Scan barcode
readandtellstories's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was a “just okay” for me. I liked it enough to not regret reading it, and yes I will probably read the 2nd book.
The book follows Cas, a ghost hunter, who takes on his hardest ghost yet - Anna Dressed in Blood. He’s taken down dozens of ghosts, but something is different with this one. Very different. And his whole world will never be the same.
I will say that this book has spooky vibes, which I liked. Some of it was a little gory but nothing too extra in my opinion. I personally just felt like certain things progressed too fast while other things were too slow or too drawn out.
If you’re looking for a relatively quick read with some spooky ghost vibes, I would recommend this book for sure!
The book follows Cas, a ghost hunter, who takes on his hardest ghost yet - Anna Dressed in Blood. He’s taken down dozens of ghosts, but something is different with this one. Very different. And his whole world will never be the same.
I will say that this book has spooky vibes, which I liked. Some of it was a little gory but nothing too extra in my opinion. I personally just felt like certain things progressed too fast while other things were too slow or too drawn out.
If you’re looking for a relatively quick read with some spooky ghost vibes, I would recommend this book for sure!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore
njdarkish's review
3.0
This is a lot of fun. It took some very unexpected twists and turns. All that said, stories about this kind of character-- some sort of hunter of the supernatural-- aren't usually my bag (there are exceptions). This is certainly one of the stronger examples of the genre, but even still it's not what I typically go for, so I doubt I'll pick up the sequel.
caaleros's review
2.0
I usually don't read ghost stories but I read Graveminder and I've been rewatching seasons 1 and 2 of Supernatural so I felt in the mood to read Anna Dressed in Blood. I was actually really looking forward to reading this book, but I was kind of disappointed. I was hoping to read a book that was kind of like Supernatural. You know, with a guy traveling around killing ghosts, but the romance kind of killed it for me. It just seemed out of place, I think it could have waited for a later book when the author develops their relationship more. On the plus side there was quite a few gross descriptions thrown in there, so that made it feel more like a horror book.
The characters were ok, not boring or annoying but I didn't feel a connection to Cas or any of the other side characters. There just wasn't any spark. Nevertheless, I will say that Anna was pretty darn cool. She kicked butt. I loved the last battle scene, it was awesome!
I felt like the main villain was rushed. You find out about him half way through the book and then the conclusion just seemed rushed. And can I say I hate Voodoo. Even The Princess and the Frog creeps me out. I just don't like it.
The writing style was good and the story was fine, but at times I think it lacked believability. Overall, it was okay read, I'll probably read the sequel eventually but the book wasn't as good as I had hoped.
My Blog
The characters were ok, not boring or annoying but I didn't feel a connection to Cas or any of the other side characters. There just wasn't any spark. Nevertheless, I will say that Anna was pretty darn cool. She kicked butt. I loved the last battle scene, it was awesome!
I felt like the main villain was rushed. You find out about him half way through the book and then the conclusion just seemed rushed. And can I say I hate Voodoo. Even The Princess and the Frog creeps me out. I just don't like it.
The writing style was good and the story was fine, but at times I think it lacked believability. Overall, it was okay read, I'll probably read the sequel eventually but the book wasn't as good as I had hoped.
My Blog
creolelitbelle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Entertaining but not a "good" book. When I read off my list to my husband, he described this book as "we have Buffy at home." Ironically, the author more recently released a trilogy set in the Buffyverse, which leads me to believe this was her fanfiction before she got permission to write true Buffy stories instead of pulling from late 90s/early 2000s tv shows for inspiration in this fanfic mashup.
- MC named Cas, dad killed on a hunt, has special athame (SPN)
- kills ghosts
- has a source of information in New Orleans
- side character named WILL ROSENBERG
- references Buffy
- references the mystery machine from Scooby-Doo
- Gideon - father figure like SPN's Bobby who was friends with his dad, name from Elder on Charmed, is from London like Giles...
- Men of Power = Men of Letters (SPN)
- Thomas & Carmel = scoobies like Buffy
- Thomas = Willow (witch
- found Carmel's ex & his friend dead by a monster's hand
- Carmel = Cordelia
- Anna = Angel. Evil, saved, but still a ghost/supernatural creature
- Cas has prophetic dreams
- Cas hunts "the thing that killed dad"... SPN, anyone?
- Carmel calls Cas "Buffy" to Thomas
Read this for a nostalgic fun foray back into shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and Supernatural. I listened to the audiobook, and it is a good time, enough to convince me to check the adventures in the sequel. Do not expect a serious story with good writing.
- kills ghosts
- has a source of information in New Orleans
- side character named WILL ROSENBERG
- references Buffy
- references the mystery machine from Scooby-Doo
- Gideon - father figure like SPN's Bobby who was friends with his dad, name from Elder on Charmed, is from London like Giles...
- Men of Power = Men of Letters (SPN)
- Thomas & Carmel = scoobies like Buffy
- Thomas = Willow (witch
- found Carmel's ex & his friend dead by a monster's hand
- Carmel = Cordelia
- Anna = Angel. Evil, saved, but still a ghost/supernatural creature
- Cas has prophetic dreams
- Cas hunts "the thing that killed dad"... SPN, anyone?
