Ridley, weaves the storyline together masterfully, creating suspense and tension without being heavy-handed in his scare tactics. The concept of disgusting creatures that swallow people whole and can only harm you if you notice them has shades of Stephen King, as does the revelation of how the Takers arrived and were created.

The Takers is a gripping read, and one of the most unique stories I've read in a long time.

But Nate is special, and if the world is to be saved, he needs to be protected at all costs. Gradually, he gathers a band of followers, human and animal - all dedicated to protecting the most unlikely member of the band, a newborn infant named Nate. When he wakes up, it seems as though there's no one else left on Earth. When the Takers appear, eating any human who notices them, Oz is passed out with mono. Oz's bullying drove Stevie to suicide and put in motion the end of the world. He didn't bully everyone, but he did bully one person in particular - Stevie, a boy with Downs Syndrome. The plot is clearly defined, and the action never flags. The lively narrative will capture the imagination of young teens, especially boys, who will enjoy the more horrifying aspects of the story. Oz, suffering from guilt that he possibly caused Steve’s death, must learn to accept responsibility, not only for his actions in the past, but for the future of civilization as he knows it. Steve’s untimely suicide leaves only the comic books as clues to vanquishing the Takers. Afflicted with Down Syndrome, Steve created new worlds, replete with battles between good and evil, in the comic books that served as his sole refuge from the teasing of Oz and his friends. Along the way, he learns that his destiny was written by Steve, a boy from his past. In an effort to make things right, he gathers a band of survivors (a baby, an aged mechanic and a talking gorilla, among others), and sets off down his version of the yellow brick road, leading to the Atlanta Zoo. When 13-year-old Osmond “Oz” Griffith wakes from an illness on the floor of his closet, he discovers the world overrun by man-eating monsters, the Takers, and it’s largely his fault. Can they get to the end of the story before the Takers devour them? Kirkus Discoveries Review The first volume in The Oz Chronicles recalls both Stephen King’s The Stand and L. But every time he and his band of survivors try to read the comic book, the Takers draw closer. He also knows that a comic book written by a neighborhood boy is the key to defeating them. Never say their name! If you do, they will find you! If they find you, they will eat you! Thirteen-year-old Oz Griffin knows it's his fault that the Takers are eating everyone in sight.

The Takers by R.W. Ridley