Review ~ The Taker ~ Alma Katsu #2017HW #ShelfLove

The Taker by Alma Katsu
The Taker Trilogy #1
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Genre: Adult, Historical/Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
Source: Purchased paperback 
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017HW, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
True love can last an eternity...but immortality comes at a price...

On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural St. Andrew, Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting a quiet evening--until a mysterious woman, Lanore McIlvrae, arrives in his ER, escorted by police. Lanore is a murder suspect, and Luke is inexplicably drawn to her. As Lanny tells him her story, an impassioned account of love and betrayal that transcends time and mortality, she changes his life forever. At the turn of the nineteenth century, Lanny was consumed as a child by her love for the son of St. Andrew's founder, and she will do anything to be with him forever, but the price she pays is steep--an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate.

My review is going to be purposely very vague. I feel like it would give away too much of the story to provide specifics - even change perceptions and feelings. So this is mostly about how this story made me feel. Here goes:

• Katsu did a tremendous job in bringing the past and present together. The format fit the story well and the historical detail was nicely done. She brought Puritan-era Maine - which was only a territory at this time - to life. And I appreciated the comparison between past and present Maine - all the changes that had occurred.
• The characters are so well done - well, mostly and I'll explain that in a bit. But three of the four MCs, Katsu gave them such distinct personalities and made me both like and dislike them. These characters are flawed, greatly flawed. There were times I had a hard time thinking of them as heroes and heroine. This allowed for character growth, which was imperative for me since there were characteristics such as selfishness, greed...these were eventually tempered with loyalty and compassion. I'm certainly eager to see where they go from this point.
• About my "mostly" regarding the characters... the format bringing the past and present together was very satisfactorily done except that it kept me from really connecting with one of the characters. I have a feel for him and he's flawed but the storytelling kept me from getting to know him as deeply as I did the others. Katsu may have done this purposely as part of the story but I have a feeling I'll get that deeper connection in the next book.
• The paranormal element was fascinating and well done.

Overall, The Taker was compelling and a wonderful introduction to the trilogy. I'm anxious to continue.