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The Taking #3
Collide
Military legacy Ari Alexander has survived alien spies, WWIV, and a changing world order. But when the new leader of Earth uses Jackson—the only boy she's ever let herself care about—to get to her, Ari has no choice but to surrender.
To free Jackson, she agrees to travel to the national bases to train others to fight. What she discovers is a land riddled with dying people. Ari has the power to heal by turning the fighters into aliens—half-breeds like her. If she succeeds, together, they have a chance at overthrowing the alien leader, Zeus. But if she fails, everyone she holds dear will be wiped away forever.
Once again, everything Ari’s come to believe is thrown into question. In a world of uncertainty, loyalties are tested, lies are uncovered, and no one can be trusted. If Ari and Jackson have any hope at survival and at preserving a life for the future, they must fight the final war with their eyes wide open.
To free Jackson, she agrees to travel to the national bases to train others to fight. What she discovers is a land riddled with dying people. Ari has the power to heal by turning the fighters into aliens—half-breeds like her. If she succeeds, together, they have a chance at overthrowing the alien leader, Zeus. But if she fails, everyone she holds dear will be wiped away forever.
Once again, everything Ari’s come to believe is thrown into question. In a world of uncertainty, loyalties are tested, lies are uncovered, and no one can be trusted. If Ari and Jackson have any hope at survival and at preserving a life for the future, they must fight the final war with their eyes wide open.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2015
41 people are currently reading
3259 people want to read
About the author
Melissa West
16 books1,204 followersMelissa West is the USA TODAY bestselling author of swoony Southern romance and YA sci-fi romance,
all with lots of kissing. Because who doesn't like kissing?. She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction.
She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and a M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University.
Connect with Melissa at www.melissawestauthor.com.
She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and a M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University.
Connect with Melissa at www.melissawestauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
February 9, 2015
Win: Grand Prize: An annotated copy of GRAVITY, GRAVITY T-shirt, signed bookmarks, Season 1 of Roswell, $20 Amazon GC (US only, International winner will receive only $20 GC)
Ends: March 1st 2015
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*********************************************************
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Melissa West, Entangled Publishing, LLC, and NetGalley.)
“So then it’s real.”
He turns to me. “What?”
“War. It’s here.”
This was a good end to the series, and I was happy with the way things turned out.
“I refuse to just lie down and accept our fate. We have to fight.”
Ali was strong and determined in this book, and at points it seemed like she was fighting the war all on her own! She took on so much responsibility, and somehow managed to live up to expectations against the odds.
I lunge forward, sweeping her feet so her head slams hard on the floor, and then I’m over her, my face in her face, my gun pressed into her forehead. “Bang,” I say.
Some of the other characters in this were just totally nuts though, Kelvin really seemed to have lost his marbles, and I really couldn’t work out why on earth he had done to Sydia in Ari’s absence!
“I know that we’re going to the surface. A myriad of thoughts races through my mind. What will we find? What will we see? Nothing? Sydia destroyed? Or everything? More bodies than ground?
The storyline in this was good, although I did find the pace a little slow. The story very gradually built up to the big event, and there were several problems for Ari and the crew to work through, as well as riddles to be solved, and traitors to be uncovered. I wasn’t 100% convinced by some of the plans they came up with, but thankfully they seemed to work out alright in the end!
“I’m so sorry for your loss, and there is nothing I can say to ease the pain. But if you hope to survive this war, you have to be ready to make drastic and difficult decisions. Now.”
The romance in this was once again sweet, although I couldn’t quite believe the er… position Ari and Jackson managed to get caught in! Talk about embarrassing!
“Dad stops, Mom narrowly crashing into his back, and they’re both staring at us, and I’m suddenly very aware that I am still their teenaged daughter. And I’m lying on top of a boy. A boy without clothes on.
Forget the war, I’m going to die tight here and now. Death by parental glare.”
The ending to this had lots of action, and I was shocked by the number of deaths! It was good to see the way peace finally came about though!
8.5 out of 10
“Maybe it’s not about sides. Maybe it’s about the best people – the best kind – surviving. Maybe it’s about the birth of a new species, one that isn’t so fixated on other and is more focused on the best life for all.”
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Starting Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Februrary now? I can't wait that long! I really need this book!
March 15, 2014
8/15/13
With the way that Hover ended...I kinda need this book in my hands as soon as possible...
Oh! My thoughts on the cover...I picture two planets on it, and the color being some shade of green (Seems to fit the color scheme to me).
3/15/14
THE COVER AND SYNOPSIS IS FINALLY OUT!!!!
I'M SO EXCITED THAT I NEED THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS
...ASAP
With the way that Hover ended...I kinda need this book in my hands as soon as possible...
Oh! My thoughts on the cover...I picture two planets on it, and the color being some shade of green (Seems to fit the color scheme to me).
3/15/14
THE COVER AND SYNOPSIS IS FINALLY OUT!!!!
I'M SO EXCITED THAT I NEED THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS
...ASAP
Read
December 2, 2014For book updates, giveaways, sneak peeks at upcoming books, and general awesomeness, join my newsletter here!
I just want to say I LOVE THIS BOOK, and I so hope you will, too! It's a perfect blend of GRAVITY and HOVER, with the sort of climax that will have your heart racing. Can't wait to share!
I just want to say I LOVE THIS BOOK, and I so hope you will, too! It's a perfect blend of GRAVITY and HOVER, with the sort of climax that will have your heart racing. Can't wait to share!
January 25, 2015
I dreamed last night that I've got an invite for cover reveal for Collide. Okay, I think I need a break.
Review to come!
Review to come!
February 22, 2015
Collide Review on K-Books
"I told you. I go where you go. I will never leave you."
There are no words to describe my excitement when Melissa sent me a early copy of Collide, the final installment of the breathtaking The Taking Series. I fell head over heels with this series, and Melissa, when Entangled Teen sent me an ARC of Gravity back in 2012 before it's release. It was not long after I'd fallen head-over-heels in love with Jennifer Armentrout's Lux series and I just couldn't get enough of alien books... actually I still can't. Gravity took my breath away and I fell in love with Melissa's amazing writing. I definitely had a new favourite author for life. Since that moment I have been dying to get my hands on the final installment, to find out what was going to happen to my favourite characters. I can honestly say Collide is one of the best series finales I have ever read. Melissa sure knows what her fans want and she delivers it expertly.
Ari's life has changed a hell of a lot since she was that littel girl in Gravity. Finally faced with the war between the humans and the aliens Ari finds herself stuck in the middle. Half-breed Ari needs to find which side to fight on.. or discover whether both species can survive together. Ari must fight with both human and alien in order to save her love, Jackson and get to the end of the war with Zeus... not everyone can survive and sacrifices must be made. Can Ari and Jackson find a way to survive and be together or will the war tear them apart? One thing is for certain... nothing will ever be the same.
Collide was one of the most epic and phenomenal books I have ever read. Everything in the previous two books had been leading up to this and I just couldn't handle the excitement of finding out how everything would end and play out. Collide was fast-paced and action-packed and I was sat on the edge of my seat dying to turn the pages faster and faster so I could find out how it would end. It was phenomenal and amazing. Ari and Jackson were as awesome and wonderful as they were in the previous two books and I couldn't get enough of them... they are just so freaking adorable and all I kept thinking was that things better end up well for them!
