the shell of herself she was at the beginning.
This was so good, I need book 2 IMMEDIATELY.
I was a bit wary of Elaine in the beginning because she was so closed off, but I quickly learned that it was just a way for her to protect herself after what she went through in the army. She formed so many beautiful friendships throughout the book that I couldn’t help but appreciate her character arc. She’s devoted to those she loves; she’d anything for them and to protect them.
Found family is a big part of this book, one that was so well done. It’s meaningful and flawed because the characters learn to know and trust each other. There are highs and lows, but it’s nothing they can’t survive.
Elaine also learned to be more confident and ambitious. She grew into a beautiful and strong woman, nothing like the shell of herself she was at the beginning.
February 15, 2026
I loved the found family, political intrigue, banter, and romance. The relationships Elaine built with Grace, Rose, Baggs, the other legionnaires, Lizzie, the masters, and commander were all amazing. There isn’t an aspect of the story that I’m not invested in! Honestly mad I didn’t read it sooner and will pick up the next book as soon as it comes out.
The only thing that kept this from a five star were the times where the author wrote on a subject for pages and pages when the whole issue/idea/scene could have been summed up in one short paragraph. This issue was sprinkled throughout the book but it stood out the most in the first chapter and between the 80-90% mark. Without that unnecessary bulk, this would have easily been a five.
I did receive this as an eARC from NetGalley right around the time it was published. It’s available on KU though and that’s how I read it.
The only thing that kept this from a five star were the times where the author wrote on a subject for pages and pages when the whole issue/idea/scene could have been summed up in one short paragraph. This issue was sprinkled throughout the book but it stood out the most in the first chapter and between the 80-90% mark. Without that unnecessary bulk, this would have easily been a five.
I did receive this as an eARC from NetGalley right around the time it was published. It’s available on KU though and that’s how I read it.
December 11, 2025
Thanks to the author, Mavi Parolin, and NetGalley for this free copy of Gifted. It’s a good book, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I could have.
December 26, 2025
This was an absolutely fantastic book. The banter, the found families, the action, the tension, the romance, the friendships, the drama, the heartbreak, all of it *chefs kiss*. I love how deeply the author goes into the FMC head so you can connect with her so well. My only complaint is that towards the middle and end there is A LOT of things that happen that could be skipped and you wouldn't miss anything. There are many conversations that happen that could have been shortened by about 100 pages. Either way, this is a must read. 5/5 If you like Fourth Wing and TOG, you need to read this.
October 7, 2025
I’m a huge fantasy fan, and I loved the fact that this book explores so many themes, ones that make you think and wonder.
Even though it brings elements like enemies to lovers, a military setup, and gods, common in other fantasy books, this story feels very original and is written in a way that shows how uniquely the author built this world.
I felt this book served as a presentation of the characters and their relationships, an introduction to the real story that’s yet to come.
The book is very descriptive of the FMC’s feelings, thoughts, and mind, making it easy to feel connected to her, especially after reading about what she went through.
BTW, even though some topics are heavy, the author did a great job of not turning these scenes into something that would haunt your dreams. They were described in a realistic and respectful way, focusing on the emotions and thoughts of a victim. It’s impossible not to feel compassion for the women and hatred toward the perpetrators.
Around the middle, the book slows down a bit, but the pace picks up again soon after, and it becomes hard to put down.
The part about the gods really starts toward the end, although there are some hints here and there. I love a book that makes me come up with theories about what’s going on.
The last 10% was very unexpected (not in a bad way, but definitely in a heartbreaking way haha), and I’m looking forward to the next book. I feel it will bring answers and focus more on the gods.
It was a great read!
Even though it brings elements like enemies to lovers, a military setup, and gods, common in other fantasy books, this story feels very original and is written in a way that shows how uniquely the author built this world.
I felt this book served as a presentation of the characters and their relationships, an introduction to the real story that’s yet to come.
The book is very descriptive of the FMC’s feelings, thoughts, and mind, making it easy to feel connected to her, especially after reading about what she went through.
BTW, even though some topics are heavy, the author did a great job of not turning these scenes into something that would haunt your dreams. They were described in a realistic and respectful way, focusing on the emotions and thoughts of a victim. It’s impossible not to feel compassion for the women and hatred toward the perpetrators.
Around the middle, the book slows down a bit, but the pace picks up again soon after, and it becomes hard to put down.
