Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Review: Taken by Erin Bowman

Taken (Taken, #1)
Taken by Erin Bowman
There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.
They call it the Heist.
Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.
Climbing the Wall is suicide, but comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?
”add

Publishes in US: April 16th 2013 by HarperTeen
Genre: YA Dystopia
Source: Harper Teen via Edelweiss
Series? Yes. The 1st in Taken Series. The 2nd still untitled releases in 2014, and the 3rd still untitled releases in 2015

Buy it: Barnes & Noble Amazon IndieBound BookDepository.com

Find Erin online: site   twitter

    I liked Gray, he is impulsive, but caring. Though I didn't agree with every decision or action, I still enjoyed him as a narrator. It was different being in a boy's head that thought like him. There was also a lot of emotion right at the beginning because his older brother was to be heisted, meaning he would disappear in less than 24 hours when the book started. 
    This def was a strange world and it took me a while to get accustomed in it. Not only the 18 year old boys vanish, which I can buy because I figure he is going to figure out more of the why and how for that, but even if not, okay it is a paranormal book and allowances are made. Why are there vampires? How does a human transform into a werewolf? Right, so... but anyways, in this world set-up there are "slatings" where each month the boy is with another girl, and although these can be extended, it is general practice for the boys to sleep with a different girl every month. Okay, I get that they want for the populations to continue, but why not just have one boy with one girl? Anyways, it was just different, not bad per se, but I am used to a love triangle at most, not what our society would basically consider promiscuity. 
    There was a lot that caught my attention, his emotions, his voice, the mystery of what is different about him, knowing that he would probably go over the wall because of the lead up in the synopsis, and Emma. She works with her mom as a healer, and I really liked her spirit. I liked getting to know her better, and the moments she shared with Gray. 
    As the book goes on, new characters, and situations are encountered, each more surprising than the last. I didn't know who to really trust, or who might get hurt next. I liked the twists that the book took though, and I am eager to read more in this series, and find out what happens next, and what decisions Gray will make. 

Bottom Line: Nice beginning to a trilogy that was packed with action and surprises.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Risk everything or play it safe?

36 comments:

  1. I am reading this now, so I read your opening and closing statement. So far I am liking Grey and find the reading to be easy to slip into. Glad you thought it was a good start.

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  2. I am reading this soon, so it's good to get an opinion. I haven't really heard much about it....

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  3. I really want to read this one. I want to know why the boys vanish and where do they go. Great review.


    Jenea @ Books Live Forever

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  4. Liking the sound of this, thanks for a great review.

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  5. I've been wanting to read this! I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about it so far. It sounded like an interesting premise, boys disappearing on their 18th birthday. It doesn't really seem to make much sense to me either to switch off partners every month. I do love added twists to books! Thanks for the review!

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  6. Hmm...sounds interesting but very much like other books. I wonder if sometimes authors add in a few crazy things just to distinguish a book from others in its genre.

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  7. I liked Taken, and found it to be different, but similar to some books that I've read. I also liked how it was from a male POV. I think this book will have a love/hate following.

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  8. I recently reviewed this one too, and I must admit I liked it a big less than you did, mostly because the overcomplicated worldbuilding and the love triangle.... err, rectangle that was completely unnecessary.
    Great review!

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  9. I'm curious about this one, I heard great things about it. thanks for the reviews. It's nice to learn more.

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  10. Fab review Brandi! I'm really excited for this one myself so I'm thrilled you enjoyed it so much. The twists you spoke of all sound really exciting :D

    Thanks for sharing!

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  11. I'm actually not sure about this one. Looks like there is just too many questions about the world building than I normally like. So, I'm just on the fence. I may library book it because you liked it so much. :)

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  12. I am following the blog tour so I can read the first 8 chapters. I am not so sure about the bed hopping thing either. Thanks for the review.
    Jess@FueledbyFiction

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  13. Wow, lots of things I didn't know about this book lol. I still want to read it, I might not agree with some but I like paranormal worlds like this one. Risk everything or play it safe? Oh, that's a hard question, I don't know, I think it would depend. I'd consider the consequences on both sides and then choose. I'm not good at making decisions.

