The Gifting (The Gifting Series Book 1)

Definitely not a complete story, just so you know. It just stops mid-story.

But a great beginning to a story! Very compelling.

I almost stopped reading when the ouija board came out, it seemed like the story was getting dark and yucky -- but I was glad that I picked it up again because that was supposed to be the dark, yucky, evil side. The book represents the good and right and pure side waging battle against the evil.

Wow! I confess knowing that KE Ganshert writes contemporary romance/women's fiction under another pen name, I was intrigued and a bit hesitant. Boy-howdy--reservations DEMOLISHED! Katie nailed this story. does she! The story is riveting and the characters are fun! I found myself double-taking corners and shadows--half expecting white-eyed villains. *shudder* It's creepy but cool and awesome and intriguing all at once! I'm impressed and can't wait till book 2. Bring it, Ganshert!

AMAZING BOOK. I'll be honest, I definitely judged this book by its cover, and also the fact that it was free was a big motivator in getting me to download it. I didn't have high expectations, but I really like dystopian society books, so I started in. It was finished and the rest of the series was purchased within a day. The plot is extremely captivating and the plot-twists don't stop. Words can not express my positive feelings towards this series as a whole. As conflicts arise and you get to know Tess and Luka, you will be yanked into their world and won't be able to get out until you finish the series. The only reason I'm not reading right this minute is because I really really don't want it to end. I give The Gifting series my highest recommendation. :) READ IT!!!!!

A Godless society that does not tolerate strange behavior, a girl with realistic dreams and sees things others can't and a boy whom has secrets of his own, combined makes for a gripping and fascinating read. Dive into Tess' world, a place that modern society considers her a danger and can lock her up or worse. What is she seeing, why are her dreams too much a reality and why is the most popular boy in school so interested in Tess the freak? A recommended must read!!

Absolutely love this series. I got the first one as a freebie and read it in one sitting while traveling on an airplane. Can't help falling in love with the characters. Great story plot. Definitely one that holds your interest.

This started out as a normal teenage angst book, then it turned into more and more of a thriller. There are plots and sub plots and twists that were not expected. Definitely one of a series as resolutions is not what you end up with, but intrigue, tensions, suspense, yes. I found myself entertained, surprised a time or two and definitely wanting Tess to succeed.

I don't like predictable, ordinary stories, so imagine my glee when I happened across this gem! The Gifting is different from any other story that I have read, and I LOVED it! The characters were interesting yet believable. They weren't perfect. They had flaws, which made them more relatable. But it was the storyline that kept me intrigued and second guessing what was real. The narrator did an amazing job of bringing a voice to this story! I am an instant fan and have already one-clicked the next book in the series.

My daughter and I LOVE this series. First thing, for parents who care, there is NO sex in this book. There IS, however, sexual content. I consider sexual attraction, kissing, holding at the waist and touching skin, etc, to be sexual content. There is a lot of that kind of thing off and on throughout the series, but certainly no more than in the Divergent series (and the boy and girl don't ever have sex, which they do in Divergent). So, if you're okay with the content of Divergent you'll be okay here.

The ONLY complaint my daughter and I both had about this book is the MC's constant talk about how perfect the boy is. It was too much for my daughter, even, and she's 16. The MC here is a strong, gifted, smart young woman and my daughter and I both thought her preoccupation with the boy was beneath her, out of character, and pretty pathetic in parts. The DO form a very meaningful bond throughout the story, and there are a lot of times that they really have to trust each other - their relationship is a good one, and grown through the book. But I rolled my eyes a dozen times each book over the MC's preoccupation with the perfection of this boy. I actually hope and pray that the author edits that nonsense out at some point.

Despite that issue, I find these books riveting, pretty original, and really interesting. This is a genre where it can be hard to find originality and good writing - I think this series has both. I rank this series right up there with the comparable books I read as a kid - the Wrinkle in Time series, the Dark is Rising series - as well as their modern counterparts, Divergent, Micheal Vey, Hunger Games, etc - and I honestly think I enjoy it more than Hunger Games. The great thing about these books is that these teens have these world-changing abilities, but what matters most in the end are characteristics that all of us can have - honor, integrity, courage, sacrifice. They make mistakes, they make bad choices, they're driven to desperation by their situations, and some of the characters don't make it - but these are the things I want my older children reading and learning and thinking about. When the main characters make huge and heart-breaking sacrifices in order to do the right thing, or to save someone they love, I want my kids thinking, "Could I do that?"

