Feverborn by Karen Marie Moning

This series has been one of my favourites, however, I had a hard time getting through this book. I thought it dragged on at times, despite having really good scenes. In my opinion, the first five books of this series were the best ones, and lately, the books seem to be coasting.

I was overjoyed when I realized Mac would be the main narrator again, however, I've come to believe that maybe it's time to let other characters, like Jada, shine. Mac and Barrons are without a doubt a great pair but I feel like their story has come and gone. They're great together, don't get me wrong, but I just feel like there's nothing new happening there. I believe it's time for Jada and Ryodan to finally have their own story and hopefully it will come soon.

Speaking of Jada, I'm still a little bit confused about how Dani became Jada. I'm not completely satisfied with Moning's explanation on the transformation, but in a way, I think it was necessary for Dani to become Jada in order to be taken seriously. She spent years in the Silvers, which turned out to be weeks for everyone else. I understand her need to reinvent herself in order to be taken seriously and viewed as an adult, and not just some untrained teen. Now that she's older, hopefully she'll be able to work on whatever she and Ryodan have. Whatever they do have does seems a little bit creepy but I'm curious on how everything will work out.

I'm also curious about this new character, Shazam. I still don't know what to make of him, whether he's real or not. I kept wondering if he was a figment of Jada's imagination, a way for her to cope with everything that's been going on. I think Shazam is a way for her to keep holding on to her childhood, whether he's real or not.

As for the main conflict in this book, it seems there isn't much driving the characters. Sure, the black holes and the Sinsar Dubh are ever present, and I love the fact that Mac, Barrons, Jada, Ryodan and even Christian are teaming up to fight these problems, but I feel Feverborn was missing action. There were some epic scenes towards the end, but the beginning and the middle of the book was filled with filler and repetition.

Personally, I think it's time for Karen Marie Moning to move beyond Mac and Barrons. At this point, her series is coasting and it could definitely benefit from new blood. I would welcome more about Jada and Ryodan, and honestly, I think Christian deserves his own story too. Because of my early addiction to this series, I haven't given up on it yet, however, something dramatic and new needs to happen in order to keep my interest. Here's to hoping the next book will be much better!

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by Tynga at Monday, March 21, 2016

 Delacorte, Dystopian, fae, Fever, Karen Marie Moning, Library, Paranormal, Random House, Review  2 People left their mark

✎

Firefight: Reckoners Book 2 by Brandon Sanderson

Now that Steelheart and Mitosis are no more, everything can go back to normal, right?  Of course not.  The thing about Epics is, there are plenty to go around.  The Reckoners find that getting rid of one tyrant makes room for at least one more.  Now, Newcago is trying to rebuild after being controlled by Steelheart for so long.  In the middle of all of that, the Reckoners need to send a small crew to help out the Reckoner group in New Babylon.

Just as with successful movies, making a sequel can be hazardous.  The author could cripple characters by making them too much like they were in the first book and not growing at all.  The author could demean the series by creating repetitive or meaningless plots and tropes.  Thankfully, none of that happens in Firefight, the latest volume in the Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson.

Now, this is a story line that lends itself well to the whole Monster of the Week feel.  It does that to an extent with this story.  As with all Reckoner's stories, there are new Epics are introduced with strange new abilities.  I don't want to give too much away but, David and his friends delve into the whole 'Epic' issue deeper than before.  Not the least of the questions being, can Epics rule justly.  That question can be seen as allegory for the current times question, can a dictator be better than the alternative.  The answer is, of course, dependent on who is asked.

The newer characters are good additions to the Reckoner's world.  They don't come off as 'cookie-cutter' though, many typical archetypes are represented.  The young and zealous recruit, the reluctant hero and of course the power hungry mastermind.  We can also add the disaffected drone in this story.  Obviously, Firefight makes an appearance in this book.  To say the character has twists to it is an understatement.  It's more like it was written on a Mobius Strip rather than paper.

Firefight  is a worthy addition to the Reckoners world.  Not only does it continue the story from the previous books but, it leaves us wanting more.  It brings to my mind the story arcs of Eragon and Harry Potter in that, we get to see a character grow from a single minded goal into a greater understanding of the world and their part in it.  This is a book that is intended for young adults and does a good job in that respect though it is a little heavy on violence.  I would put it at a mile PG13.

