The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

Summary:
There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters. Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again.

But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction? (from GoodReads)

Review:
First off, I have to say that I love the cover and title! I think both are the best in this trilogy. And now about the actual book...

I remember I was really wary about reading The Forest of Hands and Teeth because it was about zombies, which weren't as popular as they are now (I am obsessed with The Walking Dead). But the book was so well-written and so detailed it could have been about anything and I still would have loved it. Carrie Ryan really does have a way with words, and that continues in The Dark and Hollow Places.

What I liked about this trilogy is that each book has a different narrator, but all the protagonists are connected so you still get continuity. Between Mary, Gabry and Annah, they are all different, but are similar in that they remain hopeful even in the wake of destruction. I think Annah is the most jaded character, but she is also the one that had the hardest life: guilt for leaving her sister behind, trying to survive in the horrible Dark City, scars on her face that make her feel ugly. It was definitely a change of pace to have a character already cynical (Mary and Gabry start out living fairly normal lives).

Luckily for the readers, we get to see Catcher, Elias and Gabry again, and it was cool to see them from someone else's perspective. Annah sees Gabry as perfect which is interesting after reading about Gabry in The Dead-Tossed Waves. And this trilogy would not be complete without romance. I think Carrie Ryan writes some of the best romance and I end up loving every guy she writes about. I already liked Catcher from before, but it was nice to see him open up someone because he spent all of last book pushing Gabry away.

As usual, the zombies were exciting and dangerous, but what I took away most from this trilogy is the importance of hope and survival, and carrying on even when it's easier not to. I think that's a great lesson to learn and is espoused in every book. I really enjoyed The Dark and Hollow Places and I can't wait to see what Carrie Ryan has in store for us next.

Rating: 9 out of 10.
FTC: Christmas gift.

2011/Delacorte Books/374 pages.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Previous Books: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known, and all she needs for happiness. But life after the Return is never safe, and there are threats even the Barrier can't hold back.

Gabry's mother thought she left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, but like the dead in their world, secrets don't stay buried. And now, Gabry's world is crumbling.

One night behind the Barrier...One boy Gabry's known forever and one veiled in mystery...One reckless moment, and half Gabry's generation id dead, the other half imprisoned.

Gabry only knows one thing: if she is to have any hope of a future, she must face the forest of her mother's past. (Taken from inside flap)

Ahhhhh!!!! That's my fangirl scream because The Dead-Tossed Waves was too amazing for words. Yes, I loved this book that much. Who would have thought that I would be expressing so much joy for a book about zombies? I'll admit that I was a little wary when I first picked up The Forest of Hands and Teeth (the first book in this "series") but that book was also amazing so I didn't expect anything less. When I first heard that The Dead-Tossed Waves was a companion and not a sequel I was a little upset because I wanted to read more about Mary and what happened to her. But don't worry, because Mary is the protagonist's mother! So we get some info about what happened to her without a whole other book, which I realize is a good thing because I think it's time to hear someone else's story.

Right off the bat in The Dead-Tossed Waves, we get a description of Gabrielle that makes the reader think that the author is trying to make it easy to distinguish between Mary and Gabrielle. Where Mary is headstrong and determined, Gabry is a little more timid. Where Mary has a thirst for knowledge, Gabry is content to spend her life in the little sea town of Vista. At first I thought that Carrie Ryan was trying too hard to make these characters different, but as you keep reading you see that these are nuanced people that change and evolve throughout the story. Gabry starts out as dependent and shy but she quickly changes when the occasion warrants it. That's what I liked about her; she was able to adapt much easier and more quickly than Mary in The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

As for the story itself, there was a lot more action in The Dead-Tossed Waves, which I liked. There was also the romance (!!!) that I love so much. Another love triangle, this time with two very interesting characters. The writing, as always, was superb. I still can't get over how beautifully Carrie Ryan can write these characters' emotions. What I also loved was that this book was thoughtful. There is discussion on love, life, death, zombies, the basics. No, but the characters are so insightful and there was just so much truth in the book, I can't even explain it. Which pretty much brings to me my last point: that The Dead-Tossed Waves is too good for words, and that if you don't read this, you are totally missing out.

10 out of 10.

FTC: I borrowed this book from my library, but I'm about to go buy it because it was amazing!

*I decided to put both covers because they are both so beautiful.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Mary's village is the last heartbeat of humanity. Her community, located in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, has endured droughts, disease and the Unconsecrated, flesh-eating zombies that are always trying to find a way into the village. After her parents die and her brother disowns her, Mary goes to live with the Sisterhood, a group of women who know everything about the village. As Mary gets accustomed to life in the Cathedral, she begins to discover things that she can't believe. But Mary's search for answers is cut short when a breach in the fence leads to an Unconsecrated attack. Will Mary and her friends be able to survive?

I was a little wary of The Forest of Hands and Teeth at first. From the summary, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, plus it was a little vague. But I was proven completely wrong. This book was amazing. It is set in the future, after our world collapses from a virus that causes people to turn into zombies, also known as the Unconsecrated. The people in Mary's village are the last humans alive, or so they believe. In a world without hope, Mary still has this gut feeling that there is more to the world than just her village. She is a resilient character who overcomes loss and despair and continues to move forward. Unlike everyone else, she is not content to live out her life in the village; she wants to leave and see if there really is an ocean, like in her mother's stories. These traits made Mary an interesting character to read about. Mary's faith that there was more to the world was a big theme in the book and the mysterious ocean was a symbol for Mary's dream of a better life.

Another aspect that made this book so wonderful was the romance. There was a bit of a love triangle present, but the love between Mary and Travis was so strong and pure. Carrie Ryan wrote Mary's emotions beautifully. As I was reading, I became Mary and felt all the things that she did. As for the zombies, don't be turned off if you don't like horror. The zombies added an element of fear and hopelessness that made The Forest of Hands and Teeth perfect. I still can't believe how good this book was and highly recommend it for all readers.

9 out of 10.

Release Date: March 10, 2009