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    The Taker
    The Taker
    The Taker
    Audiobook14 hours

    The Taker

    Written by Alma Katsu

    Narrated by Laurel Lefkow

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    From the author of The Hunger—hailed by Stephen King as “deeply, deeply disturbing, hard to put down”—comes a hauntingly atmospheric tale filled with alchemy, lust, and betrayal.

    True love can last an eternity…but immortality comes at a price.

    On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—enters his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her…despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. As she begins to tell her story, Luke finds himself utterly captivated.

    Her impassioned account begins at the turn of the 19th century in the same small town of St. Andrew, Maine, back when it was a Puritan settlement. Consumed as a child by her love for the founder’s son, Jonathan, Lanny will do anything to be with him. But the price she pays is steep—an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for all eternity. And now, two centuries later, the key to her healing and her salvation lies with Dr. Luke Findley.

    Part historical novel, part supernatural page-turner, The Taker is a “mesmerizing” (Booklist, starred review) story about the power of unrequited love not only to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateSep 6, 2011
    ISBN9781442344587
    The Taker
    Author

    Alma Katsu

    Alma Katsu was born in Alaska and raised near Concord, Massachusetts. She has a BA in writing from Brandeis University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins Writing Program. She is the author of The Taker Trilogy (The Taker, The Reckoning, and The Descent) as well as The Hunger and The Deep. The Hunger was a finalist for the Bram Stoker and Locus magazine award and was selected as one of NPR’s 100 favorite horror stories. She lives with her husband in Virginia. Visit her on Twitter @AlmaKatsu.

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    Reviews for The Taker

    3.5/5

    242 ratings49 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This is an engrossing dark novel about desire and immortality. Could not put it down.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I have read the book about 7 times now. This was the first time i listened to the audio book. I love this story so much and the narrator did an amazing....I think I love it even more now that I've heard it...this will not be the last time I listen.... I'm obsessed with this authors writing and grab everything of hers I can
    • 4/5
      I vowed this summer that I would read at least one good, intoxicatingly fun book. The kind that would make me forget about everything else whenever I picked it up. This book would have to have a little of everything that suits my tastes – a sprinkling of fantasy, intrigue, mystery and some history to top it off. Well, The Taker by Alma Katsu is that book.The main character, Lanore McIlvrae, is written with a lot of heart. She’s far from perfect and made so many wrong choices it was difficult to feel sorry for her when she ended up in trouble. On the other hand, she showed compassion and empathy in relation to other characters and that made her likeable despite her faults. I also liked that Lanore was written honestly – she’s self-aware and admitted to herself when she failed.Much of the story is set in the early 1800’s and takes the reader from St. Andrews, a small and newly settled town in Maine, to Boston with its teeming masses of the well-to-do and the less fortunate. It is between that time and the present that the story unfolds with a short detour to the 1300’s as the author delves into lineage of Adair, another character vital to the storyline. It was Adair that had me shivering and checking the locks on my doors!I enjoyed this novel for many reasons - one of the main ones being its sense of time and place. Of course, the building excitement was good too! I recommend this The Taker to everyone that enjoys a well-developed and exciting summer read. Also, I just found out that The Taker is book one of a trilogy! I thought while reading it that there would be more to this story! YAY!
    • 5/5
      One of the things I most enjoy about reviewing books is the wide range of titles that come before me. Every so often I stray from my comfort zone and choose a book I would not ordinarily read to challenge myself. As I am sure you can tell I adore historical fiction but sometimes it is good to stray a bit. While The Taker has hints of that genre present is is first and foremost a love story. The synopsis fails to describe just how rich and involving this book truly is. I started it reluctantly because I am not generally a fan of this type of book but, BUT once I started reading I simply could not put it down. The story draws you in and you find yourself in a world, well two worlds actually and you don't want to leave either one until you come to the end. But you don't want it to end.Ms. Katsu has that kind of writing style that is so masterful and fluid that you don't feel like you are reading rather that you are just floating along in her world. The characters are all well rounded - none are perfectly good or totally evil. Their development is nice and slow so that your really get to know them and sometimes something one of them does will really shock you. Ms. Katsu keeps you on your reading toes with quite a few surprising twists and turns. My only slight disappointment was the ending - I felt it just felt faded compared to the power of the rest of the tale. This is truly, though one of the best books I have read this year.
    • 5/5
      I received the America covered version of the book, I have seen that the UK version has a different cover to it.
      First off The Taker is a large book with 450 pages which I did think was a bit daunting when I started reading it. With a blend of historical romance, paranormal and some sexual content.

