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The Taker Trilogy #3
The Descent
A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2013
66 people are currently reading
2987 people want to read
About the author
Alma Katsu
38 books3,534 followers"Hard to put down. Not recommended reading after dark." -- Stephen King
"Makes the supernatural seem possible" -- Publishers Weekly
Award-winning author of eight novels, including historical horror (The Hunger, The Deep, The Fervor) and spy novels (Red Widow, Red London). Coming September 2025: FIEND (Putnam)
"Makes the supernatural seem possible" -- Publishers Weekly
Award-winning author of eight novels, including historical horror (The Hunger, The Deep, The Fervor) and spy novels (Red Widow, Red London). Coming September 2025: FIEND (Putnam)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
January 20, 2014
2.5 Stars (rounded up to 3 :P)
Sigh. This is the review that I wish I didn’t have to write. After falling head over heels in love with both The Taker and The Reckoning by Alma Katsu, I had been waiting on pins and needles for over a year to find out what would happen to Lanny, Adair, and Jonathan in the final book of the trilogy. Unfortunately, The Descent left me disappointed and deflated.
Now to be fair, it’s rare for me to ever be completely satisfied in the final book of any series that I love, but the entire direction and feel of The Descent was so different from the first two books, that it just didn’t seem like it belonged at all. Although there were hints given in The Reckoning that the final book would somehow deal with the underworld, the shift of the book from the human world to that of the gods just felt a little too farfetched to me. I know I’m probably being ridiculous (after all the first two books were about dark magic giving people immortality, so why not throw in some gods as well?), but it just didn’t match the direction that I personally saw the story arch going.
I also found myself conflicted over the ending. Considering how dark and gothic the first two novels in the series were, I found myself surprised by how happily things work out in the end for most of the characters. A happy ending after everything that happened to Adair, Lanny, and Jonathan? As much as I love a happy ending to most of my books, it didn’t seem to completely fit this dark-hearted tale.
Putting the plot aside, however, the thing that disappointed me the most about The Descent was it’s depiction of Adair. Oh Adair! How I loved to hate him! He was one of the most complex and interesting characters I had ever read! Despite being a cruel and murderous villain, I couldn’t help but like him a bit! In The Descent, however, Adair’s character was flat and uninteresting. Torn apart by his love for Lanny, Adair has promised that he would change for her and become a better man. While I admire his dedication to Lanny, I found it impossible to believe that this dark and merciless villain would have a complete personality change in only four short years.
What happened to the Adair who would snap at the slightest provocation? Or the Adair who struck complete terror in the hearts of his followers? Instead, the Adair in The Descent is like a lovesick puppy. I kept waiting for him to snap, or to see a glimpse of the old Adair I had come to know, but besides one instance of rage (in an understandable situation) the villainous Adair fails to make an appearance, and I found myself missing him.
Despite my crushing disappointment in The Descent, my love for the first two books has not diminished in any way. I’ll still continue to recommend this series to my friends and family, and cherish the Adair that I came to love in The Taker and The Reckoning. I’ll just have to imagine my own ending to the story in order to satisfy my picky self!
Sigh. This is the review that I wish I didn’t have to write. After falling head over heels in love with both The Taker and The Reckoning by Alma Katsu, I had been waiting on pins and needles for over a year to find out what would happen to Lanny, Adair, and Jonathan in the final book of the trilogy. Unfortunately, The Descent left me disappointed and deflated.
Now to be fair, it’s rare for me to ever be completely satisfied in the final book of any series that I love, but the entire direction and feel of The Descent was so different from the first two books, that it just didn’t seem like it belonged at all. Although there were hints given in The Reckoning that the final book would somehow deal with the underworld, the shift of the book from the human world to that of the gods just felt a little too farfetched to me. I know I’m probably being ridiculous (after all the first two books were about dark magic giving people immortality, so why not throw in some gods as well?), but it just didn’t match the direction that I personally saw the story arch going.
I also found myself conflicted over the ending. Considering how dark and gothic the first two novels in the series were, I found myself surprised by how happily things work out in the end for most of the characters. A happy ending after everything that happened to Adair, Lanny, and Jonathan? As much as I love a happy ending to most of my books, it didn’t seem to completely fit this dark-hearted tale.
Putting the plot aside, however, the thing that disappointed me the most about The Descent was it’s depiction of Adair. Oh Adair! How I loved to hate him! He was one of the most complex and interesting characters I had ever read! Despite being a cruel and murderous villain, I couldn’t help but like him a bit! In The Descent, however, Adair’s character was flat and uninteresting. Torn apart by his love for Lanny, Adair has promised that he would change for her and become a better man. While I admire his dedication to Lanny, I found it impossible to believe that this dark and merciless villain would have a complete personality change in only four short years.
What happened to the Adair who would snap at the slightest provocation? Or the Adair who struck complete terror in the hearts of his followers? Instead, the Adair in The Descent is like a lovesick puppy. I kept waiting for him to snap, or to see a glimpse of the old Adair I had come to know, but besides one instance of rage (in an understandable situation) the villainous Adair fails to make an appearance, and I found myself missing him.
Despite my crushing disappointment in The Descent, my love for the first two books has not diminished in any way. I’ll still continue to recommend this series to my friends and family, and cherish the Adair that I came to love in The Taker and The Reckoning. I’ll just have to imagine my own ending to the story in order to satisfy my picky self!
