14. lis 2013.

The Taker by Alma Katsu

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Book summary:
True love can last an eternity . . . but immortality comes at a price. On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural St. Andrew, Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting a quiet evening. Until a mysterious woman arrives in his ER, escorted by police—Lanore McIlvrae is a murder suspect—and Luke is inexplicably drawn to her. As Lanny tells him her story, an impassioned account of love and betrayal that transcends time and mortality, she changes his life forever. . . . At the turn of the nineteenth century, when St. Andrew was a Puritan settlement, Lanny was consumed as a child by her love for the son of the town’s founder, and she will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for eternity.
          We all have these books that before they come out we must have and can't wait to read and of course we get the book once it's out and then it ends on our shelves for months and sometimes years. Well that happened with The Taker and maybe once upon a time I'd like it, now I have mixed feeling about it.

          One think it sure though, this book has some originality which is somehow a surprise because immortality is not unknown thing to us. But the whole mystery wrapped around it here makes is more appealing. Everything starts when one day in Luke's hospital arrives a supposed murderer. It makes a huge surprise as St. Andrew is a small city and this makes it big news. Luke goes to ER and there he meets Lanore and she decides to tell him his story. The story takes them back in time where everything started. We go back at the turn of the nineteenth century in the same St. Andrew in the time of it's founders. It tells us story about great mystery and love that lasted for many decades.

         Besides uniqueness that I like here the other interesting thing is it's connecting with past and the way the story is narrated. I really liked the picture of 19th century St. Andrew and the story about Lanore and Jonathan. Also the difference between the small rural town and later Boston where other things happened. What I have problems with - for starters the supposed love interest between Luke and Lanore, I have no idea when it started and how both of them felt. It was unnecessary moment for me. Mostly I had problems with all relationships here, except for Lanore and Jonathan's - that one was emotional. When the story goes to Boston and we meet supposed mysterious man who could be a man of our dreams, well he isn't. I did see the whole dom thing going on but for me he was a brute, a man without feelings who was cruel just because he could be. Not my type.

         All in all this book doesn't offer explanations about the paranormal part and I might continue with the series if I even got some hints that the things will be explained, but this way I will let it go.

Rating: 3 stars.

Until the next time,


Broj komentara: 35:

  1. I started reading The Taker some time ago, but then I got distracted and since it wasn't a review copy, I kind of forgot about it later. I know, I am a horrible human being. I actually liked what I've read and I know I honestly meant to get back to it at some point, but the longer I waited the less I remembered about the parts I've read. So yeah xD

    I definitely agree about the mystery surrounding the paranormal events, I thought Alma Katsu managed to keep things fresh and sexy :) Plus I really love the covers - they're so gorgeous! Great review, hope you'll eventually decide to read The Reckoning^^

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    1. I understand that, but it rarely happens to me. I must finish a book once I start it :)

      Yes she really did. And I do appreciate mystery only if there were just little hints that things would be revealed in future. Probably I'll. :)

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  2. I have heard such great things about this series, I am kind of disappointed that it lacks in the world building a little bit. I hope the next books will be better.

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    1. Id probably depends on how much mystery people like in their stories :) Thanks :)

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  3. That cover is PRETTY! The model looks scary, though. But aw, I'm sorry that this turned out to be a little bit of a disappointment, considering your excitement for it. It had such an interesting premise, too.

    Lol, "love that lasts for many decades" doesn't exactly sound original to me, so I'm intrigued to see what it was exactly that set this book apart and gave it its uniqueness. I'm also curious to see why Lanore, who's supposed to be a murder suspect, was at Luke's ER in the first place. HMM! I sense something fishy going on around here... ;)

    Ugh, romance. I hate it when the author doesn't take the time to show you what drew two love interests together, because then I won't be able to fully come to terms with their romance. And this: "we meet supposed mysterious man who could be a man of our dreams, well he isn't. I did see the whole dom thing going on but for me he was a brute, a man without feelings who was cruel just because he could be. Not my type." - Totally not mine, either. Ack!

    I doubt this would be a book for me, but I'm glad you still enjoyed it enough to continue wit the series. Maybe more will be explained then! Fingers crossed that it will. >.< Lovely review, Tanja!

