dandaneaureads's review against another edition
5.0
This is an amazing book!!!! The first one (The Forest of Hands and Teeth) cant even compare to how amazing this one is. There is plenty of horror and gore, but there is much more of a story. The first book was great, but the love triangle made Mary look to b***y. Gabry is loved by two boys and she tries to decide who she loves now, but in this book it it much nicer. Gabry doesn't look snotty just confused. The twist at the end kills me and I cant wait for the next one to come out.
poinssetia's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting continuation of the original story, but with the same problem of long, too much explanation or thoughts in something that could be shorter. Also was difficult to connect with the characters, so it was uninteresting for me their thoughts or feelings which made the reading slow and sometimes tedious.
rainmisoa's review against another edition
2.0
I can't believe I actually was able to finish this book. There were many times I thought about stopping. Why? Because of the main character, that's why! She's so self-absorbed, so stupid that I just wanted to chuck the book right out the window! But I didn't because I actually do enjoy the world building. I said it in my review of The Forest of Hands and Teeth that Ryan has created a frightening and haunting world filled with zombies and it is for that aspect that I kept reading this book. That... and my best friend really wanted me to so I said, "Do it for her!" And I did. (You owe me big time, girl!)
Ryan's writing ability in this book was severely lacking. There were times where the descriptions were so dry I could barely keep my eyes open. Other times she rehashed the same phrase over and over. For example, she used "one foot in front of the other" about seven times and Catcher's "warm skin as a reminder of the infection" more times than I cared to count. It was all very bland. Her characters weren't any better. They, too, were not very interesting (more on this later). The only thing I can say she got right was her world building. Ryan has very creative ideas about her world of the Unconsecrated and it really does show. I enjoy seeing how she adds new parts to the Forest and how their are religious cults that are downright terrifying. I shudder at the recollection of it. And it is for this "world" that I decided to continue reading this book. Even if the characters blow.
Speaking of which, Gabry, main character, was an annoying, stupid, self-absorbed, little coward that only did anything for her own sake without giving a damn about how others might feel and remained so throughout the entire book! There is no character development whatsoever! With Gabry or with any of the other characters! They remain boring, flat, one-dimensional characters from beginning to end and, for someone who loves reading books with amazing character development, it was grating at best. Gabry falls into that trope where she is some amazing girl that gets all the guys to fall in love with her even though she does absolutely nothing to deserve it. "Instalove" and "love triangles" are HUGE in this book. Elias, one of the love interests, being the one to participate in the "instalove" and Catcher making up the other part of the "triangle." Gabry goes back and forth, back and forth between the two guys throughout the entire story. Why? Well, when one wasn't paying any attention to her, she would switch to the other. For no other reason but to have someone be her tool. Her actions were disgusting, demeaning, and selfish. If there was a way to grab her by the neck and shove her off a cliff, I would have done it within the first few chapters on this book.
Obviously, I did not like this book aside from the world building. The characters are horrible, the writing is not that great, and the overall plot seems to be lacking as well. Not much happens in this book besides Gabry not being able to make up her mind as to which penis she wanted more. And what little of the plot that kept my interest used to go by so fast that it didn't feel like it was worth reading. If you are curious about the world of the Unconsecrated, then I say give it a try. If you have a problem with characters like Gabry, you might not want to read this. Decide for yourself. You might like it better than I did.
Ryan's writing ability in this book was severely lacking. There were times where the descriptions were so dry I could barely keep my eyes open. Other times she rehashed the same phrase over and over. For example, she used "one foot in front of the other" about seven times and Catcher's "warm skin as a reminder of the infection" more times than I cared to count. It was all very bland. Her characters weren't any better. They, too, were not very interesting (more on this later). The only thing I can say she got right was her world building. Ryan has very creative ideas about her world of the Unconsecrated and it really does show. I enjoy seeing how she adds new parts to the Forest and how their are religious cults that are downright terrifying. I shudder at the recollection of it. And it is for this "world" that I decided to continue reading this book. Even if the characters blow.