July 23, 2016
******* 4 "IMMORTAL STARS "*****
It's impossible to review The Descent without spoiling The Taker and The Reckoning , so I'm going to be brief.
The Taker Trilogy has everything I normally DISLIKE.
LIST OF JAHY NO-NO's:
* Paranormal - Its not that I dislike paranormal per se , but I do tend to get really confused and overwhelmed by the storyline (ie .. the fever series nearly killed my sanity). Feeling lost is not my cuppa.
*Angst- total opposite of my cuppa.
* Indecisive, frustrating and just plain idiotic at times heroine is NOT My cuppa.
* Love triangle- NOT MY CUPPA.
* Anti-hero- was my cuppa but I thought I was over them... . I was wrong.
I really had a love /hate relationship with this trilogy as it bored me at time and frustrated me immensely (mostly in the first 1/2 of book 1) while others times I was its bitch . I'm happy I stepped out of my comfort zone and sad to see it end.
As much as I enjoyed The Descent IMHO it needed an epilogue. I needed more :-/
Adair, Adair, Adair.....
Crapola!.., Good bye Adair..Hello book funk :-(
It's impossible to review The Descent without spoiling The Taker and The Reckoning , so I'm going to be brief.
The Taker Trilogy has everything I normally DISLIKE.
LIST OF JAHY NO-NO's:
* Paranormal - Its not that I dislike paranormal per se , but I do tend to get really confused and overwhelmed by the storyline (ie .. the fever series nearly killed my sanity). Feeling lost is not my cuppa.
*Angst- total opposite of my cuppa.
* Indecisive, frustrating and just plain idiotic at times heroine is NOT My cuppa.
* Love triangle- NOT MY CUPPA.
* Anti-hero- was my cuppa but I thought I was over them... . I was wrong.
I really had a love /hate relationship with this trilogy as it bored me at time and frustrated me immensely (mostly in the first 1/2 of book 1) while others times I was its bitch . I'm happy I stepped out of my comfort zone and sad to see it end.
As much as I enjoyed The Descent IMHO it needed an epilogue. I needed more :-/
Adair, Adair, Adair.....
Crapola!.., Good bye Adair..Hello book funk :-(
January 6, 2014
4.5 Stars
Alma Katsu’s The Descent is one of my most anticipated read since reading The Reckoning in 2012. This novel is the last of The Taker Trilogy, and I must say, Ms Katsu did an AMAZING job.
The journey that Lenore, Adair and Jonathan and even Luke has come to an end. Jonathan and Luke are where they are destined to be. Adair is at peace with his life though still longing for love. Unfortunately, Lenore will have to take one last journey before she can finally be at peace. She will ask Adair to send her to the Under World to look for Jonathan. In this journey she along with the fans of this trilogy will find out the true roots of their immortality.
Ms. Katsu’s book of heartaches, loss and obsessions had taken an expected turn. It is now full of forgiveness, resoluteness and true love. All my opinions about the protagonists had also taken a turn. I have now fallen deep in love with Adair. This man will go to the ends of the world to find his love and to boot, he would give up everything for her. Hands down to Ms Katsu into turning a vindictive and ruthless man into a loving one. And as far as Lenore, I am glad that she finally came to terms with her life. She no longer seeks love as if it was her lifeline. It was nice to see her finally get peace after a very long life of heartaches. The rest of the characters of course made there cameos. Ms Katsu had also put a satisfying end to their stories though some may have been bitter sweet.
The Descent had an interesting take on the afterlife, the Underworld, and it’s connection to Greek mythology. I was absolutely intrigued. The long awaited last adventure of The Taker Trilogy was worth the wait. This series and its characters has marked a place in my heart and will always be on top of my recommendation list.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead!!!!
My only quibble is the ending of the story. The ending is not bad by a long shot. Adair and Lenore finally got their happy-ending, and this was long overdue. However, after all this time with their obsession with immortality, their ending seemed…well, not what I expected.
If you ‘ve read The Taker and The Reckoning, you know that the ending in both novels were a cliff hangers but had ended in such a big way. Well, both books were amazing including this one. In this novel though, the ending did not have that wow-factor. I was expecting a monumental ending that would leave my jaw dropping to the floor. Unfortunately, it did not. I’m not sure if it was because of the long wait for this book or I simply expected too much from it.
Regardless of this ending, my rating stands strong. It did not hinder my opinion of this book or the series. Ms. Katsu is an exquisite writer with a vivid imagination. The Taker Trilogy is not to be missed, and I’m a bit sad it had to end. I am looking forward to reading Ms. Katsu’s future novels.
*Review copy provided by publisher
Alma Katsu’s The Descent is one of my most anticipated read since reading The Reckoning in 2012. This novel is the last of The Taker Trilogy, and I must say, Ms Katsu did an AMAZING job.
The journey that Lenore, Adair and Jonathan and even Luke has come to an end. Jonathan and Luke are where they are destined to be. Adair is at peace with his life though still longing for love. Unfortunately, Lenore will have to take one last journey before she can finally be at peace. She will ask Adair to send her to the Under World to look for Jonathan. In this journey she along with the fans of this trilogy will find out the true roots of their immortality.
Ms. Katsu’s book of heartaches, loss and obsessions had taken an expected turn. It is now full of forgiveness, resoluteness and true love. All my opinions about the protagonists had also taken a turn. I have now fallen deep in love with Adair. This man will go to the ends of the world to find his love and to boot, he would give up everything for her. Hands down to Ms Katsu into turning a vindictive and ruthless man into a loving one. And as far as Lenore, I am glad that she finally came to terms with her life. She no longer seeks love as if it was her lifeline. It was nice to see her finally get peace after a very long life of heartaches. The rest of the characters of course made there cameos. Ms Katsu had also put a satisfying end to their stories though some may have been bitter sweet.
