Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood – The Epitome of Young Adult Horror

This book is one of the few I can say have truly moved me. It is such an incredible story of love, loss, sacrifice… and lots of blood, guts, and ghosts! I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve read this book. Young adult novels tend to be known for romance and love interests, no matter the genre. Anna Dressed in Blood is no different, however, it’s the way the two things intertwine that is really incredible. This story is genuinely the epitome of young adult horror.

Plot Overview

Cas Lowood has proudly taken over the family business: killing the dead. Surprisingly, not everyone can do it. Cas has inherited a special ability to send those pesky lingering spirits to… wherever it is they’re supposed to go.

Despite still being in high school, this has taken over his life. His father used to be the one doing it, until one of the spirits he was trying to send away took his life instead. Cas has resigned himself to the lifestyle. He receives tips and leads from others in the “industry” who know of his ability, and he follows the ones that pose the highest risk to human life. He and his mom are constantly moving all across the country following these leads. His life has become a simple routine: track, hunt, kill, repeat. He leaves all thoughts of friends and the future at the very back of his mind.

Cas follows the lead he receives on Anna because she is mercilessly killing human after human, and he knows she must be stopped. It’s some of the most brutal stuff he’s seen. He assumes going after Anna will be just another stop on his never-ending ghost hunt tour, but he couldn’t be more wrong. Anna is nothing like he’s ever seen before, and he’s in for a world of surprises that will turn his life upside down.

My Thoughts

This book is written quite wonderfully. The language is descriptive and captivating, and the dialogue is undeniably engaging. Kendare Blake does an exceptional job of painting the most appropriate pictures in your head. Never before has a book felt so much like a movie playing in my head.

One of the most dynamic characters you’ll meet

Cas is really a very intriguing character. He lives very much in his head. The life he has chosen for himself has set him so far apart from anything one would consider normal. He doesn’t have one single physical location that he can truly call home. He doesn’t feel a need for friends or any sort of relationship. When he’s in town, he’s there to do a job and then leave. He’s never kept in touch with anyone he’s met at any school he’s been to. He doesn’t go to the movies or anything else a normal teenager would do. He’s incredibly focused and unbelievably determined. While there is no doubt these are admirable traits, well, as the saying goes – too much of anything can be bad.

When Cas does speak – to classmates, teachers, anyone on the “outside” he is short and appears almost jaded – he doesn’t really care. This is mainly because he wants to keep himself from forging relationships. One of the things I like most about this book is the change we see happen in Cas. He really comes to life as he starts opening up to the people in this new town – first out of nothing but necessity as Anna is proving more difficult than he anticipated. He is funny, he’s full of wit, but he really does start to care.

The Ghosts

This isn’t just a novel about the transformation of the guarded nomad of a teenager that is our main character, though. This is a ghost story, and a remarkable one at that.

This book really managed to scare me. There are certain parts of it I cannot read at night before bed (I’m a total wimp). Kendare Blake really sets the scene beautifully with an abandoned old Victorian house, and while there is a considerable amount of blood and death, she does it in a wonderfully tasteful manor. It’s graphic enough to send chills up your spine and coat your arms with goosebumps, but not so detailed and grotesque that someone who is not a gore-junky will still be able to swallow the scenes and enjoy the novel as a whole.

Some of the backstories and situations she comes up with for these ghosts are quite delicious as well. I think “creepy” is really and truly the perfect word for this book. It won’t terrify you into hiding under your covers for a week, but its enough to keep you up at night, thinking.

Conclusion

Of course, my all time favourite thing about this book is the new take it has on love. I’ve said before that I don’t like it when a romance side-plot overtakes the actual story and theme. The funny thing about this is that that is kind of what this book does – but in the most amazing way.

Bottom line: I love these characters, I love this story, I love the imagery, and I LOVE the scare factor. And all of this is only continued into the equally wonderful sequel: Girl of Nightmares!

Want to Read?

It is available for purchase on Amazon: