The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

From Goodreads: In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?


I finished this book up late last night, I don't if it added to the mood or not but this book felt so dark and lonely. I cannot imagine living in Mary's world, a village surrounded by a forest filled with zombies with only a fence separating the two. Carrie Ryan did a great job of making me feel exactly like the characters, I felt hopeless when they did and when they felt hope I did too. The writing was beautiful, it was distant but filled with emotion. I couldn't help but feel there wouldn't be a happily-ever-after for Mary and Travis, their world was just too 'not happy'. The ending was interesting, sad, and dare I say it, a little optimistic! I don't know what I would've done if it had been filled with nothing but death and 'The End' printed on the last page. I cannot wait to read the next book, even though this book is a bit on the depressing side I am still addicted to the story and I want to know more. Judging from the blurb to The Dead-Tossed Waves I am in for another somber story with a new heroine, Gabry. *Note* do not read the blurb if you have not read the first book, it doesn't give a lot away, but it's enough to know about the ending to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. A great late night read, but please be aware that this book is about zombies and a post-apocalyptic world, it's not a fairytale.

I give this book 4 owls!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth