The Given by Mickey Martin is a thrilling dark fantasy novel with generous helpings of romance and dystopian themes. It follows our protagonist Lilliana and her friends as they navigate through their new lives within “The Given” facility. The story takes place in a near future, where the justice system has been reinvented: those who have suffered as a result of crimes are sent to “The Given” to heal and find new purpose. With themes of rehabilitation and friendship, Martin focuses heavily on the dynamics built amongst the characters; their connections, history, and dreams.

The greatest charm of Martin’s writing is undoubtedly her character construction. Every character is fleshed out with rich details which make them alluring and interesting to follow. The novel is full of intimate conversations that vividly illustrate budding connections and relationships in a refreshing way. The intensity of their interactions emphasizes how crucial the theme of friendship is to this novel. It feels very satisfying overall.

Martin creates a captivating concept in this novel, and I enjoyed the narrative overall. It is well-structured and fast-paced and felt like much care was put into the backstory and world these characters inhabit. Her reconceptualization of justice is presented in a fresh and intriguing way that seems more realistic than other dystopian novels with similar premises.

Lilliana is an interesting character, but I felt like Lilliana’s recovery from her abuse could have been explored further. All characters adore her, she is intelligent and talented, and gains the attention of her crush from the first chapter. While it’s nice to see a main character thrive, I would have preferred to see Lilliana develop more actively throughout the novel, to succeed overcoming her traumas.

The Given is a dark fantasy story with fairytale undertones that give this dystopian novel a unique feel throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed Martin’s highly descriptive writing and the story’s atmosphere. It was heavy and dark at times, but generally it was an interesting and exciting read.

Pages: 298 | ASIN: B085VG9X83