Customer Reviews

The Dead-Tossed Waves (Forest of Hands and Teeth)

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After reading Carrie Ryan's debut novel, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, I couldn't wait for the release of her next book. The Dead-Tossed Waves (Forest of Hands and Teeth, Book 2) did not disappoint. Gabry, the daughter of Mary, has grown up in the sheltered sea town of Vista, watching her mother take care of the lighthouse and dispose of the undead Mudo (Unconsecrated) that wash up on the beach. Gabry's life has been about fear of the Mudo and staying safe. After she takes a risk by following her friends and her crush over the Barrier one night, her entire world unravels. Her web of friends and family are missing, dead, or infected, and the only answers and hope seem to lie beyond the Barrier. Despite her fear, Gabry must decide what risks are worth it to survive, both emotionally and physically.

In some ways, this book excels its predecessor. Ryan's writing was strong in the first novel, but it's even better this time. First-person, present-tense can be a difficult style to use, but Ryan does it well with writing that is descriptive and evocative. The protagonist, Gabry, is very relatable, and characters are more well-defined in this book. Sense of place is strong, as is pacing; Ryan doesn't hesitate to take the reader into dark action in the first 30 pages and doesn't ease up after that. Relationships between characters feel real, and the romantic/sexual tension is palpable and aching. The story also allows the reader to know what happened to Mary, even if it's decades later, and questions are answered about the mythology of the Mudo/Unconsecrated. Like the first book, the novel explores complex issues, including the purpose of life, the repercussions of one's actions, and the selflessness of real love. Differently, though, the reader is left with more hope for the characters.

In other ways, however, the book wasn't as good as the first. Some plot points felt recycled, like the repetition of dangers, the need to flee, and the love triangle. Having read the first book, there was also a certain predictability that nothing would turn out well. There's a lot of death and destruction, and some of the main characters engage in or silently condone some very bothersome or violent actions. The story finished with little closure and an obvious cliffhanger ending to set up the sequel.

All in all, though, this was another dark, gripping read from Ryan, and I look forward to the continuation of Gabry's story in the next installment. Though it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH first. There are a few clues and poignant moments along the way that won't resonate unless you've read the first book.

I LOVE "The Forest of Hands and Teeth." So much, that I took a bus while on vacation to buy "The Dead-Tossed Waves." But I'm sad to say I could barely get through it. The writing is VERY choppy. I really want to know who the editor is. And with the incomplete sentences, you have Gabry, the main character, repeating the same thoughts over and over again throughout the book. Unlike FOHAT, this book is more inner dialogue and less action. That wouldn't be so bad if she wasn't always throwing herself a pity party. Honestly, this book is about 70% of her thinking the same thoughts with little going on between it. The writing made the repeated thoughts worse - there were many pages where the author would use the same wording or idea several times within a page. That's a big no-no in writing.

To me, every good book needs romance. "The Dead-Tossed Waves" offers it, but it's weak. You know very little about any of the men, which makes it harder to like them. I got to the point that I didn't care who Gabry ended up with, because I couldn't get attached to anyone. And when Gabry does make her decision, it comes out of nowhere. She's kissing one guy one minute, the declaring her love for another the next.

The only real action that happened is in the first 20 pages. After that, it's a bunch of teen angst, horrible writing, and hope that somewhere in the next hundred pages, a glimpse of "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" will show. So little happened, that I feel the author wrote the book only because the first one left you hanging. I think Ryan was better off leaving it with a bang then writing this book.

I devoured The Forest of Teeth and Hands in one sitting when I first got my hands on it. I was fascinated with the mythology of this town that thought it was the last vestiges of humanity. The sisterhood and the way of life was all so interesting to me and I loved how the plot developed even if it did leave the reader a little romantically unsatisfied at the end and perhaps disillusioned by Mary's ultimate selfishness.

I figured The Dead-Tossed Waves would be a furthering of that mythology, those characters, that same quest to find something more than what Mary had always known. Instead we're plopped into the story two seconds before life erupts for Mary's daughter.

