Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Title: Anna Dressed in Blood
Author: Kendare Blake
Series: Anna #1
Pages: 316 (Hardcover)

Release date: August 30th 2011
Published by: Tor Teen

Summary: (Goodreads)

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Review:

Anna Dressed in Blood is the first horror book (that I’m aware of) that I have read. It follows the story of Thesius Cassio Lowood, better known as Cas, a young ghost hunter who travels with his mother around the world to kill ghosts that do harm to people.

This was the first horror book that I’m aware of that I’ve read because this has been the only book that gave me chills, goosebumps all over my body, made me look constantly over my shoulder to see if some strange something is lurking in my back, and ultimately because this has been the only book so far that screamed horror to me.

The first half of this book was really good. I loved Anna even though she scared me. She is vicious and barbaric. She wouldn’t think twice before she snaps your neck or rip you in half (literally) once you step into her house. The readers would get real curious as to why she spared Cas’s life.

The second half of the book though was a landslide. One wouldn’t think it real should there be rumors about ghosts that rip people in half and hide their bodies, but the first half of the book made it somewhat believable. However, the second half went over the top. First, how Anna was saved was very abrupt. Second, the romance was not believable. And third, I didn’t buy the underlying and ultimate conflict in the book.

Despite the disappointing parts though, Anna Dressed in Blood is a very quick read and will make for a very good read for the Halloween.

Mithee

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Lies - Michael Grant

Title: Lies
Series: Gone series #3
Author: Michael Grant
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: Hardcover, 447 pages
Rating: 4.5 Almost perfect!

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Summary:


It's been seven months since all the adults disappeared. Gone.


It happens in one night. A girl who died now walks among the living; Zil and the Human Crew set fire to Perdido Beach; and amid the flames and smoke, Sam sees the figure of the boy he fears the most: Drake. But Drake is dead. Sam and Caine defeated him along with the Darkness—or so they thought.


As Perdido Beach burns, battles rage: Astrid against the Town Council; the Human Crew versus the mutants; and Sam against Drake, who is back from the dead and ready to finish where he and Sam left off. And all the while deadly rumors are raging like the fire itself, spread by the prophetess Orsay and her companion, Nerezza. They say that death is a way to escape the FAYZ. Conditions are worse than ever and kids are desperate to get out. But are they desperate enough to believe that death will set them free?

REVIEW:

Lies is the third installment of Gone Series by Michael Grant. So for those who haven’t read the two first books and doesn’t want to be spoiled. I suggest you to read my first Reviews. Here and Here. And Go buy the book! It’s a kind that you wouldn’t want to miss!

WOW. Again. WOW. Everytime I hear or read “gone” word all I could remember is the Gone series. And then my heart will starting raising to excitement. Michael blow my mind for the third time.But!
I have good news and bad news regarding this installment. Good News is the hunger/food was sorted out (yey!) and the bad news is Drake is back (booo!) plus his immortal (booo!2x2x2x2x throws all the things she can grab to Drake) anyways.

Things are getting tougher for Sam and rest of the Council. More action scenes and more problems to that needs to be resolved ASAP!!

After many incidents that happened aka Worms in a farm fields, Caine’s attact, Human Crew, And Death of some kids in the FAYZ and Drake Merwin’s death.

It has been half a year since the children are forced to live everyday inside the FAYZ scared and hungry. Sam and the council are moving on and trying to live in FAYZ. Hunger was sorted out. More kids discovering their powers yet more kids suffered from the Human Crew’s hands as they continue to roam around the FAYZ freely and hurt those mutants/freaks bad or not. Sam is getting mad at this yet Astrid is stopping him as she wants to make a system out of her leadership. In addition to that Orsay claimed that she is able to see the happenings outside the Fayz wall (which Mr. Grand, had given us a slight Idea of what is outside the wall - Which I still have a hard time believing due to fact that: 1st duh...LIES, 2nd is its orsay. Who knows what Nerezza had put into her mind) not to mention that someone saw Drake walking around the Beach.

New and interesting/scary Characters have been introduced yet again! could they be an ally or eneme? It’s for you to find out! Anyways, Nerezza who turned out to be the ‘darkness’, Sanjit and virtue who are the celebrity children who lived across the island. Old Characters have are crueler and crazy. You wouldn’t really imagine that we are talking about kids here. They all think like adult already. Some would do for the common good and some would do things for their own selfishness and evilness.

Why Lies? Well throughout the story all things revolves around the truth and lie. As I may have mentions above that Orsay claims to see what is happening outside the FAYZ wall and telling every kids that she can talk to their parents outside using her power. That said many have believed and some doubted. Many have taken her word and happily faced their death when they turned fifteen. The council themselves doesn’t know whether to believe or not but they don’t the kids to commit suicide. So they covered up the lie with another lie.

