I really enjoyed this debut romantasy book! Gifted tells the story of the FMC, Elaine, an orphan forced into the army. She begins to find that she's a bit different than the others - able to heal quickly and able to increase her strength when she needs it to survive.

The world building and unique magic system was spellbinding, and I loved the slow-burn romance laden with trauma and struggles.

I can't wait to see what book 2 has to offer!

⚔️✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨⚔️

Gifted by Mavi Parolin
📅 Pub Date: Aug 29, 2025

“Because… you’ll become a legend, Legionnaire. You just don’t see it yet. But I do. And the gods do too.”

Y’all. This book wrecked me in the best way. Gifted is the kind of fantasy romance that makes you laugh, cry, scream into your pillow, and then immediately start begging for book two.

Elaine’s journey from a twelve-year-old orphan forced into the Imperial Army, to one of the elite Barrymore Legionnaires was everything I crave in a fantasy heroine arc. She’s flawed, fierce, and resilient. Watching her forge bonds, uncover strange powers, and find a family among soldiers was gut-wrenching and empowering all at once.

And let’s talk about the romance. 🫠 It’s forbidden, slow-burn, and achingly intense. The angst nearly killed me, but in the best way. The banter? Perfect. The heartbreak? Brutal. The payoff? Absolutely worth every tear.

Mavi Parolin’s writing is sharp, immersive, and feels way too seasoned for a debut. The worldbuilding is rich, the Legion dynamics are addictive, and the emotional stakes are sky high. This book had me highlighting quotes nonstop.

Fair warning: this story doesn’t shy away from trauma, sacrifice, and the darker realities of survival. But it balances the heavy with moments of found family, loyalty, and hope. By the end, I was gutted and stitched back together at least a dozen times.

📖 What to expect:
⚔️ Legionnaire life + military fantasy vibes
⚔️ Strong, tenacious FMC
⚔️ Found family & soldier camaraderie
⚔️ Forbidden, all-consuming romance
⚔️ Banter + heartbreak + resilience
⚔️ Themes of loyalty, sacrifice & survival

🔥 Final thoughts: Gifted is epic fantasy romance done right: raw, heartbreaking, empowering, and impossible to put down. This debut just vaulted onto my favorites shelf, and I need the sequel yesterday.

#GiftedBook #MaviParolin #FantasyRomance #Romantasy #WhyWeRead #DebutNovel #FoundFamily #ForbiddenRomance #SlowBurn #BookTokMadeMeDoIt #ReverseHarryPotterVibes #LegionnaireLove #Bookstagram

This was such a fun one about survival and making your own family. Choosing your destiny and fighting for what you want is an important theme in fantasy and it was done so well here.

⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars – Complex, addictive, slow-burn, found family, he falls first, and one very pine and rain-scented MMC. Elaine’s journey is absolutely impossible to put down.

Elaine has survived the army as one of the very few women, a toxic affair with her general and the bottom of more than one bottle. When she’s “gifted” by the Emperor to the thirty-strong legion of Governor Alexander Courtenay—a post that looks like a death sentence—her life takes a turn she didn’t ask for.

What follows is over 800 pages of slow-burn world-building: fights, military life, new comrades who (shockingly) aren’t vile, hours of grueling training, and a fragile but indomitable governor’s sister who teaches Elaine what unconditional love feels like. Add in an MMC who smells of pines and rain (yes, here we go again) and you have the beginnings of a found-family dynamic laced with rising tension.

But Elaine’s story is also about emotional damage. An assault triggers memories of old trauma, struggles with guilt and self-blame, and she experiences mysterious abilities—unnatural fast healing, night vision, battle-mode instincts—that hint at a prophecy of the old gods. Courtenay doesn’t help by keeping secrets, and when tragedy strikes, Elaine spirals into grief, distancing herself from everyone who cares for her.

By the end, I was left with far too many unanswered questions:
• Who are the entities warring in her mind and who is she exactly?
• What’s really going on with her magic?
• What game is the emperor playing, and why target Courtenay?
• Most important: will Elaine and Alexander reunite or will I suffer more emotional damage?

The verdict: Yes, it’s long. Yes, it’s slow. But it kept me up way into the early morning hours, which in my book is the ultimate badge of honor. Immersive, detailed, painful, romantic —I need the sequel, now.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

Gifted has such an intriguing premise! Elaine, a former soldier scarred by years in the Imperial Army, finds herself pulled into the world of the Legion, where magic, loyalty, and rebellion collide. I really enjoyed following her journey—she’s a tough, resilient heroine but also carries the weight of her past, which made her easy to root for.

