The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

Title: The Dark and Hollow Places (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #3)

Author: Carrie Ryan

Publisher: Delacorte 2011

Genre: Zombies

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombies; Read My Name - R; Support Your Local Library

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face when she and Elias left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the horde as they found their way to 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 him to come home ever since. Without him, her life doesn't feel much different from that of the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Then she meets Catcher and everything feels alive again.Except, Catcher has his own secrets -- dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah's 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 drenched in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

A great end to The Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy. This one continued the story well, focusing on Annah and her fight for survival in the Dark City. The plot line was great. The characters were entertaining. The villains (not the Unconsecrated) were sufficiently villainous. The only difference was the style. This book felt more like a discussion on the meaning of life rather than an eventful story. Sure, there were action sequences. Things happened. But the entire book feels more like a philosophical text. And I appreciate this change. We get to really see what The Return means to the future of the human race. We get discussions about the meaning of life. Characters must decided whether the life they have is enough to truly live. And I must say, Annah is a much more likable character than Gabry (Abigail). I enjoyed the conclusion to the trilogy. I will definitely be reading anything that Carrie Ryan writes in the future.

Forest of Hands and Teeth

#0.4 What We Once Feared
#0.5 Hare Moon
#1 The Forest of Hands and Teeth
#2 The Dead-Tossed Waves
#3 The Dark and Hollow Places
#3.5 The Dead and Empty World

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Title: The Dead-Tossed Waves

Author: Carrie Ryan

Publisher: Delacorte Press 2010

Genre: Young Adult, Zombies

Pages: 404

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; May Read and Review; Zombies

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.

A companion novel to The Forest and Hands and Teeth. Sort of a sequel, but not a sequel. I loved it. Not quite as much as the first one, but definitely a lot. Thought it was interesting that the main character in this book, Gabry, wants most of all to stay within her little fenced in world. She doesn't want to leave, explore the world beyond. Mary in TFHT wants nothing more than to get away from her fences. I liked the reversal of motivation between the two main characters. Of course, circumstances create difficulties for Gabry and she isn't allowed to stay in her little fenced in world. In a way the plot was predictable. I guessed the main events throughout, but that's okay. The book really isn't about the events. It's about the people and their relationships. I loved seeing how Gabry responded and grew. I definitely like Gabry more than I liked Mary. Mary was fairly selfish and some of the things she said and did, I wanted to scream at her. Gabry is much more of a liakable person. Sure, she's a coward, but she also has this need to take care of others. I think that was the point that I connected to her as a person.

Overall, a definite must read! Now I have to enter the land of library holds to read the third book, The Dark and Hollow Places. Hope it's as good as the first two.

Forest of Hands and Teeth

#0.4 What We Once Feared
#0.5 Hare Moon
#1 The Forest of Hands and Teeth
#2 The Dead-Tossed Waves
#3 The Dark and Hollow Places
#3.5 The Dead and Empty World

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Author: Carrie Ryan

Publisher: Delacorte Press 2009

Genre: Young Adult, Zombies

Pages: 310

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; May Read and Review; Zombies

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 its 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?

Wow! I am so in awe of this book. A story of faith, hope, loss, dreams, terror. I practically read it in one sitting. I would have if I didn't have to do things like sleep, eat, shower, and take care of my children. As it was, it took me two days to finish. I couldn't get through the pages fast enough.

My mother used to tell me about the ocean. She said there was a plcace where there was nothing but water as fara as you could see and that iw as always moving, rushing toward you and then away.

The first line hooked me. I hadn't been told what happened or who the characters were, but I knew this was going to be a story of hope and loss. And the book didn't fail to disappoint. This was one of those books where I put myself completely into the world, into the main character. I was Mary sitting in her village wondering, dreaming of the ocean. What was it like? Where was it? Was it just fleeting dream? What would it mean to leave the safety of the village? Then I continued with Mary's journey, while the safety of the village is compromised, when her faith in her family is tested, where she goes after. I couldn't wait to find out if she was safe or still in danger.

The novel creates this moody atmosphere. The forest is a living thing and not only because it is home to the Unconsecrated. It's also a breathing entity surround the village and subsequent areas. It seems neverending, always there, always growing. I loved stepping into Ryan's world.

I now see why everyone in the blogosphere was raving about this book. It has earned a place in my Top 10 of 2011. Thankfully I picked up the next book, The Dead-Tossed Waves, so I can dive into it tonight. The book had such an affect on me that it invaded my dreams. I woke up last night out of a dream and felt inspired to write. The resulting story will appear on Friday. Tell me what you think about. Until then, I am off to finish the chores o the night so I can get back to reading.

Forest of Hands and Teeth

#0.4 What We Once Feared
#0.5 Hare Moon
#1 The Forest of Hands and Teeth
#2 The Dead-Tossed Waves
#3 The Dark and Hollow Places
#3.5 The Dead and Empty World