Author: Carrie Ryan
Released: March 2009
Description from GoodReads:
In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?
Step into a world where no one truly feels safe. Life as we know it now as all but disappeared. Instead, we are all now forced to live a life of constant fear. A life where we or our loved ones could die at any moment. This is the life that Mary lives. Her society exists only a few generations after the Return, a period in time that is shrouded by mysteries. In Mary's society, it is only the Sisterhood who seem to have a "true" understanding of the Unconsecrated. Can Mary live a normal live, or is she destined to discover more about her world?
Based on the summary, I truly did not know what to expect from this novel. My initial expectations ranged from zombies! (= good read) to please do not let this be like The Village (= let down). Thankfully, Ryan's zombified thriller delivered on many levels. The novel features a creative combination of elements that any zombie fan is sure to enjoy.
The plot moves on a fairly fast pace exploring much of Mary's society and what life is life after the Return. While Mary's world is very vivid, I found myself having more questions than answers at times regarding the overall picture of this society. The reader is given many glimpses and hints throughout the novel as to the true meaning of certain aspects, such as the Sisterhood, but Ryan tends to never definitively give the reader an answer. This tendency really frustrated me on many level since I enjoy knowing the whole background story. Certain elements are touched on throughout the novel, so I have hope that Ryan will eventually link everything together in her follow up novel(s). All in all, Ryan does a marvelous job of building tension and keeping a reader on the edge of their seats. One can only wait with bated breath to see what Ryan has in store for us next.
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13 comments:
I've been dying to get a copy of this! My birthday is coming up and I've none to subtly hinted that I want it! Thanks for the great review!
I devoured this the day after it came out and I've been waiting impatiently for The Dead-Tossed Waves ever since!
I enjoyed this book too. I know how you feel about not getting the back story. When I picked this book up I was hoping it wasn't going to be like the village too because the book jacket makes it sound like that. I really love the look of the new paper back cover! Great review.
I really loved this book too. I am anxious for the next one as well. Lovely review.
♥Nely
I have heard mixed reviews about this book. I am glad it kept you interested. I love how you linked your posts to Amazon. great idea.
Elie (Ellz Readz)
Sounds like the type of book that would make a fantastic movie.
please do not let this be like The Village
I know I thought that too, but it turned out to be pretty good.
I just picked up this book last night, and I'm really looking forward to it. Glad you enjoyed it :)
I thought this was well written but I didn't like the story. So much doom and gloom. The girl never catches a break. I read this in one night because I kept going thinking I'd quit when things got better for her. They never did.
Again, excellent writing just not a story for me. Liked your review though!
I just finished this the other day. Liked it but wish it had more background story in it.
Also thought of The Village at first.
I REALLY need to read this! Great Review :)
I read this and enjoyed it too. I ended up with more questions than answers too, which is frustrating. Hopefully some of the questions will be explained in the next book, but I don't know b/c I think the narrator is Mary's daughter. Not for sure though. Great review!
I think what I liked most about this book was the lack of backstory actually. I felt like that gave a good representation of Mary's understanding of her life and her society- even she doesn't know the answers to a lot of these questions because information is so tightly controlled. For me the book was as much about living in a collapsed society as it was about running away from zombies. There were so many different things going on in this book though (and I agree, THANK GOD it wasn't like The Village!)
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