The Dead-Tossed Waves

I like this series, but it's funny how both protagonists have the which-boy-do-I-love problem. That can be tiresome when it's plain which relationship is doomed and which one can work. Still, an enjoyable YA zombie novel. :) ( )

I like this series, but it's funny how both protagonists have the which-boy-do-I-love problem. That can be tiresome when it's plain which relationship is doomed and which one can work. Still, an enjoyable YA zombie novel. :) ( )

I really loved "The Forest of Hands and Teeth". Now Ms. Ryan doesn't disappoint with her newest book. It was fascinating, seeing what happened with Mary, the story of Gabry, and the other characters. It is hard to imagine just what it must be like, to be surrounded by the undead, living within walls and fences, shoved back into a time when lights come from candles and transportation is your own two feet. I can hardly wait for her next edition to come out.

As I read these books, I can't help be see lines of coexistence --- the rampant consumerism of the average American 'eating away' at us all. But then, that's just me (*wink*). Overall, as much as I wanted to throttle a couple of the characters a few times, I wouldn't trade the experience of the books. Wonderful. ( )

Carrie Ryan's second novel about a post-apocalyptic world in which the dead have risen and hunger for the flesh of the living takes place some years after The Forest of Hands and Teeth ends. The heroine from the first novel, Mary, is now mother to Gabry (short for Gabrielle), and the two live in a lighthouse on the shore of the ocean that Mary spent much of the first novel searching for.

Gabry is seventeen and has always known safety. When her friends sneak over the fence and into the abandoned amusement park near their town, she hesitates until her crush, Catcher, encourages her. What is meant to be a simple night of innocent rebellion turns deadly, and everything in Gabry's world changes.

As she uncovers more about her mother's past as well as her own, she also learns more about the Mudo she has feared her whole life. She finds herself torn between her childhood love and a new, mysterious man as she also fights to become the strong woman her mother has always known was inside her.

Fans of the first novel will probably enjoy this one as well, as while it isn't a direct sequel, it follows in the footsteps of the first, living in the same world with the same dangers but introduces new information, like the fragments of remaining government, larger cities, and the concept of immunity to the infection.

For some readers, though, criticisms might be focused on the fact that there is no payoff of information about the infection or what caused it, and that the information hinted at in the first novel about the Sisterhood and their practices is barely touched upon in this one. Fans looking for answers will have to wait for the third novel.

Some critical readers might also tire of the love triangle aspect of the story. What worked so well in the first novel starts to chafe in the second, as Gabry struggles to make up her mind between the two men. Some will eat up the conflict while others might find themselves tiring of the waffling.

However, the book remains immensely entertaining and fast-paced and leaves the reader wanting more. ( )

This reviews sums it all and is a better read!

Michael's review and version of this book

As I already noticed (duh you can't help noticing)
Well what annoyed me in book 1 was the constant over the top emotions that Mary had.

I can tell you her daughter is even worse. "I love him, Nooo do not touch me! I hate him, He ignores me. Go away. I want you! I want to touch him.

Here is a note I highlighted from my kindle.

On page 188 all she thinks about is Catcher. She says about Elliott. "But I don't care about him anymore! All I can feel is my heart singing. He is okay. Catcher is going to live!!

Then 4 little kindle pages later: page 192:

About Elliot: I cross my arms over my chest, to avoid the temptation of touching him as much as to hold myself in.

Well this is a little example but this is how the book is like. Such an annoying main character who while busy trying to escape has so over the top reactions and feelings, that constantly must be told to us.

Too bad cause the story in itself is quite interesting, but I do not think I can take another narrator like Mary and Gabry.

Stop with the series where the main characters are whining teens.


I will give it 2 stars because the story idea was good and I think if the author would stop or at least, (Can't find the English word!),make the main characters a little bit more controlled. Stop with all the out of control emotions, she can be a great writer. There were parts that were really good. ( )