This was PHENOMENAL. It’s hard to believe it’s a debut novel, simply because not only is the idea interesting, but because its executed extraordinarily well. There’s a lot of angst, but it’s not all valley of doom and despair; there are enough upswings and highs to carry you through. Elaine is a deeply flawed character, but I quickly came to admire her, even when she was off impulsively doing A Stupid Thing. The setting, character arcs, and plot are all well done, and at no point did the story drag despite how long this book is. I absolutely adored it and cannot wait to read more!

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!

Wow. Just... WOW. I almost have no words to express how much i loved and 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 the absolute best.
The above review was my own opinion and has not been influenced in any way... Damn, Just freakin wow!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (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!!!:
When the FMC was transferred to a new legion, I immediately thought: “Oh no, it’s going to get worse.” And that cold welcome from the Emperor? Brutal.

Samwell seemed sweet at first — the horse-naming scene was unexpectedly heartwarming.

Muller... girl, why are you like this? You could’ve been friends with the FMC instead of being so nasty.

Sam giving her his jacket? Aww.

Michael being jealous of Sam? Unexpected. I haven’t seen a jealous gay character in a while — usually they’re allies, not rivals. But I get it. He loves Sam, and Sam doesn’t love him back.

If the FMC ends up with Courtenay... I’ll scream. That’s not the kind of enemies-to-lovers I signed up for.

Lizzy’s storyline? Heartbreaking. I cried for that little fighter.

Muller again... ugh. Is she jealous of FMC’s closeness to Courtenay because of Lizzy?

The FMC’s resilience is impressive. She’s gifted — literally and figuratively.

Kimathi’s son reveal? WHAT?! But that bonding moment was sweet.

I didn’t expect the legionnaires to be kind to the FMC, but they surprised me. Better than the army brutes, for sure.

Drinking scenes with Alexander? Hmm. Not sold on their chemistry yet. I was rooting for Sam, but that ship seems to be sinking.

The repeated line “You wouldn’t ask me that if I were a man” started to feel a bit overused.

Okay, so there is a light enemies-to-lovers vibe mid-book.

Hot-cold relationships? Meh. Not my thing.

Why is Lizzy’s illness such a central theme? Just wondering.

Sam’s image deteriorated fast. He couldn’t face his feelings and got jealous. Dude, speak up or lose her.

Respect for Sam: gone. Respect for Alexander: rising.

The scenes of SA against women? Devastating. I hated the men for that.

The FMC winning that challenge? YES. What a fight. Though I suspect Conwell went easy on her...

Michael’s relationship with his father? Gut-wrenching.

That spicy scene at 73%? Weird and cute at the same time.

I’m impressed by how the FMC earned the generals’ trust. She’s clearly special.

But the final 150 pages dragged. Too many quarrels, not enough fantasy. I got bored.

Where’s the lore? The gods are mentioned, but never explored. She’s “Gifted” — but gifted with what? There’s barely any magic until the end.

The book felt overly drawn out. Some scenes could’ve been trimmed. I know some readers love detail, but for me, it was too much.

The Emperor obsessing over who’s sleeping with whom? Why? Shouldn’t he care more about politics?

The FMC’s sudden shift into a brute? Didn’t sit well with me. Her treatment of Alexander was awful.

“You’re not strong, you’re deranged.” — Agatha was right.

Lizzy’s death? I’m crying again.

So now the FMC becomes Myla sort of a fire queen? But also has healing magic, destructive magic, mind manipulation, light magic... it’s a lot. Too much. Confusing. Chapter 41 lost me completely....

Possession? What? I’m so confused...

📝 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!

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 Netgally and the author for the arc.

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!

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!

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!

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

Gifted has such an intriguing premise! Elaine, a former soldier scarred by years in the Imperial Army, finds herself pulled into the world of the Legion, where magic, loyalty, and rebellion collide. I really enjoyed following her journey—she’s a tough, resilient heroine but also carries the weight of her past, which made her easy to root for.

The worldbuilding has some really cool ideas, especially around the Legion and the forbidden magic. While the writing style wasn’t totally my cup of tea, the story itself kept me interested, and I liked the emotional beats of Elaine’s path toward healing and finding her place.

Overall, this was an imaginative fantasy that fans of military settings, found family, and survival stories might really enjoy.

⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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.

This was such a fun one about survival and making your own family. Choosing your destiny and fighting for what you want is an important theme in fantasy and it was done so well here.

⚔️✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨⚔️

Gifted by Mavi Parolin
📅 Pub Date: Aug 29, 2025

“Because… you’ll become a legend, Legionnaire. You just don’t see it yet. But I do. And the gods do too.”

Y’all. This book wrecked me in the best way. Gifted is the kind of fantasy romance that makes you laugh, cry, scream into your pillow, and then immediately start begging for book two.

Elaine’s journey from a twelve-year-old orphan forced into the Imperial Army, to one of the elite Barrymore Legionnaires was everything I crave in a fantasy heroine arc. She’s flawed, fierce, and resilient. Watching her forge bonds, uncover strange powers, and find a family among soldiers was gut-wrenching and empowering all at once.

And let’s talk about the romance. 🫠 It’s forbidden, slow-burn, and achingly intense. The angst nearly killed me, but in the best way. The banter? Perfect. The heartbreak? Brutal. The payoff? Absolutely worth every tear.

Mavi Parolin’s writing is sharp, immersive, and feels way too seasoned for a debut. The worldbuilding is rich, the Legion dynamics are addictive, and the emotional stakes are sky high. This book had me highlighting quotes nonstop.

Fair warning: this story doesn’t shy away from trauma, sacrifice, and the darker realities of survival. But it balances the heavy with moments of found family, loyalty, and hope. By the end, I was gutted and stitched back together at least a dozen times.

📖 What to expect:
⚔️ Legionnaire life + military fantasy vibes
⚔️ Strong, tenacious FMC
⚔️ Found family & soldier camaraderie
⚔️ Forbidden, all-consuming romance
⚔️ Banter + heartbreak + resilience
⚔️ Themes of loyalty, sacrifice & survival

🔥 Final thoughts: Gifted is epic fantasy romance done right: raw, heartbreaking, empowering, and impossible to put down. This debut just vaulted onto my favorites shelf, and I need the sequel yesterday.

#GiftedBook #MaviParolin #FantasyRomance #Romantasy #WhyWeRead #DebutNovel #FoundFamily #ForbiddenRomance #SlowBurn #BookTokMadeMeDoIt #ReverseHarryPotterVibes #LegionnaireLove #Bookstagram

I really enjoyed this debut romantasy book! Gifted tells the story of the FMC, Elaine, an orphan forced into the army. She begins to find that she's a bit different than the others - able to heal quickly and able to increase her strength when she needs it to survive.

The world building and unique magic system was spellbinding, and I loved the slow-burn romance laden with trauma and struggles.

I can't wait to see what book 2 has to offer!

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.

I absolutely LOVED this book!
The main character Elaine was everything. She was incredibly likeable and I was so proud of the growth she made throughout the story.
The found family is in book was one of my favourites I’ve read so far! They had me crying, laughing, cheering, the filled me with hope & broke my heart. I felt all the feelings.
I loved the romance and how it developed slowly. I couldn’t put it down! Would highly recommend this.
Cannot wait for book 2! Thank you for letting me tear this early!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Mavi Parolin for providing me with this ARC!

Pros:
- strong FMC
- good world building
- character growth
- found family
- the ending sets up for more magic in the future


Cons:
- somewhat slow paced, especially in the beginning
- the dialogue fell short at times, it read like NPC’s in a video game


I had high hopes for this one based on the blurb, it sounded really promising! I found Gifted to be pretty good for a debut, but I just think it wasn’t for me. I can see how the next book may be better, with the way this one left off!

2.5 ⭐️

How is this book not blowing up the internet right now?!

I was blown away by this book. It's so goood.

Elaine, an orphan from Lyanthian and was raised as a soldier was gifted by the emperor to Governor Alexander Courtenay, where she will become one of his legionnaires. Life has never been good to her. She is convinced that this thing - being a legionnaire by one of the most cruel leaders would push her to her death bed. But what she least expects, is that being Gifted would be the very thing that will breathe purpose, meaning, love and family into her - all the things she's never had in her entire life. When everything had almost felt right, it seems that the world has been keeping a big secret from her - one that she is now discovering to fill a big piece of her identity.