      The book starts off with Dr Luke Findley at work in the hospital when Lanore is brought in covered in blood but also a murder suspect.
      The book then goes back in time and Lanore is telling Luke her story of her life from a little girl, to being immortal and being 200 years old!
      During the time Lanore is telling Luke about her past she also talks about the past of another person who made her immortal. Every so often the book jumped back into the present.

      Lanore was in love a boy named Jonathan the most handsome boy in the world in her eyes. She would do anything for him, to be with him for him to love her like she loved him.

      The Taker was very sad, evil in places , spellbinding and heart wrenching there were a lot of surprises along the way.

      I am not usually one for historical type books but as this had other elements in it too it was AMAZING. It was well written, kept me wanting more and after reading all the good reviews on it before has it didn’t let me down at all.
    • 1/5
      I trudged to the end of this book just like the main characters trudged into Maine snow.
    • 3/5
      This novel is not for the faint of heart. The Taker is the first in a trilogy by Alma Katsu.

      Well written, well researched, descriptive and a little frightening, Alma tells the story of Lanny, a young girl from the 1800s, who is in love with the town founder’s handsome son Jonathan, and what she does to keep him.

      Luke - a present day doctor from the town that Lanny once grew up in - plays the role of the listener, and I’d venture to say that he’s inconsequential to the story; though I’m sure in the remainder of the trilogy he will become important.

      I was not a fan of Lanny, she was obsessed with Jonathan - who has very few redeeming qualities, other than his face - and mislabels her feelings for him as love. Her character seemed a bit creepy and self-serving. Her world resolves around Jonathan - who was promiscuous and hardly courageous - and she would do just about anything to have him. I’m not entirely sure what anyone in the town saw in him, other than his good looks.

      Adair, the villan of the story, is quite intriguing. Upon meeting him, the story takes a turn for the disturbing. For fear of giving away spoilers, I wouldn’t delve into the mystery around Adair, however, reading his storyline was probably the most engrossing part of the novel for me.

      The thing that irked me the most was the improper use of love and sex among the characters. Though I believe this is on purpose, obsession was labeled as love and sex was used as a terrible weapon. It was a disturbing theme that ran though the entire story and not quite my cup of tea.

      I think the mystery of the book and Lanny’s quick thinking will appeal to a number of readers. The story has a strong conclusion, while still leaving it open for future books.
    • 5/5
      I couldn't put this book down. It was absolutely stunning and surpassed any and all of my expectations.

      My favourite part about this entire novel is the narrative voice. I think Alma Katsu could write 300 pages about watching paint dry and it would still mesmerize me. The story line alone was fantastic, but when told the way it was, it easily took The Taker to the top of my recommendation list.

      Narrative aside, I did love the plot as well. The cover copy gives you an inclination of what the story could be about, but I was still absolutely surprised ever time I turned the page. I finished the book satisfied, but I still want more at the same time! I want to see where the story goes and how the characters develop.

