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Gifted

(Donovan Circus #1)

Liz Long (Goodreads Author)

3.80 · Rating details · 508 ratings · 117 reviews

Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ASIN B007VT34J2.

Even in a world of freaks, being a Firestarter is considered a dangerous Gift.

Lucy was born with the ability to create and control fire. She longs to leave the human world for one filled with Earthshakers, Transporters, and Chameleons, to name a few. When she rejoins the circus, it’s everything she hoped it could ...more

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Kindle Edition, 299 pages

Published June 2015 by Liz Long (first published April 18th 2012)

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Lists with This Book

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· 508 ratings · 117 reviews

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Start your review of Gifted (Donovan Circus, #1)

Dec 31, 2016 Dianne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-paranormal, 1-in-series, great-dialogue, coming-of-age, own, fun-read

So, the truth behind circus performers is finally revealed and Liz Long has done an amazing job bringing this high tension, YA fantasy to life! GIFTED is filled with fabulous characters, a little young romance, danger, and a deadly mystery to unravel.

Lucy thought it would be like going home, to somewhere she would belong, be accepted and not have to hide her gift after tragedy struck and she was a teen alone in the world. The biggest problem seems to be her talent, she is a Firestarter and feare So, the truth behind circus performers is finally revealed and Liz Long has done an amazing job bringing this high tension, YA fantasy to life! GIFTED is filled with fabulous characters, a little young romance, danger, and a deadly mystery to unravel.

Lucy thought it would be like going home, to somewhere she would belong, be accepted and not have to hide her gift after tragedy struck and she was a teen alone in the world. The biggest problem seems to be her talent, she is a Firestarter and feared by many of the gifted, something she is determined to change. Meeting other Firestarters helps, and soon she learns she is the most powerful of all, thanks to her late father’s same gift and guidance. Just when she makes headway, the unthinkable happens and once again people look to her as the villain. How can Lucy prove her innocence, find the killer and gain a place to fully belong?

Someone is taking the gifted for their own purposes, and the entire gifted community is in danger. What Lucy uncovers is far more than who the real villain is. She learns the dark secrets of the Donovan Circus, as well as who her father really was. Along the way just to muddle her mind a little more, she finds possible romance with two young men, but can they be trusted? Looks like only Lucy can save the day, but what about her heart?

Fun, frantic and refreshing, non-stop fantasy that feels real from start to finish! Liz Long had me breezing through each page, oblivious to the world around me! Could I second guess the events that were to play out? Not all of them and that is because her writing is at once engaging and completely entertaining.

Next time you go to a circus, I guarantee you will be wondering about those amazing entertainers and if they are hiding a paranormal secret!

Series: Donovan Circus - Book 1
Publisher: Liz Long (January 18, 2014)
Publication Date: January 18, 2014
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 289 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

...more

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Mar 01, 2016 Runningrabbit rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary, mystery, rocked-my-hips, romance, supernatural, werewolves, ya, arse-kicking-action, rolled-my-eyes, shifters

This was pretty good, not quite my thing and I won't go on to the next book. Nonetheless, a well written novel. ...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Becca rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: i-ll-eat-you-up-i-love-you-so, indies-that-are-drool-worthy-good, so-this-is-a-new-paranorm, its-the-mixing-pot-of-paranormal, im-a-warrior-hear-me-roar, and-i-am-waiting-for-the-next-one, na-no-not-that-n-a-new-adult

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG READ THIS READ THIS RIGHT NOW! DOOOO IT! IF YOU AREN'T READING THIS BOOK YOU ARE MISSING OUT! .... so now that i had ...wait no i got a little more in me.. REEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD IIIIIIITTTTTTTT! okay so now that i am done gushing and having my little freak out on how awesome this book was i will tell you alllll the many many many many many many many many many many reasons why it was so AWESOME!

Okay so first and for most the plot! oh how i lo OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG READ THIS READ THIS RIGHT NOW! DOOOO IT! IF YOU AREN'T READING THIS BOOK YOU ARE MISSING OUT! .... so now that i had ...wait no i got a little more in me.. REEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD IIIIIIITTTTTTTT! okay so now that i am done gushing and having my little freak out on how awesome this book was i will tell you alllll the many many many many many many many many many many reasons why it was so AWESOME!

