REVIEW: The Dead-Tossed Waves by: Carrie Ryan

Title: The Dead-Tossed Waves
Author: Carrie Ryan
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Publisher: Random House Children's Books


Synopsis:

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She's content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry's mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother's past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

Review: 

The Dead-Tossed Waves, the second installment of The Forest of Hands and Teeth Series, doesn't start off where the first book left off. I was a little disappointed at first because I wanted to find out what happened with Mary, Harry, Jacob and Cass, but instead it begins several years down the road. The main character is Gabry (Gabrielle), Mary's daughter, and we get to see things through her POV.

Gabry and her mother live in the lighthouse of the small post-Return town of Vista. Their only job is to maintain the lighthouse and to dispatch the Mudo that wash up onto the beach surrounding Vista on one side. Gabry has lived her whole life always following the rules, the very thought of  disobeying them terrifying to her. 

Cira is Gabry's best friend, who lives in an orphanage with her older brother. She has always been the confident one out of the two friends, the one who always talked Gabry into doing the things she was too scared to do. The relationship she has with her brother is a special one where they have grown up in the orphanage with only having each other as family. I really wish that Carrie Ryan would have gone deeper into Cira's character. She seemed like from the glimpses you get to see that she would have been a very interesting character.

Catcher is Cira's older brother and another one of Gabry's friends. He's always tried to look after Cira and Gabry and always caves, giving into whatever Cira wants. He is fiercely loyal to his younger sister and you can see the love he has for her. As the book goes on Catcher gets quite moody and tries to push Gabry away but with all that goes on I really don't blame him. 

Elias is a Souler and comes into Gabry's life at a time when she really needs someone, but she is not sure whether or not she can trust him. Elias acts weirdly around her at times and she can tell that he is hiding something big from her, and boy is it big. 

Carrie Ryan is just a descriptive in The Dead-Tossed Waves as she was in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. She has a unique ability to capture the scenes, characters, and emotions exceptionally well. I was able to clearly picture myself walking through everything as the story progressed and the plot deepened. 

The Mudo, zombies, Unconsecrated or whatever you want to call them, are just as impressive in this installment of Carrie Ryan's series The Forest of Hand and Teeth. She was able to capture their complete gory grossness in such vivid detail. 

I recommend The Dead-Tossed Waves to anyone who loves zombies, post-apocalyptic, dystopian, and sci-fi genres. I do feel this is a book that should not be read by anyone under the age of 9  just for the simple fact that the child might have issues with the blood and guts, and the zombie gore. I do suggest that parents read the book first and make your own judgement on letting your children read it. I was highly entertained through out the whole book and at times sitting on the edge of my seat, gripping my tablet so hard that my knuckles were turning white. I do feel that you should give this series a chance because you may find a new genre to love.


(c) 2015 Andrea Hatfield All Rights Reserved