Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: TorTeen
Publish Date: August 30, 2011
Pages: 316
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal, Ghosts
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.
THE FAERYS VIEW
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake is yet another reason why I’ve come to love the Ghost Story’s I once avoided as Casper does his nasty uncles! Anna Dressed in Blood is a riveting story about Anna, a violent and enraged ghost. Known of by the locals and those in the ‘business’ of knowing such things, Anna, dressed in a white gown with blood staining the front. She haunts the home in which she grew up and also kills violently anyone who should enter-not just a broken neck or heart attack, but absolute brutal murder where the victims are literally torn to shreds. Anna, herself, was murdered in 1958 and because of her attire and reputation became known as Anna Dressed in Blood.
Enter Cassius Theseus Lowood or Cas - following in his father’s footsteps as a ghost hunter and travelling around the country with his white-witch mother, Cas has been training to be a ghost hunter since the age of 14 with a primary focus to kill the evil entity that killed his father. Anna is his last stop before he goes after his father’s murderer. With the help of his ‘on-the-job’ training, a mystical athame and a mindset of pure revenge, Cas sets out to remove Anna from this world and send her packing before he moves on to the ‘Big Bad’.
When Cas arrives in town with his mother and Tybalt the cat, and not just any cat I might add but a spirit sniffing cat that often alerts them of danger. Very cool cat! He immediately stakes out the Anna’s home, he ends up getting drug in there by some of the Jock kids at school. After witnessing the gruesome death of one of the boys, Anna sets her sights on Cas but for some reason she doesn’t harm him. Although Cas is happy to be alive, he’s extremely confused why she spared him. The quick and easy hunt Cas thought this was going to be turns out to be much more than he bargained for and makes this story a tremendous read.
Ms. Blake masterfully describes her characters making it easy to see into the hearts of those she writes about giving an extreme grasp of each situation through the characters own experiences. Horrors, mystery, suspense, love… Ms. Blake captured so many themes and emotions in Anna Dressed in Blood. This is truly spine-tingling haunting deliciousness that stayed with me for days. There were times when I felt so frightened that I was sitting cross-legged in bed, hunched over with a death grip on the book. I hung on to every word, not wanting to miss one bit of this captivating tale. I read it in less than 2 days and this was a very busy 2 days! This is just how good Anna Dressed in Blood is. I felt as if there were absolutely no holes in this story yet I see a second book coming which excites me to no end!
THE FAERY SAYS YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! IT IS TRULY A MUST READ!
Ok, so I'm going to be really nice as I am allergic to wedgies ;-). I've heard great things about this book but now you've just convinced me that I really must buy it, like today! So I'm heading over to amazon right now!
ReplyDeleteI loved Anna! I'm glad you did, too!
ReplyDelete-Wendy from A Cupcake and a Latte: YA Reviews
This is most definitely a captivating tale and a must-read! So glad you enjoyed it, Kristi! :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to read you loved this one as much as I did. Cas's voice was so great and I loved Anna's story. Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteI am SOOOO dying to read this one! Everyone loves it dude!
ReplyDeleteOh this one does sounds like a great read! :) Thank you for the review.
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing well and therapy is getting easier for you. :)
Take care! Hugs!
You just made me want to read this even more! Darn you! :P
ReplyDeleteNew follower! Love yor blog it's very well done and super cute! ;D
http://bookmigik.blogspot.com/
I love how everyone is saying that the ghost books I have on the blog are too scary but want to dive into this one. It was scarier than the adult books!! LOL I also enjoyed this book. Oh and ARGH! Next book is not until 2012!!
ReplyDelete