Quick-fire Book Review: Taken by Erin Bowman

Taken
Taken #1
Author: Erin Bowman
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery
Released: April 16th 2013
Review Source: HarperTeen

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?

At a Glance:
I was curious about this series after my friend introduced me to it. She really liked the uniqueness of the plot and twist of this story.

Cover:
I love the cover. It is very colorful. I love the mystery. There seems to be a path to a mysterious place with some type of wall or fence. I also noticed the tree reflection. I wonder why the guy on the picture is looking behind. What is it that made him turn around? Is he leaving something or someone? Or is he running away from what is behind him?

Action:
The greatness of a Dystopia series is the action. You never know what you will find. The world of this book is so different that other dystopian book, so the action is pretty unique.

Heroine/Hero:
Gray Weathersby – he is the type of boy that doesn’t over think, he is reckless. He went with his gut and this got him far from what others never expected. I loved his bravery and the fact that he stood for what he believed in. After he finds out his own mother kept a secret from him, he takes actions without any hesitation. I loved his spunky attitude.

Romance:
Ah, this is where I didn’t like about this book. Triangle love is so overrated. I did liked how Gray wanted to stay faithful to Emma and felt guilty of his feeling toward Bree. But still overrated.

Something I loved:
I really loved this world – The Heist. This mysterious place in which there is no men. There are boys but are taken away on their 18th birthday. The story has a very unique concept – a closed civilization, with a wall that no one has ever made it over to. Everything is so mysterious about this place.

Something I didn’t like:
The triangle love. One can only handle a few stories with this.

Cliffhanger:
Why are stories always so short?! I cannot wait to see what happens next. I know it will be great. I want to uncover this new setting we are off to!

Would I recommend it?
Yes, I like how the story is very unique, the twist and the action are soo GOOD!