The Taking by Kimberly Derting
Series: The Taking #1
Published by HarperTeen
Published on: April 29. 2014
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer meets The Fifth Wave in this chilling and explosive new series from author Kimberly Derting.
The last thing Kyra Agnew remembers is a flash of bright light. She awakes to discover that five whole years have passed. Everyone in her life has moved on—her parents divorced, her boyfriend is in college and dating her best friend—but Kyra's still the sixteen-year-old she was when she vanished. She finds herself drawn to Tyler, her boyfriend's kid brother, despite her best efforts to ignore her growing attraction. In order to find out the truth, the two of them decide to retrace her steps from that fateful night. They discover there are others who have been "taken," just like Kyra. Only, Kyra is the first person to have been returned past the forty-eight-hour taken mark. With a determined, secret government agency after her, Kyra desperately tries to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had . . . but what if the life she wants back is not her own?
As soon as I read a fellow bloggers review of this on Amazon, I was sold on reading it. She said she couldn’t put it down. Well I couldn’t either. I started it one afternoon and finished it at 6 a.m. the next day after not sleeping. It’s YA but that didn’t even matter, I think adults can read and enjoy this just as much as an older teen would.
Kyra is a sixteen year old star softball player. After a game one night, she gets into a fight with her dad and decides to exit his car in the middle of nowhere. Something happens and she disappears for five years. This is the story of what happens when she shows back up. No memory of what happened to her and with life as she knew it completely different. She’s missed out on her senior year of school, going to college with her boyfriend and now her boyfriend is with her best friend. As in, WITH her best friend. A lot more has happened while she was gone and very little of it is good. However, there is one good thing; her boyfriend’s little brother, Tyler, is now seventeen and very attractive. Which brings me to the fact, Kyra is still sixteen and her body has not changed at all. Then things get really interesting and I am definitely not going to spoil the story by telling.
Ms. Derting tells a fantastic story about an extraordinary event that happens to a simple teenage girl. I enjoyed the character of Kyra, but over an above that, I thought Tyler was a good character. As a guy that had a crush on Kyra since he was little, he really falls hard for her-fast. There is some insta-love going on but I thought it was believable due to all their history together and their age. Teenagers do fall hard at times so I decided to go with it. Her parents play a big role in this story and they are not cookie cutter characters by any means. The last five years has changed everything about their world and in one case, Kyra’s disappearance has ruined a life.
The story starts out as a mystery, transitions into a romance, and ends up a full on action story before it’s over. There’s scary villains, a secret government agency, conspiracy theories and lots of interesting new characters that are introduced along the way. And I don’t think I will ever look at fire flies the same way ever again. Just saying. I haven’t read a lot of stories like this so this was a new kind of read for me and I did enjoy it! I think it will appeal to science fiction and paranormal fans equally. With such a sweet romance, albeit insta-love, I think YA romance fans may like this as well. Me? I am a fan already and can’t wait for the next book. Lots of questions need to be answered for sure. Bring it on!
I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.
I’ve seen this book around but never knew what it was about. And, whoa! I wasn’t expecting it to sound this amazing! Great review!
Thank you! If you read it, I hope you like it 🙂
Yay! I love seeing your review and the four stars, I loved this one but I know not everyone did so I love seeing someone else you really did enjoy it.
Wasn’t that ending killer though? I so can’t wait for book two!
You’re the blogger I was talking about 🙂 And yes I really enjoyed it! And that ending! and now we have to wait a year probably!
Everyone is reading this book. She is in town on Sunday–I am going to suggest this to a friend 🙂
I hope your friend enjoys it 🙂
I’ve read a bunch of great reviews on this one and really need to read it! I’m so curious about how/why she disappeared and what happened that she came back exactly the same as she left (X-Files has warped my thinking so that I immediately thought of alien abduction…).
I loved X-Files! So yeah this book interested me too when I read the blurb and reviews. I am going to be reading the next one as soon as it comes out! If you read it, I sure hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed the Taking as well. I felt the same way about the romance and Tyler. This was such a fast and intriguing read – like the X-files (loved it)!
X-Files for sure! Loved it too 🙂 Thanks!
Oooh! Thanks for the review Lorna. I’ve been really curious about this one after hearing so many raves. Will definitely check it out now. 😀
I hope you like it as much as I did 🙂
I read one book by her that was pretty cool so yeah interested
Good! I hope you like it. This is the first I have read by her.:)
I’m really glad you liked reading this too! I think a lot of people probably will too, it has a lot going for it. 🙂
Thanks! I really liked it 🙂
I really liked this one and I think it was a good setup for the rest of the series. Looking forward to book 2, especially after that ending!
Oh yes me too! Can’t wait 🙂
I’ve been hearing quite a few mixed reviews for this one, but after reading your thoughts I’m definitely going for it! I’m loving the sound of the mystery and suspense and how it’s woven into the story. Thanks so much for sharing Lorna, and, as always, BRILLIANT review! <3
Thank you Zoe! I really hope you like it as much as I did. And you are right, after I wrote my review, I did read some that didn’t like it as much-just personal taste I guess 🙂
I’m really loving the sound of this one 🙂 Thank you, I got look for the audio, or wait 🙁 I can almost pick the perfect narrator for this story.
Oh, I hope you can find it 🙂
I really enjoyed this book as well Lorna! that ending was a doozy so I’m super excited for the next book.
A wonderful review.
Thank you! I am excited to read it as well 🙂
Oh I’l glad you loved it because I think it’s the only good review I saw for this book. I think I’ll pass because even if it sounds good the others made me a little meh… thanks tou though!
I have read several good reviews on Amazon-of course you never know who is writing them for sure 🙂 But you are right, I did love the book, So many books out there and you just have to go with what you like when you pick a book 🙂 And Thanks!
See on that point I totally agree – sometimes teenagers do have insta love – i mean its not real love but they think it is and so sometimes I want to chastise myself for getting so upset about the prevalence of it. I do however think in some cases it could be written BETTER. Glad to hear its done well here!
I know. I can handle the teenage insta love-and even the found his mate because that’s usually what were animals do(and sometimes vampires too), but when it’s just two adults not so much-that’s usually just lust!
Mystery, romance, and action that kept you up all night?? Sounds great! I’m glad you loved The Taking. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
Well I must admit that I don’t sleep at night really-at least not until after 4 am. This is what happens when you don’t work anymore. But I was up a couple of hours later then normal 🙂 and pretty much read it non-stop. I liked it! and you’re welcome!
I really like this author so I can’t wait to read this book. I’m glad that you gave this a try and ended up liking it.
Thanks for the great review!
This was the first one I read by this author. And Thank you 🙂
I don’t know, she doesn’t miss the 5 years at all, so how can she be in love with her boyfriend one day, and the next falling for his younger brother, whom she certainly would not have been interested in at all when he was 12.
She does have a problem with the 12 year old thing. When she finds out about her best friend and her boyfriend that does cause problems with how she feels about her boyfriend.. At any rate, he(the brother) is the one that falls hard fast, It takes the MC much longer 🙂 It also comes down to who is with her in this bad time in her life and who isn’t-at least that was my take on it.
Okay, that makes sense, thank you Lorna.
You’re welcome!
This sounds very exciting. I love the X-files mystery slant this seems to have. Onto the towering wishlist it goes.
I hope you like it 🙂