Genres: NA Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy | Release Date: 30 April 2025 | Series: The Giving Chronicles | Series Book: #1 | Pages: 393 | Indie Author | Review
“Being Given is a death sentence.”
Elayna R. Gallea
Overview:
A huge thank you goes to Elayna R. Gallea, for letting me read an e-ARC of Given! Book one in the NA romantic fantasy series, The Giving Chronicles, this tale had me hooked from the very first page. So will you be hearing only praise from me for this book’s review? That’s a given, glitterbugs (and yes, pun intended)…
Because of the Mark she bears, Wren always knew that she would be Given to the Gods upon turning twenty. But what she hadn’t realised? Was that this wasn’t for a lifetime of service, it’s actually a death sentence. After witnessing the sacrifice of her best friend, Wren flees for her life. Aiming to escape the kingdom, her plan hits a snag when she finds an injured man in the woods. But when he’s healed and Wren discovers that he’s a Hunter, charged with bringing her back for her ceremony? The stakes couldn’t be higher. Gabriel tells her that he will give her one day’s head start as a thank you. But after that? All bets are off. Can Wren escape being sacrificed to the Gods? Or will Gabriel listen if she tries to tell him the truth?
Happiness Boost:
Within Given we are treated to a delicious slow burn romantasy, one which features an incredible game of cat and mouse! Desperate to escape the slaughter of a Given ceremony, I adore how inventive Wren is in her plans to avoid being captured. Add to that the inexplicable pull between Wren and Gabriel? Oh glitterbugs… You are in for such a wonderful adventure when you open this book!
Shall we talk side characters and villains? Reading about Gabriel’s connection with a panther, Mist, gave me such a nostalgic feeling of home. If you’ve read R. A. Salvatore’s Drizzt Do’Urden series, you’ll understand why! I am such a fan of characters having familiars and animal companions. So if you do too? You need this in your life! And oh my goodness the villains?! Elayna has created some truly chilling evil characters within this romantasy and I desperately need to know what happens next.
Given is a story which will lure you ever deeper into a world of darkness. But you know what else it does? It shows you how a defiant, desperate hope can make all the difference between living and dying. How the smallest act of kindness can change someone’s future, just as a split second decision can end one. I’m a huge fan of how Elayna pays attention to every small detail, even as she focuses on some incredibly big themes.
Downside:
No downside for me, I just really want to know what’s coming next!
Final Thoughts:
Given by Elayna R. Gallea is a beautiful NA romantic fantasy of slow burn love, terrifying choices and a desperate will to live. Who could pass that up?! Elayna has also recently been hinting that there’s some news in the works for this series, so it *may* be getting a trad deal… So go grab this now and fall in love with Wren and Gabriel before everybody starts clamouring for it! Just click on the link below to order yourself a copy, you won’t regret it. Happy reading, glitterbugs!
You can order Given via this link: Amazon