The part about the gods really starts toward the end, although there are some hints here and there. I love a book that makes me come up with theories about what’s going on.
The last 10% was very unexpected (not in a bad way, but definitely in a heartbreaking way haha), and I’m looking forward to the next book. I feel it will bring answers and focus more on the gods.
It was a great read!
April 12, 2026
This book was so different and it really surprised me in a beautiful way. The characters feel like real people you want to protect and the relationships are built on a solid foundation of trust and shared trauma. It’s a story for anyone who has ever felt like they didn't quite fit in. It will leave you wanting for more and I know I will be reading the next book as soon as it comes out.
December 3, 2025
I received an ARC of this book, and my review is based on that copy. The published work may differ from what I read.
I am going to preface this review by saying that while I did not enjoy this book, there will be people who will enjoy it. It’s an epic fantasy with a warrior main character who has experienced a lot of horrible things and is attempting to overcome what her life and the plot throw at her. There are interesting ideas presented, and the author attempts to explore big topics. The act of creating is brave and I appreciate that the author went for it.
On a positive note, I appreciated that the main character is often unlikeable. Her personality is very rough and at times grating. It made her more interesting. I kept getting glimpses of a compelling person underneath all of the excess, and I just wanted someone to take a weedwhacker to the prose so that I could meet that person. The side characters were also interesting, especially Michael and Otto and Ollie and their whole cadre. I was more interested in them and their stories than I was in the main character.
This book is nearly 850 pages long. There are very few books that can earn that kind of page count. Asking a reader to commit to that length requires a pay off that not many authors are capable of providing. In this case, the author’s ambition far outstripped her capabilities. We waste whole chapters on scenes that serve no purpose. The first love scene with the romantic interest is pages and pages and pages long. It was interminable to read. There is potentially a good book buried under the avalanche of words, but it would require stripping out roughly a third of the content. Aside from my issues with the length, the prose is clunky and unpolished. There are grammatical and spelling errors, as well as a tendency toward fragmentary sentences and info dumping.
The military element of the plot was messy and inconsistent. There’s a lot of handwaving going on. The command structure did not make sense, and characters behave with little to no respect for that structure. The consequences of bad behavior were dependent entirely on whether those consequences would serve to further the main character’s story. It was frustrating to read. The general worldbuilding is also confusing. I could not get a clear idea of how the world functioned. There are gods mentioned haphazardly, but without clarity or consistency. I also could not understand what sort of society we were supposed to be in. Is it medieval? Is it swords and sandals? Is it steam punk? It was very vague.
There are heavy topics in the story, all of which are given trigger warnings before the start of the book (which I appreciated!). I don’t mind dark content if it's written with complexity and skill and serves a purpose to either the story or the world. The darker elements here felt thrown in for the sake of it, without real consideration for how they would mesh with the larger plot. There is a lot of violence against women, and it’s not handled in any sort of thoughtful way. It’s used as short hand to torture the protagonist, or to tell the reader that we should stop liking a male character. I found it off putting and disturbing.
The characterizations of Sam and Alexander are wildly inconsistent. They present one picture of their character, and then do a complete 180 in the next scene. It gave me whiplash. I didn’t believe Sam’s transformation in particular. The turning point was so abrupt that it felt like being slapped in the face. He goes from being annoying but generally nice, to an absolutely horrible human being at the drop of a hat. There was no build up, no warning, and it felt like the author needed a reason to sell the main romance by removing the competition in a way that made him completely ineligible for consideration.
There were elements of the story that had potential and characters that could have been compelling. If this book got into the hands of a competent, ruthless editor, I think I would have a very different opinion than I ended up with. As it is, I cannot recommend this book.
I am going to preface this review by saying that while I did not enjoy this book, there will be people who will enjoy it. It’s an epic fantasy with a warrior main character who has experienced a lot of horrible things and is attempting to overcome what her life and the plot throw at her. There are interesting ideas presented, and the author attempts to explore big topics. The act of creating is brave and I appreciate that the author went for it.
On a positive note, I appreciated that the main character is often unlikeable. Her personality is very rough and at times grating. It made her more interesting. I kept getting glimpses of a compelling person underneath all of the excess, and I just wanted someone to take a weedwhacker to the prose so that I could meet that person. The side characters were also interesting, especially Michael and Otto and Ollie and their whole cadre. I was more interested in them and their stories than I was in the main character.