The worldbuilding has some really cool ideas, especially around the Legion and the forbidden magic. While the writing style wasn’t totally my cup of tea, the story itself kept me interested, and I liked the emotional beats of Elaine’s path toward healing and finding her place.

Overall, this was an imaginative fantasy that fans of military settings, found family, and survival stories might really enjoy.

5/5 stars. World building, plot, slow burn. Let me just say I cried like real tears. I was so wrapped up and emotionally attached to the characters. Also let me say I was SHOCKED! The characters were expertly written. You literally felt like you were battling and fighting along with them. The explanations of weapons and everything they do was so well done. It wasn’t over done but gave you just enough where you could emotionally attach yourself through it like you were going through training right along side them. There is trauma in spades on all sides. Please check the trigger warnings. Very low spice but mentions. This book was like nothing I have ever read before. Gods but not the focus. Magic also not the focus but tastes of it. I cannot wait for the next book to see where our FMC journey takes her. -Kerin Ray

Fair warning: This book will break your heart and stitch it back together a thousand times, so be prepared. I'm still gutted and in tears, and I'm not even mad about it. (Okay, maybe a little)

This book was astounding. Phenomenal. BREATHTAKING. I need to go recommend this to every single person I know.

When I started this book, I expected a light-hearted romantic fantasy that would be rough around the edges as it was a debut novel (and I think self-published, too). That is not what I got with this book, and I am so happy about it. In fact, this book is everything I would never pick up had I known going into it. And even when it broke my heart and I just wanted to throw my tablet across the room in ANGUISH, I could not stop reading. I vehemently avoid books that make me this emotionally invested, but I will put myself through the pain again for book two.

I mean, wow, for a debut novel, I have never seen such intriguing writing or deep world building before. This book was written like someone who has been writing for years and has put a ton of time and effort into mastering their craft. It had me hooked from page one, and I didn't want to put it down until the end (outside of a very specific scene that still has me crying). While the plot is slow paced, there is always something happening that has stakes to keep you engaged. It was so smooth and elegant, and the climax of the book was absolutely worth the wait. I would say that you can kind of get a feel for the way things are going to go without the plot being predictable, which is just the perfect sweet spot for such a long book.

The characters are so well fleshed out, and they make you absolutely fall in love with them. Each character has their own unique personality, and nothing feels one toned or similar between them. Not a single character in this book will leave you feeling like you don't care about them (in one way or another). They go through so much growth and change, and you feel it alongside them. There are quite a few characters, but there was so much balance between them. It never felt like one was forgotten or we didn't get enough of one.

The fantastical element is very minimal up until the end of the book, but that doesn't mean that there is no action. If you're looking for a very high fantasy, magic heavy, fantastical feel, don't expect it with this book. That being said, it seems like the second book will be getting more into that, so if you have the patience to hold on, please do.

The romance was full of angst and drama, so this is not a light-hearted romantic if you are looking for that. I was completely unprepared for this book to utterly ruin me in the way that it did. Personally, I am shocked that while the romance was great, I cared a bit more about everything else in this book, which is not normal for me. Generally, I find the plots to romance-centric fantasy books to be a bit dull compared to the actual romance, but this book was so well balanced.

This book is heavy on themes that are likely to be more relatable to women, as well as topics of sexual assault in general. It makes up a good portion of the main character struggles so if that is not something that you are okay reading in graphic detail or you prefer not to read about women's struggles, this book is not for you. Not every book is for every person, but this book was definitely for me. I felt heard and understood by everything that the main character went through from the little incidences to the larger ones.

I will close this utterly long review by saying that this book has earned its way onto my favorites list. So far, I have only seen the release date for Kindle unlimited, but I am begging the author to print it. I want a special edition of this book. I don't care if you give me a paperback print copy, and I have to rebind and decorate a special edition myself. It needs to be a shelf trophy!

Also, to the author Mavi, congratulations on your debut, and please keep writing. I will be looking for more of your books in the future!

Thank you so much to Mavi and NetGalley for giving me an advanced readers copy and exchange for an honest review!

4.5⭐️ I’m left devastated, and I know Gifted is going to be one of those books I think about for a long time. It follows Elaine Lyanthian, a hardened legionnaire shaped by a brutal army upbringing, who suddenly finds herself pulled into the elite Legion of Barrymore by an impossible twist of fate. There, she starts to find the family she never thought she deserved, along with a fierce, forbidden love and something even more powerful within herself.

