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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
Dnf at 35%, why are zombie books always told in such lame POV with boring and annoying characters
I haven't re-read a book in a long time - my TBR pile's too big for me to allow it. But I wanted to read The Dead-Tossed Waves and I really wanted to re-read Forest before I did. Turns out, with my memory, re-reading a book is like watching a TV episode when I've been spoiled on the ending, but I don't know how things get to that point and there are lots of little details along the way that can still surprise me.
This time, I saw pretty clearly how non-standard a heroine Mary is for a YA book. She's selfish and stubborn and pig-headed, but the other characters know it and she openly admits it to herself. She is living in a world threatened every minute by zombies; that's pretty much how she needs to be to survive. I think that she's a really interesting character; there is always a lot boiling under her surface, even if she's presenting a poker face to others.
The Sisterhood is still my favourite part of the book - yes, even more so than the zombies. It's just such a intriguing concept; the idea of a group of nuns ruling a tiny community with an iron fist. Sister Tabitha is a powerful antagonist and if their interests had coincided, I think she and Mary could have made a great team.
I've read some reviews that think that between the secrets of the Sisterhood, the apocalyptic setting and the threat from the zombies, the love story between Mary and Travis is extraneous, but I like it because what happens to them shows the balls on Carrie Ryan; that she's not afraid to go to dark places with her story and on Mary; that she has the strength to do what she does. I don't think it would have worked as well if it was between friends or even family members.
There were at least 3 - no 4 - moments reading this book that made me gasp out loud the first time: It really is a thrilling read. Re-reading it gave me the opportunity to enjoy Ryan's prose more and see the build-up and foreshadowing she did for those vital moments and see how lovely the writing is in the quiet moments. I also appreciated some of Mary's other relationships, like the one between her and her brother.
So I like Forest just as much now as I did when I first read it, which is a relief to me. Now for The Dead-Tossed Waves.
This time, I saw pretty clearly how non-standard a heroine Mary is for a YA book. She's selfish and stubborn and pig-headed, but the other characters know it and she openly admits it to herself. She is living in a world threatened every minute by zombies; that's pretty much how she needs to be to survive. I think that she's a really interesting character; there is always a lot boiling under her surface, even if she's presenting a poker face to others.
The Sisterhood is still my favourite part of the book - yes, even more so than the zombies. It's just such a intriguing concept; the idea of a group of nuns ruling a tiny community with an iron fist. Sister Tabitha is a powerful antagonist and if their interests had coincided, I think she and Mary could have made a great team.
I've read some reviews that think that between the secrets of the Sisterhood, the apocalyptic setting and the threat from the zombies, the love story between Mary and Travis is extraneous, but I like it because what happens to them shows the balls on Carrie Ryan; that she's not afraid to go to dark places with her story and on Mary; that she has the strength to do what she does. I don't think it would have worked as well if it was between friends or even family members.
There were at least 3 - no 4 - moments reading this book that made me gasp out loud the first time: It really is a thrilling read. Re-reading it gave me the opportunity to enjoy Ryan's prose more and see the build-up and foreshadowing she did for those vital moments and see how lovely the writing is in the quiet moments. I also appreciated some of Mary's other relationships, like the one between her and her brother.
So I like Forest just as much now as I did when I first read it, which is a relief to me. Now for The Dead-Tossed Waves.
The first 130 pages of this book just wallow in desolation. The situation after that is still very bleak, but things moved more quickly, and I felt myself actually wanting to know what would happen. I would have liked to have seen more wrapping up at the end, though.
It was an interesting take on the emotional effects of being alive during a zombie outbreak, but I must say I'm glad it's over so I can put as much space in between me and this novel as possible. I don't want to be in that headspace anymore.
It was an interesting take on the emotional effects of being alive during a zombie outbreak, but I must say I'm glad it's over so I can put as much space in between me and this novel as possible. I don't want to be in that headspace anymore.
This was super intense and just the right amount of scary! The unconsecrated were so creepy and I was holding my breath from suspense a lot throughout the whole book. Definitely reminded me of “The Village” movie, and I think I want to continue the series to find out what happens next to Mary.
Had lots of potential, but overall? Meh. I would have preferred less of the half-assed love quadrangle and more of the zombies and world-building. Also, a non-rushed ending would have been nice.
My feelings on this book are divided. Mary is a flawed character. I absolutely love flawed characters because they make literature so much more interesting. However, it really bothered me that a lot of her time is spent thinking about boys as her world is actually falling a part. I would have liked her to focus on how to survive a bit more. Mary's character is redeemed a bit for me toward the end of the novel because of the choices she makes. The secondary characters were great, and I rooted for them as much as I did Mary. The ending is a bit frustrating because it leaves the reader hanging, but I suppose given that Mary's future is uncertain the reader should also feel uncertain about her future.
Not quite the worst book I've ever read, but pretty close. Other than the fact that it manages to get even more horribly depressing at every turn, the characters are boring and underdeveloped. It started with a good concept, but the execution was a flop. I'm not surprised that there was a series, or that it was all equally depressing and underwhelming as the first. As somebody who hates leaving books unfinished(and leaving bad reviews), this is the first time I have ever had to literally wince my way through a book. Save yourself the time, not worth the read.
I was really excited when I got this book. I heard a lot of good things about it. It started off wonderful, and I got completely dragged into it. Mary lives in a village past the Forest of Hands and Teeth, where the Unconsecrated reside. After her mother is bitten by one of the Unconsecrated, Mary joins the ranks of the Sisters. However, one day the fence that separates the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth breaks and the Unconsecrated pours in. Most people climb into the nests that are high in the tree in hope that they will be safe. However, most people die and Mary, Harry (her betrothed), Travis (her love), Cass (Travis's betrothed), her brother Jed, and his wife head through the Forest in hope of escaping safely.
Every page was packed with suspense and I could hardly put it down. However, what I disliked about the book is that the author killed practically all the characters off except for Mary and the guy at the lighthouse at the end of the book. Throughout the book you get to know Travis and Jed and the others a lot, but in the end they all die. It's kind of depressing when the author gives you the feeling that Mary and the man are the last humans on Earth in a land full of Unconsecrated people. When I finally finished the book, I felt like the ending was poorly written. Overall the book was nicely written, but the ending brought down the final result quite a bit.
Every page was packed with suspense and I could hardly put it down. However, what I disliked about the book is that the author killed practically all the characters off except for Mary and the guy at the lighthouse at the end of the book. Throughout the book you get to know Travis and Jed and the others a lot, but in the end they all die. It's kind of depressing when the author gives you the feeling that Mary and the man are the last humans on Earth in a land full of Unconsecrated people. When I finally finished the book, I felt like the ending was poorly written. Overall the book was nicely written, but the ending brought down the final result quite a bit.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I LOOOOOOVVVVEEEEE THHHISSS BOOOOOOOOK SO MUCHHHH. Okay I have heard about this book so when I saw it at the libary I thought I give it a try in one hour 118 pages Ive read and it was AMAZING I never thought of such a creul world could exit the main character Mary was a great character who I loved and the other characters, who I also enjoyed. Carrie Ryan is a perfect writter whos wriiting draws you in from the first word to the last in the book. I love how it was about zomibies this is the first book I read about zombies and it was so good. I love how they are the only ones in the village left and escapes from the zombies and discover many things on the way. It is a emotional,beautiful written book which made me cry in one of the most sad parts which was so sad. I cant wait to read the rest of the books and I do a spolier on this book in this review when I can.