Author: Carrie Ryan
Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #1
Pages: 308
Genre: YA, Horror, Thriller, Zombie
Date Published: February 9th, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Format Read: Bought paperback
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Summary:
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?
-Goodreads
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My Thoughts:
The Forest of Hands and Teeth was one of the prettiest scary books I've ever read. It didn't short itself on gore, or death or intense survivalist adventure and it still managed to be very soothingly written. In a way, I think this fact adds to what makes this novel so haunting. There is always something that is just a little off about the characters, or the setting or the action that reminds you that this isn't the type of book that makes you say "and they all lived happily ever after" at the end. Ryan also plays with your mind. You know that this book takes place in the future, after The Unconsecrated take over, but there is something about the world she built for Mary that will make you think of The Dark Ages. The story has hints of "The Village", which is a movie that I adore and Ryan uses that to play with your head!
Can we just take a moment to step back and say what an awesome choice it was for Ryan to call the zombies in this book The Unconsecrated?! In my humble opinion, that's what I think every zombie should be called for the rest of time. Zombie is such a funny word when you think about it, but The Unconsecrated sound like something strait out of hell. I love it!
Right away Ryan introduces us to death and sadness when someone she loves is infected, throwing her world into chaos. Mary is a tough character. She's young, there are things that happen in the village were she lives, but she longs for something else. It's her faith that there is something better beyond the gates that keep them safe that makes her both a character that you want to root for and a character that you want to yell at. This girl has layers to the extreme and sometimes they make you love her and sometimes they don't. But I think that's what makes a great MC, someone that is flawed and messed up and brave.
The love story in this one was a little weird for me. It worked for the novel, but wasn't my favorite. Plus, I always root for the underdog, even when I know they're gonna loose. Travis and Harry are brothers. They both love Mary. Mary only loves one, but she engaged to the other and the guy she likes is engaged to her best friend. Yep, it's a messy love triangle and it's kinda weird. Parts of it totally worked and others, I felt, got in the way of the story. This love story was the reason that this book didn't get a full 5 from me, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment either.
This book is full of adventure and interesting characters. There are little boys and black puppies and red vests and 100 more little things that make this book wonderful. Also, Ryan doesn't forget to give us real relationships as Mary and her small group of friends and family run for their lives. The sibling rivalry is there in a big way and I loved that she kept those real elements.
I have to say that I'm a big fan of this series already and that I can't wait to get my hands on the other books. I want to see what happens next! So, if you like books full of secrets, The Unconsecrated and survivalist adventure with a dose of a creepy Sisterhood, this is the book/series for you!
Rating:
4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!
Now, go hop on over to Read My Breath Away to read Jess's review of Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin!
Now, go hop on over to Read My Breath Away to read Jess's review of Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin!