I can't thank Netgalley and author Mavi Parolin for the opportunity to be one of the first ones to have read this amazing novel. This book wrecked me in the best way and I still can't wrap my head around the fact that this is a debut novel. The story and the world-building is unique in its own way. The characters are phenomenal and I think it's the highlight of the novel. Each one of them were so well thought of, and I liked how each one of them portray different kinds of people and how they represent our society in the present time. They complement each other so well and feel so relatable, it's hard not. to love the kind of friendships, loyalty and love that blossoms throughout the story.

Overall, I think this is one of the best debut novels I have read this year. It deserves so much hype and I truly believe one day this novel will get all the recognition it deserves once the whole world discovers it. I can't wait for the next book!

I must admit, this was a long read, so this review may be half-baked because I'm half done. Anyway, I've never read anything coming from a Brazilian author before, so I was curious to see which elements of world-building were reflective of her culture and this did not disappoint. Make the time to read this, you'll thank yourself later.

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 Seven Deadly Thorns
✒️Amber Hamilton
💫💫💫💫💫

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ummm, why aren't more people talking about this book?

This was so so good! I was hooked and I felt all the feels of our FMC Elaine felt! If you love The Poppy War because of the political intrigue and emotional destructiveness, then you should read this book.

The world building is exquisite and draws you in. The characters are so well written and fleshed out. The fantasy elements was not too overpowering. There is romance, but closed door and that is okay! This book does explore a few themes that I would suggest you check the trigger warning for.

Otherwise, an amazing debut book!

Wow, I just devoured Gifted and I'm absolutely blown away! This book is seriously incredible. Elaine's journey from surviving poverty to becoming an elite Legionnaire, finding her strength, and forging a new family? So, so good. And the forbidden, all-consuming love with Alexander? 🔥 Their slow burn was pure perfection, giving me all the feels. The world-building is rich and unique, the plot is gripping, and the characters are just so easy to root for. It truly felt like everything I look for in a fantasy romance. While it didn't quite hit that elusive 5-star for me (maybe just a tiny personal preference thing), it came incredibly close and I'm already desperate for book two. You HAVE to read this! ❤️

Big thanks to NetGalley and Mavi Parolin for letting me read Gifted! This is my honest ARC review.

⚔️ Tropes & Themes:

Enemies to lovers

Slow burn romance

Found family

Military fantasy with political intrigue

Closed-door romance

Light on magic

Betrayals and unexpected friendships

If you love the emotional intensity of The Poppy War, you’ll feel similar vibes here—though the story itself is completely original. The military setting is gritty and brutal, and the stakes are high, but moments of warmth and friendship balance the darkness beautifully.

The romance is full of angst and drama, so don’t expect a light-hearted love story. But the slow burn is satisfying, and the climax is absolutely worth the wait. The plot keeps you guessing just enough—it’s engaging without feeling predictable.

The characters are incredible. Every single one feels unique, fully realized, and impossible not to care about. They grow, change, and carry the story forward, and the author balances them perfectly—no one gets lost in the mix.

Overall, Gifted is a beautifully written, emotionally charged military fantasy that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

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.

Elaine is such a powerful character. I really enjoyed this one. Would love to read more about this entire world in all honesty, it had all the elements that I love to read! Will recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC copy of Gifted in exchange for my honest review.
This one wasn’t quite the right fit for me. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style, and at over 600 pages, I expected a lot more to happen. The pacing felt slow, and despite the length, the story didn’t feel like it moved forward as much as I’d hoped.
That said, I can see how readers who enjoy a more atmospheric, drawn-out style may connect with it more than I did. Unfortunately, it just didn’t hold my attention the way I wanted it to.

This book totally blew me away, even better than I expected! I was really impressed by how the characters developed, especially the main female character she was amazing and super captivating. can I just say the yearning in this was top tier. This book is layered with secrets, rich with emotion, and full of hope Even though the story takes its time, it's totally worth reading and satisfying.

Nowadays, there are plenty of fantasy books by debut authors, and they mostly follow the same formula and become very predictive, so while the synopsis pulled me in I confess I didn't have a lot of expectations - but I was glad to be proved wrong! I really liked the world building and the FMC, as well as the secondary characters, and the writing pulls you in right from the start. Unfortunately, I didn't really connect with the MMC and I felt like he was underdeveloped, and the book was extremely long - not that that's usually a problem, but it felt unnecessarily so, and by the end it dragged on. Overall, a really good debut book.

It’s hard to believe this is a debut. I really enjoyed this. There was a lot of depth and thought behind all of it. This book will break your heart and then put you back together again and again. This book does not shy away from any heavy topics. Their trauma, pain, healing, and growth are portrayed with raw honesty and courage. I would definitely recommend this and I think anyone who reads it will love it.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARc

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 was a Rollercoaster. I have praises and critiques, so I'll start with the praises. thank you netgalley and the author for the arc

this book was a good pace not just in terms of story but also love. the growth of the main character developing right in front of your eyes. I loved the different characters and the parts they play in her development, especially Alex and lizzie. ugh I felt like I was in a tug of war between Alex and Elaine with their back and forth I hate you I love you. it kept me on my toes and kept me wanting more. I hit the end of the book and I was left with a need to find out what happens next. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!


now the critiques. there is a lot of proofreading still needed. there were a lot of misused words or random words in places they made no sense. there were also a lot of missing words all together. it made reading a challenge. this is something that can easily be remedied.

my second critique is the prologue. as I moved through the story I honestly forgot about it and it didnt really make sense even halfway through the book. by the end of the book it wasn't until I went back after having read the whole book that it finally made sense. the last few chapters of the book is where it started to peice back to the prologue but by that point you don't even remember what you read that long ago.

I highly recommend this story because as a debut story its really good and the world is built very well it just needs some help with the editing

I was hesitant to start this story because of it's length, and for Fantasy, I typically need to be hooked from the start. Once I got through the first 100 pages or so, I was absolutely taken by this story. It did get slow at moments, but the world building and character building was beautiful. The story progressed so wonderfully that makes the reader truly fall in love with the characters. I am really excited to see what happens next, and it will be an instant read for me as soon as book two comes out!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚Rating*ੈ✩‧₊˚
4.5/5 Stars
(Rounded up!!)

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗Tropes˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
⚔️ Found Family
𓆩❤︎𓆪 Slowwww Burn
⚔️ Enemies To Lovers
𓆩❤︎𓆪 Military fantasy with political intrigue
⚔️ Betrayals & Some Unexpected Friendships

𓂃🖊Notes and Highlights-

꧁ᬊᬁTo women who never stop fighting and who will own this world one day”.ᬊ᭄꧂

⋆༺𓆩” You are the shadow of us. We are the light in you.”𓆪༻⋆

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡” I meant what I said. I love you.”♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺A gift. All of it had been a gift.”༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

💭 Thoughts-

-ˋˏ✄┈┈Ok, I get if you want to have a long book and lots of build up to this amazing ending and awesome book, but it gets to a point where 850 pages of book is too many pages…

-The problem is, at the same time I devoured this book and all 850 pages of it. So like I can’t decide whether that amount of pages is truly needed because the build up was insane and worth it, but at times I was also like there’s no way there’s more left. Then there was more.…

-ˋˏ✄┈┈Those two things being said, this book was still so, so good! The fmc went through so many terrible things and I felt like I was grieving with her and also being happy with her because this book fully emersed me into the story, so honestly hats off for that!!

“To women who never stop fighting and who will own this world one day”.

I really thought I was going to enjoy this more than I did however, the pacing was farrrr too slow for me which pulled my rating down.

I enjoyed Elaine’s character development until I got to chapter 41 sorry, what the heck was that?! I very much enjoyed her friendship with the war band and her friendship with Lizzie and Agatha.

“My Elaine. I’m yours, as you’re mine, and that’s all there is to it”. I need Elaine and Alex to sort their shit. Why are we saying all these things and never talking againnnn?!

The whole Elaine being Myla subplot interests me, like I wanted moreee of the god lore but we just didn’t get it?

The book probably could’ve been about 250 pages shorter. It didn’t need to be 800+ pages, it was not that serious. And the callback to the prologue should’ve happened about 5 chapters sooner. I do still want to know what happens so I guess I’ll be on the lookout for book 2.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

I have one word: YES

But seriously, I loved seeing FMC's growth in this novel. She's flawed and shows it, but she also exhibits a learning curve in the novel by processing trauma and learning to accept joy and love. The romance is hot, but forged on building connection.