 

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by Tynga at Wednesday, April 22, 2015

 Brandon Sanderson, Delacorte, Dystopian, Purchased, Review, superhuman, The Reckoners, Urban Fantasy, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

Burned by Karen Marie Moning

I'm having a love/hate relationship with this book. There are so many things that I loved about this book, yet it still left me unsatisfied with the direction the series is taking. I never thought I would say this, but after waiting for what feels like forever, Burned has left me disappointed.

First, I love that Mac is back! I really missed her in the previous book, which was all about Dani. Don't get me wrong, Dani can be a fun a quirky character, but personally I think she doesn't compare to Mac and isn't enough to be the main character of a book like she was in Iced. And she's kind of annoying. Originally, what made me fall in love with the series was Mac, and now it seems like the author has added so many point of views, it's hard to understand how it all pieces together. I'm just happy Mac is the (main) narrator again and it feels childish to complain about a few pages and a few chapters dedicated to other characters. However, I'm surprised by how much I like Lor. I did not expect to enjoy this woman loving, sex addicted character as much as I did. I love that were learning more about the mysterious group of Nine and that it's not just about Barrons and Ryodan anymore. I think Lor adds a new depth to the group, however, I'm not sure if I like this new Ryodan.  I guess you can say we see his softer side but it doesn't really work for me because I can only imagine him as a stern and rigid character.

The first half of the novel was kind of slow. As things slowly build up, I expected more out of this novel because of its length, but much of it is just filler. There was no clear antagonist in this novel so that might be another reason why it felt like the book was purposeless at times. It feels like Mac coasted through most of the novel which had me wondering when the real Mac would show up. I was surprised by our introduction to Jada and I'm still a little bit confused about her as a character and what it all means for the rest of the series. I don't want to discuss her too much because that would expose too many spoilers, but honestly I'm still not sure about her as character.

In the past, the heat between Mac and Barrons was enough to get me through anything, but in this novel, it feels like it kind of sizzle out. Their "inactivity" is boring, to say the least, and I expected more from the couple, especially in a novel titled Burned and with such a hot cover. The chapter before the prologue was pretty hot but just a flashback so it felt kind pointless and definitely a tease.

I'm having such a hard time writing this review, I think it's because I've never felt so disappointed by a novel before. Although it wasn't all that bad, my expectations were definitely set too high. I'm hopeful Karen Marie Moning will get back on track with her next book and that Burned is just an unfortunate event. Fans of the series still have to read this novel despite everything. Newcomers to the series will be disappointed and confused despite the glossary at the end of the book (which I thought was a great idea).

As readers, we could have done without Burned and hopefully it was just a way to set up the next great installment in the series.

http://youtu.be/moRdA43d4Nc

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by Tynga at Monday, February 09, 2015

 Delacorte, fae, Fever, Immortals, Karen Marie Moning, Library, Magic, Random House, Urban Fantasy  1 Person left their mark

✎

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

In the not too distant future, a major event called  The Calamity, changes random people and with that, the fate of humanity.  If that sounds a bit familiar it may be because it’s the basis for many post-apocalyptic stories.  Brandon Sanderson has freshened up this often used trope in his book Steelheart – Book 1 of the Reckoners Series.

In the Reckoners series, The Calamity, ordinary people are transformed.  The transformation gives these random people superhero like abilities and they become known as Epics.  These new powers result in a huge power shifts throughout the country.  Borders are redrawn and governments, though left in place, are powerless.  This story follows a young man named David.  When David was very young, he and his father where in Chicago when an Epic named Steelheart made his mark on the city.  David sees something nobody was never meant to see, the vulnerability of an Epic.  The resulting events become the catalyst that drive David to seek revenge and an end to all Epics.

The character of David seeks out a group of people known as the Reckoners.   Sanderson creates the group with many of the archetypes we’ve seen before like the whiny teen, the aloof love interest and the hard core gun enthusiast.  He doesn’t just use them as filler. He breathes a bit of life into them.  You either like, dislike or are oddly amused by these characters. In time, you start to slowly understand who this band of misfits are and how they function together.  You also see how they have reached this point through their backstories.

By telling the story through David’s eyes, Brandon Sanderson brings you into the story.  He keeps you there with a great combination of action scenes and plot twists.  His writing is easy to follow without being too simple or patronizing.  I like how in this book, he peppers the dialog with slang he created for the time period and it doesn’t sound contrived.

There’s a dose of reality in this story I found oddly refreshing.  The group seems to have more mistakes and missteps than true successes.  It’s not that I like to see the good guys fail, mind you.   I do think that showing their flaws and weaknesses can give the story that touch of reality that makes it easy for the reader to get drawn.