Okay, fine. And some clever ideas were introduced but so riddled with the internal whining of the narrator that it was hard to appreciate them. There was very little development of the characters or the mythology (though we did get a small taste).

As everything changes for Gabry we're treated with her repetitive thoughts on that - ad nauseum - until it really was more like reading a whiny blog entry.

We're also treated to all the times Gabry thinks she ought to say or do something to someone that might actually help the story move on or ease her unhappiness but she almost always chooses against it. And the myriad times she goes from being attracted to one boy, then being mad at him, suddenly being attracted to the other, then being mad at HIM... you get the picture. Another viewer pointed out that her final choice really does come out of the blue. For a book written entirely in the thoughts of the narrator, that was probably one of the thought processes the reader would've actually liked to have heard. Though I'd much rather understand Ryan's need to leave the reader romantically unsatisfied with each book.

I notice that Amazon lists it as Book 2. If Ryan goes for a 3rd I hope she'll stick to developing the mythology, the Sisterhood, the history of the Return, and cut the whiny teenage angst back at least a fourth. We got enough of that with the Twilight series.

Dead-Tossed Waves is a sequel of sorts, although for some reason the publisher is calling it more of a companion novel. I see it as a sequel because it takes place almost two decades after Forest of Hands and Teeth, from the point of view of Gabry, a young teenage girl, who is the daughter of Mary, the protagonist from Forest of Hands and Teeth. Gabry resides in the old lighthouse off the shoreline in the town of Vista. Mary's job is to watch as the tide comes in and washes ashore the Mudo, those zombies, the dead that have returned and are mindless beings that hunger for human flesh *insert braaiinnnss joke here*.

Vista is a town that is well protected and guarded. Slowly the system of justice is being rebuilt by the Protectorate, a confederate government that rules from the Dark City. They are bringing back law and order to the small towns like Vista. Gabry enjoys her small town life and the simplicity of it all. But that all comes crashing down one night when a group of kids her age, including her best friend Cira, and her older brother Catcher, decide to break the rules and climb the fence and sneak into the abandoned amusement park that was kept running as long as it could even after the zombies outbreak. Gabry isn't the type to break any rules and enjoys order. But because of the deep feelings she has for Catcher, and wants to impress him, she goes along with the group. During this short moment, where Gabry enjoys her first kiss from Catcher, life as they knew it will be changed forever.

A special type of zombie, called a Breaker, attacks the teens. A Breaker is different from a Mudo because they are very fast and rabid. A few of the teens are bitten and quickly are transformed into them. Among them is Catcher, who stops them, but is bitten and infected. For the moment he is still living and makes Gabry run back home. Gabry has no choice and also leaves behind an unharmed Cira. Vista's Militiamen come and round up those who weren't infected and punish them. They have no idea about Gabry and her part in all of this. Catcher has run off and is hiding outside the town limits. Gabry feels guilty for not saving Cira, and promises her she will go find Catcher, regardless if he has become the walking dead. Also around this time, Gabry finds out a dark secret about herself from Mary, and she meets the mysterious Elias, who is searching for his lost sister, as he has travels with some of religious cult who thinks the unconsecrated are the saviors of the world.

Gabry has some big decisions to make. Catcher is infected, but hasn't changed into a Mudo, Unconsecrated or Breaker, because he is immune for some reason. Mary is finished with the life in Vista and disappears, leaving Gabry to fend for herself. Then there is Elias, who Gabry doesn't trust, but may hold the key to her past and possibly the future.

I was so very anxious to read Dead-Tossed Waves because Forest of Hands and Teeth had such a profound effect on me. I had very high expectations for the sequel, and because of that, Dead-Tossed Waves was a big disappointment. The writing is shaky at best and has no real motivation in keeping my interest. The characters are not sympathetic in any way where I cared if they survived or not. The first few chapters are intense, but then when Gabry feels very much alone and tries to figure out what her new role is in life, that is where this story falters. There are too many long winded paragraphs and pages of internal reflection and angst that makes Gabry more pathetic if anything. I had a big sense of detachment from her, and for the most part she was more of annoyance. Whereas Mary had a very unique voice, a drive to succeed and not roll over and die, Gabry is the complete opposite. She is very weakly written and not strong enough to carry along the story.