Okay so first and for most the plot! oh how i loved the plot! I am pretty hard to trick, and i don't mean that as to boast myself or anything but a lot times i am like psst i got this too easy, and i know a lot of readers out there can say the same thing, well maybe you would catch somethings that i didnt but man oh man did Liz Long trick me and do i love her for it? Why yes, yes i do! Okay so aside from the fact that this book will keep you guessing its more than just a murder mystery with gifted people that are in a circus and really if that isn't enough to get you interested then i don't know what will....well i do and i will tell you why! It is easy to fall into the same mundane... well not really mundane but similar plot when dealing with "gifted" indivdiuals, like x-men, push (the movie), etc, etc. but this book breaks apart and oh man it was goooooood! I loved, absolutely loved the circus thing, and this is a series... i think and HOPE WITH ALL MY HEART but it seems that way to me, and i think this was a perfect beginning! It walked you through this new world and explains while keeping you entertained. In the summary there isn't much noted about the romance of the book and if you are like me and a bit of a sucker for all types of romance, even if there just a little it makes a little more spicy and an interesting read...well when i get to the characters i will tell you a bit more about the romance but there is some! So YAY! for those hopeless romantics like me and those who are like ewwww romance! which i don't know anyone particular like that its not overwhelming that it becomes all that the book is about. So best of both worlds!

So moving on to the characters...

Our lead lady Lucy: She has lost both her parents and wants to return the only family she has left, which is her gifted family from the circus. Lucy is an interesting and sort of off-beat heroine that honestly kept me guessing. Sometimes i was expecting her to be this not helpless but sort of helpless heroine but man did she prove me wrong. One can be sort of shy and still be a total badass. And she is the BEST KIND OF BADASS! What do i mean by that you ask? Well she is logical, she thinks things through and tries to see all possible views but when it comes down to it sometimes her choices go a little more to the heart...i guess that is one thing i wish i could have had a little more of which was heart but i think that we will crack her throughout the series and she will become super emotional and i will love it. I am not saying she is like a robot because she isn't she is caring, loyal, a smartass which i love! She really can handle her own, and she is modest too which is another thing that i totally love about her. A lot of times it seems to be if you get a badass heroine she is always full of herself, and isn't afraid to be like fuck yeah, but its nice to have a heroine that is more human. I mean we all have insecurities, i know i do, and i pretty sure you do to even if you don't want to admit it, and you know what so does Lucy which makes me love her as a character. Its because she can be logical, she can be a badass but still have heart and still be modest and like a normal person....is so easy to connect to.

Gabriel: One of our main men...he is...well he is...hmm...an asshole? so therefore by default for some horribly odd reason i love him? i don't know why i always fall for the asshole in books but i do. He is annoying, and full of himself, he is just UGH! and he pushes the mystery thing hard at first which is frustrating which all these things make me love him more and more. Even better yet you can see even though he is a "loner" he starts to open up around Lucy and i don't want to reveal to much about anything, but honestly she helps him grow as a character and i was finding myself as much as i wanted to keep him at arm's length because of a different character i will get to in a moment. Anyways he was a well rounded character and just full of surprises this one.

Keegan: our other main man he is also a firestarter like Lucy. He is sweet and adorable. He really is a caring guy that is a little on the shy side which is nice to see from a male main character because you don't get a whole lot of those... or maybe its just the books i read which is probably the case...i don't know...anyways...moving on. He i don't think is as well developed as Gabe but honestly he had his only personality so i am not upset by it at all, and like i said first in a series so we have time.

Side characters and there were a lot: We have: Delia (new best friend and roommate - Runner), Bianca and Brooklyn (a couple), Nickolas (another firestarter), Fin, Sheffield (bossman), and there were a few others that you don't really need to worry about, but these cats were the most used and i really liked that they had there own personalities and features, though the couple Bianca and Brooklyn they were different i got a little confused sometimes on who was who just i think it was the B names....when couples have the same first letter names it always just messes with me... anyways i they were a good support and they are loyal. I really think that they add more to the story verses taking away from it, or anything like that.

So the ending which i know everyone wants to know is it a cliffhanger? NOPE. Thank you Liz Long for that but curse you for making me want the second one right now!!! seriously i wants it! now! please? ahhh welll anyways... its super good to the point that i want the next one!

Okay so my last piece of advice: SERIOUSLY GO BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT, READ IT READ IT READ IT READ IT READ IT READ IT READ IT READ IT READ IT.... OKAY thats alll....well not quite....

Hi there! i am that super annoying person that is going to push there blog at you! hey now! calm down at least i am doing it at the end of my review... so if you enjoyed my so very interesting review on this AMAZING book! you can check out other books that i loved, liked, hated... and loved to hate... here's the link...i hope you enjoy! http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...

