Mundie Moms

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

GIVEN TO THE SEA by Mind McGinnis / Blog Tour: Book Review & Giveaway


Hello and welcome to the next stop in the GIVEN TO THE SEA blog tour, hosted by Penguin Teen. Today's stop features my review for Mindy's upcoming release, as well as a few of my favorite quotes. As always, my review will be spoiler free. Be sure you enter to WIN the giveaway at the end of this post. 

ABOUT THE BOOK




By: Mindy McGinnis
Published by: Putnam
To Be Released on: April 11th, 2017
Series: Given Duet #1
Pre-Order from: Amazon | B&N 
Add it to Goodreads
Rating: 4 Stars 
An arc was provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review

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


A fascinating surprise. Given to the Sea is not at all what I thought it would be. It's a fantasy rich in world building, and given plenty of unpredictable twists, and turns. Even during the times I didn't quite connect with the story, I couldn't stop reading it either.

I absolutely loved this book's setting. McGinnis has created a vivid, beautifully haunting world. It's merciless, and brutal, yet there's something about it that pulls you into it, and has you rooting for those who are trying to change the course of their fate. Given to the Sea is book that centers on the sea, and the land that surrounds it's borders. It's a story about the people who live within the borders, all of whom will do what ever it takes to protect their people, and those chosen by the sea, called The Given. 


Character wise, I liked that this book was told from 4 different points of views. Each of their stories are deeply embedded with each other's. Each character has a pivotal role in the story. I enjoyed reading each of their points of views. My favorite characters in the story however, were Donil and Dara, the misfits of the story. I also liked Vincent, the reluctant heir to the throne, and then there's Witt, the brutal leader of the Pietran people. Next is Khosa, the Given. While I didn't connect to one particular character, I liked that this story was written in such a way that not having a character connection didn't effect it. 


There are so many elements to this book that I enjoyed. Those outweighed some of the smaller issues I had with the book. It wasn't hard for me to get sucked into this story. McGinnis's storytelling and world building are my favorite elements to this story. However, toward the middle of the book I found myself not being as interested with story, and I'm not really sure why that was. However, McGinnis threw in a few surprises and a strong finish that has me anxiously awaiting the next book's release. I need some more answers. 


Given To The Sea is a fascinating fantasy. I loved how the element of the sea is a character all it's own, controlling and ruling all that Khosa and those who live around it's borders do. I really enjoyed the way this story was told. I love the world building, the unpredictable story line, and the book's strong finish. This is unlike anything I've read before. Along with the story, this cover is one I absolutely love!

A FEW FAVORITE QUOTES


* "The realities of running a kingdom are much less interesting than one would imagine."


* "Then she is lost in shadow, the only that remains the lights in her eyes as a wave as high as the castle walls blocks the light of the moon."


* "Drive a spike through my leg, and I'll laugh at the pain; shoot an arrow in my eye, and I'll use the good eye to track you and down and pull out your own. But break my heart, and I am of no use." 


* "The prey being stalked by the predator cannot spend it's whole life skulking in fear."


* "The world is changing, and we must change with it."


* "I always return to the books, because they do not mind my imperviousness."


* "The sea always calls me, a dull throb like a headache biding it's time, though I never know when it will spike into the blindness of the dance, and have found no precursor that brings it on. My dance is not like the tide, with predictable ebbs and flows. It is a fever in my veins, awaiting at will and surging forth when it wants, brining twin spots of desire to my cheeks as I spin to my death."

* "A good person does not neessirrly make a good king."


ABOUT THE AUTHOR




Mindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning author and assistant teen librarian who lives in Ohio. She graduated from Otterbein University with a degree in English Literature and Religion, and sees nothing wrong with owning nine cats. Two dogs balance things out nicely.

ENTER TO WIN 



Enter for a chance to win one (1) of five (5) copies of Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis (ARV: $17.99 each).
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on April 3, 2017 and 12:00 AM on April 24, 2017.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about April 26, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway


FOLLOW THE TOUR


Week One:
April 3 – Brittany’s Book Rambles – Author Guest Post
April 4 – Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Reasons to Read Mindy’s Books
April 5 – Mundie Moms – Review & Favorite Quotes
April 6 – SuperSpaceChick – Given to the Sea Book Look
April 7 – Fiction Fare – Author Q&A
Week Two:
April 10 – Alexa Loves Books – Bookish Style File
April 11 – Good Choice Reading – Author Q&A
April 12 – Oh the Book Feels – Given to the Sea Pinterst Board
April 13 – Bookworm Everlasting – Review
April 14 – Dark Faerie Tales – Author Q&A
Week Three:
April 17 – The Young Folks – Author Q&A
April 18 – Once Upon a Twilight – Review
April 19 – The Hardcover Lover – Given to the Sea Mood Board
April 20 – Bibliophile Gathering – Review
April 21  YA Wednesdays – Author Guest Post

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