TakenAuthor: Erin Bowmen
Series: Taken #1
Published by: HarperTeen
Publication Date: April 16, 2013
Format: eARC
Pages: 360
Source: Publisher
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 what 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?
When I first discovered Taken, I was really excited about it. Then for some reason that excitement fizzled out and I contemplated not reading it at all. But I decided to give it a go anyway. Now, I’m torn on how I feel about this book. Part of me is glad I read it, and part of me wishes I hadn’t. Not that it was completely terrible, it just had some problems I had a hard time with.
Grey resides in Claysoot, a walled in town where every male is subjected to the Heist. Which means they vanish on their eighteenth birthday. Always. They literally vanish right in front of everyone. No one knows why or how, that’s just how it’s always been. There is a solution to how they keep from going extinct, even though I have some reservations about it. No one knows what is beyond the wall that surrounds Claysoot, and no one ever makes it outside alive.
Taken starts with Grey preparing for his brother, Blain, to be Heisted. Oh boy, did Grey ever start off on my bad side. Within the first couple of chapters he beat up a girl half his size because she pissed him off. Listen, I understand he was going through a lot and alluded to a rough history with this girl, but it was uncalled for. I was going to quit reading the book right then, but I was curious to see if maybe he’d be remorseful and somehow redeem himself. So I soldiered on. When it got to the part where he had the chance to appeal to my softer, more forgiving side, he did the opposite by saying “she deserved it.” No remorse or acknowledgment that it was wrong whatsoever. I found it disturbing and had little hope of ever liking him. By then, I was intrigued by the town and the Heist. I needed to know just what the heck was going on.
When Grey discovers a secret, he sets out to discover the truth of what exactly is beyond the wall. I don’t really want to give any details beyond that, because that’s part of the big mystery of the book. It became predictable and easy to figure out once it got past a certain point early in the book, though. Even so, I did find it interesting, and the story itself is what kept me engaged. The pacing was great, and the author did a good job at showing realistic reaction to the environment Grey enters.
To be completely honest, I would have enjoyed Taken a lot more if it hadn’t been for Grey’s unsavory personality. I understand that he is supposed to be fiery and stubborn. Hell, those are my favorite types of characters, but he’s so unlikable. He eventually got tolerable at one point, but then he pulled more a-hole moves. It’s not even like he’s one of those likeable jerks with a good sense of humor that I can appreciate. He’s just annoying.
Taken is the first book in the series, so I’m really torn on whether or not I want to read the next book. I would love to find out what happens next, not with Grey, but with the overall story. I was fairly confident I would, until the beginning of a love-triangle made an appearance. I’m usually okay with them, but this… gross. Two girls vying for Grey is not something I want to read about.
So, as you can see, this was a hard book for me. I’m drawn to the world building, but repelled by the main character. What’s a girl to do?
Thank you for sharing Christy!
I`m not sure I want to read it anymore, from your review it looks to be not that good a book. I loathe love-triangles and Grey seems to be annoying, so I`m contemplating leaving it be, maybe some day I will read it, but not now.
Ehh.. Grey sounds exactly like the sort of character I’d want to avoid. I do enjoy the fiery, stubborn types, too, but not when they are completely unlikeable. I’m glad you didn’t completely regret reading this, though. That’s something, at least. Great review, Christy!
And I’m the first to admit that I tend to like jerks, but Grey was … something else. The guy needs counseling.
This is one that I was really looking forward to reading, I starting to think that I will just wait and see if my library is going to carry it. The triangle is different, but I just could do without them. Sorry you didn’t enjoy this as much as you wanted to.
Jenea @ Books Live Forever
I didn’t love Gray either but I liked Bree. Lol. I liked the world building but even that had holes. Great review 🙂
Yeah, I liked Bree too, but I felt a little off about her. Their little campfire display was just barf. That’s what pissed me off about Grey too… he was gone for two months and Emma thought he was dead, wtf was she supposed to do, especially alone in a foreign place? It annoyed me how he said “you move on in a matter of days” um, it’s been MONTHS a-hole.
I did not like the MC in this book. I had no connection AND I was not happy by what happened in the beginning of the book. And in general this book was all over the place. I had no connection with any of the characters, actually. And the main point of the story, him missing his brother so much and being so upset, was put on the back burner even after everything he found out. I won’t be moving on to the next book in this series.
I don’t know if I’ll read the next one or not. I get worked up every time I even start thinking about Grey. But I would like to know what they find at the other town.
I was originally so excited for this book, but so many people have problems with it, my excitement has kind of fizzled. I think most people really dislike Grey, so you’re not alone! I have an ARC and will probably still give it a try, but I’ve definitely adjusted my expectations. Thanks for your honest review!
I didn’t read any reviews before reading and reviewing it, but I am glad to see that I’m not alone. The guy is disturbing. But definitely give it a try, because like I said, I still enjoyed the story.
It is very difficult to like a book if the main character repels you. Very honest and straightforward review.
Oh no! I think I liked this one a lot more than you did. I didn’t love Grey either but I did really like the originality this one had (even with the holes).
I think I liked Gray a little more than you so enjoyed better, but thanks for your honest review.
Well crap on toast. I was supposed to read this for Monday’s review but then I had to bump it. Should I read it or not? I don’t know this one is not getting high marks and Gray sounds like a POS. I could do without a gross love triangle. Oh great Christy please steer me in the right direction to read or not to read????
I don’t like telling anyone not to read something, so I say at least try it. It’s hard for me, because I liked it all except the MC. I would be surprised if you liked him. I’m surprised anyone does, because he’s freaking disturbing. When a guy says “she deserved it” after doing something like that, makes me sick to my stomach.
Actually! You know what it made me think of? You know that case in FL, where the guy found that girl and beat the crap out of her at the bus stop because of what she said in text messages about his brother? That. Grey had to be pulled off the girl. I just don’t see how anyone can excuse that away when coupled with his lack of remorse. Maybe my psychology and criminology background is overriding everything, but I can’t help it.
Wow, it seems like every review I read of this one has something new to tell me about the book…none of it good, lol. I had high hopes for this one, I think I’ll put this one off. It’ll probably end up being a library read.
I’ve read like, 5 reviews for this book today and I think it’s safe to say that no one really liked Gray. Plus, there were far too many plotholes for me to relax and enjoy the read.
I’m sorry you struggled with it too.
He beat up a girl, now that has turned me right off. I think I was already lukewarm anyway due to mixed reviews. But I do like that the love triangle is 2 girls, 1 guy, that’s a bit different.
Hmmm… Now you’ve got ME contemplating whether I want to bother reading it!!! Lol Gah!
Sounds like a maybe for me. I too was ambivalent about reading this. Now I really want to just to see what I think. Mean characters don’t always scare me off, BUT it can be hard to read a whole book when you don’t care enough about the character’s fate. Still, sounds like this one has a really cool plot and maybe that’ll be enough. Nice review.
I haven’t seen a great review for this yet. Most have been pretty negative actually. I have a copy of it but I think I’ll wait for the next book and see what people are saying about it and whether this series is worth starting.
Seriously, he beat up a girl!!! That’s not stubborn and fiery (which I enjoy) that’s angry and violent. A lot of people have had problems with this book, and like you, I was excited about it to begin with, but not so much anymore. I may just give it a miss. Thanks for the informative review.
Exactly!! He IS angry and violent. And then he never even redeemed himself, just pulled more douchey moves.
The premise sounds promising but if Grey is such a jerk and it becomes predictable, I might just pass on this one. It’s too bad because the premise is intriguing.