The Given - Sharron McClellan Book Review

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Review Summary

ImaJinn, April 2003, 255 pp.
ISBN: 1893896889

When the people at her village including her father discovered she was a Trancer, a person with strong mental powers, they kicked Aria out of the town. To her family she was dead. She made her way to a tower where Trancers are trained to use their abilities for purposes of good and after Aria made love with a warrior, her Given, she would become an apprentice. Talon was to be her Given, to initiate her into the rules of womanhood but a coupling that was supposed to be based on passion only, turned into something so much more.

Aria becomes pregnant with Talon's child but on the day she goes into labor, the Reapers attack, killing all but Aria who they thought they left dead. They take with them Aria's best friend Iliana and Aria's newborn. When Talon discovers what was done, he vows to destroy The Reaper leader who he believes killed his son. When he journeys to their hideout, Aria insists on going with him because she knows her son lives and wants to find him and keep Talon from doing something he will regret.

Sharron McClellan is a new name in paranormal fiction but with her talent she will quickly become a fan favorite. She creates an interesting world populated with characters that are colorful, complex and stubborn in their belief systems. The love story between the hero and the heroine doesn't overshadow the quest story line that is very romantic in its own right. This reviewer hopes that Iliana, who has sacrificed so much for Talon and Aria, is given her own story complete with a happily ever after ending.

Harriet Klausner

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of The Given

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Romance Yes
Romance plotlets: - two lovers coping with tough mission
Mental/magical powers focus Yes
magical powers: - good magical powers hunting non/weaker magical(s) (fantasy)
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - mage/magician
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - bulging muscles

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - killer
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

Most similar books to The Given
Magic's Silken Snare by Elizabeth Gilligan
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Wolfskin by Juliet Marillier

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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