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    1. I don't like the present part of the book but yeah the whole neverending love it was not that unique but the whole surrounding was. Yeah he is kind of bad guy that you should fall for. Not this time little boy! :D Thanks Meg :)

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  4. Yes, I know exactly what you mean about there being a right time and a wrong time for a book. I've heard great things about this one, but somehow I was never really tempted to read it myself, it just didn't call to me.
    Wonderful review. :)

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    1. This one called me once upon a time, but I haven't listen to it then. Thanks Maja :)

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  5. I am not a fan of books that explain nothing, like how am I supposed to continue then? Such a shame that this didn't work for you like it used to.

    Wonderful review, Tanja! <33

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    1. Yes. I do love mystery but we need hints. This is like TVD the plot twist can happen any episode. It annoys me a bit.
      Thanks Mel :)

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  6. I haven't heard of this one before, though I love the cover. I'm not sure it's for me, despite its positives, and I think I'll wait to see how the series shapes up before committing to this one. Great review, Tanja!

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    1. Yeah I'll see will I continue when I see what other people think of it :) Thanks Keertana :)

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  7. Sounds interesting, and I like the hear there is still uniqueness out there :)

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  8. This does sound interesting but when things are not explained properly in Paranormal books, I just don't get the whole point of it. A 19th century backdrop sounds awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed this enough, if not entirely. Great review as always, Tanja!

    Sarika @ The Readdicts

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    1. Yeah it kinda doesn't make sense :)) Thanks girl :)

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  9. Hmmm. I'm not sure about this on Tanja! For all that I love paranormal books, I do struggle with the ones that don't fully explain or give a clear picture of the paranormal elements. I can suspend disbelief for a bit, but then I can't help but ask questions and I definitely always want answers! It will be interesting to see if book 2 has any:)

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    1. I can only imagine how it was for people who had loved the story and had to wait till the next book. You imagine any scenario in your head :D

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  10. It does have a great premise but I'm sorry to hear it was lacking a bit too, with the world building. :(

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  11. I actually feel I've heard of something like this. Two people bound together forever but there is always tragedy after they meet so they have to repeat the process over. If the stories not like that I will be surprised. It does sound like it has great mystery to it though.

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    1. It was new for me, but I guess there could be more books about it :) It really does. :)

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  12. Sorry you wasn't really feeling the romance. I was curious about this book awhile ago, but I actually forgot all about it. The mystery sounds interesting though :) Great review Tanja!

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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    1. Welcome back Janina :) Lol yeah, it happens :) Thanks :)

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  13. Wow, that is a gorgeous cover! I've heard such good things about this series. Sorry you didn't love it, Tanja!

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  14. Yep, I remember all the glowing reviews for this series and I loved the covers, but I heard it was rather dark and disturbing. I didn't see any mention of that in your review, is that the case? I have it on my Kindle but I don't forsee me getting to it anytime soon, and now I am truly wavering.

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    1. It is, especially the part when she goes to Boston, and gets to meet the dark side. Maybe you'll give it a chance some day. It was on mine for a while :)

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  15. I have the first two in the series and I was excited to read them but then Kimba thought that they might not really be to my taste which made me lower my expectations a bit. Now they've been lowered a tad more. I've them ages so maybe eventually read them, for now I won't be rushing to do so.

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    1. If it wasn't for the challenge I'd not read it either. But it was high time really. Maybe you should give them a try. :)

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  16. We all have at least one! :) Thanks Aman :)

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  17. Yay for originality! Immortality is so overdone at times and I'm glad this has a unique twist to it. Ahh, I would like this mysterious guy either. Sounds like a douche, to be honest with you. I'm happy you were able to enjoy this title with a gorgeous cover to some length, but sorry it failed to impress you to its full potential.

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    1. Yes it's finally original immortality story! Thanks Siiri :)

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  18. I'm glad to hear this is original, but it sucks that the relationships didn't grab you, and that there aren't enough explanations for the paranormal aspects. I've been wanting to give this a try, but now I'll definitely lower my expectations when I do. Lovely honest review!

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