Speaking of which, Gabry, main character, was an annoying, stupid, self-absorbed, little coward that only did anything for her own sake without giving a damn about how others might feel and remained so throughout the entire book! There is no character development whatsoever! With Gabry or with any of the other characters! They remain boring, flat, one-dimensional characters from beginning to end and, for someone who loves reading books with amazing character development, it was grating at best. Gabry falls into that trope where she is some amazing girl that gets all the guys to fall in love with her even though she does absolutely nothing to deserve it. "Instalove" and "love triangles" are HUGE in this book. Elias, one of the love interests, being the one to participate in the "instalove" and Catcher making up the other part of the "triangle." Gabry goes back and forth, back and forth between the two guys throughout the entire story. Why? Well, when one wasn't paying any attention to her, she would switch to the other. For no other reason but to have someone be her tool. Her actions were disgusting, demeaning, and selfish. If there was a way to grab her by the neck and shove her off a cliff, I would have done it within the first few chapters on this book.
Obviously, I did not like this book aside from the world building. The characters are horrible, the writing is not that great, and the overall plot seems to be lacking as well. Not much happens in this book besides Gabry not being able to make up her mind as to which penis she wanted more. And what little of the plot that kept my interest used to go by so fast that it didn't feel like it was worth reading. If you are curious about the world of the Unconsecrated, then I say give it a try. If you have a problem with characters like Gabry, you might not want to read this. Decide for yourself. You might like it better than I did.
ntembeast's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this book. It's a shame the lead female sucks just as bad as the last one did in The Forest of Hands and Teeth by the same author. I don't feel like writing out a full review, so here are the basics:
Writing - 4 out of 5
Clean, easy to read. Fast paced, engaging. Some sentences trip you up for a moment because of the occasional awkward wording. Otherwise, very well done and enjoyable as a read.
Setting/World - 5 out of 5
Expands and grows from the previous book, introducing new concepts as well as physically widening the extensions of the world within the story. Gives the reader much more to think about, new horrors and new hopes, as well as a much wider perspective of what the world is and lives like in this post-apocalyptic time period. Very enjoyable and also engaging.
Story - 1 out of 5
Basically the same story as the first book. Rehashed with a different[ly named] a) female lead, b) two male love interests, c) female friend that dies/disappears, d) circumstances that "forcefully" disengage character from her "life", e) circumstances that "force" main character to choose one love interest over another because other is "incapable" of being chosen, f) escape from starting location into the unknown. Same. Story. As. Last. Time.
Characters
Main Character - 1 out of 5
Self-absorbed, concerned with absolutely nothing outside of herself unless it somehow disrupts or adds to her life. Refuses to make any decisions for herself that will put her in the position of taking responsibility for her actions. Shoves all responsibility on others whenever she can. Toys with the emotions of other people yet cannot face the truth about herself when it's presented to her. Quick to accuse/judge others, yet lies to every character she meets at one point or another--usually leading to trouble and/or death. Whines, complains, never happy with her situation. Always doing something stupid that puts her--and consequently those around her--into danger, usually winding up with the others dying or being the ones injured as they protect her. Essentially: useless and annoying.
Side Characters - 2 out of 5
Carry good qualities such as loyalty, perseverance, raw emotions and the ability to face reality when it's presented to them. However, they fill roles that revolve solely around the main character. They are there only to make the main character look good or to make us feel sympathy for the main character. Side characters have no lives of their own and are quick to throw everything away for the main character--largely because they don't have much to their lives to begin with. Very two dimensional, bend to the will of the main character at all points, solely to build her up since she's lacking in the capability to provide the reader with any proof of worth or value whatsoever on her own.
Final Rating for the book is 2.5 out of 5 (rounded up to 3 for generosity).
Advice on Reading: Library this one. Don't buy it. I wouldn't have it in my collection. The characters destroy any value the world and the writing has. And the story is nonexistent due to their failure to stand up to critique. Again, not to be bought without a test run first. Collect without trying at your own risk.
Writing - 4 out of 5
Clean, easy to read. Fast paced, engaging. Some sentences trip you up for a moment because of the occasional awkward wording. Otherwise, very well done and enjoyable as a read.
