Book Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves. (From Goodreads)

I'm not a zombie fan. In fact, I tend to dislike zombie stories/movies/etc, because they scare the heck out of me. Honestly, after I saw the movie 28 Days Later, I had horrible nightmares. Still, I picked up Ryan's first book, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and enjoyed it. So, I grabbed the companion, knowing that I'd enjoy it. I also knew, however, that I'd probably experience a lot of anxiety, and have to read it in one sitting.

I really enjoyed meeting the new characters in The Dead-Tossed Waves. I loved Gabry, Catcher, and Elias, but was particularly fascinated by the Soulers. They were an extremist religious group, who had a completely different opinion on what it means to be a Mudo (known as the Unconsecrated in The Forest of Hands and Teeth). Without giving too much away, I was mystified, and a bit disgusted with their actions. I really felt what Gabry was feeling as she watched them. I also enjoyed seeing some stories that were carried over from The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I'm sure that many people are dying to know what became of Mary.

I think that Ryan's storytelling is what really draws me to her books. From the start, I'm anxious about what's going to happen, because you know something will. So for the first few chapters, I waited for the bomb to drop, so to speak. Throughout the rest of the book I experienced a lot of anxiety about what was going to happen to the characters (in a good way). Once again, Ryan was able to make me want to read a book involving my greatest fear, zombies. Now, I just have to suffer through the year until the third book is released!

The Dead-Tossed Waves
By Carrie Ryan
Published by Delacorte Books
407 Pages
Rating: B+

In My Mailbox (May 23)

In my mailbox was created by Kristi of The Story Siren, who was inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. Here are the books I got this week...

For Review:

Deception (Haunting Emma #1) by Lee Nichols (Published by Bloomsbury USA/Release Date: June 8, 2010)

When Emma Vaile’s parents go missing while away on a mysterious business trip, she’s left all alone in her creepy old house. But her brother’s very cute best friend, Bennett Stern—Emma’s knight in J. Crew armor—arrives unexpectedly to whisk her away to New England. There, Emma settles into his family’s museum-like mansion and enrolls at an old-fashioned private school. She quickly finds friends in the popular legacy crowd at Thatcher and spends her free time crushing on Bennett. But the eerie visions she’s been hiding from everyone have gotten worse. Emma has memories of Thatcher that she can’t explain—it’s as if she’s returning home to a place she’s never been. Finally, Emma confides in Bennett and learns she is a ghostkeeper, a person who can communicate with ghosts. Bennett brought Emma to Thatcher to protect her, but now he needs her help tracking an other-worldly murderer.

A rich New England setting filled with mystery, tradition, and prep-school intrigue make Deception the perfect choice for fans of series like Kate Brian’s Private, as well as all those paranormal fans. The shocking ending will leave readers desperate for book two. (From Goodreads)

I'm part of the blog tour for this one, and I'm really excited! Check back for my review in early June.

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan (Published by Arthur A. Levine books/Release Date: June 1, 2010)

Seventeen-year-old Bronwen Oliver doesn't just want a family. She has one of those, and there's nothing terribly wrong with them apart from bickering grandparents, an image-obsessed mother and a brother she describes simply as Jesus. But there's no natural sense of connection between Bronwen and her family, leaving her with the belief -- and the hope -- that she was switched at birth, that she was never supposed to be Bronwen Oliver but someone else entirely.

When she begins dating college senior Jared Sondervan, she finds herself thoroughly embraced by the loving family she has always wanted and does not hesitate to say yes when Jared proposes on her 18th birhday. Plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her junior year of college become plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her freshman year of college. And a wedding so soon isn't exactly what Bronwen wants. But Jared is. And his family is. Or so she thinks.

Before Bronwen can determine what she truly wants, she must first determine who she truly is, and the answer, she discovers, is only partially what she thought it was. She wasn't switched at birth, but she's also not Bronwen Oliver and hasn't been for a very long time. (From Goodreads)
Part of Around the World Tours

Purchased:

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves. (From Goodreads)