Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Review: Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake


Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen (August 30, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765328658
ISBN-13: 978-0765328656
Source: ARC received for Teen Book Scene Tour
Cover: I think this cover looks middle grade. Not in a bad way but I don't think it looks very young adult, just by the way it's drawn. However, I really like the intrigue of it, seeing the house and Anna. I love that it is black and white with only red accents.
First Sentence: "The grease-slicked hair is a dead giveaway--no pun intended."


Mini-ReviewAn addictive debut with a fantastic cast of characters that will have fans of Supernatural clamoring for more.


Book Summary:

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.
Book Review:


Anna Dressed In Blood is an off-the-wall debut that utuilizes a realistic and likable male voice, one very fascinating job and a toe-curling plot. Cas Lowood is one heck of a lead that you won't mind spending three hundred pages with and Ms. Blake's writing is competent and sure. Anna Dressed In Blood is so creepy it's good!


I loved that this story was written in a male's perspective. Cas reminded me of the best of both Supernatural brothers rolled into one guy that was equal parts serious, humorous and cocky. From the moment he starts his story to his last words, he grows and learns. I loved that in the beginning he was confident but as he spoke, you could see the little boy peeking out, trying to fill his father's shoes. This gave his character a lot of room to grow and grow Cas did. Seeing him learn to lean on other people was surprisingly fulfilling. Even though Cas didn't seem to care that he was solo in the beginning, the author did a great job letting the reader know that something was seriously missing. Just fair warning, Cas is a little rough around the edges with his foul language but he is respectful to his mother and generally cares so for me, that canceled it out. Like I'd mention in other reviews of the same genre, he was a strong enough character to lead the reader through the horror of his surroundings and competent enough that he didn't look dumb running to the noise that go bump in the night. For me, that's essential.


The ghosts that Ms. Blake created were interesting. Hopping from town to town with Cas is like getting to hear the best spooky stories each place has got to offer. And spooky they were! Some of the scenes with Ana had me scooting to the edge of the lamp light so that the shadows were as far away as possible. The way the house was described was incredibly creepy but I liked that at the same time, after a while it felt familiar. Sort of like a metaphor for Anna herself. The author did an awesome job setting up the mystery surrounding Anna and the fact that she didn't kill Cas when we witnessed her rip the others to shreds made riping through the pages a breeze. My only niggle is that I felt like the writing tripped up at times. There were a few places where I had to re-read because something wasn't clear or it just didn't connect to the paragraph before it. It wasn't enough to detract from the mystery of this novel and the incredibly creeptastic story within the pages.


Anna Dressed In Blood will surprise you with its sincerity. I don't want to give away too much but I enjoyed that it switched themes in the second half of the novel and Cas's love interest was just too bittersweet for words. I enjoyed every last word from the guy that for me, embodied both of my favorite brothers on television (Supernatural). A strong debut by an author to look out for, Anna Dressed In Blood is a must read... or else she'll come for you. And you don't want to know what goes on behind Anna's walls unless Cas is there too!


Rating


33 comments:

  1. I really want to read this one! It sounds awesome, and I love a story told from a boy's POV :)

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  2. I'm dying to read this one (no pun intended). Great review!

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  3. Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts and opinions about the book.

    ~Sherry

    Author Sherry Soule


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  4. I keep hearing such great things about this book... it sounds spooky, but so interesting!

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  5. Heard good things about it. Will pick it up. :)

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  6. The cover alone makes me want to read this book. But I also like how you mention that Cas grows throughout the book. I'm not a big fan of characters that remain the same despite all they see. It kinda gets boring. Plus if this guy reminds you of the Winchester brothers then I'm all in, love those guys.

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  7. I wasn't entirely sure about reading this book before, but after reading your interview and review I must! I love meeting great new characters, especially guys. :)

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  8. Yes, I agree, the cover is what drew me in. After that review, there's no way I'm missing this novel. It seriously sounds absolutely fabulous!

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  9. I can't wait to read Anna after reading this review! I need to read it soon ;) awesome review!

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  10. I've been waiting for this book for forever and I've been hearing a lot of good things about it. Awesome review by the way :)

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  11. I'm a girl but I'm always on the lookout for good YA novels with a great male voice. It's always interesting to see how the story unfolds through their eyes. It's so, so different from a female perspective. I'm excited to find out how and why Kendare's writing is 'competitive.' I'm sure it's good!

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  12. This sounds creepy and the MC sounds awesome, I love me a good boy!

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  13. I LOVE the cover!!
    I also like reading books in guys perspectives, makes a nice change from all the books out there in girls perspectives. Cas sounds like an amazing character and this review has made me want to read this book all the more

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  14. I'm hearing so many good things about this book. No one had mentioned yet that it was written from a male's perspective. I don't see that very much.

    Nikki @ Books Most Wanted

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  15. This one sounds awesome. Glad you liked it! I need to get my hands on this one...great review!

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  16. thanks for this great review ! It make me want to read it !

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  17. Ok so I definitely want to read this now. I was thinking it sounded like a teen version of Supernatural and since you seem to think so too I'm even more excited - I love that show and the whole catching monsters thing! Wow, just wow - this really looks like a book I'll enjoy!

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  18. Found you, Ms Review!

    I am so excited about this book, I just love ghost stories. I want to read it even more now!

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  19. Sweeeeeet!! Great review this sounds super creepy I Love it!! Can't wait to read it!!
    Giselle Cormier

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  20. Your review has made this book bump to the top of my wishlist! I really want to read it now! :D

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  21. You had me at "Both Supernatural Brothers rolled into one" - can we say major fantasy of mine!? OMG, must read this! Thanks for the review!:D

    apereiraorama @ gmail . com

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  22. Great review. I haven't read many stories told in the male voice and it sounds creepy. My kind of read. I will definitly get my hands on a copy ASAP.
    mizztuts AT bellsouth DOT net

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  23. I have to admit the cover it what grabbed me on this one, but after all the great reviews I am itchin' to read it :)

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  24. I already wanted to read this, and your awesome review just made me want it more! Can't wait to read it!!

    Juan,
    Geeks & Books

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  25. Great review! I've heard such wonderful things about this book. The cover alone is enough to make someone want to buy it!

    Donna @ The Happy Booker
    ahappybooker at gmail dot com

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  26. Great review. This sentence, "he was a strong enough character to lead the reader through the horror of his surroundings and competent enough that he didn't look dumb running to the noise that go bump in the night," made me laugh and also made me want to read the book. Can't wait to read it.

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  27. wow both of Winchester brothers in one guy...oh my! And is writing in a male perspective I love that kind of books and this one I've heard/read only great things.

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  28. Ooh, this book sounds so beautiful and creepy! I've been seeing this around, but I should really read this book! I love that it's from a male's point of view. I haven't watched Supernatural, but I do tend to watch horror movies. I don't read horror books, but ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD sounds like an awesome horror book to read!

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  29. Wonderful review! I always enjoy reading books with a male's POV. Now I wonder who's Cas' love interest..

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  30. I've heard such good things about this book. Your review makes me want to read it even more now.

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  31. I seriously can't wait to read this. Cas sounds like such an amazing character - I like that he's a little rough around the edges! Great review - really glad you enjoyed it! :)

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  32. Totally agree with this review..Cas really made the story for me..love his snarky remarks!

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