Setting/World - 5 out of 5
Expands and grows from the previous book, introducing new concepts as well as physically widening the extensions of the world within the story. Gives the reader much more to think about, new horrors and new hopes, as well as a much wider perspective of what the world is and lives like in this post-apocalyptic time period. Very enjoyable and also engaging.
Story - 1 out of 5
Basically the same story as the first book. Rehashed with a different[ly named] a) female lead, b) two male love interests, c) female friend that dies/disappears, d) circumstances that "forcefully" disengage character from her "life", e) circumstances that "force" main character to choose one love interest over another because other is "incapable" of being chosen, f) escape from starting location into the unknown. Same. Story. As. Last. Time.
Characters
Main Character - 1 out of 5
Self-absorbed, concerned with absolutely nothing outside of herself unless it somehow disrupts or adds to her life. Refuses to make any decisions for herself that will put her in the position of taking responsibility for her actions. Shoves all responsibility on others whenever she can. Toys with the emotions of other people yet cannot face the truth about herself when it's presented to her. Quick to accuse/judge others, yet lies to every character she meets at one point or another--usually leading to trouble and/or death. Whines, complains, never happy with her situation. Always doing something stupid that puts her--and consequently those around her--into danger, usually winding up with the others dying or being the ones injured as they protect her. Essentially: useless and annoying.
Side Characters - 2 out of 5
Carry good qualities such as loyalty, perseverance, raw emotions and the ability to face reality when it's presented to them. However, they fill roles that revolve solely around the main character. They are there only to make the main character look good or to make us feel sympathy for the main character. Side characters have no lives of their own and are quick to throw everything away for the main character--largely because they don't have much to their lives to begin with. Very two dimensional, bend to the will of the main character at all points, solely to build her up since she's lacking in the capability to provide the reader with any proof of worth or value whatsoever on her own.
Final Rating for the book is 2.5 out of 5 (rounded up to 3 for generosity).
Advice on Reading: Library this one. Don't buy it. I wouldn't have it in my collection. The characters destroy any value the world and the writing has. And the story is nonexistent due to their failure to stand up to critique. Again, not to be bought without a test run first. Collect without trying at your own risk.
octagonal's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this sequel.
I especially enjoyed the more subtle things that carry over from the previous book. Like when Gabry finds Travis' skeleton, with the flowers that Mary must have put around it. Awww :(
Catcher is awesome, though I'm beginning to worry about how often that boy gets wounded.
I especially enjoyed the more subtle things that carry over from the previous book. Like when Gabry finds Travis' skeleton, with the flowers that Mary must have put around it. Awww :(
Catcher is awesome, though I'm beginning to worry about how often that boy gets wounded.
octagonal's review against another edition
2.0
Original 2011 review here.
Still not as good as I remember it being. Though, I do love Catcher. And the part where they find Travis on the road... ok, that still hurts my heart. But WHY isn't this as good as I remember thinking it was? Tragedy.
Still not as good as I remember it being. Though, I do love Catcher. And the part where they find Travis on the road... ok, that still hurts my heart. But WHY isn't this as good as I remember thinking it was? Tragedy.
buffyb's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent follow-up to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I really enjoyed this book.
*I'm not really sure if my next statement is a spoiler or not, but it might be a little bit so don't read on if you don't like spoilers.*
I wasn't too keen on the love triangle, though, as it was something that the main character in the first book went through as well. 'Which boy will I pick' seems like the least of one's problems when one is trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
*I'm not really sure if my next statement is a spoiler or not, but it might be a little bit so don't read on if you don't like spoilers.*
I wasn't too keen on the love triangle, though, as it was something that the main character in the first book went through as well. 'Which boy will I pick' seems like the least of one's problems when one is trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
mackenzie_h's review against another edition
5.0
Great suspense and character development. I was engaged the entire time; no slow parts.
minty's review against another edition
3.0
I characterized it as "exciting but boring" while I was reading it and I stand by that, though it was good enough to keep me interested. I think it had too many shades of similarity to the first book in its character choices, but whatever.