The amount of inner dialogue and lack of action is a big problem here. Also Carrie falls back on old tropes, specifically regarding the relationship Gabry finds herself between Catcher and Elias. And the twist with Mary, even if you can call it that, is somewhat bizarre. Catcher is a very descriptive individual, who did hold my interest, much more than Gabry ever did. I can't help but wonder if Carrie had decided to write the story from his point of view, how much richer and exciting it all would have been. Even when things begin to move in such a way where you should be hooked, I could barely keep from speed reading just to know the final outcome because I found myself bored.

I will say that Carrie has created a bleak and descriptive world that can catch your attention. She makes a great case and explains in such a way that makes sense and why things have come to pass. Her writing is strong in some ways, but it others, it isn't and because of that, there isn't enough of a balance to keep things focused as they should be.

Dead-Tossed Waves didn't have me cowering under my covers, nor did it give me the chills and thrills I had hope for. The way Carrie ends this chapter, in what I think will be a trilogy, may have me picking up the next book, but not with as much desire and "I need this book now!" as the first.

Katiebabs

I also loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and looked forward to this book. Unfortunately, it's basically just a re-washed version of the first book. With the exception of a new twist at the very beginning, it's basically the same story as the first. Girl torn between two men, running through the forest constantly threatened by Zombies, and slowly but surely losing her companions. The only suspense is wondering if she'll end up totally alone, just like the first book, or if she'll get to keep a friend or two for the next book.

It depends entirely on the world-building accomplished in the first book. We get a tiny glimpse, here and there, of the larger world, but not enough to "see" it or even get curious about it. And it ends with no real resolution, one of those obvious "wait for the next book" type endings.

I suspect that the next book will pick up where this one left off, and that in fact, this book could have been cut into half (or less) and combined with the next book to make one complete story. I sure am glad I got it from the library instead of buying a copy.

I truly loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth so when I spotted this one I eagerly snapped it up, and was not disappointed. The author does an amazing job here - this is one of those very rare cases when the sequel is just as good if not better than the orignal. This is being presented as a "companion" volume to The Forest of Hands and Teeth instead of a sequel because I think if you haven't read the first one you would still be able to jump right in with this one without losing much. This book centers around Gabry, Mary's daughter, and although there are a smattering of other characters from the first book, it really is a great story on its own.

The author has a true gift for writing action and the suspense builds steadily throughout the book. Nowhere else will you find so much gruesome zombie action and so much well written romance all within the same chapter. I have found myself getting tired of much of the YA paranormal romance out there but this one stands high above the rest. You read this and the action and peril make you breathless and the romance tugs at your heart.

I didn't really care much for Gabry at first. I thought "oh no, here's another whiny teen complaining, complaining, complaining". It didn't take long though until I really began to admire her - she grows so much throughout the book and I really felt her despair and confusion as she struggled to make sense of all the changes that were happening so quickly. Elias and Catcher were also great well rounded characters that bring the reader firmly into the story.

This book is just so well plotted - it moves along at an incredibly fast pace. It ruined my weekend - I haven't gotten anything else done! This is a great book that I look forward to recommending to alot of people. The combination of zombies and romance is unusual, so it makes it hard to know exactly who might enjoy this book, but the bottom line is no matter if you are a fan of zombie fiction or romance or just a good story, this is hugely entertaining stuff.

Let me just say firs that I loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth. (FHT) I thought Mary was a strong heroine and I absolutely adored Travis. However, in the sequel/companion novel, The Dead Tossed Waves (DTW) I was left unsatisfied.

