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 hot head 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 and suffering, and even worse ... betrayal.
Author here! I may be biased, but The Gifted Society is the whimsical adventure of my heart. It is a story ripe with love, beauty, nature, fantasy and a dash of danger. It allows black girls to take the main stage of coming of age while coming into power, love, vulnerability, and self-worth. I could say much more, but I will leave that for you all to explore.
This book has been my refuge for the last 10 years, now it belongs to everyone.
This book gave me Percy Jackson and Harry Potter (but with an actual diverse cast) vibes and I was so here for it! The school for Varien kids, sneaking out to try to change the world, and the found family of it all really brought me back to books I loved as a kid. It also had a lot to say about judging someone based on how they're born that I think is an important lesson for everyone.
I enjoyed the world a lot. People known as Variens can have different powers, which makes the Normals afraid of them. Luckily, there is a beautiful almost-Utopia called the Grove where Variens can live and thrive, and omg was it beautiful. I loved the descriptions of many of the magical locations there and wanted to see more.
The school was also an amazing setting, but I really wanted to see more of it. I think I would have preferred if this book were split into multiple volumes so that I could have seen more scenes of the other students, the classes, and locations on campus. Those things were rushed over to get to the plot, but it made some of the reveals at the end not land as well for me because I didn't have emotional ties to them. What we did see was amazing though, especially the SIM class where students learned to control their powers.
Alexia was a wonderful protagonist. She was so caring and lovely, but as with many 16 year olds she lacked the ability to see the bigger picture. She made many mistakes during this book that felt very real to her character, and I loved starting to see her grow from them. Her friends were lovely as well, especially Kyle who I found was quite a complex character. I'd like to see that complexity carried over to some of the side characters in future books as I found some of them a bit one-dimensional.
My main complaint would be that sometimes during action scenes I couldn't tell what was happening. Most of the time I appreciated the show not tell style of writing, but it got a bit confusing at times to where I didn't know what the descriptions meant.
Overall, if you want to see a new take on a magical school with powerful children, I'd recommend giving this book a try!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the copy of this book. I have voluntarily left this review and all opinions are my own.
this book was SOOOOOOOOO GOOD. i’m actually obsessed!! thank you so much @coloredpagesbt for the gifted copy!! 😍
Sixteen old Alexia has just lost her best friend. After becoming a Varien, power possessing people not accepted in the world of Normals, Sarai was falsely accused of murder and whisked away without a trace. Alexia is willing to do whatever it takes to get her back, but she’s got a secret herself — she’s a Varien too. The Gifted Society follows Alexia as she’s forced to leave life as she knows it behind to navigate her new abilities, a new school, new relationships with other kids like her and most importantly, continue the search for her best friend by any means necessary.
this book had everything you need — highschool vibes, a secret cult, found family, several plot twists, a few battle scenes and of course a little romance. i was hooked from page 2, literally. i was on the edge of my seat damn near the whole time and @tiaxtati had me yelling at the characters thru my book 🤣 i’ve realized the idea of magical realism is my favorite type of fantasy, and this book only made me double, no, triple down on that sentiment. i have no more words, other than, READ THIS NOW. if you need me, i’ll be (im)patiently waiting for book 2 🤍
Firstly, the art by Clara Gaby Rose is incredible and I LOVED it so much.
This one brought me back to the familiar world of "magic school" stories, but it was refreshingly more diverse. It managed to tap into a sense of nostalgia, especially with its echoes of the X-Men comics I loved growing up. I appreciated that this book serves as a more inclusive alternative to a certain other well-known wizarding world with a problematic author. The story also has dark academia vibes, with its secret societies and magical training.