The world of The Gathering is not nearly as dystopic as Hunger Games - it's our own world, essentially our own time, which brings it closer to home for modern kids.

Books like these can really make kids think, and I'm not sure I can pay a higher compliment to a book than, "It made me think."

Warning, if you are only interested in testing out some free books, the Gifting is not for you. It is less like a trilogy and more like a "to be continued" episode of a tv show. In order to have a complete story you must move on to the next book. (And pay the 10.00ish.)
Nevertheless, all in all it is a good, fast, easy read. If you are looking to immerse yourself in something that doesnt require a whole lot of mental energy, this book is great. Gifting reads like YA science fiction but provides a journey that any adult will also enjoy.
I have terrible night anxiety, and this book kept my attention the last 2 nights so I could get to sleep. Now I need to buy the 2ND book, which is a fantastic marketing idea, but a bit annoying for (cheap) readers like myself.

I listened to this story on Audible and loved every minute of it! Just wish the sequels were also on Audible. I cared very much about the main character and was wondering how on earth she was going to get out of her perplexing dilemma...all the way to the very end, which was very satisfying but did leave me wanting to read the sequel...now! Want to read more suspense from this author.

This is a suspenseful, exciting young adult story sent in the very near future that pits society against anyone who is the least bit different. The entire story captured me. The main character was easy to relate to and root for. I finished this first book of the series in a flash and immediately had to purchase the next in the series.

I needed something to read and was browsing the free Kindle books and came across this gem. It has almost all good reviews so I decided to give it a shot. I am SO glad that I did. This book, along with the rest of the series, is incredible. Highly recommend this read!

Easy, quick read. I love the story itself and the concept of society pushing away from anything without a scientific explanation and away from supernatural things. Character development is mostly there and sometimes a little bit more is wanted to make it more real or believable. Sometimes I feel like the timeline doesn't line up right with the idea of this book being in the future. All in all Its a good book for teens, I'm 30 and enjoyed it well enough that I plan to read the rest of the series and maybe try a different book from this author.

I love this series! She does a couple stupid things like all heroines, but she learns from them. I read this whole series in less than 2 days, my husband was so mad at me for ignoring the world until I finished them! I wish it didn't have to end, I love this series!

Well-paced story with believable characters. This is an unusual story line, and I've enjoyed every word! I'm currently on the final book in the trilogy (The Gathering), and it has only gotten better, which is hard to do considering that it started out excellent. So good. So very very good.

I loved the concept of this series. Good verses evil is such a powerful topic and this series really did a job capturing that concept. This is a very powerful series and I would definitely recommend this book.

I enjoyed this book, yes it has the teenagers woes, it is to be expected in this genre of books. But the story is so much more! I have bought and read all three, and yes I do recommend them all. It has a quick paced take on good and evil and the author keeps throwing in surprise twists and turns that you don't see coming. Try these books!!

What a phenomenal start to this very original series! I love Luka. The characterization is fantastic and the writing flows beautifully. I love Luka. Also, the pacing is so well done that even after you promise yourself you won't read past midnight....you find yourself finishing the book at 2am. I love Luka. Truly great job, Katie! I love Luka.

Reader thoughts:
The book focused so much on "spiritual" things like ghosts, demons, angels (floating balls of light), dreams, and such, but it hardly mentioned God. It didn't mention Jesus at all. How can the spiritual realm be worth anything without God? How can any spiritual battles mean anything without the saving grace of Jesus' sacrifice?

Moving on.

Tess was sort of dumb. How does she react when police accuse her of being insane? She hits and screams and fights. All 100 lbs of her. When creepy people in her dreams tell her to not trust her friends, she obediently begins to doubt her friends. Where is the logic? Does she only use her brain for worry?

She's also sort of emotional. Actually, she was extremely emotional and unbalanced. I can give her a little leeway because, well, she doesn't get much sleep, and she's a little insane. There's one point where Luka does not look at her and she decides her world is ending. She's rather self-centered that way.

I liked the parts where she wonders what is real (the snake? Those men? the white-eyed guy?) at different moments. She reacts to all of it, but it's still an interesting situation to be in, to not trust her own eyes.

I liked the whole arc with Tess and her brother. He went moody and loner as she got more popular. She didn't try very hard with him, just siced their parents on him and worried now and then.