I have only main critique; the addition of magic. It felt forced?

All in all, a 12/10 would recommend read. I was absolutely obliterated by the sudden presence of the Acknowledgments page.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to review this book. Gifted is the story of Elaine, an orphaned soldier in the Kings Army who is ‘Gifted’ to be a part of a dedicated legion.

Unfortunately this is a soft DNF for me at 20%. I know this has high star reviews from others but I just couldn’t get into it. Whilst the plot was intriguing, and I enjoyed the developing female friendships, something about the style of writing did not work for me. It felt very wordy, like every action and description was double what was necessary, and that meant I couldn’t get engaged

I don’t want to be unfair in my judgement, which is why I am only soft dnf-ing and am being reasonably generous with my star rating. I do not think what I read to this point deserves a lower rating, however I currently cannot commit myself to reading more.

This was such a heartfelt and enchanting start to a new series. The mix of fantasy and romance felt seamless, with a story that’s equal parts magical adventure and emotional journey. I loved how the themes of love, courage, and chosen family were woven into the plot—it gave the book a warmth that balanced the action and tension beautifully. The romance was tender yet passionate, and the character dynamics made me instantly invested.

Pros: A magical blend of romance and fantasy; strong themes of courage and family; well-drawn characters you root for; engaging pacing that keeps the pages turning.

Cons: The only downside is that I didn’t want it to end. I’m already eager for the next book.

Overall, a wonderful fantasy romance that delivers both heart and magic. Five shining stars!

The mark of a great story? You finish the 1850th page and you’re ready to read thousands more. Mavi, how did you keep those hints of fantasy tucked away in the shadows, only to unleash them in full brilliance at the end?! This is mind-blowing for a debut novel… What you’ve gifted us… I’m dumbfounded in a sea of swirling thoughts. People say that your first book is your therapy book. You pour every thought you’ve ever had, every character. Gifted feels like that in the best way possible, and I very much enjoyed the therapy journey.
Elaine felt like a friend from the start. I experienced so much of her pain, her conflicting joy, her fragility and strength right at her side. Safe to say, we are all Elaine to some extent. Her pain, trauma, uncertainty, fear, heartbreak, but also her hope, her longing for belonging, for friendship, for family, for love. She knew the mud so well it became comfort, yet she chose to believe she deserved better. We all do. And through her, I lived every terrifying desire for a better life.

For the first time ever while reading, I had to stop and share a quote with my boyfriend. Not a romantic one, but one about building yourself from the ground up. This book, this story needed to exist if only for the way trauma and abuse were handled. Something very broken quietly began to heal in me while reading Mavi's words. Regaining control after living in shame, guilt and fear is an eternal battle we all fight. Elaine’s growth of character, heart and internal strength was so well gone. I wanted to stand and applaud (through tears). The internal dialogue of every woman is right in these pages. Perfectly and honorably executed.

I ache to continue this journey and see where it leads. But oh, Mavi, you broke my heart, you know how. I was praying alongside Elaine and Sybil... Thank you for touching my heart in more ways than I could express!

Forever grateful to Mavi Parolin and NetGalley for the gift of reading this masterpiece.

The romance here is subtle, quiet, and beautifully done.
It simmers in the background, never overshadowing the plot but still hitting all the emotional beats. If you love a slow burn (like... painfully slow) where a lingering touch or using someone's given name feels more intimate than a kiss, you'll adore it! I hope the second book explores this aspect a little more (yes, l'm a sucker for romance, though this book doesn't necessarily need it).

I adored this book. Absolutely adored. It's long and full of detail but it doesn't feel like a long read. Everything from the characters to the twists were perfect and I've already recommended it to a number of my friends. I'll definitely do a re read sometime soon

★★★★★

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

Gifted by Mavi Parolin is a roller coaster of emotions, action, and relationship-building. When I saw it was an 800+ page book, I was overwhelmed, as is expected. But this book has instilled a new interest in lengthy books for me. There's just so much world-building through different settings and character backgrounds. I'm excited to continue with this series and see what places and people come next.

I loved the central characters, especially their war band, Lizzie, and Alex. And Kamathi. And Sybil. And Annie... The more I remember the characters' names and personalities, the more I realize how much I enjoyed and connected with this book. They were so clearly articulated with unique and memorable personalities. Even the horses had exceptional character-building.

It was so fun to "watch" Elaine go through legionnaire training, especially with the weapons and fighting. Sometimes I felt some parts were missing, like her promised battle with Otto and the actual construction of her poleaxe. But I enjoyed her unique fighting style and training.

The slow burn was well done. Because of the length of the book, I could feel it building up, and I just wanted them to get together already! The back and forth between being together and not being together was frustrating and perhaps overdone. But the complexities of their relationship came out very strongly.

And the ending... I was not expecting that at all. I always expect someone to die in a romantasy, but that's not who I was expecting! How do we move on from here?!

Thank you to Mavi Parolin for this ARC!

4.25 stars

E-ARC provided to me through NetGalley

"Being driven by a need to survive had made me into who I was: a twenty-four-year-old belligerent, brawling, unaccomplished foot soldier, who has taken the Emperor up on his offer for a better life and found there was no such thing."

Gifted by debut author Mavi Parolin is the first installment in the Gifted series, and it’s a military fantasy steeped in politics, hierarchy, and the costs of duty and sacrifice.

What struck me most was how quickly the characters pulled me in — they felt emotionally resonant and complex, making the found family elements all the more impactful. The FMC is flawed but fierce, and watching her wrestle with past and present trauma, while finding resilience, healing, and growth, was one of the strongest aspects of the story.

Romance readers will find a slow-burn relationship here, leaning more into “antagonism to lovers” than traditional enemies to lovers. It’s closed-door, but the tension simmers enough to keep you turning pages.

I’ll be honest — the final act didn’t work as well for me. It felt like the plot veered off track and I felt confused. That said, I’m invested enough in the world and characters that I’ll absolutely pick up the sequel.

If you’re looking for a military fantasy with romance, political intrigue, and a flawed but compelling heroine, this is one to keep on your radar.

A gentle note: please do check trigger warnings before diving in.

This was a great book! The story was very interesting and fast paced. I also loved the plot twists in this book and the writing!

Whew that was a chonker. Long ass book, but the pacing is good so I was never bored!

Pros: Elaine’s development, the slow (very slow) burn, the fleshed out side characters, the FEMINISM.

Cons: Elaine’s self deprecation (just a tad too much), and the extremely rude ending…. how could you do that to me?

It was interesting to read a book where it is technically a fantasy but the fantasy elements are so few and far between that.. honestly? It felt more like a badass female military coming-of-age book. Nothing wrong with that. Very hard to believe this is a debut novel because it’s extremely well structured, thought and fleshed out, and written well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Mavi for the free review eArc!

I LOVE this book. Elaine is so well written. The characters are fantastic, the suspense and questions you have keeps you up at night. I had to devour this book and didn't care if I slept or not. The writing is done well. I know some might find the pacing slow at times but I feel that it was still used with perfect intentions. It allows us to know the characters so intimately. It allows us to collect with them. I am obsessed with this story and I cannot wait till the second book.

