Not my normal genre; however, it is an interesting premise...immortality. Would you take it? Would you give it to the one you love? Would you want to remain immortal?

Lanny has been in love with Jonathan since she was a little girl, and she has an opportunity to save his life by making him immortal, but there are unseen consequences. She is bound to Adair, evil made flesh, and must do his bidding. Adair has taken an unusual interest in Jonathan.

Luke meets Lanny when she is brought into the ER by the sheriff and accused of killing a man in the forrest. Dr. Luke becomes interested in her story as he is treating her, and she asks him to help her escape.

I have absolutely no idea where to start with this book. I have never been confronted with anything like it before. It was bone-chilling and enthralling -- absolutely captivating. I had to take breaks every so often after particularly gruesome scenes, but upon picking it up, I was sucked right back in.

The novel begins with Luke, a doctor in the lazy town of St. Andrew, Maine, who arrives for his night shift only to have his life completely altered. The police bring in a girl, handcuffed and covered in blood who confessed to killing a man in the middle of the woods. When left alone to make sure that she, Lanore, was not wounded herself, Luke discovers that Lanny is (dare I use the cliche) different. After seeing doubt in Luke's eyes when she begs him to escape, Lanny steals a scalpel and slices open her chest. As the pieces of her flesh slowly crawl back together, Luke is filled with absolute terror -- and Lanny begins her story.

The book is divided between the present day consisting of Luke and Lanny's interactions and the 1800's, when Lanny was born. We learn of her childhood, and the early development of her feelings for the son of the town's founder, Jonathan St. Andrew. Jonathan is an image of crippling beauty, undeniable to anyone who meets him. But Lanny's friendship with him does not mask her growing infatuation and her drive to make him solely hers turns into a dangerous obsession.

The novel spans years, a multitude of settings and beyond everything else, a phenomenal cast of characters. Lanny, Jonathan and the villain, Adair, were so complex and well-written that they came alive on the page for me. For those of you who need a sympathetic narrator, Lanny is not for you. Though at times, my heart broke for her, I also equally burned with anger. Jonathan was the perfect object for Lanny's affections; knowing his effect on women, mainly Lanny, but though deeply saddened by the hearts he breaks, unable to let them go. And Adair....

Adair was by far the most well constructed villain I have read, possibly ever. He was malicious, evil masked in the body of a handsome young man, but with such detail that you actually feared him as a reader. Like many villains, he did not take a backseat to the other characters. He exists at the forefront of the novel, living and breathing by Lanny's side for great lengths of time.

Above everything, this book was about obsession in its rawest form. For anyone who has ever felt that tinge of infatuation -- imagine this blown up by an atomic bomb and you will half understand how Lanny feels about Jonathan. Each character has an obsession -- something driving everything they do. If I had to describe a setting for the book, imagine being alone in the middle of winter at midnight in a forest, being chased by someone out for your blood. This is how I felt with this book propped on my lap each night. It was astonishing.

Now, be warned that this book is not a light read in any way. It has some of the most gruesome scenes I have ever read including rape of both men and women, torture and a multitude of sexual escapades. Some readers have commented that sex is almost another character in this book and though I understand that concept, I also think that Katsu used it in all the right places and no sexual encounter failed to further the plot line.

Even reading over this review, I can honestly tell you that you won't understand the prowess of this novel until you read it. You will be (oh yep, I am going to say it) completely taken with Alma Katsu's debut novel. Oh and P.S. The writing is stunning!

I would give this book 3.5 stars on story telling. I was deeply engrossed in the story. This is a very deep read. Some dark moments. It's not what you would call a love story, Although Lanny confides her love for Jonathan numberous times throughout the book. The is talk of love, but you do not get your traditional love story.
This is truly a different type of read.
I wanted to keep reading just to find out what happened. Ms. Katsu knows how to keep you interested!

The story jumps from past to present, as Lanny tells the story of her past while her and Luke travel (escape).

I was entirely captivated while reading The Taker and could so vividly picture the characters and scenery. I absolutely adore this and can’t wait to read The Reckoning!

*I received this eARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

When I laid my eyes on this book cover and then its synopsis I was immediately interested in reading it. The plot of the story seemed just the kind of reading I'd most likely enjoy, so quickly requested it.

Maybe my expectations were very high or maybe I was expecting something the book wasn't, but my disappointment at the story was extreme. The story had such a great potential and Katsu has a unique writing style, but the YA touch just didn't match with the rest.

I couldn't have empathy for any of the characters, only being angered at their superficiality and arrogance. Not even Luke got me sympathising, but questioning why would do everything he does. Adair then is just a plain jerk but in the skin of a wanderer.

It took more than two weeks to finally finish reading this book, and although a few parts were somewhat interesting, it just didn't hook me to want to read the next volumes. I won't say it's impossible I'll read the next, but surely I worthy l won't be so eager for them.

I started this with some apprehension, it did not strike me at all as 'my type' of book but, on the recommendation of a friend, I decided to give it a go. I loved the plot line and the historical parts of the storyline, although found the present day parts a bit pointless.

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.

4.5 stars...review to come

Originally posted on Cozy Up With A Good Read

I don't even know how to review this book, it was just that amazing. I almost have no words. This was a book that as I read (with other things needing to get done as well) I kept saying to myself, "Just one more chapter, just one more..." And before I knew it I was done the book. I definitely got that sadness (and almost turned the book over to start it again).

It is a difficult process to bring supernatural and historical together in a novel but Alma did an amazing job. With what happens to Lanny there is so much to the story, and I really enjoyed the other characters introduced. You also get some of their history as well. This book spans across a large amount of time, but Alma does it in a way that is easy to follow.

Alma's writing is absolutely beautiful and she definitely takes her readers on an unexpected journey in this story. This book was impossible to put down because you want to continue the story and find out what happened to Lanny to bring her to where she is. I found I was disappointed when I came to a chapter that brought me back to the present, at times it felt like an interruption to the story rather than adding to it.

The characters were interesting. I wasn't the biggest fan of Luke, I felt he was just there for someone to hear Lanny's story. But the characters around Lanny as she grew up were definitely interesting people with a lot of heart to them. I continually found myself drawn to Jonathan, and wanted to know more about him.

This book is definitely not a light read (which I thought it was when I picked it up). Be forewarned there are a lot of sexual escapades throughout that will definitely be disturbing to some readers. I found myself disturbed by some of the things Lanny went through, but I was still enthralled by the story.

I'm interested to see what Alma does next. I felt that this story ended perfectly and am not sure how she will continue this as a series, but will definitely read on to see where the story goes next.