Soo....go read the damn book already! ...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Mandy (I Read Indie) Anderson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Lucy has now lost both her mother and her father so she is running away to the circus. The Donovan Circus is full of Gifted people and Lucy feels that may be the only place she will truly belong. With the gift of being a Firestarter, it may be a little harder fitting in, especially being a female Firestarter, which is rare. Returning to the circus life is anything but easy though. She must earn the trust of the other members and work her way up. Thankfully she is not the only new person starting Lucy has now lost both her mother and her father so she is running away to the circus. The Donovan Circus is full of Gifted people and Lucy feels that may be the only place she will truly belong. With the gift of being a Firestarter, it may be a little harder fitting in, especially being a female Firestarter, which is rare. Returning to the circus life is anything but easy though. She must earn the trust of the other members and work her way up. Thankfully she is not the only new person starting. Gabriel is the new guy, but he isn’t keen on sharing his life’s history or his Gift. In fact he is kind of a jackass.

Not long after arriving there is a murder within the troupe. Of course suspicion is zeroed in on Lucy due to her talent and the lack of trust others have in her. Now Lucy has to do all that she can to clear her name and find the killer. Why is the killer setting her up? And could it really be one of the circus’ own doing the killing? Gabriel and Lucy will work together to end the mystery and find out who is behind the murders.

I loved the whole idea of the circus being run by a bunch of Gifted people. People with talents such as starting fire out of thin air and becoming engulfed in it. Talents that may include being able to transport from one area to another. Even a talent of being unbreakable. How cool is that? Haven't you always wondered how that Magician could make his assistant disappear and reappear somewhere else? Well Liz gives us a totally different take on circus life and the people who run the show.

Gifted had me intrigued from the beginning and I found it hard putting it down. Finding time to read while tile work is being done in the house? That is not so easy. So I didn’t get to invest the amount of time I wanted to while reading it. But it was still so good and very entertaining. The mystery had me guessing the entire time; who was the killer? Was it someone I already encountered in the book? *Cue music* Dun Dun Dunnnnn!

I enjoyed all the characters…especially Delia. I could just picture her talking and trying to get all her American words right with a hint of her Greek accent. I did find there were quite a few characters to keep up with though. And that became a little confusing at times trying to sort them all out. Now let’s talk about Gabriel and Keegan. Hello cuties! I despised Gabriel and had my heart set on Keegan. But after some time, I gradually began leaning more towards Gabriel.

Liz did not only a fabulous job writing a story that keeps you on your toes…but with some great characters added in…she has herself one heck of a read! Love a suspenseful, mysterious read? Gifted is just the book for you. ...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Courtney Cole rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I love (LOVE) finding awesome new authors and Liz Long is certainly one to watch.

Gifted is Liz Long's debut novel and I have to say, what a promising debut!! Gifted is well thought out, has likeable characters (I love Lucy), (<-- No, I am not plugging the old sitcom right there, although I do love 'I love Lucy' too) and the pacing is great.

At the very beginning, I was afraid that it was going to turn into a slow book, which I personally don't like. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the pa ...more

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Jul 23, 2016 Sandra rated it liked it

Shelves: own-it, ebooks

I was immediately engaged as we are introduced to the circus and the world of the gifted through Lucy. Unfortunately this introduction phase went on a little too long and my interested flagged a little but don't despair. Things picked up soon as Lucy and her new friends go for a night on the town and from then on the story and action flowed nicely. Lucy is likable. The stupid love triangle less so. It is not a real love triangle because you have nice guy fire starter Keegan whom Lucy has a coupl ...more

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May 04, 2012 Lauren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

What it's about:

Gifted is the story of Lucy Sullivan, a young woman grieving the semi-recent loss of both her parents. The book opens as she contacts Sheffield Donovan, owner and Ringmaster of the Donovan Circus, to ask if she can join up. Lucy was raised in the circus until her parents left to have a normal life. Now that her parents are gone, Lucy is anxious to re-enter a world where she can feel comfortable, accepted, and understood. She's never felt truly at home in the world outside the cir ...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, reviewed, young-adult, self-published, paranormal

From http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....

At a Glance
I had so much fun reading this book. It got better and better with each page. Gifted has an original concept that makes you sit up and take notice.

