Helpful Score: 2
Scary as hell, I'm not kidding. It's also awesome--I really recommend this to fans of "Supernatural" on TV. Cas is even asked to come hunt a Wendigo, lol, I think Ms. Blake is a fan of the series too ;P
Helpful Score: 1
Very good book! Couldn't put it down!It has it all-humor, ghosts, romance, teenage dilemmas. Very well written!
Vicki S. (curledupwithabook) -
Helpful Score: 1
Sometimes, YA books are great reads for adults, too. This one, not so much. I would definitely recommend it for a young teen. It's scary, has enough teenage angst to help connect the reader to the characters, and has some teen romance included to round it out. Not my cup of tea, however - too simplistic, despite a great premise.
Helpful Score: 1
An creepy romantic tale of love and life beyond death... I really enjoyed reading about Anna, Cas and the crew, I can't wait to read book two...
I have had this book sitting on my shelf to read for quite some time. I am going to be blunt and say I originally wanted to read this book because of the intriguing and hauntingly beautiful cover. Once I read the synopsis I found that the story sounded intriguing as well. I enjoyed this book, it was a like YA novel version of the Supernatural TV series. It never got too scary for me, but was still very creepy. There is a sequel to this book called Girl of Nightmares that has already been released.
Cas has inherited an interesting job from his father, he kills the dead. Cas is especially interested in killing the dead that are horribly violent and dangerous to the rest of humanity, these are the ghosts who rip people apart in the night or shove cars off of roads. Cas has been doing this job since his father was viciously killed one night and Cas inherited the knife that can damage the dead. Cas has a side mission to hunt down the ghost that murdered his father. As a result of this vocation Cas and his mom hop from place to place, going wherever the trail of dead lead them. Thats when Cas heres about Anna, aka Anna Dressed in Blood. She haunts a house and what she does to the people who venture in there is truly disturbing. Little does Cas no that Anna is unlike any ghost hes ever dealt with before.
This was a very well done book. Much of it reminds me of the Supernatural TV series, so if you enjoy that TV show I think you would enjoy this book. Cas and his mom have kind of inherited this ghost hunting thing from Cass dad. Cas does a lot of research about ghosts to find the ones that are dangerous, he also gets tips from some of his acquaintances. Of course beneath all of this you have Cass terrible desire for vengeance against the ghost that brutally murdered his father.
Cas is an interesting character. Hes kind of chameleon, he can fit in anywhere. Hes very good at blending in at high school and fitting in with the popular group right away because that is where he needs to be to get the information he needs to get. So its an interesting contrast. Hes a bit of a loner, yet everyone wants to hang out with him.
Anna is fascinating as well, she has a horribly tortured past and is an interesting mystery to unravel. She is a surprisingly engaging character and, despite her horribleness, you end up very attached to her by the end of the book.
There is a bit of high school drama here when Cas starts hanging with a popular girl, Carmel, and Carmels ex gets all bent out of shape. I enjoyed how Carmel, Cas, and Thomas end up joining together to figure out the mystery of Anna.
There is a lot of character development throughout. Cas goes from being a total loner to learning the value of having friends to back him up. Thomas and Carmel also change and mature a lot throughout the book as they learn to deal with the world Cas faces from day to day.
There is a lot of creepy stuff and gore in this book as well, but I never thought it was over the top or too scary. I enjoyed the level of creepy and there were a couple parts where I had this urge to hide under my covers because the suspense was just killing me.
The story is very well written and easy to read. I love that the text throughout the book is in a deep maroon color; it added to the creepiness. Part of the story is wrapped up very well, but the book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. I was happy to see that there is a sequel to wrap things up.
Overall this was a very well done YA horror/ghost story. I enjoyed it alot. I loved the complex characters and the way they grew and developed through the story. I love the whole theme of fighting off the dead who are killing humans. I also loved the idea of a horribly violent ghost that the reader can be sympathetic towards. There is some excellent mystery, some excellent creepy, and just wonderful moody writing in here. I really enjoyed it and strongly recommend to those who love YA horror. Things never got so gorey or creepy that I felt ill reading this book, but it was still enough to be spooky and scare me. Highly recommended, I am very excited to read Girl of Nightmares.
Cas has inherited an interesting job from his father, he kills the dead. Cas is especially interested in killing the dead that are horribly violent and dangerous to the rest of humanity, these are the ghosts who rip people apart in the night or shove cars off of roads. Cas has been doing this job since his father was viciously killed one night and Cas inherited the knife that can damage the dead. Cas has a side mission to hunt down the ghost that murdered his father. As a result of this vocation Cas and his mom hop from place to place, going wherever the trail of dead lead them. Thats when Cas heres about Anna, aka Anna Dressed in Blood. She haunts a house and what she does to the people who venture in there is truly disturbing. Little does Cas no that Anna is unlike any ghost hes ever dealt with before.
