Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Pages: 316
Intended Audience: Mature Teens
Genre: Horror/Romance
Notes for Parents: Language, violence, gory details, ghosts, scary scenes. This is for mature readers only.

The Back Cover

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: he kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder 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, but now stained red and dripping 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.
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is an example of another back cover that tells too much! They (whoever “they” are) have to learn to tease, not tell. There is a sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood called Girl of Nightmares.

What’s good?

Solid writing, a strong plot, and well-executed characterization make this a compelling mystery. The first person, present-tense point of view is complemented by a good use of language, humor and dialogue. Swift pacing and plenty of suspense keep the story exciting and the small, remote Northern Ontario city is an excellent setting. Cas is a likeable protagonist (despite his over confidence and occasional conceit), and he’s surrounded by a strong cast of supporting characters.
Best Part: Tybalt.

What isn’t good?

The story was a little light on emotion. For a group of teens that witnessed the unthinkable, they managed their trauma quite well. Besides that and a few questions about the mythology that I wish had been addressed, the strength of the story made it easy to get past any weaknesses.
Worst part: Tybalt! Why, Kendare Blake, why?!!

Recommendation þþþþo

I generally avoid both horror and romance novels (especially the young adult variety), but I was genuinely impressed by Anna Dressed in Blood.  It had a good balance of suspense, humour, and adventure, with a little light romance on the side. And I totally didn’t see the last part coming! It was worth the read so I definitely recommend it.

Blake, Kendare. Anna Dressed in Blood. New York: TOR Teen, 2011.