The Good
Here's the Story...
Lucy is finally home. Going back to the circus after the death of both her parents seems like the perfect idea. It's a place where she can be herself once again. No more hiding her fiery gift. She will finally fit in among people like her, the gifted. Just as her life ...more

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Nov 06, 2018 Raquel Evans marked it as dnf · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

I gave it a chapter, but despite being about a circus full of superpowers, I was bored. The writing was a touch on the stilted side, but not terrible— I could have put up with it if I’d cared about the story.

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Apr 15, 2016 Jo Michaels rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: those who love books about paranormal abilities

I grabbed a paperback copy of Gifted on Amazon after watching copies fly off a table at a book signing conference. There was this innate need inside me to find out what secrets were hidden on the pages. Full disclosure: I'm a total geek over X-Men. Total. Geek. I used to play the video game at the arcade (Storm was my favorite character to play as), I own all the movies, and I love supernatural ability stories--I'm also a huge Heroes fan. Why did I bother telling you all that? Because if you lov ...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Erica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Before I review, you must know something about me. I have a whole collection of books I've started reading and never finished. My attention span is quite short, so if a book doesn't suck me into the story almost immediately, I move on to something else. Life is too short to read bad books.

I was captivated in the first few pages. The story doesn't start off slow and ease you into this supernatural world. It assumes you're an intelligent reader who can figure it out as the story moves along. I lov Before I review, you must know something about me. I have a whole collection of books I've started reading and never finished. My attention span is quite short, so if a book doesn't suck me into the story almost immediately, I move on to something else. Life is too short to read bad books.

I was captivated in the first few pages. The story doesn't start off slow and ease you into this supernatural world. It assumes you're an intelligent reader who can figure it out as the story moves along. I love that.

One thing I really like is that the love story/love triangle part of it is really secondary to the main story. While I can already hear the teenage girls battling over Team Gabriel or Team Keegan, it wasn't the main story line at all.

(Okay, even though I said the love story is secondary, I have to say I think I might be Team Gabriel even though Team Keegan makes sense.)

I really like Lucy. She kind of reminds me of a college friend who wasn't, shall we say, very experienced. I think I related more to Delia, Lucy's new bff in the book. I don't want to give too many spoilers as far as the characters' super powers, but I will say that Delia is fun and friendly, and has a really cool "gift."

Another great thing about the book was the balance between the fun, young adult scenes and the dramatic, action-filled supernatural scenes. Like they go to a bar after a show one night to have some fun and you learn a lot about the characters and their relationships with each other. But then, there's a big bar fight with some of the townies that almost reveals them as "gifted." Another example, there's a beer pong party scene where Lucy lightens up and has fun, but soon after the night of partying, one of the circus people is murdered and because Lucy is the new girl with fire power, she has to clear her name and learns a lot about herself and her family history along the way.

The last few chapters were my favorite part - Lucy becomes stronger and learns more about her powers, and thus defeats the bad guy. But I really liked that she didn't do it easily and without help... She still has a lot to learn. It makes her more real (well, as real as a firestarter can be) and gives us something else to look forward to in the next book.

While the story is complete and this book can stand alone, I want more. I want to know more about the Gifted community, Sheffield Donovan and the Donovan Circus, Lucy's family (specifically her firestarter dad), Lucy's friends and their abilities, and Lucy's super powerful firestarter ability. Oh and the love story, of course.

This is an excellent first book by a new author and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. ...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Thomas Rydder rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Let me first say I received this book free, in exchange for a fair and honest review:

I'll resist the temptation to repeat the comparisons that some others have made to this book and "X-Men". Not because the similarities aren't there, I'd just rather go down my own path. Many of the main characters in this book do have powers - and they're just as cool as those possessed by the X crew - but there the comparison ends. Wolverine et al seek to rid the world of the bad guys - the folks in "Gifted" a Let me first say I received this book free, in exchange for a fair and honest review:

