From the author of Gifted: Everybody wants superpowers. But what if being super was a bad thing?
Spring City, New Mexico: the days are hot, but they still aren’t as boiling as the tension on the streets. Sixteen-year-old Hartley Beck is one of many resident Hostiles — otherwise normal people with supernatural abilities.
Unfortunately for Hartley, Hostiles aren’t the most well-liked people in the city. In the midst of trying to keep her ability a secret from the people around her, Hartley gets dragged into a life of crime, vigilantism, and danger. Only she and other Hostiles can fix the mess that has been made of Spring City.
Gifted is a story of self-discovery, personal identity, and growth. It’s a tale that will seem familiar to anyone who has struggled to find order in a world of chaos.
First Impressions: Gifted isn’t your average superhero story! The first thing I noticed about it was how easy it is to dive into the story. The writing is beautifully clear, and the story has a rapid pace. The other thing I especially loved in the first few chapters was how quickly Hartley’s voice was established. She seemed like a real person, and I found myself cheering for her right away. Also, I always enjoy reading stories where the characters are thrown into a predicament through no fault of their own! The book cover is rather ominous, and I think it nicely captures the atmosphere of the story.
Plot: Wow, the plot of Gifted is so good! It’s complicated in the sense that no one is absolutely good or bad, but that’s because the characters on either side have enough emotional depth that you can sympathize with all of them, at least on a certain level. Hartley struggles to keep her special powers hidden—something she manages quite well until outside pressures and internal conflicts prompt her to explore her abilities. Once her eyes have been opened to a new world, nothing will ever be the same for her. This is what makes Gifted so powerful: everyone can relate to Hartley’s fears about the consequences of being fully known for who she is. Another great thing about Gifted is the creepy undercurrent of something awful going on behind the scenes; at the same time, the story never gets so dark that it becomes overwhelming. Gifted has an excellent balance of humor and solemnity.
Characters: The main character, Hartley, is a teenage girl who doesn’t know where she belongs in the world. Since she has to keep her identity a secret, she is isolated from her parents and teachers. Initially, she seems lonely and helpless, but as the story continues, she grows as a character and finds herself doing things she never would have imagined doing before. Her transformation was a pleasure to see. Hartley’s parents were awful, especially her mother! This must be why Hartley connected so well with her accomplice, Knockout. Admittedly, he’s a bit of a jerk, but he’s likable at the same time. Together, he and Hartley made a fascinating duo. I liked how the story wasn’t exclusively linear; learning about the backgrounds of the characters was a lot of fun.
Final Thoughts: Gifted is a complex book that is familiar and fanciful at the same time. It is written in a style that is easy to follow and enjoyable to read. I usually don’t like stories about people with superpowers because they often seem so silly, but Gifted is definitely an exception. This is a book I would read more than once, and I would love to see what the characters do next!
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.
Linette Taylor has been writing for nearly all of the nineteen years she’s been alive. She loves stories, she loves superheroes, and she loves stories about superheroes. At the moment, she spends her time studying vocal performance at Houghton College and writing absolutely ridiculous novels.
You can follow Linette on Instagram or sign up for her email list to read the first chapter of Gifted. To learn more about Gifted, check it out on Amazon and/or Goodreads!
Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus
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