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“Absolutely one of the best books [I] read in 2011.” —Just Another Story
“The Taker by Alma Katsu has literally left me speechless! [Katsu] mix[es] just the right amount of history, magic, and suspense…The only way to fully understand the magic of The Taker is to go and pick up a copy for yourself!” —Browsing Bookshelves
A backwoods Maine doctor falls under the spell of a confessed killer whose loves and sorrows go back two centuries.
When Dr. Luke Findley undresses Lanore McIlvrae, the murder suspect the St. Andrew sheriff has brought into Aroostook County Hospital, he discovers that although her clothes are saturated in blood, her body is unwounded; every drop came from the man she admits she slashed to death. Even so, Lanny tells Luke that the murder was anything but murder and begs him to help her escape. After he's treated to an unnerving demonstration of her claim that she's not just an ordinary killer, he agrees. During their headlong flight to Canada and freedom, she fills in her back story for him, and what a back story it is. Lanny's troubles began at age 12, when she first spotted beautiful Jonathan St. Andrew, the son of the town's wealthy founder, at church back in 1809. Although Jonathan was happy to acknowledge her love, he never exactly returned it, and her tempestuous tale takes her from romantic disappointments, crises and encounters with evil to a genre-crossing exile in Boston, where she's taken in by the Mephistophelean savior who'll become her fate: Count Adair cel Rau, whose own lengthy back story, which stretches back to 1349, is even more eventful than hers. Adair and his unholy retinue don't suck anyone's blood, but the gift of eternal life he offers in return for the souls of his lovers and followers will sound awfully familiar to vampire lovers everywhere. Debut novelist Katsu adds heavy foreshadowing, insistent underlining and a suffocating earnestness to this familiar story of the bonds that never die.
Beneath the trappings of undead lore is a love story that's deeply old-fashioned, and not just because the principals were born 200 years ago.
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.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.gabook
Posted September 24, 2011
I found myself hooked. I definitely wanted to know what was going to happen next. Having said that, I was so frustrated with the main character, Lanny. She is obsessed with Jonathan and repeatedly makes one horrible decision after another because of this obsession. It did grow weary after a while. She is a forward thinker for her time. She knows her place in society and doesn't like it, but her decisions made me want to scream. Her story is at times amusing, dark, scary and romantic. Be forewarned, this book is violent and sex is used as a weapon. There is one scene that really disturbed me and I'm glad the author made it short. I gave this book a high rating because it evoked so much emotion from me. Isn't that what a book is supposed to do?
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 2, 2011
Over all as I said it was extremely easy to read. I generally read about a chapter a night I was about 14 in before I put it down. I did think it was going to go a different way. The story takes a detour and thought it would just be a hiccup. But this small conflict that I thought would only take a few chapters to get out of ended up being the whole story. Not sure that I liked that but I buy and read it all so I guess it worked. Oh some discriptions I saw talk about what a good love story it is.. Nope. If you're into the whole onesided, he can't be faithful b/c he's so beautiful and women love him so I have to be okay with the short end of the stick type thing then you'll love this. But it is a good book. Dark sometimes but good.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Call me a masochist if need be, but I loved this heartbreaking story. Alma Katsu is a wonderful storyteller. I have to admit that this story is dark and depressing to the point where I wanted to stop reading the book but the Ms. Katsu’s left and right twists of the story kept me flipping the pages non-stop.
Lanny finds herself in the ER in shock of what she had just done. She confides in the local doctor and convinces him to help her with her troubles. In their journey, she talks about decades of misfortune and misery. Her love for Jonathan (her first and only love) has no bounds. She would do anything and everything for him. And same goes for Adair (her lover & the one who gave her immortality), but not to a point of love and obsession just means to an end.
Unfortunately, these men brought her nothing but heartache after heartache. How she moved on with this immortal life, I have no idea. But then again, how did I keep on reading each heart-wrenching tale she tells? Let me tell you, it is the hope of finding any scrap of happiness for Lenore.
This book captured my feelings of lost, regret and made me appreciate my simple mortal life. It goes back and forth from past to future which made the feelings of regrets more intense. I have to warn you, it is a story full of hardships and it is hell on earth. You will either love it or hate it.
