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The Gift
Doren was born with a powerful gift—a gift he's managed to use to put him well on his way to becoming a star. But there is more to that gift than just musical talent, and as careful as Doren is to hide that fact, there are some who know of the power behind the sound, and all the ways they could abuse it.
August's goal in life is simple: make an impact in the music industry. An opportunity to work as the personal assistant to Doren seems to be exactly the kind of break he needs to accomplish that goal.
But all too often in life, simple becomes just another complication, especially when there are people whose goal is even simpler: destroy and dominate.
August's goal in life is simple: make an impact in the music industry. An opportunity to work as the personal assistant to Doren seems to be exactly the kind of break he needs to accomplish that goal.
But all too often in life, simple becomes just another complication, especially when there are people whose goal is even simpler: destroy and dominate.
ebook
First published December 3, 2013
About the author
A.F. Henley
38 books215 followersHenley was born with a full-blown passion for run-on sentences, a zealous indulgence in all words descriptive, and the endearing tendency to overuse punctuation. Since the early years Henley has been an enthusiastic writer, from the first few I-love-my-dog stories to the current leap into erotica.
A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for ‘research purposes’ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, grow like weeds.
A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for ‘research purposes’ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, grow like weeds.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 4, 2013
Doren has a gift – the gift of music – and he's well on his way to becoming the "next big thing." But it's a gift that has a carefully hidden secret, and holds far more power than most folks could imagine. Not everyone is blind to it, however. And those that know crave that power to dangerous levels.
August is simple and unassuming, and more than aware of the differences between right and wrong. He has one goal in life – make an impact in an industry that seems to be slipping out of his reach. When he's offered an opportunity to work as a personal assistant for Doren, August is both thrilled and terrified. This could be the chance he's been waiting for – a way to prove himself worthy.
When a romantic interest begins to bloom between the two of them, that's when all hell breaks loose. Can a spoiled rock star be trusted with a person's heart? Can love conquer over domination and power-lust?
The Gift follows the path of a romance ripe with magic. Told from many sides, it is a story that leaves the reader to decide if the gifts that make one special are truly blessings, or curses, and if lives are merely a game of fate, or a series of manipulations that forge truer destiny.
If you love your m/m romance with a mix of danger and magic then „the Gift“ is the right book for you!
This novel is a true thrillride. From the first moment there is a constant feel of danger and it never really goes away, not even in the more humorous moments. And I talk about real danger here. Mortal danger. The threat doesn’t come from jealous ex-lovers, a dubious past or something. This time the stakes are much, much higher. This is a fight of good against evil and the dark forces don’t mind to kill whomever necessary to get what they want.
You will meet Doren, a diva and an ass. Sorry! Not my choice of words (points at August). But back to Doren, the rockstar on a fast track to a great career. He IS a diva but with his heart at the right place. One can not help but just like him.
August, I love him as much as I love Doren. He is determined and so innocent. And it is so cleverly written by A.F. Henley to make August of all people look for a job in the music industry – a business of lies and false friendships. And so August’s heart and mind are at constant war between love and staying true to himself. And that internal fight is what drives Doren nuts. Our poor rockstar simply doesn’t know what to do with his new assistant who is sending out such conflicting signals. The resulting turmoil of hearts is so beautifully written.
But those are their smallest problems. With Anton and Morana there are creatures of such evil that the only thing you can do is hate them. Henley did a brilliant job here. Those two are not just misguided beings who can be brought back on the right path with love and understanding. They are pure evil. No compromise. They kill to get what they want. A life means nothing to them.
Another cool addition is Doren’s band. In some wonderful scenes Doren shows that he is so much more then just a rockstar. He really is a good guy and his powers could be used to enchant the masses or throw every one into an abyssal darkness. And throughout the novel I feared what will become of this beautiful soul and hated the things that happened to him.
The story is fantastically written! It is fast-paced and even picks up speed until it culminates in a thrilling, dramatic climax. Very clever is the storytelling. It changes back and forth between the characters (without being written in the first perspective). Fear not, because it is not confusing at all and it helps driving the story forward a lot.