This book is nearly 850 pages long. There are very few books that can earn that kind of page count. Asking a reader to commit to that length requires a pay off that not many authors are capable of providing. In this case, the author’s ambition far outstripped her capabilities. We waste whole chapters on scenes that serve no purpose. The first love scene with the romantic interest is pages and pages and pages long. It was interminable to read. There is potentially a good book buried under the avalanche of words, but it would require stripping out roughly a third of the content. Aside from my issues with the length, the prose is clunky and unpolished. There are grammatical and spelling errors, as well as a tendency toward fragmentary sentences and info dumping.
The military element of the plot was messy and inconsistent. There’s a lot of handwaving going on. The command structure did not make sense, and characters behave with little to no respect for that structure. The consequences of bad behavior were dependent entirely on whether those consequences would serve to further the main character’s story. It was frustrating to read. The general worldbuilding is also confusing. I could not get a clear idea of how the world functioned. There are gods mentioned haphazardly, but without clarity or consistency. I also could not understand what sort of society we were supposed to be in. Is it medieval? Is it swords and sandals? Is it steam punk? It was very vague.
There are heavy topics in the story, all of which are given trigger warnings before the start of the book (which I appreciated!). I don’t mind dark content if it's written with complexity and skill and serves a purpose to either the story or the world. The darker elements here felt thrown in for the sake of it, without real consideration for how they would mesh with the larger plot. There is a lot of violence against women, and it’s not handled in any sort of thoughtful way. It’s used as short hand to torture the protagonist, or to tell the reader that we should stop liking a male character. I found it off putting and disturbing.
The characterizations of Sam and Alexander are wildly inconsistent. They present one picture of their character, and then do a complete 180 in the next scene. It gave me whiplash. I didn’t believe Sam’s transformation in particular. The turning point was so abrupt that it felt like being slapped in the face. He goes from being annoying but generally nice, to an absolutely horrible human being at the drop of a hat. There was no build up, no warning, and it felt like the author needed a reason to sell the main romance by removing the competition in a way that made him completely ineligible for consideration.
There were elements of the story that had potential and characters that could have been compelling. If this book got into the hands of a competent, ruthless editor, I think I would have a very different opinion than I ended up with. As it is, I cannot recommend this book.
September 11, 2025
4.75 ⭐
This book is a chonker, but oh so worth it. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year — and it’s a debut?! I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
I was completely hooked on the story and characters. Not gonna lie, I shed a few tears. It’s a tale of resilience, grief, family, and finding your inner strength. Normally with romantasy, I lean hard into the romance, but here I was equally invested in the world-building, the relationships, and the mystery: why the gods’ history was erased, the shady Empire, and how it all ties back to Elaine.
Lizzy:
She's such a firecracker and a known meddler. She drives Elaine crazy in that annoying-but-sisterly way, but their bond is so pure. She just wants Elaine and her brother to see what they are too blind to notice. Both have known loneliness, and watching them find family in each other was beautiful.
"War Band":
A group of characters Elaine befriends when she joins the Legion. I loved seeing how different they were from each other and how Elaine was able to navigate their distinct personalities. I especially loved her friendship with Michael — their banter and sibling dynamic had me smiling every time.
Elaine:
Initially, Elaine is living a stagnant routine. After everything she's been through, she wants to be in the background while still trying to learn to fight and get stronger. She slowly transforms into this badass, resilient FMC. She’s always relied on herself, but once she finds people worth fighting for, she finally opens up and learns to trust. I adored her growth.
Alexander:
He's not your typical alphahole leader. He has the respect and loyalty of his soldiers and runs one of the most successful Legions in the Empire. He has a grouchy exterior, but is a softie for his sister and Elaine.
And Elaine + Alexander? Perfection. The yearning, the slow burn — chef’s kiss. Their love isn't just superficial. They love and respect who they are as a person. Although they both have their flaws, they see it more as a strength. Also, watching Alex wanting to take things slow and Elaine reluctantly respecting his wishes was funny to see since it's usually the reverse. That said, with a book this long, I kind of wished they’d gotten together a little sooner, just so we could see them happy for longer before the storm hit.
The ending left me desperate for book two. Elaine and Alex have been through so much, and I need to see them get their HEA. Also, who is Elaine really, and what do the gods want with her? I need answers ASAP!
Thank you NetGalley and Mavi Parolin for the ARC.
