Blog Tour: Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis + Giveaway

Given to the Sea (Given Duet #1) by Mindy McGinnis

Published April 11th 2017

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.

Review

I was sent an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of Mindy McGinnis’ and her books will always be on my auto-buy list. I was super excited to read Given to the Sea and I might have had my expectations a little high.
Given to the Sea is a lot different from her other books and I can’t quite place my finger on what it is that was so different. The writing was oddly different from her other books so maybe that’s what was throwing me off.
I did really love the concept of this book. I think the world building was a little lacking but I thought the concept was wonderful.
The characters are all different from each other. I liked being able to see different perspectives and I think the distinct perspectives helped fill in the gaps of the world building.
I did feel fairly disconnected from the characters through out the book and I wished I had been more emotionally invested in them.

Overall, I did enjoy this book even though it’s not my favorite from Mindy. I really liked the concept but I thought the world building could have been better. I think I’ll be rereading this book very soon to see if maybe it just wasn’t just a weird mood I was in when I read this book. If you’re looking for a YA fantasy read, I think Given to the Sea is worth checking out.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

About Mindy McGinnis

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.