Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Paperback, 308 pages
Author: Carrie Ryan
Publisher: Delacorte
Publication Date: February 9, 2010
Source: Purchased
Buy: Amazon
Book Summary:
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?
Review:
After many rave reviews of The Dark and Hollow Places (the third book in this series), I decided to finally pick up my copy of The Forest of Hands and Teeth and give it a try. I had purchased it months ago at Walmart with the intent to read, so this just gave me a good opportunity.
I purposely did not know much about the book before starting. I never read the synopsis and did not read reviews.
I was surprised at the overall feel of the book after I had finished and reflected. Everyone constantly says it’s “Not a zombie book,” and I can wholeheartedly agree with that now – at the end it felt much more akin to Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It or Meg Rosoff’s How I Live Now – survival in spite of zombies.
The beginning half of the book is quite different from the last half, as the setting drastically changes partway through due to circumstances the characters experience. I enjoyed the second half more than the first, but this could also be because by the second half you are much more invested in the characters.
My biggest gripe with The Forest of Hands and Teeth is that often days or weeks would go by with no mention, and I prefer to have a continuous story. Though I suppose having a few weeks of living with no extraordinary events is realistic – it just feels less likely to me in a dystopian setting.
I’m interested to see how the second and third books go. I’ve had readers tell me they enjoyed the second (Dead Tossed Waves) many more times than the first, with the third (Dark and Hollow Places) being a perfect ending to the trilogy – this is very exciting to me because I quite enjoyed The Forest of Hands and Teeth as it was.
Very recommended to Susan Beth Pfeffer fans – or, if you’ve read The Forest of Hands and Teeth, I recommend you try the Pfeffer books. Survival based and you get that eerie, frantic feeling with both. Good start to the series!
Buy: Amazon
Bonus: The Forest of Hands and Teeth is at a bargain price of $6.80 for the hardcover right now!
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Twitter: 365DaysReading
I liked The Forest of Hands and Teeth, so I’m definitely going to check out Pfeffer’s books! Thanks for the recommendation!
I haven’t read The Dead Tossed Waves or The Dark and Hollow Places, but I think I will–it’s good to hear that many people liked the second and third books more than the first!
You read The Forest of Hands and Teeth and haven’t wanted to read the next two?!? I’ve been holding myself back from reading the second one right away so I can space them out a little
Twitter: 365DaysReading
Haha, I guess I was satisfied with how it ended!
lol weirdo :p If you ever read the others you should make sure I see your reviews!
Twitter: booksandwine
YAY! It rocks my face off that you liked The Forest of Hands And Teeth. I would say this one and Dark And Hollow Places are my favorites of the trilogy. AH yay. I can’t wait for you to read the others.
Really! I can’t remember who said the second was their favorite – must mean they are all good
I won the third from Random Buzzers but I can’t get at it until Easter so I’m trying to wait a few weeks to read the second!
Both my husband and I love these books – and are eagerly waiting for our local book store to get book #3 in! I’m excited to check out Susan Beth Pfeffer in the mean time…
That’s a good thought, I bet my husband would like this one as well! I’ll have to see if I can entice him to read it
Dark and Hollow Places was my FAVORITE! =)
That series is perfect lol
This is one of my all time favorite series. I’ve adored all three of the books and am sad that it’s over. I’d love to see a new one!
I’m going to finish this series soon! Maybe part of the readathon. My third book is suck somewhere else for a few more weeks but I’m excited that everyone loves all three!