Taken (Taken #1) by Erin Bowman

Author: Erin Bowman
Publication: April 16, 2013
By: Harper Teen 
3.75 Stars

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Thank you Edelweiss and Harper Teen for this ARC.

What I loved: Interesting concept, engaging characters and detailed world-building bring this Hunger Games/Maze Runner mashup to life.  As a male MC, Gray Weathersby is equal parts strength and vulnerability and I enjoyed watching the story unfold through his eyes. Bree is badars, that is all!  Emma is a strong character as well and doesn't let Gray get away with much which is good considering he tends to be rash and impulsive. It isn't the norm for a YA love triangle to revolve around the guy but this one offers a curious role reversal and the ending brings some closure while also creating interest in where the story will take these characters next.  

What left me wanting: There are several plot twists, one of which wasn't much of a surprise to me and the whole idea of the slatings was a little unsettling for me. Emma wavered in her convictions which surprised, disappointed and confused me. I really hope her reasons are explained in book two. 

Final verdict: Dystopian fans will enjoy this!

Also posted at YABC.