Published: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Tor Teen
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 316 pages
Series: Anna, #1
Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story...
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.
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.
Oh wow, ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD is definitely one of the most creepiest and scariest books I've ever read. Ever.
Cas Lowood is one of the most snarkiest characters in YA literature to me. He makes jokes and snides when killing off already-dead-ghosts; he was just hilarious for me. And Kendare Blake has crafted some great characters. His mom was protective, caring and great; his friends were always helpful and always there for him.
And Anna. Oh gosh, Anna. I don't know if anyone else felt this, but I felt sad for poor Anna. If you read the book, you'll understand why. And even though she's a murderer, deadly and vicious, once you find out her true story, it makes you want to give her a hug. If she hasn't ripped your head off by now, that is.
From about page 7o to page 85, my heart was racing, my head was spinning, and I was legitimately terrified. No joke. During that entire chapter, so much was happening and everything was so freaky and scary, I had to set the book down to collect my thoughts. And after reading that scene, I thought it was EPIC. Don't read that scene at night, though. It will give you nightmares for weeks.
The friendship (if you could call it a friendship) between Cas and Anna was absolutely stunning. The way that Cas immediately is accepting of Anna, and she him, was wonderful to read about. Kendare Blake hit it out of the ballpark with everything in this book. She truly has writing talent, and I'm so excited to read more of her other works. (*cough* ANTIGODDESS *cough*)
The ending of this book was just insane, creepy, frightening, touching, and emotional. All of those different elements combined into one makes a great ending of a book. And it occurred in this one. ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD would be the perfect Halloween read.
Overall, ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD was simply awesome. And I'm not that big into horror stuff. So excited to see where Kendare takes it in the next book!
This book has been on my to-read list for quite a long time. After reading your review I think I am definitely reading this one next. Great review, by the way.
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