This was a very well done book. Much of it reminds me of the Supernatural TV series, so if you enjoy that TV show I think you would enjoy this book. Cas and his mom have kind of inherited this ghost hunting thing from Cass dad. Cas does a lot of research about ghosts to find the ones that are dangerous, he also gets tips from some of his acquaintances. Of course beneath all of this you have Cass terrible desire for vengeance against the ghost that brutally murdered his father.
Cas is an interesting character. Hes kind of chameleon, he can fit in anywhere. Hes very good at blending in at high school and fitting in with the popular group right away because that is where he needs to be to get the information he needs to get. So its an interesting contrast. Hes a bit of a loner, yet everyone wants to hang out with him.
Anna is fascinating as well, she has a horribly tortured past and is an interesting mystery to unravel. She is a surprisingly engaging character and, despite her horribleness, you end up very attached to her by the end of the book.
There is a bit of high school drama here when Cas starts hanging with a popular girl, Carmel, and Carmels ex gets all bent out of shape. I enjoyed how Carmel, Cas, and Thomas end up joining together to figure out the mystery of Anna.
There is a lot of character development throughout. Cas goes from being a total loner to learning the value of having friends to back him up. Thomas and Carmel also change and mature a lot throughout the book as they learn to deal with the world Cas faces from day to day.
There is a lot of creepy stuff and gore in this book as well, but I never thought it was over the top or too scary. I enjoyed the level of creepy and there were a couple parts where I had this urge to hide under my covers because the suspense was just killing me.
The story is very well written and easy to read. I love that the text throughout the book is in a deep maroon color; it added to the creepiness. Part of the story is wrapped up very well, but the book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger. I was happy to see that there is a sequel to wrap things up.
Overall this was a very well done YA horror/ghost story. I enjoyed it alot. I loved the complex characters and the way they grew and developed through the story. I love the whole theme of fighting off the dead who are killing humans. I also loved the idea of a horribly violent ghost that the reader can be sympathetic towards. There is some excellent mystery, some excellent creepy, and just wonderful moody writing in here. I really enjoyed it and strongly recommend to those who love YA horror. Things never got so gorey or creepy that I felt ill reading this book, but it was still enough to be spooky and scare me. Highly recommended, I am very excited to read Girl of Nightmares.
I really liked this. It was surprisingly different, interesting and even sweet. Anna is a cool ghost. Cas is a compassionate ghost hunter. I even liked Thomas and Carmel. I would enjoy reading the further adventures of this ghost hunting crew.
Cas is a killer. A killer of ghosts. Not the kind that like to just scare people but those who are angry enough to kill the living. His job has taken him to Thunder Bay to kill Anna, Anna Dressed in Blood. However, Anna is like no other ghost he has ever met and he finds himself strangely drawn to her which makes it difficult to kill her. Not only that but she is the strongest ghost he has ever met.
When Cas thinks he has freed Anna without killing her, other deaths start occurring. Is Anna responsible? Can he believe her when she says no? No one else does. Who then or what is doing the killing?
Generally I stay away from horror but I put this one on a YA reading list because our library had it. Yes, there is death but the author does not have her words dripping in gory details and blood and she writes well. If you like horror you will enjoy Anna. She's unique!
When Cas thinks he has freed Anna without killing her, other deaths start occurring. Is Anna responsible? Can he believe her when she says no? No one else does. Who then or what is doing the killing?
Generally I stay away from horror but I put this one on a YA reading list because our library had it. Yes, there is death but the author does not have her words dripping in gory details and blood and she writes well. If you like horror you will enjoy Anna. She's unique!
My favorite book so far this year. Love Kendare Blake's writing style - it reads so smoooooth! Finished it quickly and am looking forward to Girl of Nightmares.
Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
Kendare Blakes debut, ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD, came highly recommended by lots of different readers. Unfortunately, this strange tale of horror and romance between a human boy and the ghost girl hes supposed to get rid of was decent, but didnt blow me away.
Good things first. Cas was a great narrator. He goes about his business in a no-nonsense yet wry manner, which not only makes his narration and adventures enjoyable to read, but also delights readers when his dealings with Anna unexpectedly trip him up.
Unfortunately, Cas genuineness was not enough to offset the tired stereotypes and underdeveloped supporting characters. ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD contained too much awesome to be stuffed into a generic high school setting, and yet it was, with the result that there were awkwardly dramatic confrontations with too-idiotic-to-be-real jocks and underwhelmingly catty girls. Blake makes an attempt to add uniqueness and depth to Cas friends, but I never felt like they could have had life beyond the page: there was just something off about the way they spoke, kind of like aliens trying to act like real teenagers or something.