Melissa West has secured her place as one of my favourite authors of all time. She is just utterly phenomenal at her job. I have had the pleasure of reading her NA Contemporary books as well and as utterly fantastic as they are I do think her place is in YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Paranormal whatever you want to call it because as great as she is with her characters and romance she is just 100% better at her action and story-lines. She is made for this genre. She is definitely on my auto-buy list. No matter what she writes as long as it's Melissa I will be reading it.
Collide was everything I could have wanted and more. It was utter perfection. It was such a roller coaster ride. It broke my heart and had me in complete tears one minute and then full of hope the other. It was just so amazing. It's filled to the brim with breathtaking romance and heart stopping action. I absolutely loved everything about this book. I cannot praise this series more. It just has that something special that no matter what words you say it will never truly explain how amazing this series is. It's a must-read.
The Taking Series is definitely one of my favourite series of all time and it is one that I will read over and over again. It is utterly phenomenal and a must-read for absolutely everyone. Go read this book right now!
"And no matter what, no matter what happens, I want you to know that you are the best thing to ever happen to me. I love you."
"I told you. I go where you go. I will never leave you."
There are no words to describe my excitement when Melissa sent me a early copy of Collide, the final installment of the breathtaking The Taking Series. I fell head over heels with this series, and Melissa, when Entangled Teen sent me an ARC of Gravity back in 2012 before it's release. It was not long after I'd fallen head-over-heels in love with Jennifer Armentrout's Lux series and I just couldn't get enough of alien books... actually I still can't. Gravity took my breath away and I fell in love with Melissa's amazing writing. I definitely had a new favourite author for life. Since that moment I have been dying to get my hands on the final installment, to find out what was going to happen to my favourite characters. I can honestly say Collide is one of the best series finales I have ever read. Melissa sure knows what her fans want and she delivers it expertly.
Ari's life has changed a hell of a lot since she was that littel girl in Gravity. Finally faced with the war between the humans and the aliens Ari finds herself stuck in the middle. Half-breed Ari needs to find which side to fight on.. or discover whether both species can survive together. Ari must fight with both human and alien in order to save her love, Jackson and get to the end of the war with Zeus... not everyone can survive and sacrifices must be made. Can Ari and Jackson find a way to survive and be together or will the war tear them apart? One thing is for certain... nothing will ever be the same.
Collide was one of the most epic and phenomenal books I have ever read. Everything in the previous two books had been leading up to this and I just couldn't handle the excitement of finding out how everything would end and play out. Collide was fast-paced and action-packed and I was sat on the edge of my seat dying to turn the pages faster and faster so I could find out how it would end. It was phenomenal and amazing. Ari and Jackson were as awesome and wonderful as they were in the previous two books and I couldn't get enough of them... they are just so freaking adorable and all I kept thinking was that things better end up well for them!
Melissa West has secured her place as one of my favourite authors of all time. She is just utterly phenomenal at her job. I have had the pleasure of reading her NA Contemporary books as well and as utterly fantastic as they are I do think her place is in YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Paranormal whatever you want to call it because as great as she is with her characters and romance she is just 100% better at her action and story-lines. She is made for this genre. She is definitely on my auto-buy list. No matter what she writes as long as it's Melissa I will be reading it.
Collide was everything I could have wanted and more. It was utter perfection. It was such a roller coaster ride. It broke my heart and had me in complete tears one minute and then full of hope the other. It was just so amazing. It's filled to the brim with breathtaking romance and heart stopping action. I absolutely loved everything about this book. I cannot praise this series more. It just has that something special that no matter what words you say it will never truly explain how amazing this series is. It's a must-read.
The Taking Series is definitely one of my favourite series of all time and it is one that I will read over and over again. It is utterly phenomenal and a must-read for absolutely everyone. Go read this book right now!
"And no matter what, no matter what happens, I want you to know that you are the best thing to ever happen to me. I love you."
June 21, 2015
A fantastic end to this series!
Collide is the third (and final…AHHH) book of The Taking trilogy by Melissa West and I have to admit, I have mixed feelings about having this in my possession. Mostly happy because now I know what has happened with Ari, Jackson, and the rest of the group…but also sad because this series is officially complete. **Note: If you have not yet read books one and two (um…what are you waiting for) you will probably want to stop reading here. I don’t usually post anything spoilery but I also don’t want to ruin anything for you.
Collide picks up right about where Hover left off with Jackson missing and Ari in the hands of those she can’t really trust. As Ari wakes up, she realizes just what she is facing. Zeus has Jackson and she has no idea what she is going to do to save him. You’re probably going to hate me for what I’m about to say but….I can’t really say much more about what happens next.
I KNOW…that really sucks!!! BUT – I do this for you because I really don’t want to give anything away. Just trust me when I say that you will love how West brings everything back together.
What I will tell you is that now that Ari is back with her parents and her friends and it falls to her to train the people to fight against Zeus and the other aliens. As she slowly discovers, they don’t really have a chance unless she makes them half-breeds like her. As she and the rest of the crew go around trying to make a difference, Ari realizes what is really going on with the new leader of Earth and Zeus.
West does a wonderful job of tying up the remainder of this story and showing us how things will wrap up for these characters. I can’t lie…there is some heartache but it helped move the story and these characters forward. West made me feel just about every emotion as I was flipping the pages in this story and I couldn’t put it down because I love these characters so much and had to know what was going to happen.
These are some of my favorite characters because I love how tough Ari is and she is smart too. Despite her toughness she has hit this place in her relationship with Jackson that she realizes she needs him and will do whatever she has to in order to be with him. Jackson is his normal swoony self and he, of course is trying to protect her from the dangers that she seems to just throw herself into. I loved seeing how their relationship changed through Hover into Collide…they both have gone through some big changes and come to some major realizations and it is reflected in their relationship and feelings for each other.
This is a great sci-fi series that takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions while tying in action, swoons, wonderful characters, and a fantastic story. If you haven’t started this series yet, definitely consider it and if you have and are just waiting for this book to release, grab this as soon as you can. You definitely won’t be disappointed with the remainder of this story.
To Melissa West I say:
Thank you to the author for the review copy!
Collide is the third (and final…AHHH) book of The Taking trilogy by Melissa West and I have to admit, I have mixed feelings about having this in my possession. Mostly happy because now I know what has happened with Ari, Jackson, and the rest of the group…but also sad because this series is officially complete. **Note: If you have not yet read books one and two (um…what are you waiting for) you will probably want to stop reading here. I don’t usually post anything spoilery but I also don’t want to ruin anything for you.
Collide picks up right about where Hover left off with Jackson missing and Ari in the hands of those she can’t really trust. As Ari wakes up, she realizes just what she is facing. Zeus has Jackson and she has no idea what she is going to do to save him. You’re probably going to hate me for what I’m about to say but….I can’t really say much more about what happens next.
I KNOW…that really sucks!!! BUT – I do this for you because I really don’t want to give anything away. Just trust me when I say that you will love how West brings everything back together.
What I will tell you is that now that Ari is back with her parents and her friends and it falls to her to train the people to fight against Zeus and the other aliens. As she slowly discovers, they don’t really have a chance unless she makes them half-breeds like her. As she and the rest of the crew go around trying to make a difference, Ari realizes what is really going on with the new leader of Earth and Zeus.
West does a wonderful job of tying up the remainder of this story and showing us how things will wrap up for these characters. I can’t lie…there is some heartache but it helped move the story and these characters forward. West made me feel just about every emotion as I was flipping the pages in this story and I couldn’t put it down because I love these characters so much and had to know what was going to happen.
