Book Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Released: March 9, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Pages: 407
Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #2
Rating: 5 stars

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.

The Dead-Tossed Waves is a companion novel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Its set in the same world only a few years later and is narrated by Gabry, which is the daughter of Mary (the main character from The Forest of Hands and Teeth). Many questions I had from Ryan’s first novel were answered in The Dead-Tossed Waves, which I was ever so happy about.

Ryan doesn’t disappoint and has definitely outdone herself with this novel. It was suspenseful and utterly breathtaking…literally. I love how Ryan combined the two novels, how all the characters where somehow connected. I didn’t see that coming. The writing was phenomenal. Her ability to take one’s emotions on a roller coaster with just a simple sentence completely amazes me.

Everything about this novel, from the plot to the characters, was exciting from start to finish and even afterwards. Plain and simple, this was a spectacular novel. I can’t wait to see where Ryan will take us next. I can’t recommend this series enough!!

Book Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

The Forest of Hands and Teeth Carrie Ryan

Released: March 10, 2009

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 308

Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #1

Rating: 5 stars

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, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the
Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now 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 by so much death?

I really enjoyed this novel – more than I thought I would. I’ve had this since it was released and while it sounded interesting in the store, when I got home I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it right away, so I put it off. Now, I can’t believe I waited so long to read it. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a remarkable debut novel!

The writing was superb (although I still feel like that’s an understatement, but I can’t think of the perfect word to describe the writing.). It is one of the most beautiful and best-written novels I’ve read. The plot was very suspenseful, which made me have a hard time putting it down. I just had to know what was going to happen next.

I thought the characters were well-developed, especially Mary. She is a very determined person. And at times, I felt like I was right there by the characters, sharing their pain and suffering. It was surreal.

The only thing that is still bugging me is the unanswered questions. I won’t go too in depth because I don’t want to give away anything, but some things happened that I still don’t understand. They were explained a little, but not fully, so I’m left with more questions. Also, I still don’t know what to think about the ending. I definitely think that it could have been a bit longer. Anyways, hopefully some of these things will be explained in the sequel/companion.

Overall, this was a great read and I definitely will be reading more from Carrie Ryan.