(The Forest of Hands and Teeth #3)
Carrie Ryan
Release date: March 22nd, 2011
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Goodreads / Purchase
There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed 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 Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again.
But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has 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 covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?
*This review is part of Zombies vs Unicorns month co-hosted with Literary Exploration, YA-Aholic and YA Bookmark.*
This
was definitely the best of the three. Just as original and thought
provoking as the first two in the series- in The Dark and Hollow Places
we follow yet a new character, Annah, as the protagonist. Although the
others from The Dead-Tossed Waves are present as well. Some more than
others, but don't fret- you won't miss anyone; Annah's story is plenty interesting. I
also found her to be a much more competent main character than Mary and
Gabry. She is strong and self sufficient. I really admired her
determination and will to live.
In addition to its originality, we still run and hide, escaping the Unconsecrated, fighting for our lives in this exhilarating pulse pounding conclusion. Although the ending is still a bit open-ended with room for more books in the future, I'd be fine if this was it. It's a perfect way to end this series: Hopeful and believable.
There is no slow start in this third novel. We are thrown right in at high speeds that don't slow down until the last page. It's easily the darkest book in the series. The Unconsecrated are not the only enemy anymore, and I don't know which is worse. We really see the lengths that people will go to in order to survive. Some even make the zombies seem charming. Regardless of all this horror, we've still got some love and romance to gush through. The chemistry between the characters is much more present which makes it even easier to root for them.
It's all brilliantly written; the settings, the different protagonists, the passion, the helplessness, the hope- it all adds up to give us a very realistic world. It made my adrenaline pump and my heart ache. I thoroughly enjoyed it all. I also have to mention that the covers are gorgeous!! That alone is worth having these on your shelves!
In addition to its originality, we still run and hide, escaping the Unconsecrated, fighting for our lives in this exhilarating pulse pounding conclusion. Although the ending is still a bit open-ended with room for more books in the future, I'd be fine if this was it. It's a perfect way to end this series: Hopeful and believable.
There is no slow start in this third novel. We are thrown right in at high speeds that don't slow down until the last page. It's easily the darkest book in the series. The Unconsecrated are not the only enemy anymore, and I don't know which is worse. We really see the lengths that people will go to in order to survive. Some even make the zombies seem charming. Regardless of all this horror, we've still got some love and romance to gush through. The chemistry between the characters is much more present which makes it even easier to root for them.
It's all brilliantly written; the settings, the different protagonists, the passion, the helplessness, the hope- it all adds up to give us a very realistic world. It made my adrenaline pump and my heart ache. I thoroughly enjoyed it all. I also have to mention that the covers are gorgeous!! That alone is worth having these on your shelves!
 |
| 5 Hot Espressos |
The Forest of Hands and Teeth series:
For my reviews on the previous books:
Click here for The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Click here for The Dead-Tossed Waves