The magic in this story was very well written. It is always there but never too much. It is perfectly balanced with the rest oft he events.
I totally fell in love with this novel and simply was not able to put it away until absolutely necessary (damn need for sleep). There are so many beautiful and terrifying moments that it is so hard to put the story aside. Mindblowing in every aspect!
If possible, I would give it ten out of five stars.
August is simple and unassuming, and more than aware of the differences between right and wrong. He has one goal in life – make an impact in an industry that seems to be slipping out of his reach. When he's offered an opportunity to work as a personal assistant for Doren, August is both thrilled and terrified. This could be the chance he's been waiting for – a way to prove himself worthy.
When a romantic interest begins to bloom between the two of them, that's when all hell breaks loose. Can a spoiled rock star be trusted with a person's heart? Can love conquer over domination and power-lust?
The Gift follows the path of a romance ripe with magic. Told from many sides, it is a story that leaves the reader to decide if the gifts that make one special are truly blessings, or curses, and if lives are merely a game of fate, or a series of manipulations that forge truer destiny.
If you love your m/m romance with a mix of danger and magic then „the Gift“ is the right book for you!
This novel is a true thrillride. From the first moment there is a constant feel of danger and it never really goes away, not even in the more humorous moments. And I talk about real danger here. Mortal danger. The threat doesn’t come from jealous ex-lovers, a dubious past or something. This time the stakes are much, much higher. This is a fight of good against evil and the dark forces don’t mind to kill whomever necessary to get what they want.
You will meet Doren, a diva and an ass. Sorry! Not my choice of words (points at August). But back to Doren, the rockstar on a fast track to a great career. He IS a diva but with his heart at the right place. One can not help but just like him.
August, I love him as much as I love Doren. He is determined and so innocent. And it is so cleverly written by A.F. Henley to make August of all people look for a job in the music industry – a business of lies and false friendships. And so August’s heart and mind are at constant war between love and staying true to himself. And that internal fight is what drives Doren nuts. Our poor rockstar simply doesn’t know what to do with his new assistant who is sending out such conflicting signals. The resulting turmoil of hearts is so beautifully written.
But those are their smallest problems. With Anton and Morana there are creatures of such evil that the only thing you can do is hate them. Henley did a brilliant job here. Those two are not just misguided beings who can be brought back on the right path with love and understanding. They are pure evil. No compromise. They kill to get what they want. A life means nothing to them.
Another cool addition is Doren’s band. In some wonderful scenes Doren shows that he is so much more then just a rockstar. He really is a good guy and his powers could be used to enchant the masses or throw every one into an abyssal darkness. And throughout the novel I feared what will become of this beautiful soul and hated the things that happened to him.
The story is fantastically written! It is fast-paced and even picks up speed until it culminates in a thrilling, dramatic climax. Very clever is the storytelling. It changes back and forth between the characters (without being written in the first perspective). Fear not, because it is not confusing at all and it helps driving the story forward a lot.
The magic in this story was very well written. It is always there but never too much. It is perfectly balanced with the rest oft he events.
I totally fell in love with this novel and simply was not able to put it away until absolutely necessary (damn need for sleep). There are so many beautiful and terrifying moments that it is so hard to put the story aside. Mindblowing in every aspect!
If possible, I would give it ten out of five stars.
October 13, 2014
The Gift is a highly entertaining, exciting novel. I've never read anything quite like it before. It is told from many perspectives (though all in the third person), from protagonists and antagonists alike. I loved August and Doren, their interactions and journey in their relationship and the trials they face trying to stay out of the clutches of the love-to-hate Anton and Morana. The supporting characters were interesting too. I enjoyed the magic, which was different than the usual fare. An excellent novel!
December 14, 2013
Doren was born with a powerful gift—a gift he's managed to use to put him well on his way to becoming a star. But there is more to that gift than just musical talent, and as careful as Doren is to hide that fact, there are some who know of the power behind the sound, and all the ways they could abuse it.