I'll resist the temptation to repeat the comparisons that some others have made to this book and "X-Men". Not because the similarities aren't there, I'd just rather go down my own path. Many of the main characters in this book do have powers - and they're just as cool as those possessed by the X crew - but there the comparison ends. Wolverine et al seek to rid the world of the bad guys - the folks in "Gifted" are just looking to survive. And they do it by keeping their head down, and disguising their powers as illusions in a circus owned and ringmastered by Sheffield Donovan, a man who has pledged his life to protect and provide for his gifted charges.
Of course, when you travel around the States, perform a show a night and are studied by hundreds, word gets out. People get curious. And trouble typically follows. The difficulties this time are brought about by the arrival of Lucy Sullivan, a gifted whose family left the circus, and who has now returned after the death of her parents. Her dad had been one of the circus's premier performers, and now she seeks to follow in his footsteps - even thought she doubts both her ability to control her gift and deal with others socially.
Lucy is, in a word, edgy. She has spunk, is stubborn, and shows incredible talent, while doubting her own talents. In another word, this makes her irresistable as a protagonist. Her difficulties in coming to terms with the different performers and her gift makes it natural to root for her, and as she progresses, fails, triumphs, laughs, and cries, I was drawn to her steadily.
The plot of this book is very well written, with twists and turns, and many little inroads. Just as I thought I had things figured out, along came another little morsel which served to cast doubt on my conclusions. It moves along very nicely, with no dead time, nor boring stretches. The characters are all well-formed and believable (assuming anyone who forms and tosses fireballs around can be). Ms. Long's ability to give her various characters drastically different personalities and have them form friendships and tentative alliances are notable, and she brings the whole interwoven circus existence to life with admirable ease.
All in all, it was a wonderful book, and I'd strongly recommend it to anyone who would enjoy stepping out of our world, and into one where the inhabitants are super-powered, but in the end, only human. ...more

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May 18, 2012 Veronica Morfi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Lucy is gifted, like so many others in the world with a special power, hers is fire. Lucy is a firestarter, someone who can create and control fire. Soon after the death of both her parents she decides it's time to return to the place she spent part of her childhood, the Donovan Circus. There gifted people, mixed with a few actual humans, put on an amazing show to entertain the masses. Lucy will make new friends and start to feel like she belongs again, but before the good feeling can sink in so ...more

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May 20, 2015 Lenore Kosinski rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, won-it-or-gifted

3.5 stars -- LOVED the uniqueness of the world that Ms. Long gives us. Seriously, why aren't there more books set in circuses? Definitely a cool premise, and was executed well with a lot of description to make you feel like you could really imagine it. Strangely enough, I almost felt like there was too much description...it made for a slower beginning. So while I appreciated having a vivid picture, I kept wanting something to happen a lot sooner than it did.

Lucy was intriguing. I didn't always g ...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Summer Lane rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Lucy is a firestarter. What does that mean? It means that she can control fire and manipulate it to do her bidding...whatever that might be. After her parents die, she joins the Donovan Circus, an organization that is full of talented individuals called the 'Gifted.' They're basically people with superpowers who make a living as circus freaks. Mind readers, runners, earthshakers, you got it. But when people start showing up charbroiled to a crisp (AKA dead), all fingers point to Lucy, the newcom ...more

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May 18, 2012 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-lending, kindle-books

This is the third book I have read that involved a circus of some form or another and really, I don't know why I don't read more of them. I have loved every single one of them.

And while they have all been different reads, they have all been just as fabulous and unique as this one was.

I really enjoyed the paranormal aspect in this novel. The characters, the family feel of the circus, the mystery behind the deaths, the details. Everything was just very well done.

I am so sorry it has taken me so l ...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Marcy Kennedy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I enjoyed the unique premise of a whole community of "gifted" hiding in plain sight as circus performers. The plot pulled me in right away as Lucy Sullivan joins the circus after the deaths of her parents. Although she grew up in this circus, her family left for a "normal" life and her father forbid Lucy from practicing her Firestarter gift. The story's suspense revolves around Lucy learning why her family left and who is causing the accidents and murders at the circus.

After a strong beginning, ...more

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Jan 30, 2016 Tana Schiewer rated it really liked it

I have to admit that I am a little surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! I've never been a fan of the circus theme, so I think under normal circumstances I wouldn't have bought this book; however, I met the author at a conference and after talking with her about the book (and other things!) I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did!

I truly believe Liz Long is an author to watch. Not only is Gifted a very interesting and engaging story, but Long's writing is terrific. She strikes the per ...more

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Aug 10, 2016 Jenn rated it it was amazing

This is a tale of twists and turns. While some of it can be predictable, it is a thrilling tale. Lucy came of as being whiney and weak in the beginning, but as the story progressed she became a stronger character ready to lead her army of gifted. I liked the blend of different powers that was done well. interesting, ready for the next one.

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Jun 25, 2015 Patricia Burleson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Good

This is a very good book. It has strong characters and the main character is great you can see everything as you read as if you were there. There is action, magic, mystery, friendships and love. So grab it and enjoy reading a great book.