The Descent had an interesting take on the afterlife, the Underworld, and it’s connection to Greek mythology. I was absolutely intrigued. The long awaited last adventure of The Taker Trilogy was worth the wait. This series and its characters has marked a place in my heart and will always be on top of my recommendation list.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead!!!!
My only quibble is the ending of the story. The ending is not bad by a long shot. Adair and Lenore finally got their happy-ending, and this was long overdue. However, after all this time with their obsession with immortality, their ending seemed…well, not what I expected.
If you ‘ve read The Taker and The Reckoning, you know that the ending in both novels were a cliff hangers but had ended in such a big way. Well, both books were amazing including this one. In this novel though, the ending did not have that wow-factor. I was expecting a monumental ending that would leave my jaw dropping to the floor. Unfortunately, it did not. I’m not sure if it was because of the long wait for this book or I simply expected too much from it.
Regardless of this ending, my rating stands strong. It did not hinder my opinion of this book or the series. Ms. Katsu is an exquisite writer with a vivid imagination. The Taker Trilogy is not to be missed, and I’m a bit sad it had to end. I am looking forward to reading Ms. Katsu’s future novels.
*Review copy provided by publisher
January 3, 2014
WOW! I was very excited to read this because I really loved The Taker and The Reckoning. I'm a little taken aback after reading The Descent because this is not at all what I expected. After Lanore and Adair's relationship reaching a crescendo in book #2, this one fell incredibly short of potential.
I expected see Adair go on a soul searching journey of repentence in order to regain Lanore's love and trust again. What I got was Lanore approaching Adair to aid Jonathan in the underworld. Apparently, Adair sent to time out, he thought about what he did wrong, and now he's a good guy. Um, what? What happened to showing his progression? Lanore decides that he's repented only because he agrees to help her. This makes no sense. There's no sense of intimacy between the two that has been ever present in previous books.
When Lanny goes into the Underworld, everything turns sideways. She has these "ghosts of Christmases past" visits with departed people which don't really serve to move the plot anywhere. When she finally gets to meet with the queen and it's revealed who Adair is, all I could think was, where the hell did that come from? I don't know what happened but this whole book was incongruous with the characters and plot from the previous two books. Sadly, I can't recommend this edition.
However, I love the author's voice and skill in words and will look forward to her future works.
Grade: C-
*ARC provided by Gallery/Pocketbooks
September 19, 2019
Nereye bağladı ya. Töbe estağfurullah
January 14, 2014
After a day's reflection, and nonstop thinking about this series, I feel it's only fair that it deserves 5 stars. I wish I could weave a story like Alma Katsu. In my opinion, this series is much better than A Discovery of Witches, which I picked up a while back because it was touted as literary paranormal. I've been drawn to well-written, thinking (wo)man's paranormal ever since I read Outlander and fell in love. This series has it all, perfectly fleshed out characters, a unique and interesting plot line that always keeps you guessing, and easy to read, yet still eloquent prose. Many people who read the description of these books as being paranormal or fantasy will write them off as fluff, especially because the covers don't really match up with the contents. There is no fluff here, I promise you that. The main characters are truly despicable people who have to fight their way towards redemption the whole journey through. Do they make it? You'll have to read them to find out. I highly suggest you do.
November 13, 2013
****This copy was given to me in exchange for my honest review.****
I would give Descent 3 1/2 stars.
I loved the previous book in this series, but The Descent came out a little flat. It seems as though there were so many characters introduced into the story just as filler material. In the end the reader is left wondering what the hell just happened. Why was Luke around for her to see after going into the Underworld. What was the point of it all?
I would give Descent 3 1/2 stars.
I loved the previous book in this series, but The Descent came out a little flat. It seems as though there were so many characters introduced into the story just as filler material. In the end the reader is left wondering what the hell just happened. Why was Luke around for her to see after going into the Underworld. What was the point of it all?
August 10, 2016
I was disappointed in this last installment of the immortals trilogy. I enjoyed the first two, but this didn't feel like the same story.
December 17, 2014
2.5 to 3 stars
welp.....that was a disappointment.
What a ridiculous ending.
I expected so much better than this, such a shame. The first two books in this trilogy are the top two books I've read this year but this one just wasn't on par with those books. Makes me sad that Ms. Katsu chose to end this wonderful trilogy on such a sickening sweet sugary note, this book was sentimental drivel. :9
welp.....that was a disappointment.
What a ridiculous ending.
I expected so much better than this, such a shame. The first two books in this trilogy are the top two books I've read this year but this one just wasn't on par with those books. Makes me sad that Ms. Katsu chose to end this wonderful trilogy on such a sickening sweet sugary note, this book was sentimental drivel. :9
January 11, 2014
A Book of pointless wanderings...I am unfulfilled. What happened?
March 3, 2014
OMG! Does this want to call itself book?
An utterly disappointing ending to the series. Not that I could actually go through with it. Somewhere half-way through got too fed up and skipped all the way to the extremely OBVIOUS ending. Which turned exactly as expected.
