Giften by Leyla Suzan

Abstract

Reviewed by: Giften by Leyla Suzan Natalie Berglind Suzan, Leyla Giften. Pushkin, 2023 [304p] Paper ed. ISBN 9781782693178 $13.95 E-book ed. ISBN 9781782693185 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad Gr. 7-10 Ever since the Darkening, a climate-related apocalypse event, food has been hard to come by, which makes Giften—people who can grow crops with magic—extremely valuable. They’re valuable enough that a violent, armed group called MAGs (Men and Guns) steals Giften away to be experimented on, sparking the existence of the Sanctuary, a Giften-only community, and a rebel group called the Circle. When Ruthie shows signs of being Giften and her father returns to their town after going missing several years ago, he offers to take her away before the MAGs can get her, but their journey won’t be easy as they get caught in the middle of the warring groups. Simplified worldbuilding, generic characters, and a villain with no interesting motive will turn off fans of dystopian fiction who have tired of books that rehash the same tropes of their predecessors. Still, the pacing is breakneck and makes for an action-packed read, and Ruthie being fifteen will appeal to younger teens. Collections with outdated dystopian fiction hoping to introduce newer work may still consider this book. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois