Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth

 

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, #1)

Author: Carrie Ryan

Publisher: Delacorte Books

Release Date:  February 9th 2010

Format: Paperback (Bought)

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?

This was one of those books that drew me in by the cover. I read the description and it sounded good, but the story just didn't live up to it. I was looking forward to a good post-apocalypse story that describes that new world -- with some romance thrown in.

Instead, it was all about the main character whining for the whole book about how much she loves this one guy that she just can't have. It was really, /really/ annoying. Even when she has a perfectly good guy that loves her. Oh, and the post-apocalypse thing was really just a background. I wanted to know SO MUCH more about about the Sisterhood and the Guardians. I wanted to see a story that delved into the secrets of their world and revealed the ugly truth. However, the story just follows the selfish whims of the main character - Mary - and the quest for freedom...which is a severe let down in the end. And not because of where she ends up...because of the characters.

So, I gave this three stars because I liked the idea of the book most of all. Otherwise, I would have given it two. I wouldn't really recommend this book, because its mostly a waste of time and/or money. Sorry, but true.

I gave it THREE out of FIVE sporks!