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  14. Sounds cool :D

    Oh and play safe is my motto

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  15. Sounds like a pretty good read :) I really want to check it out!

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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  16. I have got the arc of this one but still have had time to read it! :) Gray sounds like a great character and I love that this story it told from male POV! :) I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

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  17. I've heard such great things about this, but no one had mentioned the slating part of the book. Hmm....that sounds a bit strange. Still I'm glad you seemed to enjoy it enough to keep going with the series. To answer your Q, I'd play it safe (most likely). :-) Great review!

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  18. Thanks for sharing, Brandi! This sounds like a good paranormal mystery although I am not sure about the slating part.

    I think I'd usually play it safe but I may enjoy reading about wild stories every now and then ;)

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  19. Depends on the stakes, for me.

    Taken does sound like a good book. I really like that premise.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  20. Hmm, I have this one to read, but I didn't realize about the sleeping around. I am no prude, but ick. I'll have to read it to see how it's presented but I'm not sure about this one already. Thanks for the review, though. Your's is the first I've seen. Glad I've been forewarned!!

    Heather

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  21. I have this one and have been excited to read it. I'm not sure what I'll think of the sleeping around stuff though. I guess we'll have to see how it's presented and whether it works for me. Definitely curious how it all goes and why boys disappear!

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  22. I'm definitely a play it safe girl-I probably wouldn't take the risk. I just got an ARC of this and am interested to check it out for myself-I have a lot of questions!

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  23. Sounds kind of intriguing, though all those details confuse me a bit... I didn't expect all those paranormal aspects.

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  24. This one is coming up next. Really curious to what I'll think.

    I'm definitely a play it safe kind of gal. lol

    ~Sara @ Forever 17 Books

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  25. I'm really curious about Taken! I'm glad Gray is likeable, though for some reason I didn't realize the narrator was a boy from when I read the description. Also I thought there were no adults, but you mentioned Emma's mum. I think the whole 'no adult guys' thing kind of made me jump to the wrong conclusions.
    From what you said I'm very curious about the ways of relationships in that world now, and of what's on the other side of that wall. Thanks for your review :)

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  26. The cover of this book is amazing, really good. And the story is different in one way, but with that love that appear always. I don't know, I have so much feelings about this book, I want read it so much.

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  27. I love the male perspective! I didn't even realize this was about vampires or werewolves! LOL Curious now!

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  28. I didn't think there were Jennifer, I thought she meant that as a metaphor??

    I have this one for review, I REALLY need to get to it soon. I was quite curious about it so I'm glad to see that you liked it. I'm still curious about the reproducing though....Great review Brandi :)

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  29. When I first read the summary a while ago, I was kind of on the edge about it, but seeing such a good review from you boosts my confidence about it! Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Maybe I'll het this one from the library soon!

    Marie @ Marie's Bookworm Blog
    http://www.mariesbookwormblog.blogspot.com

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  30. I won an ARC for this, and I wasn't going to start it but I'll definitely need to pick it up now. It sounds very intriguing and I really love the concept. Glad you enjoyed this one!

    Awesome review, Brandi! :D

    ~ Maida
    Literary Love Affair

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  31. I really liked this one, although i agree about the whole slating thing. it was pretty strange! it was almost like they didn't believe in long term relationships! I did like Gray and Emma together though, although things obviously got a bit complicated by the end! glad you enjoyed it!

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  32. thanks for sharing, girl. For your question, I would like to take risk everything. Doing it safely, make me feels like nothing. Haha. Just because I'm the different one. :D

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  33. I haven't read this book yet but I would really like to. Thank you for your honest review. As for your question I would risk everything because playing it safe is boring.

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  34. I've heard a lot about this book, but most of it has been either total love or hate, so it's great to see a good review that's more rational! Seeing your review, I think I'll give it a read sometime :)

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  35. This sounds like a great book to read. I can't wait to read this one because I have heard some wonderful things about it. Thank you for your honest review.

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