S.B.L.C. Reviews Gravity (The Taking #1) by Melissa West
Gravity (The Taking #1)
By Melissa West
Published By: Entangled Publishing
Published on 11.2.2012
Reviewed By: Denise S.
Publisher’s Blurb: 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.
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We never know what we’re getting ourselves into until something unexpected happens. Our attentions are locked and now all we can do is focus on what’s going to happen next. Be prepared to face what could likely be the end of the world unless Ari and Jackson has anything to do with it. What would you do if you found out the race that you’re taught to fear and hate are beings that are no less than what you are? Living in a world where you don’t know what is real anymore, you don’t know what to believe and who to trust. Every and any choice you make has consequences. Will everything be alright or is this really the end?
My Review: Before I go on with my review, I want to let everyone know that I was not into the sci-fi that delved into the extra-terrestrials genre, but this book changed my perception of this type of series and that is mostly because how Ms. West described her aliens, none of which looked like ET! What also drew me into this tale was how Melissa West brought forth a compelling storyline of a celestial paranormal world comprised of humans and aliens facing the challenge of coexistence.
Everyone involved is tested of love, truth and commitment. Ari is a strong girl that has been taught the techniques of strength and strategy. This makes for a lovely and strong protagonist that one can surely look up to. Ari is next in line to be commander and her job is to protect the people, which she does without a second thought, regardless of race.
As the story progresses, you learn that Ari is not only intelligent and independent, but she is very aware of her abilities and is up to the task and challenges that she faces throughout the book. One of the highlights of Ari is that we get to see her evolve emotionally and physically and she becomes quite a character.
Of course there is a boy that spurs her motives on and he is Jackson. Jackson, in short, is pure mystery that will blow your mind. Even though he asks to be trusted, can Ari truly trust him? My feelings fluctuate with him. First, you should never trust the antagonist. Their motives are a bit sketchy. Until they show some empathy and then you’re torn. Second, he’s hiding something and I want to know what it is.
I like that the romance develops gradually through the book. We’re not overwhelmed with the lovey dovey he said, she said or what they’re thinking about each other. It doesn’t overshadow the main point which is the possibility that all species could be wiped off the face of the Earth!! However, it’s still fun to see how they grow into themselves.
There are a couple of characters that I’d like to read more about and that is Gretchen and Lawrence. Gretchen is Ari’s best friend and Lawrence is bound to Ari based on social status. Things don’t turn out the way it’s supposed to and we see sparks fly in the most uncommon places. Their loyalty to their friend to do what’s right proves to be most admirable and are heroes in my book.
Actually, the mystery of the “strategy” is what drew me in. The further I read the more interesting it gets. As it is with most books, the climax occurs further in the book, but be prepared because once the action starts it moves so fast you’ll want to keep up. It gets juicy.
Overall, Gravity was a good read and I look forward to reading the next book in “The Taking” series.
Tags: Book, Entangled Publishing, Gravity, Melissa West, Review
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