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blbe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
2.5
mischief_in_the_library's review
4.0
Well, despite the numerous negative reviews, I really liked this one - and I'm a dystopia fan with expectations to meet, and apart from a few minor things, most of them were. I didn't find Gray particularly annoying, and while the fact that he punched a girl in the first few pages seems to get on everyone's nerves, she kinda deserved it. One thing that did annoy me was how he felt like he deserved truth more, or was somehow more capable of finding it, than his is-she-his-girlfriend, who arguably showed more forethought into their situation than he ever did.
Overall, I found the situation intriguing, and Gray's desperation for answers was very easily conveyed. I have never been very good at predicting twists in books, so possibly other reviewers have a point there - personally, I didn't find it overly predictable. As a first time author, too, there's another reason to keep going with the next book.
Overall, I found the situation intriguing, and Gray's desperation for answers was very easily conveyed. I have never been very good at predicting twists in books, so possibly other reviewers have a point there - personally, I didn't find it overly predictable. As a first time author, too, there's another reason to keep going with the next book.
christinaerickson33's review
5.0
If you liked Maze Runner, you will like this. In a world in which you cannot go past the wall with out dying and having to be slated to some girl, who might get pregant, what are your other options? This book gives a guys point of view of being a teenage father. (There are so few of those.) But also not having the choice to be there to raise the child, for when they turn 18 they are heisted. I can't wait for more
nklosty's review
4.0
The idea of the Heist drew me in, and the storyline, although painstakingly slow at times, kept me going. I can see more promise as the story continues. 86
sailorkchick's review
4.0
I debated between 'liked' and 'really liked'. But then I remembered how my heart pulled at a moment of betrayal for the main character, Gray. That only happens when I like the character. This book should not be taken lightly. The premise of the novel is taken care of fairly early on and the world that Gray finds over the wall is something he couldn't have imagined in his wildest day-dream.
His situation could be comparable to Katniss' in The Hunger Games, but I cannot overstate how much more I like Gray as a character. He is inquisitive, caring, driven and although he may question the world around him, he never questions his need to be a part of the force that will bring justice to an unjust world.
His situation could be comparable to Katniss' in The Hunger Games, but I cannot overstate how much more I like Gray as a character. He is inquisitive, caring, driven and although he may question the world around him, he never questions his need to be a part of the force that will bring justice to an unjust world.
audreychamaine's review
2.0
Sometimes you read a book, and then want to read another like it. I felt this way with Harry Potter and with The Hunger Games. Which is why there’s a big market for readalikes. You know, books that have nearly the same plot, with nearly the same characters. The funny thing about readalikes, though, is that they rarely inspire the love that the original book did. It’s because often they’re copying things like plot when what made the book pop was the way the author made you care about characters, or the incredible writing style that sucked you in and kept you reading. Taken is another teen novel that takes place in a dystopian world. There have been a lot of these since the runaway success of The Hunger Games, followed by Divergent. Taken just didn’t have the charm or page-turning quality of either of those books, and fell flat for me.
The book begins by showing us a small, rural village in which all men are mysteriously spirited away on their 18th birthdays. The village is surrounded by a wall that nobody can scale, otherwise they get thrown back over again as a charred mess. To keep the population up, the boys are assigned to girls for a short period of weeks at a time in order to try to couple up and get them pregnant. Gray is dreading his brother’s heist (as they call the disappearance) when we meet him at the opening of the book. Gray is impulsive and brash, and refuses to accept their way of life at face value. Instead, he does something to try to get answers, and that’s where the main plot of the book begins.
Sadly, I never bought into the stakes of the world. They reminded me too much of the scenarios that Susanne Collins set up. The main capital city has a similar name: Taem to Hunger Games’ Panem. Gray’s niece is named Kale, which just reminded me too much of Rue and Prim. And the villain of the story is the unfortunately named Harvey. I just can’t take a Harvey seriously as somebody dangerous. I always think of the cutie from Sabrina the Teenage Witch instead.
Overall, the story was just lackluster for me. Would I have enjoyed it more had I not read The Hunger Games and Divergent first? Possibly, but I doubt it. There was just a certain excitement lacking, and I found myself growing bored. I’m positive this book will have an audience, those who really want very similar dystopian fictional worlds, but I’m burnt out on the genre unless it’s something special beyond the trappings of the world in which it takes place. That said, what a gorgeous cover! I know they’ll sell copies based on the cover alone.
