**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.**
I’d like to begin by thanking The Fantastic Flying Book Club for choosing me to be a part of this tour. This is my first blog tour with this group and I’m super excited. Please check out the other stops along the tour for other reviews, playlists, and other fun posts about this book and the author, Nandi Taylor.
Check out the full tour schedule here!
Title Given
Author Nandi Taylor
Release Date January 21, 2020
Description from Amazon
Yenni has never been this far from home. With only her wits, her strength and her sacred runelore, the fierce Yirba warrior princess is alone in the Empire of Cresh. It’s a land filled with strange magics and even stranger people—many of whom mistrust anyone who’s different. But Yenni will prove herself, and find a cure for her father’s wasting illness. She will not fail.
No one warned her about the dragons. Especially not about him.
Yes, there is something powerful and compelling about the violet-black dragon known as Weysh. In human form he’s muscular, beautiful—and completely infuriating. What kind of arrogant creature claims a stranger as his Given; as his destined mate? Yenni is no man’s—or dragon’s—plaything. But other magics must be at work here, because Weysh might just be her best hope at finding the answers she seeks.
Only now Yenni can’t tell if she’s fighting an attraction to a dragon…or fighting fate itself.
Initial Thoughts
This book sounded super interesting so when I read the description on NetGalley, I knew I wanted to apply. I also really enjoyed the last Wattpad published book I received from NetGalley so this seemed like a win-win.
Some Things I Liked
- World building. I really liked the background information and descriptions of Yenni’s family and homeland. I was somewhat disappointed that we didn’t get more of that, but I would definitely like to see more of that in sequels to this story.
- Harry Potter vibes. I loved the elements of magic school and Yenni trying to adjust to the culture shock of everything new around her.
- Enemies to lovers romance. One of my favorites. I was a little worried that Nandi Taylor might sneak a love triangle in here, but I was very pleased to find that trope missing. I thought the romance was nicely developed and I appreciated the timeline of events. YA stories often feature insta-love or some from of the main characters hating each other then a week later getting married. This story had a nice pace and the timeline made their story believable.
Some Things I Didn’t Like
- I felt like the NetGalley description / synopsis was not entirely accurate. Yes, Yenni goes on a journey and she meets a dragon, but I definitely wasn’t expecting magic school / Harry Potter vibes. I didn’t mind it at all, but it wasn’t what I was expecting.
- Similarly, I was expecting the central plot to be more about Yenni’s homeland. I think if the description cited that this was one of a series, I’d have been more prepared for the turns the plot took and the ending.
Series Value
While the description did not mention this is a series, if it is, I’d continue with it. Is this a drop everything, the new book is out series? No, probably not. But, I’d definitely pick up a copy of any sequel to this story and read it at some point.
Final Thoughts
I liked this book. I would continue with the series and I think it has a lot of potential. I can easily see why it had so many reads on Wattpad.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
- Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling – specifically, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but I can’t just recommend one book in that series because what kind of lunatic would read a random book from the middle?? Anyway, this story gave me a ton of Harry Potter vibes from magic school to the culture shock that the main character experienced. If you liked this book, give the Harry Potter series a try.
- Talon by Julie Kagawa – if you liked the shape-shifting dragon elements of this book, give this series by Julie Kagawa a try – you won’t be disappointed!
- Beasts of the Frozen Sun by Jill Criswell – if you liked the enemies to lovers romance and the language elements of Given, give Jill Criswell’s series a try. Book two is coming out next year.
Author Bio
Nandi Taylor is a Canadian writer of Caribbean descent based in Toronto. She’s a two-time Watty award winner, and her Wattpad story Given has garnered over one million reads and earned the 2018 Worldbuilders Watty award.
Nandi grew up devouring sci-fi and fantasy novels, and from a young age wrote books of her own.
Her books are an expression of what she always wanted more of growing up—diverse protagonists in speculative settings. Common themes she writes about are growth, courage, and finding one’s place in the world.
Her debut novel Given will be published by Wattpad Books in January 2020.
BOOK LINKS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45734870-given
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2phsmfM
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/given-nandi-taylor/1131555809#/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781989365045
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Given-Nandi-Taylor/9781989365045
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: https://nanditaylor.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19162905.Nandi_Taylor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nandi_taylor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nanditauthor/
January 21st
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club – Welcome Post
January 22nd
Foals, Fiction & Filigree – Review + Favourite Quotes
Evelynreads – Review
Ramblings of a Book Nerd – Review
January 23rd
Bookish Looks – Guest Post
The Magical Pages – Review + Favourite Quotes
Fishing for Books – Review
January 24th
Sometimes Leelynn Reads – Review + Playlist
Laurensliterarylibrary – Review
The Reading Life – Promotional Post
January 25th
For The Love of Fictional Worlds – Review
The Layaway Dragon – Review + Favourite Quotes
Lisa-Queen of Random – Promotional Post
January 26th
Bookishly Nerdy – Review + Favourite Quotes
Books Over Everything – Review
Ambivertwords – Favourite Quotes
January 27th
To All The Books I’ve Read Before – Guest Post
Becky’s Book Blog – Review
PopTheButterfly Reads – Review
Books Over Everything 