What's a mini review you ask? Simply put, it's a short and sweet version of my review. You'll know in 350 words or less if this is a book I recommend. This is my first time doing a mini review,so if you like this format please let me know! I may do more reviews in this format in the future.
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Format: Audio MP3 (Go Audio, Released August 7, 2012)
Pages: 332 (Hardcover) / Audio Length: Approx 10 hours
Narrator: August Ross
Source: Library Borrow via Overdrive
Genre: YA Paranormal
Review Date: September 22, 2013
Rating: 3 bookmarks
Synopsis: 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.
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Format: Audio MP3 (Go Audio, Released August 7, 2012)
Pages: 332 (Hardcover) / Audio Length: Approx 10 hours
Narrator: August Ross
Source: Library Borrow via Overdrive
Genre: YA Paranormal
Review Date: September 22, 2013
Rating: 3 bookmarks
Synopsis: 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.
Pros: First let me point out that Blake did a great job with character development. Cas is obsessing about Anna and is unable to forget her. He starts seeing her and he becomes determined to bring her back, which takes the story to England. That's a fun change of pace. I liked the new environment, and I liked to see Cas even more out of his comfort zone. Of course Thomas and eventually Carmel come along for the ride. Carmel is a bit loopy for a short time, but that did add a bit of drama to the friends dynamic. Cas has to make nice with Gideon and his father's former group called the Order. Can they be trusted? Unlikely. That whole dark secret society made things more interesting.
Cons: Sadly Anna wasn't in this book much as I would have liked. That's too bad, because the scenes with her were the best ones. Now about Cas's mother...hmm, that's a whole other conversation. Also, even though I thought that was good that Cas wanted to help Anna, when it came down to it, I couldn't wrap my mind around trying to rescue a dead murderess. I guess Cas thought she had redeemed herself. I wish his motives were more than trying to rescue a dead girl he likes. Regarding the narrator, he is so-so. When he changes his voice to do Carmel or Cas's mother...or any female character, it's sounds very odd.
Final Thoughts: I rated this 3 bookmarks and that's a stretch. I would have given it 2.5, but I rounded up. Honestly, I expected more. I was hoping that the second story would be more scary than the first. Sadly, it fell a little short. If you've read and loved Anna Dressed in Blood, then you may want to read this, just don't get your hopes up. If you haven't read either book, I'd say pass on this series. It's okay, but there are better out there.
Happy Reading and Listening,
~Tamara
Check out my review of the first book, Anna Dressed in Blood
Cons: Sadly Anna wasn't in this book much as I would have liked. That's too bad, because the scenes with her were the best ones. Now about Cas's mother...hmm, that's a whole other conversation. Also, even though I thought that was good that Cas wanted to help Anna, when it came down to it, I couldn't wrap my mind around trying to rescue a dead murderess. I guess Cas thought she had redeemed herself. I wish his motives were more than trying to rescue a dead girl he likes. Regarding the narrator, he is so-so. When he changes his voice to do Carmel or Cas's mother...or any female character, it's sounds very odd.
Final Thoughts: I rated this 3 bookmarks and that's a stretch. I would have given it 2.5, but I rounded up. Honestly, I expected more. I was hoping that the second story would be more scary than the first. Sadly, it fell a little short. If you've read and loved Anna Dressed in Blood, then you may want to read this, just don't get your hopes up. If you haven't read either book, I'd say pass on this series. It's okay, but there are better out there.
Happy Reading and Listening,
~Tamara
Check out my review of the first book, Anna Dressed in Blood