I like this book with its action and twists.  It kept me engaged the whole way. I would not hesitate to recommend Steelheart to anyone twelve years or older. I actually did suggest to my son when for a school assignment and he liked it.  There is violence and some young adult romance but, it’s actually all pretty mild.  I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series coming out soon.

 

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sC9NtpXLH4&w=560&h=315]

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by Tynga at Wednesday, November 12, 2014

 Brandon Sanderson, Delacorte, Purchased, Reckoners, Review, Urban Fantasy, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

Hexed by Michelle Krys

Hexed is one of the most disappointing books of the year and I really expected to enjoy this one so much more. This book has an extremely irritating heroine, an illogical and unhealthy romance (that could possibly lead to a future love triangle), dialogue that tries too hard to be funny and a lack of plausibility. Paranormal books are usually my guilty pleasure, but Hexed was way too shallow and is a poor opening to The Witch Hunter series.

Hexed is the tale of Indigo Blackwood, a teenage cheerleader who lives a very normal life until a guy dies right in front of her. Soon her family's bible heirloom is stolen and she's being stalked by Bishop (an obnoxious love interest who is way too cocky). Supposedly, according to Bishop that if Indigo doesn't get the bible all of the witches in the world will die; to make things even worse, Indigo is a witch.

Hexed includes so many of my bookish pet peeves and it seems like nearly everything that I hate in YA novels makes an appearance in Hexed. We have a main character who's self-centered, rude, idiotic and who thinks the world revolves around her. Indigo constantly wants everyone to cater to her needs and most of the time, she acts painfully stupid to the point where she constantly needs to be saved by Bishop. It's a miracle that Indigo didn't die in Hexed because she's always make illogical, rash decisions and is constantly doing the opposite of what a rational, normal person would do.

The plot in Hexed is a bit of a mess and this book lacked plausibility and was a bit inconsistent with the plot's details. In one section of the book, during the football game the cheerleaders flash the crowd their panties and their bums even though there are parents and other adults in the crowd. No one ever finds this strange throughout the novel and what kind of a community finds this normal? I don't care if they live in LA, there's no where that kind of behaviour is tolerated and I didn't believe that not one parent said anything. Several times in this novel, Indigo references her biology class, but she claims that she took it last year one time and then a few pages later, she claims she taking it this year. The way biology is utilized to explain how witch abilities are transferred was ridiculous and made zero sense, as is most of the background info on witches.

Aside from two or three scenes, the rest of Hexed moves at a impossibly slow pace and it managed to annoy me in each and every chapter. The humor and dialogue in this book didn't help matters and they help underscore how unorganized and silly this book's plot was. Krys tried way too hard to be funny and as a result, so many of the jokes fell flat and were extremely unfunny to the point where I felt like cringing. There are only so many terrible, cheesy jokes one can handle before they lose their sanity.

The romance in this book was poorly executed and the fact that Indigo found Bishop attractive was unfathomable. Bishop is a creepy stalker who wears leather clothing in the middle of the LA heat and he falls in love with Indigo almost instantaneously. He shows his "love" by calling her a bimbo and he fits so neatly into the bad boy archetype--his character lacked originality. Truthfully, Bishop sucked at being bad and he came across as more annoying than bad. For some odd reason, Bishop also has a tattoo of a naked Betty Boop, something I never really understood the point of because all it did was make Bishop even more repulsive and perverted.

I wouldn't dare to continue reading this series and I can't believe that this novel is the beginning of an entire series. Hexed ends on a cliffhanger, even though this book has few plot events and I think the cliffhanger was a bit gimmicky. If all of the ridiculous attempts at humor had been deleted, Krys probably could have integrated the 2nd book into Hexed. So far, I've seen so much praise for this book and I feel as if there's something I'm missing.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, May 21, 2014

 Delacorte, Magic, Michelle Krys, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Random House, Review, witches, young adult  1 Person left their mark

✎

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

Juliet Immortal holds no punches and right from the start, Stacey Jay shows the reader that she means business. This isn't the Romeo & Juliet you read in High School, no sirree. Stacey Jay has taken "the greatest love story ever told" and has made some bold changes. Personally, I never believed Romeo & Juliet was a love story and it was an absolute delight to read a much darker, more brutal version of the Shakespearean tale. Despite the fact that Jay has taken liberties with her retelling, I loved the way that Juliet Immortal maintained some of the core essentials of the play.