There was way too much emphasis on the popular crowd and what they think. Why in the world does Tess care so much? Also, the book made it sound like the only thing teens do is go to parties (and play with ouija boards). What happened to 4H, boy scouts, sports, dancing lessons, mall shopping, babysitting, and the rest? Did they all disappear with churches? Did none of these teens have jobs or hobbies?

There was also too much emphasis on Luka's appearance. That's pretty much the only reason Tess seemed to like him. He was popular and oh so hot. The reader saw him being friendly and protective, but Tess only obsessed over his looks and the fact that she was drawn to him like a magnet (she used this analogy twice, if I'm right). Yes, Tess, that's exactly how you should choose your boyfriend.

And why did Luka like Tess? The only different thing about her is how extremely insecure she is. Oh, and that she worries constantly. And that she doesn't trust anyone. And that she sees things others don't. Personality-wise, though, there's not much there. She does karate (not that we ever see her use this and not that it ever boosts her confidence). Does she like to read or hike? What does she do in her down time other than worry about her brother, dream about her grandma, stare into Luka's eyes, and sometimes go to parties with Leela (sp?)?

Despite this, I thought the romance between them was cute. It was completely clean (yay!), and it only had two kisses. It blossomed slowly after the initial obsession-at-first-sight that was very Twilight-esque.

She's the new girl in a small town, and he moved in a few short years before. The entire school is obsessed with him and his family, and he has a mysterious background. He's rich and sits next to Tess in class (they have a government project that lasts from before Halloween until after Christmas break . . . ) . One day he was missing from school, and she freaked out, and I wondered if it was sunny that day or something. He saves her life at once point, sort of, and she throws herself into danger to save him later. She also googles stuff about her condition the same way Bella googles stuff about vampires.

Despite many things I rolled my eyes at, I liked this book. The characters were not boring, and I cared about what happened to them. It was tense and had a new-ish idea (crazy teen), even if the setting (high school) is cliche. The world was only mildly interesting (spiritual things removed from society) because it simply was not believable. All guns were banned, churches had died out, and fetal screenings forced mothers to abort less than perfect babies.

Writer thoughts:
The cast was the right size, but for a long time I doubted that Dr. Roth added anything to the plot. His character served the same purpose as Luka for a long time, a sympathetic ear. Tess explains her dream/vision to Dr. Roth. The next day, she is explaining it to Luka. Repeat. What was the point?

KEG did have a plan for him. He has a role in the last fourth of the book just because he can make things happen that Luka and Tess need. Dr. Roth is the responsible adult figure in this story, the go-to when Tess and Luka need an adult for something (secret records of Tess's grandma and so forth).

I bought this series for my two teenage daughters on the recommendation of a friend. My daughters loved it so much that I decided to read it too. It's the best series I've read in a long time. I seriously couldn't put it down. I'm glad I didn't find it until all three books were out so I could read them all, never mind the reading through the night, not sleeping for three days. :) Fast-paced, intriguing plot and great romantic tension with a clean romance. Loved it!

Intriguing book with characters and storyline shrouded in mystery. The characters are generally amiable enough. I found a deep respect for Tess and her ability to preserver despite the mounting odds. I look forward to the next book and further glimpses into the author's idea of the future of our world.

In the beginning the author states over and over that God doesn't exist and to be honest this angered me to the point where I closed the book refusing to read any further. Later I decided that I had to finish it for two reasons: 1. The book is being read by our children and 2. It is being classified as Christian fiction. So I set aside my anger and finished the book. Here are my thoughts about the book.
This book would do better in a secular category as there is nothing in the book that follows the Christian fiction rules. In fact, the opposite applies. The entire book is adamant about the nonexistence of God. Though it may just be the world the characters live in but it also seems as though this is the author's point of view as well, and you may want to think twice before allowing your young impressionable child to read it. All that aside, the story idea is unique and could possibly be construed as good. There are a some flaws with the book, however. It is in desperate need of an editor. There are places where sentences are missing words and I had to guess what she meant. There are also some spelling and grammatical errors. While these aren't to the point of distracting, they should be fixed. Also, conversations didn't flow well as it was hard to tell who was talking at times.

Now, the good. The author did a fantastic job creating the characters and the world they live in. The reader will have no trouble envisioning this. The story itself is unique and well thought out. I believe with some work this will be a good story for fans of secular paranormal books.

