Given: An Epic Romantasy: The Giving Chronicles, Book 1

Rachel

Loved it!

"Great read, can’t wait for the second book to come out in July. It’s a fun story to dive into when you want to get away from the every day stress. Easy read. ["

April 17, 2026 Verified Purchase

Amber

Possible spoilers ahead!

"3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. Let me preface this by saying I did enjoy the book! It has an interesting concept and an intriguing world! But…possible spoilers ahead… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Here are some things that caught my attention and pulled me out of the fiction— •there are a lot of scenes that feel repetitive. Upon Gabriel’s pov, he describes himself as having blue hair that’s so dark it’s nearly black, which made me pause because it felt out of place as a thought. Then when Wren meets him, she thinks the exact same description, and throughout the book it is repeated four more times. It weakened the scenes imo. •Another repetitive issue I had was how Wren constantly thought of him as handsome, even in scenes where it wouldn’t be appropriate for the situation. •I think that there should have been a little more world-building regarding their faith. She’s raised to be given, raised for these gods, but there’s nothing showing Wren’s faith or how her learning about the lies affects her beliefs—besides a lot of telling in which she just curses the gods in her thoughts. I don’t even know if she was actually faithful, which weakens the character/storyline. Did she grow up praising the gods? How does the truth change the way she views herself/the world? How does the truth and subsequent running away change the way she interacts with the world (does she ever wake up on a certain day at a certain time and feel weird not being in the temple? (What are the things these people do to praise the gods?? How do they personalize their worship in everyday life?)) What does she know about the gods, because we as readers know little. What is the lore of the gods? There’s not much information beyond a few names tbh. And I understand that this is going to be a series, but these questions should have been explored at least a little in this first book in order to flesh them out more in the second. •Wren’s dream felt wildly out of place. It was described, rather than felt. Again, telling rather than showing. If the old man on the box near the end yelling about inheriteds had been brought up earlier in the book as just someone she passes and barely pays attention to and then the dream happened (while being shown) I think it would have gone over better. Or even if the dream had been led up to by her having other flashes in other dreams. Idk, it just could have been written better. •The cursing. I don’t mind cursing, but when it’s used incorrectly it weakens the meaning of the sentence and the emotions that are supposed to be invoked, and when they’re used often they just fade into the background. On to the things I liked— •Gabriel is an interesting character who has a lot of trauma. He’s not overpowered, he just has skills and a really cool familiar (well, a bonded panther, but it means the same thing lol). He seems to enjoy holding on to Wren, which is interesting considering that given aren’t touched because no one wants to deal with their loss. •Wren is a rambunctious woman with a soft heart! •What little we see of the magic is interesting, and I want to know more about it! •The possibility of fated mates???? TLDR: I enjoyed the book, but it needs less telling and more showing. ["

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May 2, 2025 Verified Purchase

Irma J. (Irma The Book Whisperer)

Thoroughly enjoyable!

"This book had me hooked from the get go. I loved the premise of the story and the characters! Somehow I adored Wren way more than Gabriel. She had a mind of her own, a spine! All he looked about was to appease a certain someone. While I enjoyed their cat and mouse games, I felt like their love was insta and I didn't even care about it. "The moment his warm hand envelops mine, my stomach flutters. Sparks seem to jump between us, and every part of me wants this moment to continue forever. My breath catches in my throat, and my eyes fly up to his." What I did care about was this magical world of theirs. I know why Marked were being cared / hunted for and I can't wait to see how it'll all play out. The ending was superb! ["

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May 10, 2025 Verified Purchase

Erica

Couldn't put it down

"I thought this book was great! I cannot wait for the second! ["

May 12, 2026 Verified Purchase

Katie Peirce

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - A True Gem of the Romantasy Genre!

"Book Review for "Given" by Elayna R. Gallea - ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ Oh my gosh, "Given" is a true gem of the Romantasy genre! Elayna R. Gallea has crafted a captivating story that kept me glued to the pages. Our FMC, Wren, is anything but typical. Born with a Mark on her forehead, she knows her fate is to be Given to the gods on her twentieth birthday. That is, until she witnesses her best friend's horrific sacrifice during a Giving Ceremony.. Wren's daring escape from her village kicks off an exhilarating adventure, and the hunted/hunter dynamic between her and the Hunter adds a layer of excitement and tension that captivated me throughout the story. The moral quandaries they face elevate their relationship, making the enemies-to-lovers trope feel fresh and thrilling. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, wondering how their paths would intertwine as Wren tries to evade capture. The dual POV allows us to dive deep into both Wren and the Hunter’s minds, letting us into their thoughts, emotions, and backgrounds and enhancing the intensity of their interactions. Wren is strong, angsty, curvy and relatable, and the slow burn romance is beautifully crafted, allowing their relationship to develop naturally without overshadowing the plot. The MMC is grounded and complex; he doesn't just fall for her and start swooning immediately; which makes their dynamic even more intriguing. I do wish the story had gone just a little bit further; it felt like it was just getting started when it wrapped up. While I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book, there were a few moments that felt a tad slow. And let’s just say, I could have used a bigger cliff-hanger at the end to keep me buzzing for more! Overall, I highly recommend "Given." I really enjoyed reading it, and the story is so unique and beautiful. If you enjoy books like "Crimson Moth" and other enemies-to-lovers or hunter/hunted stories, you absolutely need to check this one out! It’s an exciting mix of strong characters, a unique plot, and a dash of magic that will leave you eager for the next installment in The Giving Chronicles! ✨ ["

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May 5, 2025 Verified Purchase