These are some of my favorite characters because I love how tough Ari is and she is smart too. Despite her toughness she has hit this place in her relationship with Jackson that she realizes she needs him and will do whatever she has to in order to be with him. Jackson is his normal swoony self and he, of course is trying to protect her from the dangers that she seems to just throw herself into. I loved seeing how their relationship changed through Hover into Collide…they both have gone through some big changes and come to some major realizations and it is reflected in their relationship and feelings for each other.
This is a great sci-fi series that takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotions while tying in action, swoons, wonderful characters, and a fantastic story. If you haven’t started this series yet, definitely consider it and if you have and are just waiting for this book to release, grab this as soon as you can. You definitely won’t be disappointed with the remainder of this story.
To Melissa West I say:
Thank you to the author for the review copy!
February 2, 2015
A thrilling conclusion to the series, Collide was a fantastic YA read. It had secrets, betrayals, and a final battle that didn't hold back. I thought it was a great way to end the Taking series.
Ari continued to grow stronger and smarter in this book. She went up against tyrants and refused to give up no matter the circumstances. I already liked her and this book just reinforced how much of a badass she was.
Jackson was wonderful as always. He was strong, yet sweet, and determined to always be there for Ari. I just adored him.
The romance was perfect. Ari and Jackson are so great together, stronger as a team and always supportive of each other. I was happy with how things turned out with them.
The plot moved quickly, keeping me interested all the way through. There were plenty of thrills along the way, a few surprises, and, of course, the epic final battle. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was perfect.
Collide was an excellent end to the series and it definitely didn't disappoint. YA lovers, this is a series worth checking out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Ari continued to grow stronger and smarter in this book. She went up against tyrants and refused to give up no matter the circumstances. I already liked her and this book just reinforced how much of a badass she was.
Jackson was wonderful as always. He was strong, yet sweet, and determined to always be there for Ari. I just adored him.
The romance was perfect. Ari and Jackson are so great together, stronger as a team and always supportive of each other. I was happy with how things turned out with them.
The plot moved quickly, keeping me interested all the way through. There were plenty of thrills along the way, a few surprises, and, of course, the epic final battle. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was perfect.
Collide was an excellent end to the series and it definitely didn't disappoint. YA lovers, this is a series worth checking out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
February 5, 2015
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
Actual rating - 4.25
I liked Ari in the previous books, as she was a strong and brave character. She was exactly the same in this one.
I thought the second book in the series was lacking action, but this one had plenty. There wasn't one time where I felt bored, which was great!
I really liked the epilogue. It was nice to see how things were ten years later.
Overall, A really good ending to the series.
Actual rating - 4.25
I liked Ari in the previous books, as she was a strong and brave character. She was exactly the same in this one.
I thought the second book in the series was lacking action, but this one had plenty. There wasn't one time where I felt bored, which was great!
I really liked the epilogue. It was nice to see how things were ten years later.
Overall, A really good ending to the series.
July 18, 2020
Wow this was a rollercoaster. I really enjoyed the last book. It is always hard to say goodbye. I’m going to miss them. The war was epic. I really enjoyed it and I was totally in the moment. So it deserves 5 stars ⭐️.
I’m sad that so many of the team died. Everytime that I one died it broke my heart.. but hey it’s a war so.. it was stil painful.
I’m also so happy that we could read that Ari and Jackson have KIDS together. ahh that part is just the cutest thing ever. I mean they truely love each other. I wish we also could read what happend to the rest of them and were they are at their live right know. But I really enjoyed it! I have to read more books like this haha.
PS: I would be able to read this book much quicker if I wasn’t working 🙄.
PSS: But I’m totally advicing to read this book. If you like aliens and some epic action. This book is for you! (Would totally read it again 💕)
I’m sad that so many of the team died. Everytime that I one died it broke my heart.. but hey it’s a war so.. it was stil painful.
I’m also so happy that we could read that Ari and Jackson have KIDS together. ahh that part is just the cutest thing ever. I mean they truely love each other. I wish we also could read what happend to the rest of them and were they are at their live right know. But I really enjoyed it! I have to read more books like this haha.
PS: I would be able to read this book much quicker if I wasn’t working 🙄.
PSS: But I’m totally advicing to read this book. If you like aliens and some epic action. This book is for you! (Would totally read it again 💕)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2015
2.5 stars
Ari has come back to Earth and finds it quite different from when she left, Earth has a new leader, who uses Jackson to threaten Ari so she will follow his orders.
I finished reading this book feeling that there were lots of loose ends. I expected more of it, but I don't think it actually delivered.
I felt, while reading it, that there were unnecessary plot twists that tried to deepen the plot but didn't quite get there. For example . I also felt there were some issues regarding the evolution of the characters, not of the protagonists like Ari and Jackson, but with Ari's father , and her friend Law.
The book felt rushed, I would have like a deeper development of the plot and it's characters.
Ari has come back to Earth and finds it quite different from when she left, Earth has a new leader, who uses Jackson to threaten Ari so she will follow his orders.
I finished reading this book feeling that there were lots of loose ends. I expected more of it, but I don't think it actually delivered.
I felt, while reading it, that there were unnecessary plot twists that tried to deepen the plot but didn't quite get there. For example . I also felt there were some issues regarding the evolution of the characters, not of the protagonists like Ari and Jackson, but with Ari's father , and her friend Law.
The book felt rushed, I would have like a deeper development of the plot and it's characters.
May 12, 2016
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MY THOUGHTS
This is such an amazing series and I was not disappointed in this conclusion!
This takes place directly after the events in Hover. Ari is back on Earth and Earth happens to have a new leader, who is borderline a dictator. The new leader is intent on the fact that Ari knows Zeus's plans to destroy the human race and uses Jackson to torture her. But Ari is intent on saving Jackson and finding a peaceful war to save the human race, or she will lose everyone she loves.
I have a huge love for alien books and the world-building in this series is phenomenal! It not as much in this book, as this book takes place entirely on Earth, but the idea of the Ancients and this dystopian futuristic Earth is so vividly created.
Also, the characters in this series are so well-developed! It's been awhile since I've read the first book, but Ari and basically any of the characters, have grown so much since that first book and it is both amazing and heartbreaking! I love Ari and how strong she has become. I love how loyal she is to her friends and family. I also love how great many of the supporting characters were.
The romance was also really great! I love Ari and Jackson together and I rooted for them from the start. We still get to see how much they loved each other in this book, without distracting from the plot.
My only issues with this book is the epilogue. It's not a bad epilogue, but it's really cheesy and it's the cliche epilogue you get with most conclusions of series. Again, not bad, I just could've been fine without it.
IN CONCLUSION
If you love this series, I honestly don't see why you wouldn't read this one! It's a great conclusion and just as good as the other books! I hope to see more by Melissa West!
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MY THOUGHTS
This is such an amazing series and I was not disappointed in this conclusion!
This takes place directly after the events in Hover. Ari is back on Earth and Earth happens to have a new leader, who is borderline a dictator. The new leader is intent on the fact that Ari knows Zeus's plans to destroy the human race and uses Jackson to torture her. But Ari is intent on saving Jackson and finding a peaceful war to save the human race, or she will lose everyone she loves.
I have a huge love for alien books and the world-building in this series is phenomenal! It not as much in this book, as this book takes place entirely on Earth, but the idea of the Ancients and this dystopian futuristic Earth is so vividly created.