Ms. Ganshert, keep on writing and learn from each experience. With practice you will be an amazing author so stay encouraged.

Another book that for whatever reason I put off reading- I downloaded it free in December and just read it (March) and boy am I happy I did! What a fantastic book! I liked it enough that I went and bought the next two in the series and am adding the author to my new reading list. Very happy!!

This series is spectacular. It draws you in until you can't put it down. The protagonists strengths and weaknesses are on show which make them all the more relatable. Love this series. K.E, Ganshert why don't you have some "more fun" and write like this again. Great work.

Intriguing book with characters and storyline shrouded in mystery. The characters are generally amiable enough. I found a deep respect for Tess and her ability to preserver despite the mounting odds. I look forward to the next book and further glimpses into the author's idea of the future of our world.

In the beginning the author states over and over that God doesn't exist and to be honest this angered me to the point where I closed the book refusing to read any further. Later I decided that I had to finish it for two reasons: 1. The book is being read by our children and 2. It is being classified as Christian fiction. So I set aside my anger and finished the book. Here are my thoughts about the book.
This book would do better in a secular category as there is nothing in the book that follows the Christian fiction rules. In fact, the opposite applies. The entire book is adamant about the nonexistence of God. Though it may just be the world the characters live in but it also seems as though this is the author's point of view as well, and you may want to think twice before allowing your young impressionable child to read it. All that aside, the story idea is unique and could possibly be construed as good. There are a some flaws with the book, however. It is in desperate need of an editor. There are places where sentences are missing words and I had to guess what she meant. There are also some spelling and grammatical errors. While these aren't to the point of distracting, they should be fixed. Also, conversations didn't flow well as it was hard to tell who was talking at times.

Now, the good. The author did a fantastic job creating the characters and the world they live in. The reader will have no trouble envisioning this. The story itself is unique and well thought out. I believe with some work this will be a good story for fans of secular paranormal books.

Ms. Ganshert, keep on writing and learn from each experience. With practice you will be an amazing author so stay encouraged.

Another book that for whatever reason I put off reading- I downloaded it free in December and just read it (March) and boy am I happy I did! What a fantastic book! I liked it enough that I went and bought the next two in the series and am adding the author to my new reading list. Very happy!!

This series is spectacular. It draws you in until you can't put it down. The protagonists strengths and weaknesses are on show which make them all the more relatable. Love this series. K.E, Ganshert why don't you have some "more fun" and write like this again. Great work.

After searching for my next great writer I'm thrilled to say that K.E. Ganshert has accomplished what I feared I would not find... that next great YA read! I've logged in long enough to grab the other two and put in my very quick two cents. Read and enjoy!

The United States, where religion has been banned and children with disabilities or imperfections are not allowed to be born...but overall everything is perfectly normal. But Tess sees things others don't -- terrifying visions and dreams. She is also falling in love.
Could not put this book down!

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of a girl that experiences strange dreams and visions that eventually lead her down a trail of surprises and family history. I am anxious to read the next book in the series to find out how Tess deals with her newfound abilities and what it means to her and her family. I highly recommend this book to school libraries and YA fans who loved Twilight and The Hunger Games. You will not be disappointed!

Just finished The Gifting by K.E. Ganshert. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put the book down until the end! I look forward to reading the rest of this series and any other books this amazingly talented author writes! Wow!

This is a well written story with an interesting twist. I especially appreciate the fact that someone proofread the novel. There are very few grammatical or spelling errors. The characters are well developed and the suspense forced me to buy books 2 and 3.

I liked this books because I crave cute little romances that are so saucy and intense. This had a good story line and I read the whole series. It felt a little slow, but it had some neat rules about dreams. I felt the main character changed through out the series.

The storyline keeps you guessing, wondering and when you think you have it figured out, you find out you don't. The characters are true and believable. The writing done so well you feel what the main character is feeling! On to book number two.

Sharon

Stumbled upon this awesome book in the Unlimited Kindle library! It started a bit slow and full of teenage drama but by the end I couldn't put it down and finished it in a day! Can't wait to read 2 & 3 (only wish they were available in the library too!)

It is books like this that give smaller independent authors a chance to show their talents. K.E. Ganshert has incredible writing talent. This is book 1 of 3 and it is a well put together story.Read but just be warned you will not sleep until you finish the series.