Wow... just wow. I have read many five star romantasy books this year. I was beginning to question my rating scale by going with "feels" and how well it kept my attention. There were a lot of good books this year, especially in romantasy. Gifted blows them all out of the water. That is not to say the other books still aren't great and I don't want to take anything away from them. But, Gifted was just everything I maybe didn't know I needed?
I would never believe that Mavi Parolin was a debut author. The world building was top notch, I never felt taken out the story, I was invested from the start.
Elaine... oh, my Elaine. I fell in love with Elaine. Her pain, her strength, her endurance, her guardedness. At the beginning, you see this loner who longs to just get by, not be bothered. After giving herself and her heart to her commander to be let down, she closed herself off. An orphan, alone, thinking its best. Never having or feeling she has a place to call home. I had this feeling right away that I wanted her protected at all costs. Every hand she had been dealt was crap. Her life was not her own and she was basically a pawn to be traded as a "Gift" to a well known governor known to possibly be cruel, to an elite military force that she didn't understand why she was chosen.
Elaine's growth is so beautiful and heart-wrenching to watch. To see her gain friends, a home, a family, strength, love, acceptance. It is just beyond. Her story is so worthy of reading by everyone. Will women gravitate to her and understand her more? Sure, but, I think men could really enjoy this story and see what women in positions that are held by mostly men, deal with in every field, in every world. Elaine is just everything to me. She has been through hell over and over again. The author has written her so well, you cannot help but love and adore and want to hold her and keep her safe. I could write my own novel about my love for Elaine, so let me stop there.
Alex, so damn near perfect Alex. Grief, fear, misunderstanding, confusion, and just loving someone with trauma and trying his best. Not always perfect, but close. He never hid his feelings, his affection, his care. Even when it hurt, even when his grief overpowered his emotions, he was at least honest. I have my worries for him going into the second book, we will just have to wait and see what happens... how long do we have to wait, lol...
Lizzie, sweet, wonderful, smart, witty, cunning, Lizzie. This girl cracked open Elaine after Grace pricked a pinhole for her to find. Lizzie was light, love, laughter, family for Elaine. So many of their interactions stole my heart, made me smile, made me laugh, made me cringe for Elaine! Just pure innocence and love.
So many side characters deserve their own recognition. There were many and yet each had their own personalities, you didn't get confused, they each had their own stories, even if we didn't know them. Truly spectacular writing to make me care for them all.
Agatha, someone Elaine needed so badly, who came in at just the right time. I adore her. I know we will get her story at some point and I look forward to it.
Michael, love love love, a true friend, a true confidant. His and Elaine's friendship is so beautiful and grew to be such a loving relationship.
The rest of the war gang, Otto, Li, Vincent, Ollie, each with their own relationship with Elaine, some not as fleshed out as others, but they would all fight by her side no matter what. They would come when she called. I loved how she helped Ollie, and then Otto and Ollie's relationship growing. I loved the teasing from Vincent to bring some lightheartedness. I think they were all a little in love with Elaine.
Hu... yes, I am including him. I think Hu knew something. He knew she was destined for more than him, the army, her place. I don't know if we will ever see why he did what he did, but I think he was drawn to her just like everyone else, but was stronger by letting her go. Or maybe I am just giving him too much credit.
Sam, I knew something was up with him. I wasn't surprised by most of what happened. There was something that definitely threw me off. Will he or was he starting to redeem himself? I don't know. But, I do know his mom is a raging b.
There are more characters that deserve to be mentioned, but I could go on and on, so I choose to stop there.
There are, what I feel to be, hints throughout the story. Little times that Elaine thinks something or feels something, or something strange happens that is unexplainable. It ties together so well with the "reveal", that's in quotes because we don't have any real answers at the end of book 1. I am in dire need for book 2... like my goal until book 2 comes out is to get book 1 printed some way. I need to have a physical manifestation of this book, no question, no ifs, ands or buts. I need it. Sorry, losing my direction here.
This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and you will keep asking for me. I cried more times than I can count. The yearning is top notch, the longing, the need, the adoration... more, more, more (imagine the Kylo Ren meme).
Elaine and Alex's journey is filled with so many roadblocks, so much pain, so much yearning, so much love.
Some of my highlights (and I had a metric TON of them):
For the setting I kept expecting some olde world language like "ye"s, but that was not present. That was my first note lol. Not an issue I just laughed at myself for noticing it.
First sign of something more going on: a "similar place flashed through my mind, but I couldn't place it or hold on to it for more than a passing second before it faded away" my note: a memory perhaps of where she comes from?
Finding a place to call home: "everything about this place made me waht to experience a different life" note: having heard Elaine talk about never feeling home anywhere, this response to Barrymore is hopefully foreshadowing that she's found her home.
She talked about the fire at the orphanage, my note: Unknown magic possibly? Is this why the med worked?
A highlighted a passage of a story Sybil told about the sun god, and I questioned if Elaine may be a daughter or granddaughter or some descendant of a god?
She also talked about how she began to care about the men on her tier, and started to make connections and build trust. How she started to be truly happy.
Signs the gods had her:
"But, suddenly it wasn't all dark at all"
"After awhile, the air around us warmed up a bit, though I didn't have a single logical explanation for that phenomenon either"
"It was probably a combination of the adrenaline and my new training, I told myself. There was no point in overthinking it"
"What the hell do the gods have to do with this?"
"Elaine, your body is connected to the Mother"
"It was a longshot but whatever lineage I came from was more prone to herbal medicines. I had no way of knowing, since my parents were long gone and finding them was a futile quest that I had given up a long time ago, It would be easier to find a god and ask them directly than to trace back my origins. It wasn't like there was even documentation proving I even existed until I got the orphanage"
"I had been born around the same time religion had been destroyed"
"Most of my childhood issues could only be settled with the gods, and it wasn't like they gave a shit anyway"
"The emperor thinks he's the last child of the sun god."
"Once upon a time, there was a land which had grown from the love between a goddess and a human man"
Like I said, to many highlights and notes, I haven't even begun on interactions between Elaine and Alex, Elaine and Lizzie, Elaine and her band, Elaine and the masters and commanders.
I haven't even touched on the trauma and PTSD. You will want to protect Elaine at all costs. I am telling you, this woman is everything.
The latter 20-30% of the book had me in tears and yearning back and forth, over and over again.
I cannot tell people enough to read this book.

Ratings:
Overall: this book is greater than a five star rating. I cannot scale it against other books because it's on a level all it's own.
FMC: again, Elaine, is beyong a five star rating for me. I love her to the ends of the earth.
MMC: Alex... boy, you were so so close. He is a 4.9, for one lie that was unacceptable.
Spice: OK, technically no "spice" there are intense make-outs that are descriptive but I would consider fine for a 16 year old to read. I don't know what will come in future books. So, I will rate the yearning... and boy could these two YEEEEAAAAARRRRRRNNNN. A+ yearning and desire and want and love.

Read this book.
WHEN it gets printed, buy it. This author deserves all the support. And from her author's note, so does her Dad, so thank you Mavi Parolin's Dad!

The Empire of Liona's capital city of Lyanthian is a place of starvation and abuse, unless you are of the ruling elite. A land that chose the Emperor over any gods they may have once worshiped. Commoners only keep their eldest children and any others are cast out as orphans to so couples can stave off hunger a little while longer. Elaine, unloved in a city where the weak are exploited, is cast out of the orphanage at 12 years of age to find her own way. She finds her way into the vast Imperial Army as one of the few women who are soldiers and strives to become unnoticed. Years before, Elaine fell for her general who has since tossed her aside and now she has no ambition aside from drinking and fighting for spare coin.

However, the gods don't always care what we want and Elaine bewilderingly finds herself ripped from her small, aimless life to become a Gift from the Emperor to Alexander Courtenay, and his elite Barrymore Legionnaires. Elaine does not know how to be a comrade; she only knows how to exist. At Barrymore she becomes so much more than she ever knew possible and learns that love changes everything.

What an incredible debut effort by, Mavi Parolin, that I consumed in 24-hours. Please read the content warnings, but also, please do not let them scare you off. I found the sensitive topics were dealt with authenticity as part of the world Elaine lives in. Unreservedly, I've recommended the book to many women, confident that Elaine's experiences and how she deals with them will empower and connect others. The incredible personal growth Elaine experiences is hard-fought and not without heartbreaking setbacks. You ache for her and want her to succeed. To my delight, all of the characters in this novel are multi-dimensional with unique motivations outside of Elaine's narrative; they are not merely stand-ins for her story. Thank you, Maria Victoria Parolin and NetGally for this ARC and I eagerly await the next book!

This was a surprise to me. The cover gives off vibes in a specific direction (not bad), but the content of the book gives off even better vibes. I really enjoyed this book. Four stars only because the ending felt rushed and introduced (really late) a whole other element to the story. I’m still stunned that this is this author’s Debut novel with how aware the characters are, and how deep the content. can’t wait to read more from her.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Really fun and emotional read
I really enjoyed Gifted! Elaine is such a strong and relatable main character, and I loved following her as she discovers her abilities and grows into her role as a Legionnaire. The world around her is full of interesting details and made the story feel real and exciting.
A few side characters didn’t feel as developed, and I would absolutely love to find out more about them, but overall the story kept me hooked. It’s emotional, sometimes intense, and really makes you care about what happens to the characters.
I’m excited to read the next book and see where Elaine’s journey goes!

