Anna Dressed in Blood by Kandare Blake Series: Anna #1
Published by Tor Teen on 30 August 2011
Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 316
Source: Kindle Purchase
Buy on Amazon 
There is both a contemporary mystery, where Cas has to find the ghost Anna, and make sure she stops hurting people, and an older mystery, surrounding the death of Cas' father. Even if he has no experience with friendships, Cas is able to ask his new friends for help, and he truly needs someone on his side regarding both mysteries.
Cas really isn't your normal YA hero, of course, he is smart and quick-witted and corageous, but he is also a little withdrawn at the beginning, and while he is sure of himself when it comes to his work, he truly isn't when he has to interact with kids his own. age. The way he matures and changes throughout the story is great, and it's also nice to see that he is starting to trust other people with his problems - the 'I have to work alone' thing wasn't really working for him anymore.
My goodness, what a creepy, startingly beautiful, but scary tale Anna Dressed in Blood is! With amazing attention to details, Ms. Blake made me live through this whole tome with bated breath. There were some truly horrendous scenes, but they were there for a good reason, and the plot never took anything away from the story, or the characters. Cas is a young man with a tremendous job to do, and for the first time in his life, he gets friends, and falls in love.
There is both a contemporary mystery, where Cas has to find the ghost Anna, and make sure she stops hurting people, and an older mystery, surrounding the death of Cas’ father. Even if he has no experience with friendships, Cas is able to ask his new friends for help, and he truly needs someone on his side regarding both mysteries.
Cas really isn’t your normal YA hero, of course, he is smart and quick-witted and corageous, but he is also a little withdrawn at the beginning, and while he is sure of himself when it comes to his work, he truly isn’t when he has to interact with kids his own. age. The way he matures and changes throughout the story is great, and it’s also nice to see that he is starting to trust other people with his problems – the ‘I have to work alone’ thing wasn’t really working for him anymore.
Both the back-story and the actual story makes sense, and Anna is one creepy ghost! What she can do is not something most ghosts are capable of, and that may well be the reason why Cas is so intrigued by her. Anna’s story is also heartbreaking – the way she was treated when she was alive, as well as the way she died is just chilling! No wonder she has this need for vengeance!
I can’t wait to see what will happen in the next book, there was never a dull moment in this one, and it is such a breath of fresh air, with a world that is new (at least to me) and with characters that are attaching and very real.
“You make me want things I can’t have.”
“She’s my purpose and we’re going to save each other. We’re going to save everyone. And then I’m going to convince her that she’s supposed to stay here. With me.”
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
I really enjoyed Anna myself though I thought the love story part with Cas and Anna a little weird..lol. 🙂
LOL I agree! The love story part is a little strange as you say. I wonder what will come of that in the next bok!
do you know that I haven’t read this book yet? After all the amazing reviews I saw about it I really need to! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the review!
Thanks for stopping by, Melliane 🙂 I hope you’ll get a chance to read this soon – it’s very exciting, and it’s also well written.
Sound like something I want to read!
Tracy, if you like spooky stories, with a good plot and great characters, this is for you! Thanks for stopping by 🙂