the gifted society

The Gifted Society by Tatiana White is an action-packed young adult fantasy that explores friendship and the consequences of power. The story follows Alexia, a sixteen-year-old Varien with the extraordinary ability to shoot stars through her skin as she navigates a world of danger, mystery, and self-discovery. From the beginning, Alexia's struggle to keep her secret safe is evident, and her desperation to avoid being discovered is relatable. Her fear of being labeled a freak or a monster is understandable, and her desire to fit in with her peers is universal. When her friend is accused of murder, and her father is critically injured, Alexia is forced to flee and go on the run as her extraordinary gifts may be discovered. She encounters Greta, an intriguing antique shop owner who promises her safety with other Variens in The Grove.
 

The Grove is a fascinating world with mysterious characters, hidden histories, and ancient secrets. White's description of the realm is vivid and immersive, and readers are quickly drawn to the mystical energies and the eclectic inhabitants. The characters that inhabit The Grove are equally well-crafted, from the enigmatic Greta to the pyrokinetic hothead who becomes Alexia's roommate. Sarai is a character whose fate will intrigue readers. The protagonist is obsessed with helping her, and when she learns that Sarai has been kidnapped from prison by an even more dangerous group determined to sacrifice her, the stakes get odder and higher for her. The suspense builds as readers want to know what happens next. The Gifted Society features a compelling young female protagonist struggling to come to terms with her gifts. I enjoyed the dazzling prose and the exceptional setting. Tatiana White’s story stands out in its originality and the well-imagined setting brimming with tension.

The Gifted Society is a work of fiction in the fantasy, interpersonal drama, and suspense genres. Aimed at the young adult reading audience, it contains some scenes of violence, mild expletive language, and some references to mental health struggles. Penned by author Tatiana White, the story follows sixteen-year-old Alexia, a secret Varien able to shoot stars through her skin. After her best friend Sarai is falsely accused of murder for becoming a Varien, Alexia keeps her own powers hidden until an accident reveals her abilities, forcing her to flee. She meets Greta, who introduces her to The Grove, a realm for Variens. At Malveaux Prep Academy, Alexia learns that the Revenirs, a secret society, have kidnapped Sarai. Determined to save Sarai, Alexia navigates new friendships and dangers, uncovering hidden histories and facing potential betrayal.
 

Author Tatiana White has crafted an exhilarating narrative that immediately draws you in and never lets go. The portrayal of Alexia’s powers and the vivid description of how they work added a unique and enchanting element. The language used creates a visceral sense of power that goes beyond the cinematic to describe her abilities in an exciting, immersive way. The introduction of The Grove, Malveaux Prep Academy, and the wider surrounds created a fascinating world for readers to picture themselves in, rich with mystery and intrigue and full of detail and flair. The diverse cast was well-realized with strong dialogue touches that immediately characterize them and give each person a unique humor and attitude. The danger, tension, and increasingly high stakes were also expertly built as Alexia delved deeper into the secrets of The Grove and the sinister Revenirs. The themes of friendship, betrayal, and bravery made Alexia’s journey both relatable and inspiring for the target audience. Overall, The Gifted Society was a thrilling adventure that left me eagerly anticipating the next installment, and I’d certainly recommend it to fantasy fans everywhere.

The Gifted Society by Tatiana White is a captivating young adult novel that follows the story of Alexia, a 16-year-old Varien with the amazing ability to shoot stars through her skin. After her best friend Sarai is falsely accused of murder and taken away, Alexia goes on the run to avoid being discovered and sent to death row. She meets Greta, an eccentric antique shop owner who promises safety and introduces her to The Grove, where Variens like herself can live freely. There, Alexia discovers a school for Varien teens, Malveaux Prep Academy and Sanctuary, where she meets a group of friends who share her unique abilities. At The Grove, she is determined to unravel the mysteries of her exceptional skills and find clues that would lead her to her friend. But can she save Sarai? The closer she gets to the truth, the more dangers she faces.
 

The Gifted Society is a thrilling and action-packed tale that delves into the world of Variens, exploring the struggles of their lives. Tatiana White creates characters that fans of coming-of-age and YA fantasy will adore. The character arc for Alexia is impeccable. She is a young girl with powerful gifts, and the author’s ability to create natural reactions to her discovery of what she is capable of is ingenious. The characters are multifaceted and endearing, especially Alexia. The plot is engaging and suspenseful, with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader on edge. The themes of identity, friendship, and sacrifice are skillfully developed throughout the story. Overall, this novel is a captivating read that will appeal to fans of young adult fantasy and adventure.

 "WOW... just wow. I'm absolutely floored at how amazing this book is.
From the writing, to the characters, to the art. This book had it all.

*Dark Academia
*Found Family
*Secret Societies
*A bit of Romance
*Powers drawn from the stars

The Gifted Society gave the same level of storytelling like Legendborn, The Blood Gift, The Gilded Ones. All top tier black girls in fantasy books!

My absolute favorite parts of this book are the aspects of found family. Alexia is truly going through it, she just wants to find her friend and get back to her family. Of course her journey is not straight forward and she gathers her family in her new home, The Grove, along the way. We met Kyle, Nate, Alani, and Lucie these amazing well thought out characters. You can see the labor of love that went into writing this book as a whole.

... You know when you enjoy something you just wanna blab about it to anyone, but you can't find the right words to say? This is that lol.

There are plenty of lingering questions left and I cannot wait for the next chapter for the kids at Malveaux Academy!"

--Loren, Bookstagrammer and reviewer 

 "The Gifted Society Delivers Cosmic Thrills, Mental Health Depths, and Unforgettable Characters.
_
"These ride or die friends, these coveted collectibles, they're who must be preserved. It's a hard trap to escape from."
—

Tatiana has brought us all the good, bad and dark in her new-age dark academia, The Gifted Society.

Alexia, the protagonist, is gifted with the power of cosmos. Her denial or deflection in accepting this leads to consequences, confrontations, and consideration (in that order) of that fact that despite the pressure of being 'the special one' she is enough as who she is. And hopes that, it is enough to save her best-friend from being sacrificed by a cult.

The narrative delves deeply into themes of mental health and anxiety, immersing readers in the emotional aftermath of seeking help, and the guilt that follows. The relatability alone adds layers of complexity to the storyline. To accept help when it's available, to know that help is always available is the takeaway from the gifted society.

For me supporting characters are always more special than the main character and I love the relationship between Lex, Kyle, Alani and Nate.

I cannot wait for book 2, hopefully we get to know more about other characters and fill some big blanks about their powers, especially Alexia. Tatiana, spill the cosmic beans already!

This one's special.

Read if you:
~ are into Cults, duh!
~ love dark academia
~ like character driven books
~ are into nerdy, mysterious men
~ love zoë kravitz"

--Alekha, bookstagrammer and reviewer