Hey Reading Nook!
Happy Monday evening! We've been dying to share our review of Erin Bowman's Taken for awhile now, but wanted to wait until we were closer to the release date.
Now that we're only about two and a half weeks away from the April 16th release date, it seemed like time!
- T
Happy Monday evening! We've been dying to share our review of Erin Bowman's Taken for awhile now, but wanted to wait until we were closer to the release date.
Now that we're only about two and a half weeks away from the April 16th release date, it seemed like time!
- T
Title information:
Taken by Erin Bowman
Hardcover, 352 pages
Expected publication: April 16th 2013 by HarperTeen
Format read: E-ARC via Edelweiss
ISBN: 0062117262
Hardcover, 352 pages
Expected publication: April 16th 2013 by HarperTeen
Format read: E-ARC via Edelweiss
ISBN: 0062117262
Two-second recap:
Taken is one of those books where you go into the story knowing that the book is going to be good, but you're still absolutely blown away with just how good the book is.
Synopsis via Goodreads:
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?
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?
Things that worked:
* The first thing that struck me about Taken, was the fact that the protagonist was male. It seems like the vast majority of YA books feature female protagonists these days, so it was a refreshing change.
* More to the point, Gray is an incredibly likable character. He behaves in ways that the reader may not necessarily agree with - e.g. beating up a bully for taunting him and his niece - but we can see the internal struggle, so we sympathize.
* The writing is also incredibly strong - to a point. (More on this later).
Erin Bowman has one of the most eye-catching first sentences that I've read in my recent crop of YA books. There's no way you can read "Today is the last day I will see my brother", and not have this reaction: O.O and want to read more.
* Bowman's ability at world-building within the confines of Claysoot were extremely strong, as well. I could feel the constant sense of hopelessness and resignation felt by all of the men and women inside the city.
* Plotting - within Claysoot. Gray's impulsiveness and desperation at finding answers, keeps the action going, and kept me turning the pages. I knew that things clearly weren't how they appeared, and Bowman's writing kept me wanting to find out more.
However, then he leaves Claysoot...
* More to the point, Gray is an incredibly likable character. He behaves in ways that the reader may not necessarily agree with - e.g. beating up a bully for taunting him and his niece - but we can see the internal struggle, so we sympathize.
* The writing is also incredibly strong - to a point. (More on this later).
Erin Bowman has one of the most eye-catching first sentences that I've read in my recent crop of YA books. There's no way you can read "Today is the last day I will see my brother", and not have this reaction: O.O and want to read more.
* Bowman's ability at world-building within the confines of Claysoot were extremely strong, as well. I could feel the constant sense of hopelessness and resignation felt by all of the men and women inside the city.
* Plotting - within Claysoot. Gray's impulsiveness and desperation at finding answers, keeps the action going, and kept me turning the pages. I knew that things clearly weren't how they appeared, and Bowman's writing kept me wanting to find out more.
However, then he leaves Claysoot...
Things that didn't work/Things to consider:
* Emma. While Erin Bowman's clearly talented at writing male voices, I just couldn't jive with some of her characterizations of women, especially Emma.
I understand that the reader is supposed to think that Emma's sassy, spunky and kind, but I just got kind of annoyed with her behavior. Not to mention, her instant!love! of Gray just seemed kind of one-dimensional.
* The back story between Frank + Harvey + the rebels. It was well-written, but I kind of felt that I had read all of this in other dystopians before. I definitely had a few moments where I could predict the plot twists - including their discovery that members of Group A might still be alive.
(District 13, anyone?)
* The (potential) love triangle. Without spoiling too much, Bree is awesome. Emma is not. While I like the fact that Gray basically didn't give Emma the time of day by the end of the book, I still sense a love triangle in the future.
I understand that the reader is supposed to think that Emma's sassy, spunky and kind, but I just got kind of annoyed with her behavior. Not to mention, her instant!love! of Gray just seemed kind of one-dimensional.
* The back story between Frank + Harvey + the rebels. It was well-written, but I kind of felt that I had read all of this in other dystopians before. I definitely had a few moments where I could predict the plot twists - including their discovery that members of Group A might still be alive.
(District 13, anyone?)
* The (potential) love triangle. Without spoiling too much, Bree is awesome. Emma is not. While I like the fact that Gray basically didn't give Emma the time of day by the end of the book, I still sense a love triangle in the future.
Back to what worked:
* Despite my reservations with the later chapters, I'm genuinely flabbergasted that Bowman could pack so much into her book - especially considering that it's a trilogy.
Most other authors might have saved some of the later chapters for book 2 - not Bowman. It was literally an Odyssey-esque adventure within one book.
Most other authors might have saved some of the later chapters for book 2 - not Bowman. It was literally an Odyssey-esque adventure within one book.
Final verdict:
Taken is highly enjoyable, and I only had some some minor quibbles in the later chapters. I'm honestly very impressed with Bowman's writing.
Recommend for fans of Partials, Divergent.
Recommend for fans of Partials, Divergent.
About the author:
Erin Bowman used to tell stories visually as a web designer. Now a full-time writer, she relies solely on words. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and when not writing she can often be found hiking, commenting on good typography, and obsessing over all things Harry Potter.
Erin is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger. She is the author of TAKEN and forthcoming FROZEN (4/15/14) from HarperTeen.
Erin is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger. She is the author of TAKEN and forthcoming FROZEN (4/15/14) from HarperTeen.