This book is a chonker, but oh so worth it. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year — and it’s a debut?! I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
I was completely hooked on the story and characters. Not gonna lie, I shed a few tears. It’s a tale of resilience, grief, family, and finding your inner strength. Normally with romantasy, I lean hard into the romance, but here I was equally invested in the world-building, the relationships, and the mystery: why the gods’ history was erased, the shady Empire, and how it all ties back to Elaine.
Lizzy:
She's such a firecracker and a known meddler. She drives Elaine crazy in that annoying-but-sisterly way, but their bond is so pure. She just wants Elaine and her brother to see what they are too blind to notice. Both have known loneliness, and watching them find family in each other was beautiful.
"War Band":
A group of characters Elaine befriends when she joins the Legion. I loved seeing how different they were from each other and how Elaine was able to navigate their distinct personalities. I especially loved her friendship with Michael — their banter and sibling dynamic had me smiling every time.
Elaine:
Initially, Elaine is living a stagnant routine. After everything she's been through, she wants to be in the background while still trying to learn to fight and get stronger. She slowly transforms into this badass, resilient FMC. She’s always relied on herself, but once she finds people worth fighting for, she finally opens up and learns to trust. I adored her growth.
Alexander:
He's not your typical alphahole leader. He has the respect and loyalty of his soldiers and runs one of the most successful Legions in the Empire. He has a grouchy exterior, but is a softie for his sister and Elaine.
And Elaine + Alexander? Perfection. The yearning, the slow burn — chef’s kiss. Their love isn't just superficial. They love and respect who they are as a person. Although they both have their flaws, they see it more as a strength. Also, watching Alex wanting to take things slow and Elaine reluctantly respecting his wishes was funny to see since it's usually the reverse. That said, with a book this long, I kind of wished they’d gotten together a little sooner, just so we could see them happy for longer before the storm hit.
The ending left me desperate for book two. Elaine and Alex have been through so much, and I need to see them get their HEA. Also, who is Elaine really, and what do the gods want with her? I need answers ASAP!
Thank you NetGalley and Mavi Parolin for the ARC.
April 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Gifted was... a ride, that's one thing I'm definitely sure of. Unfortunately, it was almost nothing that I hoped it will be, when I first saw the blurb.
Let's start with the fact: this book is almost 700 pages long. Such long books usually have one major problem: they need to keep the reader interested, engaged in the story or it will be a bit of a pain to read because of the length. Gifted felt like rollercoaster, in it's own way. There were times when it had me hooked and I wanted to know what will happen next. There were also times (and I'm afraid that those were a majority) that nothing was happening and I felt like the scenes didn't really brought anything, but the purpose of being a filler.
I couldn't get into the story until Elaine finally arrived to Barrymore and if I remember correctly it took about... 100-ish pages? Once we meet Alexander, my mind finally gripped something, that it could focus on. Both his character and the book itself gave me the vibe of Shadow & Bone, but make it an adult version... and give it less fantasy.
Second thing, since we're at it: fantasy. There was so little fantasy for something that we can label as romantasy and the moment we finally got something close to powers/magic, was near the very end of the book.
I wasn't able to connect with Elaine in the way it was probably intended and for most of the book she was unfortunately annoying me, especially with how chaotic she acted at times. There were no real consequences to the actions. I feel like some of the serious themes got thrown for the sake of it, without any real follow-up and we moved away from them pretty quickly, while they should stay with us longer and influence the characters more, rather than be nothing more than a passing thing.
Overall, despite all of this, I'm a bit curious about the direction the second book might go in and I genuinely hope, that it will turn out better, especially since I feel like there's a lot of potential in the story.
Gifted was... a ride, that's one thing I'm definitely sure of. Unfortunately, it was almost nothing that I hoped it will be, when I first saw the blurb.
Let's start with the fact: this book is almost 700 pages long. Such long books usually have one major problem: they need to keep the reader interested, engaged in the story or it will be a bit of a pain to read because of the length. Gifted felt like rollercoaster, in it's own way. There were times when it had me hooked and I wanted to know what will happen next. There were also times (and I'm afraid that those were a majority) that nothing was happening and I felt like the scenes didn't really brought anything, but the purpose of being a filler.
I couldn't get into the story until Elaine finally arrived to Barrymore and if I remember correctly it took about... 100-ish pages? Once we meet Alexander, my mind finally gripped something, that it could focus on. Both his character and the book itself gave me the vibe of Shadow & Bone, but make it an adult version... and give it less fantasy.