Don't be fooled by the publisher's blurb. This is nothing like Shiver or Hush, Hush at all and marketing it as such is an injustice to Stacey Jay's novel. Juliet Immortal thrives on intense action scenes, pitch-perfect character development and shocking plot twists. I never thought I'd say this, but I loved the teenage drama and angst in Juliet Immortal. I can't believe that I just described teenage angst as a high point of a novel, but seriously I savored all of the high-school drama.

I loved Juliet, she was such a strong-willed and intense character that I couldn't help but gloat over. I felt for Juliet and I was absolutely enthralled by her battle against the devious Romeo. Romeo was a such finely crafted villain and he was equally alluring as he was dangerous. I really look forward to seeing more of Romeo in Romeo Redeemed! The rest of the characters in Juliet Immortal are just as beautifully written and I loved watching each character's arc unfold.

I still can't get over all of the plot twists that Jay inserted in Juliet Immortal. I'm usually the type of reader that can detect what direction a plot is moving early on, but I was so surprised with all of the twists and turn in this novel. This is the type of book that is so compulsively read-able that once you start a chapter, you can't stop midway. I loved the ending of this book and it was so fitting, but a part of me wishes that this was a stand-alone. Everything is so perfectly wrapped up that I'm not sure a sequel is necessary, but I will definitely be reading Romeo Redeemed.

Juliet Immortal is a wonderfully dark retelling with an engaging plot and characters you will obsess over. This is definitely one of the best retelling out there and I am so happy that this lived up to my expectations. Between Of Beauty And Beast and Juliet Immortal, Jay is proving herself to be the master of retellings. I'm beyond ecstatic to read more of Jay's books, especially Princess Of Thorns, her take on Sleeping Beauty!

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by Tynga at Wednesday, January 29, 2014

 Delacorte, Juliet Immortal, Library, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Random House, Retelling, Review, Romance, Stacey Jay, young adult  4 People left their mark

✎

Fates by Lanie Bross

Fates by Lanie Bross is a strange book and I'm still a bit mystified by it days after finishing it. On one hand, Fates is poorly plotted and developed, but on the other hand, I couldn't tear myself away from this book. Even though Fates is a mediocre take on mythology, I was still extremely entertained and hopelessly engrossed.

The characters in Fates were merely lifeless shells, and the sad thing is that they had so much potential. I really wanted to care about Corinthe and Luc, but Lanie Bross never really developed her characters enough. Both Luc and Corinthe were so undeveloped to the point where both characters had zero personality and defining characteristics. I never really cared about each character at all and so, I had little to no interest in the plot.

Corinthe's job is to make sure everyone's fates go according to plan and that means killing Luc. If she kills Luc, she can return home to Pyralis Terra, the only problem is that Corinthe has fallen in love. Honestly, I didn't really feel as if Corinthe really wanted to go home and I felt that Corinthe was all talk. The whole plot felt pointless and there really wasn't much of a climax or any rising action; the whole plot lacked any tension.

The world-building of Fates was extremely futile and by the time I finished Fates, I knew even less about Pyralis Terra than when I started. The author throws in random terminology about fates and she never clearly defines these terms. I had so many questions about the world and the author never answered any of my questions at all. The world was poorly constructed and I really didn't understand the point of it all.  I like the concept of a world governed by fate, but it really was executed poorly.

The romance in Fates lacked any movement and I was rather apathetic towards Luc-Corinthe's relationship. Bross gave me no reason to even care about their relationship at all and I couldn't believe that someone would give up their home for a dull guy like Luce. The romance had such a predictable arc and I easily discerned where it was moving right from the start.

The only thing that saved Fates was Lanie Bross's writing style, everything else was very mediocre.  I can't exactly put my finger on it, but there was something I loved about Bross's prose.  Bross has this simple, elegant way of writing and her sentences were a pleasure to read. Her writing redeemed this book for me and it was the only thing that compelled me to continue reading!

Bottom Line:   Fates is a pretty average fantasy novel and the plot, characters and world-building are nothing spectacular.

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by Tynga at Wednesday, January 01, 2014

 Delacorte, Fantasy, Greek Mythology, Lanie Bross, Mythology, Publisher, Random House, Review, young adult  Leave your mark

✎

Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Many of us have a few books that hold a special place on our bookshelves because they will forever remain favorites. For me, HAWKSONG was a teenage favorite of mine and I've stopped counting how many times I've read it. It's not because it's written exceptionally well or because it has an amazing story. On the contrary, the writing is relatively simple and the story, while being original, could be a little bit more detailed. I think it became a favorite of mine because as a high school student, about 10 years ago, this genre was just starting to become popular for teens and this was simply the book that caught my attention.