You know the reason why I stick to this book. I want to know what humans esp. kids their age wanted to do in order to survive and live the world where death and life matters. Well that’s a bit confusing aint it? And also the story is a realistic yet fictional. Of course the obvious fiction here is the gaiaphage and the powers that the kids have gained though out the series and the cruelty of the kids, Which I think had gone worst. What I say about realistic is how kids react, would do and feels while inside the FAYZ and who and where should they hold on to? When there are kids like Caine, Drake and Zil who all wants to lead or face them and let them threatened you using this --> "I'll Kill you If you won’t let me rule" I also laugh of some Michaels remakes about the things. Like how Sam would tell Astrid how hot he is. Or what is Sam’s reaction after seeing Brittney sitting in the couch in Howard and Orc’s living room. <-- opps. As always the writing style and plot matched perfectly to that point that you’ll end up gaping to the unpredictable scenes and get mad at those ruthless kids in the story. Every page is a must read as it contains important information regarding the next scenes.

Gawd I can't wait for the fourth installment! I kept on wondering what will happen next and what are those new characters will contribute on the next series. Plague seems a sad title esp. that many kids have died in this series alone. I wonder what will Caine do next in order to defeat Sam? I kept on hoping that someday along the series. Caine and Sam will team up against all odds to fight for someone like Drake? Darkness? Zil? whoever?. And! I had the feeling it will come SOON!

Kay-c

Lies - Michael Grant

Hunger - Michael Grant

Title: HUNGER
Series: Gone Series #2
Author: Michael Grant
Pages: 590
Publisher: Harper Teen
Rating: 5 out of 5

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Summary:

IT'S BEEN THERE MONTHS SINCE EVERYONE UNDER THE AGE OF FIFTEEN BECAME TRAPPED IN THE BUBBLE KNOWN AS THE FAYZ.
THREE MONTHS SINCE ALL THE ADULTS DISAPPEARED.
GONE.
Food ran out weeks ago. Everyone is starving, but no one wants to figure out a solution. And each day, more and more kids are evolving, developing supernatural abilities that set them apart from t...moreIT'S BEEN THERE MONTHS SINCE EVERYONE UNDER THE AGE OF FIFTEEN BECAME TRAPPED IN THE BUBBLE KNOWN AS THE FAYZ.
THREE MONTHS SINCE ALL THE ADULTS DISAPPEARED.
GONE.
Food ran out weeks ago. Everyone is starving, but no one wants to figure out a solution. And each day, more and more kids are evolving, developing supernatural abilities that set them apart from the kids without powers.
Tension rises and chaos is descending upon the town. It's the normal kids against the mutants. Each kid is out for himself, and even the good ones turn murderous.

But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, begins calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them.
The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

Review

Is the second book installment of the Gone novel by Michael Grant and If you haven’t read the first one and doesn’t want to be spoiled. I strongly suggest to back away or go read my first review. Here.

It's been three months since the FAYZ started. All things have gone from bad to worst. All kids are facing Hunger, having little food left in the grocery store plus more kids complaining. Sam can feel the pressure of being a leader to these little kids. Having forced to answer all their questions repeatedly. Having asked to solve some little/minor problems such as who will own the pet they both kids named? Not to mention the faces who looked out for him to answer all the things. Several months before after the adults had gone ‘poofed’ children had gone wild taking all they can have for free in the local grocery store, not minding that doing it might reflect a huge crisis in the future events : Starvation. That said children have gone joking about cannibalism. Eating the pets they once own, or their neighbors pet or hunt an animals that is available just to survive the starvation.

The book as title hunger not only revolves around the hunger in the beach kids but also the hunger of their main protagonist who called itself: darkness. As it calls whoever get in touch with it aka caine, drake, lana. Caine has spent months in bed fighting gaiaphage or the darkness. And Lana who silently is fighting the darkness is calling her back to the gold mine where they last encountered with coyotes’ are having this thought to face and finish it on her own.

Many kids are introduced in this series: Zil, Hunter, Harry, Brittany, Duck and many more. Who have a very big role in the entire series and might as well in the next ones.

For me this is not as good as the first book. Sam and Astrid only share small portion of spotlight despite their main role in the story. Caine and Diane get to enjoy their spotlight here as they both fight and plotting another war against Sam who had a breakdown after all things that happened. Astrid on the other is annoying me, she doesn’t seem the Genius anymore. Maybe she’s too smart to the point that she can't see smaller things like what Albert is planning. Saving batteries and tissue paper are indeed a good idea who knows they might need in the future. Yet she opposes it.