August's goal in life is simple: make an impact in the music industry. An opportunity to work as the personal assistant to Doren seems to be exactly the kind of break he needs to accomplish that goal.
But all too often in life, simple becomes just another complication, especially when there are people whose goal is even simpler: destroy and dominate.
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review. I want to start out by telling you that this book was like nothing that I expected. What started out as a cute, yet predictable budding love story turned into something unexpected.
We are introduced to Doren. He is a rock start and as most of these stories go, drop dead gorgeous. He has signed a contract with a record company that is ran by an evil narcissistic man that will stop at nothing to keep Doren under his control.
Part of Doren's contract was the ability to chose an assistant to only work for him and not the company.
From the very beginning these two are drawn to each other. August, trying to remain professional and Doren trying to get into his pants.
You read through the book. Drawn into the little love story that was developing and then BAM you are thrown a curve ball.
The people you know in this book are not what you seem. I do not want to ruin anything for you so I will tell you no more.
However, this is a nice story that let me wanting more at the end. There were a few issue I had with the book.
First, the sex scenes needed to be more. Maybe the author wanted a little ambiguity in there, but I as a reader wanted more descriptions.
Second, there are several unanswered questions that were left unanswered in my mind. There is one character in the book that I need answers from. Why did this person chose to protect Doren his whole life? There were some hints given, but I think that this character could use development.
Third, Obviously there is a good ending. We are left with a yearning of more. I need more of their story.
Overall, a cute, and very good read. There is a lot of potential not only with August and Doren, but the rest of the minor characters as well. The author does do a great job of surprising us. There are a few mouth opening revelations in this story.
The reason I am not telling you names, ect. is by doing so, I would spoil so much of the goodness in this story.
I hope you give this a shot and I thank NetGalley for allowing me this opportunity.
August's goal in life is simple: make an impact in the music industry. An opportunity to work as the personal assistant to Doren seems to be exactly the kind of break he needs to accomplish that goal.
But all too often in life, simple becomes just another complication, especially when there are people whose goal is even simpler: destroy and dominate.
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review. I want to start out by telling you that this book was like nothing that I expected. What started out as a cute, yet predictable budding love story turned into something unexpected.
We are introduced to Doren. He is a rock start and as most of these stories go, drop dead gorgeous. He has signed a contract with a record company that is ran by an evil narcissistic man that will stop at nothing to keep Doren under his control.
Part of Doren's contract was the ability to chose an assistant to only work for him and not the company.
From the very beginning these two are drawn to each other. August, trying to remain professional and Doren trying to get into his pants.
You read through the book. Drawn into the little love story that was developing and then BAM you are thrown a curve ball.
The people you know in this book are not what you seem. I do not want to ruin anything for you so I will tell you no more.
However, this is a nice story that let me wanting more at the end. There were a few issue I had with the book.
First, the sex scenes needed to be more. Maybe the author wanted a little ambiguity in there, but I as a reader wanted more descriptions.
Second, there are several unanswered questions that were left unanswered in my mind. There is one character in the book that I need answers from. Why did this person chose to protect Doren his whole life? There were some hints given, but I think that this character could use development.
Third, Obviously there is a good ending. We are left with a yearning of more. I need more of their story.
Overall, a cute, and very good read. There is a lot of potential not only with August and Doren, but the rest of the minor characters as well. The author does do a great job of surprising us. There are a few mouth opening revelations in this story.
The reason I am not telling you names, ect. is by doing so, I would spoil so much of the goodness in this story.
I hope you give this a shot and I thank NetGalley for allowing me this opportunity.
December 10, 2013
To read my full review, please visit http://onsilverwingz.blogspot.com/201...
Surprisingly, the book is really action packed with clear bad guys versus good guys battling it out.
August and Doren both have special "gifts" or unique supernatural powers. The bad guys also have some sort of power and they use it to manipulate the MCs in order to possess the control of their special "gifts." The bad guys have the advantage of knowing they have supernatural powers while the MCs are still puzzling over unnatural events and refusing to believe. This part of the story is irritating for the readers because as the readers, we know more than the MCs and we want them to be on the same page and figure out the game sooner. In general, the book is pretty fast paced.
