Anna Dressed In Blood By Kendare Blake

Series: Anna #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Horror
Release Date: August 30th 2011
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Cover Rating:3.5/5 Stars
Synopsis: Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story... 
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father’s mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay. When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn’t expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he’s never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home. And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

I had seen this book around quite a lot but I didn't think it looked all that good, I was very wrong. It was perfectly creepy and highly intriguing. The whole story centers around Cas, after his father was killed while on a job Cas took over the profession. As a ghost hunter. When Cas gets a tip about a ghost nicknamed 'Anna Dressed In Blood' he and his witchy mother move to the town she torments. Cas believes that is's just going to be a quick job but he soon discovers Anna is unlike any ghost he has faced. Without fail Anna has killed every person who has come into her home. All except Cas.

Cas, the main character, really was one of the best male narrators that I've come across. I haven't come across many books from the male point of view but when I do I like them instantly or not at all. Luckily for Cas it was instant. I loved how he could put on an act to get everyone to like him for his job but when it came to having real friends he was clueless. Normally in Young Adult books the Hero/Heroine already has a tight group of friends or one that materializes out of nowhere. What was different about this one was that the friendships became more realistic. For example the amount of times Cas tried to get rid of Thomas was ridiculous but the boy kept bouncing back and eventually they became friends (after a few near death experiences since there's nothing that brings friends closer than saving each others lives). Although this doesn't seem like the best way to make friends but I can almost guarantee it's happened to most of us. Thomas was very likable, very awkward and very sweet, which I would say is a good combination. The other part of the trio was Carmel. When you first meet her she seems like your average queen bee but as the story progresses you see she is actually nothing like the mean girl we all have bad memories about. Finally there is Anna, she is one of the most awesome ghost's I've read about. I really enjoyed learning about her background and why she is the way she is. At times her personality was so real I found myself forgetting that she was a ghost.

This book really was stunning. At times it became very creepy but instead of lowering my enjoyment it increased it. I loved the storyline and couldn't predict the twists and turns which is rare for me. The concept is genius and  being the only YA ghost story I've read it has given me very high expectations for any I may come across in the future. I would recommend it to those who are looking for a unique new young adult book to sink their teeth into.

My Favorite Quotes:
“She’s like Bruce Lee, the Hulk and Neo from The Matrix all rolled in to one.”

“Land of the Dead? Is that what you dream about?” she asks. “Boy who kills ghosts for a living?” “No. I dream about penguins doing bridge construction. Don’t ask why.”

“… you’ll need some help getting acquainted. I’m Carmel Jones.” 
“Theseus Cassio Lowood. What kind of a parent names their kid Carmel?” 
She laughs. “What kind of a parent names their kid Theseus Cassio?” 
“Hippies,” I reply. 
“Exactly.”

Email me at: confessionsofabookaholic@LIVE.CO.U