One of my personal challenges last year was to read at least some books out of my comfort zone. Well I failed the steam punk, paranormals that I purchased are still on my shelf. So a funny thing happened at the end of the year I was contacted by author Alma Katsu and she asked if I had any interest in reviewing her debut novel The Taker. I looked at it and what she said about it and it is historical fiction in a very different sense. So I decided to take up my personal challenge from 2011 and dust it off for 2012.
It is so dark and disturbing yet compelling and it made my stomach hurt. I couldnt finish it. I was just not the right audience for this book. Those who love the immortal paranormal highly sensual stories that explores just how evil, evil can be will love this. No vampires plenty of flawed characters, twisted characters, violence, dark obsessions, truly evil Count Adair. That is as far as I got. Even Lannys love for the unworthy Jonathan couldnt keep me turning the pages.
But that said I would like to say that I think Ms. Katsus writing style is truly brilliant, and I truly hope that I can have the pleasure of reading something by her that wont make me uncomfortable.

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This is a beautifully written novel but I had trouble getting through it. The novel toggles between present and past with the narrator of the past still speaking as if in the early 1800's.
It would have made more sense to me if she were to speak in a modern cadence about the past.
Very dark and sensual/erotic. I wish I could have fallen into the rhythm of the story but I could never quite catch it.

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This book started out as very good but bogged down about half way through with some yucky sex scenes. I wonder about the other 2 in the series. Some of this first one is sickening.

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With her blend of history and fantasy, Alma Katsu comes blazing out of the gates with her first novel. The best aspect of this novel is the fact that the fantasy part of the story is very obtuse. You dont really know what the main character, Lanny McIlvrae is except that she is immortal. With Lannys beginnings told in flashbacks to Dr. Luke Findley, the reader is drawn into this story of doomed love and dark desires.

Dr. Luke Findley has hit rock bottom. His wife has left him and he feels trapped in the small Main town of St. Andrews. When he clocks into his night shift he never dreamed he would find himself on the run with a mysterious woman named Lanny who was brought in by the police as a murder suspect. As Lanny explains her life, from her humbled beginnings to why she murdered the only man she has ever loved, Luke finds himself falling for this petite damaged woman.

Even though this story says it is a love story, I didnt feel there was much romance between these pages. This love story is what I stated above, doomed love. From Lannys childhood crush on Jonathan that turns into an obsession to her dark tormented relationship with Adair, the man that gave her immortality. Lannys life is full of darkness and sadness.

I would definitely recommend this story to anyone that liked Anne Rices Vampire Chronicles. The world building is exceptional and has the potential to be an amazing trilogy. It will consume the reader until the very final pages and leave you desiring the next installment. I am so glad that I took the advice of my local bookstore employee and picked this one up. I think I found a new author to add to my favorites list!

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Took me a few chapter to get in to it...but then I was hooked

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