Doren's hired band members are also important characters. Unfortunately, they are introduced pretty late into the story and do not get a lot of page-time. These characters join into the fight and really makes a difference in the grand finale, however, they seem to be added in towards the end as an afterthought. Things would have be more cohesive if these characters are mentioned earlier in the story.
I love that the bad guys have a lot of personality too. Even though they are not as well developed as the MCs, they believable. They fight among themselves and plot sinister plots.
Overall, I love this book. Once the supernatural stuff starts and it's obvious that the story is not a simple rock star with his assistant, I was hooked. I couldn't stop reading until I finished the book. The MCs get a HEA ending and I'm happy for them. There are still several lingering questions and loose ends unresolved by the end of the book, but I'm not too focus on those. The book is one amazing, action-packed, mind gripping story about music, the oddities in life, and love.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
Surprisingly, the book is really action packed with clear bad guys versus good guys battling it out.
August and Doren both have special "gifts" or unique supernatural powers. The bad guys also have some sort of power and they use it to manipulate the MCs in order to possess the control of their special "gifts." The bad guys have the advantage of knowing they have supernatural powers while the MCs are still puzzling over unnatural events and refusing to believe. This part of the story is irritating for the readers because as the readers, we know more than the MCs and we want them to be on the same page and figure out the game sooner. In general, the book is pretty fast paced.
Doren's hired band members are also important characters. Unfortunately, they are introduced pretty late into the story and do not get a lot of page-time. These characters join into the fight and really makes a difference in the grand finale, however, they seem to be added in towards the end as an afterthought. Things would have be more cohesive if these characters are mentioned earlier in the story.
I love that the bad guys have a lot of personality too. Even though they are not as well developed as the MCs, they believable. They fight among themselves and plot sinister plots.
Overall, I love this book. Once the supernatural stuff starts and it's obvious that the story is not a simple rock star with his assistant, I was hooked. I couldn't stop reading until I finished the book. The MCs get a HEA ending and I'm happy for them. There are still several lingering questions and loose ends unresolved by the end of the book, but I'm not too focus on those. The book is one amazing, action-packed, mind gripping story about music, the oddities in life, and love.
*review copy received in exchange for an honest review*
August 10, 2016
This is going to be one of those confusing reviews. You know the one's I'm talking about, where you loved the book and hated it at the same time? So get ready to sit back cause here's the fun part:
I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Oh my gosh, I loved how completely different it was. The battle between good and evil was just amazing! I really want to meet this author just from reading this book because it was that great. I completely LOVED the characters, all of them because they were just incredibly well written and I couldn't get enough of them. I think that I developed a bit of a crush on August, but that is perfectly fine with me! I really want to know if the author is going to turn this into a series because if they are, I want first dibs on the next book.
Now the next part:
I didn't like this book. I really didn't like the switching between all the POVS. When you read the book, you will understand what I mean. I had a really hard time following along with the story at certain times, and would end up flipping back a few pages to see who was talking now. While I do understand the reasons why the author did it, I also was left extremely confused.
Overall though, this book is a complete must read from me!
Reviewed by Crystal for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for honest review*
I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Oh my gosh, I loved how completely different it was. The battle between good and evil was just amazing! I really want to meet this author just from reading this book because it was that great. I completely LOVED the characters, all of them because they were just incredibly well written and I couldn't get enough of them. I think that I developed a bit of a crush on August, but that is perfectly fine with me! I really want to know if the author is going to turn this into a series because if they are, I want first dibs on the next book.
Now the next part:
I didn't like this book. I really didn't like the switching between all the POVS. When you read the book, you will understand what I mean. I had a really hard time following along with the story at certain times, and would end up flipping back a few pages to see who was talking now. While I do understand the reasons why the author did it, I also was left extremely confused.
Overall though, this book is a complete must read from me!
Reviewed by Crystal for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for honest review*
December 12, 2013
A small part of the full review:
------------------
Can I just say questions? I have a few for the author *laugh*. Will ask!