This book had so much emotional depth, and it completely hooked me. It explores darker, deeper topics that many women face, and Elaine’s resilience in navigating them is truly inspiring. She carries her past and struggles with strength and vulnerability, making her journey feel real and emotionally charged. The found family felt authentic and genuine (I loved the side characters), and the slow-burn romance simmered perfectly without overtaking the story. And the MMC… let’s just say I am fully invested, he 100% grew on me and I need this slow burn not to fizzle out.

My only wish was for a little more clarity around the god lore. It would’ve made the ending land stronger, since the final moments wrapped up so suddenly they left me both confused and absolutely wrecked as everything was torn apart (IYKYK). You can feel the passion the author poured into this story, and even though the book doesn’t release until next week, I’m already counting down the days for the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Gifted has all the things I love in fantasy novels and more !! Unique world building and hierarchy systems, very compelling characters and side characters, a slow burn that’s 🔥 but also didn’t overshadow the plot that was written so beautifully you can tell the author did a lot of research ! The dynamic in the soldiers camp had me feeling like I was there at some times and was one of my favorite parts ….

Elaine is a flawed yet tenacious FMC so her growth arc was very believable and kept me rooting for her because she was very compelling to me (as an avid fantasy reader). Especially as a woman I found myself resonating with her thoughts a lot
The MMC 🥵… that’s all I’ll say. My heart hurt for them so much, they both had it so hard

I don’t think I’ll be able to get over the last 20% !! So many emotions!!!! I can’t say more without giving any spoilers but I need book 2 immediately!!!

Thank you Netgally and the author for the arc.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and author Mavi Parolin for the opportunity to read Gifted.
This is my honest review of the ARC I received and I truly appreciate it!

⚔️ Tropes & Themes:
- Enemies to lovers (kind of?)
- Slow burn romance
- Found family
- Military fantasy with detailed combat and political intrigue
- Closed-door romance (no explicit scenes)
- Fantasy with minimal magic (until the final 5% of the book)
- Unexpected betrayals and surprising friendships

✅ Reader Checklist:
Hate Boris and the other vile men? ✔️
Hate Hu for being a terrible general and his treatment of the FMC? ✔️
Cheer for the FMC in her battles? ✔️
Admire her strength and resilience? ✔️
FMC as a god’s chosen (sort of)? ✔️
Detailed weaponry and combat scenes? ✔️
Saving innocent women from cruel men? ✔️
Loathing Governor Courtenay? ✔️ (Why are the men in this book so awful? Sad. But hey, it’s military fantasy — maybe I shouldn’t have expected gentlemen... but still, one or two wouldn’t hurt, right?)

📚 Overall Impressions:
This book gave me Poppy War vibes but not in plot, in its tone. The military setting, the brutality, the emotional weight... it’s a mentally tough read. I’m not usually drawn to military fantasy, but Gifted pulled me in with its raw emotion and moments of lightness especially the FMC’s interactions with her friends. There’s a soul in this story, a passion from the author that’s felt on every page.

💭 My Live Reactions SPOILERS AHEAD!!!:
When the FMC was transferred to a new legion, I immediately thought: “Oh no, it’s going to get worse.” And that cold welcome from the Emperor? Brutal.

Samwell seemed sweet at first — the horse-naming scene was unexpectedly heartwarming.

Muller... girl, why are you like this? You could’ve been friends with the FMC instead of being so nasty.

Sam giving her his jacket? Aww.

Michael being jealous of Sam? Unexpected. I haven’t seen a jealous gay character in a while — usually they’re allies, not rivals. But I get it. He loves Sam, and Sam doesn’t love him back.

If the FMC ends up with Courtenay... I’ll scream. That’s not the kind of enemies-to-lovers I signed up for.

Lizzy’s storyline? Heartbreaking. I cried for that little fighter.

Muller again... ugh. Is she jealous of FMC’s closeness to Courtenay because of Lizzy?

The FMC’s resilience is impressive. She’s gifted — literally and figuratively.

Kimathi’s son reveal? WHAT?! But that bonding moment was sweet.

I didn’t expect the legionnaires to be kind to the FMC, but they surprised me. Better than the army brutes, for sure.

Drinking scenes with Alexander? Hmm. Not sold on their chemistry yet. I was rooting for Sam, but that ship seems to be sinking.