Also, the characters in this series are so well-developed! It's been awhile since I've read the first book, but Ari and basically any of the characters, have grown so much since that first book and it is both amazing and heartbreaking! I love Ari and how strong she has become. I love how loyal she is to her friends and family. I also love how great many of the supporting characters were.
The romance was also really great! I love Ari and Jackson together and I rooted for them from the start. We still get to see how much they loved each other in this book, without distracting from the plot.
My only issues with this book is the epilogue. It's not a bad epilogue, but it's really cheesy and it's the cliche epilogue you get with most conclusions of series. Again, not bad, I just could've been fine without it.
IN CONCLUSION
If you love this series, I honestly don't see why you wouldn't read this one! It's a great conclusion and just as good as the other books! I hope to see more by Melissa West!
February 13, 2015
What I Loved: Jackson. *drops mic and exits stage left*
JUST KIDDING!
But seriously, after that roundhouse kick in the feels that was the ending of HOVER--something I may never truly recover from---I NEEDED COLLIDE to have a heaping dose of kickassery with an extra helping of swoon. Melissa West gave me that AND all of the answers I was looking for!
I'm going to miss these characters but this is an action-packed, take no prisoners, fantastic (and romantic) ending to THE TAKING series!
JUST KIDDING!
But seriously, after that roundhouse kick in the feels that was the ending of HOVER--something I may never truly recover from---I NEEDED COLLIDE to have a heaping dose of kickassery with an extra helping of swoon. Melissa West gave me that AND all of the answers I was looking for!
I'm going to miss these characters but this is an action-packed, take no prisoners, fantastic (and romantic) ending to THE TAKING series!
February 3, 2015
I received this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
What an ending. For such a small finale, there was a lot of action and information into this book. But it was done with such a finesse that I didn't even notice until I finished this novel.
Ari is one tough cookie. The events and trials that she goes through in this series, but especially in this particular novel would end a grown man. But somehow, with her inner strength along with the help of everyone around her she is able to keep fighting for her main goal to whatever costs it takes.
And there is so much death in this book! I couldn't believe how many characters were killed off! Such a horrible experience, especially because I really grew attached to them.
Toward the end of this novel I really felt like I was reading "Divergent"... I dunno, there were just a lot of similarities between the two. Thankfully those particular scenes were over quickly and it went back to feeling like The Taking series so I wasn't too worried.
Melissa West did a fantastic job with this book. She didn't hold anything back - believe me. I am so glad I finally got to see how this ended. Such a bittersweet feeling, ending a series that is this great, but she did it very well and I didn't throw the book against the wall like some other series I can think of.
So glad I got this early and found out the ending. If you haven't read this series yet, you should grab it right now. Especially since all three novels are out now, because West has some pretty horrible cliffhangers that will leave you wanting more.
What an ending. For such a small finale, there was a lot of action and information into this book. But it was done with such a finesse that I didn't even notice until I finished this novel.
Ari is one tough cookie. The events and trials that she goes through in this series, but especially in this particular novel would end a grown man. But somehow, with her inner strength along with the help of everyone around her she is able to keep fighting for her main goal to whatever costs it takes.
And there is so much death in this book! I couldn't believe how many characters were killed off! Such a horrible experience, especially because I really grew attached to them.
Toward the end of this novel I really felt like I was reading "Divergent"... I dunno, there were just a lot of similarities between the two. Thankfully those particular scenes were over quickly and it went back to feeling like The Taking series so I wasn't too worried.
Melissa West did a fantastic job with this book. She didn't hold anything back - believe me. I am so glad I finally got to see how this ended. Such a bittersweet feeling, ending a series that is this great, but she did it very well and I didn't throw the book against the wall like some other series I can think of.
So glad I got this early and found out the ending. If you haven't read this series yet, you should grab it right now. Especially since all three novels are out now, because West has some pretty horrible cliffhangers that will leave you wanting more.
August 12, 2015
Wow! What a ending to an amazing series! The wonder of a new world in Gravity, to the confusion in Hover, to the realisation in Collide. In this series, nothing was as it seems, allies were enemies, enemies were allies. Your whole concept of good and bad was twisted over in this book. Ari and Jackson were there through it all. Ari was so strong, but she didn't know it. She respected other people the way she wanted to respect other people. She was reckless to a fault, but she knew it and in the end she only got stronger. Jackson was the pillar of support, the one always trusting her when she couldn't trust herself. Together they were stronger then ever. The other people who died all made a difference to their lives. Mami, Emmy, her mother, Gretchen, Naomi, Mitch, Myers. Amazing people who stood up for what was right against all odds. This book was about standing up for what you believe in, no matter the cost, working hard to get somewhere but, then realising its all really up to that one moment when everything changes. I loved this book and I loved this series. Everyone please read it cause it deserves to be read
May 12, 2015
DNF at ~65%.
My rating: 0.5 stars
Dear plot,
I have to admit that it's hard to get to your reader, if you've got only 240 pages to work your magic. BUT it is absolutely possible.
Using 200 of these 240 pages to let your heroine constantly dream/think/talk/exist only for or only about her chosen love-interest, makes it hard though. Trying to mediate some actual actions in your remaining 40 pages was a nearly impossible job.
And what can I say....you failed.
So thanks for nothing.
Sincerely, your reader.
My rating: 0.5 stars
Dear plot,
I have to admit that it's hard to get to your reader, if you've got only 240 pages to work your magic. BUT it is absolutely possible.
Using 200 of these 240 pages to let your heroine constantly dream/think/talk/exist only for or only about her chosen love-interest, makes it hard though. Trying to mediate some actual actions in your remaining 40 pages was a nearly impossible job.
And what can I say....you failed.
So thanks for nothing.
Sincerely, your reader.
February 17, 2015
3.5/5
I have been following this series ever since the release of Gravity back in 2012. I've grown to love and cherish these characters, but I was ready for the villains to be taken down in Collide. I went into the book, both with feelings of excitement and sadness for finishing this series. Ultimately, Melissa West ended this series on a good note and I am pleased with the way things ended.
The character growth in this series was phenomenal. I started off feeling rather indifferent to the protagonist, Ari, but over the course of the books, she has to started to rub off me in a good way. In Collide, you can tell that Ari was much stronger and much more badass than she ever was. I loved how strong and brave she remained throughout everything. She was, however, no superwoman. She faced death on almost a daily basis, and I honestly don't know how she dealt with it all. Her raw emotions during her scenes of grief were intense and reached to me in waves. I had a hard time not wanting to bawl my eyes out during this book Those turbulent events, however, served a purpose in her growth as an individual and I believe it helped her real strength emerge. Alongside Ari was her amazing boyfriend, Jackson. When I first read Gravity, I had some issues with Jackson. I actually didn't like him very much, but of course, like Ari, I have developed a lot of love and respect for him. He was downright swoony in this book and I'm happy to say that Jackson is one of my favorite male characters. He and Ari's relationship was sweet and one that was based on mutual respect. I loved how Jackson never put Ari down and that he supported her whatever her decision was. The swoony moments between the two of them were what gave me a sense of hope throughout Collide.
