Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Book: Anna Dressed in Blood

Author: Kendare Blake

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release date: August 30, 2011

Source: ARC for review from I Read Banned Books Tour

Summary: (from Goodreads) Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . .

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

First impressions: Male POV! Yes! Not only is Cas a great male protagonist, he's funny. Swoon!

Lasting impressions: Great little horror book for the ghost hunting set.

Conflicting impressions: Can we have a new rule where nobody falls in love with ghosts?

Overall impressions: This book was so much fun, which feels weird to say about a sometimes gruesome, often scary tale about a demonic ghost. Kendare Blake sets the tone with our fearless narrator, Cas. He's witty, funny, quirky, and has an interesting occupation: ghost killer.

Cas has inherited a knife and an ability from his father that allows him to put murderous rampaging ghosts to rest. He grew up traipsing around the world after his dad, who followed leads on where to find the worst ghosts. His mother, a witch, sells candles and other Wiccan supplies online, thus supporting the ghost killer habit. When Cas's dad dies at the hand of a particularly brutal ghost, Cas takes over.

Now following tips of his own, he pursues a lead on a ghost in Canada known locally as Anna Dressed in Blood. Murdered in the 50s on her way to a school dance, she now haunts her old house, taking out anyone who dares enter. She proves this in epic fashion on Cas's first visit to the house, when a bully from school locks him in the house and Anna unleashes her wrath upon the bully.

There is plenty of violence and a smattering of foul language (f-bombs flying!), so this is one for the older set. I, for one, did not mind the language, but a few times it seemed to pop up so suddenly that it took me out of the world for a second. Maybe it's because I've been reading so clean lately?

Anna is as wonderful a character as is Cas. She's bold, confused, and full of hideous secrets she tries desperately to hide. I don't want to give too much away, because the joy of the novel is discovering Anna's story as well as Cas's. The two of them have to explore their histories and destinies in ways that make them uncomfortable, but it must be done in order to set things right.

This is a magical, dark, funny novel full of interesting characters. I loved the story, and its twists and turns kept me guessing. There were a few elements that could have been developed a little further, and I'm not a fan of the fact that this turned into a paranormal romance when it could have been a great standard horror book, so four stars from me. It's still a great read, however, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great male protagonist.

Marry me, Cas!

Rating: 4/5 stars

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Comic Book Review: Elephantmen Vol. 1 TPB

Book: Elephantmen Volume 1: Wounded Animals

Author: Story by Richard Starkings; Artwork by Moritat, Henry Flint, Tom Scioli, David Hine and Chris Bachalo

Publisher: Image Comics

Release date: July 2008

Source: Bought from Graham Crackers Comics

Summary: (from HipFlask.com) They were genetically engineered to be supra-human weapons of mass destruction, but ultimately dismissed collectively as Elephantmen. Hip Flask, Ebony Hide and Obadiah Horn count amongst their number; wounded animals who, despite their differences and origins, must live in the world of man.

Collects ELEPHANTMEN #1-7 featuring art by Ladrönn, Moritat, Henry Flint, Tom Scioli, David Hine and Chris Bachalo.

First impressions: I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I knew nothing about it when I ordered it other than that Lia Habel said the series is so good it has left her sobbing, and that it was about, well, Elephantmen. I love nothing better than a glowing recommendation, so I decided to spring for it despite my limited knowledge of the subject matter.

Lasting impressions: I think that in the future, Lia Habel should be in charge of determining all of my reading material. She has never failed to steer me toward incredible stories and this is certainly no exception.

Conflicting impressions: I don't think you could pay me to say a bad thing about this one.

Overall impressions: This trade paperback collects the first 7 issues of the Elephantmen series, which follows a group of hybrid animal-men in the future. Billed as "pulp science fiction," the story is dark and at times violent, exploring the consequences of private military experimentation when its products are introduced into society.

The Elephantmen, as they are collectively called, consist of Hip Flask (a hippo), Ebony Hide (an elephant), Obadiah Horn (a rhino), and others. They were born from experiments by the Mappo corporation to combine large animals with humans that could be trained to be the ultimate killing machines. They spent their youth under Mappo's control, unaware that a world existed beyond pain and suffering. They massacred North African communities under the command of their brutal leader.

Fast forward 15 or so years, and the Elephantmen are now living in California, having been rescued by American forces. They now work as operatives for the U.S. government, and much of the focus of this book is on Hip Flask's quest to track down an African doll/idol.

