The Taker: Book One of the Taker Trilogy

By: Alma Katsu
Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster
Publishing Date: March 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4391-9706-6
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: June 13, 2012

Although the YA trilogies are getting numerous beyond belief, the fact is that this is a story completely different from the myriad of others out there. Not only is The Taker sweet and loving one minute, but it transforms into a dark, gothic saga the next, revealing some monstrous people who will keep you up at night.

The story opens in an emergency room in St. Andrew, a small town located in northern Maine. Dr. Luke Findley is working the night shift, and he’s expecting a calm, quiet evening - mainly because the weather is horrible and most intelligent people are staying inside in front of the fire.

Dr. Findley is not exactly happy with his life. He had to return to Maine when his parents passed away. Subsequently, his wife left him - taking their children - and he’s now stuck in the north woods without a clue about what he will do next. But, things are about to get interesting…

The local police arrive at the hospital with a young woman covered in blood, saying that she’s killed a man in the woods. The police leave to try and find the victim, and Luke is left to see if there’s anything wrong with the female other than the fact she may be a murderer.

Her name is Lanore, and apparently the victim was the love of her life who asked her to kill him. All she wants is for Luke to help her escape. In order to get Luke’s help she tells him a tale that’s completely unbelievable. Full of hate, love and any other emotion you can name - with even a little immortal longing thrown in for good measure - the story takes readers into the past as Lanore’s strange life is uncovered piece by piece.

A love affair of monumental proportions is revealed and Luke, feeling horrible for Lanore’s loss and loneliness, decides to protect her. The story goes back and forth from the present to the 1800’s, but the reader will have no problem keeping up. It will seem to the reader that the supernatural is really quite ‘natural,’ as they’re pushed deeper into the story of this young, besotted girl obsessed with a young and handsome man.

Quill Says: If you’re looking for a book that you can’t put down, this is it!