The villains in this series have always been wretched and truly despicable. I loved hating them, but I also wanted them to finally be taken down. I was also glad to see the role that Ari's parents played in this installment. I always appreciate it when the parents play as crucial of a part in the plot as the main character. As far as the plot went, it was intense in every way. From the start of the book, the reader is thrust into the midst of action and every time I thought I could take a breather, something crazy would happen and it would stress me out. I was honestly worried for the safety of these characters. Plus, Melissa West did not hold back with the body count and I was so nervous by the end. That being said, I was rather disappointed by the final battle. The book just kept building up to this epic fight with Jackson's grandfather and I wanted to watch him suffer, but the climax was a bit of a let-down. I don't think I got what I really wanted out of it. I also had some issues with the overly fast pacing of the book. Regardless, these issues didn't entirely tarnish my experience with Collide and I enjoyed the book overall.
The Taking series is one that I'm glad I checked out. If you enjoy action-packed sci-fi books with strong characters and a sweet romance, I highly recommend this series.
I have been following this series ever since the release of Gravity back in 2012. I've grown to love and cherish these characters, but I was ready for the villains to be taken down in Collide. I went into the book, both with feelings of excitement and sadness for finishing this series. Ultimately, Melissa West ended this series on a good note and I am pleased with the way things ended.
The character growth in this series was phenomenal. I started off feeling rather indifferent to the protagonist, Ari, but over the course of the books, she has to started to rub off me in a good way. In Collide, you can tell that Ari was much stronger and much more badass than she ever was. I loved how strong and brave she remained throughout everything. She was, however, no superwoman. She faced death on almost a daily basis, and I honestly don't know how she dealt with it all. Her raw emotions during her scenes of grief were intense and reached to me in waves. I had a hard time not wanting to bawl my eyes out during this book Those turbulent events, however, served a purpose in her growth as an individual and I believe it helped her real strength emerge. Alongside Ari was her amazing boyfriend, Jackson. When I first read Gravity, I had some issues with Jackson. I actually didn't like him very much, but of course, like Ari, I have developed a lot of love and respect for him. He was downright swoony in this book and I'm happy to say that Jackson is one of my favorite male characters. He and Ari's relationship was sweet and one that was based on mutual respect. I loved how Jackson never put Ari down and that he supported her whatever her decision was. The swoony moments between the two of them were what gave me a sense of hope throughout Collide.
The villains in this series have always been wretched and truly despicable. I loved hating them, but I also wanted them to finally be taken down. I was also glad to see the role that Ari's parents played in this installment. I always appreciate it when the parents play as crucial of a part in the plot as the main character. As far as the plot went, it was intense in every way. From the start of the book, the reader is thrust into the midst of action and every time I thought I could take a breather, something crazy would happen and it would stress me out. I was honestly worried for the safety of these characters. Plus, Melissa West did not hold back with the body count and I was so nervous by the end. That being said, I was rather disappointed by the final battle. The book just kept building up to this epic fight with Jackson's grandfather and I wanted to watch him suffer, but the climax was a bit of a let-down. I don't think I got what I really wanted out of it. I also had some issues with the overly fast pacing of the book. Regardless, these issues didn't entirely tarnish my experience with Collide and I enjoyed the book overall.
The Taking series is one that I'm glad I checked out. If you enjoy action-packed sci-fi books with strong characters and a sweet romance, I highly recommend this series.
March 7, 2015
We are The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club, to know more about this book, go to the post in our website:
Collide (The Taking #3) by Melissa West
If you are interested, you can visit our website:
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club's Review:
Rate: 5 stars
Review:
Collide is the perfect ending for this extraterrestrial series. I love Melissa's world, the battle, Ari's character and Jackson's and their love story. It's impossible to not be devastated by the ending of this series, but as a fan I feel like this is the kind of tribute that The Taking deserved.
I have to confess that it's been a while since I read the first books, so at first I felt a bit out of place. However, I kept reading all started to make sense and I found myself even more invested in the story. I remember finishing the second book like "Oh my God, this can't be happening" and when I started it I was a bit worried just by that last thought. But I shouldn't have worried so much.
All the known characters on the series are there in the last book. Some of them die and we get to meet new ones and it's even more heartbreaking than the other two books. The epic battle we have been waiting is everything I have expected. I found myself terrified by what would do Zeus and not knowing what was going to happen was the worst part! So I understood Ari more than ever.
Ari and Jackson grow as a couple. Their relationship is even more intense and you can see how amazing they are together. They work together and they fight for a better future, to defend the humans and the Ancients and to defeat Zeus once and for all.
I have to confess that I am madly in love with Jackson. He's definitely the perfect book boyfriend! And he makes the reader swoon more than a couple of times throughout the story.
The ending of the series is simply perfect and romantic. Everything a fan would expect from a series like this.
Filled with action, love, friendship and an epic battle that will decide the fate of life on Earth, Collide is the perfect finale for a series that every YA reader who loves science fiction books needs to read. Melissa West is an amazing author and you can see how talented she is by reading this series. You will not regret it if you give them a try.
*I received this eARC in exchange of an honest review.
Collide (The Taking #3) by Melissa West
If you are interested, you can visit our website:
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club's Review:
Rate: 5 stars
Review:
Collide is the perfect ending for this extraterrestrial series. I love Melissa's world, the battle, Ari's character and Jackson's and their love story. It's impossible to not be devastated by the ending of this series, but as a fan I feel like this is the kind of tribute that The Taking deserved.
I have to confess that it's been a while since I read the first books, so at first I felt a bit out of place. However, I kept reading all started to make sense and I found myself even more invested in the story. I remember finishing the second book like "Oh my God, this can't be happening" and when I started it I was a bit worried just by that last thought. But I shouldn't have worried so much.
All the known characters on the series are there in the last book. Some of them die and we get to meet new ones and it's even more heartbreaking than the other two books. The epic battle we have been waiting is everything I have expected. I found myself terrified by what would do Zeus and not knowing what was going to happen was the worst part! So I understood Ari more than ever.
Ari and Jackson grow as a couple. Their relationship is even more intense and you can see how amazing they are together. They work together and they fight for a better future, to defend the humans and the Ancients and to defeat Zeus once and for all.
I have to confess that I am madly in love with Jackson. He's definitely the perfect book boyfriend! And he makes the reader swoon more than a couple of times throughout the story.
The ending of the series is simply perfect and romantic. Everything a fan would expect from a series like this.
Filled with action, love, friendship and an epic battle that will decide the fate of life on Earth, Collide is the perfect finale for a series that every YA reader who loves science fiction books needs to read. Melissa West is an amazing author and you can see how talented she is by reading this series. You will not regret it if you give them a try.
*I received this eARC in exchange of an honest review.
February 4, 2015
Action, aliens, and a swoony romance…what more could you ask for? And no love triangle. Full review to come!
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
I love this series. Aliens, a ton of action, and a swoony romance. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah, absolutely no love triangle. Plus the fact that Ari and Jackson work together in all three books. It's not smooth sailing or anything, and Ari realizes that while she cares about Jackson, she doesn't really know him that well, but they work through their problems. So while the attraction is there, the rest of the romance (including the trust) builds throughout the books.
After the cliffhanger ending in Book 2 (a middle of the scene cliffhanger, by the way), I was anxious to get my hands on the last book of the series. And it didn't disappoint. There's barely any down time as they get ready for the attack from Zeus. So there's a lot of action and a high heartbreaking body count in this book as some beloved characters die. But it's not an alien versus human book, which I liked. There are good aliens and evil aliens. Good humans and evil humans.
Ari is an incredible main character. She reminds me a bit of June from the Legend series, except for Ari shows a lot more emotion. She's tough, she's been trained to be a warrior, and she can take care of herself. And Jackson…oh Jackson, what a wonderful book boyfriend he is! He never wavers in his feelings for Ari.
