ARC Review: Gravity (The Taking #1) by Melissa West

 

Name: Melissa West

Series: The Taking

Pages: 304

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Amazon: Gravity
Release Date: 20th November 2012

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed — arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know — especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

An ARC copy of Gravity by Melissa West was kindly provided to me by Entangled Publishing in exchange for my honest view and is the first book in The Taking series.

The year is 2140 and our main heroine is Ari Anderson, a seventeen year-old student, part of a military legacy and trained to be the next Commander. Ari has done what is forbidden by law, forgotten to wear her eye patch during the taking and inadvertently peeked at her Ancient.

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Ari had often wondered what her Ancient looked like but having her senses stripped from her during the daily ritual made it impossible until the number one rule was broken and to her surprise found the most popular boy in school, Jackson {sigh} Locke hovering over her.

Jackson has a hidden agenda/mission and needs Ari and her insider knowledge, due to her fathers position to help him to save the human race.

I enjoyed seeing the trust forming between Ari and Jackson and them working together to find a way to prevent the annihilation of humanity and protect both of their planets by solidifying a treaty allowing co-existence of the Ancients and humans on earth, there were certainly a number of obstacles standing in their way. The world building was fascinating and the reason behind the brewing war intriguing despite a few plot holes.

I really enjoyed the concept of Humans playing hosts to the Ancients, or Aliens – having being assigned an Ancient from an early age for them to acquire whatever nutrients etc. they need during the taking I found to be really interesting as well as unique, I liked the way Ms. West explained the exchange and the reasoning for it but I found it started off a necessity only to wane over the course of the book.

I adored our main characters, Ari was intelligent, kick-butt and completely selfless and thought before she would act which I really liked. She was torn in her feelings towards arrogant Jackson since her marriage has already been arranged to the future president, also one of her closest friends, Lawrence but she stayed true to herself which I appreciated. Jackson was a great love interest, although a little too perfect despite his omissions. The only gripe I have is their relationship felt a tad too insta-love for me, I wish they could have taken a step back.

I enjoyed our secondary characters who were each developed well, especially Gretchen and Lawrence; I admired their loyalty and friendship to Ari and was surprised by Lawrence’s connection to Jackson, I am keen to see how this plays out in future installments.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from Gravity but it certainly surpassed any expectations. Ms. West delivered a wonderfully unique and mesmerizing world with lovable characters and a solid, engrossing plot. Her writing kept me riveted; I was immersed in the story from the very first page.

Overall, Gravity was an enthralling read that kept me wanting more. Filled with action, betrayal, romance, mystery and seeing the characters undertake the complex task of doing what they believe to be right in saving their worlds whilst avoiding mayhem made for a gripping read. It would certainly appeal to Dystopian and Sci-Fi fans alike.

Thank-you kindly to Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Gravity. I am definitely eager to read the next book in what is looking to be a wonderful series.