      I would highly recommend The Taker to anyone. But I would suggest having a solid chunk of time set aside to read it, as it's very unlikely you will be able to put it down.
    • 3/5
      I don't know how to rate this book. The characters are intriguing - some of them truly evil, but many are victims and almost all have redeeming qualities. The story shifts between today and the early 1800s. It tells the story of obsessive love, power, selfishness, and redemption. It was a difficult book to put down. There were several plot twists which I didn't expect. It is also a highly sexual story. Most of the sex scenes are not written in detail, but I certainly knew what was happening - it was not just traditional sex or consenting sex. Sex was an integral part of the character's lives, but if you don't like books with a fair bit of sexual activity - this is not the book for you. There are several unanswered questions at the end - as was expected - since this is part one of a trilogy.
    • 1/5
      paranormal 'Shades of Grey' plus really bad narrative voice equals Ugh!
    • 1/5
      This was terrible.
    • 5/5
      In the tiny town of St. Andrew, Maine, on a freezing wintry night, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting a quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute - just your typical midnight shift at Aroostook County Hospital. That's until Lanore McIlvrae - Lanny - walks into his Emergency Room, and completely changes his life forever. Lanny is unlike any woman Luke has ever met - a mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets. He is inexplicably drawn to her, sure that they have met somewhere before...despite the fact that she is a murder suspect and currently in police custody; under armed escort. A stranger and apparently new to town, Lanny is accused of a bizarre crime: allegedly killing a man and leaving his body in the Great North Woods. Lanny insists that while she committed the killing, the man had wanted to die. Always a practical man - a man of science - Dr. Luke Findley witnesses something which he can't explain - a miraculous impossibility that confounds him, and leaves him enthralled by this woman, whose very existence defies all reason. And so, as Lanny begins to tell her story - a tale of enduring love and consummate betrayal that transcends time and mortality, Luke Findley finds himself utterly captivated.Her impassioned account begins at the turn of the nineteenth century in the same small town of St. Andrew, Maine, at the time that it was a Puritan settlement. As a child, Lanny finds the love of her life in Jonathan St. Andrew, the privileged son of the town's founder. She promises herself that she will do absolutely anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is too steep - an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for all eternity. Now, two centuries later, the key to her healing and salvation lies in the hands of Dr. Luke Findley.I must say that Mareena actually chose this book for me at the Library Book Sale that we went to in June of last year. While I would technically classify this book as horror, in my opinion, the story actually wasn't all that horrific - creepy or eerie perhaps, but not scary. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have chosen this book to read for myself - as this is not my usual choice in horror - although I still thought it was very well written and an interesting story nevertheless. I was certainly fascinated by this particular story; some aspects of the plot which seemed utterly implausible to me, actually made perfect sense within the story. In my opinion, The Taker by Alma Katsu was just the slightest bit too long, although I still enjoyed it very much. I give this book an A!
    • 3/5
      I liked how atmospheric this was- handling the mood and description of several historical periods very well. I know this is going to turn into a popular success- how could it not? The span of history for the immortal protagonist, has that sexy whiff of vampire.
      What's actually going on here does point to some vampire cliches- decadence and heightened senses, but the mythology underpinning it, and the particulars, are Katsu's own innovations.
    • 3/5
      Thrilling mix of good and evil, love and despair. Set in the northern woods of Maine, Boston and present day Paris. Keeps you wondering, hoping and wishing for more. I have heard it described as "Twilight for adults" not sure what that means exactly as I haven't fallen for the Twilight Series, but I will imagine this to be true!
    • 5/5
      I bought this & then saw that CosmoUK regarded it as "Twilight for grownups". I'd read almost 100 pages of Twilight & bailed. I couldn't stand anything about the characters or story & the prose was nothing memorable. So, I set this aside. I loved the cover though & finally, having a wonder about what I'd read next, I picked this up with not very high expectations. I'm thrilled to say that I loved it! This is not a vampire/werewolf/witch/angel/fey or anything else that's popular paranormal right now, story! So do expand your idea of the paranormal for this one. Part of the fun in the reading is finding out WHAT exactly they are. The characters were mostly very engaging. Luke & Jonathan pale in comparison to Lanore & Adair but, that seemed understandable, or at least, forgivable, to me.