The book is about Danica Shardae, an avian shapeshifter who is heir to the avian throne, and Zane Cobriana the serpent shapeshifting king. Ever since avian and serpent history can remember, their two courts have been at war, killing each other for a reason that has been lost over the years. Both these leaders wish for peace and the end of senseless killings, but both also fear assassination despite wanting the same thing. Together, Danica and Zane work together to form an alliance, that will forever change their courts and their lives. They both agree that marriage is the only thing that will keep their subjects from retaliating against the alliance but despite their good intentions, the violence doesn't end.

War and political intrigue might be the main themes of the story but I truly believe it's a love story at heart. Danica always thought she would marry another, a childhood friend of hers, but when the marriage to Zane is first proposed by peacekeepers, she is almost disgusted by the idea. Danica is a stoic person and adheres strongly to the Avian reserve, always keeping her feelings to herself, while Zane is more liberal and free with his feelings, like all Serpientes.  Zane lives in a culture that thrives on touch and affection, while Danica's people tend to frown upon displays of affection in public. Their cultures couldn't be more different, yet they decide to try as hard as possible to find a way to keep the peace. Love might be too strong a word to describe what goes on between Zane and Danica but I truly believe they end up caring for one another.

The way the author portrays the racism and hate between the two culture is quite realistic. Obviously I'm not talking about the shapeshifting part but about the different beliefs and ways of thinking. Our world can definitely improve when it comes to accepting different cultures and I think I read this book at the right time because I strongly believe the message of acceptance must be grasped by everyone, especially teens.

What I find really special (and maybe a little confusing) about this book is that you never really know if this is a fantasy world, or if it's a hidden society in our human world. The author doesn't reveal much about the actual setting and despite this fact, it really doesn't matter because the story holds on its own. The author doesn't reveal much about the time frame either because wars are fought with swords and arrows, but the women wear pants and are included on the battlefield.

Like I said, HAWKSONG is a personal favorite of mine, and I don't think anyone will ever be able to change my mind. I have no clue if it's because I have a biased opinion because I read this book as an impressionable teen or not, but one thing I know for sure, even after all these years, I can read this book time and time again.

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by Tynga at Sunday, December 22, 2013

 Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Delacorte, Paranormal, Purchased, Random House, Review, Shapeshifter, The Kiesha'ra, YA, young adult  3 People left their mark

✎

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

Warning: Spoilers ahead if you have not read the first two books in this series.

The Dark and Hollow Places lived up to every single expectation that I could have placed upon it. This series has officially gone down in my own personal hall of fame. Aside from having the most fascinating and haunting titles of any books I've read in a very long time, every single book in this series has been completely unique, and yet set within a familiar world that has become downright terrifying.

In The Dark and Hollow Places, Annah and Abigail (who we know as Gabry) are reunited. For so long, Annah has carried the guilt of what happened the day in the Forest that she and Elias left Abigail behind. Separated as young children, Annah is now mangled and damaged, and struggles with the return of her sister who seems to have had an idyllic childhood compared to her own. I loved getting to read this story from Annah's point of view. All the same characters are present from The Dead-Tossed Waves, and unlike the jump of 20+ years between the first and second book in the series, The Dark and Hollow Places picks up almost immediately after the end of the second book.

The relationships between characters in The Dark and Hollow Places were what made it so intense. Along with all the flesh-eating zombies, of course. We still get to hear lots from Gabry and Elias, but the real star of the show was Annah and Catcher. Annah has so many insecurities borne from Elias' abandonment, her own shame at failing Gabry as a child, and the scars that a tragic accident has left her with. Catcher struggles with his own identity, living as something in between the dead and the living, and he's not sure if Annah could be infected by him. He's also not willing to take the chance.

Throw in a post-apocalyptic world that is just crawling with zombies, a police force that amounts to nothing more than sadistic bullies, and a very real fear that they may be one of the last surviving communities - and The Dark and Hollow Places will keep you turning page after page until you find out what will happen.

I wish this series wasn't over - but alas, if it must end sometime, I suppose that this was a great way to go out. Trust me, you'll never see it coming.