For the most part, everything is wrapped up and there's even an epilogue that takes place years in the future, which was sweet. I did have a couple of questions about certain motivations for certain people and the final climax seemed to end a bit too easily, but those are small things and didn't detract from my enjoyment of this series. Highly recommend!
For more reviews see (YA) Escape from Reality
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
I love this series. Aliens, a ton of action, and a swoony romance. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah, absolutely no love triangle. Plus the fact that Ari and Jackson work together in all three books. It's not smooth sailing or anything, and Ari realizes that while she cares about Jackson, she doesn't really know him that well, but they work through their problems. So while the attraction is there, the rest of the romance (including the trust) builds throughout the books.
After the cliffhanger ending in Book 2 (a middle of the scene cliffhanger, by the way), I was anxious to get my hands on the last book of the series. And it didn't disappoint. There's barely any down time as they get ready for the attack from Zeus. So there's a lot of action and a high heartbreaking body count in this book as some beloved characters die. But it's not an alien versus human book, which I liked. There are good aliens and evil aliens. Good humans and evil humans.
Ari is an incredible main character. She reminds me a bit of June from the Legend series, except for Ari shows a lot more emotion. She's tough, she's been trained to be a warrior, and she can take care of herself. And Jackson…oh Jackson, what a wonderful book boyfriend he is! He never wavers in his feelings for Ari.
For the most part, everything is wrapped up and there's even an epilogue that takes place years in the future, which was sweet. I did have a couple of questions about certain motivations for certain people and the final climax seemed to end a bit too easily, but those are small things and didn't detract from my enjoyment of this series. Highly recommend!
For more reviews see (YA) Escape from Reality
February 20, 2015
Ever since the cliffhanger ending of Hover, I've been anxiously awaiting Collide. And, while I thought the final battle was well-written, some things felt rushed, unexplained, out-of-character.
I'm sorry to have reached the end of this trilogy. I've enjoyed this YA sci-fi romance from the start.
Rating: ✮✮✮½ stars
I'm sorry to have reached the end of this trilogy. I've enjoyed this YA sci-fi romance from the start.
Rating: ✮✮✮½ stars
April 12, 2022
3 stars (but more like 2.75)
Ummm. Wasn't loving this book. By the last quarter id really started to lose interest and then the final couple chapters I just skim read it. I was over it. The romance wasn't for me at all so that made me lose interest with each romance scene. I also got sick of hearing about how 'the war has just began' and it caused a few eye rolls. I just felt like the story dragged out. Nothing more to really say. I'm not sure if it was the book that wasn't interesting or it just wasn't interesting for me. (Hopefully that makes sense). So 3 stars means it's good but it's borderline just ok, as the beginning and most of the middle of this book were good enough to be 3 stars.
Ummm. Wasn't loving this book. By the last quarter id really started to lose interest and then the final couple chapters I just skim read it. I was over it. The romance wasn't for me at all so that made me lose interest with each romance scene. I also got sick of hearing about how 'the war has just began' and it caused a few eye rolls. I just felt like the story dragged out. Nothing more to really say. I'm not sure if it was the book that wasn't interesting or it just wasn't interesting for me. (Hopefully that makes sense). So 3 stars means it's good but it's borderline just ok, as the beginning and most of the middle of this book were good enough to be 3 stars.
February 12, 2015
I'm still trying to decide how I want to rate this final book in the series...full review to come soon.
February 9, 2015
Absolutely love this trilogy. An amazing end.
April 24, 2018
4.75 Stars!
"War is imminent. The question isn't if, it's when."
Collide is the third and final instalment in Melissa West's "The Taking" Trilogy and everything has been building to this epic conclusion. The war between Ancients and humans is beginning and the odds are fast stacking up against Ari and Jackson as they battle to eliminate Zeus in a bid to unite humans, Ancients and halves before they destroy each other.
This book is filled with heart-pounding action, betrayal, heartbreak and so much more.
From the first page, we are thrown headlong back into the drama and held captive until the final pages.
I have been singing the praises for this series from the moment I stumbled across it. Whilst it was entirely its own story there were elements throughout the series that were reminiscent of some of my other favourite YA books ( Lux Series, The covenant series, divergent in particular).
I am always particularly impressed when an author manages to create a female character who is strong and independent without being reckless and annoying. West managed this perfectly with Ari, she was such a strong and capable character but also had a beautiful vulnerable side too.
I am sure I am not alone when I say, I have a total Jackson crush! He was such a great H he adored Ari and protected her at all costs but also knew she was strong and let her protect him also. They were such a wonderful coupling and I am going to miss them so much!
The only downfall of this series honestly was the ending, after everything we went through with these characters, I really felt the end was far too abrupt. I have so many questions that will now go unanswered - I'm sorry but when I have invested so much of my heart into a book these are the sort of questions I need to be answered so I can find closure.
Apart from that, this really was a great series and I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I have been in such a reading funk lately, but The Taking has once again rekindled my love for YA.
"War is imminent. The question isn't if, it's when."
Collide is the third and final instalment in Melissa West's "The Taking" Trilogy and everything has been building to this epic conclusion. The war between Ancients and humans is beginning and the odds are fast stacking up against Ari and Jackson as they battle to eliminate Zeus in a bid to unite humans, Ancients and halves before they destroy each other.
This book is filled with heart-pounding action, betrayal, heartbreak and so much more.
From the first page, we are thrown headlong back into the drama and held captive until the final pages.
I have been singing the praises for this series from the moment I stumbled across it. Whilst it was entirely its own story there were elements throughout the series that were reminiscent of some of my other favourite YA books ( Lux Series, The covenant series, divergent in particular).
I am always particularly impressed when an author manages to create a female character who is strong and independent without being reckless and annoying. West managed this perfectly with Ari, she was such a strong and capable character but also had a beautiful vulnerable side too.
I am sure I am not alone when I say, I have a total Jackson crush! He was such a great H he adored Ari and protected her at all costs but also knew she was strong and let her protect him also. They were such a wonderful coupling and I am going to miss them so much!
The only downfall of this series honestly was the ending, after everything we went through with these characters, I really felt the end was far too abrupt. I have so many questions that will now go unanswered - I'm sorry but when I have invested so much of my heart into a book these are the sort of questions I need to be answered so I can find closure.
Apart from that, this really was a great series and I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I have been in such a reading funk lately, but The Taking has once again rekindled my love for YA.
December 5, 2021
I will most likely re-read this series when the 0.5, which looks to have been pushed back to 2023 now, comes out. When I do that I will write a more thorough review. Until then...
I remember this being a nice conclusion to the series. I still wish MW had written what she had originally meant to write. Book One ARC was completely different than Published Book One and man did I love the ARC. All in all, I love this author's writing, I love the author (she's good people).
I remember this being a nice conclusion to the series. I still wish MW had written what she had originally meant to write. Book One ARC was completely different than Published Book One and man did I love the ARC. All in all, I love this author's writing, I love the author (she's good people).
January 19, 2023
This was a fantastic read, and oh, I loved how things wrapped up!