Unfortunately, I quite enjoyed Alma Katsu's style in the previous two books and her stories seemed a lot more compelling. But for this book, it seems she ran out of any creative ideas and serves us with a bland, predictable and unexciting plot. What is the point in going through 250 BORING pages if you can already tell what happens next?
Even the more interesting excerpts from Adair's past were not enough to keep me hooked. Lanore's storyline was terribly unengaging (if it can be called storyline) and lacked any interestingness. Maybe it was about her psychological journey? It could be said so, but then telling a story of how I decided to get a sandwich one day, then decided to get an ice cream instead, then again a sandwich would be similarly interesting.
I started this series liking the characters, but ended thinking they must have hit their heads or something somewhere along the way. Perhaps Alma Katsu did the same, because she completely lost her skill to write an interesting story. Would have wished this series a better ending than this.
An utterly disappointing ending to the series. Not that I could actually go through with it. Somewhere half-way through got too fed up and skipped all the way to the extremely OBVIOUS ending. Which turned exactly as expected.
Unfortunately, I quite enjoyed Alma Katsu's style in the previous two books and her stories seemed a lot more compelling. But for this book, it seems she ran out of any creative ideas and serves us with a bland, predictable and unexciting plot. What is the point in going through 250 BORING pages if you can already tell what happens next?
Even the more interesting excerpts from Adair's past were not enough to keep me hooked. Lanore's storyline was terribly unengaging (if it can be called storyline) and lacked any interestingness. Maybe it was about her psychological journey? It could be said so, but then telling a story of how I decided to get a sandwich one day, then decided to get an ice cream instead, then again a sandwich would be similarly interesting.
I started this series liking the characters, but ended thinking they must have hit their heads or something somewhere along the way. Perhaps Alma Katsu did the same, because she completely lost her skill to write an interesting story. Would have wished this series a better ending than this.
January 25, 2014
This is a satisfying end to the trilogy, but it doesn't fit with the other books at all. Everything is turned on its head in a way that stupefies plot and character development. My least favorite of the three books.
March 17, 2020
Aşk sonsuzdur… Sonsuzu arzulamak cesaret ister…
Lanny, ona ölümsüzlüğü bahşeden eski sevgilisi Adair’in tehlikeli ve esrarengiz güçlerinden kurtulmak için asırlardır ondan kaçmanın yollarını aramaktadır. Ancak şimdi, öteki dünyada esir düşen, gerçek aşkı Jonathan’ı kurtarmak için Adair’in bu karanlık güçlerine ihtiyacı vardır. Lanny’nin bilinmeze doğru yaptığı bu yolculuk, ölümsüzlüğü ve aşkı sorguladığı korkutucu bir serüvene dönüşmek üzeredir.
Sonsuz Arzuyla Buluşma aşkın ve tutkunun, kaderin ve kaybetmenin öyküsünü anlatan çarpıcı bir roman.
Lanny, ona ölümsüzlüğü bahşeden eski sevgilisi Adair’in tehlikeli ve esrarengiz güçlerinden kurtulmak için asırlardır ondan kaçmanın yollarını aramaktadır. Ancak şimdi, öteki dünyada esir düşen, gerçek aşkı Jonathan’ı kurtarmak için Adair’in bu karanlık güçlerine ihtiyacı vardır. Lanny’nin bilinmeze doğru yaptığı bu yolculuk, ölümsüzlüğü ve aşkı sorguladığı korkutucu bir serüvene dönüşmek üzeredir.
Sonsuz Arzuyla Buluşma aşkın ve tutkunun, kaderin ve kaybetmenin öyküsünü anlatan çarpıcı bir roman.
will-never-read
June 2, 2013This has a really pretty cover and I've had the first one on my wishlist for a while now. I only have two friends that read the first book but they gave it 4 stars so it seemed like something I'd give a chance. The historical/paranormal aspects made it sound really interesting and different and something that I'd likely check out.
I don't really want to anymore though.
I don't really want to anymore though.
August 11, 2016
I started this one immediately after finishing The Reckoning and I am glad I did. Katsu does a great job of summarizing the previous books and bringing the reader back into Lanore’s life but I am always super impatient with series books and because there are so many characters and so much going on, reading both books in a row helped me keep it all straight. This is very much a character driven story and although Lanore and Adair and the main characters, we still get introduced to a number of new characters as well as revisit some old ones.
After leaving Adair in book two, Lanore made the decision to go back to Luke. Unfortunately it is only 4 years later and Luke, being the mortal he is, has died after suffering from a brain tumor. Lanore honored her promise to him and stayed with him to the end but she always had thoughts of Adair and Jonathan in the back of her mind. She also started to have nightmares about the fate Jonathan was facing in the Underworld which prompts Lanore to find Adair and ask him to help her go help him.
When Lanore finds Adair on a remote island, she notices immediately he has changed. He clearly has taken her letter as well as what Jonathan told him to heart and is trying to be better than he was so that he can make Lanore see he is worthy of her love. Little does he know that Lanore has slowly come to the conclusion that she has loved him all along. With their past, she is just afraid to admit it to him yet.
Ultimately Adair makes the decision to help Lanore go to the Underworld despite the danger he feels she will be in and the potential danger it would mean to him if the Queen of the Underworld finds him. On top of this potential concern, Adair thinks the two women living in his house may be connected to some witches he wronged in his past. While this is only something he has just recently determined, he worries that he will have to figure them out before something bad happens.