We also witness the prejudice they face in society. They are outcasts, misunderstood, and supposed to maintain a quiet presence, yet Obadiah Horn has risen to become a powerful corporate leader. He is challenging the status quo by getting engaged to a human woman, Sahara, who has her own history and ties to Mappo. There seems to be conflict brewing between Hip Flask and Obadiah Horn, particularly where Sahara is concerned.

Though definitely dark, the book is surprisingly touching, particularly in the opening issue. Ebony Hide has a conversation with a young girl named Savannah, who fails to understand the complexities or differences between people, as only a child can. Her unflinching desire to befriend, rather than fear, Ebony is a heartbreaking moment. Ebony feels he is only as good as his past actions, and the violence he committed in Africa haunts him. The gentle and giving soul he confronts in Savannah certainly gives him room for thought.

The thematic elements in this book around war, animal experimentation, love without boundaries, and the consequences of power are beautifully explored through the rich plot and gorgeous artwork. The images are complex and easy to follow, with neither the text nor the art outshining the other. Instead, they work in perfect tandem to convey the story with ease, and I could not put down this book until I'd finished it.

For anyone interested in the subjects explored through this title, with even a passing interest in comic books, I urge you to give this one a try. Check it out from a library, borrow it from a friend, or even read the first issue for free online. I get that it's not going to appeal to everyone, but if you even think you might like it, you simply must read this book.

Rating: 5/5 stars

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Review: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Book: The Near Witch

Author: Victoria Schwab

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Release date: August 2, 2011

Source: ARC from NetGalley

Summary: (from Goodreads) The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger — a boy who seems to fade like smoke — appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know — about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

First impressions: The immediacy of the present tense used in this narrative really drew me in. Victoria Schwab has an elegant way of writing that I found beautiful and hypnotic.

Lasting impressions: I couldn't connect with this one beyond the likable prose, however. I never fell in love with Cole, or even believed that Lexi truly had, and the story moved a bit slow for my tastes.

Conflicting impressions: I thought missing children would be enough to keep me interested, but the stakes never felt high enough for me to care about the outcome.

Overall impressions: This is one book where I am absolutely certain that the only reason I disliked it was because I just wasn't feeling it. I can tell it's a well-crafted, unique, and beautiful tale. I can see where some people would get really into this one and love it. For me, it fell a bit flat.

The setting, a secluded small town named Near located next to a spooky moor, is perfect. I loved the opening, when Lexi introduces us to local folklore about the old Near Witch who died long ago and is inextricably linked to the town's history. The first chapter is Lexi telling a bedtime story to her young sister, Wren, about the Near Witch. It's a quiet, intimate moment that made me want to curl up in front of a fire and keep reading.

The beginning was so good, in fact, that I think it set up my ultimate disappointment by the time I got to the end. Schwab's writing is dripping with detail, painting clear images in your mind, but without getting bogged down. It's the kind of writing you want to sip, and languish in, not hurry through to find out what happens next. Yet I still needed something to keep me turning the pages. Instead, I felt like I was fighting reading inertia, and that the more I read, the less I could actually continue to consume. Then I'd put it down and struggle to pick it back up. It was frustrating.

As the story continues, a stranger arrives in Near, and the children of the village start turning up missing from their beds late at night. The town quickly turns on this mysterious visitor, as strangers are not welcome in Near. Lexi, however, refuses to blindly join this lynch mob, and starts her own investigation into the strange events happening in Near. Lexi is headstrong and stubborn, refusing to listen to her somewhat controlling uncle, who just wants her to stay in the house where he feels she'll be safe. She disobeys him consistently, sneaking off to meet Cole (the stranger) or visit the homes where the children have gone missing. She wants to stop what's happening, not only because she knows these kids, but because she witnessed her own sister nearly escape through the window late at night.

Lexi's protective instinct didn't ring quite as true for me. I thought she was just nosy and curious. She seemed more determined to prove Cole's innocence than to protect her sister, and it bothered me that she got so swept up in the new boy in town. I felt they had no chemistry, and the romance that blossoms between them just didn't do it for me. He was an interesting character in his own right and I didn't get why he needed to also be a love interest.

The middle dragged on far too long for me. I had to struggle to get through this one, because neither the mystery itself, nor the beautiful prose, was enough to keep me hooked. The mystery is not much of a mystery as it turns out, and the story is much more effective as a lesson in how folklore and mass hysteria can influence human behavior, particularly in exclusive communities. Yet even this facet of the story seemed underdeveloped. While the overall tale is an interesting one, the details couldn't hold my attention long enough to get through more than a few pages at a time.

I recommend this one to fans of witch and folk tales, but this one just wasn't for me.

Rating: 2/5 stars

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