When a renegade thief and a genetically enhanced mercenary collide, space gets a whole lot hotter!
Given
Thief Kara Shimsi has learned three lessons well — keep her head down, her fingers light, and her tithes to the syndicate paid on time.
But now a failed heist has earned her a death sentence — a one-way ticket to the toxic Waste outside the dome. Her only chance is a deal with the syndicate’s most ruthless enforcer, a wolfish mountain of genetically-modified muscle named Davien.
The thought makes her body tingle with dread — or is it heat?
Mercenary Davien will do whatever it takes to get back into space. The last thing he wants is a smart-mouthed thief — even if her scent drives him wild — and she may have the clue he needs to hunt down whoever destroyed his home.
Caring is a liability. Desire is a commodity. And love could get you killed.
Crime, Chemistry, and a Genetically Enhanced Hero
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💛💚🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 😋🙂😁
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
Character Backgrounds and Plot Summary
Elin Wyn’s Given combines science fiction, dystopian survival, action, and romance in a story that surprised me with how much trouble two people can get into while simply trying to escape their circumstances.
Kara Shimsi is a street-smart thief living in Glephi, a domed city where criminal syndicates control daily life and residents must pay their tithes to stay protected. When a planned theft goes wrong, Kara finds herself facing a death sentence: being thrown into the toxic Waste outside the dome, where humans cannot survive. She is resourceful and stubborn, but her independence doesn’t mean she has no heart. Her connections with the younger people around her reveal a softer side beneath her tough exterior.
Davien is a genetically enhanced mercenary who works as an enforcer for the city’s ruthless crime boss, Xavis. Created in a laboratory aboard the spaceship Daedalus, he and his genetically engineered brothers were scattered in escape pods after their ship was attacked. Davien has been stranded on this planet for six weeks, trying to earn enough money to get back into space and find his brothers and the scientist he considers family.
When Kara’s stolen goods go missing, Davien intervenes to prevent her from being sent into the Waste. He strikes a deal with Xavis: he will recover the missing goods, but he wants Kara and half the recovered stash in return. They have just three days to make things right, and Kara agrees to help Davien on the condition that he helps her get off the planet.
Naturally, their search becomes much more complicated than either expects. Between rival criminals, dangerous encounters, and hints of a larger conspiracy, the pair find themselves relying on each other in ways neither planned. I particularly liked that Davien’s growing attachment to Kara isn’t just about attraction. His determination to protect her, along with his unexpected tenderness toward children, gives the genetically engineered warrior more depth than his intimidating appearance initially suggests.
Highlights and Limitations
My favorite part of this story is the contrast between Kara and Davien. Kara is nobody’s helpless damsel, and Davien quickly discovers that saving her from one problem doesn’t mean she will obediently follow his lead through the next. Their banter and mutual stubbornness make their partnership entertaining, especially when they have to work together despite having very different priorities.
I also enjoyed the found-family element. Kara’s relationships with the children and other people she cares about make her feel like more than just a thief trying to survive. Davien has his own version of family in the brothers he lost, and his determination to find them gives his mission emotional weight beyond simply escaping the planet. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding the attack on the Daedalus, too. The coded information and unanswered questions give the romance a larger science fiction storyline to build on.
The domed city and the deadly Waste create an effective backdrop. The fact that people must pay a criminal syndicate for protection makes Kara’s predicament feel particularly unfair. She isn’t simply trying to get rich; she’s trying to survive in a system designed to keep people dependent on those who exploit them.
My biggest reservation is that I wanted more time with these characters. The romance develops quickly, and although the attraction and chemistry are apparent, I would have appreciated more breathing room for their emotional connection to grow. Davien’s origins and the mystery surrounding his brothers also left me wanting more answers. The ending provides a sense of forward movement, but some threads feel more like setup for the wider series than fully resolved parts of this particular adventure. I finished interested in what comes next, though I would have loved a little more closure for Kara and Davien.
Narration
Beth Roeg and Noel Harrison bring Kara and Davien’s story to life with a dual-narrator approach that suits the shifting perspectives. With Kara’s sharp instincts and determination on one side and Davien’s more physically intimidating, mission-focused personality on the other, having two narrators helps distinguish their experiences.
I particularly appreciated the opportunity to experience Davien as more than the dangerous enforcer other people see. His concern for Kara and his longing to reunite with his lost family add emotional layers to his character, and those quieter moments matter just as much as the action. The narration also suits the story’s mix of danger, romantic tension, and lighter exchanges between the leads.
Overall, the performances make this an easy science fiction romance to settle into. The story moves at a brisk pace, and the audiobook format works well for following the characters through their increasingly complicated attempts to escape Glephi.
Final Opinion
Given was an enjoyable introduction to Elin Wyn’s Star Breed series. I liked Kara’s independence, Davien’s protective streak, and the fact that both characters have goals beyond finding romance. Their situation gives the story plenty of action, while the mystery surrounding Davien’s origins adds another reason to keep listening.
I would have preferred a slower romantic build and a little more resolution at the end, but those frustrations didn’t erase my enjoyment of the adventure. The combination of a tough heroine, a genetically engineered warrior with a softer side, criminal intrigue, and a larger mystery makes this a good choice for readers who enjoy science fiction romance with a dystopian edge.
My verdict: A fun, action-packed start to a series with an intriguing premise and characters I wanted to spend more time with. I’m definitely curious about Davien’s brothers and what really happened aboard the Daedalus.