Second thing, since we're at it: fantasy. There was so little fantasy for something that we can label as romantasy and the moment we finally got something close to powers/magic, was near the very end of the book.
I wasn't able to connect with Elaine in the way it was probably intended and for most of the book she was unfortunately annoying me, especially with how chaotic she acted at times. There were no real consequences to the actions. I feel like some of the serious themes got thrown for the sake of it, without any real follow-up and we moved away from them pretty quickly, while they should stay with us longer and influence the characters more, rather than be nothing more than a passing thing.
Overall, despite all of this, I'm a bit curious about the direction the second book might go in and I genuinely hope, that it will turn out better, especially since I feel like there's a lot of potential in the story.
October 14, 2025
I just got around to reading this and wowza was I not expecting any of that. I’m intrigued to see what the next book has in store cause I fear for Elaine.
But to get back to this story, I honestly loved the different dynamics in it. The rivals to lovers trope has got me smitten. I love some good tension between love interests.
I also like found families, they warm my long dead heart. Also I loved her love for that damn horse. I loved the horse myself. I want a stubborn loveable horse of my own please and thank you.
Now what really got me was that Mr dude man from the beginning has control of her and thats fucked up. I wasn’t expecting that with how he was calling her his queen at the beginning but then how he’s treating her like a fucking pawn … no bueno. Clearly he’s evil and up to no good. But I’m concerned with him thinking she’s his queen. Also what is she becoming? A goddess? A Demi goddess? I need to know more asap rocky.
Anyway if you haven’t read this and are thinking about it I suggest you take that leap into the unknown cause I’m pretty sure this series will become more epic as it goes along and you truly don’t want to miss out.
But to get back to this story, I honestly loved the different dynamics in it. The rivals to lovers trope has got me smitten. I love some good tension between love interests.
I also like found families, they warm my long dead heart. Also I loved her love for that damn horse. I loved the horse myself. I want a stubborn loveable horse of my own please and thank you.
Now what really got me was that Mr dude man from the beginning has control of her and thats fucked up. I wasn’t expecting that with how he was calling her his queen at the beginning but then how he’s treating her like a fucking pawn … no bueno. Clearly he’s evil and up to no good. But I’m concerned with him thinking she’s his queen. Also what is she becoming? A goddess? A Demi goddess? I need to know more asap rocky.
Anyway if you haven’t read this and are thinking about it I suggest you take that leap into the unknown cause I’m pretty sure this series will become more epic as it goes along and you truly don’t want to miss out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2026
Gifted is my favorite read of 2025.
From the very beginning, the protagonist’s journey is both gritty and deeply emotional. Starting off as an orphan in a military legion, she faces immense challenges, from battling personal demons like alcoholism to navigating complex relationships. Her growth throughout the book is organic and authentic, transforming from a solitary fighter into someone who builds meaningful friendships and a heartfelt romantic connection.
The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, providing the perfect backdrop for the story’s romantic and political layers. The slow-burn romance is masterfully done, building tension and anticipation in a natural way. Additionally, the found family aspect adds depth, making the bonds between characters feel genuine and heartfelt.
I’m eagerly hoping for a sequel and that the author receives all the well-deserved recognition for this remarkable debut. While I know the next book might be just as lengthy, I’m more than willing to wait with great anticipation.
Gifted is a remarkable and unforgettable read that has stayed with me long after the final pages.
Thank you Netgally and Mavi for the ARC!
From the very beginning, the protagonist’s journey is both gritty and deeply emotional. Starting off as an orphan in a military legion, she faces immense challenges, from battling personal demons like alcoholism to navigating complex relationships. Her growth throughout the book is organic and authentic, transforming from a solitary fighter into someone who builds meaningful friendships and a heartfelt romantic connection.
The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, providing the perfect backdrop for the story’s romantic and political layers. The slow-burn romance is masterfully done, building tension and anticipation in a natural way. Additionally, the found family aspect adds depth, making the bonds between characters feel genuine and heartfelt.
I’m eagerly hoping for a sequel and that the author receives all the well-deserved recognition for this remarkable debut. While I know the next book might be just as lengthy, I’m more than willing to wait with great anticipation.
Gifted is a remarkable and unforgettable read that has stayed with me long after the final pages.