August 8, 2022
*Source* Library
*Genre* Young Adult / Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Collide is the third installment in author Melissa West's The Taking series. Collide begins on Earth where we find Ari Alexander injured, drugged and disorientated about the events that took place in Hover. She has no idea where everyone is, especially Jackson who was taken by Zeus, but she soon learns that she's being held and tortured by Kelvin Lancaster, a lead chemist and the alleged new leader of Sydia. Imminent war is brewing with Zeus and Lancaster truly believes that Ari holds the key to defeating the Ancients.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Collide is the third installment in author Melissa West's The Taking series. Collide begins on Earth where we find Ari Alexander injured, drugged and disorientated about the events that took place in Hover. She has no idea where everyone is, especially Jackson who was taken by Zeus, but she soon learns that she's being held and tortured by Kelvin Lancaster, a lead chemist and the alleged new leader of Sydia. Imminent war is brewing with Zeus and Lancaster truly believes that Ari holds the key to defeating the Ancients.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
March 14, 2017
This was the end that this story needed. I was completely satisfied by this book. The only thing I would change would be to make it longer. I am really going to miss these characters.
August 26, 2017
I just turned the very last page of the final book in the trilogy that I really, really LOVE and I feel overwhelmed, sad and ecstatic all at once. I've read Gravity and Hover and felt nothing but awe with both books and I'm so happy to say Collide is no different. This book will make you swoon, cry, smile, scream and have you on edge until the end. It's the perfect conclusion to an amazing and unforgettable series!
Hover ended on a really huge cliffhanger so when I finally got my hands on an arc of Collide I dropped everything and immediately dived into this foreign but beautiful world. I didn't think it was possible for the series to get better but it did! There was so much intense action, drama and romance going on that it never got boring. Jackson and Ari never fail to amaze me. They're both so stubborn, selfless and willing to do anything it takes to save everyone. Unfortunately, you cannot save everyone in a war. Death is inevitable. I got teary eyed and my heart broke for Ari several times. Watching her go through the grief but not being able to show it is just... sad. I have always admired her determination and fierce personality and it shows every time just how strong of a person she is. She's one kickass heroine. I love seeing her character grow. She used to be the kind of girl who never depends on anyone but herself. She makes decisions and acts on them without really thinking about her safety. She's still all those things but now she sees that she's not alone and she doesn't have to be. She knows that she's a part of something bigger - with her family, all her friends and Jackson. I've said it then and I'll say it again, I am IN LOVE with Jackson Castello.
“I don’t want to fight. Or yell. Or even talk to you. What I want to do is…” I trail off, not sure I want to admit my true thoughts with my parents a wall away.
Jackson smirks, his head tilting in that way I love. “Is what, exactly?”
How could anyone not love him? He's protective, understanding, gentle and caring. He has lost a lot of the people he loves but he never falters to be there for Ari when she needs him. And that scene with Ari's mom and dad! Talk about every guy's nightmare (lol).
Collide was full of action, drama, swoon-worthy moments, heartbreak, excitement and everything you could ask for. I love the twists and turns to the story, the addition of new characters and the feeling of not knowing who to trust (I was very suspicious of everyone). So what's up with my one star missing review you may ask? Well I've always had in my mind that when Ari and Zeus finally come face to face in battle, it would be this epic, bloody and super intense fight to the death. Unfortunately (just like in HP and Hex Hall) that's not what I got. I admit I was kinda disappointed when I came to that particular part of the book and how the ending felt just a bit rushed. But since I've always had a special place in my heart for the Taking series, I didn't let those bother me too much. The ending didn't feel like it was wrapped up too nicely and neatly which was okay with me. I like my endings feeling hopeful and full of so many possibilities. Hey as long as I get to see Ari and Jackson well and together, you won't hear me complaining.
I have to say my heart is breaking to have to say goodbye to this great series. But since all good things come to an end and I could still stalk Melissa West in all of social media, I'd happily and eagerly wait until her next book comes out. And if you haven't started the series yet, I highly recommend that you do now. Must-read!
I received an e-arc to read and review.
Hover ended on a really huge cliffhanger so when I finally got my hands on an arc of Collide I dropped everything and immediately dived into this foreign but beautiful world. I didn't think it was possible for the series to get better but it did! There was so much intense action, drama and romance going on that it never got boring. Jackson and Ari never fail to amaze me. They're both so stubborn, selfless and willing to do anything it takes to save everyone. Unfortunately, you cannot save everyone in a war. Death is inevitable. I got teary eyed and my heart broke for Ari several times. Watching her go through the grief but not being able to show it is just... sad. I have always admired her determination and fierce personality and it shows every time just how strong of a person she is. She's one kickass heroine. I love seeing her character grow. She used to be the kind of girl who never depends on anyone but herself. She makes decisions and acts on them without really thinking about her safety. She's still all those things but now she sees that she's not alone and she doesn't have to be. She knows that she's a part of something bigger - with her family, all her friends and Jackson. I've said it then and I'll say it again, I am IN LOVE with Jackson Castello.
“I don’t want to fight. Or yell. Or even talk to you. What I want to do is…” I trail off, not sure I want to admit my true thoughts with my parents a wall away.
Jackson smirks, his head tilting in that way I love. “Is what, exactly?”
How could anyone not love him? He's protective, understanding, gentle and caring. He has lost a lot of the people he loves but he never falters to be there for Ari when she needs him. And that scene with Ari's mom and dad! Talk about every guy's nightmare (lol).
Collide was full of action, drama, swoon-worthy moments, heartbreak, excitement and everything you could ask for. I love the twists and turns to the story, the addition of new characters and the feeling of not knowing who to trust (I was very suspicious of everyone). So what's up with my one star missing review you may ask? Well I've always had in my mind that when Ari and Zeus finally come face to face in battle, it would be this epic, bloody and super intense fight to the death. Unfortunately (just like in HP and Hex Hall) that's not what I got. I admit I was kinda disappointed when I came to that particular part of the book and how the ending felt just a bit rushed. But since I've always had a special place in my heart for the Taking series, I didn't let those bother me too much. The ending didn't feel like it was wrapped up too nicely and neatly which was okay with me. I like my endings feeling hopeful and full of so many possibilities. Hey as long as I get to see Ari and Jackson well and together, you won't hear me complaining.
I have to say my heart is breaking to have to say goodbye to this great series. But since all good things come to an end and I could still stalk Melissa West in all of social media, I'd happily and eagerly wait until her next book comes out. And if you haven't started the series yet, I highly recommend that you do now. Must-read!
I received an e-arc to read and review.
February 13, 2015
Originally posted on City of Books
Collide is definitely an explosive end to this trilogy! I like how the title really fits with the plot of the novel. There was never a dull moment in this, and I loved the way everything is tied up in the end. This book was just as good as I was expecting!
Ari is back on Earth now, but a very different one from the home she was used to. Things have changed, there's new leadership, and Ari isn't happy about it. She's doing her best to help, but it seems like she's judged for being half-Ancient now regardless of who she used to be. Meanwhile, Zeus is alive and is scheming to destroy mankind, and only Ari and Jackson know how real the threat is. They have to convince the people on Earth that Ancients and humans have to work together if they want to survive.
Collide has a lot of dystopian elements in addition to the basic sci-fi setting, with the politics going on and the decisions people have to make. I liked that these issues were addressed, because it made the book seem more real to me. Everything's definitely not all fun and games here - shit's going down. I won't lie, there are deaths. Of course there are, with a high stakes novel like this. I didn't like them, but I can't argue against their purpose in the book.
Ari is one of my favourite YA heroines, mostly because I love all the badass fighter ones. She can kick ass, she's strong, but she's not cold. She really cares about her home and her friends, and she's not about to let anything happen to either of them. It sucked to see how she was treated by people on Earth, being labelled as untrustworthy because she's kind of an Ancient now. But I loved how she handled everything. Ari's tough as hell, and we see a lot of that in this book especially. She's tested to her very limits and she still manages to stay on top of things, which really impressed me.
