The Gift: A Christmas Novella (Mageri, #6)

by Dannika Dark

• ISBN10: 1537071408
• ISBN13: 9781537071404
• Publish Date: 2 December 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 164
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

This story begins a few years after Shine ends. The author has a note in the audio and book that warns this book takes place AFTER the series and Risk a standalone set in the Mageri world. Had I not been reading this for the #HoHoHoRAT I would have stopped and read it first. *shakes fist at Goodreads*

It's the holidays and everyone is living under the same roof. I loved seeing everyone settled and getting updates. Simon and Justus go shopping for a tree since this is the first Christmas everyone is home. Silver is cooking for all of them. Oyi! Laughter, a touch of sadness and answers to unresolved questions were all delectable.

We learn tidbits on Adam and others and I can only hope that Dark eventually tells their stories. She left it in such a way that my mind was able to create the endings I wanted. A snowstorm and an unexpected phone call have Logan and Silver leaving in the afternoon. Is it the miracle they hoped for or a trap? You will have to read to find out.

I absolutely loved the tie into the Seven series. It left me grinning. The Gift is meant for fans and should not be read as a standalone. I devoured it and will read Risk next. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Melanie]

My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.

I’m not a huge Christmas reader. I’m not a person that goes out looking for Christmas related stories. I do enjoy a good Christmas story when it’s about a series and characters that I already love. I love novellas because we usually get to see a different side to the characters than in full length novels. Novellas tend to not have the big mystery plot (or at least not as large of one) and focuses more on the everyday of the characters which is a fun difference.

In this story, we get to see all the favorite characters from the Mageri series come together for Christmas. Like with a real family, some have more love for the season than others. And since this is the first time they are having Christmas together as a group, there is an interesting shopping trip as Justus and Simon go to purchase a tree and decorations. I love the thought process as Justice finds an ornament for each person.

The “gift” that is received it a pretty amazing one that comes at the perfect time. It is a gift that will be loved by all the characters, but a few in particular. I thought about going into this aspect of the plot line a little bit more, but I really loved the aspects of it. But, I decided that it was too much of a spoiler. If you’re a fan of the Mageri series, this is a must have addition. I’m really hoping that we will get another story in this series. Maybe Finn or Adam???

Narration
Once again, I really enjoyed Nicole Poole’s narration of this book and the entire series. I really love her voice of Simon. I wasn’t a huge of her voice of the Rose, Justus’s daughter. She does sound younger than the rest of the group, but something about it just didn’t sound right. Rose is a very intelligent child and maybe Poole was working to make her sound it and it didn’t sit right with me. It is a small thing. If you haven’t tried Poole, I really enjoy her narrations.