Gifted

Title: Gifted (The Hayven Series #1)
Author: Jessica George
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pages: 339
Rating: 4 Stars
Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review
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Ava Grey happened to be the one to find the old woman withering on the floor, seconds away from death on her way to meet a friend for dinner. And because Ava was the one to find this woman, she was given mysterious powers that seemed to be transferred over from the woman to herself. When someone close to the old woman figured out that Ava had been Gifted, he takes her into a fantasy world, filled with millions of people just like her. But it isn't all sunshine in the land of Hayven, for an evil woman is gaining power, and it looks like Ava might have to be the one to stop it. What luck?

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Gifted was truly a magical book to read. Everything about it was mystical and enchanting. I mean, how amazing is a world that is accessible by simply meditating? I would love to be able to sit down, close my eyes, breathe, and open my eyes to find myself in a world where people can fly, read minds, and turn invisible. Ava Grey, the main character, is the lucky girl who gets all this and more.

This story is a classic 'good versus evil' story, with a bit of twist. Ava wasn't destined to save the world of Naveya, she isn't the chosen one, or anything like that. She was simply caught up in a mess she was never meant to be in. 

So while I found the plot to be fantastic, and I enjoyed reading about everyone and all their different powers. My favorite part was definitely all the major and minor characters you encounter throughout the novel. Ava met quite a few people in the new world of Hayven, and made lots of friends. I enjoyed reading about each unique relationship she had. I think my favorite character would have to be Baleigh, who starts off as a cold, stiff, and distant person, but begins to melt as she becomes closer to Ava. Personally, I was not emotionally connected to Ava and Theo, the boy who finds her in the shop. Ava thinks about him constantly, and I was slightly annoyed, but it didn't drive the story to the point that it ruined the book for me. (Which romance has ruined books for me before- I'm not making this up!) Plus the relationships she keeps up with her friends overrules the forced love between her and Theo. 

I think that Gifted is a fantastic read for anyone who's in the mood for a really nice 'good versus evil' story. I enjoyed getting into the vibe that I had while reading Harry Potter, with a tangible villain and its dark supporters, and I'm looking forward to reading the next novel.