The novel had a bit of a slow start, but Mr. Henley used that opportunity to paint the major characters in wonderful detail for his readers, and I find that very helpful when the story picks up pace. I feel that I knew Doren and August so well that they weren’t lost in the midst of all the action.
Mr. Henley did a superb job telling his readers just enough tidbits of information about the supporting cast to make me ask questions and keep reading just to see if he provided answers further along. Some questions he did, others he didn’t, but I have a feeling the unanswered questions I have were most likely intentional. That’s right, folks, Mr. Henley wanted to keep you guessing, and personally, I think that is a pro for this story instead of it being a con.
-------------------
The full review can be found here, but be warned, there are some spoilers.
------------------
Can I just say questions? I have a few for the author *laugh*. Will ask!
The novel had a bit of a slow start, but Mr. Henley used that opportunity to paint the major characters in wonderful detail for his readers, and I find that very helpful when the story picks up pace. I feel that I knew Doren and August so well that they weren’t lost in the midst of all the action.
Mr. Henley did a superb job telling his readers just enough tidbits of information about the supporting cast to make me ask questions and keep reading just to see if he provided answers further along. Some questions he did, others he didn’t, but I have a feeling the unanswered questions I have were most likely intentional. That’s right, folks, Mr. Henley wanted to keep you guessing, and personally, I think that is a pro for this story instead of it being a con.
-------------------
The full review can be found here, but be warned, there are some spoilers.
December 7, 2013
~*~My Thoughts~*~
So when I requested this ARC I didn't read well enough to realize that it was a paranormal romance. I'm glad i didn't lol. This is the first book I've read dealing with anything paranormal since Twilight. Now don't get my wrong i loved Twilight just got bored with the genre. This book was a pleasant surprise for me I loved it. The characters were great I loved Doren and Auggie. I loved the personalities and the way they were written. The villains in this book were just that i absolutely hated them. I couldn't wait for them to get theirs. I also liked how you got a bunch of different perspectives not only did you get Doren and Auggies sides you also get all of the band at times, plus the villains. All in all i thought it was a great book and I loved the story. A solid 4 star read.
Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
So when I requested this ARC I didn't read well enough to realize that it was a paranormal romance. I'm glad i didn't lol. This is the first book I've read dealing with anything paranormal since Twilight. Now don't get my wrong i loved Twilight just got bored with the genre. This book was a pleasant surprise for me I loved it. The characters were great I loved Doren and Auggie. I loved the personalities and the way they were written. The villains in this book were just that i absolutely hated them. I couldn't wait for them to get theirs. I also liked how you got a bunch of different perspectives not only did you get Doren and Auggies sides you also get all of the band at times, plus the villains. All in all i thought it was a great book and I loved the story. A solid 4 star read.
Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
December 5, 2013
There is so much to wrap your imagination around in this novel; all the mysterious and mystical possibilities lend a great slice of the metaphysical to the allure of the undiscovered secrets contained within the untapped parts of our brains. The musings of fame and the desire for recognition weigh against the price one is willing to pay to get it, and A.F. Henley has constructed a story that provides plenty of angsty moments to go along with the threat of danger that keeps the story moving briskly along to its climax, then allows the romance to carry the reader to its happy ending.
See the entire 4.5 star review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
See the entire 4.5 star review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
April 14, 2014
This was an interesting read that's for sure. It's completely different genre that I normally read, but I liked it just the same. My small issue is the relationship between the MC's, it just didn't seem to be all that exciting, and no I'm not talking sex out the wazzu. I'm talking chemistry and the feeling of connection. But maybe that's just me. I did like this book, but it definitely story based as opposed to relationships based.
July 24, 2016
It got a little convoluted at the end there but still a 3.75 book.
March 18, 2021
Just a great, well put together story. Highly recommended!
June 18, 2014
This book sucked me in. I had to freaking finish. I wanted to know what happened! Lol. Now I'm behind on everything! :(
But really, it was super interesting. I loved the idea of gifts, I love the band and the different kind of gifts! I really liked August! <3 I enjoyed the mystery aspect as well! There are still some unanswered questions but nevertheless, it was a great read!