- Carmel calls Cas "Buffy" to Thomas
Read this for a nostalgic fun foray back into shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and Supernatural. I listened to the audiobook, and it is a good time, enough to convince me to check the adventures in the sequel. Do not expect a serious story with good writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying
kimmiefmrcn's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
a ghost and a human has better chemistry than most book couples
phoenix2's review
3.0
It's been a while since I started this book, and it took me too long to finish it. Not because it's not fast paced and interesting, but probably because I never read much during the summer season. So here is my honest opinion of this book. It's a YA book taking place in the real world (it has been a while since I’ve read a book that wasn't a fantasy YA). Fortunately, it's not a teenage romance and it had lots of action and fighting scenes. What I really liked about this book was that while reading it, it felt like I was watching a movie, as the writing was really realistic and full of life, if that makes any sense. As for the horror part, thing is, I can't really stand the scary parts and that was the reason I was afraid to read this book. But I've read some reviews on Goodreads and my fellow readers were quite helpfully, assuring that it wasn't that scary. And truly, apart from one or two scenes, which were a bit creepy, this book is not horror at all. I don't know if that will be a problem for some, but for me, it was a relief, as it was as spooky as I can handle. Other than that, the romance was a little bleak, but that didn't really affect the story. Lastly, one thing that bothered me, but only a little bit, was the fact that the ending was a little too quick. I mean, will there be a second book? This one didn't imply that a sequel is on the way... Anyway, I liked that it wasn't the cliché happy ever after ending, at least.
c01's review against another edition
5.0
The book was AMAZING and could not put it down. Though I was sad that Anna died. Definitely going to read the next book.
yodamom's review
3.0
( audio and printed book) I'd give it 3.5 stars. I really loved Anna, her dress, her blood, her house, it was all so dark and ghoulish. I wanted more of the house and her. Her story was the only real interesting part for me. The first 1/2 of the story was just an everyday walk through life. Well, except for a brief encounter with a hitchhiker. The second 1/2 of the book took off down a dark and dangerous trail. Exciting.
I had some issues with the Main Character Cas, he was such a non emotional guy. Too calm under dire circumstances. The audio was read the same way which was disappointing, I was hoping it was just the narrator. Even his romantic parts where so short and ?!?!??! His actions, to his 'friends' their involvement into his stuff was confusing.
The side characters where a nice mix up of High School teenagers. I thought their drama was played a bit too much and did not seem to fit in the story. They acted like tweens to me, their interactions just seemed out of place.
Okay, even with all the things I griped about I enjoyed the story. I just didn't love it, nor the main character enough to continue the series.
I had some issues with the Main Character Cas, he was such a non emotional guy. Too calm under dire circumstances. The audio was read the same way which was disappointing, I was hoping it was just the narrator. Even his romantic parts where so short and ?!?!??! His actions, to his 'friends' their involvement into his stuff was confusing.
The side characters where a nice mix up of High School teenagers. I thought their drama was played a bit too much and did not seem to fit in the story. They acted like tweens to me, their interactions just seemed out of place.
Okay, even with all the things I griped about I enjoyed the story. I just didn't love it, nor the main character enough to continue the series.
reader4evr's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe that I am saying this but I LOVED this book. I am not a fan of anything scary: books, haunted houses, being scared and especially movies (which I blame on my father). I thought I was going to have "nightmares" while reading this but it really wasn't that bad at all. Yah, there were some really freaky/scary parts in the book like the time you first meet Anna and also that weird "ghost" thing that was biting people but I think others scaredy cats like me will enjoy this. It kind of reminded me of the show Supernatural.
Cas was an excellent male main character. He is not your stereotypical teenager because he is nice to his mom, doesn't date girls and just leave them in the dust because he has never got anything of those things because his mom & him have been moving ever since his father died. He had a strong voice in the book and I think that helped to carry the story.
Lots of the times I didn't want to stop reading the story. There wasn't a lot of parts in the story that were just "fillers" and I think I just wanted to keep reading and wanting to find out more about Anna and Cas' story. I have to admit the whole romance between him and Anna was kind of weird but I guess love can find itself in any type of situation.
I can't wait to recommend this book to my students because I can actually say that I read a "scary" book. This book will appeal to both girls and boys.
I will most certainly will be reading on in the series!
Cas was an excellent male main character. He is not your stereotypical teenager because he is nice to his mom, doesn't date girls and just leave them in the dust because he has never got anything of those things because his mom & him have been moving ever since his father died. He had a strong voice in the book and I think that helped to carry the story.
Lots of the times I didn't want to stop reading the story. There wasn't a lot of parts in the story that were just "fillers" and I think I just wanted to keep reading and wanting to find out more about Anna and Cas' story. I have to admit the whole romance between him and Anna was kind of weird but I guess love can find itself in any type of situation.
I can't wait to recommend this book to my students because I can actually say that I read a "scary" book. This book will appeal to both girls and boys.
I will most certainly will be reading on in the series!