The repeated line “You wouldn’t ask me that if I were a man” started to feel a bit overused.

Okay, so there is a light enemies-to-lovers vibe mid-book.

Hot-cold relationships? Meh. Not my thing.

Why is Lizzy’s illness such a central theme? Just wondering.

Sam’s image deteriorated fast. He couldn’t face his feelings and got jealous. Dude, speak up or lose her.

Respect for Sam: gone. Respect for Alexander: rising.

The scenes of SA against women? Devastating. I hated the men for that.

The FMC winning that challenge? YES. What a fight. Though I suspect Conwell went easy on her...

Michael’s relationship with his father? Gut-wrenching.

That spicy scene at 73%? Weird and cute at the same time.

I’m impressed by how the FMC earned the generals’ trust. She’s clearly special.

But the final 150 pages dragged. Too many quarrels, not enough fantasy. I got bored.

Where’s the lore? The gods are mentioned, but never explored. She’s “Gifted” — but gifted with what? There’s barely any magic until the end.

The book felt overly drawn out. Some scenes could’ve been trimmed. I know some readers love detail, but for me, it was too much.

The Emperor obsessing over who’s sleeping with whom? Why? Shouldn’t he care more about politics?

The FMC’s sudden shift into a brute? Didn’t sit well with me. Her treatment of Alexander was awful.

“You’re not strong, you’re deranged.” — Agatha was right.

Lizzy’s death? I’m crying again.

So now the FMC becomes Myla sort of a fire queen? But also has healing magic, destructive magic, mind manipulation, light magic... it’s a lot. Too much. Confusing. Chapter 41 lost me completely....

Possession? What? I’m so confused...

📝 My final thoughts:
As a debut, Gifted is a solid start. It could’ve been a 4-star read, but the ending lost me with its confusing magic system and relationship drama. I hope future books dive deeper into the fantasy elements and give us more adventure, less interpersonal squabbling.

If you’re into military fantasy with a strong female lead, emotional depth, and a slow burn romance , I think this one’s worth checking out.
Just don’t expect a lot of magic until the very end, and be ready for some heavy themes! <3

But I can see myself recommending that book for sure!
Waiting for sequels to come, since well, it's not the end and I need to know the fates of the characters!

Wow. Just... WOW. I almost have no words to express how much i loved and devoured this book. This and the raven scholar have to be my favourite reads so far this year. It has everything, fantastic world building, outstanding character development, found friends and family, the most resilient FMC i have come across, hope, loss, adventure, magic, heartbreak, and romance.
Also, the best banter ever, it had me laughing out loud multiple times throughout!

This story follows Elaine, an orphan forced into the army in order to survive since she was 12 years old, until she is gifted by the Emperor to the Commander of Barrymore, after she is hailed a hero for fighting off 4 other combatants for saving a girls life. There she will hone her skills alongside the other 29 legionnaires. They are faced with rebel attacks and plots to replace the Commander of Barrymore and face endless uncertainty when the Emperor sends some of his own legionnaires to 'guard' the Barrymore estate. All the while, Elaine is experiencing things she and her peers can't even begin to explain, why she heals so fast, why she always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and why her strength suddenly Blooms in times of dire need.

This book will have me caught up in it for a while, I just know it. Damn, wow. I look forward to the rest of this series and any other work this author does in the future.

*** Thank you to netgalley and to the author for approving the ARC for me to read. Mavi Parolin It was such an amazing story. Congratulations on your debut release, I wish you the absolute best.
The above review was my own opinion and has not been influenced in any way... Damn, Just freakin wow!

An addictive reading experience!

Hard to believe that this is the author's debut work. I liked the army life, training, descriptions of different weapons and politics. I loved the slow-burning romance, friendship, and the found family.

The description of being a woman in the army and facing trauma was impressive. I felt that the world was more historical than a fantasy world, but it didn't hinder my reading experience and I believe that the fantasy elements will increase as soon as the gods get to really roar to earth.

Thanks to author Mavi Parolin and NetGalley for the early review copy!

This was PHENOMENAL. It’s hard to believe it’s a debut novel, simply because not only is the idea interesting, but because its executed extraordinarily well. There’s a lot of angst, but it’s not all valley of doom and despair; there are enough upswings and highs to carry you through. Elaine is a deeply flawed character, but I quickly came to admire her, even when she was off impulsively doing A Stupid Thing. The setting, character arcs, and plot are all well done, and at no point did the story drag despite how long this book is. I absolutely adored it and cannot wait to read more!