Book Review of Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Ghosts. Find ghost. Learn about ghost. Find ghost. Kill ghost. Move to the next hunt. Repeat. That’s basically what Cas Lowood did, before he learned about Anna Dressed in Blood. When he gets a tip about Anna Dressed in Blood, a ghost that dressed in the party dress she wore when she died, who killed every single person that stepped into her house, he doesn’t expect anything different. When he decides that Anna Dressed in Blood is his next target, and takes that fearful first step, Anna Dressed in Blood spares his life.
I enjoyed Anna Dressed in Blood, it was suspenseful and interesting. I liked how Cas started to depend on his friendships when he needed help, instead of doing everything by himself. I loved the flashback at the end, because it gave insight into Anna Dressed in Blood’s history, but at some points in the book I was confused what was going on in the plot, which was the only downfall (in my mind). I rate Anna Dressed in Blood, 4 out of 5 stars.
Book Review of Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
Anna Dressed in Blood is back, Cas can see her, but wants to get over the fact that she killed herself to save him. Every time Cas sees her, she seems tortured, and Cas wants to help. Anna Dressed in Blood even messes up Cas’ abillity to hunt ghosts, so Cas and his friends are taken on an adventure to help Anna, and to learn about the athame, the knife that kills the ghosts.
I liked the characters in these books, especially Jestine, also a ghost killer, who is trying to take Cas’ place. I thought that all the characters were very well developed, and I could feel their emotions. However, I wished that Anna Dressed in Blood played a more prominent role in this book. I also did not care much about the athame, which was mostly what this book was about, which earns Girl of Nightmares, 3 out of 5 stars.