Horror is not my favorite genre, so Im far from the best person to appreciate and judge it; however, I wanted more from this story. I was confused about the mythological and historical basis for Annas violent haunting: what cultures or stories was ANNA drawing from to create its version of ghosts and voodoo? What made Cas and his friends so special that they were able to achieve what no one had done before them? The books explanations for these and other similar questions I had left me dissatisfied and, ultimately, dispassionate about the story.
Not every book is for every reader, and ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD wasnt one for me, though it certainly was for a lot of people. If youre a fan of ghost and horror stories with a tinge of myth-based supernatural concepts, a la Lee Nichols or Laura Faria Stolarz, give this a whirl. It might be just your thing, though it wasnt mine.
Good things first. Cas was a great narrator. He goes about his business in a no-nonsense yet wry manner, which not only makes his narration and adventures enjoyable to read, but also delights readers when his dealings with Anna unexpectedly trip him up.
Unfortunately, Cas genuineness was not enough to offset the tired stereotypes and underdeveloped supporting characters. ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD contained too much awesome to be stuffed into a generic high school setting, and yet it was, with the result that there were awkwardly dramatic confrontations with too-idiotic-to-be-real jocks and underwhelmingly catty girls. Blake makes an attempt to add uniqueness and depth to Cas friends, but I never felt like they could have had life beyond the page: there was just something off about the way they spoke, kind of like aliens trying to act like real teenagers or something.
Horror is not my favorite genre, so Im far from the best person to appreciate and judge it; however, I wanted more from this story. I was confused about the mythological and historical basis for Annas violent haunting: what cultures or stories was ANNA drawing from to create its version of ghosts and voodoo? What made Cas and his friends so special that they were able to achieve what no one had done before them? The books explanations for these and other similar questions I had left me dissatisfied and, ultimately, dispassionate about the story.
Not every book is for every reader, and ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD wasnt one for me, though it certainly was for a lot of people. If youre a fan of ghost and horror stories with a tinge of myth-based supernatural concepts, a la Lee Nichols or Laura Faria Stolarz, give this a whirl. It might be just your thing, though it wasnt mine.
I found Anna in Blood to have a very interesting plot. I like the idea of a ghost slayer and I like it being told from a male POV. However I was not entirely convinced that Cas was written like he could have been. I sometimes get all up in arms when a male author tries to write a female character and fails miserably. I get the same way when a female author tries to write a male character and either fails or is not entirely convincing. In my opinion Cas should have been a bit more of a bad ass considering what he was. Instead I think he was a bit too soft around the edges.
I like the fact that a 2nd book was written to explore more of Anna and Cas's "relationship". I'm curious if it's possible for them to have one and if so how the author is going to play it out.
As for the other characters I really do like them and how they are written. I hope the 2nd book explores more of Gideon and what role he plays.
All in all it's a fun read and it's quick.
I like the fact that a 2nd book was written to explore more of Anna and Cas's "relationship". I'm curious if it's possible for them to have one and if so how the author is going to play it out.
As for the other characters I really do like them and how they are written. I hope the 2nd book explores more of Gideon and what role he plays.
All in all it's a fun read and it's quick.
I picked up this book mainly because of all the hubbub about it. I was hoping for a creepy book that sent chills up my spine but didn't really think that this would be the one... I was wrong!
It's about a boy named Cas that is a ghost killer. He took up the profession just like his dad but now he's on the lookout for the same ghost that killed his dad. He travels with his mom, who is a witch, to many different places looking for ghosts that cause trouble. This leads him to a place where the local ghost story is about a girl named Anna Dressed in Blood. Cas decides to check it out and when he does his whole ghost killer business gets turned upside down.
From the very first chapter of this book I was hooked. I love the way Blake writes. Not a boring moment at all. She has a fine catch on how teenagers act and talk and they were all very believable. Cas was charmingly witty and I very much enjoyed reading about him and the rest of the crew as well. When the book got to Anna, I actually had the chills go down my spine. She totally creeped me out. The author throws some gore in there as well. Now to read the 2nd book... Can't wait!!!
It's about a boy named Cas that is a ghost killer. He took up the profession just like his dad but now he's on the lookout for the same ghost that killed his dad. He travels with his mom, who is a witch, to many different places looking for ghosts that cause trouble. This leads him to a place where the local ghost story is about a girl named Anna Dressed in Blood. Cas decides to check it out and when he does his whole ghost killer business gets turned upside down.
From the very first chapter of this book I was hooked. I love the way Blake writes. Not a boring moment at all. She has a fine catch on how teenagers act and talk and they were all very believable. Cas was charmingly witty and I very much enjoyed reading about him and the rest of the crew as well. When the book got to Anna, I actually had the chills go down my spine. She totally creeped me out. The author throws some gore in there as well. Now to read the 2nd book... Can't wait!!!
