{ The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan }

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

March 22, 2011 by Random House Children's Books

Source - ebook

From Goodreads:

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters. Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again.

But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

My Review:

What are my first thoughts on this final installment of The Forest of Hands and Teeth Trilogy? I adored it! This was by far my favorite of the three. Not only is the story well developed but these characters? Incredible!

Move over Jace and Clary! Annah and Catcher are amazing. These two have become one of my favorite YA couples. Not only are they great together, but on their own they are strong, sensitive, loving and believable! I was brought to tears many times during this story. Carrie Ryan has a gift for delving into the human soul and getting to the core of her characters. As a reader you truly get the sense of how much inner turmoil these two struggle with. Catcher is on the brink between the living and the dead. We feel his loneliness as a result of being an Immune. We truly get a glimpse at his inner rage and fear of becoming a monster and turning those he loves into the unconsecrated. On the other side we see Annah's loneliness and the inner hatred and shame as a result of her scars.

This book is also filled with those great characters that we love to hate. Ox, Conall and all the Recruiters on the Island are true, true evil. Some of the things that take place are bone chilling and heartbreaking.

However, aside from all the death and destruction? A message of love and hope. Carrie Ryan has earned a spot at the top of my favorite author list. I can not wait to devour everything she writes in the future. My only complaint? I ache for more of Annah and Catcher!

You could read this as a stand alone, however, you would be missing out. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and this series!

Rating: 5 stars!!

{ Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan }

Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan

April 5, 2011 by Random House Children's Books

Source: purchased ebook

From Goodreads:

Tabitha can't shake the feeling that something exists beyond the fences of her village. And when she sneaks out, past the gates and down the path into the Forest of Hands and Teeth, she meets a boy who teaches her heart things she never knew. But love in a world surrounded by so much death doesn't come without its sacrifices, and Tabitha gradually realizes just how much she'll have to give up to live among the Unconsecrated.

From New York Times best selling author Carrie Ryan comes an original story of love after the Return.

My Review:

This was my first short story and it was really exciting to see where Sister Tabitha came from. What made her into the wonderfully, terrifying woman she is in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. This is a great companion to the trilogy. My only complaint? I would love more of this story and even farther back. I want to learn everything there is to know about this world and what occurred during the moment of the Return. This whole world that Carrie Ryan has created is so very fascinating and I just want more!

If you are fan of this series it is a great little addition. You really could start with it or even read it during the middle, as I have. I have not read the finale installment The Dark and Hollow Places yet, but plan to very soon.

Rating: 4 stars

{ The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan }

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

March 2010 by Random House Childrens Books

Source: Library ebook

From Goodreads:

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She's content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches for the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier can not hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry's mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seem to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother's past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

My review:

Those of you who have read my review of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, will know how much I loved it. I was very excited to start this second installment. However, I was sadly disappointed. This book could almost be read as a stand alone. And had I not read the first one, I may have liked it more...or maybe not.

My biggest issue was with the main character, Gabry. Could there really be anyone with worse luck than this girl? Seriously? It just seemed that one disaster would happen and then, bang, another. Then another, and another. And as a result, she was constantly blaming herself and wining about everything! There was so much self-loathing in this story and not just from Gabry, but everyone. Maybe it just comes with the territory. When you are constantly looking death in the face, what else is there really? I found myself loathing everything along with them.

However, Carrie Ryan, redeemed herself during the last 100 pgs or so. Gabry finally finds herself and some inner strength. There was just more depth to the story on a whole towards the end. There were some pretty heartbreaking scenes and some terrifying ones in the end that made the closing of this one quite the page turner. The underlying message in the end? You have nothing without Hope and Love. They go hand in hand. And I have hope that the third book, The Dark and Hollow Places will live up to the first book. And rumour has it? It's even better than the first.

Rating: 3.5 stars

{ The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan }

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

March 2009 by Delacorte Press

Source: Library

From Goodreads:

In Mary's world there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But, slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and it's secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future-between the one she loves and the one who loves her.

And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

My review:

Since I started my journey into the realm of YA Paranormal and Dystopian, this book keeps popping up. I finally got around to reading it and I must say, I devoured it! This was my first experience with the whole zombie world. Every time I come across a book and realize that it involves zombies, I usually turn the other way. I am so glad that I gave this one a chance. I loved it! Why? I have always said that a good book...to me...should make me feel something. And this one made me feel many things. Yes, it is scary and terrifying. Yes, it is suspenseful and thrilling. Yes, it is heartbreaking and beautiful. It has a little of everything.

I have read many reviews that complained about Mary, the main character, being too selfish and unlikeable. Not! Look at what this girl has lived with. She is surrounded by death on a daily basis. She is being watched by the Sisterhood...which is super creepy and scary and I absolutely loved - Sister Tabitha is the Queen of Creepy/Scary! Mary has every right to some hope in her life and to go after it. Okay, so maybe some people got dragged along with her on this quest for the truth. But seriously? It wasn't like their alternative was all that appealing.

The relationships between Mary, Travis, Harry and Cass were all very believable and perfect in my opinion. I loved all of them and the development of these characters throughout the story. And of course the addition of Argos, the dog, was perfect. Any great story has to have a dog in my opinion. :0)

There were a ton of great scenes in this one. And a few jaw dropping ones that I will say took me by surprise and had me running for the Kleenex! I had no issues with the ending as some readers have. I know there are more books, so I am looking forward to seeing where this story goes from here. If you are a little leery of jumping into a zombie book? Try this one out. I promise you will not be sorry. There is so much more to it than just zombies. It is a story of love, death and hope. I loved it!! And now I am off to find The Dead - Tossed Waves and The Dark and Hollow Places!!

Rating: 5 stars!

I love this book trailer...check it out!