Khosa is Given to the Sea, a girl born to be fed to the water, her flesh preventing a wave like the one that destroyed the Kingdom of Stille in days of old. But before she's allowed to dance – an uncontrollable twitching of the limbs that will carry her to the shore in a frenzy – she must produce an heir. Yet the thought of human touch sends shudders down her spine that not even the sound of the tide can match.
Vincent is third in line to inherit his throne, royalty in a kingdom where the old linger and the young inherit only boredom. When Khosa arrives without an heir he knows his father will ensure she fulfills her duty, at whatever cost. Torn between protecting the throne he will someday fill, and the girl whose fate is tied to its very existence, Vincent's loyalty is at odds with his heart.
Dara and Donil are the last of the Indiri, a native race whose dwindling magic grows weaker as the island country fades. Animals cease to bear young, creatures of the sea take to the land, and the Pietra – fierce fighters who destroyed the Indiri a generation before – are now marching from their stony shores for the twin's adopted homeland, Stille.
Witt leads the Pietra, their army the only family he has ever known. The stone shores harbor a secret, a growing threat that will envelop the entire land – and he will conquer every speck of soil to ensure the survival of his people.
The tides are turning in Stille, where royals scheme, Pietrans march, and the rising sea calls for its Given.
From Goodreads:
My Review:
Man, I absolutely loved reading these books! I love her writing, but these, I'm pretty sure, are her first and only published full length high fantasy novels with nothing linking them to our world. But oh, were they fantastic reads!
This world of the Given, where a girl is called to the sea, and of the Indiri, made of the earth, yeah, it was really captivating to read! And when you add the politics of the different kingdoms, yeah, there was a lot going on! Especially as the knowledge that the land is crumbing with every last Indiri-and there's only Donil and Dara known left, making their lives a ticking time bomb for the survival of everyone.
Khosa is in an impossible situation. She's called to the sea, but if she doesn't have a daughter to leave after her, then there would be no more sacrifices. But she doesn't want to be touched. The danger that puts her in is not great. And with Vincent, and Donil, and Dara, there were a lot of complicated feelings. And Witt, the Pietra, who is meant to be heartless and have no ties but to his people. These characters were vibrant with their struggles, and I loved reading about them all!
I'm still reeling after that ending! I mean, I know it's her writing style, it's dark, but oh, that hurt! I have a bit of a head cannon in my head, where that one action didn't happen, but that all those that were lost came with them. Alas. Though I do have a question-when did the waves that caused the Three Sisters to start the patterns of the Given, happen, in relation to when Harta and his group left? Given what happened to Khosa once they arrived? I'm curious, maybe it was mentioned and I was playing the audiobook too fast to catch it, or put the pieces together.
Duty, fate, desire, and destiny collide in this intricately wrought tale, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.
Although she was born to save the kingdom by sacrificing herself to the rising sea, Khosa's marriage to King Vincent has redeemed her. As the Queen of Stille, she's untouchable. But being Queen hasn't stopped her heart from longing for the King's stepbrother, Donil. And it hasn't stopped her body from longing for the sea itself, which still calls for her.
While Khosa is made to choose between loyalty and love, Dara is on a mission for vengeance. Years ago, the Pietra slaughtered the entire Indiri race, leaving only Dara and her twin, Donil, alive. Now, spurned by King Vincent, Dara has embarked on a mission to spill the blood of Pietra's leader, Witt, and will stop at nothing to show his people the wrath of the last Indiri.
As the waves crash ever closer to Stille, secrets are revealed, hearts are won and lost, and allegiances change like the shifting sand.
My Review:
Man, I absolutely loved reading these books! I love her writing, but these, I'm pretty sure, are her first and only published full length high fantasy novels with nothing linking them to our world. But oh, were they fantastic reads!
This world of the Given, where a girl is called to the sea, and of the Indiri, made of the earth, yeah, it was really captivating to read! And when you add the politics of the different kingdoms, yeah, there was a lot going on! Especially as the knowledge that the land is crumbing with every last Indiri-and there's only Donil and Dara known left, making their lives a ticking time bomb for the survival of everyone.
Khosa is in an impossible situation. She's called to the sea, but if she doesn't have a daughter to leave after her, then there would be no more sacrifices. But she doesn't want to be touched. The danger that puts her in is not great. And with Vincent, and Donil, and Dara, there were a lot of complicated feelings. And Witt, the Pietra, who is meant to be heartless and have no ties but to his people. These characters were vibrant with their struggles, and I loved reading about them all!
I'm still reeling after that ending! I mean, I know it's her writing style, it's dark, but oh, that hurt! I have a bit of a head cannon in my head, where that one action didn't happen, but that all those that were lost came with them. Alas. Though I do have a question-when did the waves that caused the Three Sisters to start the patterns of the Given, happen, in relation to when Harta and his group left? Given what happened to Khosa once they arrived? I'm curious, maybe it was mentioned and I was playing the audiobook too fast to catch it, or put the pieces together.
Loved reading these books, and I'm pretty sure I've officially read all of her full length currently published books, yeah!
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: Given Duet #1, 2
Read: August 30th, 30th, 2023
Source: Library
Reason Why: Love her writing, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Books, and Given to the Earth is a RR Book and a WoW Book, and Given to the Earth is a End of Series 2023 Book!
Publisher: Listening Library, Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Published: April 11th 2017, April 10th 2018
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: Given Duet #1, 2
Read: August 30th, 30th, 2023
Source: Library
Reason Why: Love her writing, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Books, and Given to the Earth is a RR Book and a WoW Book, and Given to the Earth is a End of Series 2023 Book!
Publisher: Listening Library, Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Published: April 11th 2017, April 10th 2018
Given to the Sea:
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| 5/5 Hearts |
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| 5/5 Books |
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| 5/5 Stars |
Given to the Earth:
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| 5/5 Hearts |
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| 5/5 Books |
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| 5/5 Stars |
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