I was surprised this is in the young adults section because the main character does use foul language throughout the book. Of course the mother of the main character tries to tell him not to, but it's still inappropriate for teenagers.
The story was ok. It wasn't my favorite, but this isn't the genre I normally read.
The story was ok. It wasn't my favorite, but this isn't the genre I normally read.
Kimberly N. (kimberlyrav) -
I enjoyed this book. I found it to be unique to the genre of Paranormal books. The book is a meant for teens, high school teeny boppers, but I think adults can fit right in. This is a sad and spooky tale.
Cas, a teenage boy is always moving from place to place with his mother. He is no ordinary teen. Armed with a special blade, passed down to him through the generations, he uses this along with his special ability to see and kill ghosts.
In this story, he and his mom move to a small town in Canada. As soon as they arrive to the town, he is drawn to the next ghost on his killing list. Why does he have the job of ghost slaying you ask? Why would someone want to kill a ghost? Its for the ghosts who kill. The ones who dismember the living. The ones who violently haunt humans.
This time around though, the ghost up for meeting with his blade, is a beautiful Finnish girl. One who died in a horrible manner. One who had a horrid life while living with her mother and step father. Cas falls for the ghost, her beautiful dark hair and black dead eyes. Will he be able to kill her? Will this be just another easy ghost slaying? Or will ghosts from the past come to haunt him instead.
Cas, a teenage boy is always moving from place to place with his mother. He is no ordinary teen. Armed with a special blade, passed down to him through the generations, he uses this along with his special ability to see and kill ghosts.
In this story, he and his mom move to a small town in Canada. As soon as they arrive to the town, he is drawn to the next ghost on his killing list. Why does he have the job of ghost slaying you ask? Why would someone want to kill a ghost? Its for the ghosts who kill. The ones who dismember the living. The ones who violently haunt humans.
This time around though, the ghost up for meeting with his blade, is a beautiful Finnish girl. One who died in a horrible manner. One who had a horrid life while living with her mother and step father. Cas falls for the ghost, her beautiful dark hair and black dead eyes. Will he be able to kill her? Will this be just another easy ghost slaying? Or will ghosts from the past come to haunt him instead.
Reviewed by Andrea for TeensReadToo.com
Cas Lowood is following in his dead father's footsteps - by killing ghosts. He and his mom travel around the country killing the ghosts who are violent to others.
After receiving a note about a ghost that everyone calls Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas and his mom move to Canada. There he finds several unexpected things - a ghost more powerful than he's ever encountered before, and for the first time, other teens that he calls friends. Plus, Anna isn't any normal ghost. She seems to not want to hurt anyone, but doesn't seem able to help herself. Yet, she doesn't hurt Cas. With his friends' help, Cas has to overcome Anna's power and set her free.
Wow! Talk about a ghost story! This is one of those totally gory, scary stories that keeps you up at night. And it was so well-written and detailed that I could easily see it being a movie.
Usually, I have a hard time enjoying books that are told from a male character's point of view. I'm not sure why, but I do. But not so with this story! I really liked Cas. He was a character who was a good guy. He had heart and wasn't all macho all of the time. And he also had a great sense of humor. And Anna - a girl straight out of nightmares! But a girl who doesn't want to be bad. Loved her. The secondary cast like Thomas and Carmel were great, as well.
I found myself reading ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD late at night, not wanting to put it down, but at the same time thinking "What am I doing? I'm going to give myself nightmares!" It's a great thing to be so involved in a book. What fun!
Cas Lowood is following in his dead father's footsteps - by killing ghosts. He and his mom travel around the country killing the ghosts who are violent to others.
After receiving a note about a ghost that everyone calls Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas and his mom move to Canada. There he finds several unexpected things - a ghost more powerful than he's ever encountered before, and for the first time, other teens that he calls friends. Plus, Anna isn't any normal ghost. She seems to not want to hurt anyone, but doesn't seem able to help herself. Yet, she doesn't hurt Cas. With his friends' help, Cas has to overcome Anna's power and set her free.
Wow! Talk about a ghost story! This is one of those totally gory, scary stories that keeps you up at night. And it was so well-written and detailed that I could easily see it being a movie.
Usually, I have a hard time enjoying books that are told from a male character's point of view. I'm not sure why, but I do. But not so with this story! I really liked Cas. He was a character who was a good guy. He had heart and wasn't all macho all of the time. And he also had a great sense of humor. And Anna - a girl straight out of nightmares! But a girl who doesn't want to be bad. Loved her. The secondary cast like Thomas and Carmel were great, as well.
I found myself reading ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD late at night, not wanting to put it down, but at the same time thinking "What am I doing? I'm going to give myself nightmares!" It's a great thing to be so involved in a book. What fun!