One of the best books I've read this year! The story is fantasy based yet not in an overreaching sense. It has a nice mix of real world aspects with a bit of fantasy mixed in. The story really gives you time to get to know the main character Elaine, and see her growth throughout. Although the book is a long one I could not stop reading. There is always something going on, just pulling you right back in to keep reading.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I just finished this book and I feel unwell. This is a 6 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me.

The fact that is is a debut novel is almost unbelievable.

At first I was nervous about the length of this book- but now I am so upset that it’s over.

The world building and character development are top notch. Every character in this book is beautifully written and you can’t help but fall in love with each one. Even the “side” characters have development and stories worth learning about.

The progression of the story line pulls you in and the details just flow through the pages.

The behind the scenes yearning in this book!!

I found myself crying and smiling through out this entire book.

Congrats to Mavi! I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book and see where book 2 will take us!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a unique magic system and fantasy book! I can't wait to see what else she writes.

Really interesting plot and backstory. A few pacing issues throughout the book but a good cliffhanger. I was pretty invested in the characters and look forward seeing how the series progresses.

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.

How are people not talking about this book?

10/10

Slow burn 🔥
Enemies to Lovers 🥵
Strong FMC 💪
Found Family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

Where do I start, READ THIS BOOK!!! I absolutely fell in love with Elaine. Difficult, Stubborn and strong minded- she is a Difficult character who opens up and warms over the book. Her journey is believable, natural and the friends that she makes on the way are wonderful. I savoured this book- I am usually a fast reader, however I found myself slowing and re reading chapters to fully immersed myself and get every detail.

The future this world has is incredible- it feels like this is just the tip of the story and it will open out into an epic, sweeping fantasy. I especially appreciated the pacing- this book takes its time. No scenes are rushed, nothing is padding, it's just perfectly paced, with wonderful depth.

Probably my book of the year. I just can't explain how much I loved it

THANK YOU SO MUCH! for the opportunity to read this ARC and for writing and publishing this work. It is so, so clearly beloved and a book that has been living in the authors mind for a long time- and now it's here its just perfect 👌

If I could rate this book 6 stars, I would. At first, it was a little daunting for me to start reading the book, as it is over 800 pages. But once I started, I couldn't stop. The story and the characters were so amazing that I found myself drawn in until the very last page. I am so excited for book 2 now!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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.

I loved the Gifted! I liked the atmospheric scenes in this book. The main character Elaine was well thought out. Also showing Elaine in a way that very human and vulnerable. I loved the tension with her general Hu. I also loved the complicated emotions of the main character dealing with being in a male dominated field as being a solider. It’s like she had too really hold on her femininity and put in up in a box. Because their where no room for softness. The only thing is the book was too long. BUT I REALLY LOVE IT!

Wow.
Just, Wow.
I devoured this book and now I’m struggling to write this review purely because I don’t want to be finished reading it! I’ve only read 2 books this year that I would describe as a 6 star read for me, and this is one of them.

I’m amazed that Gifted is Mavi Parolin’s debut novel, the rich detail and emotion with which she tells this story is, well I’ll say it again, wow. The FMC and MMC are so beautifully flawed, it makes them so relatable. And the FMC’s relationship with her fellow legionnaires, the banter had me laughing out loud!
Our FMC’s journey is heartbreaking, powerful and inspiring, I found myself invested in her achievements as if I was there too.
The “magical” elements are subtle, taboo and unknown, I’m excited to see how it all develops!

I love that it ended at a crossroads of sorts and not on a cliffhanger, I feel satiated instead of like I need to claw my own skin off in anticipation. I’m insanely excited for the next book in the series and hoping physical copies of the book and special editions will be available cause this will become a collector’s series for me!

Endless thank you’s to Mavi Parolin and NetGalley for the advanced read! Can’t wait to hopefully read the next one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Gifted by Mavi Parolin completely ruined me (in the best way) 😭✨

It’s emotional, mysterious, and that angsty slow burn we all secretly live for.
The writing? Gorgeous.
The characters? (Had me whispering “be serious right now”) So heartbreakingly real. 💔

Spice level: low to moderate 🔥
Think intense make-outs and charged stares, not full-on steam — but the tension? Off. The. Charts. 😏

A perfect mix of magic, longing, and emotional chaos that leaves you whispering, “what do I even do with myself now?” 💫

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 was really torn by this book. There were some elements that really spoke to me and some that I really didn't love.

I like the premise of the story. A young girl, forced into a life to escape poverty and starvation? Check. Female empowerment? Check. I really liked the characters and the relationships they had with each other.

For me, the book was off in pacing. So much time was spent in the beginning, introducing us to characters in the first 150 pages that we never see or hear from again - they're just mentioned. And once the main character got to her new home, it seemed like most of the action happened at the very end. I'd say it didn't need to be as long as it was.

There's an entire subplot with gods and powers that gives it a really great fantasy element and I'm here for that. But again, most of that was only briefly mentioned throughout the book and then all of the action to it was at the end. I get a slow burn, both in romances and in storytelling, but I think this could have moved a bit faster.

All in all, I find the story really intriguing. I'm involved enough in the characters that I would pick up a second book to see where to story goes. I gave it 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mavi Parolin for the Advanced Copy for review!

5⭐️.

What did you do to me Mavi???? Gifted is a slow burn beautifully crafted military fantasy that I couldn’t put down. The characters pulled me in and didn’t let go. They are flawed yet so likable. The development of the characters is so well done. The plot was good and just pulled me along for the ride. The emotions that this book made me feel.
I honestly can’t believe this is a debut novel!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Mavi Parolin and the publisher for the Arc. This is my honest review

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This was SO GOOD. A slow burn enemies-to-lovers military romance with excellent character development. The world building and magic development was interesting, and I always love a found family.

Uhm I'm sorry, WHY DID NOONE TELL ME THIS WAS SO GOOD! I just. I have no words really and loved it. Thank you thank you thank you

Review: Gifted by Mavi Parolin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
What an amazing ride! Gifted is a richly layered story, heavily influenced by the Roman Empire, following a woman Legionnaire as she carves her way through a brutal, unforgiving society. The world-building is absolutely stellar—slow-paced, yes, but every detail is deliberate and adds real depth to the story.
This book will put you through the emotional ringer. From found family to slow-burn romance to a gut-wrenchingconclusion, I felt everything. The author truly excels at making you connect with the main character—her strength, pain, and resilience were written so powerfully, I was completely invested.
There is some spice, but it’s light and spaced out 🌶️🌶️—just enough to add tension without overtaking the plot. And while it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, it feels more like the natural continuation of the story rather than an abrupt stop.
Though I received this through #NetGalley, the book is already published (end of August), so you can grab it now—and you should. A solid 4.5 stars and a definite recommendation from me!
#Gifted #RomanEmpire #SlowBurn #FoundFamily #EmotionalRollercoaster

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.

I have never had a book sneak attack me with a 5 ⭐️ read like this… Mavi really ripped my heart out and feebly stitched it together only to rip it out again. I feel emotionally exhausted but in the absolute best way.

Gosh I don’t even know where to begin… This book started off real slooow for me. At first I was like why is every review raving? It’s ok but just get me to meat and bones of it but looking back now we really needed to journey to get to the point where we feel our hearts crack right with them.

I won’t lie she is not a light short read and could def be shorter in places. But once I was sucked in, off I was reading way into the early hours of the morning, on my phone even if only for 10mins - I raced through it.

Our FMC Elaine has had a rough time pretty much from the time she could recall and growing up in the army was full of all the awful things you can imagine. She is felt blow after blow and then she is “gifted” to a “cruel” governor to join his legionnaires where it is deemed to be a death sentence. So this is where the story kicks off and you really go on a journey and the way her character grows is frustrating, heartbreaking, and empowering all the same.

Alex 😩😩😩 our MMC who I would have given anything to have read a POV of through this book - I enjoyed him so much but at the same time we really don’t know him too well. He truly was a supporting but main character which was so well done.

Lizzie, our sweetest little angel and devil meddling little sister to Alex who really was such an MVP. Loved her character so much and her sass was unmatched!

The war band had my entire heart ❤️ the group of found family who came through it all together - honestly I have a soft spot for every one of them. So many different qualities and traits so well described and portrayed in the book. How is this a debut novel honestly?