I don't consider this anything like the Fifty Shades trilogy at all but a class on its own.
*Review copy provided by author
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.At Aroostook County Hospital in St. Andrew, Maine, Dr. Luke Findley works the ER graveyard shift. Sheriff Duchesne brings in a handcuffed young person covered with blood and wearing no coat on a freezing night. The sheriff believes Lanore McIlvrae murdered Jonathan.
In the ER with only Luke present, Lanny insists she is innocent. She explains her family exiled her to Boston to give birth to an illegitimate child in 1817. There she met ancient alchemist Count Adair and his retinue. The Count saved her life when he gave her an immortality potion but at the cost of her becoming his mistress. Lanny accepted what her savior expected of her until now when he went after her true love Jonathan.
The merger of alchemy and love in Maine makes for a strong rural fantasy. The story line starts a bit slow as the key players are introduced directly and indirectly in the present and the past; once done the plot accelerates as skeptical readers and a doubting Luke become hooked believers. The key to The Taker is that the audience accepts as true Lanny's Faustian cautionary tale of evil's eternal energy to remain alive at all costs to others.
Harriet Klausner
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.sand7s
Posted June 25, 2012
I Also Recommend:
Very good book. I loved the characters and was sorry to see it end.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.There is NOT one perfect word to describe this novel. Matter of fact, there is not one perfect sentence to describe this novel. To express what The Taker is you must live the experience, every word, every laugh, and every despicable act that transpired. When I thought I had the heart story figured out, Katsu changed it up and made it into something else entirely. It was an intensely dark tale of unrelenting love and the struggle one woman went through to keep it in her possession. I also had the pleasure of interviewing Alma Katsu on my blog and it was absolutely wonderful! She is a delight and there is more than meets the eye with her characters.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.It had elements I expected and some that made me squeamish. Overall I enjoyed this strange and dark tale. Katsu is a talented writer and her writing style captivated me. Some of the subject matter made me uncomfortable and I found myself skimming through those scenes. Ordinarily I would have stopped reading, but I had this overwhelm need to know Lanore’s story.- that is the beauty of Katsu’s writing.
The tale begins at a rural hospital in Maine. Dr. Luke Findley is just beginning his shift and is told the local police are bringing in a murder suspect and need him to check her over. When Lanore McIlvrae walks in, he is shocked that this tiny, beautiful blonde, with cork-screw curls and blue eyes is involved in a murder. She is covered in blood and won’t speak. The police leave a guard and head out to the woods to find the body of the man she confessed to killing. Once inside an exam room, Lanore (Lanny as she prefers), asks Findley to help her escape. She claims that she only helped a friend die at his request and that there are things he cannot understand. Not easily duped he proceeds to examine her, removing Lanny’s bloody clothing and looking for injuries. It is then that Lanny grabs a scalpel and shows Findley something he won’t soon forget. She then proceeds to tell him her story….the tale that unfolds is romantic, dark, gritty and spans nearly two hundred years.
Lanore shares her life story with us. She begins her tale in 1809 set against the Maine Territory. The author skillful takes us from the present to the past. Lanore tells the past, and Findley the present. This was clever because Findley could clarify things by asking questions about what we had just read. The tale that Lanore share’s with us is so unbelievable that it had a ring of truth to it. It is a one-sided love story about her and a man named Jonathan. It is filled with obsession, alchemy, and magic. Some of the events that occur in Boston, supernatural elements aside, are probably based in truth, but nevertheless made this reader uncomfortable. There are two sides to Lanore and I found her to be complex and interesting. When it came to Jonathan and her feelings for him, she was a naïve, love sick child. Then the author shows us the darker side of Lanore and I was entranced. At times I questioned her feelings for Jonathan, especially after his selfish acts. Findley is captivated and horrified by Lanore and her story. Yet he is unable to resist hearing it to its conclusion. Lanore’s story contains lots of sex, some implied and others graphic. It contains all forms of sexual encounters and may offend some readers. Think of an opium house and you will get the idea.