Once Lanore goes, Katsu revisits some key parts of their separate histories through flashbacks. I thought it was done well and answered some remaining questions I had. I thought the section between Lanore and Sophia provided some closure for Lanore that she wasn’t able to get due to the way she and Jonathan had to leave town. Additionally, the section with Luke was a good way to wrap up their relationship. Luke clearly knew he wasn’t the most important person in her life ever but I thought having had their conversation, he ended up realizing he was one of the important people.
In addition to Lanore’s flashbacks, Adair has some as well. I enjoyed getting a peek at his early life and how he came to have the books/recipes in his hands. As if we didn’t already know it, those flashbacks just showed to what extent Adair was willing to go to in order to have control and power. He thought the magic was the way to get it. While waiting for Lanore to give him a signal that she is ready to come back to Earth, Adair sits and watches over her body. He struggles with doing what he wants to do and what he knows he should do and it is clear he is trying to be a better man so that he can be worthy of her love.
Eventually Lanore finds Jonathan in the Underworld but finds out things are what she and Adair worried about – she was truly bait and is being used to get Adair there. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really expecting Adair to be who he was…that’s right, I’m not telling. It was an interesting twist and explained some of his personality. Knowing what I know now, the changes in him were even more impactful and I was glad to see them.
This series was wrapped up well. The only thing I thought that was left unanswered was what happened to the rest of the immortals left on Earth at the end of the story. Clearly things have changed for Lanore and Adair and I would assume they would for the others but wasn’t entirely sure what would happen to them. Keep in mind, all of these characters aren’t redeemable and I thought Katsu did a wonderful job of showing that. Overall I thought this was a great series. There is love, deceit, danger, and of course a bunch of immortals. Katsu did a wonderful job of building out these character’s lives and showing that immortality isn’t always the best thing. If you like stories that weave a bit of history along with magic into their books you might enjoy this one.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
After leaving Adair in book two, Lanore made the decision to go back to Luke. Unfortunately it is only 4 years later and Luke, being the mortal he is, has died after suffering from a brain tumor. Lanore honored her promise to him and stayed with him to the end but she always had thoughts of Adair and Jonathan in the back of her mind. She also started to have nightmares about the fate Jonathan was facing in the Underworld which prompts Lanore to find Adair and ask him to help her go help him.
When Lanore finds Adair on a remote island, she notices immediately he has changed. He clearly has taken her letter as well as what Jonathan told him to heart and is trying to be better than he was so that he can make Lanore see he is worthy of her love. Little does he know that Lanore has slowly come to the conclusion that she has loved him all along. With their past, she is just afraid to admit it to him yet.
Ultimately Adair makes the decision to help Lanore go to the Underworld despite the danger he feels she will be in and the potential danger it would mean to him if the Queen of the Underworld finds him. On top of this potential concern, Adair thinks the two women living in his house may be connected to some witches he wronged in his past. While this is only something he has just recently determined, he worries that he will have to figure them out before something bad happens.
Once Lanore goes, Katsu revisits some key parts of their separate histories through flashbacks. I thought it was done well and answered some remaining questions I had. I thought the section between Lanore and Sophia provided some closure for Lanore that she wasn’t able to get due to the way she and Jonathan had to leave town. Additionally, the section with Luke was a good way to wrap up their relationship. Luke clearly knew he wasn’t the most important person in her life ever but I thought having had their conversation, he ended up realizing he was one of the important people.
In addition to Lanore’s flashbacks, Adair has some as well. I enjoyed getting a peek at his early life and how he came to have the books/recipes in his hands. As if we didn’t already know it, those flashbacks just showed to what extent Adair was willing to go to in order to have control and power. He thought the magic was the way to get it. While waiting for Lanore to give him a signal that she is ready to come back to Earth, Adair sits and watches over her body. He struggles with doing what he wants to do and what he knows he should do and it is clear he is trying to be a better man so that he can be worthy of her love.
Eventually Lanore finds Jonathan in the Underworld but finds out things are what she and Adair worried about – she was truly bait and is being used to get Adair there. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really expecting Adair to be who he was…that’s right, I’m not telling. It was an interesting twist and explained some of his personality. Knowing what I know now, the changes in him were even more impactful and I was glad to see them.
This series was wrapped up well. The only thing I thought that was left unanswered was what happened to the rest of the immortals left on Earth at the end of the story. Clearly things have changed for Lanore and Adair and I would assume they would for the others but wasn’t entirely sure what would happen to them. Keep in mind, all of these characters aren’t redeemable and I thought Katsu did a wonderful job of showing that. Overall I thought this was a great series. There is love, deceit, danger, and of course a bunch of immortals. Katsu did a wonderful job of building out these character’s lives and showing that immortality isn’t always the best thing. If you like stories that weave a bit of history along with magic into their books you might enjoy this one.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
January 11, 2014
Alma Katsu took us on one heck of a ride with the Taker Trilogy and the wait for The Descent the final book in this dark paranormal romance was worth the wait. I consumed this and was left satisfied on so many levels. While not as dark as it’s predecessors we get answers and a strong conclusion. Mini review: Beautifully written with fleshed out characters and an engaging conclusion.
Lanore McIlvrae has been on the run from Adair, her creator for hundreds of years. She has loved and lost. When terrifying dreams of the underworld show Jonathan, the love of her life, imprisoned and tortured she seeks out Adair’s help. A journey of discovery and the power of love begins as she asks Adair for a favor. The tale that unfolds answered questions and held me spellbound as we traveled to the depths of the underworld.
