Book Review: The Gift by Evette Davis

Reviewed by Lauren Hayataka

Family secrets, ancient enemies, and dangerous desires—this sequel keeps the stakes high.

In this second installment of The Council Trilogy, Evette Davis delivers a fast-paced urban fantasy that blends supernatural politics, familial revelations, and simmering tension against a wintry Eastern European backdrop. 

At its center is Olivia Shepherd, a reluctant witch with empathic abilities, still grappling with her newfound powers and her place within the Council, an ancient organization influencing both humans and Others.

Thrown into a world teeming with ghosts, werewolves, sea nymphs, and even the boogeyman, Olivia’s struggle to adapt is a journey many can relate to. The revelations of her parentage only deepen the chaos: her father, Gabriel Laurent, is the current head of the Council and a descendant of a pureblooded family of witches. Adding to this is the sudden, devastating, and suspicious death of her mother, India, a loss that leaves Olivia reeling. But the greatest threat of all comes in the form of Nikola Pajovic, a thousand-year-old vampire determined to tighten his grip on the Council.

Driven by a need for revenge and desperate to uncover Nikola’s schemes, Olivia is thrust into the Council’s treacherous political arena. With her lover William sidelined, she’s forced into an uneasy partnership with his brother Josef. Hard-edged and dangerously beguiling, Josef’s presence creates a simmering tension, one charged with antagonism, mutual respect, and an undercurrent of desire that Olivia can’t entirely ignore.

The story moves briskly, weaving Olivia’s struggles with her growing powers, her tangled family history, and the looming threat of Nikola into a seamless narrative that remains easy to follow. Each twist—whether it’s Olivia reeling from her mother’s death, navigating the Council’s political chessboard, or grappling with the charged dynamic between herself and Josef—unfolds with precision. Davis cleverly ties real-world history and pop culture into the supernatural world, such as Gabriel’s past involvement with a budding filmmaker (none other than George Lucas) and the tantalizing idea that figures like Voltaire were once members of the Council.

Davis’s excellent use of dialogue supports all of this. Realistic and sardonic, dry and often amusing, the exchanges, particularly between Olivia and Josef, flow naturally and provide much-needed levity to the darker themes of war, grief, and betrayal. Josef, haunted by a tragic past involving the Nazis and the loss of his family, emerges as one of the most fascinating characters. His blunt honesty contrasts with William’s softer demeanor, creating a layered dynamic between the brothers and Olivia. 

Thematically, The Gift wrestles with identity and control. Olivia’s powers—empathy, telekinesis, telepathy, and invisibility—are tied to her emotions rather than her will, frustrating her attempts to define herself as more than just a pawn in the Council’s games. Her journey, marked by anger, grief, and a refusal to surrender to destiny, ends in a decision that sets up a promising third installment.

While the novel leans on familiar urban fantasy tropes—a love triangle, a reluctant heroine with world-altering abilities, and the omnipresent “ancient evil”—its sharp pacing, engaging dialogue, and Olivia’s evolving journey all make it a worthwhile read. Davis balances supernatural intrigue with wry humor and emotional depth, making The Gift an easy recommendation.

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