And Jackson, of course, made this book all the more awesome. How can you not love him? He does everything he can to save Earth along with Ari even though it's not his home, and he's so supportive of her. He strives hard to take Zeus down, despite the fact that they share the same blood. He knows what's right and what's wrong, and that's something I definitely cannot say for some other characters *cough* Lawrence *cough*. We get quite a few Jackson-Ari scenes and they're all beautiful or heartwarming or just really sweet.
Overall, I'm completely satisfied with the way this series wrapped up. Some little things I wasn't too happy about, but in general it was great. The build-up was effective, the climax was awesome. And thank god for no loose ends! I really hate those. If you're a sci-fi fan and haven't read this series yet, give it a go! You won't be sorry.
*Thank you to YA Bound for providing me with an eARC for review*
Collide is definitely an explosive end to this trilogy! I like how the title really fits with the plot of the novel. There was never a dull moment in this, and I loved the way everything is tied up in the end. This book was just as good as I was expecting!
Ari is back on Earth now, but a very different one from the home she was used to. Things have changed, there's new leadership, and Ari isn't happy about it. She's doing her best to help, but it seems like she's judged for being half-Ancient now regardless of who she used to be. Meanwhile, Zeus is alive and is scheming to destroy mankind, and only Ari and Jackson know how real the threat is. They have to convince the people on Earth that Ancients and humans have to work together if they want to survive.
Collide has a lot of dystopian elements in addition to the basic sci-fi setting, with the politics going on and the decisions people have to make. I liked that these issues were addressed, because it made the book seem more real to me. Everything's definitely not all fun and games here - shit's going down. I won't lie, there are deaths. Of course there are, with a high stakes novel like this. I didn't like them, but I can't argue against their purpose in the book.
Ari is one of my favourite YA heroines, mostly because I love all the badass fighter ones. She can kick ass, she's strong, but she's not cold. She really cares about her home and her friends, and she's not about to let anything happen to either of them. It sucked to see how she was treated by people on Earth, being labelled as untrustworthy because she's kind of an Ancient now. But I loved how she handled everything. Ari's tough as hell, and we see a lot of that in this book especially. She's tested to her very limits and she still manages to stay on top of things, which really impressed me.
And Jackson, of course, made this book all the more awesome. How can you not love him? He does everything he can to save Earth along with Ari even though it's not his home, and he's so supportive of her. He strives hard to take Zeus down, despite the fact that they share the same blood. He knows what's right and what's wrong, and that's something I definitely cannot say for some other characters *cough* Lawrence *cough*. We get quite a few Jackson-Ari scenes and they're all beautiful or heartwarming or just really sweet.
Overall, I'm completely satisfied with the way this series wrapped up. Some little things I wasn't too happy about, but in general it was great. The build-up was effective, the climax was awesome. And thank god for no loose ends! I really hate those. If you're a sci-fi fan and haven't read this series yet, give it a go! You won't be sorry.
*Thank you to YA Bound for providing me with an eARC for review*
February 10, 2015
Collide by Melissa West is the 3rd and final book in her The Taking trilogy. I have been with this series from the start, and have loved every moment of it. Ari and Jackson are our heroes all throughout the series, and they were great together. This was an exciting book from start to finish, and as I neared the end, I started worrying that the ending will leave me dissatisfied. I am happy to say I didn’t need to worry, as it was an awesome end to this fabulous trilogy.
When we last left off in Hover, Ari, and the humans/ancients who were trying to escape the planet Loge and Zeus to go to Earth. There was a cliffhanger when they arrived. In Collide we start with Ari waking up from a drug induced sleep, to see her mother, father and her friends, Gretchen and Vill. In a short time she learns that not all is well on Earth, as Kelvin is now the President and he wants Ari to reveal the secrets of Zeus and the plan to destroy earth. Only Ari doesn’t know, since Zeus an evil madman to reveals nothing, but Kelvin doesn’t believe her, and much to her shock, he has Jackson as his prisoner and is willing to torture him to get what he wants.
After much anguish, Ari is able to convince Kelvin, whom she does not trust, to allow them to visit the surrounding territories and teach them how to fight, in preparation for the upcoming war against Zeus. This allows Jackson to be freed, and Vill, Gretchen, her father travel with her to help other humans train for the upcoming war. What follows is an exciting story, with many twists, and betrayals that make their attempt to win this war almost impossible. Zeus is too strong, but neither Ari nor Jackson will give up.
Things are not what they expected when they arrive at the different compounds, with human distrust of Ari, Jackson and Vill (ancients or half ancients). They were able to turn some the Ops to half ancients to give them more power and strength to fight, but at each stop the losses increase and by the time they reach the last stop, they know that they have been set up. By the time they get back to the main compound, the war has already begun.
Ari must be able to rise her powers or everyone will die. She and Jackson will have to find a way to meet Zeus face to face to try to kill him, or all will be lost. The last half of the book was non- stop action, with heartbreaking moments. Will Ari and Jackson’s love for one another be enough for them to defeat Zeus? Will either of them survive?
Melissa West has done a wonderful job completing this story, and allowing us to follow Ari and Jackson all the way through. They made a great couple, strong and determined, but most of all, a beautiful love between them. Thank you Melissa for giving us a fascinating ending to this trilogy. For those of you have not read The Taking series, you should start with Gravity and enjoy the ride.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
When we last left off in Hover, Ari, and the humans/ancients who were trying to escape the planet Loge and Zeus to go to Earth. There was a cliffhanger when they arrived. In Collide we start with Ari waking up from a drug induced sleep, to see her mother, father and her friends, Gretchen and Vill. In a short time she learns that not all is well on Earth, as Kelvin is now the President and he wants Ari to reveal the secrets of Zeus and the plan to destroy earth. Only Ari doesn’t know, since Zeus an evil madman to reveals nothing, but Kelvin doesn’t believe her, and much to her shock, he has Jackson as his prisoner and is willing to torture him to get what he wants.
After much anguish, Ari is able to convince Kelvin, whom she does not trust, to allow them to visit the surrounding territories and teach them how to fight, in preparation for the upcoming war against Zeus. This allows Jackson to be freed, and Vill, Gretchen, her father travel with her to help other humans train for the upcoming war. What follows is an exciting story, with many twists, and betrayals that make their attempt to win this war almost impossible. Zeus is too strong, but neither Ari nor Jackson will give up.
Things are not what they expected when they arrive at the different compounds, with human distrust of Ari, Jackson and Vill (ancients or half ancients). They were able to turn some the Ops to half ancients to give them more power and strength to fight, but at each stop the losses increase and by the time they reach the last stop, they know that they have been set up. By the time they get back to the main compound, the war has already begun.
Ari must be able to rise her powers or everyone will die. She and Jackson will have to find a way to meet Zeus face to face to try to kill him, or all will be lost. The last half of the book was non- stop action, with heartbreaking moments. Will Ari and Jackson’s love for one another be enough for them to defeat Zeus? Will either of them survive?
Melissa West has done a wonderful job completing this story, and allowing us to follow Ari and Jackson all the way through. They made a great couple, strong and determined, but most of all, a beautiful love between them. Thank you Melissa for giving us a fascinating ending to this trilogy. For those of you have not read The Taking series, you should start with Gravity and enjoy the ride.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
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