It is set against a dystopian backdrop where teenagers develop supernatural abilities, known as Variens, and are feared by society. The story centers on Alexia, a young Varien, as she grapples with the dangerous reality of her secret. The fact that Alexia's father plays a role in the policies against Variens adds a layer of complexity to the story that I found really engaging, particularly when he expresses his acceptance early on. I also loved how the book touched on real-life issues, like prejudice and segregation, without getting bogged down by them, allowing the plot to pivot elsewhere while still addressing important themes. The emphasis on diverse representation and mental health was especially wonderful. It added depth to the story and highlighted the importance of diverse voices.
Alexia's journey of learning to rely on others was another aspect I really enjoyed. Her internal struggle and growth were handled with care and I found her a relatable and engaging main character.
That said, the action scenes were a bit challenging to follow at times, which disrupted the otherwise smooth flow of the story for me. While it has a few rough patches, its strong themes and character development make it a rewarding read, especially for those who appreciate a more diverse and inclusive take on familiar tropes.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and TBR and Beyond Tours for the opportunity to read and review. This review is based on a complimentary copy and it is voluntary. All opinions are my own.
The Gifted Society' Delivers Cosmic Thrills, Mental Health Depths, and Unforgettable Characters. _
“These ride or die friends, these coveted collectibles, they’re who must be preserved. It’s a hard trap to escape from.” — Tatiana has brought us all the good, bad and dark in her new-age dark academia, the gifted society.
Alexia, the protagonist, is gifted with the power of cosmos. Her denial or deflection in accepting this leads to consequences, confrontations, and consideration (in that order) of that fact that despite the pressure of being ‘the special one’ she is enough as who she is. And hopes that, it is enough to save her best-friend from being sacrificed. Yeeep. We have a cult led by a winged alpha y’all.
In her journey to rescue her friend, Alexia’s blend of confidence and condescension is evident. Despite her initial belief in handling everything solo, she discovers a supportive trio who accompany her through every shit decision and epiphanies, even fostering a romantic bond with one among them(🥰).
The narrative delves deeply into themes of mental health and anxiety, immersing readers in the emotional aftermath of seeking help, and the guilt that follows. The relatability alone adds layers of complexity to the storyline. To accept help when it’s available, to know that help is always available is the takeaway from the gifted society.
For me supporting characters are always more special than the main character and I love the relationship between Lex, Kyle, Alani and Nate.
I cannot wait for book 2, hopefully we get to know more about other characters and fill some big blanks about their powers, especially Alexia. @tiaxtati , spill the cosmic beans already!
Thank you @booksirens for my very first ARC. This one’s special 🤎
Read if you: ~ are into Cults, duh! ~ love dark academia ~ like character driven books ~ are into nerdy, mysterious men ~ love zoë kravitz
I've got a lot of thoughts on this one but not a lot of time here to focus them. Definitely need to sit on it. It's not a bad book. It's overall well done but I have some critiques of it that I'll go over in a video. If you like X-Men, Divergent, and chosen one tropes and books with ballroom scenes that turn into chaos, then you'll like this. I wish it had taken out some of the side plots and explored other sides a little more but we had too much going on overall for what I think the true potential had for this story. For a YA audience, I think it does very well and would be great additions to school libraries but I do think it could have used some trimming down with scenes I think weren't really that necessary to the overall plot.
I am on the fence with this one. I really enjoyed the concept of the magic system, and the reneirs were interesting villains. The descriptions of the Grove were lush and vivid. It had some real-world application with regards to segregation and prejudices towards those who are different in society. The overarching theme is acceptance of others and of yourself. The family aspect was lovely , which i liked for all the main characters. I didn't really like Alexia the FMC , she had sass, but her 16 year old attitude really got on my nerves. I felt the book was about 100 pages too long, and towards the end, I was skimming. All in all, it was a good read.
This is the first volume of the Gifted Society series. This is set in a dystopian version of our world where people go through gene mutation and acquire some powers and abilities when they're teenagers. The hero is a young woman who has just discovered her powers. The problem is that these people with abilities are actually not favourably seen in this society.
The initial pitch reminded me a lot of the X-Men premise. Especially when the hero joins a school that protects teenagers with abilities and that teached them how to use their powers. I almost expected Professor X to arrive at some point.
