It’s been awhile since I’ve read a YA Fantasy/Romance vampire book and it’s great to get back to the genre. This book is a new twist, combining the Civil War and supernatural beings. I listened to the audio of the book and the narrators did a fantastic job portraying the numerous characters and instilling the danger they went through and the anger, desperation, grief, and determination of then during the story. Jerusalem is a black woman that spent years on a plantation as a slave with her family under the rule of a cruel and vicious vampire. After gaining her freedom she joins the military fighting the Confederate Army. She discovers she’s a Saint, people with enormous strength and incredible reflexes, and is paired with an ancient vampire, Alexei, and other Saint allies. The Saints often have special weapons that help them harness their power and Jerusalem’s is an ancient spear.
Wow! This is a fantastic first book in a new YA Fantasy series. I can’t believe it’s the author’s debut novel. This book immediately grabbed my attention and I read late into the night because I just could not put it down. It’s full of cruel rulers, a unique magic system, a fierce FMC, and a world weary of war with their neighbor.
I know I’m late to the party on this book, and I get why it is so popular. Is it perfect? No. But it’s a fun, crazy ride. Books that involve a deadly training academy are my jam. They always have plenty of insane challenges, found family bonding, and of course, the obligatory off-the-chain crazy villain(s). This book has it all – plus dragons!
Last week I missed participating in TBR Beyond Tours book tour for this book because I was in Instagram “jail” (when they don’t let you like/comment/follow), but I’m so happy to finally share this engaging book that is out now. I’m just getting into it, so check back later for my full review. It’s an engaging, fast-paced book with great world building and interesting characters. I’m really enjoying it so far.
Sixteen-year-old Alexia has a secret; she’s a Varien—burdened with the gift of shooting stars through her skin. And after watching her best friend Sarai get falsely accused of murder upon changing into a Varien, Alexia wants no one to know. She keeps her secret tight and close until an accident with her strange abilities critically injures her father—threatening her identity to be revealed. Alexia flees and goes on the run to avoid death row. While in transit, she meets Greta, a quirky antique shop owner who promises her safety with other Variens in a realm called The Grove.
Alexia is skeptical, but once she learns Sarai has been kidnapped from prison and taken to The Grove to be sacrificed by Revenirs, a secret society of hitmen, she becomes intent on finding and saving her from another dire fate.
Greta introduces Alexia to The Grove and her new home at Malveaux Prep Academy and Sanctuary—a premier school for Varien teens to study and hone their knowledge and skill. There, Alexia rooms with a pyrokinetic hothead who can’t stop kissing her boyfriend and takes tours with her assigned campus mentor—a wise-cracking morphing teleporter named Kyle.
With the help of her newfound friendships, Alexia delves deeper into The Grove’s hidden history for clues on the present. All she wants is to find Sarai and save her. But the closer she gets to the Revenirs, the more danger she and her friends are in. Alexia must decide if friendship is worth the wrath of war, suffering, and even worse … betrayal.
For Legendborn and Gen V fans, The Gifted Society adds to the mosaic narrative discussion of who is allowed to harness power, adventure, and admiration. With its dark and light academia themes of fantasy and found family, it creates a world which provides a whimsical and sweet escape.
Tatiana White grew up on a creative diet of comics, poetry, film, essays, and books.
An advocate for diversity, Tatiana studied the mechanics of film, creative writing, and journalism with the overall goal of altering narratives and imagery imposed on black youths and adults. She achieved a bachelor’s degree in Mass Media Communications and went on to work for various Bay Area media staples before returning to her first love: storytelling.
When Tatiana’s not toiling over her computer, she’s occupied with her life as wife to her college sweetheart and full-time role as mother of two girls (or mutants, as she likes to call them) and a cantankerous schnauzer.
This is a really good YA Fantasy that is a mash-up of urban fantasy and Greek mythology. While most YA Fantasy books all seem to have the same basic premise (strong young female must overcome great odds/conquer evil/rule the nation while resisting falling in love with the boy that is either her childhood friend/enemy/new mysterious over protective friend), this is a refreshingly original take on that premise.
This is a fantastic first book in an exciting YA Fantasy/SciFi series. There is a strong, flawed female lead, complicated relationships, creepy monsters and plenty of action. It’s a quick read and I couldn’t put it down.
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