I’m not sure what to make of this book. A lot of emphasis is placed on this talisman but then not much is said about it. Also, the adults who are supposed to know about this talisman just drop her with it, tell her to be careful using it, then get mad when she doesn’t use it right. What? I’m also not sure how a 12-year-old girl gets a hold of a necklace and no one around her notices? Especially in a household that’s abusive and watches her every move? I’m confused by that. There was a lot of filler that didn’t need to be there. A lot of characters that were there, but then weren’t fully explained. I don’t know, I think the wrong things were emphasized. It’s supposed to be a novel about fantasy but is more a novel about small town racism and domestic/child abuse?

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was such a fun fantasy read! The story was well done and the characters were fun to get to know. I am looking forward to the next installment!

Toni Yap does a great job in writing this opening chapter in the Gifts of the Shavtal series, it had a great overall feel to it and I enjoyed what was going on with that. It worked as a young adult novel and was everything that I was hoping for in a fantasy novel. The characters were interesting and they left me wanting to read more in this series.

Gifts of the Shavtal is a magical journey about a young girl born with a gift that's only granted to creatures from the Other World. She must learn to use it wisely if she wants to save the people she loves.

This was a really interesting urban fantasy novel. I think it could have been fleshed out a little more, but I overall enjoyed it.

“Talisman” by Toni Yap was a good fantasy YA book for younger teens. I liked the cultural stuff with the book and the moral lessons and family issues. There was a lot of down time and verbally explaining way too much that slows down the book. I think it’s a good book for younger readers because of the cultural differences, the length of the book, and the fun fantasy aspects like the talking animals and stuff. I give the book 4 out of 5 stars.

I started out not loving, yet enjoying this ARC which I’m reading in exchange for a review.

I had to pause after reading the following, as this needs to be corrected before the final copy goes to the publisher.

For context, we have only been introduced to one person with the surname Jenkins, in this book so far, unless her niece Danae also has the same surname. She is always referred to as Mrs. Jenkins. Danae is always referred to as Danae, not Laura or Laurie.

"Grandma snaps her fingers.

'That's right, Laura Jenkins or Laurie Jenkins works too. The phone number is on the list there at the fridge door. Gi-Gi, I'll be waiting for you at my house. This will give me time to take a shower and freshen up before we head out.’

Mrs. Jenkins gets up from her chair. She starts clearing the table with the fishes left by my mother, but Grandma shoos her away.”



I’m a bit wary of finishing the book, as such an oversight gives the impression that the author doesn’t care much about it. However, I am interested in the storyline, and am already 43% in, so I will finish it, and edit this review.

To add to this oversight, there is further confusion as it’s been established that said Mrs. Jenkins who is in the kitchen for this scene, will drive Gi-Gi to where she needs to go, not Grandma, though the impression is given that Grandma is the one I’ve quoted.

The book does suffer from too much telling and not enough showing.

Before the above excerpt, this was a 4 star read, and now it’s feeling like a 3 or possibly a 2. I’ll decide after I’ve finished it, and post my final review.

Final review add-on after reading the entire novel:

Mrs. Jenkins was the one who drove our protagonist, Gina (Gi-Gi), to her destination, and she later tells someone that her name is Laura.

What a strange thing that was to have to add to a review. We should at least expect to be clear about what we’re reading, even if it isn’t particularly engaging.

The second part of this book takes a sudden turn into a boring, predictable light horror. It actually comes off as a bit unintentionally funny, yet that doesn’t override how boring it is.

That’s followed by… well it’s just boring now. We don’t need one bland description of people making food and eating, much less multiple such scenes. There’s so much filler here. More filler than story. What story there is though, is one which, if written well, would hold the readers attention.

Even pixies can’t save this book, and I usually love pixies.

I tried to give the second half of the book a chance for character backstories and thus motivations to appear, yet those are non-existent.

It seems to end on a note implying a book two. I won’t be reading that.

So we finish on one star.