Katsu offers us an intriguing look at unrequited love. While some of the subject matter was dark, I ultimately enjoyed the Taker. Days after reading it, I find myself thinking about Lanore and Jonathan.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Icecream18
Posted August 21, 2011
Lanore is one of the main characters in this book and she is the quality of the book that really draws the reader in. She's a bit of an enigma; Luke, another main character, does not know what to make of her. He meets her under odd circumstances...she is a possible suspect in a brutal murder case. She begins to tell her tale to him as a way of getting him to open up to her and maybe believe her. Where she lived, women were thought of as fixtures in a house, meant for the "women's tasks" and not much else. There were fairly rigid rules. Jonathan comes along and really shakes her up. Their relationship grows from friends to "something more" and then goes a step further-she discovers she is pregnant with his child.
She is sent away from home to give birth, shamed. She is supposed to return without the child, she cannot keep her own baby. However, she is apprehended and taken by an evil man called Adair...her tale gets more and more sordid and horrible from here, the story really takes off.
The plot is interesting and, in part, horrifying. The reader will be captivated by some of the more lengthy descriptions of Lanore's experiences. She is a sympathetic character who is likable and the reader will have no trouble enjoying her character. The secondary characters vary widely; some are nice, some are cruel, and other are more..."eh." This novel is, if nothing, interesting and worth a read. This book would be great for adult readers who enjoy mystery and drama.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 8, 2013
I just can't finish this book. Just getting to weird & to violent for my taste.
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Posted April 12, 2013
Amazing... read this book in less than a week could not put it down loved it from cover to cover can't wait to read the second part of thisAuthor knew exactly how to catch the readers attention... the way she goes back and fourth through out time just kept me so intrigued... I fully recommend it.
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Posted February 26, 2013
I highly recommend THE TAKER to any reader of suspense novels. I'm kept on my toes with Katsu's writing. She's smart and creative, and I can't wait to read the rest of her work.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Christas_Books
Posted February 26, 2013
Luke Findley is just settling in for another boring night, working the midnight shift at the local hospital, when the police bring in a young girl completed covered in blood. If that wasn’t interesting enough she’s also just confessed to murdering a man only hours before. Luke is shocked. Most of the time all he sees at the hospital are hunting accidents and cases of domestic abuse. For someone that has just murdered another, however, she seems quite calm. In fact she’s barely spoken a word since they picked her up.
That all changes once alone in the exam room – she begins to open up. She begs Luke to help her escape, claiming she’s not like other people. To prove her point she grabs a scapel and slashes herself right across the chest. To Luke’s amazement, instead of bleeding, the wound magically begins to heal itself right in front of his eyes. Luke agrees to help her as long as she tells him who she is and so begins an adventure that has spanned centuries and will show Luke a world that he’s never imagined.
The Takeris an interesting cross between a paranormal novel and a historical fiction novel. I often find this can be a dangerous line to walk; it’s so easy to cross over into the land of cheesy writing. Thankfully The Takersteers clear. I found it to be engaging and exciting. Due to the nature of the myserious girl’s…condition…the reader isn’t limited to only one time period. The story sweeps you from place to place and you just get lost in the stories and the settings. I loved the variety of historical settings and how well each of them were represented.
I have read a number of reviews and articles about this book that mention it being a vampire story (I even read this is Shelf Awareness). I would like to set the record straight and say there are no vampires in this book. There is no biting, or blood drinking and everyone functions during both day and night. I can’t go into too much detail of what actually happens without getting into spoiler territory but there is definitely some unique and interesting paranormal twists going on in this novel and though I do like my vampire stories I found this a refreshing change.
I really enjoyed the detail of The Taker, It really did feel like I was being swept away to the different places. The characters were interesting and I could feel myself hanging onto every word, unable to stop reading. This is a great book for fall. Perfect to read outside, once it gets a little cooler and the leaves begin to turn.
Anonymous
Posted February 18, 2013
I never write reviews for books, but I must say this book is a must read!
This book was not at all what I expected!
It is wonderfully written and heartbreaking with twists and turns that you never see coming.
