Series: The Taking (bk. 2)
Genera(s): Sci-fi Mystery/Romance
Subjects: abductions, abilities, aliens,
Setting: Washington state, Utah
POV/Tense: 1st person POV, past tense: Kyra
Agnew
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Length: 354 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
List Price: $17.99
Publisher: HarperTeen
Summary/ product description: “Romantic and action-packed,
The Replaced is the gripping second installment in the Taking trilogy.
Kyra
hasn't been the same since she returned from her mysterious five-year
disappearance. Now, on the run from the NSA, Kyra is forced to hide out with
others who, like her, have been Returned. Yet she is determined to find Tyler,
the boy she loves who was also abducted—all because of her. When her group
intercepts a message that Tyler might still be alive but is in the hands of a
shadowy government organization that experiments on the Returned, Kyra knows
it's a risk to go after him. What if it's a trap? And worse, what if the
returned Tyler isn't the same boy she lost?
Perfect
for fans of The Fifth Wave and the Body Finder series, The Replaced is both
chilling and explosive, with creepy, otherworldly elements and twisty,
psychological thrills that will have you questioning what exactly it means to
be human.”
My Review: I
finally decided to start this series since I know the 3rd book is
coming out in 2 months and it’s spring break, so why not series-binge? I read
the Taking and now I read The Replaced. I’m really enjoying this series. This
sequel does not disappoint. It’s just as good as the first book. The only
probably I had with it was the lack of Tyler, and Kyra romance with him. The
Taking series is a fun, entertaining and mysterious sci-fi read. Perfect for
fan of the X-files. I watched the new 6-part series recently, so I felt in the
mood for some alien stuff.
To recap The Taking, Kyra Agnew, a 16-year old girl
from Burlington, Washington, was taken after her high school softball team won
the championship in 2009. She got into an argument with her dad, exited the car
and saw a blinding light. She wakes up on the ground behind a gas station
thinking she somehow choose to sleep outside for the night. She doesn’t find
out that actually 5 years have gone buy since that night until mistake her
boyfriend’s younger brother Tyler for her boyfriend Austin. Tyler who was only
12 last time she saw him, and is now suddenly looking 17. She starts to fall
for Tyler, since Austin already moved on. The NSA is after Kyra, and wants to experiment
on her. Kyra meet Simon, another Returned who knows more about this stuff and
she learns that normal Returned usually come back within 48 hours, not 5 long
years. She can heal faster than the others, see in the dark, hold her break
longer, sleep less and move stuff with her mind. Kyra finds out her blood is
toxic and she infected Tyler accidently. Kyra tries to save Tyler by taking him
to a place where abduction happen a lot and want the aliens to save Tyler by
making him a Returned. Agent Truman comes after them. Kyra uses telekinesis to
get the gun away. Fireflies appear and Tyler is taken, and Kyra is knocked out.
In the Replaced, Kyra, Simon, Jett and Willow are at a
different camp than the one Simon ran, since that one was attacked. She makes
friends with a girl named Natty. Thom runs the camp there. Simon’s camp stays
separate from the Silent Creeker of Thom’s camp. They hear news of Tyler
possibly being held captive by Agent Truman’s Daylighters (the shady NSA
section). There’s also a message that may have be sent by Kyra’s father. Kyra,
Simon, Willow, Natty, Thom, and Jett go on a rescue mission, which turns into a
bust. They escape, but can’t go back to their camp, so they end up traveling
all the way to another camp in Utah, outside Zion National Park. Since they’re
being tracked and their photos are out there, the have to change the appearance.
So in a gas station bathroom, Kyra dyes her blond hair a reddish brown, Natty
dyes hers black and Willow’s hair goes from brown to brown (not much of a
disguise).
The other camp is big, but is run by someone Simon and
Thom had a falling out with. When they arrive, they’re treated like prisoners.
The leader runs the camp like a boot camp for soldiers. Also, there may be a
traitor in the mist, giving information to the Daylighters. Kyra runs into someone
she never expected to find at the camp
I enjoyed this sequel. I really liked how many
interesting twists there were. Especially near the end. I suspected as much
just based on the title. I really think Kyra’s abilities and alien hybrid DNA
stuff are cool. I like books about super powered teens. I still a little
disappointed in the romance of this sequel. I kind of feel like the author
wants out hearts to break over Tyler by making him so wonderful and then taking
him away.
I recommend this series to fan of: The Rules trilogy
by Stacy Kade, The Host by Stephanie Meyer, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi,
Unremembered by Jessica Brody, Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza, Blackout by Robison
Wells, Rush (the Game Trilogy) by Eve Silver. Pretty much anything with aliens,
or teens gaining superpowers. X-file fans, Fringe fans, Kimberly Derting fans
(I only read the Body Finder series).
Cover Art Review: Cool looking cover. Looks like stars
in the type. Too bad it’s not metallic.