      I must admit that I am not sure to whom the title is referring. Lanore, Jonathan & Adair are all a "Taker" in their own way. They're some bizarre three-sided die that reflect & cancel one another out. None are wholly evil or unsympathetic in the reading. It's a pretty twisted triangle & often I felt that Lanore & Adair were opposite sides of the same coin or that Jonathan & Adair were. I was amazed that Lanore bothered with Jonathan when there was nothing that was exceptional about him, save his looks. He wasn't particularly good, noble, self-sacrificing or able to commit to her, yet she was stuck on stupid where he was concerned. I didn't really see it as love. It seemed more a sick obsession for what you cannot have. If she hadn't realized that she never would, it may have looked differently but she was aware & she still tried to bend Jonathan to be with her no matter the cost, to her or him. As much as I wanted to sympathize with her plight, I really couldn't. She was the architect of her own misery & did so knowingly. That she had to be the one to release him from the fate she'd imposed on him & suffer the loss, seemed somehow, fitting.

      And then there's Adair. I could go on about him for a week, so convoluted a character he is but I don't have that kind of time. Suffice it to say, I felt that this was very much a character study of he & Lanore. His cruelties are inexcusable & not cancelled out by his more tender moments & as I read, I wondered how he had become partly the monster that tormented him for so long. It was terribly sad & I waited to find out the answer. The answer came & while I felt a little let down by it, I think there must be more to the story than that (& not just because this is the first book in a series) because it felt too simple. Too easy. And probably I didn't want to believe that there's nothing of the early Adair we're told about that remains. Fingers crossed, I'll find out reading "The Reckoning".

      I have since seen this book listed as perfect for fans of the previously-Twilight-fan-fiction "Fifty Shades of Grey" series. I haven't read that series but I will say this, The Taker is not an erotic novel. Sure, there's sex in all manner of variation but that's not the point of the story & it certainly isn't graphic or gratuitous. I am hard pressed to see that fans of that series are going to be sated reading "The Taker" if that is their expectation. This is more a literary historical gothic romance. Frankly, it's written so well, I think pimping it with either "Twilight" & the "Fifty Shades" series is a disservice. I grant that any author wants as many people reading their work as possible, but I can't be the only person who almost passed on this for the reference. So, if you're a woman who wasn't a Twilight fan (I know there have to be at least ten of us out here. :) ) & aren't looking for a book of non-literary erotica (which can be fabulous time passers), then you should read The Taker.
    • 5/5
      Excellent twist on an age old tale of life-neverending ! No vampires, no gypsy curses, but an interesting, twisted old fellow who dabbled in alchemy and had chosen certain 'handsome' men and beautiful women to be 'taken' by him for all eternity, or until he decides to KILL you.
      The story jumps from present to past and usually that annoys me, but in this book I enjoyed as the author pulled the tails of young Lanny and her gorgeous Johnathon back and forth thru time revealing their secrets and secrets of the evil Adair.
      Halfway thru this book, having learned so much about the years these characters had together that it should have been a series. Easily this book could have been stretched to 3 other in a series then I found out that there are 4 books in the series total (the last due out Jan 2014)
      This book wraps up the story of the characters but then leaves the door open for so much more...
      I can't wait to read the next in the series this weekend!

    • 4/5
      In all honesty, had I known this was a "vampire" novel, I probably would not have picked it up. It's not that I don't enjoy a good vampire novel, I've just become jaded to the glut of offerings out there.

      The Taker caught me by surprise, much the same way the movie "From Dusk till Dawn" did when it suddenly became a much different movie about half way through. I knew there was some type of supernatural, otherworldly element in this book, it just started out as something completely different and I didn't see where this was going until I suddenly had my "aHa" moment.

      In a way, I'm glad I didn't know and that I did end up reading this book. It was very enjoyable and since it's the first in a series (trilogy?), I will definitely be checking out the next one.