But really, it was super interesting. I loved the idea of gifts, I love the band and the different kind of gifts! I really liked August! <3 I enjoyed the mystery aspect as well! There are still some unanswered questions but nevertheless, it was a great read!
October 29, 2014
I liked this. A little different but a whole lot interesting. Glad it was a stand alone though - it is nice to sit and make up your own ending for a story. In mind everything works out positively with August;s wondering but it does hint it in a fairly big way in the beginning.
December 22, 2013
I read a post that read this was different from the author's usual work. It is. But it didn't make me love it any less! Doren and August make a great story together. ^^
January 28, 2014
3.5 stars.
March 8, 2014
Larger review incoming. Fantastic character development and a much more intricate plot with more magical-mysterious-other detailing, which I loved.
September 13, 2017
Yet another 2 years to complete. Honestly, I need to start reading more.
I've given this one 4 stars because I did greatly enjoy it but there were some things I'm also not sure about. It's interesting to go backward and see A.F. Henley's works from before I started reading his books. You can definitely see the differences and progress made in his writing, and since this is excellent that just means the others are even better. :D
First of all, fun story. Definitely a lot more harrowing than the others I've read up until now. A lot more characters working together to bring the story to fruition. And such an interesting concept. I would almost think it was a pre-cursor to Breaker. There was a lot of intense scenes, and I loved a number of the interactions. And the antagonist really got my blood boiling. So that was very well done.
The build up guiding us from normal to extraordinary was nice, a bit choppy if I'm being honest. I don't know if that's because of how the book is split up or something else. But it wasn't nearly as smooth as I had come to expect from this author. Still fantastic.
In fact, this story did not suffer from the problem that I tend to have with most romance novels. It focused on the relationship of the two main characters of course, but their relationship wasn't the only plot point. There was a full rich story that caught me, held me, and brought me through to the end. Now that may just go to show what kinds of books I read, but I was very impressed by the whole underlying story.
What I also enjoyed was that no matter how many supernatural elements were put into this, it all came out feeling so natural. We're not just asked to suspend our disbelief, we're convinced the world has never been any different and that this all follows the natural way of things.
All in all an excellent book. I recommend it.
I've given this one 4 stars because I did greatly enjoy it but there were some things I'm also not sure about. It's interesting to go backward and see A.F. Henley's works from before I started reading his books. You can definitely see the differences and progress made in his writing, and since this is excellent that just means the others are even better. :D
First of all, fun story. Definitely a lot more harrowing than the others I've read up until now. A lot more characters working together to bring the story to fruition. And such an interesting concept. I would almost think it was a pre-cursor to Breaker. There was a lot of intense scenes, and I loved a number of the interactions. And the antagonist really got my blood boiling. So that was very well done.
The build up guiding us from normal to extraordinary was nice, a bit choppy if I'm being honest. I don't know if that's because of how the book is split up or something else. But it wasn't nearly as smooth as I had come to expect from this author. Still fantastic.
In fact, this story did not suffer from the problem that I tend to have with most romance novels. It focused on the relationship of the two main characters of course, but their relationship wasn't the only plot point. There was a full rich story that caught me, held me, and brought me through to the end. Now that may just go to show what kinds of books I read, but I was very impressed by the whole underlying story.
What I also enjoyed was that no matter how many supernatural elements were put into this, it all came out feeling so natural. We're not just asked to suspend our disbelief, we're convinced the world has never been any different and that this all follows the natural way of things.
All in all an excellent book. I recommend it.
September 28, 2018
Henley's writing is like a vivid dream, interspersed with nightmare sequences. Don't let this turn you off. It's exactly what makes this book so good. There's a constant soothing, mellow undertone to this story, romantic and flowing, even as the suspense tightens and danger threatens. Doren and August are perfectly suited, romantically and in other ways, and it just makes the story that much more delightful. I would like to see a sequel or something though, because there are just so many more questions that I have....
