A Review of Takers by Ann Swann

My Review of Takers

Ann Swann’s Takers is one of the more unique takes (pardon the pun) on the apocalypse that I’ve read recently. It’s an idea that’s always fascinated me, that dimensions can run side by side, and what happens when there is a rip in the fabric separating the two worlds. While I’d always been able to imagine monsters coming through, it had never occurred to me imagine Purgatory. At the same time, I do wonder if Ms. Swann is a fan of Supernatural, given the references to Carry On, My Wayward Son, Purgatory, and a massive road trip with many brushes with danger.

There’s definitely an element of the supernatural (little “s”!) to the show (see?!) that makes its presence rather strongly felt. Not any particular religion, but more the idea of guidance from an unknown being weighing on the decisions being made. The form that guidance takes is at first amusing, then annoying, but then startlingly effective in making you understand what is going on in a character’s head. Jack is a believable young male protagonist, that is – refreshingly- neither full of self-pity nor a is he a mini-McGuyver in training. He’s just a normal kid that does whatever he can do.

However, I never managed to connect with any of the characters (which might be simply because they were all men, but I sincerely doubt it). Even as I chuckled over parts of it and read other parts with fascination, it never managed to carry me away.  The whole sin-words thing really stuck out in my head, though, and it is something I would love to see an animation of. It was a pleasant read, but I’ve no desire to continue the series, nor can I truthfully say I’d ever go back to re-read it. All in all, though, not a book I regretted reading by any means.

Click here to find Takers by Ann Swann now on Amazon.

Title: Takers | Series: Apocalypse in Eden bk1 | Author: Ann Swann (site) | Publisher: Self-published | Pub. Date: 2016-2-26 | Pages: 260 | ASIN: B01C9P9KK4 | Genre(s): Young Adult & Horror | Language: English | Triggers: Dead parent seen | Rating: 3 out of 5 | Date Read: 2016-3-21 | Source: Received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.