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Nov 23, 2015 Nicole rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: on-my-kindle

I have found a new series to love

I love the circus, and this series is perfect. The details all felt authentic, like I was on the grounds with the crew. Lucy is a wonderful character and I can't wait to see what happens next! ...more

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Jun 20, 2014 Ethan Gregory rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://oneguysguidetogoodreads.blogsp...

My Thoughts on Gifted:

As I type this I have JUST finished Gifted and have so much to say I can't hardly get it all down in time. Let me just say this: I am completely and utterly speechless. I love paranormal, I love New Adult fiction, and I LOVE anything circus themed but holy-hell Batman, I was NOT expecting that read to effect me the way it did. Woah. Seriously. If I was to do a Top 5 Reads of 2014 (that weren't necessarily FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://oneguysguidetogoodreads.blogsp...

My Thoughts on Gifted:

As I type this I have JUST finished Gifted and have so much to say I can't hardly get it all down in time. Let me just say this: I am completely and utterly speechless. I love paranormal, I love New Adult fiction, and I LOVE anything circus themed but holy-hell Batman, I was NOT expecting that read to effect me the way it did. Woah. Seriously. If I was to do a Top 5 Reads of 2014 (that weren't necessarily publishing in 2014) Gifted would be VERY high on that list. Okay, let me calm down and start from the beginning.

Circus life is one of my very favorite things to learn about. As a historian, I have always been drawn into the history of the American circus. I'm not going to go into a rant here, but lets just say that circus life has had one long and interesting history over the past two centuries. Whenever I think of a circus theme or a side show or "freaks", my mind immediately goes to a 1930's-ish vibe with sideshows and sword swallowers and bearded ladies and I love it! Has anyone seen that movie Freaks? Seriously the scariest movie I have ever seen, but anyways. I. Love. Circus. History. This is why I was drawn to Gifted. At UtopYA I was literally walking down the hallway and saw Liz's circus themed table and literally stopped in my tracks and walked up to her and said "is your book about circus'". THAT'S how drawn in I was. Gifted, however proved to be way more special than even I thought.

The first thing that shocked me about Gifted was it's setting. Not that it takes place in a circus, but the time period. While the specific date could be argued, it takes place in a relatively modern time period. While there is no discussion of cell phones, there are discussions of video games and nice RV campers that definitely give the book a modern feel. I have never read a modern day circus themed anything. That was a HUGE plus for me.

Secondly, the characters were AMAZING. Okay. First we have Lucy, our main female character who is this awesome "fiery" redheaded, 24 year old firestarter who is returning to Donovan Circus to start over. Upon arriving we meet Sheffield Donovan, ringleader for the circus with a few secrets of his own. Later we meet fellow firestarters Nikolas and Keegan (also good-guy love interest), the Greek room mate and runner, Delia (I read all of her dialogue with an accent, darn my year of Russian), Finley the shapeshifter, Bianca the transporter, Brooklyn the telepath, and a whole host of other amazing characters with some awesome powers like controlling the elements (a personal favorite of mine), telekinesis, and SO MANY MORE! Oh by the way, did I mention Gabriel? No. Oh yeah, well, he just happens to be the bad boy love interest who may end up being the coolest character in the book and has a passive power, he's an Empath! Crazy right? Imagine what this cast of characters do when pitted against of the most most evil of book villains I have read in ages! Yes. This is definitely a read you wont regret.

Many of the review claim it's like X-Men meets the circus, well guess what everyone? X-Men is quite possible the most amazing thing in the world in my book. You probably won't meet a bigger X-Men fan than me. We've actually talked about this before on one of my Chelsea Fine posts (because she is a fellow X-Men fan as well)! Those reviewers were spot-on! And to talk of Long's writing? Any author who can write an amazing New Adult paranormal fantasy novel and include as many superhero and Star Wars references as she was able to is definitely a plus in my book! I particularly enjoyed the entire scene devoted to conversations about the casts favorite superheroes including some nods to one of my favorite X-Men who would actually make a lot of sense in this novel: John Allerdyce (bonus points if you know who he is without looking it up). Many may look at this and think how could this possibly be a NA read. Well, I won't spoil any plotlines, but Long is quite the word wizard. She gifts us this fantasy filled world and then throws in some very adult elements such as sexual abuse and inhumane and ruthless murder. Got you attention now? So while this may seem like a fun YA read, don't let it fool you! I was pleasantly surprised! There is also drinking and lots of smoking (it's a circus, d'uh) just in case you still thought it was a YA. Don't let it deter you though!

