Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers' Favorite
E.C. Roderick's Taken is the first book in the Taken series. Sylvina was a pediatrician in Santa Monica who flew to New York to celebrate Christmas with her best friend’s family. Sylvina continued to mourn the loss of her husband three and a half years before. An innocent trip to the store turned into tragedy when she wrecked the vehicle and then passed out. Sylvina woke up but didn’t recognize her surroundings. She walked down a dirt road until she saw soldiers dressed in 18th-century-style clothing. Sylvina assumed they were role-playing. Suddenly, violent fighting erupted and three opposing groups attempted to take her against her will. Sylvina soon discovered that this wasn't roleplaying and that she had awakened in 1756. Somehow, she had traveled from the 21st century and didn’t know how to get home.
E.C. Roderick writes from Sylvina’s point of view. Her depression over her loss is easy to see and it shows in her thoughts. It fills the story with expressive dialogue about Sylvina’s interactions with each new person she meets. Seamus is a prominent figure in her life. It was interesting to watch how people in the 18th century viewed love versus Sylvina's modern approach. Simple conversations between her and other people had different meanings. It was funny to watch Sylvina's expressive statements like "For real?" and "Are you serious?" being taken at face value. The detail given to the surroundings made it easy to envision the frontier setting. It gave each of the supporting characters distinct personalities. The end was perfect for the start of the sequel. I recommend Taken to readers who enjoy historical fiction, time travel, science fiction, and watching characters adapt to unique experiences.