Katsu has created the most unusual and dark characters yet she managed to make me fall in love with them all. Lanore or “Lanny” is such a complex woman. At times, she is selfish and others selfless. I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the series and understanding what she was and seeing her find happiness. Adair is a dark horse. Complicated, violent, insolent and yet Katsu exposes his vulnerabilities and desires. Through flashbacks, we get to know more about this strange complex man, and I thought it was brilliantly done. We see characters whom we met previously and Katsu manages to introduce a few new characters. I love that she fleshes them all out, and each adds depth to the tale. The interaction between Lanny and Adair was fascinating and intense. Their relationship is so complicated and to see it transform from darkness to light was spellbinding.
The Descent was decadent, and all of the questions and puzzle pieces fell into place. I love the direction that Katsu took with this final book. Her writing style is completely unique, and her words are like a melody that overcome me and pulls me into the story. The overall story arc of the series was well done. The darkest was The Taker, and I can remember setting it down a few times as if the words stung. It was dark and uncomfortable and yet I needed answers! The Reckoning shows us another side of Lanny and in the Descent we finally see her complete. Adair was a character I loathed from the beginning and skillfully Katsu peeled back his dark, rotten layers to reveal the man beneath. It was impressive. I could barely set this book down as the rest of the world slipped away. Fans of the series will be delighted.
Copy received in exchange for unbiased review. Review originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Lanore McIlvrae has been on the run from Adair, her creator for hundreds of years. She has loved and lost. When terrifying dreams of the underworld show Jonathan, the love of her life, imprisoned and tortured she seeks out Adair’s help. A journey of discovery and the power of love begins as she asks Adair for a favor. The tale that unfolds answered questions and held me spellbound as we traveled to the depths of the underworld.
Katsu has created the most unusual and dark characters yet she managed to make me fall in love with them all. Lanore or “Lanny” is such a complex woman. At times, she is selfish and others selfless. I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the series and understanding what she was and seeing her find happiness. Adair is a dark horse. Complicated, violent, insolent and yet Katsu exposes his vulnerabilities and desires. Through flashbacks, we get to know more about this strange complex man, and I thought it was brilliantly done. We see characters whom we met previously and Katsu manages to introduce a few new characters. I love that she fleshes them all out, and each adds depth to the tale. The interaction between Lanny and Adair was fascinating and intense. Their relationship is so complicated and to see it transform from darkness to light was spellbinding.
The Descent was decadent, and all of the questions and puzzle pieces fell into place. I love the direction that Katsu took with this final book. Her writing style is completely unique, and her words are like a melody that overcome me and pulls me into the story. The overall story arc of the series was well done. The darkest was The Taker, and I can remember setting it down a few times as if the words stung. It was dark and uncomfortable and yet I needed answers! The Reckoning shows us another side of Lanny and in the Descent we finally see her complete. Adair was a character I loathed from the beginning and skillfully Katsu peeled back his dark, rotten layers to reveal the man beneath. It was impressive. I could barely set this book down as the rest of the world slipped away. Fans of the series will be delighted.
Copy received in exchange for unbiased review. Review originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
January 6, 2015
I feel like this series has led me astray, lol. The beginning of the story (first book) is so much different than the last book is. Where the story began, the ending is way way far from what you'll expect it to be. I guess that could be a good thing, if you're into surprises. BUT honestly you guys, I was just lifting my right/left eyebrow (varies differently every time) the whole time I was reading The Descent. ESPECIALLY the LAST BITS of the book. I really didn't see it coming and it was so far-fetched that I felt like the last book's plot was just created because it was what people wanted?
If you've read the book/series, READ on, because if you haven't, I don't think my next words will mean so much to you or make sense.
Anyway, as I said, I felt like the last book was forced. That's one of the major down lay in series books. When the series has created a huge following, there would be many sides and opinions on the story. On the author's defense though, maybe she intended the ending with this in mind the whole time she's writing the book. I don't know if it's my trust issues clinging to me, BUT I felt like I was deceived into the ending haha! I'm reading so much into this. The POINT is the Descent is so FAR from the Taker. Jonathan, the love of Laney's life, the sun to her moon, the reason for her being, and she's mooning so much about him in the first book, then in the last it just abruptly changes and she realizes it's all a bloop? After 200 years of existence??? While reading I'm thinking what if she just lived her normal years, would she still have the same decision she had in the end? All these immortality thing makes me think a lot of questions for these folks! ANYWAY, I am not kidding when I say the whole "I denied myself from realizing who I really love" (spoiler she loves Adair) thing and JUST realizing it in the third book, and not even an inkling to it in the first or second book??? NOT buying it! IF she had those inclinations in the first and second book, then the whole thing is fairly acceptable. Anyway, I'm just rambling here.
I can't deny I'm in like with the writing of the book. Smart dialogues and fast paced for a slow setting. Very fast read too!
If you've read the book/series, READ on, because if you haven't, I don't think my next words will mean so much to you or make sense.
Anyway, as I said, I felt like the last book was forced. That's one of the major down lay in series books. When the series has created a huge following, there would be many sides and opinions on the story. On the author's defense though, maybe she intended the ending with this in mind the whole time she's writing the book. I don't know if it's my trust issues clinging to me, BUT I felt like I was deceived into the ending haha! I'm reading so much into this. The POINT is the Descent is so FAR from the Taker. Jonathan, the love of Laney's life, the sun to her moon, the reason for her being, and she's mooning so much about him in the first book, then in the last it just abruptly changes and she realizes it's all a bloop? After 200 years of existence??? While reading I'm thinking what if she just lived her normal years, would she still have the same decision she had in the end? All these immortality thing makes me think a lot of questions for these folks! ANYWAY, I am not kidding when I say the whole "I denied myself from realizing who I really love" (spoiler she loves Adair) thing and JUST realizing it in the third book, and not even an inkling to it in the first or second book??? NOT buying it! IF she had those inclinations in the first and second book, then the whole thing is fairly acceptable. Anyway, I'm just rambling here.
