Untaken by J.E Anckorn Review!

Title: Untaken
Author: J.E Anckorn
Pages: 260
Published: March 23rd 2015
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Source: From Publisher
Purchase: Amazon/ Book Depository 

It turns out that a real alien invasion is nothing like the Sci-fi shows 14-year-old Gracie loves. Not when it’s your own family who are swallowed whole by those big silver ships. Not if it could be you next. 
In her search for her family, Gracie meets Brandon, a high school dropout who would never have been caught dead hanging out with a dork like Gracie before the world ended. Gracie isn’t too crazy about Brandon either, but he has one thing she doesn’t: A plan. 
Brandon’s uncle has a cabin up in Maine, and If Gracie and Brandon can survive long enough to get there they can hide out until the Space Men pack up their ships and leave. 
Until the army guys come to rescue them, says Brandon. Brandon is big into army guys. Gracie has to admit that Brandon’s Awesome Plan probably would have worked out great if wasn’t for Jake. 
They found 5-year-old Jake, laying half-dead under the remains of someone’s ranch house. He’s a good kid, even if he won’t-or can’t- talk. But Jake has a secret, and when Gracie finds out what it is, the fragile new life they’ve started to forge looks set to break apart. 
When the people you’ve been counting on to put the world back together start hunting you down, alien invaders are the least of your worries.

My Thoughts:

When Aliens appear in the sky people are terrified but when nothing happens and the ships are just there, people are confused and go back to their daily lives. That is until the ships descend and take nearly everyone. Though a few survive. This isn't a story of the Aliens attacking, this is what happens after and trying to survive, not only the Aliens but the "good" guys too.

This took me by surprise with how much I liked it. I wasn't sure what to expect but with the awesome cover it has, I took a chance. 

This focuses on 3 main characters. Gracie, Brandon and Jake. Gracie is a normal 14 yr old until the day the aliens arrive. Her family disappear, along with everyone she knows. She is determined to find them though and decides to head to a nearby shelter when she hears the bus. At the shelter she hopes to find her family but they don't seem to be there. She does meet Brandon there, and despite a shaky start, they team up. 

Brandon lives with his alcoholic dad. His father is a brute of a man but Brandon loves him and tries to make him proud. When the Aliens appear, Brandon and his dad hole up in the bunker they have. Days pass and Brandon knows he needs to see whats happening topside so opens the hatch and leaves. He sees nothing and goes to the house to get more supplies. In the house Brandon encounters an alien, but before it can attack, Brandons' father saves him. The thing enfolds his dad and Brandon tries to free him. It leaves him go and Brandon sees that it is dead. But Brandons' father isn't the same. He is different and Brandon calls his fathers friend who is a cop. Brandon ends up in the shelter, while his father is sent for treatment.

Things aren't as they seem at the shelter though and Brandon and Gracie need to escape. Along the way both of them stumble upon Jake, a 5yr old and he joins the team. Jake is different though, he doesn't talk and seems so withdrawn and odd. Gracie puts it down to what he saw but is it really? 

All three characters were well written and developed. Gracie was such an awesome heroine, she was brave, unafraid to do what is needed from her, no matter what. Brandon was so sullen starting out and wanting nothing but to find the army men who will make everything better. He keeps to himself but slowly comes out of it. I loved seeing Gracie and Brandon interacting because despite him annoying her a lot, they relied on each other. 

The plot took a little while to take off but once it does, it's quick enough. I didn't understand why the Aliens waited and what was the point of it all, but we get some answers near the end. I liked that the book is more focused on survival than the aliens, even though they take such a big part of it. I also liked that it had POVs from each of the main characters. It gave a great insight into each.

In all, a really unique alien story. It captures the imagination and you can't help but root for all 3 of the kids. I hope we see more from these characters!!