Review of The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is 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.From the Hardcover edition.

The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan is a companion novel to her debut, The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Let me put this out there right now, I think it was a spectacular follow-up. Plot in a nutshell, Mary from The Forest of Hands And Teeth has a daughter named Gabry in the coastal town. Gabry is kind of a chicken. However, hot boy named Catcher convinces her to jump the barrier and go to the abandoned amusement park with him. Zombie mayhem ensues.

Honestly, at first I thought I would hate Gabry because she’s not as courageous as Mary. Rather, she spends much of her time being scared. She’s sort of like Chuckie Finster, in that everyone wants to go do something fun and she’s all GUYZ this isn’t a good idea! However, the at first should signify to you that I changed my mind. Gabry, I think has a normal reaction. Sorry ya’ll I don’t want to tangle with zombies, I’ve seen Dawn of The Dead (until I got too scared and had to turn it off) and 28 Days Later. I know zombies are scary mother-f-ers and you are best off just staying where it’s safe, so it’s completely unfair of me to judge her for being a weakling, because guess what, I am one too! The cool thing about Gabry is that she is given room to grow, she’s not an immediate bad ass, but she becomes one and exhibits some extreme courage.

Aside from Gabry, there are BOYS in The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan. There is a love triangle, of course. Unlike a lot of triangles I sometimes see in books, there’s actually chemistry between Gabry and both boys, neither was haphazardly inserted just to move the plot forward. Also, I couldn’t decide which team I wanted to bat for, Team Elias or Team Catcher. Team Elias because Catcher is a weird name, or Team Catcher because he’s a good kisser. Choices, choices. Usually, it’s very easy for me to pick a team, i.e. yes I am team boy with the bread. So kudos Ms. Ryan for making a love triangle palpable.

As for pacing, I thought The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan was fast-moving. I recall flipping ahead just a little bit because I was so on edge to find out what would happen to the characters I felt attached to. Although, there were some parts when I was like just get on with it, little bits were thrown like teaser-bones and I just wanted to know more, like with the Souler cult. If you are like me, you will gobble that stuff right up, because cults are super interesting.

I had one quote that I really loved from the ARC:

“I realize that life is risks. It’s acknowledging the past but looking forward. It’s taking a chance that we will make mistakes but believing that we all deserve to be forgiven.” pg. 324

I suppose that really resonates with me, as broad, sweeping statements about life tend to. It rings true to me, and I like when a book about zombies makes poignant remarks on life.

Other reviews:

A Flight of Minds
FANTASTIC BOOK REVIEW
Ticket To Anywhere
The Serpentine Library

Series Order:

The Forest Of Hands And Teeth (Book One)
The Dead Tossed Waves (Book Two)
The Dark And Hollow Places (Book Three)
Bouganvillea (Short story)

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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