Showing all posts labelled: Kendare Blake
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Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

 Release Date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: Tor Teen
Series: Anna, Book 2
Rated: YA 14+
Format: Hardcover (Finished Copy)
Source: Borrowed – Thanks Riya @ The Teen Book Guru!
Buy: Amazon ❘ The Book Depository
Goodreads ◆ Website

 Read my review of Anna Dressed in Blood HERE.
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.

Ever since reading Blake's debut, Anna Dressed in Blood, I've been pining endlessly for the series. When the opportunity presented itself where I got the chance to read the book (thanks Riya!), I just couldn't say no.
I have to say, I didn't know what to expect when reading this book. And yes, I thought in the end that it didn't live up to the first book, but it was definitely a fascinating read, one which had me curious for more with every turning of the page.

 I will be honest now, Anna doesn't make an appearance too much in this book. Most of the book revolves around Cas trying to figure out how to save Anna as well as some character developments. I was a little confused and dizzy around some bits, but I think it's quite a satisfying conclusion to the series. Not exactly how I imagined it would end, but still a good ending. Love the old characters, love the (few) new characters, and definitely enjoyed characters which were mentioned but we didn't get to meet in the first book.

Some parts of this book absolutely chilled me to the bone. The images conjured up in my head by Blake's beautifully horrifying descriptions were pretty gruesome and haunted me. I was freaked by that dramatic climax near the end and had my eyes glued to the pages, mouth agape, grasping to find out what happens next.

 Sorry for the short review, but you should definitely pick up Girl of Nightmares if you've read the first book. If you haven't, shame on you! Kendare Blake is amazing at her craft, with male POVs, frickin' scary images that will keep you up all night, and a gorgeous love story.

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Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake


Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Tor Teen
Series: Anna, Book 1
Rated: YA 14+
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher
Amazon ❘ Goodreads ❘ Website

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered 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: track, 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, now stained red and dripping with 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.
But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.



Ghosts? Check.
A hot ghost hunter? Double Check.
A not-so normal boy-meets-girl story? You got that right.


Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood made me fall in love with the world of ghosts once more. The last ghost story I read (which I absolutely loved!) would probably be either Hereafter by Tara Hudson. I hate how there's not too many books in the paranormal YA genre of ghosts, but Kendare Blake creates something which probably can't be topped.


I loved the characters. Every character was unique, yet in it's clichés, it still made the story SO much better. Cas, the hottest ghost hunter I've ever read about. Sigh. Almost makes me wish he kills me in the afterlife! Anna, loved her story, and as her character progressed through the story, you can't help but feel sympathy for her.
Of course, we have the amazing supporting cast of Thomas and Carmel. I loved how they did go against the stereotypes: Carmel was actually a nice popular girl. You don't see it too often in YA books.


What I loved most about this book, was the fact that it was from a guy's point of view. You don't have too many books like that. I've only read a couple, such as Beautiful Creatures and The Replacement and I'm glad to see that this one is as amazing as the others.


Anna Dressed in Blood is a haunting mystery that will make you gasp and grip into every moment, wanting more. Kendare Blake's amazing debut brings back ghosts into the paranormal genre, bloodier and creepier than ever. She leaves you holding onto every word and clinging onto the plot in ways you can't imagine. I just know that I can't wait for Girl of Nightmares. The ending left me heartbroken, and when I found out that there was sequel, my sadness went away. More Anna! and definitely more Cas :D.


**Thank you so much to Tor Teen and Kendare Blake for sending me a copy for review!**



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