The Taker

From the author of The Hunger—hailed by Stephen King as “deeply, deeply disturbing, hard to put down”—comes a hauntingly atmospheric novel that blends dark romance, immortality, and betrayal in a mesmerizing tale of love that refuses to die.

True love can last an eternity...but immortality comes at a price...

Working the midnight shift in a rural Maine hospital, Dr. Luke Findley expects nothing more than frostbite cases and the occasional domestic dispute—until Lanore McIlvrae enters his ER under police escort. Beautiful, enigmatic, and suspected of murder, Lanny captivates Luke instantly. As she begins to tell her story, he is drawn into a confession that stretches back more than two centuries.

Her tale begins in the early 19th century, when St. Andrew, Maine, was still a Puritan settlement. As a child, Lanny becomes consumed by her love for Jonathan, the founder’s son, and will sacrifice everything to be with him. What she gains is eternal life—but at a terrible cost. Bound by an immortal pact fueled by alchemy, lust, and obsession, Lanny is condemned to endure centuries of loss and longing.

Now, two hundred years later, the possibility of healing—and salvation—may lie with Luke. Part historical novel and part supernatural thriller, this spellbinding story explores how unrequited love can sustain the soul, blind the heart, and ultimately destroy both.