I need the next book to be out like yesterday 🥹 The way it was left was not a cliffhanger of such but soo much suspension and the promise of a whole new arc in the story that I am so excited for.

An enormous thank you to NetGalley and Mavi Parolin for the ARC and huge congrats on a stellar debut novel!!

Gifted was a great read. I was engaged right from the beginning. The MFC, Elaine, was good. I liked how she is strong but not so tough there’s little compassion. The book also allows her to make errors and grow.

I wish there was more about the gods. This first book was definitely more of an intro to that. I’m very intrigued by what was set up. Can’t wait for book 2!

I liked Mavi’s writing style overall. I do think the “because we’re women” was a bit much. Not that’s it highlighted or part of the story, but rather I wish it was shown more without saying it all the time. It felt like characters and/or Elaine’s inner monologue said it a lot. But it’s not unrealistic.

Thank you NetGalley and Mavi Parolin for the ARC

What a fun story. Gifted is a debut novel about adventure, strength and relationships. The book has a really likeable cast of characters with their own personalities (love ya Lizzie) and quirks. I found Elaine’s character to be particular intriguing and interesting to follow along with. Her story about leaving the only world she’s known against her will to train with an elite military. As the book unravels you realize there is far more to the world than is originally outlined. As this is a series I’m really curious to see how the politics and fantasy elements will be revealed and play out as well as how our heroes will navigate through the next series of challenges. Looking forward to the next one!

Be sure to read over the content warnings before reading.

First of all… WOW.
Mavi Parolin completely blew me away with Gifted. This book is everything I love about fantasy.. rich world building, characters that feel real, and a story that wraps around your heart and doesn’t let go. I honestly wish I could read it for the first time again.

The world building is stunning. It’s detailed without ever feeling heavy and every piece fits together so perfectly that I could see it all in my mind like I was right there! The pacing is spot on too, building tension and emotion along with a steady rise of curiosity that pulls you deeper and deeper until you realize you’ve fallen completely under its spell.

The romance absolutely wrecked me (in the best way). It’s that slow burn forbidden will they won’t they kind of tension that keeps you holding your breath and hoping they’ll finally figure it out. It’s emotional, it’s frustrating, and it’s perfect.

I feel like I know the characters. Every bit of growth, every set back, every choice all felt so personal. I laughed with them and hurt for them. By the end, I was ridiculously proud of them, like they were my own friends who had made it through something impossible. Even though the impossible is only just on the horizon.

Then there’s the fantasy element, the way the divine elements and whispers of gods slowly weave into the story until suddenly they’re front and center. It’s subtle at first, then all at once, adding depth that completely transforms the story.

Gifted is the kind of book that reminds me why I love fantasy so much. It’s emotional, immersive, and unforgettable. I read the final page in awe, already longing for more. I cannot wait for the second book!

I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions.

What a freaking emotional rollercoaster.

This is a fantasy novel with very complex world building, characters development, found family and military themes.

The romance is very will they won’t they, which makes YEARNING God Tier.

I’m obsessed with the found family vibes. The supporting characters are unique and lovable.

FMC is badass from the start, despite complex morality and obvious unresolved trauma

MMC is a while swoon

5/5 for the pain current pain in my soul

This was a solid read with interesting characters and world-building.
In different situations the characters really felt human. They didn't feel flat. The main character went through a lot and still moves forward. At the end she still makes mistakes, which makes her kind of more real. I'm really looking forward to the sequel.
And I can definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a more character-driven story.
Thanks to Mavi Parolin and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this. I couldn’t help it. It just worked for me. Occasionally the writing style/dialogue/word choices felt too modern, and I had a few issues with how some of the plot points/relationships resolved (not necessarily how they ended, but how exactly we got there), but those were really my biggest gripes with this. Most of the worldbuilding was exactly what the book needed it to be for the plot and setting. The themes were ever-present. I love training settings, I love blacksmith characters, I love master/trainer relationships, I love when leaders and their people find strength through mutual respect, I love the the-love-interest’s-little-sister-is-incorrigible-but-everyone-would-die-for-her trope (and the dynamics that surround it), and I love at least twelve more tropes that apply to the romance. The main characters were dynamic, and the side characters were a delight. I don’t often love characters similar to Elaine, especially as a narrator (and as the only narrator), but I loved her and her fight. I loved how realistic it felt as she grew and changed and softened. I was truly rooting for her, to the extent that I read the majority of this 850 page book in 2 days… I couldn’t stop thinking about it. And I probably won’t stop thinking about it until I get book 2.

6⭐️
Not many books get my heart hurting that much, but a masterpiece certainly does. Wow, I'm so amazed and beyond words.

But before I start telling you what you are going to embrace in that wonderful novel, I want to thank NetGally and especially the author for providing me an eArc copy. A big big thank you to you, Mavi, because you gave me a story that lives rent-free in my head. I mean it when I said i'm beyond words. I can't explain how much this book affected me.

The gem in this masterpiece was definitely the found family. I love that trope in general but this time... it was different. It felt special, somehow? Words are truly failing me right now but I was giggling so damn much throughout the entire book that it didn't go unnoticed by my siblings.

And oh my... I love Elaine. She was brave, she was strong, she was reckless and selfless and so much more. The things she went through were surly nothing everyone is capable of even bearing but the way she handled it was everything I needed to know.
Every time she was handled unfairly i was angry at everyone who caused that.

Even though the whole book was drama itself (I loved that btw), everything went crashing down towards the end that it hurt so much. I was literally shaking. This is not an underestimated, so yes, i need book two IMMEDIATELY. This wasn't funny at all because I loved her so much. Too much (I hope you know who I'm talking abt). So yes, i'm furious about it because this was emotional damage itself.
Not many books can effect that, so yes, I mean it when i say it was a masterpiece.

The plots as well were really good and i was speculating and thinking with the characters together at some point.

The romance... i love slow burn. So, yes, you did everything right. I loved him and I understand him. Lizzy is everything to him, to Elaine, to Muller, to Otto and now to me as well.

I am genuinely confused why this novel isn't out yet in a physical copy. I can't stand it to know that this masterpiece isn't sitting on my shelf. I really hope we will get it soon because it deserved it.

And if anyone is asking themself wether its worth it to start this 800 pages-long novel, than there is only one thing i can say:
Do it. Without hesitation.

This is my favorite book I've read this year! I can't believe this is Mavi's first novel. The story surpassed my expectations in every way. The world-building elements were great. You can imagine every detail of every scene of the story. The characters are well built and memorable. I'm not normally a romance girly, or a fantasy girly, but I was very pleasantly surprised. It does have some heavy themes (SA and death), but they were well handled and gave the storyline so much depth. There were a couple of chapters that weren't my favorite and I felt were honestly weird, but those were towards the end, and ended up adding depth and making sense. Overall, I loved the book and I can't wait for the next one in the series!

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 | 0.5 🌶️ (slow burn)

Gifted by Mavi Parolin is an impressive debut — long, ambitious, and undeniably atmospheric and introspective — but one that, for me, struggled to keep its balance between realism and fantasy, as well as with the overall pacing. I wanted to love this story, and it was presented as a romantasy. However, being a reader more drawn to emotional connection, this read did not resonate with me, and perhaps I simply wasn’t the best fit for the intended audience.

Set within the Governor’s legion, we follow the story of 24-year-old legionnaire Elaine Lyanthian, an orphan who earned her place among the Emperor’s soldiers from the age of twelve. As part of an ancient custom (The Tithe Festival), she is “gifted” to Governor Alexander Courtenaye to serve within his elite legion. What unfolds is a slow, introspective journey through loyalty, loss, and power — though, to my surprise, the magical aspect of this romantasy only appears in the final chapters.

I truly appreciated the camaraderie within the legion and the author’s dedication to detail in depicting the daily life of soldiers — the ranks, training sessions, discipline, and emotional struggles. However, these same details sometimes overwhelmed the story, stretching scenes that didn’t move the plot forward and delaying the true emotional and fantastical core.

While the writing style is elegant and immersive, it felt overly dense, with a pace that made the 800+ pages feel much longer than necessary. The romance between Elaine and Alexander had potential — a stoic governor and his gifted soldier — but the slow burn might have been a bit too slow for me (ending in frustration), and it leaned heavily on tropes I personally struggle to connect with: the superior/subordinate dynamic, the constant push-and-pull, and the unresolved ending.

