The Taking

by Alex K. Bates

It all began with that dead little girl. Every time I close my eyes I see the face of my dead sister. Every time I open them I see the Taken – the violent, unpredictable monsters who used to be human. I am tired and haunted. When I come across a young girl who looks very much like my sister, I take it upon myself to rescue her, but there are men hunting us and the Taken... they can be anywhere. This world is full of danger and every day I find it harder to keep her safe. I made a promise, though – a promise that I wouldn't leave her behind. I'm a gunslinger and I'm about to learn that there is more to this world than it seems. My name is Lo, and I am alone.

476 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2015

Reviews

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This synopsis instantly hooked me! The mix of raw emotion, haunting loss, and gritty survival makes it feel both heartbreaking and thrilling. Lo’s voice already carries so much pain and determination, and the idea of the “Taken” adds a chilling twist to the story. It promises action, suspense, and a deeply human struggle for hope in a ruined world. Definitely feels like the kind of book that would keep me turning the pages late into the night.

[J. W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read! This post-apocolyptic zombie western is very fun, creepy, and engaging. I recommend checking it out.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read.

Warning there are quite a few extremely graphic scenes in this book.

An excellent but disturbing read. The story is one part Swan Song one part the Stand and the rest is a Zombie story. Over the course of the story and the journey that is the core we travel with an unnamed gunslinger. Like all good suspense and horror stories there is a twist. I saw the twist coming but was a bit pleased at how it was developed. I gave this story 4 stars mainly because I just didn't care for the gunslinger he was just too underdeveloped for me to care. A satisfying read and perfect for a rainy afternoon.