I can't deny I'm in like with the writing of the book. Smart dialogues and fast paced for a slow setting. Very fast read too!
November 19, 2013
Truly great books introduce characters into your life that seem as real as the people around you, characters that you’ll never forget. Starting with “The Taker,” Alma Katsu has brought to life just such intriguing and compelling characters, ones that I’ll be thinking about for a long time to come. After reading “The Descent,” the final installment in the trilogy, I have to say that I really hate to bid adieu to these characters and the world-building that was introduced in this last book.
Filled with the atmosphere and otherworldliness that permeated the first two books, “The Descent” brings to a satisfying and fitting conclusion one of the most original stories I’ve read in a long time. The premise was truly unique and the revelation near the book’s end was one I really didn’t see coming.
For anyone that’s thinking of giving this series a pass, please reconsider. I virtually devoured these books, especially the last two, and would recommend them to anyone who is looking for something unique and enthralling. You don’t run across books like this every day. No matter what’s up next for Alma Katsu, you can be sure I’ll be reading it, no matter what genre it’s in. Highly recommended.
Filled with the atmosphere and otherworldliness that permeated the first two books, “The Descent” brings to a satisfying and fitting conclusion one of the most original stories I’ve read in a long time. The premise was truly unique and the revelation near the book’s end was one I really didn’t see coming.
For anyone that’s thinking of giving this series a pass, please reconsider. I virtually devoured these books, especially the last two, and would recommend them to anyone who is looking for something unique and enthralling. You don’t run across books like this every day. No matter what’s up next for Alma Katsu, you can be sure I’ll be reading it, no matter what genre it’s in. Highly recommended.
April 22, 2015
Well that was not was I was expecting to happen at all! This was probably my least favorite of the three books because it didn't seem to mesh with the first two as well (plot and character development), but it was still an entertaining read and was generally a satisfying (if abrupt) conclusion to the trilogy.
The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.
The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.
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June 12, 2013Um 2014??? What happened to June 2013? I love this series it sneaks up in my thoughts every once in a while! I am so bummed : (
October 3, 2013
A satisfying ending to a tremendous trilogy. I immediately want to start the series over again and re-read them all.
January 8, 2014
Lanore Mcllvrae’s feelings for Adair have changed throughout the tumultuous centuries she’s known him. She’s feared him, loved him, been in awe of him, betrayed him and felt his powerful wrath. Now after 4 years apart she’s counting on him to help her rescue her first love and his adversary Jonathan who is trapped and being tortured in the Underworld. She’s rightfully wary of his reaction even though she’s promised to return to him, even though the last time they were together Adair professed his love for her and his promise to redeem himself in her eyes.
Adair’s long existence has come with many costs but it wasn’t until he fell in love with Lanny that he felt them all, felt the immoral and self-indulgence of his unworthy life and against all odds he will prove his merit. Now here she stands in front of him after 4 years absence and is begging him to aid her in helping his rival for her heart Jonathan. He really has no choice but to assist her to prove that he is a changed man.
Can love persevere the powerful unseen forces set against them?
Alma Katu’s epic, imaginative, dark adult fantasy love story is as calamitous at its end as it was in the beginning. Her visual and detailed narrative beautifully beckons of a formal time gone by and exquisitely tells the final chapters of her unmatched tale. Her characters continue to rule the pages with their debased and moral antics and its not just her stars that are unequaled, Adair for his immense presence and Lanny, for her power over him but also her co-stars who complete the story. The love scenes are more tender but no less intense and no less sensual. The novel relates enough past information to make it stand well on it’s own but to get full enjoyment and especially full understanding read the novels in order.
Alma thank you for this legendary journey I’m a better person for experiencing it and I can’t wait to see where you lead me to next time.
See our interview here-
http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/...
Adair’s long existence has come with many costs but it wasn’t until he fell in love with Lanny that he felt them all, felt the immoral and self-indulgence of his unworthy life and against all odds he will prove his merit. Now here she stands in front of him after 4 years absence and is begging him to aid her in helping his rival for her heart Jonathan. He really has no choice but to assist her to prove that he is a changed man.
Can love persevere the powerful unseen forces set against them?
Alma Katu’s epic, imaginative, dark adult fantasy love story is as calamitous at its end as it was in the beginning. Her visual and detailed narrative beautifully beckons of a formal time gone by and exquisitely tells the final chapters of her unmatched tale. Her characters continue to rule the pages with their debased and moral antics and its not just her stars that are unequaled, Adair for his immense presence and Lanny, for her power over him but also her co-stars who complete the story. The love scenes are more tender but no less intense and no less sensual. The novel relates enough past information to make it stand well on it’s own but to get full enjoyment and especially full understanding read the novels in order.
Alma thank you for this legendary journey I’m a better person for experiencing it and I can’t wait to see where you lead me to next time.
See our interview here-
http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/...
