Anna Dressed in Blood

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was probably a book best saved for closer to Halloween because it is such a good ghost story. The creepy factor was definitely high. However, this wasn't a book that got overly thrilled over, hence the three stars.

Cas is a ghosthunter as his dad was before him. His dad, who was killed by a ghost, passed on his legacy and his anthame to him. His mother is Wiccan and uses her gifts to protect him as best she can. The arrive in Thunder Bay Ontario pursuing the legend of Anna dressed in blood. And while here things don't really go as planned.

Cas is a strong character, however he kinda has this James Dean loner bad boy thing going on. He seems full of himself and it seems like he is so wrapped up in his work with the dead that he is missing life. He has no interest in pursuing anything to do with the living or enjoying life. The girls that he interacts with are simply a means to an end and nothing more. He thinks friendships only get in the way of his work. Anna, the dead girl, is the other strong character in the story. Her story is tragic and the things she is capable of is horrible. But after their encounter the change is very realisic and their romance is a bit necrophilic. Just another example of how Cas is not interested in the living.

Carmel and Thomas are side characters altho very important to the story. Along with the jocks that are part of the story, they all seem very stereotypical. And it seems like nobody questions anything they just accept that Cas kills ghosts (which seems like overkill to me)

But the story of Anna isn't the real mystery that plays out in this story. Cas has been searching since his dad was murdered to find out what happened. As things progess with Anna, Cas finds out the true reason he was drawn to Thunder Bay.

Overall, it was a creepy ghost story with not so realisic characters and ghosts that are more like the living than the dead. I gave it 3 stars because altho I wasn't overly impressed, it was a fun read especially for those that enjoy YA reads.



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