A review by smpearce
Taken by Erin Bowman

3.0

It was an enjoyable enough read, but not the most gripping. It started off really well, but I think as the book went on it got less interesting and page-turning. I really liked the plot idea and the beginning parts (up until a little after they escaped Claysoot). I thought the emotion and tension was just much better in the start. Once they’d escaped Claysoot, it was still pretty good for awhile, and I thought the scene where he first finds Emma with the other guy was done pretty well. I wasn’t a fan at all of the love triangle, and it made the MC less likeable. As for the MC, I don’t think I could say much about him. He wasn’t memorable, didn’t have too much of a personality. I think I would have enjoyed it so much more if the characters had felt more fully developed and 3D. The book, as interesting the plot was, shared a lot of similarities with the Maze Runner, and I think needed better characters to give it a less “deja vu” feeling. I did pick up the next book, but I couldn’t get into it. I was disappointed, because the other book I’ve read by Erin Bowman, Plain Kate, was completely fantastic, and I was hoping for another tear-jerker. Overall, it was a pleasant enough way to spend time, but not very “if I put this down I’ll die”.