Fortunately, the similarities stop there. The hero is on her own quest to find out what happened to her best friend, another gifted girl.
Overall, I liked the story but I can't say that it blew me away. I did not really relate to the main character. Some choices she made or the way the plot was going didn't feel natural or logical to me and it prevented me to really get into it and involved in her story. There is some sort of resolution at the end of book 1 and I am not sure if I will pick up the next volume. I think it can work well for a young adult audience though.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The gifted society was an interesting read as our main character is named Alexia who has a secret that she is a Varien. A Varien is someone who can shoot and keep stars in her skin. Alexia is also looking for her friend named Sarai, who was taken by some people, for murder. The writing in this book is engaging to all readers of young adult genre fiction. Eventually Alexia find out what happens to her best friend with some help from her father,a very high up Senator. Alexia meets Greta, by chance one day while a situation happens at Mercy Bay. We find out that Alexia is a Varien, and she has been hiding it from her family. Something happens and Alexia and her father and she is thrown into a world that she has never been in before. The author did a great job with writing a very interesting book about a girl who is unlike other people but finds camaraderie with other people like herself at a special school. She has to make some tough decisions that remind me about being an adult or becoming an adult and having to make those tough decisions. That is a great side theme/message of this book.
The Gifted Society was a hard book to put down. From the beginning it pulled me in through the main character Alexia. She was caught between two worlds though not by choice. More so it seemed like her loyalty was constantly being tested, maybe not by others but by her own moral compass. The author did an amazing job with no overwhelming the world building. As Alexia learned, I learned and I appreciate that instead of being bombarded with information. The similarities and differences between the "normal" world and Varien world was interesting as well. The Gifted Soceity is a thick read but it was worth it. To meet the other characters and hear their voices through the pages was awesome. This book isn't sunshine and roses more cloudy days and thunderstorms, but also the calm after a storm. It has drama, a bit of romance, Mystery, heartache, but it also has a mission. Very much recommend for others to read
A wonderful coming of age dystopian fantasy that features Alexia a sixteen year that harbors a dark secret. She is a Varien, who possesses the stars of the cosmos shooting through her skin.
When her friend Sarai is wrongly accused, along with her secret coming to light things take a drastic change. Having befriended an unusual antique owner who explains there is a safe haven for gifted teenagers called Malveaux Academy. There she finds her ride or die found family of friends.
When Sarai, Alexia’s friend is kidnapped from prison by a cult. Alexia along with her new friends must risk everything to save her friend.
⇒ Dystopian Alternative World ⇒ Magical Academia ⇒ Chosen One ⇒ Found Family ⇒ Secret Societies ⇒ Mental Health
This book transports us to a transformative world unlike our own. We’ve been thrusted into magic, fantasy, and through stunning dark academia lenses. Alexia, our protagonist, has the otherworldly gift of shooting stars through her very veins. We’re taken along on a hard earned quest on the run from those who learned of her abilities. This book has a dystopian world, found family, chosen one, secret societies, and a magical academy! The author did a fantastic job touching on mental health and that our characters are more than enough even without abilities and importantly being needed!
This book gave me the 2010s YA vibes with a diverse cast, felt like shadowhunters met Divergent but with people who have powers like X-men, plus is filled with lovely art.
I really liked the premise of the book and enjoy getting to know the character but I was left so confused about the world building and how all of it works, I get the basics of it but still have so many questions that I wished were answered, especially with how long this book was, but it was more chatter driven than plot driven, the romance and found family were the best parts tho some of them felt too instant.
I hope the sequel improves, and that we can learn more about how the world works.
👧🏻reviews: This dystopian-fantastical mystery is intriguing. While Alexia is searching for Sarai. I like this book because it has gone out of this world and the dark fantasy she went through was mystical and very sci-fi’ish. The friendship, twists and turns and the characters have made this book convincing and interesting. My only thing is that the book was long, so it took me more than 2 days to finish since I’ve always wanted to finish my reading in a day. Overall the book is pretty good and page-turner.