As many of you guys know, I love and support the NA genre to the fullest but have had an awful time as of late coping with the sudden direction the genre has taken. What started out as a fun new genre about the experiences of college age adults (18-26ish) has now essentially turned into YA+Explicit Sex. That's not how I role. I am all about a romance in a novel, but I don't want to read a story where the romance is the story! Gifted is EXACTLY what I am looking for. If you guys listened to the video above you will heard Liz describe Gifted in two ways: first it's an adventure and second it's a mystery. No talk of it being a romance at all. This is a perfect read for any guys out there who are looking for a read to enter into the NA genre! While there is a romance/love-triangle in the story, it is very well written (perhaps a little one sided, or maybe that was just me)! It does not lead the story, but it does build the storyline in some very important ways. Seriously guys. I can't say enough about what this novel/series could be doing for the NA genre with enough help from readers and bloggers!

The storyline of the novel actually finished up with a very nice ending that paves the way for several more books in the series. While I have only read the first, I will be starting book two, Burned, immediately. After speaking with Long, I have learned that there is a draft of book three and the potential for several more in the series. I can't speak for anyone else, but I will say with certainty that this fanboy will be reading every one of them. Kudos to Long on her debut novel. I have been thoroughly impressed! Another thing I really could not stop thinking about while reading this is the enormous possibilities this series have if it were adapted into a television show. I often think about that with books and think that this would DEFINITELY go over great as a TV series. To any TV people out there *flashing light here*! All-in-all a five star read for me over here. I don't have a rating system in place here, but this book is pretty doggone high on my favorites list right now! Check it out everyone, you will not be disappointed!
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May 10, 2012 Sarah {Literary Meanderings} rated it really liked it

Shelves: x-read-in-2012, hidden-gems, series-read

♥ Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Reviews by Bookish Sarah

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Gifted is the story of 23-year-old Lucy Sullivan. After the death of both of her parents, Lucy makes her way back to the only family she has left - the Gifted folks of Donovan Circus. Lucy was raised in the circus until her parents decided to leave so that Lucy could live a “normal” life.

As a Firestarter, someone who can create and control fire, Lucy has never felt like she could be her true self outside of the circus. It's a constant ...more

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Nov 23, 2019 Jennifer Alvarez rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow.

Lucy is leaving one chapter of her life for a new one. Being raised in a circus was the most amazing life for Lucy. Then her parents took her away to live a “normal” life for a while. After they passed away, Lucy could only think to be surrounded by those like her. With her new life being threatened, she must step up to her potential. This was an exciting story. Would most definitely love to read more. Very well done.

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Oct 29, 2020 Lori rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Really enjoyed it!

It's my first book of this author and I found it to have a really good story. Unique ideas with the characters add to that. It's written well, but in a couple of places it ran a bit slow for me, but since that's my only real issue here I'd say that I can live with it! The characters are very unique, and I look forward to reading more of their stories. Go ahead, check it out! ...more

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Oct 29, 2016 Ron Brown rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Interesting story

This is an interesting story. I look forward to reading the other books in the series when I get the chance.

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Jul 14, 2018 Kristen Schrader (Wenke) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, circus

The exposition was shoe-horned into every conversation. Lots of talking, little action until the end.

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May 04, 2012 Elizabeth rated it liked it · review of another edition

Overview:
Lucy Sullivan was special. "Gifted". She possessed the supernatural ability to create and control fire. She spent the first several years of her life as part of The Donovon Circus, alongside her parents. Lucy's father was delighted that his daughter had inherited had inherited his gift of of being a Firestarter. He even said that his proudest moment was when Lucy, as a toddler, first discovered her gift by burning up the sofa. When Lucy was 12, however, her parents decided to retire fro Overview:
Lucy Sullivan was special. "Gifted". She possessed the supernatural ability to create and control fire. She spent the first several years of her life as part of The Donovon Circus, alongside her parents. Lucy's father was delighted that his daughter had inherited had inherited his gift of of being a Firestarter. He even said that his proudest moment was when Lucy, as a toddler, first discovered her gift by burning up the sofa. When Lucy was 12, however, her parents decided to retire from the circus, mainly due to her mother's desire to live a normal life among regular humans. Wanting to have a normal life was understandable, though at times quite challenging for an exceptional girl to be "normal". But what came as strange was that it wasn't long after leaving the circus that Lucy's father forbade her from ever practicing her gift, even in private, or ever having anything to do with the circus.
After the deaths of both her father and then her mother, Lucy decides to rejoin the circus, to both embark on something new on her own, and for a taste of the home she once knew and longed for. A place where she could be herself.
Rejoining the circus kicked off with a flurry of activity -- much had changed since she was a child, and the days seemed to go nonstop. But Lucy quickly relearned the ropes and fell in with a group of friends, each with their own unique abilities. From her speedster roommate, to telepaths, shape-shifters, and and fellow firestarters, and a few with more mysterious gifts, Lucy began to feel at home with her new family.
But things soon begin to change as several unexpected events shake the circus. When a fellow circus member turns up dead, the prime suspect is Lucy. Desperate to clear her name and return things to how they were, Lucy starts to dig deep into the past and secrets of the circus. The lines between friend and foe begin to blur, and the things she uncovers could change everything....