First, I didn't feel a connection with Gabry. She was winny, couldn't make up her mind, and spent the entire novel complaining about how she wasn't strong enough and that she didn't know what she wanted. So much that I loved about Mary in the FHT was her drive and how she was determined to survive is lost in Gabry. I had to force myself to finish the book, because I really didn't about Gabry, or any of the characters in fact.

That brings me to another point... Mary. She reappears in the seqeal as Gabry's adopted mother, and at first I was happy. (Was I the only one who at the begining thought (and hoped!) that Gabry was Travis' daughter?) But as the novel progresses, Mary falls flat. She leaves her daughter to go back into the forest to find Harry? She leaves Gabry! I didn't understand how one minute Gabry was everything to her and the next she was leaving her daughter to fend for herself! I thougth that was totally out of character. Also, throughout the whole book Mary is lecturing Gabry about how she she shouldn't worry and how she should live her life, and blah, blah blah. The lecture sessions were annoying. And not once did she mention Travis! She basically said she was in love with two guys and one of them died. That was it. While she told Gabry everything else she failed to mention him.

Oh and speaking of romance, I wasn't thrilled with either of Gabry's love interests. I actually did like Catcher, but his dialogue with Gabry was repetitive and nothing seemed resolved. At one minute Gabry was like, "I think I could love him," and the next she was all into Elias. Elias was okay, but his character could have been developed further. I thought the twist of the Soulers was rather interesting and I wish Carrie would have written more about them. Also, I agree with a previous reviewer that Cira totally seemed like a repeat of Cass. I loved Cass (From FHT) but I didn't understand Cira. One minute she was the more experience and the next she was asking Gabry how it felt like to be kissed. Their friendship was strange to me.

Overall, the book wasn't horrible and I will probably read the sequel just because I loved FHT so much. Hopefully the author will find a better editor and develop her characters further.

Four or five? FOUR OR FIVE? FOUR OR FIVE? Let's see how I'm feeling by the end of the review.

Okay, this book kinda takes place where the last one left off. Give or take twenty to thirty years. Instead of the lovely Mary, the narrator this time is Mary's daughter, Gabry. Now, I understand most of you are like "OMG, who's the father?" I know I was. But I can't say for threat of being flagged as a spoiler.

Anyway, Gabry has a very different upbringing from her mother. She lives in a ligthouse on the outskirts of a little town called Vista. She has a best friend and a crush on her best friend's brother. But most of all, she grows up safe and secure, without all that moaning in the background. But then, of course, it all goes wrong......dun dun DUN. Gabry and her friends take a little midnight hike over the Barrier and zombie hell breaks loose. The night ends with death, betrayals, and with half of her generation gone or imprisoned, life will never be the same for poor, sweet Gabry.

I have to say, this was a hell of a sequel. I thought it was actually much better than The Forest of Hands and Teeth aaaaaand all my questions were answered (well, about 88%). There were even some guest appearances and moments when I felt smarter than the narrator because I knew what something was and she didn't. What more can I gall ask for?

The writing was very much the same. It was beautiful in places, mostly sad, but hope shined through. I managed to read this in a period of 24 hours, which is no small feat when you have school and homework and yada yada yada. My point is that it's compelling and unputdownable (which is officially a word).

The world that Ryan sets up is just incredible, honestly. I find it completely convincing. It's mysterious and dark and scary. Just normal life with fewer good parts....and it has zombies.

I found Gabry more likable than her predcessor, but I don't feel fair comparing the two because they have totally different personalities.

Once again, the weakest part for me was the love triangle. I'm sick of those things. I always choose the wrong guy, then have a grudge against the author for having different taste in men. But this time I think I routing for the right guy.....I think. I have to wait and see if he dies first. Even though Gabry bounced back and forth between the two contestants, she never seemed ho-ish. Just confused.

But once again I could never tell if the couple was kissing. Does that make me weird, or does anyone else have that problem with these books? I don't know, there would be pages of getting close and comfy with one of her man-friends then they would get pissed or something, storm off, and Gabry would try to relive their "almost-kiss". And I would be like "Man, I though for SURE they were lipsmacking that time!"