I loved this book! It reminds me of Harry Potter, Divergent & City of Bones combined…but with diversity and characters that speak how I feel they would in real life. All of the characters feel real and unique. I love the addition of the illustrations of the main characters in the front. It helped me visualize them even better. There are two different worlds and a girl stuck between them, trying to find herself. It’s exciting, heartwarming & truly interesting throughout. I never knew what was coming next. I can’t wait for the next one!
Author here! I may be biased, but The Gifted Society is the whimsical adventure of my heart. It is a story ripe with love, beauty, nature, fantasy and a dash of danger. It allows black girls to take the main stage of coming of age while coming into power, love, vulnerability, and self-worth. I could say much more, but I will leave that for you all to explore.
This book has been my refuge for the last 10 years, now it belongs to everyone.
The plot was something dark fantasy with a little bit of romance. The world building in this novel is great, the description of people and places was delightful and it has been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a dark fantasy story. However I think it would have been great to get other POVs throughout, just to give more insight into other characters.
This was a really enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to see where Alexia’s future goes in further editions.
This was an entertaining read! It has the magical school, found family secrets, plenty of twists and a touch of romance! Alexia was a relatable and engaging character and following her journey was one I truly enjoyed! The parts of the world we were able to learn about were interesting and I hope there will be another book to learn more! Thank you Rockstar Book Tours and Tatiana White for sharing this book with me!
Now this book took me on a journey wondering “so what gonna happen next”. After we get to one of the MC milestones and let me tell you that milestone wasn’t nothing compared to what really unfolded after getting past pg 300😬. Safe to say imma need book 2 because I still have questions about that night and what’s to come.
This was enjoyable. It gave me X-Men vibes. The author covers some sensitive topics, like mental health. It was well done. While a lot of this was relatable, it was kind of overwhelming because this book is over 500 pages. However, it’s totally worth the read, and I’m excited for what comes next.
This was a great debut novel which is perfect for those who love magic, adventure, and dark academia. This was well written, entertaining, and thought provoking. I enjoyed the character development, themes, and diversity representation featured in this book. The story follows the FMC, Alexia. I enjoyed her journey. It was a strong coming of age story which a great message. I enjoyed the themes, obstacles, and magic featured with the storyline.
Themes & Tropes: 🤍Dark Academia 🤎Found Family 🩶Ride or🔪 Besties 🤎Boarding School 🤍Chosen Ones 🩶Espionage Missions 🤎Mental Health Representation 🤍Magic
Overall liked this read! I look forward to reading more works from this author.
The Gifted Society is an incredibly well-written book that seamlessly blends friendship, personal growth, and magical powers within a captivating boarding school setting. Alexia's journey is both thrilling and deeply emotional, with her character development shining throughout the story. The relationships between the characters add warmth and depth, beautifully highlighting the found family trope. Packed with action and lively interactions, the plot is so gripping that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. The magical school setting provides the perfect backdrop for the adventures and challenges the characters face. It's an absolute must-read for fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. Overall, this rich and engaging tale has left me eager to dive into the second book to explore more of this fascinating world and its characters.
Thank you to the author @tiaxtati for the gifted copy—opinions are entirely my own.
This had so much potential and definitely gave X-men vibes, but with more diversity! However, several things didn’t work in this for me. 1.) I found Alexia to be too high strung, rash, and annoying. None of her decisions made sense and at times she came off as selfish, judgmental, and too reactive. 2.) This was wayyyy too long and what made the length worst was that this was an absolute slow burner. Things didn’t start picking up and coming together, until well into half of the novel. 3.) The writing – especially the dialogue – felt disjointed.
Overall, this was an interesting concept – black people and other people of color with superpowers sounds absolutely badass in my a book. However, the execution didn’t land for me.