Sami Harrison Harrison itibaren Peerbiyabani, Uttar Pradesh 203205, Hindistan itibaren Peerbiyabani, Uttar Pradesh 203205, Hindistan

When I was looking for a book to read on Halloween, Anna Dressed in Blood seemed like the perfect choice. I had heard nothing but good things, and I had seen it mentioned in several places that some pretty gory stuff happens. I didn’t really pay attention to all that, since it kind of takes a lot to scare me when it comes to books. I just figured that these readers scare easily, as has been the case with other books in the past. Boy, was I wrong. I should have listened. Anna Dressed in Blood is the ultimate ghost story. I felt as if someone had found a wishlist of everything I liked in paranormal books, and things I wished could be in more, and put it all in one book. And as I said before, those readers were right about it being gory. I don’t mind gore in books, as long as it serves its purpose of adding to the story, ambiance, etc. I’m not exaggerating when I saw that this might be one of the most graphic YA novels I read. And, I don’t want to seem super creepy or anything, but I loved it. I finally felt like I had found a ghost book that would actually be scary for once. I mean, when we first meet Anna, (view spoiler) Anyway, aside from the gore, I was curious to see how Anna Dressed in Blood compared to Kendare Blake’s other novel, Antigoddess, which I read last year. And while I liked Antigoddess, Anna Dressed in Blood came out on top. I loved the main character, Cas. He is funny and snarky and smart. He knows what he’s doing and how to deal with ghosts. He has this sure-ness to him; he doesn’t doubt and question his abilities like so many other characters. I also really liked Anna and the dynamic between the two. Their relationship was one of the most interesting in terms of pairings. Kendare Blake’s writing is great, but the way she crafts the ambiance is just perfect. The tension is palpable and I was genuinely creeped out. When I got to the end, I was satisfied, but eager to read more. Anna Dressed in Blood was such a fun read, and ended up being the ghost story I’ve been searching for. If you’re a fan of the show Supernatural, you should definitely check it out. Now I’m out to get book two ASAP.

I love stories about long kept family secrets and family trees with branches that seem to sprout from nowhere. Of course these kinds of novels are a dime a dozen, but I still take my chances that soon I’ll stumble upon the next “Rebecca” or “The Sound and the Fury”. It is for this reason that I picked up a copy of Katherine Webb’s “The Legacy”. While it is not the next “Rebecca”, it certainly has enough intrigue to keep readers interested for over 300 pages. Webb begins by telling two stories. One is set between 1902 and 1905 and focuses on a young woman named Caroline who comes from money and society. When she meets a dashing young man at a party in NYC, she is instantly swept off her feet. The fact that he lives out west on a ranch, does not phase her in the least. That is until she is brought to the wild west to live and keep house. It is here that she lessons some of life’s hardest lessons. The second story takes place on a grand estate in modern day England where two sisters are brought together to go through their grandmother’s belongings after her death. They have not been to the mansion in years, since their cousin disappeared from the grounds and was never found. When they come upon a neighbor from their childhood, they must face the demons that have plagued them for decades. Both women hope that their time at the family estate will bring them solace and direction to their lives. The characters are well developed, with the exception of Erica, and intriguing. I definitely felt drawn into the story and cared about their situation. The storyline that centered around Caroline was extremely interesting and reminded me a great deal of “Gap Creek” or some of Willa Cather’s works. I was less interested in the modern day characters though I still found them compelling at times. Perhaps it is the fact that I have read many of novels in this genre, but I could definitely see the big reveal coming and became frustrated when the characters kept circling around it. The biggest disappointment was Erica (one of the two sisters) who I thought to be childish, immature, and at times very dense. Still, as a first novel I think that Webb did a great job and I look forward to her future pieces. www.iamliteraryaddicted.blogspot.com