Taken (Taken, #1)

by Erin Bowman

[paperbackjedi]

Gray has watched many of his friends fall victim to The Heist and now he’s lost his brother to it. Propelled by a secret mysterious note from his mother, he sets off to discover what lies outside the Wall of Claysoot and if there’s life beyond what everyone is lead to believe.

I actually won this book through a Twitter giveaway from the author herself and just recently got around to reading it. To begin, I started and finished this book in one sitting. The narrative is compelling and and fast-paced. While Bowman always leaves the reader with questions with questions, she unveils the story in a way that both satisfies and teases. This book is mostly action, but it doesn’t ignore character development and exploration. Especially for Gray as the story is told in first person. Gray is a refreshing male protagonist, not pigeon holed into “bad boy” or “good guy” and instead reads like he might be someone you know. He felt familiar to me- realistic and consistent. I do wish we’d gotten to see a little more into the minds of Blaine (Gray’s brother) and Emma (Gray’s sort of girlfriend), but the rest of the cast (while secondary) is fleshed out enough that you get a sense of the characters, their struggles, and a deeper understanding of the plot.

The plot itself is straightforward enough, there are few moments where you might question the validity of the explanation, but for the most part, if you can suspend your disbelief and immerse yourself in the words, you won’t really question it too much. And since it’s dystopian science fiction, it’s easier to go along for the ride. I will say that some explanations seemed rushed and as a result, it could be a little overwhelming to the reader. Romance isn’t featured heavily in this book which was awesome because the story itself was the main focus and it really didn’t need any fluff or frills. You’ll find yourself caring more about what’s actually going on than who likes who WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN.

While I’m not in a hurry to read the second installment, this is a really fun and quick read. It’s not heavy on drama or relationships or angst. It’s just good old fashioned science and suspense. Fans of The Maze Runner will most likely enjoy reading this so if you’ve read and liked that novel, you should definitely check Taken out.