Also in this series. Human crew was made. As the title of the groups says they are a group of humans who does not have the power. As Caine went to the power plant and Diana winning Computer Jack’s favor using his weakness against computers and technology to prove his worth. He decided to go after them for the plan of getting the Beach electricity cut. Zil on the other hand had made a sudden attack in the beach, vandalizing, destroying some houses and even hunting kids that have power and that includes Duck who has the power over his own density and Hunter who has the power to boil the brain of his enemy or someone. Some kids favored him saying that Mutants are failing and selfish people who only cares for their selves.

Caine and Diane get to have my favor here even though I’m not really on their side. But seeing how twisted couple they are? and how they made the series more likeable and interesting. Even though Caine’s plan fails Diana will always have a backup plan making them a perfect tandem. Drake is getting more scary and ruthless.

This book is getting better as we go further. I can't wait to set my hands on the third installment.

Kay-c

PS: REVIEW - Book 3:
Lies

Hunger - Michael Grant

Gone - Michael Gran

Title: GONE
Series: Gone series #1
Author: Michael Grant
Pages: 558
Publisher: Harper Teen
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Summary:

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else..

Review:

The Gone introduced us to a scary place they call FAYZ (FALLOUT ALLEY YOUTH ZONE) where no 15 yrs old and above exist. Where kids are the one left behind with a question mark on their heads. Asking and hoping that the adults will be back in a few hours or days. Just a few hours ago Teachers and some other were just around then suddenly with the blink of an eye they are gone. Gone as in nowhere to be found. Then a mysterious wall appeared in nowhere that separates them from the other side which they speculate as the real world. Children who are scared and frightened looks for someone they can trust and found Sam who is known to be school bus Sam –the hero who helped the driver as he suffered from being heart attack while driving saved the bus who is full of children and the driver himself.

They soon started asking Sam questions that he, himself couldn’t even answer and have no clue of what’s going on. Sam was born as a natural leader but still reluctant to accept it as everyone looks up to him for an answers and help. He wants to run away and be someone they think he’s not. He doesn’t want to lead these kids. Afraid the things that are happening might be his fault. Having this strange ability to turn his hands to some light beam that endangered his step father and the reason why he left them behind. Afraid that he might put them in danger as well because of it. Until the handsome and charismatic Caine together with his other Coates academy crew arrived and took over. Making things worse, having all these bullies rule and hurting helpless children. Sam has no choice but to fight for the greater good.

This book blew me away for the first time. The plot aren’t predictable, the writing style is fantastic. You’ll get to know how and what the characters are doing and thinking but of course the obvious mystery is still unknown, even to us readers. Characters are awesome and scary, ruthless, cruel (you name it.) for their kind. I can’t believe they are children at 15 below of age. Can’t believe they can actually do that. I mean realistically…can someone really do that? You will pity and feel mad about all they’ve done in order to rule the village.

Right from the beginning my mind is filled with questions, “what happened?” “how did this start?” or rather who started it. And then they are isolated inside this creepy bowl like think that whenever you touch it you’ll feel electricity flowing strong inside your skin. You can’t put the book down because the further you go on reading the more interesting the story become and the more mystery unravel.

You will be shocked, you'll feel pity, mad and all the bad vibes you could feel is I think I felt while reading this book. I love Sam though I sometimes hate his reluctant side but understand him. He will get to lead this bunch of children in one moment, when he, himself is still considered one. Just like everyone in the FAYZ, he too, Needs guidance. I dislike not hate Quinn, despite his bigness compared to Sam. Quinn is a coward and by that instead of him standing in front and defending Sam, he is the one being protected, he'll easily breakdown in a fight. And because of this he made a mistake and sold Sam in their enemy but I can't really be mad at him esp. when you are in this place where people have this scary powers and bats, and guns? Plus a psychopath kids who wouldn’t have a second thought to kill you, you'll definitely be scared. Astrid on the other hand is known as “Astrid the Genius” who is friend with Sam and Quinn and their classmate for I forgot how long. She has an important role in Sam’s life, not only because she is Sam’s crush but because she’s only one who can keep Sam sane, not that Sam is insane but suddenly having this huge responsibility? Astrid may be a great help, helping Sam make good and right decisions throughout the story. And I think that having them together is perfect like a sidekick and hero relationship.

I can't wait to read the the second series. And I can't wait for another mind blowing plot.

Kay-c

PS: REVIEW for book 2 and 3:
Hunger
Lies

Gone - Michael Gran