The magic system, teased throughout the book, only reveals itself in the final chapters — a powerful moment, but too brief in my opinion. I’m sure this will be developed in Book 2, and I’ll probably continue the series as I’m curious to learn more about the magic and the gods, and to see if there will be a resolution between Elaine and Alex.

Despite these drawbacks, Gifted showcases a promising author with a strong sense of atmosphere and character introspection. I hope that the sequel will deliver more answers to the world-building and offer a deeper emotional payoff.

📚 My ratings:
Emotional impact 3.5
World-building 3
Romance 3
Plot & Pacing 3
Writing Style 4.25

✨ Tropes and vibes:
Slow burn | Superior/subordinate | Found family | Forbidden love | Introspecitve heroine | Loyalty vs duty | Tragic loss | Hidden power revealed late

Overall: 3.5 ⭐️ — a beautifully written but overly long debut, with rich atmosphere but little magic until the very end. Perfect for readers who enjoy military settings, introspective heroines, and detailed world-building over fast-paced romantasy.

A respectful 3-star read. While I can see why many readers loved it, it simply didn’t spark the emotional connection I look for in romantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and author Mavi Parolin for the trust and for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars I love supporting indie authors and I did finish this one. However maybe the book series will get better after the first one. That being said I didn’t love it but I will continue

I don't even know where to start with this book. A debut novel that's over 800 pages had me so concerned about a DNF but OMG! I wish Mavi had other books for me to jump into immediately because this was phenomenal. Mavi is going to be must-buy for me from here on out. All the unique world-building, hierarchal system, slow burn and found family a girl could want with a plot written in such a stunning and heart wrenching way. The world building felt educated and historically accurate despite it being a fantasy. You could feel how much effort the author put into creating a realistic world. The FMC had a beautiful growth arc and was so easy to root for. She was flawed and had some trauma to overcome but the concepts of women in the military and their hardships were examined and handled so well. Gifted dealt with the heavy topic of sexual assault and as someone who has experienced it, I think it was handled gently and provided hope .
Each individual character is distinct and developed so well throughout the book and I didn't immediately forget the side characters because they were written to be endearing. The found family aspect was perfection.

I couldn't put this down and was so anxious for a happily ever after that I didn't even know how to leave to world and climb into a new one. Book two ASAP please!!! This is how you get readers emotionally invested. Take notes!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the review. This book was addicting and I'm surprised the author does not have more books out. I love a good slow burn romance that keeps me hooked from the beginning. This book was so beautifully written that I literally did not want to go to sleep so I could finish. I needed this romantsy and I will 100% be buying a physical copy from the author. If you need a romantasy that will make you feel so many emotions and cry please read this novel.

I absolutely loved this book. The way the FMC, Elaine, was flawed, had trauma she was dealing with and despite that, the strength and understanding she slowly grew. The friendships Elaine built, the will they/wont they and the adorable meddling and sisterly love from Lizzie. The hints at Elaine being more than anyone thought.
I even loved the last 20%-ish of the book that I couldn't put down and that absolutely ripped my heart out and stomped on it over and over again.
My only regret with this book is that I read it before there is a sequel out. I need to know more about what was happening with Elaine at the end there, the powers she apparently has and the voices that talked to her throughout the story. I need to know how her relationships are resolved, if everyone can get through their losses and pain and sort everything out. It's so hard to say what I need to know without spoilers, so I will leave it at I NEED MORE!

Thank you so much for letting me read. 3.5 starts
It was overall a good book. I love women's empowerment do not get me wrong but I felt there was so much of it that it got annoying. Overall not a bad read did take awhile to get into the book but o feel like thats just because I am a mood. reader. i know most series the later book are better, so i will continue to read the series.

I was very torn on this one… there were elements that I really enjoyed, the premise was fantastic, and I really enjoyed the relationships. The whole “young girl escaping poverty and making her own new path” is one that always hooks me!

However… I felt that the pacing was really off. The first 150 pages introduce so many characters and concepts that we don’t really see again. I also felt that a lot of the actual action happened all at the end. I wished it would have been a little tighter and together. But he gods and powers subplot had so much potential, and gave the story a really cool edge, but it only really felt like it came alive at the end.

Intriguing story, I’m glad I picked it up!

This book surprised me in the best way possible. At first I was skeptical because of the size of it but quickly I became enraptured in the story and fell in love with the writing. It’s impressive how the author can touch such sensitive topics with grace and ease. I loved the main character for being human and flawed and loved the found family that she was able to find along the way. My heart broke during the last pages and I hated to see the characters suffering so much. I can’t wait for the next installment to see how things will turn out. Also I’m so intrigued by the main plot and the gods!! I need answers!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everything about this was incredible and perfect. I loved the characters, the plot, the world, the more subtle intro of the gods without it taking over the story. The length never felt too long and I was Engaged the whole time. I felt like I really knew these people and therefore this book had me crying in public. Devastating and I need more so soon.

This book was everything I was hoping it would be I couldn't put it down the minute I started reading it.

Gifted is an intense and immersive military fantasy that surprised me with how emotional it became. Elaine Lyanthian is such a compelling heroine. Watching her rise from a starving twelve-year-old recruit to a member of the elite Barrymore Legion kept me hooked from the beginning. The world she comes from is harsh, unforgiving, and shaped by war, and the book never lets you forget how much pain she has already survived.

What I loved most was the humanity woven into all that brutality. Once Elaine is elevated into the Barrymore Legion by the Emperor, the story shifts into something richer. The dynamics within the Legion feel real and layered. There are friendships that grow slowly, moments of loyalty that feel earned, and a soft spark of romance that adds warmth without overpowering the story. Alexander Courtenay is both intimidating and magnetic, and the tension between danger and trust makes their interactions fascinating to read.

The worldbuilding is ambitious, filled with political tension, military structure, and hints of something powerful waking inside Elaine. At times I wished for a little more clarity in the setting, and some pacing moments felt uneven. Even so, the emotional moments landed beautifully, and Elaine’s growth was easy to root for.

Overall, Gifted is a gripping start to a series that blends grit, heart, and rising stakes. It is a story for readers who love found family, slow building tension, and heroines shaped by hardship who refuse to break. I am genuinely excited to see where Elaine’s journey goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This books has it all you want in a fantasy romanceI loved how detail it was. Strong FMC and found family. Can wait to get more as my head is swimming with theories and would love to see how some of the other characters develop in the story.

Gifted, by Mavi Parolin, is a character-driven contemporary fantasy that prioritizes emotional depth over immediate grandeur. The story follows Elaine, a flawed, impulsive, and deeply human protagonist whose journey is shaped by mistakes, loss, and moral growth.

With a deliberately slow beginning that demands patience but ultimately rewards it, the book stands out for its strong psychological development and for a romance that exists in the right place—present and meaningful, yet never overpowering the narrative.

A dense, emotional, and promising read for those who enjoy fantasy centered on inner transformation.

📖 The full review is available on my Goodreads.


>> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8151455436 <<

4.85✨ this book was so good!! It’s very very slow burn and I would say that we didn’t need about 30% of the book but can’t complain as I loved it. This book left me heartbroken 💔 and wanting more, the tension between the Fmc and Mmc was on 🔥 and it will make you crave for them to be together even more.

Our Fmc Elaine currently in the Imperial Army how has been attacked on multiple occasions due to her being the only female to join. She’s strong yet emotional drained especially after finding out she had now to be Gifts into the prestigious Legion of Barrymore. After saving a young woman from a sick brutal man she’s promised the young woman protection from the guy she’s left injured in the alleyway. Her journey to
Barrymore isn’t an easy one lead by Alex her new commander, no one bothers to acknowledge her existence except for Sam who’s harmless.

Alex is a Governor he’s a bit of an 🍑🕳️ right from the beginning he’s uptight, angry and seems to have taken all that angry and directed it at Elaine. Alex never even wanted her in his army from the get go and he certainly doesn’t want her near his sick sister who has taken a liking to Elaine. We see a vulnerable side to him when it comes down to his sister you can see how much he loves her it’s not just about her being sick it’s about his enemies that what to bring harm to him and would use his sister against him.