Thank you Netgally and Mavi for the ARC!
August 28, 2025
Oh my stars I DEVOURED this book!!
There was so much packed into it and yet the pacing and layout of the story was so on point. it didn't skip over important details creating plot holes, nor did it seem to drag on.
The character development is a lot stronger than the world building (so far anyways) and the author has managed to walk the line of "predictability" and "Believability" perfectly. I couldn't peg the outcomes as I normally can. even as I hit the 80% mark in the book I still hadn't deciphered how it would all play out. I love that. I also love how much I cared for the characters, and how much Elaine, our super complex FMC felt about each of them as well.
The voice in this story is a strong warrior FMC who is finding her place and her people, with undertones of surviving sexism and assault. It's written in beautifully and respectfully. and I have to give a nod in this review for it.
There is a lot of slow burn, yearning, and tension in the second half but as far as spice goes it's very tame. There's also a bit of a cauldron going on with other tropes. we have enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, friends to enemies, enemies to friends. Then we have magic. Sort of? we have wars, duty, sacrifice, tested loyalties, etc.
This is probably my top pick of the year so far to read. I will 1000/10 recommend and will be yearning worse than Sam was, to read the next one.
Thank you so much #netgalley for the arc read!
There was so much packed into it and yet the pacing and layout of the story was so on point. it didn't skip over important details creating plot holes, nor did it seem to drag on.
The character development is a lot stronger than the world building (so far anyways) and the author has managed to walk the line of "predictability" and "Believability" perfectly. I couldn't peg the outcomes as I normally can. even as I hit the 80% mark in the book I still hadn't deciphered how it would all play out. I love that. I also love how much I cared for the characters, and how much Elaine, our super complex FMC felt about each of them as well.
The voice in this story is a strong warrior FMC who is finding her place and her people, with undertones of surviving sexism and assault. It's written in beautifully and respectfully. and I have to give a nod in this review for it.
There is a lot of slow burn, yearning, and tension in the second half but as far as spice goes it's very tame. There's also a bit of a cauldron going on with other tropes. we have enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, friends to enemies, enemies to friends. Then we have magic. Sort of? we have wars, duty, sacrifice, tested loyalties, etc.
This is probably my top pick of the year so far to read. I will 1000/10 recommend and will be yearning worse than Sam was, to read the next one.
Thank you so much #netgalley for the arc read!
September 4, 2025
Where to even begin. This was absolutely fantastic like not even for a debut novel just in general it was fantastic. I loved Elaine so much and her growth as a character was incredible. Elaine is an extremely flawed character but that's one of the reasons I liked her so much, she was so relatable to me even though I haven't gone through nearly the same kinds of things she has she's just so human. Even though this is def a romantasy, there weren't a ton of fantasy elements in this book but I can tell book 2 will be chock full of them and I cannot wait. I loved Elaine's relationship with Lizzie, it was so fun and real and raw and just everything you want in female friendship found family. This book was 849 pages long but I would have gladly read another 500 pages of it to have more of the story now. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here. Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
September 16, 2025
★★★★★ || @corriature on IG
Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
In my top 10 Romantasy already, and it’s only book 1. A girl carrying a large burden, and a significant amount of trauma has to fight her way through a very, very misogynistic world for the same chance at success in the army as all the men. As an orphan, it’s her only hope for a life at all. A problem with authority, hot superior officers, and weird magic flowing through her veins means she faces challenges each and every day. What is fate trying to prove?
Please, please can I have book 2? Let me beta read??
•forbidden romance
•magic & deities
•slow burn & yearning
•hate-to-love
•found family
•trauma/healing
•strong fmc
Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
In my top 10 Romantasy already, and it’s only book 1. A girl carrying a large burden, and a significant amount of trauma has to fight her way through a very, very misogynistic world for the same chance at success in the army as all the men. As an orphan, it’s her only hope for a life at all. A problem with authority, hot superior officers, and weird magic flowing through her veins means she faces challenges each and every day. What is fate trying to prove?
Please, please can I have book 2? Let me beta read??
•forbidden romance
•magic & deities
•slow burn & yearning
•hate-to-love
•found family
•trauma/healing
•strong fmc
September 22, 2025
WOW! Absolutely fantastic!!! And to think its a debut novel - congratulations, truly! Unputdownable from the very beginning with amazing characters and a plot so well written that I was drawn in from page 1!! Can’t wait for the next book!
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