September 4, 2021
Another Great Book
I am started to get addicted to this author’s books. I am glad that there are still more for me to read. The plots are not typical for M/M books. There paranormal aspect just verges on horror. The characters are great and they grab you from page one. Well worth anyone’s time to read and enjoy.
I am started to get addicted to this author’s books. I am glad that there are still more for me to read. The plots are not typical for M/M books. There paranormal aspect just verges on horror. The characters are great and they grab you from page one. Well worth anyone’s time to read and enjoy.
February 18, 2019
Very cool fantasy novel. The aspect of the gifts was interesting, and I loved how it centred around a rock band.
March 21, 2015
This is a difficult book to rate. I really loved the ideas, and ultimately, I enjoyed it, but it could have used an editor's hand. I'd give it 2.5 stars, but rounded up since I did enjoy it overall.
The Gift is essentially about the relationship between Doren and August. Doren is an up-and-coming rockstar, and he hires August as his personal assistant. Of course, there's sexual tension that August resists at first, but ultimately they cave into it and fall in love. The twist is that some people have "gifts," or special abilities. For example, Doren can "hear the music" in all things, and it's what makes him such a talented musician. August has a power kind of like Rogue in the X-men: he can amplify other people's powers or steal them.
Sounds cool, right? The problem is that Anton, the evil, comic-book villain of the story, knows about Doren and August's abilities and wants them for himself, so he has his army of minions he throws in place to try to push the two apart.
The concept is fantastic, but the execution needs a lot of work. For example, the first 25% of the book is so boring and exposition-heavy that I nearly waved it off as a DNF. However, if you can get past that, the next 25% is great. But then the next 25% after that is also boring and feels unnecessary. Then the last 25% is good. So you get about 50% crap and 50% decent stuff. So that's there.
The other issue I really had with the book (other than the extremely unnecessary prologue... are these making a comeback? Ugh.) was the fact that it had so many point of views that shifted far too often.
Now don't get me wrong--I have ZERO problem with shifting POVs, especially since this author DID make it very clear by titling each section with the character's name for whose POV we were in, to try to minimize confusion--but the problem was, there was just TOO many. We get Doren and August of course, but also Anton and Morana (one of his minions) and the various members of the band, and probably a couple more I might be forgetting.
I think the book would have done well sticking to maybe just three POVs (Doren, August, and Anton). It really bugged me at about the 75% mark when we suddenly get all the band members' POVs and learn all this info/backstory about them when we didn't even know who they were before then. Honestly, I was like, "I don't care about these people, can we just get to the point?" Later, I realized why the author had thrown them in, but truthfully, I think it would have worked better to introduce them earlier in the story.
The other major issue I had with the book was the world building. Mystery is all well and good, but so little was explained in the book that it was off-putting and disorienting, and I don't just mean in terms of the magical powers. (For a huge chunk, I really thought it was going to be like an angel vs demon situation, but that apparently was just an overly done metaphor.) It would have been nice to get a much better feel for WHERE we were (the text used American spelling but they characters spoke in British slang/dialect, which was bizarre). The hotel, for being something POSH (haha) did not feel like it at all, from the descriptions, and again, it seemed like it was set in the US, but there was so much that seemed to contradict that that I was constantly trying to get some feel for where they could be, and never could, which I did not like.
Finally--and this gets a little better as the book progresses--but the prose was so purple at times I thought my kindle was going to start bleeding. The biggest issue with it is that there were many times that the author got so caught up in the overly flowery language that I literally had to GUESS what was happening. It'd be all big words and metaphors and then after I read the sentences I'd be like, "Uh, I think the guy just choked the other guy?" And that goes without saying again how awfully exposition heavy (and redundant) the first 25% of the book was.
It was also a shame that the characters were so one-dimensional, especially Anton, and that the book ended with some questions unanswered.
Honestly, I can't really recommend this book as-is, but it'd be great to see a new edition with an editor's touch.
The Gift is essentially about the relationship between Doren and August. Doren is an up-and-coming rockstar, and he hires August as his personal assistant. Of course, there's sexual tension that August resists at first, but ultimately they cave into it and fall in love. The twist is that some people have "gifts," or special abilities. For example, Doren can "hear the music" in all things, and it's what makes him such a talented musician. August has a power kind of like Rogue in the X-men: he can amplify other people's powers or steal them.
