Title: Taken
Author: Katerina Martinez
First published January 10, 2021
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 3.88
Overview
Winter in Arcadia is a treacherous place, and I am just a mortal who makes magic dresses for a living. But when the fae invade my family’s shop on Carnaby Street in London, my life takes a dangerous turn.
I am kidnapped and taken to a world of cold hearts and beautiful nightmares where I am mistaken for a fae and forced to participate in a deadly competition against other women who have been preparing for this moment their entire lives. The prize?
The chance to marry the Prince, the same man who took me from my world.
Despite the danger, I can’t resist the pull I feel towards him. His body burns with the fire of a cold star, and I am drawn to him even though I know getting too close could mean my death.
But I am determined to survive and find a way out of this brutal competition, even if it means fighting against the winter fae who will stop at nothing to keep me captive. Will I be able to escape this treacherous world and return to my own?
Only time will tell.
About the Author
Meet Katerina Martinez, a well-known author renowned for her supernatural fiction that combines creepy, thrilling, and romantic elements. With years of experience under her belt, Katerina’s first book in the Half-Lich Trilogy, Dark Siren, became an instant bestseller in 2016.
She has since added to her impressive collection with Wings of Light, Heart of the Thief, and Night Hunter – all of which take place in the same world.
To stay up-to-date with Katerina and her work, you can follow this link to sign up for exclusive updates and receive a short story set in the Blood and Magick universe. Don’t hesitate to send her an email – she’d love to hear from you!
Editoral Review
In her debut novel Taken, Katerina Martinez has crafted a suspenseful and emotionally charged tale that explores the complex interplay between power, privilege, and morality within the context of a troubling real-world issue. From the outset, Martinez adeptly sets the stage in a small border town where human trafficking is all too common.
The story revolves around two main characters: Isabel, a young Mexican woman, and Sam, an American journalist investigating the trafficking ring. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and motivations, Isabel and Sam become intertwined in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Martinez masterfully weaves together multiple storylines and perspectives, creating a rich and multifaceted narrative that keeps the reader engaged until the very end. The novel tackles weighty themes such as exploitation, corruption, and the intersection between gender and power dynamics, but always with a sharp eye for nuance and subtlety.
One of the book’s main strengths lies in Martinez’s ability to create vivid and complex characters, each with their own compelling backstory and inner demons. Isabel in particular stands out as a fully realized and empathetic protagonist, whose fierce determination to escape her captors is tempered by a deep sense of vulnerability and fear.
However, the book is not without its flaws. At times, the pacing can feel uneven, with some scenes dragging on for too long while others feel rushed or underdeveloped.
Additionally, while Martinez clearly has a strong command of the issues at the heart of the story, there are moments when the dialogue can feel didactic or overly explanatory. Despite these limitations, Taken is ultimately a powerful and thought-provoking work that raises important questions about how we as a society value and protect the most vulnerable among us.
As such, it is highly recommended for readers interested in socially conscious thrillers that tackle real-world issues with depth and complexity. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