Read an Excerpt

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by Tynga at Thursday, August 22, 2013

 Carrie Ryan, Delacorte, Purchased, Review, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, young adult, Zombie, Zombies  3 People left their mark

✎

  The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Book stats:
Reading level: Young Adult
Trade Paperback: 404pages
Genre: Horror
Publisher: Delacorte
Release date: March 9, 2010

Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #2

Source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Helen

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a 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 from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot 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 seems 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.

The Dead-Tossed Waves had everything that I loved about The Forest of Hands and Teeth and more. Though it is not necessary to have read Book 1 in order to read The Dead-Tossed Waves, I'd most definitely recommend it, as it adds so much richness to the world that the author has created. The Dead-Tossed Waves is the story of Gabrielle. Her mother, who we know as Mary from The Forest of Hands and Teeth, grew up in the village with the Sisterhood, and finally escaped to the shore where she has raised Gabry as close to the ocean as possible.

Gabry lives in a world where zombies have taken over and have pushed the surviving humans to small, fenced in cities that are hundreds of miles apart. And with just one reckless decision, Gabry's entire life is changed. This is by no means a happy book. It can be quite depressing, but in the best possible way. The action begins in the very first pages, and quickly unfolds into deeper levels of mystery and risk. Every time I thought I knew what was coming, another twist in the road was right around the corner. The writing in this series is absolutely flawless. The way that the story and settings are crafted is one of my favorite things about this series. No matter what is happening, the reader is pulled straight to the scene and made to feel as though they are experiencing it first hand.

The Dead-Tossed Waves did something else that I don't see in a lot of other zombie books, which is explore the humanity of the zombies, or the Mudo, as they are called in the book. Instead of simply casting them as one-dimensional monsters, The Dead-Tossed Waves explored the hard questions of what exactly makes us human, and what differentiates us from those that we consider monsters.

Even though they are all technically "companions" to each other as opposed to sequential instalments in a series, I can easily say that this was one of the all-time best 'Book 2's in a series I've ever read. It took what was so intriguing about The Forest of Hands and Teeth and built upon it, creating an entirely new group of people that you will be rooting for, as well as throwing in much more romantic tension than the first book offered. Which I'm always a fan of! I absolutely cannot wait to start the third and final book in this series! If this one was any indication, I can't wait to see what Ms. Ryan has in store for us next!

Read an excerpt

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by Helen at Thursday, June 13, 2013

 Carrie Ryan, Delacorte, Review, young adult, Zombies  4 People left their mark

✎

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

The Dead-Tossed Waves had everything that I loved about The Forest of Hands and Teeth and more. Though it is not necessary to have read Book 1 in order to read The Dead-Tossed Waves, I'd most definitely recommend it, as it adds so much richness to the world that the author has created. The Dead-Tossed Waves is the story of Gabrielle. Her mother, who we know as Mary from The Forest of Hands and Teeth, grew up in the village with the Sisterhood, and finally escaped to the shore where she has raised Gabry as close to the ocean as possible.

Gabry lives in a world where zombies have taken over and have pushed the surviving humans to small, fenced in cities that are hundreds of miles apart. And with just one reckless decision, Gabry's entire life is changed. This is by no means a happy book. It can be quite depressing, but in the best possible way. The action begins in the very first pages, and quickly unfolds into deeper levels of mystery and risk. Every time I thought I knew what was coming, another twist in the road was right around the corner. The writing in this series is absolutely flawless. The way that the story and settings are crafted is one of my favorite things about this series. No matter what is happening, the reader is pulled straight to the scene and made to feel as though they are experiencing it first hand.

The Dead-Tossed Waves did something else that I don't see in a lot of other zombie books, which is explore the humanity of the zombies, or the Mudo, as they are called in the book. Instead of simply casting them as one-dimensional monsters, The Dead-Tossed Waves explored the hard questions of what exactly makes us human, and what differentiates us from those that we consider monsters.

Even though they are all technically "companions" to each other as opposed to sequential instalments in a series, I can easily say that this was one of the all-time best 'Book 2's in a series I've ever read. It took what was so intriguing about The Forest of Hands and Teeth and built upon it, creating an entirely new group of people that you will be rooting for, as well as throwing in much more romantic tension than the first book offered. Which I'm always a fan of! I absolutely cannot wait to start the third and final book in this series! If this one was any indication, I can't wait to see what Ms. Ryan has in store for us next!

Read an excerpt 

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by Tynga at Thursday, June 13, 2013

 Carrie Ryan, Delacorte, Purchased, Review, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, young adult, Zombie, Zombies  4 People left their mark

✎