December 30, 2013
"The Descent" is the final book in Alma Katsu's the Taker trilogy. You definitely should read the first two books in the trilogy before getting to this book so that you can understand all of the in's and out's of the relationships between the various characters. I thought this was a really good and very surprising ending to this trilogy. I totally did not guess the ending and I absolutely love being surprised.
I did have to refresh my memory about what had happened in the previous books so I do recommend reading the first two books a little close to when you read this book. Whereas the previous two books had way more of a historical element to them, this book definitely fell more to the paranormal side of things. I wish that there was a little bit more of a historical element but in this book, it definitely works since you already got the historical background in the previous books.
By this point in time, the characters felt like old friends to me in this book. We know how Lanny and Adair work. We know their personalities and we get to see a little bit more in this book. The characters, especially Adair, seem to mature a lot in this book. Adair realizes that he needs to do something much different than what he was doing in order We get to find out a lot more about the underworld, which was super interesting to me.
Overall, I thought that this was a good ending to a good trilogy!
I did have to refresh my memory about what had happened in the previous books so I do recommend reading the first two books a little close to when you read this book. Whereas the previous two books had way more of a historical element to them, this book definitely fell more to the paranormal side of things. I wish that there was a little bit more of a historical element but in this book, it definitely works since you already got the historical background in the previous books.
By this point in time, the characters felt like old friends to me in this book. We know how Lanny and Adair work. We know their personalities and we get to see a little bit more in this book. The characters, especially Adair, seem to mature a lot in this book. Adair realizes that he needs to do something much different than what he was doing in order We get to find out a lot more about the underworld, which was super interesting to me.
Overall, I thought that this was a good ending to a good trilogy!
October 7, 2015
This is a review of the entire trilogy. While the story had great potential, there were some parts that ruined it for me. The first book starts out as kind of a fantasy/mystery where you are wondering “Who is this girl that shows up out of the woods covered in blood and claiming to have just killed her true love?” Learning the history of these pseudo-vampires (for lack of a better term) is fascinating, but it is very dark and just keeps getting more twisted the more you read, especially into the second and third books. I think had I not bought them all at the same time (hey, they were on sale!), I would have stopped after The Taker. I don’t consider myself a prude, but the sex is both gratuitous and disturbing (and just keeps getting worse!). Sex is used as a punishment and there are several instances of rape. Not “rape culture,” but actual attack a girl on the street, rape her until she is unrecognizable and leave her for dead. And yet somehow at the end of the trilogy we are supposed to find sympathy for the character that commits these acts? Maybe the author was going for a modern, fantasy Wuthering Heights where the only thing the characters have going for them is the love they have for each other. But I didn’t like Wuthering Heights and I sure as hell didn’t like this. Hey, Alma Katsu! Rape is not sexy. The end.
February 15, 2015
Highly anticipated, "The Descent," the third and final chapter in the "The Taker" series, a most spectacular series of the paranormal genre, and one I highly recommend to all. It's been a most amazing and unbelievable journey as we followed the immortal lives of Adair, Lanny, and Luke. There were so many twists and turns in each novel, some so unexpected and surprising, some even shocking; each time never knowing which direction the author would take. An exceptionally well written novel that includes a cast of multidimensional characters that you'll desperately love or hate. In the end, a brilliant trilogy that, sadly, has come to an end. A huge thank you to Ms. Katsu for a story that I'll never forget. Definitely a series that'll be read several times over. Very sad the story has ended.
October 12, 2013
As hard as it is to bid farewell to these characters, Alma Katsu delivers a truly incredible conclusion to her epic 'Taker' trilogy. 'The Descent' pulls you in like a riptide, dragging you down into the depths of the Underworld as Lanny embarks on a surprising journey, with some help from her Adair. If you thought nothing could shock and thrill you more than 'The Taker' and 'The Reckoning,' just wait for the world to be turned on its head with 'The Descent.' The return of some familiar faces, a glimpse into Adair's mysterious past, and a twist you won't see coming...this book will blow your mind.
March 23, 2014
Read my full review: http://bit.ly/1poAY7y
My opinion: Hands down, this book was my favorite in the series. It flew by for me and I ended up reading it in one sitting. I found this to be the most twisted and dark of the trilogy. As this is the last in the trilogy, I enjoyed how the author wrapped up the storyline and the characters.
Would I recommend? : I always recommend this series. I thoroughly enjoyed it. On that note, this is a trilogy that MUST be read in order! Otherwise, the reader will be lost. Each book plays beautifully off one another.
My opinion: Hands down, this book was my favorite in the series. It flew by for me and I ended up reading it in one sitting. I found this to be the most twisted and dark of the trilogy. As this is the last in the trilogy, I enjoyed how the author wrapped up the storyline and the characters.
Would I recommend? : I always recommend this series. I thoroughly enjoyed it. On that note, this is a trilogy that MUST be read in order! Otherwise, the reader will be lost. Each book plays beautifully off one another.
September 12, 2016
I enjoyed elements of this a lot more than the first 2 books in the series. But this is a weak finale, highlighting plot holes and misused characters that could have made the series so much more complex and interesting. This just felt so rushed and even more obnoxious than the firs two. A rather disappointing end.
July 17, 2014
Nice twist ending to the interesting trilogy. Better second half of the book than the first. Happy to have finally finished as I was looking forward to this last in the series since I finished the reckoning. Enjoy the ride fellow Taker fans.
May 7, 2025
I really enjoyed the story line in this trilogy. They were a bit more sexually driven than I prefer in my reading but I still really liked them ~
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