Review: TAKEN by Erin Bowman

TAKEN is Erin Bowman’s debut. She’s an active blogger and you can follow her on twitter.

TAKEN is a YA dystopian novel that weaves a dark, thrilling, tale about a boy who’s life changes when is brother is taken on his eighteenth birthday.

Here’s the log line:

Gray Weathersby has grown up expecting to disappear at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. They call it the Heist—and it happens to every boy in Claysoot. His only chance at escape is to climb the Wall that surrounds Claysoot. A climb no one has ever survived . . .

And a blurb:

Fans of Incarceron by Catherine Fisher and Variant by Robison Wells won't want to miss this magnetic first book in a gripping dystopian sci-fi series. Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend trilogy, raves that Taken is "an action-packed thrill ride from beginning to end. More, please!"

I loved the pacing of this story. It was fast and persistent. The narrative pushed me forward. Now that I’ve finished the book I want more!! Luckily, the sequel is scheduled to release soon, April 2014, and there is a novella prequel releasing even sooner, February 2014.

Aside from the thrilling mystery built within the story there’s a bit of romance. Because TAKEN is told from the male MC’s POV I wasn’t expecting a romantic element. I guess I just don’t read a lot of male POV romance, especially in YA.

I thought the affection and romance was believable and sweet. I was rooting for the characters to get together by the end and I can’t wait to see how their relationships bloom in the future books.

Have you read Erin Bowman’s debut, TAKEN? What did you think?