The book begins by showing us a small, rural village in which all men are mysteriously spirited away on their 18th birthdays. The village is surrounded by a wall that nobody can scale, otherwise they get thrown back over again as a charred mess. To keep the population up, the boys are assigned to girls for a short period of weeks at a time in order to try to couple up and get them pregnant. Gray is dreading his brother’s heist (as they call the disappearance) when we meet him at the opening of the book. Gray is impulsive and brash, and refuses to accept their way of life at face value. Instead, he does something to try to get answers, and that’s where the main plot of the book begins.
Sadly, I never bought into the stakes of the world. They reminded me too much of the scenarios that Susanne Collins set up. The main capital city has a similar name: Taem to Hunger Games’ Panem. Gray’s niece is named Kale, which just reminded me too much of Rue and Prim. And the villain of the story is the unfortunately named Harvey. I just can’t take a Harvey seriously as somebody dangerous. I always think of the cutie from Sabrina the Teenage Witch instead.
Overall, the story was just lackluster for me. Would I have enjoyed it more had I not read The Hunger Games and Divergent first? Possibly, but I doubt it. There was just a certain excitement lacking, and I found myself growing bored. I’m positive this book will have an audience, those who really want very similar dystopian fictional worlds, but I’m burnt out on the genre unless it’s something special beyond the trappings of the world in which it takes place. That said, what a gorgeous cover! I know they’ll sell copies based on the cover alone.
blogginboutbooks's review
4.0
I enjoy Bowman's books, so it's no surprise I liked TAKEN, her debut novel. What specifically did I dig about it? I'm glad you asked:
- Male main character - something you don't see very often in this type of book
- Sympathetic and likable characters
- Exciting and action-packed - I read the book in a day because I couldn't put it down.
- Fast paced - Bowman doesn't insult the reader's intelligence by taking 150 pages to show that something's very wrong in Claysoot. Gray and Emma already know this when they start to discover just HOW wrong things really are.
- Mostly clean read - As far as YA books go, this one is very clean. There's very little language. Sex happens, but it's never described in detail. There is violence, but again, the book never gets too graphic. I always appreciate a PG-13 rating when reading YA.
- Entertaining and diverting - Like I mentioned, I sped through this novel in a day. The chapters are short, there's lots going on, and the story is engrossing. I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
Of course, there are some things that bugged:
- None of the characters are super well developed. Emma and Bree seem especially interchangeable.
- No big surprises - I saw most of the twists in the story coming a mile away.
- Irritating love triangle - I'm not a fan of love triangles in general, and this one is especially annoying. Gray has been in love with Emma since childhood, but her feelings toward him change overnight, it seems. Likewise, he and Bree get cozy awfully quick.
- Bowman's dystopian world brings nothing really new or original to the genre. I've seen it all before.
All considered, I'd give TAKEN 3 1/2 stars if I could. Since I can't, I'm rounding up. I've also already started the next book and have the third on hold at the library. Just sayin'!
- Male main character - something you don't see very often in this type of book
- Sympathetic and likable characters
- Exciting and action-packed - I read the book in a day because I couldn't put it down.
- Fast paced - Bowman doesn't insult the reader's intelligence by taking 150 pages to show that something's very wrong in Claysoot. Gray and Emma already know this when they start to discover just HOW wrong things really are.
- Mostly clean read - As far as YA books go, this one is very clean. There's very little language. Sex happens, but it's never described in detail. There is violence, but again, the book never gets too graphic. I always appreciate a PG-13 rating when reading YA.
- Entertaining and diverting - Like I mentioned, I sped through this novel in a day. The chapters are short, there's lots going on, and the story is engrossing. I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
Of course, there are some things that bugged:
- None of the characters are super well developed. Emma and Bree seem especially interchangeable.
- No big surprises - I saw most of the twists in the story coming a mile away.
- Irritating love triangle - I'm not a fan of love triangles in general, and this one is especially annoying. Gray has been in love with Emma since childhood, but her feelings toward him change overnight, it seems. Likewise, he and Bree get cozy awfully quick.
- Bowman's dystopian world brings nothing really new or original to the genre. I've seen it all before.
All considered, I'd give TAKEN 3 1/2 stars if I could. Since I can't, I'm rounding up. I've also already started the next book and have the third on hold at the library. Just sayin'!
spiderdan2's review
4.0
Solid writing, though honestly at some points the author puts in so many twists it is unsure if she herself believes what she is writing. Nonetheless, this is a great book for fans of THG, The Maze Runner, Divergent, etc. Clay is a strong character, though some characters are undeveloped, I think the author did that on purpose to exaggerate the mystery surrounding it's characters. I will miss Harvey.