Kendare Blake
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Source: Publisher
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.
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CATCHALLAnna Dressed in Blood was the first book I ever gave a 5.00 rating too, and it seems fitting and perfect that Girl of Nightmares also receives that same rating. Like Anna, it completely and utterly blew me away. I laughed. I cried. I did every single stupid positive cliché that you can possible think of. And I loved every single freaking moment of it. Girl of Nightmares was seriously one of the most amazing books I've ever read and could not deserve its rating anymore than it already does. It's beautiful and heart-wrenching, lovely but with a definite tragic twist. And yes, it's easily one of my all-time favorite books and one of the most amazing books I have ever ever read.
THE HERO
CAS
Cas is just as sexy in this book as he was in the last one, and I love him just as much. He's so…awesome. And completely and totally relatable. He has to make some seriously difficult decisions in this book, but he pulls through them without whining or complaining. He doesn't like his choices, but he accepts them and makes them and moves on. There are consequences, but he deals with them. He suffers heartbreak but he makes the right choices in the end. And Cas is extremely courageous, always willing to do whatever it takes to rescue Anna. But when it comes to his friends, he tries to protect and yet still let them be their own people. It's so super sweet.
THE GHOST
ANNA
I missed Anna in this book, because of course she wasn't in it as much as she was in the last one. Still, what we do see of her is marvelous. Anna is haunted in this book, trapped. And when we do see her, that is absolutely clear. But at the same time, she's so strong about it. She doesn't falter. But at the same time, she does want to be set free. For someone who's a ghost, Anna is a remarkably human character. And even though she isn't the main character, she is relatable too.
THE FRIENDS
THOMAS
Thomas is so loyal, and it's so sweet. He will literally do anything for Cas. He'll leave everything behind, including the girl he loves, if Cas asks it of him. It's literally impossible not to admire that, unless you are crazy or heartless. He doesn't try to stop Cas from doing things that mean a lot to him, even when there is potential danger. As far as I'm concerned, Thomas is one of the best friends anyone could ever ask for. And he's a wonderfully fleshed out character in his own right, and I definitely love him. He's loyal and brave—any more questions?
CARMEL
Carmel. Wow. The way that she was described was just—awesome. I don't have any other words. It was so realistic! Carmel lived in Cas' world for a while, and at some point, she wants out. She can't deal with it. But then, she also can't stay away. And I just love that! I honestly have no idea how Kendare writes such amazing characters but it's totally brill. Carmel is the typical girl-next-door, but she's got a little more sass than most. She isn't afraid to stand up for what she wants, but like most girls she doesn't always know what she wants. And that's totally cool.
JESTINE
Jestine isn't exactly a friend of Cas', but it's not totally inaccurate and I'm too lazy to think of a non-spoilery header. Jestine does do some things for Cas that are the type of things she'd potentially do for a friend. She takes risks too. She's not al good, and I don't think I'd trust her to have my back, but at the same time she isn't all bad either. She definitely respects Cas, and possibly even cares for him on some level. Despite the fact that she's a bit shady, she's a wonderfully written character and I couldn't help but love her.
THE PLOT
When I first started this book, I was afraid that I would miss Anna too much. Really, I needn't have worried. Despite the fact that I did miss Anna, the book was so dynamic and there was so much other stuff happening that the loss of Anna was definitely forgivable and permissible.
Kendare is a genius. Seriously.
I wasn't bored for a single freaking second. Like, I couldn't stop reading it. It was addictive. Irresistible. In the best and most amazing way possible.
I sound like a total fangirl.
But this book is totally worthy of fangirling.
Anyway, the plot. This story revolves around Cas, Thomas, and Carmel trying to find out how to save Anna from her fate. They get a little help along the way, from Jestine, Gideon, and a mysterious new organization that we learn some interesting things about in this novel. And it is just so well done. Cas has to go through some serious obstacles, but he doesn't let them stop him. And the plot moves forward at such a smooth pace! It's never slow-moving. Something is always always happening. Whether it's action or research, there's definite movement.
Ah, and everything ties together so so so nicely. I don't know how Kendare does it. But she does.
Cas needs to save Anna, but there are challenges before he can reach her. And choices that have to be made.
THE ROMANCE
So, not so much romance in this book because Anna is gone. But the lengths that Cas is willing to go through for Anna speak of love, and that's more than enough romance for me. Furthermore, the romance between Thomas and Carmel is so sweet. Not so much development there, but definite chemistry.
THE WRITING
Kendare has some seriously gorgeous writing. It was lovely in Anna, and somehow she's managed to become an even more amazing writer in Girl of Nightmares. I completely love Cas' voice. She somehow captures it perfectly. The male POV is rare but absolutely fascinating. I love being inside Cas' head. He sees everything around him. He's observant. He makes the reader feel like they're actually there. And the dialogue is awesome. It seriously just brings a smile to my face and makes me laugh. And yet the heartbreaking moments ache so much, too. She has a wonderful range.
THE ENDING
Wow. Just wow. Call me emotional, but I cried my eyes out until I literally had no more tears left upon finishing this book. It made my heart ache so, so much. It completely broke my heart. But at the same time, it was totally perfect and I wouldn't change a thing if I could. It was perfection. Everything came together beautifully, and there was enough positivity that I didn't feel like laying down and dying. There was some major tragedy, but there was the bright light at the end of the tunnel too.
WRAPUP
Whatever Kendare puts out, I will grab it and read it and swallow it whole. I practically worship her. She's one of the most amazing writers I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Her writing is gorgeous, and her plot and her characters are absolutely awesome too. No detail is left abandoned. She thinks of everything, and that all combines to make her books incredibly amazing. And besides, doesn't Antigoddess sound completely awesome??! Yes, loves, I know it does. So, my recommendation? If you haven't read Anna Dressed in Blood, well what're you waiting for? Otherwise, grab your copy of Girl of Nightmares today!
FINE.
*****FINAL RATING: 5.00 RED ROSES*****
