The Taker by Alma Katsu
In Alma Katsu’s The Taker, Luke Findley is a doctor working the emergency room in a hospital at the northernmost tip of Maine. More than anything he is hiding out from the world, trying to negotiate life in a small town, after the deaths of his father and (more recently) mother, failed marriage and the newly complicated relationships he now holds with his ex-wife and children. When Lanore McIlvrae, Lanny, enters the ER in police custody, a self-confessed murderess, Luke approaches treating her with caution. When she asks him to help her escape, he is entranced by the strange and haunting story she tells him concerning immortality, the beautiful man she loved, and the man who offers to bind them forever. Determined to hear the entirety of Lanny’s terrible tale, Luke finds he is willing to make many sacrifices to stay close to the diminutive Ms. McIlvrae.
As most readers can attest, it is near impossible to read a book in a vacuum. Books suffer (or sometimes amaze) in comparison to how much a reader enjoyed the book that came before it, the strength or lack thereof in the writing, and the reader’s mood. When I read The Taker, I was in a stage where I was a pretty finicky reader and definitely looking for some escapist literature. The Taker fit the bill, but definitely in ways that I didn’t imagine. Touted in some circles as a paranormal romance, The Taker is page-turning exploration of the darkest sides of love, offering themes of jealousy, obsession, revenge and the devastating consequences wrought by a huge and unrequited love. The fantastical elements in The Taker are strongly grounded in the reality of people, and how they behave when threatened, hurt, in love, rejected, or tempted by what they most want in life. What happens when the thing you want most in the world, the very thing you find impossible to deny yourself, comes at a terrible price? I was hooked.
Needless to say, The Taker is a dark and absorbing tale, with all the accompanying tenderness and violence of love where the stakes are very high. Lanny, Adair, Jonathan and the rest of their crew are the very definition of flawed and troubled beings, uniquely bestowed with enough time to really, really make a mess of things. Katsu’s lush writing brings these characters to life and makes them a fascinating lot to experience, though none of them are people I’d want to know personally. The rich history of Colonial-era Massachusetts is also faithfully rendered and readers, like me, who enjoy getting to know the intimate details of life in another time period, will enjoy the glimpse into the religious, political and economic factors that play such a crucial role in shaping Lanny’s environment and ultimately her choices. The Taker is an exciting and refreshing debut novel (and first in trilogy!) that lingers long after the last page has been eagerly turned.
Overall rating:
Unboxed rating:
The “Unboxed” Factor – One of the things that makes this novel such a fresh and exciting read is its take on immortality. It’s not fully explained, but getting this gift from Adair is not that longed for tap on the shoulder from your fairy godmother telling you to get dressed for the big dance. It seems to be offered as a curse as much as it is offered as a solution. Though some of its physical machinations are revealed, its true nature is not, leaving many practical and philosophical questions and considerations for the reader.
Seriously is every new book set in Maine? I would be iffy about reading this on description alone but this review makes it sounds intriguing. Also I’m a total sucker for trilogies.
Sara Grambusch´s last blog post ..Body Shaming In Advertising: It’s Not For Men – How Dr. Pepper Ten Reinforces Diet Culture
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The present day story starts out there, but the book takes a pretty speedy exit from Maine once it gets going. A lot of the past action takes place in Massachusetts. Enjoy it, if you wind up picking it up!
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“The fantastical elements in The Taker are strongly grounded in the reality of people, and how they behave when threatened, hurt, in love, rejected, or tempted by what they most want in life.”
For me, this line defines the essential factor needed for the success of a novel drawing heavily upon the fantastical. Really thoughtful review, Nicole. Alma’s book is already on my TBR list, but it just moved up. And I’m with Sara: a sucker for trilogies.
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I adored the unique characteristics of The Taker, though I don’t consider this a romance at all, but it is about love…and its darker, more violent sides. I love that immortality is not a gift here but a curse. I am looking forward to the next book.
Serena´s last blog post ..My Soul to Take by Tananarive Due
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I’m actually a bit bothered by the idea of this being part of a trilogy. I think it works better as a stand-alone. I cannot imagine where it could from where it ended.
This is a book that I wanted to like more than I did. All the back story on Adair seemed like too much of an interruption. It distracted me from the story going on around it.
There’s great potential in this novel, and I look forward to reading more from Katsu. I’m just not loving the idea that there is more to this story.
Cassandra´s last blog post ..Review: Her Fearful Symmetry
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I have this in my to read/review stack. I’m excited to find it’s the first in a trilogy.
Brianna´s last blog post ..nanowrimo
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I’m unfamiliar with the title or the author but I’m thinking that needs to change!
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Thanks for the review! This is one of those books I hope I get a chance to read. I enjoy books when they are part of a series.
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I love this review; this is the second time this book has come up during this week, so it’s already on my to-read list. I love knowing that you were very finicky and that this book STILL met your high standards. Sign me up!
Melissa Crytzer Fry´s last blog post ..Dazzling Spider
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“What happens when the thing you want most in the world, the very thing you find impossible to deny yourself, comes at a terrible price?”
I love stories that push everything to the edge. I’m checking this one out.
Beautiful, sophisticated review, Nicole, thank you.
Kathleen Bolton´s last blog post ..The Taker by Alma Katsu
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