#161 Book Review: Girl of Nightmares

Girl of Nightmares (Anna #2)
Release Date: August 7th 2012
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Tor Teen (Hachette Australia)
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy: Fishpond | Booktopia
More Info: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on.

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

Cover:
CREEPY BUT AWESOME! I think this cover is even better than the first book. I like how the girl puts her hand out, as if inviting us to go to 'hell', the background really suits the cover and the girl is a great portrayal of Anna!

Story:

To what extent would you save your love.....if she's a ghost?

To Cas, he would literally go to 'hell' to save Anna.  The sequel picks up 6 months later after the events in the first book and Cas is still tormented by his love for Anna and his guilt of losing her because she saved him from the Obeahman. He sees Anna everywhere and when she discovers that Anna is in hell, Cas would endure anything to save her.

Girl of Nightmares is the enthralling and eerily gorgeous sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood. After loving the first book so much, I was really curious of where the sequel is going to take us and wow, the sequel absolutely blew me away. It was just as amazing as the first book!

Kendare Blake continues to write in her gorgeous writing style, blending themes of sadness, guilt, fear and love. This blend creates a beautiful book about a guy trying to save his love, even though his love is no longer a part of the world. New things are introduced in this book and they are terrifying. There is a scene in the book where the characters walk through the Suicide Forest and all I can say is "I don't think I can sleep tonight!" It's definitely one of the creepy scenes and I must applaud Kendare for her ability to execute terrifying scenes well. The ending is bittersweet and I completely understand how Kendare ends the book that way, even though it is not what I expected.

Characters:
Besides Kendare gorgeous story, her characters are so easy to connect with. I feel what Cas feels. Despite how the story may seem like a typical ghost story, where the main character falls in love with a ghost, this is not the case with Girl of Nightmares. Something deeper is going  on with Cas and Anna. It's love, but it's something more. I like how ghosts are portrayed just as they are, as in Blake does not merely attach the word 'ghost' to her characters, but actually make them one. I really like Cas' growth in this book, clearly shown by the ending of the book. Meanwhile, Thomas and Carmel are really good friends and are very supportive of Cas. I like that about them! Thomas and Carmel's relationship is sweet and cute as well. In this book, we also find out more about Gideon, his secrets and new characters are also introduced in this book, in relation with Cas' father and the athame.

Overall:
Girl of Nightmares is the enthralling, bittersweet and beautiful sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood. With Kendare's gorgeous writing, dark and terrifying story plot, Girl of Nightmares is an enticing mixture of sadness, guilt, fear and love. If you love creepy books with a touch of romance, then this series is for you!

5 Forget-Me-Not flowers for Girl of Nightmares!

Thank you Hachette Australia for the review copy!

#135 Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood

Anna Dressed in Blood
Release Date: July 10th 2012
Author: Kendare Blake
Publisher: Orchard (Hachette Australia)
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy: Fishpond | Booktopia | Dymocks
More Info: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder 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: move, 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, but now stained red and dripping 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.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Cover:
So creepy but completely reflects the story of the book! The UK/AUS cover is actually similar to the US one except the colour of the girl's dress and I have to say, the UK/AUS wins because they made the whole dress coloured in red instead of just the bottom bit like in the US cover. I love the background, the mysterious fog surrounding the house and the girl!

Story:

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. Nothing's wrong with it right?


After hearing about Anna Dressed in Blood, I knew I had to read this book. I haven't actually read many books about ghosts and usually they're all about a girl falling in love with a ghost or vice-versa. But then, I heard that this book was scary and that it's not just about romance. So I was curious and finally, after getting the chance to read it, I can say that this book is the best YA book about ghosts I've read so far!


Have you heard of the local legend? Anna, Anna Dressed in Blood. Enter her house, and you'll never return.


The book centers around a ghost hunter called Cas and the book is written from his POV. Cas gets an anonymous tip about a ghost called Anna and goes all the way to Thunder Bay to 'kill' her. According to legend, anyone who goes inside Anna's house will be killed. But when Cas encounters Anna, he miraculously survived. And this is just the beginning.


Anna Dressed in Blood is completely addictive even though it scares me! Frankly, I am actually scared of ghosts. But the YA books I've read so far about ghosts have not scared me so much because the ghosts portrayed in this book makes them look as if they're humans, with some 'ghastly' qualities. Now, the ghosts in this book are the REAL DEAL. They're scary, they make terrifying noises, they can kill people and are usually bound to a certain thing in relation with their death. Reading this book gives me chills. But I can't seem to stop reading because Blake's writing is haunting and gorgeous. There's that pull that keeps you hooked into the story. I love the constant actions in this book and I am unable to guess the plot towards the end of the book it actually surprises me!


Characters:
Anna, I'm scared but intrigued of you at the same time. Your abilities terrify me but you're so AMAZING. I want to be your best friend. Seriously, I'm honest although you'll have to bear with me if I seem nervous sitting next to you. 


Cas, you ghost buster! Oops, I know you hate that term. I mean, ghost hunter. You ridiculously brave man. I don't think I can live a life like you, hunting ghosts all around unless if all ghosts are like Casper; friendly, sweet and funny! Keep rocking.


The other characters such as Carmel, Thomas who are Cas' friends are great too! I liked their role in the book and how they end up helping Cas a lot. 


What I really like from the characters are Blake's portrayal of Anna. Blake's descriptions are very detailed and I like how she can portray her as scary and awesome at the same time!


Overall:
Anna Dressed in Blood is a gorgeous and chilling book. Blake's descriptive writing creates an eerie book set in a haunting atmosphere. Ghosts portrayed in this book are the REAL DEAL. They're terrifying yet awesome at the same time! I absolutely can't wait for the sequel, Girl of Nightmares!

5 Forget-Me-Not flowers for Anna Dressed in Blood!

Thank you Hachette Australia for the review copy!

Teaser:

“I think of her again. Anna. Anna Dressed in Blood. I wonder what tricks she'll try. I wonder if she'll be clever. Will she float? Will she laugh or scream?
How will she try to kill me?”