      The main characters are not very likeable, but they are different and intriguing and manage to pull you into their story despite themselves. It will be very interesting to see where the author takes these people. And I definitely want to see what form revenge takes!!
    • 3/5
      In order to tell her story and how she ended up standing over a dead body that she admists to killing, Lanore McIlvrae kidnaps Dr Luke Finley the doctor who treats her in the ER and tells him the story while they run from the authorities to Canada.Alchemy turned Lanore from an ordinary girl to immortal so this isn't a vampire novel or any other really supernatural novel as such but it does have overtones of this scattered throughout. It has the feel of a supernatural novel but I didn't really feel for the characters. To be honest I didn't care if they lived or died and didn't really engage with them, it's not a bad read, it just didn't really fire me with enthuaism.
    • 1/5
      I'd forgotten that I actually tried to read this book until I noticed a lot of posts about the author today on GR. I original bought the book while on a trip to the UK. The cover and black-tipped pages caught my eye. The book, physically speaking, is quite beautiful. Too bad the story didn't grab me at all and ultimately I couldn't finish it.

      It reminded me a lot of a hybrid of Twilight and Anne Rice's vampires series. Purple prose and mysterious, mysteries that didn't seem to lead to anything substantial or even close to really resembling a coherent narrative. Each time I tried to read it my mind would wander and I'd put it down.

      Still, the publishers did a great job of making a tempting package for a so so story.
    • 5/5
      Okay, first note this book is NOT a love story. The book seems to suggest it is but really it isn't. It's a story of obsession, infatuation, and it displays us (humans) in our most cruelest and selfish forms. This book does not belong on the shelf I found it on. It's not the sort of book I read. But I read it and can't state how well written this book was, her descriptions and detail blow me away. The story is dark and twisted with some horrible sex scenes. I had to walk away from the book every 70 pages as it got too much. Yet i wanted to find out what happened to Lanny, that is what drew me back. I skipped all of Luke and when I finished the book it wasn't necessary for me to read him. (that is my opinion). I had bought the second book the same day as the first, but I will leave it for a while before i read it, as I am use to the more softer story. But the author should be applauded for superb writing and an amazing story line, that goes so deep and so detailed. I was trying to think of one word to use to describe this book and I would have to fascinating. It was like finding out a new species existed. Well done Alma Katsu.
    • 3/5
      Pretty close to the beginning. I am enjoying it so far. A vampire story in Maine - with part of it in the present and part in the early 19th century.
    • 4/5
      This book is cleverly constructed and has a story within a story within a story. It begins with the present day, doctor Luke is called to treat Lanny who has been found wandering around and claiming that she has killed someone. Very quickly Lanny begins to tell her story, starting the second tale. Her story which starts two hundred years in the past takes up a lot of the book, but it moves back to Luke and Lanny’s current story from time to time. The third story comes as part of Lanny’s flashback as she recounts a story that she was told. Sound complicated? It could be but Katsu pulls it off with ease. I’m not always a fan of flashbacks, but these work really well and I don’t think the book would be anywhere near as engaging if any of the stories were omitted.

      I found the plot to be very engaging, I started reading it one night and had to force myself to put it down so that I could get some sleep. Lanny is an excellent and very honest narrator, a lot of her story doesn’t necessarily paint her in the best light but she doesn’t attempt to rewrite her history. I particularly enjoyed her story once she had moved to Boston.

      I found the character of Lanny to be really interesting even if she wasn’t always the most likeable. I didn’t take to the character of Luke very much at the beginning but I really liked the way he evolved over the course of the book. The supporting characters were all strong, there weren’t any that I didn’t enjoy reading about.

      I really enjoyed reading The Taker. There is a follow up book, The Reckoning, planned and I shall definitely be looking out for it.
    • 4/5
      As heartbreaking as any gothic novel, Alma Katsu's THE TAKER is a sad story of beauty and love and human failing, spun out over the centuries. Though the story begins in a small town emergency room in Maine, Lanny's origins flash back to colonial America. I was ensorcelled by the long ago tale of the young girl she once was, limited by circumstances and crippled by unrequited love, despite the very real present day drama of Lanny's flight from the hospital, covered in blood and wounded to the soul.