Anonymous
Posted January 26, 2013
I have to admit, I couldn't put this book down. It was nothing like I had expected and I just had to know what happened next. The story was riveting and the characters (although ,extremely flawed) had me mesmerized. I am curious to see what transpires between Lanny, Luke and Adair. Mostly though, I am curious about Adair....I'm a sucker for a well described villan! I only gave 4 stars because at times, the story was just too drawn out. I found that I skimmed over parts just to get to the point of where the story was headed. The descriptives are great, but there were just more than I needed in order to keep my attention...still the story-line was unlike anything I have read and I enjoyed the surprises.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 30, 2012
This book is an interesting take in the supernatural in a time flooded with zombies amd vampires
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Keely-Ann
Posted October 5, 2012
I guess I really didn't know what to expect when I took on this extraordinary novel. I know one thing for sure ~ I received more than I bargained for, in only the best way possible, of course. The Taker raises so many questions, emotions, and thoughts ~ the concept of immortality, the wonder of morality, and the tragedies of love.
Lanore... How do I describe my feelings toward the main character? I can't really say that I like her so much as I pity her. She's loyal to a fault and will do anything to demonstrate her devotion to Jonathan, even when it comes to her own, his, or other's demise. As long as she has him in her life, she doesn't seem to care too much about the rest. She isn't necessarily a bad person, but a woman who loves too deeply and finds herself in a horrible situation. She is extremely selfish but selfless at the same time, a complex character who surprises the reader with an odd mix of nobility and wickedness.
**Side note ~ I think Lanore is the taker. There are multiple "takers" in this novel, but she is the ultimate one. She takes more than she gives, even when it comes to Jonathan, the love of her life. Whether it is conscious manipulation or mostly just the way circumstances fall, Lanore seems to inevitably cause destruction. Almost every move she makes is to prove her love and loyalty, but it always, always seems to go wrong.**
The story goes back and forth from present day to the 1800s. Luke is an interesting diversion in the book, adding someone readers can relate to in the present. Also, he sees Lanny in a different light than the other characters seem to in the book. He views her as a woman full of a thousand memories and experience, while the other characters treat her as naive, coy, and non-threatening, even after she lives a few years with Adair and his never-ending exploits. We get to see Lanore through an awed stranger's eyes, giving readers a different feel for her presence. It's almost as if she's two completely different characters ~ Lanny of the Past and Lanny of the Present.
The writing style of this novel is incredibly descriptive and the tone is always perfectly set. I was always hopeful for Lanore, but at the same time I knew, despite her naivete, what was really happening to her based on the author's choice of words.
And the storyline... my goodness, the story itself... It blew my mind. Immortality is usually viewed as a coveted gift. Everyone seems to want to live forever, but after reading The Taker, I promise, you'll think twice. And the concept of love ~ this book doesn't have the hearts and flowers kind of love. Every relationship Lanore experiences is twisted and on the verge of devastating. I felt sorry for her, but in a way, it was kind of refreshing. Not everyone is meant for happily ever after; some people have lifetimes of bad luck.
However, there are two more books in this trilogy, so maybe Lanore will finally fill that void she's had since the day she met Jonathan. I haven't decided if she deserves it, but I think three lifetimes of wanting are more than enough.
This isn't a happy, light read (although it does have it's moments) ~ if you're looking for a complex story with a depth that is guaranteed to get your mind, heart, and soul going, read The Taker.
Anonymous
Posted September 23, 2012
I love this series, it is amazing! The reason for the low reviee is B&N not the story (which is a tatol 5). I was looking and found a book by Katsu called Immortal, I thought it was a new book until I read the sample and see it is just a foreign version of The Taker. Why am I mad? While the taker is up at9.99 its freign counterpart is only 7.99, seriously B&N, what the hell?
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Posted August 2, 2012
Awesome book!! Best read in a long time!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 30, 2012
This is a good series, can't wait for the final book!!
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Overview
This eBook edition of The Taker also includes an exclusive extended excerpt from The Reckoning, the highly anticipated second installment in Alma Katsu’s breathtaking trilogy.