Gifted

by Keira North, Damien Owens (Editor)

EVER SEEN A WALL TRY TO TIE ITSELF INTO A KNOT? Lynn Reid has, and that’s not even the weirdest thing that’s happened to her in the last ten minutes. Lynn’s ability to see things outside human perception makes her the ideal candidate to join the multiverse police. However, after a bungled first mission and an unfortunate encounter with a basketful of anchovies, Lynn starts to wonder if she’s really cut out for multiversal work. When she turns to her copy of the Field Agent’s Manual for reassurance, she stumbles across a faded note that leads her to a cover-up spanning two decades and several worlds. Now, Lynn must work to uncover the damning secret behind the note before the next End of the World, Amen.

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2022

About the author

Keira North is a queer, nonbinary author whose work blends literary genres to challenge the tried-and-true, from subverting Eastern-European myths and archetypes to deconstructing monogamy as the only way to love. Novels like To Bloom Again and The Rivers Will Run Red deal with identity, loss, and wrestling a happily ever after from a world that never meant to give it away.

Keira is the founder of Ciolna Press, a boutique publishing venture where they work with games industry veterans to bring bold genre fiction to readers looking beyond mass-market trends.

Originally from western Romania, Keira lived and worked across Europe, Canada and Japan before settling on the rainy British Columbia coast. Their stories are as wonderfully varied as the people and places who inspired them.

Reviews

[troublingtrash · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book in exchange for a fair review*

Okay wow, I absolutely LOVE the pacing in this book! It really jumps you right into the action and introduces you into the world. The world building is very subtle, but it really works in this books favour! Normally sci-fi novels delve very deep into world building and heavy science, but what I love about Gifted, is that it only introduces the key concepts of the world building early on, and then slowly shows the rest of the world; you're not overloaded with content from the beginning.

The book was quite short, around novella length, but I think that it still works being quite short as it's the first book in a trilogy and has introduced all the key concepts and plot in a succint way that doesn't detract from the length of the book. Another thing I like is that the author is quite a strong writer, and is able to write a neat and coherent plot with complimentary dialogue.

The only thing I would change in this book would be the characters, I feel like there are definitely some characters who are more developed than others, and again it makes sense as this book is only the first in a trilogy. So I'm hoping that the rest of the characters develop nicely over the course of the trilogy, and I am definitely excited to read more!!

[Eddie Starshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

GIFTED by Keira North is more light sci-fi x chick lit crossover than pure science fiction, which is great if you're looking for something quick and entertaining. Keira does the remarkable thing of combining the multiverse with space battles, Matrix-esque "code hacking", and some character-driven drama that's not too soppy to overshadow the action, and she somehow makes it all work together. The writing is whimsical and accessible except for some technical babble that's standard sci-fi stuff. There's some swearing, but not a lot. I didn't think it was distracting or over the top.

(SPOILERS FOLLOW)
This is just my personal opinion, but as a lesbian reader I would have preferred to see more character development for Rachel, Lynn's colleague who she's very obviously crushing on. We need more books with badass lesbians and bisexual women. I also wish the ending wasn't so abrupt but at least the end of the paperback says a sequel is coming.

[Kiyingi Brian]

Am really sorry for my delayed report about gifted. I thoroughly read the book and made comments but I can hardly trace that file on my computer which is so absurd.
However my take on the book
1. The writer doesn't narrate to the reader she simply tells of what happened but not considering the reader's interest
2. The gifted title of the book comes out rather late infact one might miss it if not keen enough. I'd suggest it's brought in a little earlier. Is it also possible to have the name of the machine(robot) a little simplified for the reader
3. A good couple of parts really get boring to what should have been an action fun filled book. Some conversations didn't relate to the gifted title.
Please kindly accept my review comments and apologies for the delay

[Asmaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is really quick paced but I had a problem in introducing the characters properly at the beginning, as when I started it felt like I am already in the middle of the story, otherwise the idea is creative and I think the book is a part of a trilogy , shows in the ending, that will reveal more secrets.

[Sandy Murad · Rating 4 out of 5]

She likes to be called Lynn!
Lynn was not only a job seeker, but also a truth seeker.
Amongst Lynn's adventure in an imaginary world , there are still more secrets to be revealed, which makes the ending a part of a new beginning !

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good start, weak ending

Good and very interesting worldbuilding, strong start to mid of the book that had me pretty captivated. But it really slows down and the plot just doesn’t really go anywhere interesting for me sadly or anywhere that makes me care. Characters building and development are good at first, but also seems to stopI finished it to see if it picked up again, but sadly no.