      I am surprised as anyone by the quiet alchemy Katsu has wrought with this story. In her hands, over the arc of such a long lifetime, familiar tropes take on nuances I never would have guessed at. The story begins with a young girl hopelessly devoted to Jonathan, her best friend, the gorgeous village philanderer and golden boy, her future seems destined for heartbreak, servitude, or a loveless marriage to someone other than her heart's desire. Jonathan himself is by turns careless and kind, his benign neglect of Lanny and others breaks hearts, ruins marriages, and takes lives. Lanny is set adrift in the world with no power, no protection, and the worst inevitably happens. So many of the characters in this book are trapped by circumstance, powerless against those who would abuse them, yet still able to fight on and function. Despite all of this, even Katsu's villain stirred a grain of sympathy in my heart, if only the tiniest bit.

      Over the course of THE TAKER familiar roles are turned on their head. Lanny finds her fangs, and by trial and error comes into her own. She causes injuries of her own along the way, while Jonathan, isolated by his beauty and charisma from women and men alike, has moments of maturity and vulnerability before falling afoul of his best friend's good intentions. While the extended timeline of this story offers new depths to this sad story, Katsu's ultimate truth seems to be one of inevitability. Even with a eternity at your feet, one can't control the human heart.

      Full review at All Things Urban Fantasy.

      Sexual Content: References to sex, rape, and incest.

    • 1/5
      Manic Pixie Dream Girl with tragic secret. Also, gorgeous man.
    • 5/5
      One day while I was working at the store, Alma Katsu came in to say hello and give us an advanced copy of her debut novel, “The Taker”. I started it that same night. AND I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! It is the perfect mix of mystery, suspense, romance, and the paranormal. Katsu’s use of the English language is absolutely phenomenal. Every sentence is perfectly tailored to fit the novel. Lanny’s story turns from compelling to exciting within just a few chapters. This is a book that readers of every and any genre will love.

      With all of that said, I think that Alma Katsu will be one of the new writers to make it onto the bestsellers list and stay there. She has such a unique and well-cultivated voice, that I would find it easy to say that anyone who picks up this book will not be able to put it down until the last page.
    • 4/5
      Tucked away in Maine is the small town of St. Andrews, a place where everyone seems to know everyone else. Luke has just settled into his night shift at the hospital when the sheriff brings in an arrested young woman who doesn't seem old enough to have caused any trouble. Once it is revealed she has admitted to murder, the doctor is taken aback. When the doctor and patient are left alone, the young woman begins an incredible tale of immortality, enticing the physician to break the code he is sworn by and help this woman to escape. I picked up this novel at my local bookstore without knowing anything about it, but my love for the combination of historical and modern fiction would not let me walk out without buying it. From the moment I read the first chapter I was emcompassed as the author had revealed just enough details about this seemingly murderous young woman's past to entice me. Instantly, I was drawn into the Puritanical town of St. Andrew with Lanny, living her adolescent days out with her and watching as she proclaimed her love for a boy with a beauty that would transcend time. When the story shifted, however, into a different narration I was slightly disappointed, not realizing how important Adair's tale would become until much later in the novel. The story is fast-paced; I enjoyed Katsu's writing style between past and present tenses to indicate the clear difference between what has already transpired and where the story is leading to next. The novel is cleverly written so that someone like myself who is very detail-oriented won't really miss the obvious lapse of answers about certain lingering questions. I finally accepted that there are some aspects we aren't meant to know just like in real life. The twist toward the end was somewhat of a horrifying revelation, but it was heartbreaking nevertheless. I have already purchased the second installment of the series; I can't wait to continue with the story.
    • 4/5
      Is it possible to become completely absorbed in a book and find all of the characters reprehensible in some way? The answer is yes. The Taker is a beautifully written, mesmerizing tale, but the characters! They are so terribly flawed, but I could not look away. It's the kind of book that leaves you wondering who the real villain was. The Taker is actually stories within a story, from the past and the present, effortlessly woven together.

