Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Description:

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. 

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered 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: track, 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, now stained red and dripping with 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. 

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

This was a scary, creepy ghost story without at doubt! In fact, I felt this was scarier than some of the adult books I have been reading lately. Even so, it wasn't too scary that it would keep me up at night. I would still say it was for older YA crowds unless you know the younger kiddos can handle it (I knew a few... LOL).

Within this dark ghost story we have Cas. After his father's horrific death at the hands of a ghost, he becomes obsessed with continuing the family "job" by eliminating ghosts that harm the living. He is notified of Anna's haunting and becomes more than interested. There is something about this ghost... Now, if you think I'm going to reveal any more then you haven't been at my blog that long. So, those that know are prepared for the next two words: *evil laugh*. You will have to read the book to see what happens between Cas and Anna. It's too good to not reveal!

I will say that I really loved the characters in this book. Even what are usually one dimensional characters (nerd, head social princess) are fleshed out and you find yourself really liking them all. Even Anna. Yes, the ghost who harms the living is given great characterization. So much you feel sympathy for her. There was also a part in the book I hated. Can't say why, but it was toward the end and I shake my fist at Kendare for having it as a part of the story. I kept hoping that part wasn't true and will keep hoping when I read the next book. *sigh* Curious now? :)

I give this book 4 1/2 stars and really can't wait for 2012 until the next book comes out. I recommend it to those that really enjoy a dark horror book even if they are adults.

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