The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Publisher: Ember (February 10, 2010)
Mary lives in a small village that is surrounded by the Forest of Hands and Teeth. There is only a fence keeping the village safe from the Unconsecrated (zombies). One day that fence is breached and her world is completely shattered.
The village is run by the Sisterhood, very religious and very controlling. After Mary is sent to live with them she learns they are hiding some very dark secrets. One night a girl named Gabrielle shows up in the village but the Sisterhood hides her away in the Cathedral. They do not want the villagers to know that there are others out there beyond the fence. The book wasn't very clear on how it happened, although we know the sisters are behind it, but Gabrielle has become one of the Unconsecrated. A super strong and fast one. She breaks through the fence and unleashes all the Unconsecrated into the village. Only Mary and a few others were able to make it out. This is where the story really kicks off!
Mary isn't your typical heroine. She is very self centered, stubborn, and a bit immature. But unlike most people in her village she also has a dream to one day leave the village and see the ocean from her mothers stories that have been passed down for generations. It is this dream that keeps her going when everyone else has lost hope. Although there were times when I wish she would just shut up about seeing the ocean! We do see her grow a bit throughout the book. She has to make some horribly sad decisions and this definitely changes her and motivates her to live, to make it to that damn ocean.
There is a love triangle of course! Or maybe this would be more of a love...square? Mary is in love with Travis. Travis is betrothed to her best friend, Cass. Mary has become (a little unwillingly) betrothed to Travis's brother, Harry, who has been in love with her since they were young.. But Cass is in love with Harry. Let me tell you, it is a MESS. Ah, young love.
This isn't a very action packed or gorey zombie story, but it is very intriguing and I couldn't put it down. It doesn't end with what I would call a cliffhanger, but it does seem to just END. I can't wait to start reading the second book, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and find out the fate of Mary and the others!
-BW
The village is run by the Sisterhood, very religious and very controlling. After Mary is sent to live with them she learns they are hiding some very dark secrets. One night a girl named Gabrielle shows up in the village but the Sisterhood hides her away in the Cathedral. They do not want the villagers to know that there are others out there beyond the fence. The book wasn't very clear on how it happened, although we know the sisters are behind it, but Gabrielle has become one of the Unconsecrated. A super strong and fast one. She breaks through the fence and unleashes all the Unconsecrated into the village. Only Mary and a few others were able to make it out. This is where the story really kicks off!
Mary isn't your typical heroine. She is very self centered, stubborn, and a bit immature. But unlike most people in her village she also has a dream to one day leave the village and see the ocean from her mothers stories that have been passed down for generations. It is this dream that keeps her going when everyone else has lost hope. Although there were times when I wish she would just shut up about seeing the ocean! We do see her grow a bit throughout the book. She has to make some horribly sad decisions and this definitely changes her and motivates her to live, to make it to that damn ocean.
There is a love triangle of course! Or maybe this would be more of a love...square? Mary is in love with Travis. Travis is betrothed to her best friend, Cass. Mary has become (a little unwillingly) betrothed to Travis's brother, Harry, who has been in love with her since they were young.. But Cass is in love with Harry. Let me tell you, it is a MESS. Ah, young love.
This isn't a very action packed or gorey zombie story, but it is very intriguing and I couldn't put it down. It doesn't end with what I would call a cliffhanger, but it does seem to just END. I can't wait to start reading the second book, The Dead-Tossed Waves, and find out the fate of Mary and the others!
-BW
