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Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna #1) by Kendare Blake - Review


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Cas Lowood works in the family business just like his dad did before he died a gruesome death - Cas kills the dangerous dead. He travels the country with his mother, a witch, their cat, which has the ability to sniff out spirits, and his mystical athame, a blade that puts ghosts down for good. Cas expects the usual when they're are on the trail of a ghost called Anna Dressed in Blood. Instead, he finds a ghost bound in curses and rage like no other he has ever encountered. This ghost has killed everyone foolish enough to step foot inside her home since her brutal murder in 1958, except one. For some reason, she spares Cas's life.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake is perfect for fans of television's Supernatural. There's a high chance you'll like it if you are a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, too. This is pretty high praise coming from me seeing as those are a couple of my favorite tv shows. I mean, the main character is named Cas (short for Theseus Cassio, but whatever) and another character is named Will Rosenberg. Anyway, Cas is a strong character and his voice comes across very clearly on the page. He's a realistic character and seems like someone who should exist outside of the page, regardless of the ghost hunting aspect of the story. Not to mention the fact that he is also quite clever. While this story is very much his, Anna plays a vital roll as the ghost unlike any he's encountered. The characters are exceptional as is the captivating mystery they find themselves in the middle of. The horror elements are also pretty awesome, and I like where the author goes with the mythology. However, I'm not sure sure why Cassandra Clare's blurb calls it "romantic" - sure, there are touching moments between the two characters, but I wouldn't call it a romance, especially if take into consideration the scene where she rips a guy in half. Overall, this is an awesome series opener and I'm really looking forward to seeing these characters again in Girl of Nightmares.


I read this novel from October 19 - 22, 2015 and my review is also on Goodreads.

Comments

  1. I've had this book for ages and still not had a chance to pick up - hopefully soon, very encouraging to read such a positive review.
    Lynn :D

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  2. I'm so glad you loved this book; I'd really like to read it soon! Happy Tuesday! :)

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  3. I'm happy to see that you enjoyed this one as much as I did!
    I just loved the characters in this book. But like you, I didn't see what was so romantic about it!

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  4. I couldn't even get past the first chapter unfortunately! *hides in a hole* It was because it was so much like Supernatural, which is like my #1 obsession of the universe. I just thought it was a bit rippy-offy?!??! BUT I'M TOTALLY GLAD YOU LOVED IT!! Yay for excellent books!!
    Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!

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    1. I know exactly what you mean. It's one of my favorite shows, but I actually thought this one did a decent job of standing on it's own, especially as it continued. If you want to talk about a major Supernatural rip-off, look no further than Unbreakable by Kami Garci. I pretty much kept reading that one to see if the author ever called Lukas and Jared, Sam and Dean...

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  5. I absolutely loved this book! My feelings are mixed though because I wasn't satisfied with the ending in its sequel... That's what imaginations are for right? ahah, enjoy! Nice review by the way

    Enchanted by YA: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/ya-shot-wrap-up-haul.html

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  6. Ah, I still can't wait to see where it goes. Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  7. Great review Lauren! Glad you loved Anna Dressed In Blood! :)

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  8. This book has been on my radar for a while now but for some reason, I've never got around to picking it up. Your review makes the book sound like a really cool read. Plus I love Supernatural and Buffy and can see why fans of these shows would enjoy this book. I hope to read this one soon :)

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    1. If you love those shows, that sounds like a good enough reason to pick it up to me. :)

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