Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

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?

So I don't really know where to start with this one. It's the kind of book you'd only ever read once I think. Not because the actual book is awful, but because everything that happens inside it is. Unlike some other dystopian novels, this one is almost void of hope. I don't think a single truly happy thing happened in this novel- it was dark and depressing the entire way through.

That being said, the world that Carrie Ryan has created is quite amazing and The Forest of Hands and Teeth left me wanting to know more about how that reality had come to be. Her writing is also superb, detailing all the tragic events with such skill that you really do care what happens to the characters, even if you never liked them to start with.  You hold your breath just as the characters do during the suspenseful moments, and you mourn with them when tragedy hits (as it does, over and over).

This is definitely a good book, there's no doubting that (and I'll definitely be reading the sequel). Pick it up if you haven't already, just be prepared for all the tragedy.

Overall:  ♥♥♥♥

Published: March 5th 2009

Source: Library