      The story begins as a suspected murderer is brought into the emergency room of a rural Maine hospital to be examined. The present day part of the book is told in third person, but in the present tense, which I though gave the story an eerie feel. At first I thought the present tense felt awkward, but it really worked well with the tone of the story. Luke Findley, the doctor on call, suspects something is amiss with his mysterious patient, other than the fact she claims to have just stabbed a man to death. The woman, Lanny, tries to convince Luke to help her escape. She begins to tell Luke her sorrowful story that began 200 years ago.

      Lanny's tale of her past is told in first person. Lanny grew up in a Puritan family in the Maine Territory at the beginning of the 19th century. As a young teen, she became infatuated with Jonathan, the most beautiful and unattainable boy in their village. He was from a wealthy family and the son of the town's founder. He used his beauty and charm to seduce any willing woman in the village, married or not. Lanny's love for Jonathan became an obsession. She was selfish and jealous, willing to do anything to possess him.

      Completely fascinated by this strange woman's tale, Luke decides to help Lanny escape from the hospital. While on the run, she continues with her story. She tells him how her indiscretions with Jonathan result in her being sent to Boston; how she falls prey to a wicked Romanian count called Adair; and how Adair uses magic to make her immortal. And through it all, her obsessive love for Jonathan never wanes. Lanny tells Luke just how far she was willing to go have Jonathan as her own - forever.

      The historical detail was so rich. My favorite part of the story was when Lanny and Jonathan were in their rural town of St. Andrews in the early 1800s. I actually became a bit detached from the story after Lanny arrived in Boston because I loved the other part so much.

      The Taker is a dark, gothic tale of obsession, betrayal, sex, and debauchery. It was most definitely gripping, the type of story that will stay with you after you've read it. I've read that The Taker is the first book of a planned trilogy, and I so hope that's true. There are still important questions that need answers. Lanny's tale is far from over.

      I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      I had almost no idea what this book was about but Sandy wanted us all to read it so I entered her giveaway and won. Turns out, this is a depraved historical fiction paranormal thriller. I know that sounds kind of weird, but it works. If you enjoy historical fiction but like a bit of nasty sex and some paranormal stuff in the mix, this book is for you. This is the first book in a planned trilogy, and the second book, The Reckoning, is out now. I do plan to find out how our “heroine” Lanore is going to deal with some of the consequences arising from her actions in the first book. But beware … things get a little twisted along the way and this might not be everybody’s cup of tea.
    • 2/5
      Where I got the book: freebie at RT Booklovers' Convention.In the endless reaches of Book, a reader wanders in search of a likeable character.Things I Did Not Like:1. the pouty-face girl on the cover. It's one of those photos that follows you with its eyes.2. the way the plot jerks about like one of those horrendous carnival rides where you think you're going in one direction and then you're not.3. every single character. No wait, the prostitute in the woods was OK.4. SO much telling-not-showing. Hints of Terrible Things the author would tell us about if she could be bothered.5. perfunctory, joyless, unerotic sex scenes, if three lines or so can be called a scene.There were moments when I liked the story if not the characters, usually when we were in the frozen wastes of Maine. There's a great little story about a girl totally wasting her time; we've all been there. Plus, a really nice evocation of Up North in the early 1800s. Those bits were written with sincerity and, if not warmth, a certain surety of touch. But then we left Maine and things went all Anne Rice.Talking of Anne Rice, this novel reminds me of The Witching Hour. Remember that? Pages and pages of wonderful, slow buildup of a picture of decaying New Orleans, hauntings, mistiness, a bit of a love story and then Bam! ALIENS. Started in one corner of the Universe, ended on Planet Weird.The Taker is not quite so linear. It oscillates between the states of Planet Weird and Hello We've Found The Story Again like Schrödinger's cat. I take a look at the ratings and find it has received its fair share of brickbats as well as bouquets; perhaps I'm just on the wrong side of forty for this kind of writing.
    • 5/5
      this book was very very good. however it did start out kind of slow. but after the first couple of chapters it picked up and i was obsessed. i love the writing style i could picture everything when i was reading it.