Sounds cool, right? The problem is that Anton, the evil, comic-book villain of the story, knows about Doren and August's abilities and wants them for himself, so he has his army of minions he throws in place to try to push the two apart.
The concept is fantastic, but the execution needs a lot of work. For example, the first 25% of the book is so boring and exposition-heavy that I nearly waved it off as a DNF. However, if you can get past that, the next 25% is great. But then the next 25% after that is also boring and feels unnecessary. Then the last 25% is good. So you get about 50% crap and 50% decent stuff. So that's there.
The other issue I really had with the book (other than the extremely unnecessary prologue... are these making a comeback? Ugh.) was the fact that it had so many point of views that shifted far too often.
Now don't get me wrong--I have ZERO problem with shifting POVs, especially since this author DID make it very clear by titling each section with the character's name for whose POV we were in, to try to minimize confusion--but the problem was, there was just TOO many. We get Doren and August of course, but also Anton and Morana (one of his minions) and the various members of the band, and probably a couple more I might be forgetting.
I think the book would have done well sticking to maybe just three POVs (Doren, August, and Anton). It really bugged me at about the 75% mark when we suddenly get all the band members' POVs and learn all this info/backstory about them when we didn't even know who they were before then. Honestly, I was like, "I don't care about these people, can we just get to the point?" Later, I realized why the author had thrown them in, but truthfully, I think it would have worked better to introduce them earlier in the story.
The other major issue I had with the book was the world building. Mystery is all well and good, but so little was explained in the book that it was off-putting and disorienting, and I don't just mean in terms of the magical powers. (For a huge chunk, I really thought it was going to be like an angel vs demon situation, but that apparently was just an overly done metaphor.) It would have been nice to get a much better feel for WHERE we were (the text used American spelling but they characters spoke in British slang/dialect, which was bizarre). The hotel, for being something POSH (haha) did not feel like it at all, from the descriptions, and again, it seemed like it was set in the US, but there was so much that seemed to contradict that that I was constantly trying to get some feel for where they could be, and never could, which I did not like.
Finally--and this gets a little better as the book progresses--but the prose was so purple at times I thought my kindle was going to start bleeding. The biggest issue with it is that there were many times that the author got so caught up in the overly flowery language that I literally had to GUESS what was happening. It'd be all big words and metaphors and then after I read the sentences I'd be like, "Uh, I think the guy just choked the other guy?" And that goes without saying again how awfully exposition heavy (and redundant) the first 25% of the book was.
It was also a shame that the characters were so one-dimensional, especially Anton, and that the book ended with some questions unanswered.
Honestly, I can't really recommend this book as-is, but it'd be great to see a new edition with an editor's touch.
November 2, 2025
not what I expected
This was much darker than I expected! Lots of twisty things happen and there were parts that made me very uncomfortable. I didn’t like Doren much, although I did like August and the band. It was engrossing however, and kept me reading even when I thought of not finishing.
One other beef was the number of editing errors - wrong names, wrong words, and awkward sentences that took me out of the story.
This was much darker than I expected! Lots of twisty things happen and there were parts that made me very uncomfortable. I didn’t like Doren much, although I did like August and the band. It was engrossing however, and kept me reading even when I thought of not finishing.
One other beef was the number of editing errors - wrong names, wrong words, and awkward sentences that took me out of the story.
December 21, 2013
"The Gift" has very strange story plot. In some parts it is even boring.
My reading time was spent so, so...
My reading time was spent so, so...
m-m-read
April 5, 2014I find the sentence structure odd in this. It has the feel of a bad translation from another language. It's enough to distract me from the story.
Want to Read
July 26, 2016Free on LT3 Press until 8pm EST today:
http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/boo...
http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/boo...
December 7, 2016
Auggie is so f@&$ing annoying! Throwing tantrums and acting like a child. Total waste of time reading this.
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