•Elizebeth is Alex sister just because she’s sick it doesn’t stop her have one of the strongest minds and being the smartest in the room. She’s wants to go outside and do normal things instead of trapped inside like a caged animal. Her brother overbearing with worry that he doesn’t know how far he’s taking it with not allowing her to see and do more.
•Sam your nice, sweet friendly guy who everyone can’t help but love, he was the first to acknowledge Elaine and treat her with respect and kindness. But a side of him comes to light that we don’t expect.
•I love Michael his honesty is really refreshing 😍 and he had me laughing a lot!! I also feel sorry for him as he clearly has feelings for Sam but got rejected because he’s straight. 😭
•Otto is a flirt and a charmer he’s once was the angry one who has definitely come out of his shell 🫢
•Ollie is quiet, shy, sweet and one of the youngest in the army but he’s willing to learn to fight and slowly but surly finds his voice.
•Vincent is a happy guy and will always been rooting for you.

Thank you NetGalley & Author for the arc 😍

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.

Gifted pulled me in with an intriguing premise and a world that clearly has a lot of depth behind it. Mavi Parolin does a great job of setting the tone early, and I appreciated how the story steadily unfolded rather than rushing to explain everything at once.

The main character was compelling and easy to root for, especially as they navigated their abilities and the challenges that came with them. I enjoyed watching the growth throughout the story, and the emotional stakes felt real without being overdone. The writing itself was smooth and easy to follow, making it a quick but engaging read.

That said, there were moments where I wished certain plot points or relationships had been explored a bit more deeply. Some sections felt like they could have benefited from additional development, especially when it came to motivations and world-building details.

Overall, Gifted is an enjoyable read with a strong foundation, interesting ideas, and characters that kept me invested. Fans of fantasy with emotional undertones and character-driven storytelling will likely find a lot to enjoy here. I’m definitely interested in seeing where this world and these characters go next.

With "Gifted," I have read an absolute masterpiece that occupied my thoughts long after the final page. It is far more than just a suspenseful page-turner; it is a profound journey through the human soul, embedded in a complex world full of gods, myths, and military discipline.

At the center is Elaine, a hardened soldier who has not only survived the harsh reality of army life and a toxic affair but also struggles against her own inner demons. When the Emperor "gifts" her to Governor Alexander Courtenay and his legion, she begins a path she never sought. What follows is an intense, 800-page slow-burn: we accompany Elaine through grueling training and dangerous battles, but also witness the emergence of a touching "found family" dynamic. Especially the unconditional love of Courtenay’s sister and the growing respect of her new comrades give the story an enormous emotional depth.

The novel does not shy away from the depths of human existence. It addresses Elaine’s trauma, guilt, and pain with a relentless honesty, while mysterious abilities simultaneously awaken within her. Fast healing, night vision, and primal instincts hint at an ancient prophecy that increasingly draws Elaine into the conflict between light and darkness.

Alexander Courtenay is absolutely fascinating as the male protagonist—mysterious, composed, and (for all fans of atmospheric details) carrying the distinct scent of pines and rain. The tension between him and Elaine is almost palpable, even though both are separated by secrets and tragedies.

Despite the considerable length of the book, every scene is meaningful. The battles are masterfully described, the landscapes are vivid, and philosophical questions about loyalty, faith, and resilience resonate in every chapter. In the end, I was left with a racing heart and countless questions: Who are the entities in Elaine’s mind? What game is the Emperor playing? And above all: is there hope for a reunion between Elaine and Alexander?

My verdict: "Gifted" is an immersive, painful, and at the same time beautiful reading experience that kept me awake until the early morning hours. A must-read for anyone who loves high fantasy with depth and big emotions. I need the sequel—right now!

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.

*Gifted* by Mavi Parolin is, above all, a story of trust. But more than that, it is a story of loyalty, hope, and of re-creating oneself. At the onset of the novel, our protagonist, Elaine, finds herself being Gifted to the highest-ranking Governor in the nation. The first quarter or so of the novel focuses on her rescue of a younger girl from assault, her relationships in the current legion she is in, and ultimately, leads her to the meat of the book. That is, Courtenay. Governor Courtenay is essentially a Duke in today's world, a very high-ranking one, and he controls an elite group of soldiers. At first, Eliane is distrusted within the legion, and though she begins to form her own group of people, tensions are high. As Elaine grows closer to Courtenay's beloved yet chronically ill sister, rebel attacks also increase, ultimately culminating in a mix of gods, humans, and magic. The ending is open, and leaves me to presume there will be an accompanying sequel. I will mention, the book contains descriptions of the beginnings of rape/assault scenes, so please avoid this novel if that might be of any issue. However, such scenes are dealt with sensitively by the author and never get too graphic. All in all, Gifted is a great book about the power of friendships, love, and the power of reinvention, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out.

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 - [She repeatedly calls Alexander's fiancee Merebitch, even after she forgives him. Really, Meredith has done nothing wrong to her, and if she could forgive Alexander for being engaged, she loses all right to be mad at Meredith. The girl did nothing wrong! 😭😭

This sounds absolutely fantastic! I can’t wait to dive into the world you’ve created and experience the story for myself. The premise alone is so intriguing, and I already know this is a book I’ll be recommending to friends. Looking forward to reading it!

Loved this one, it was such a unique romantasy looking forward to new opportunities. It’s getting fantastic feedback on my social media as well

The worst part about reading an ARC is finishing it and realizing you now have to wait for the next book. And trust me—I am counting the days for this one. I genuinely cannot put into words how much I loved this story or how incredible it is. I was completely blindsided in the best way.

This isn’t a fast-paced, nonstop action kind of book—and if that’s what you’re looking for, this might not be your match. But what it does do is build its world and characters with care and intention, slowly immersing you until you feel like you truly know everyone and everything.

The twists and turns kept me hooked, and the emotional depth hit hard. At its core, this is a story of female empowerment: a FMC finding herself while surviving everything life throws at her. She isn’t naïve—she’s strong, resilient, and shaped by what she’s endured, without being defined by it.

For a debut novel, this absolutely blew me away. It has everything I love—found family, enemies to lovers, and a truly badass FMC. I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Fantastic debut!
The beginning of the book as a bit slow as we got to know our FMC. Can’t say I liked her much in the beginning due to her questionable choices which were the immature response to her circumstances.

Throughout the book her journey is an emotional rollercoaster. At times it was jarring to see her go from this badass Legionnaire to a vulnerable sexual assault victim; but the more I reflected on it, the more I understood the message the author wanted to send. The way Elaine overcame that part of the plot was satisfying and emphasized the role society plays in these cases.

I absolutely will want to read the rest of this Epic series!!

I just finished Gifted by Mavi Parolin and it left a strong impression on me. This is a big, immersive fantasy that blends military action, found family, and a slow build of emotional tension in a way that kept me turning pages even when it was long and heavy at times. 

The story follows Elaine, a woman shaped by a harsh past in the Imperial Army, who earns her place among the elite Barrymore Legionnaires. I found her journey incredibly compelling. She is flawed, stubborn, and real, and watching her grow and forge bonds with others made this feel as much about loyalty and resilience as about adventure. 

The worldbuilding feels lived in and detailed. There is a hint of magic stirring in Elaine that adds mystery, and the political and military dynamics pulled me deeper into the stakes of everything happening around her. I also really felt the emotional weight in the friendships and the budding connection with Alexander, even if the slow burn was sometimes frustrating. 

This book is long and at moments it slows down, but I appreciated how much care was put into the characters and their struggles. It was intense at times, emotionally charged, and often surprising. If you like layered fantasy with heart, grit, and plenty of character growth, this was a rich and unforgettable read for me, and now I am very curious about what comes next. 

Wow wow wow wow. Did I say wow? I'm honestly speechless. This is a debut novel... I can't believe it. The character progression was sooo good. I was a little put off at one point towards the end but was reeled right back in pretty quickly. I'm going to need book 2 ASAP.

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!

Heartfelt, adventurous, and deeply emotional. This story feels like a warm embrace in the middle of a storm. It balances the high stakes tension of a fantasy world with the "soft" moments of finding a place to belong, making it a perfect pick for readers who love high fantasy with a huge heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ebook copy of Gifted by Mavi Parolin! This was such a fantastic book full of rich world building and adventure. It took me a while to get to reading it because I knew it would be one that would take a lot of my focus and it was a lovely read. I am a thick book girlie and this did such a great job of giving all of the characters depth and making you feel the story without feeling over explained and repetitive. I am so glad to have found this author and eagerly await their next book!