My thoughts on "Gifted":

This book was an absolutely enjoyable read. It had intriguing characters that were well developed, It moved at a great pace, kept me in suspense, and made me want to keep reading long past my bedtime.

It had the three main things I look for in picking a good book:
1) Good cover. Lets be honest, if I am not already familiar with a book, it is the cover that makes me pick it up off the shelf and read the back. Yes, I judge a book by it's cover! This one really drew me in and made me want to know more about it.
2) Interesting from page one. Ugh! I can't stand it when people say "Oh, the first few chapters of such-and-such book are pretty slow, but it will pick up about half way through." Seriously? If I'm bored in your first chapter i'm not going to move on to chapter 2. Gifted was great. From the first pages I was instantly pulled in, I knew who the main characters were, and had a general idea of where the book would go. Simple, but it seems like more authors need to be taking notes on this from Ms. Long!
3) Well developed plot. Again, seems like a no-brainer, but I've been disappointed on this too many times. Not with Gifted! This story was thought through from start to finish and progressed extremely well. No needless filler. No excruciatingly long stretches of describing scenery that we don't care about, No pointless rabbit-trails.
4) Well developed characters. I really felt like I knew the characters! They were deep, and complex. I could laugh with them and cry with them. Whether or not I was crazy about the characters themselves, I felt that I could like or dislike them because I knew them well and could judge accordingly. If I lived in the world of Donovon Circus I would probably be good friends with Delia, I would avoid Angel and Gabriel because they would creep me out, and would most likely have a crush on Keegan if I weren't married :)
At bit on the main character.... I loved Lucy. Unless I hated her. Let me explain: She was Smart, witty, and fun, with a seriously cool gift and fiery red hair to boot. She worked hard and excelled highly in her gift. I wanted to be her BFF. But she also couldn't make a firm decision on her own and was totally fickle as she played with boys hearts while they played equally with hers. She was oblivious. I wanted to punch her. But she also kicked butt, which pretty much rocked.

For me, this book was all my favorites wrapped up into one. A little bit of The Night Circus, Water for Elephants, X-Men, and a whole lot of the TV series Heroes. Similarities can be a good or bad thing. You want it to have enough familiarity to have a frame of reference to put it into. But you want to be able to look at a piece of literature for itself, not be comparing it to something else, thinking things like "oh, so that person is just like Peter Petrelli, and this other one is just like Syler".

All in all, I really enjoyed reading Gifted and will definitely recommend it to my friends :) Any plans for a sequel? I'd read it.
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Mar 21, 2017 Lindsey DeLost rated it liked it

Reminded me a bit of Brandon Sanderson's Calamity series in some parts. I bought the 4 book series for 99 cents so I'll keep going ...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Tracy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, author-review-request, new-adult

Fun Under the Big Top
It's been twelve years since Lucy Sullivan's parents left Donovan Circus and took her to live in the human world. Her parents are gone now, both dead before their time, and Lucy wants to return to her roots...and her own kind. Donovan Circus, one of the few places in the world that shelter and provide for gifted supernaturals like Lucy, is the only place where she can embrace what she really is: a Firestarter.

She's fitting back into the circus life well enough, making friend ...more

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About Liz Long

Liz Long

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Liz Long is a USA Today bestselling author of YA and urban fantasy, most recently The Brighton Duology. She is a magazine editor in Roanoke, VA, and when not writing, can be found drinking happy hour prosecco, attempting hand lettering, or cuddling her dog, Fisher. She is the Director of the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference and the annual Roanoke Author Invasion, as well as a public speaker, co ...more