Overall, I really liked this book. And if you want this book to be a stand-alone, go ahead. This book could do well without it's predcessor, although it's cliffhanger ending may be too much for someone with poor will power (aka me). I recommend this book to everyone, except those who like fairy-tale endings, "perfect" narrators, or can't handle flesh-eating corpses.

I've decided to go with five stars.

Carrie Ryan's novel, `The Forest of Hands and Teeth', was one of my favorite books of 2009. In fact, I count it as one of favorite books of all time.

Ryan's debut was an exhilarating and frightening tale set in a post-apocalyptic universe. `Forest' told the story of Mary, and her village's fight for survival in the aftermath of a disease that destroyed the world, as we know it. The `unconsecrated' do not die; they are savage and ravenous, desperate to taste flesh and pass on the virus that wiped out millions...

`The Dead-Tossed Waves' is a companion novel to `Forest'. The story picks up years later and is about Mary's daughter, Gabrielle `Gabry'. Gabry's life is forever changed when one reckless, youthful act of defiance sees the death of her friends and forces Gabry to realize her own fragility.

This second novel is glorious. `Forest' introduced readers to a changed world riddled with fear and disease, as seen through the eyes of one girl and her close-minded village. `The Dead-Tossed Waves' sees Ryan's story grow, as layers are added to this destructed world and the plot thickens...

In this second novel Ryan explores more complex issues that arise from the aftermath of infection. She puts a very human face to the post-apocalypse, and also ties up loose ends created in `Forest'. Whereas the first novel concentrated on the disease's effect on one small village that was secluded from the rest of the world, in `Dead-Tossed Waves' Ryan gives readers a glimpse of the more far-reaching disaster. She introduces `Soulers' - a crazy cult that has arisen, who believe immortal life can be found in an unconsecrated's bite. Gabry and her friends talk about traveling to `The Dark City', the last bastion of city life, and one of the only densely populated urban areas to survive since disaster struck. Then there's `The Recruiters' - an army of citizen volunteers who patrol village borders and kill the undead.

Ryan's series is firmly grounded in the horror genre. Her scenes are cinematic and spine tingling, at once exhilarating and terrifying. But it's not enough to simply say Ryan's books are about `zombies'. Sure, the unconsecrated are frothing, horrifying and undead - but there's real heart behind the zombie plot. Ryan's series is ultimately about hope - that tiny ember that pushes humanity to survive against all odds: to keep trying, fighting and holding on, no matter what.

Ryan beautifully encapsulates this idea of survival and hope in the tender romances of her protagonists. In `Forest', Mary was torn between her love for two brothers - Harry and Travis. Gabry follows her mother's footsteps in `Dead-Tossed Waves' as she has conflicted feelings for her childhood sweetheart, Catcher, and a stranger she meets beyond her home's border, Elias. These romances have real heat to them - the characters spark on the page and it's impossible for readers not to feel just as torn as Mary and Gabry between the loves of two good men. These romances are so important to the story and they hold such weight - after all, love is worth fighting for, and one of the best motivators for survival.

Carrie Ryan is a perfect example of the Young Adult genre's growing popularity and widening readership. The genre is no longer just for the audience of its namesake - adults are reacquainting themselves with a genre that is growing more sophisticated and garnering more publicity than books in its adult counter-part. `The Forest of Hands and Teeth' and its companion novel, `The Dead-Tossed Waves' are two books that will appeal to young adults and adults alike for its dark themes and complexities.

If you haven't already, I implore you to read `The Forest of Hands and Teeth' and then `The Dead-Tossed Waves' for a sinister but fulfilling read.

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 FoHT 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 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, cuz guess what, I am one too! The cool thing about Gabry is that she is given room to grow, she's not an immediate B.A., but she becomes one and exhibits some extreme courage.

Aside from Gabry, there are BOYS. 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 this book 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.